ecp02aks

Where are all these green taxes that have been invented? I can only think of two - the duty on petrol and taxes when you fly. If REAL environmentalists (I do not class the government as including as real environmentalists) were in power then yes there'd probably be a lot of green taxes, but not necessarily an INCREASE in the tax burden. For example, a lot of environmentalists argue that products which use virgin materials should be subject to a higher rate of vat while products made from recycled materials should be subject to a lower rate of vat. This would make the green choice cheaper. This would be a much more effective way of encouraging people to make a greener choice than trying to inform/educate the whole population about why the greener choice is better (this is something groups like Friends of the Earth lobby the government about but you never hear about it). However, information is also important so that's another tool. So is providing a decent infrastructure, e.g. doorstep recycling. Environmentalists have lots of tools but it's only tax that makes the headlines.

Interestingly Jamiroqaui's first album 'Emergency on Planet Earth' was in large part about environmental issues, and the stuff Jay Kay wrote in the album insert showed concern and passion about these issues. Perhaps somewhere along the way he could have become the green movement's 'Bob Geldof' but his interest seemed to wain as his love of fast cars increased.

Re the issue of shipping stuff to other countries to be recycled, please take a look at this: http://www.recyclenow.com/facts/myths_exploded/myth_plastic.html

There are many committed recyclers in Sheffield who would possibly be interested in this. I would say that most would think that Sheffield City Council should provide a comprehensive doorstep recycling service for all recyclables but because they don't committed recyclers use banks at supermarkets etc. instead. That's where the problem lies. Committed recyclers have integrated taking recyclables to the banks into their routines for shopping and thus to them recycling involves minimal effort. Therefore whether they'd pay for doorstep collection, I don't know.

It least if you're going to quote me then don't take what I said out of context. I said "If I'd met a handful of Mini drivers and thought they were all idiots I'd know that driving a Mini does not make you an idiot". I was trying to use an hypothetical example relevant to you - I don't have any view on people who drive Minis. I find your views infuriating but I won't tar all Mini drivers with the same brush which is exactly my point.

Not all environmentalists are hippocrites. Try to look beyond the stereotypical view you have. If I'd met a handful of Mini drivers and thought they were all idiots I'd know that driving a Mini does not make you an idiot.

Mini_cooper, your consistent environmentalist bashing is really starting to hack me off. Are you saying the world would be a better place if nobody gave two hoots about the environment? I don't think it would be.

This site is worth a look with bins at both ends of the price range: http://www.homerecycling.co.uk/

Perhaps they just missed it out by accident.

But it's totally impossible to live an environmentally benign lifestyle in the infrastructure of this country. I can do as much as I can to be green but still lead a more environmentally damaging lifestyle than someone in Africa. So it's impossible to totally practice what you preach. Flying is something you do have control over though. Unfortunately many environmentalists are not good communicators and put people off by their preaching nature and then when they are seen to be hypocrites it gives people even more ammo to dismiss what they are saying. Leading by example is the way forward but as I indicated above you'll always be able to catch an environmentalist out in some way - we're not saints, just people who care about the people and the planet.

Why do people assume that just because you're an environmentalist you have to be a green saint!? I try an live as environmentally friendly lifestyle as much as possible and this includes avoiding flying. That's not to say that I will never step foot on a plane again, but I certainly wouldn't fly to a european city for the weekend. Environmentalists are entitled to a holiday though! Sure it depends on how you promote environmentalism - if you're lecturing people about flying you shouldn't fly yourself but I try to practice what I preach (although I try to give people the facts rather than preach).

I'm not up to speed with the complete ins and outs of this debate in relation to Ryanair but there are two things to note. Firstly, CO2 emissions from aviation may presently represent a small percentage of total emissions but they are one of the fastest growing sources and any CO2 savings made in other sectors, e.g. housing, are likely to be cancelled out by the increased emissions from aviation. Also because the greenhouse gases are emitted high in the atmosphere this has a more damaging effect in terms of warming than the same amount of greenhouse gases emitted from ground level. Secondly, new aircraft are more efficient meaning they produce less emissions but with more flights these savings are cancelled out. Also, it does appear that the aviation industry does not do more than it is legally required to do in terms of its environmental impact. I've always like this quote from Chris Mullin MP: "During my 18 undistinguished months as aviation minister, I learnt two lessons about the aviation industry. First, its demands are insatiable; secondly, successive Governments have always given way to them."

As I discovered by reading another thread, a company can change a direct debit but they have to warn you first. It sounds like note on the bill is warning you of the increased payment to cover the increase in the cost of energy but you can object and stick to the amount you're paying. But come the end of the year you may have underpaid. Of course NPower may have overestimated your repayments.

When you use the facilities at WHSmith, Tesco's etc money made from the recycling of the cards goes towards helping the Woodland Trust conserve the UK's ancient woodland and plant more trees. See here: http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/cards/index.htm

I am driving down, but I'm trying to avoid having to do it twice as there isn't two car-fulls of stuff.