Gareth Kane on Little Green Secrets and Lies
Following reports that most of us exaggerate our commitment to the environment, Gareth Kane asks if when it’s OK to sex up your green performance.
There has been much press coverage of the Norwich Union survey last week which suggested that 9 out of 10 of us tell ‘little green lies’ to exaggerate our commitment to the environment, compared with just 50% of us actually willing to change our lifestyles. To be honest I think we should treat this survey as the classic silly season ‘advertorial’ research it undoubtedly is, but it does shed some light on the difference between talking the talk and walking the walk.
Despite it being pretty much their full time job, politicians keep forgetting the need to back up words with action. When David Cameron took over the helm of the Tories he not only suffered from the jibes about his ‘shoe chauffeur’ following his cycle to work, but also had tabloid journalists literally muck raking – going through his bins to check what sort of nappies his kids used (‘eco-friendly’ disposables for the record). Tony Blair tried to grab the global climate change leadership role, despite the enormous carbon footprint of his three long haul holidays a year. Gordon Brown must have been taking note as he swapped his usual New England jaunt for the rather Older England of Dorset as soon as he took power this summer.
But I have noticed this green guilt effect myself, and working in the environmental sector seems conveyed an unwanted eco-police role on my shoulders. One good friend of mine was mortified that his tumble dryer was still going when I arrived recently – he thought he had timed it to finish with plenty of time to spare. Another is virtually apologising to me about her foreign holidays this year. I try my best not to judge others as I sit in my own substantial glass house, I really do, and I'm now paranoid that my body language is causing eco-fear amongst my social circle.
However, I have come across one area where you may want to keep your green credentials under your hat. The new Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment Directive (known delightfully as the ‘weeeee’ directive) means we shouldn’t be putting anything ‘with a battery or a plug’ into our domestic refuse. That includes, erm, marital aids. So what do you do if your rampant rabbit wears out? Take it along to your local Civic Amenity site and hand it to the guy in the day-glo tabard? Fear not, the good people of LoveHoney will recycle it for you, give you a 50% reduction on your new model and make a small donation to charity. So you can feel nice and green whilst sparing your blushes.
Until next time,
Gareth
Gareth Kane
Eco-living Blog
Terra Infirma
