The irony is that we could live within our ecological means if we wanted to. Billions across the world already do, admittedly not always by choice.
But we in the USA and Europe choose not to.
I don't put the blame on the individual though, because we are not encouraged or incentivised to do so, in fact we are encouraged to be profligate and to not take environmental issues with the appropriate seriousness.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Far from being " preachy " I thought the recent David Attenborough series have been informative and with amazing camera work. I loved the passion that the various teams had for their subjects and what they were doing to help protect environments. Was some of it ' difficult' to watch? Well, yes ! But that's a result of the subject matter, not because of the presenting.
It takes Monty Don what? half a second? to say 'peat-free' but he has been accused of preaching. He uses peat-free, I see no reason why he shouldn't say so, in half a second....
There is a large cohort that have it down in David Attenborough for spending decades not focusing on the crisis and just filming pretty landscapes and fluffy possums, keeping clear cut forests out of shot. “Ooo look at the pristine islands and the crystal clear lagoons”. Fantasy TV. David was not directing or producing the shows, so I don’t personally blame him, but he did have power to campaign and didn’t use it. So the argument runs.
I suspect that if you felt strongly about the env campaigns you wouldn’t feel any coverage to be ‘preachy’ or irritating. You wouldn’t want to eat your hair, you would instead feel despair that the UK population seem to want Love Island, Cash in the Attic, jollies in Vegas and the Kardashians.
It takes Monty Don what? half a second? to say 'peat-free' but he has been accused of preaching. He uses peat-free, I see no reason why he shouldn't say so, in half a second....
Maybe he can tell us all how to sustainably heat our greenhouses during winter too.. MD is very selective in what he says & doesn't say...read The Jewel Garden & then ask yourself the obvious questions. I'm still waiting for his tribute to the late Peter Seabrook..or did I miss that?
Both David Attenborough and Gerald Durrell began their "careers" by collecting animals for zoos - a modern equivalent if you like of the victorian era plant hunters/collectors. Their experiences, particually GD, led to the understanding, breeding and ultimate preservation of many species. What we have done ( or not done ) in the intervening years can hardly be laid at their door. Yes, some of DA's recent programmes are repetitive and the constant music is an annoying distraction but he probably doesn't have a say in the final editing. Given that our attention span these days is deemed to be short - or even non existent, the final result of the broadcast is not that surprising. The camera work is, as usual, superb. These 2 people have done an enormous amount over the last 60 years or so - hardly their fault that the penny hasn't yet dropped.
I suppose we are all different, but I don't find it preachy, repetition is the best way to learn.
I guess it may be determined by the mood we are in. I've only watched the one with the orca but kept hearing "due to climate change" every few minutes. If you were more transfixed or perhaps in a better mood, it might not be noticed. I'm not against these important messages but it seems a constant sometimes. They can make some fantastic programmes that highlight the problems we face but it just seems everything mentions it now. The problem I see is that the people who can make large scale change, aren't listening, and the ones trying to make the changes, aren't being listened to.
What I find frustrating is the lack of control by companies. I know each individual can make decisions on their own lifestyle, but why is it possible to buy anything anywhere that comes in plastic that is not recyclable? If we can't use fossil fuels, why are houses still being built with gas boilers? Why aren't all new builds (where possible) built with solar panels as standard? Why are fossil fuel cars still being made? Why are there boiler adds on the TV saying replace your gas boiler with another more efficient one?
This is the problem with the market - I repeat again - the market does not care. The market reacts and is. It does not care if we use plastics or fossil fuels. The market will work irrespective. Only people care, not abstract objects. People (if they're lucky) elect governments - those govs have to reflect that care and force the market.
Posts
But we in the USA and Europe choose not to.
I don't put the blame on the individual though, because we are not encouraged or incentivised to do so, in fact we are encouraged to be profligate and to not take environmental issues with the appropriate seriousness.
Was some of it ' difficult' to watch? Well, yes ! But that's a result of the subject matter, not because of the presenting.
Maybe he can tell us all how to sustainably heat our greenhouses during winter too..
MD is very selective in what he says & doesn't say...read The Jewel Garden & then ask yourself the obvious questions.
I'm still waiting for his tribute to the late Peter Seabrook..or did I miss that?
What we have done ( or not done ) in the intervening years can hardly be laid at their door.
Yes, some of DA's recent programmes are repetitive and the constant music is an annoying distraction but he probably doesn't have a say in the final editing. Given that our attention span these days is deemed to be short - or even non existent, the final result of the broadcast is not that surprising. The camera work is, as usual, superb.
These 2 people have done an enormous amount over the last 60 years or so - hardly their fault that the penny hasn't yet dropped.
I guess it may be determined by the mood we are in. I've only watched the one with the orca but kept hearing "due to climate change" every few minutes. If you were more transfixed or perhaps in a better mood, it might not be noticed.
I'm not against these important messages but it seems a constant sometimes. They can make some fantastic programmes that highlight the problems we face but it just seems everything mentions it now.
The problem I see is that the people who can make large scale change, aren't listening, and the ones trying to make the changes, aren't being listened to.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border