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Nader Dabit@nader·Sep 05

How do you feel about things like using paper straws, taking shorter showers, using a manual toothbrush, or using cloth diapers to reduce your carbon footprint, relative to the massive negative impact of the rich, and industries that make these measures feel like a drop in the bucket?

For example 100 companies having been the source of more than 70% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions since 1988, the fashion industry being responsible for ~10% of global carbon emissions (more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined), and politicians and the wealthy flying around on private jets.

You would need over 34 million plastic straws to equal the carbon footprint of a 6-hour round trip on a medium-sized private jet.

To me it feels absolutely pointless when it comes down to it, like literally will just make my life harder while the people who can make an actual difference are just getting filthier rich and continuing to fck over the world…

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    Random Potential@potential·Sep 06

    Sadly, I can only agree.

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      m_j_r@m-j-r·Sep 06

      problem at hand is that we're consuming the product of time. there's always going to be a sense of self-interest (including corporate lobbying), but at the end of the day, the ultimate issue is that the planet's ecosystem is successive, more complex niches are filled by organisms that are more prone to extinction, and there's an adaptive ratio of living carbon, dead carbon, and atmospheric carbon that doesn't suit post-industrial humanity. reductively, fertilizing vacant parts of Earth to fixate more carbon shifts from atmo -> living, and on the other end, living carbon needs to be processed before it decomposes to atmospheric carbon. ideally, a conglomerate of corporations and governments would just focus on fertilization till fixation rate ≈ combustion rate. it just isn't memetic or lucrative enough to pursue in comparison to "using paper straws, taking shorter showers, using a manual toothbrush, or using cloth diapers to reduce your carbon footprint" (totally agree that it's a scam).

      honestly, I just skip the straws whenever possible. bottles are the GOAT.

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        𓆙 Sophie@cryptokiddo·Sep 06

        I recently saw a study that says that plastic straws are not so terrible and that the paper version is even worse 😂 always think about everything they try to put in your head guys.. Modern world is a scam.

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          Eremita@cavernaeremita·Sep 06

          I believe it would be much more effective if the industry abandoned the concept of planned obsolescence once and for all and made products that last a lifetime. That every update could be modular and not the exchange of an entire product...

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            Chaotic Monk@chaoticmonk·Sep 06

            Can highly recommend Seaspiracy on Netflix which covers this in the context of plastic waste in the ocean & how insignificant plastic straws are in comparison.

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              Merlot Daddy@augustuscaesar·Sep 06

              Large Industries contribute more than we do. They haven’t changed and I don’t expect them to. But that pivot would matter more to the environment than me eating on a paper plate.

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                Princess Je$$yFries@jessyjeanne·Sep 05

                This is so scary and sad 🫠 - I agree with you.

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                  Paloo 🌿@paloo·Sep 05

                  I’m with you on this.

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                    Prayag Singh@prayag·Sep 05

                    True, it's a challenge to stay motivated when industries and the wealthy have such a significant impact on the environment despite individual efforts.

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                      Brian J. Sanlon@larryscruff·Sep 05

                      You're last paragraph pretty much sums up how I feel. Also, reading the replies, I don't think anyone read your full message lol

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                        AlicΞ@punkess·Sep 05

                        I guess there are 2 options to reduce the upcoming climate catastrophe: 1 coordination 2 technology

                        Unfortunately we are terribly bad in coordination.

                        The very sad part is that those who are least to blame are those who suffer first and most.

                        AGIs will immediately solve climate issues (if they care), not sure if we will like their approach though ;-).

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                          SOJU@notgonnamakeit·Sep 05

                          I think there's the argument that large industries and the rich are shifting blame on average consumers with straws, etc - but then there's also the Malcolm Gladwell "tipping point" concept.

                          Maybe it's best to acknowledge that both are true in some way 🤷‍♂️✨

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                            Cordt@cordt·Sep 05

                            Personally, I think you should do everything you can where you don't have to go out of your way for the things that matter to you. The strongest thing we as individuals can do is making a statement with our consumer choices.

                            I live location independent, for example, so flying is an essential part of it. Not that I crave flying, but it doesn't reasonably work without it. So I am happy to pay a lot of money for offsetting, pay much more to reduce the number of stops, and plan my year to do as little long-hauls as possible. But I will fly.

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                              @revenge·Sep 05

                              While it's essential to continue advocating for systemic change and holding industries and the wealthy accountable while also making sustainable choices in your own life, knowing that every bit helps, and that collective action is the key to addressing the global climate crisis effectively.

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                                Vinod@dmcsvn·Sep 05

                                I am doing my part for this...but that figure of private jet 😲,may be there need to be stricter norms for flying a private jet

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                                  Ryan Fox@ryanfox·Sep 05

                                  Paper straws in plastic cups. 🤔

                                  Luckily not all of NYC has fallen for this.

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