Or going beyond the limits of acceptability? This is not enviro related but is one of those stories that makes you think "what if it had happened here?".
The full report is from ABCNews, and concerns a certain Joe Horn, who shot and killed two burglars attempting to break into his neighbour's house.
Now here in the UK, Joe Horn would already be serving a long sentence for manslaughter; over the other side of the pond, a grand jury actually declined to indict him, so he will not even be facing trial.
Here you can be 'done' for putting the wrong recyclables into the incorrect recycling bin. It rather makes you think, doesn't it?
Showing posts with label DILEMMA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DILEMMA. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
What does the team think?
This is a headline with a double meaning.
It's about such a situation, but also I'd be keen to find out if any who read this have any views.
It is an interesting insight into the dilemmas posed all the time by, to and from those in the media game.
What surprised me was that I was in the minority in my advocacy. But I also had an unwelcome reminder of what in reporting shapes the story. If they can find a downside... they will. So if you have a commercial imperative, you risk no critique, no matter what the cost.
It was a sincere question to a press/PR Forum about a dilemma. Here's the question (and a follow up, out of sequence, having had some input):
'Just wanted to get general feedback on this from some journalists and
PRs.
I had a press pack printed last week, both on CD and a paper version, it is
for a product launch which is now subject to a delay of a week or 10 days
(still to be confirmed) BUT the press pack contents which were printed last
week have the original launch date on them.
My question - is it acceptable to send the pack out with a note highlighting
the launch date change or do I bin everything and start again.
My head tells me to bin, my heart tells me to send out with a revision note
(hate to see the waste) but I am worried it will make me and the client look
incompetent.....'
'....I guess the sticker route might be an option, will try out and see how it
looks. This leaves me with just the duplication of the CDs which is a
minimal effort to get redone.
The packs are being sent out with product, so having hard copy of the press
information makes sense rather than the launch being communicated online.
The client is in an industry which is vulnerable to launch setbacks so it
may not look too dodgy/unprofessional to go with the sticker revision.'
Tally so far...
PRO
'Just a thought, but can you get stickers printed to go over the old date?'
'The professionalism/image side of me sees how a reprint is the only
option.
It rather depends on context. These days things change in a
heartbeat... which is why doing stuff online is a breeze. I used to
hate looking at pallets of scrapped brochures in the printers' yard
just because the overseas CEO dropped in after all had been signed off
and wanted their way of spelling used. Which is what set me off doing
as much as possible via the web.
But in this day and age I think there is almost merit in sticking with
it so long as the change is done well via a slick (as suggested )
sticker, Addendum insert, etc.
It's just a date. You hadn't sent it out yet. Nothing else is wrong.
Heck, it may even be an opportunity to make it stand out more!
Go with your heart.'
'No pressure... but I am keen to get you to see the possible advantages
of going over to the green side:)
Fully appreciate the hard copy situation... sometimes the whole eco
thing can do your head in a bit weighing creativity and 'doing the
job' vs. a purist's approach to all things enviro.
If the industry is prone to moving targets on dates then I'd say
that's a vote in favour of the sticker.
If you want to email me off list on info [at] junkk.com maybe we can
swap numbers and have a wee chat on possible options if it's not
confidential that make a silk purse out of this sow's ear (well, if
we're talking a few thousand it might get sticky. But I did something
very similar with a brochure, a hole punch, letter stamp, a bottle cap
and a ring pull)? I have a whole website with fun notions on this very
topic at my disposal!'
CON
'I would do it properly, start again...
Sending out old information will just raise questions and create more work.'
'I would get everything re-printed – it looks bad otherwise and might make
people [wonder] why there was a delay...'
'Just write yourself the headline "[client] SUFFERS DELAY" a few times and
see how you feel about it. Change the date.'
'Tough call...I totally understand your reticence to reprint but think it's
the best option. Environmentally sounder to add an addendum or put a sticker
over it, but from a PR point of view I think it's better to do the reprint
and avoid raising questions and/or potentially looking unprofessional.
Can you use the paper for something else...exciting scrap pads??!'
At least that last was trying for a positive.
At the end of the day it's their client, and product, in an industry they must know, reported on by a trade press whose tendencies must be clear. At least they tried. And if the client changed the date after an agreed production schedule and cost estimate then it's their wallets. I guess the planet may lose a little, but it's understandable in the face of such 'pressures'. Pity.
It's about such a situation, but also I'd be keen to find out if any who read this have any views.
It is an interesting insight into the dilemmas posed all the time by, to and from those in the media game.
What surprised me was that I was in the minority in my advocacy. But I also had an unwelcome reminder of what in reporting shapes the story. If they can find a downside... they will. So if you have a commercial imperative, you risk no critique, no matter what the cost.
It was a sincere question to a press/PR Forum about a dilemma. Here's the question (and a follow up, out of sequence, having had some input):
'Just wanted to get general feedback on this from some journalists and
PRs.
I had a press pack printed last week, both on CD and a paper version, it is
for a product launch which is now subject to a delay of a week or 10 days
(still to be confirmed) BUT the press pack contents which were printed last
week have the original launch date on them.
My question - is it acceptable to send the pack out with a note highlighting
the launch date change or do I bin everything and start again.
My head tells me to bin, my heart tells me to send out with a revision note
(hate to see the waste) but I am worried it will make me and the client look
incompetent.....'
'....I guess the sticker route might be an option, will try out and see how it
looks. This leaves me with just the duplication of the CDs which is a
minimal effort to get redone.
The packs are being sent out with product, so having hard copy of the press
information makes sense rather than the launch being communicated online.
The client is in an industry which is vulnerable to launch setbacks so it
may not look too dodgy/unprofessional to go with the sticker revision.'
Tally so far...
PRO
'Just a thought, but can you get stickers printed to go over the old date?'
'The professionalism/image side of me sees how a reprint is the only
option.
It rather depends on context. These days things change in a
heartbeat... which is why doing stuff online is a breeze. I used to
hate looking at pallets of scrapped brochures in the printers' yard
just because the overseas CEO dropped in after all had been signed off
and wanted their way of spelling used. Which is what set me off doing
as much as possible via the web.
But in this day and age I think there is almost merit in sticking with
it so long as the change is done well via a slick (as suggested )
sticker, Addendum insert, etc.
It's just a date. You hadn't sent it out yet. Nothing else is wrong.
Heck, it may even be an opportunity to make it stand out more!
Go with your heart.'
'No pressure... but I am keen to get you to see the possible advantages
of going over to the green side:)
Fully appreciate the hard copy situation... sometimes the whole eco
thing can do your head in a bit weighing creativity and 'doing the
job' vs. a purist's approach to all things enviro.
If the industry is prone to moving targets on dates then I'd say
that's a vote in favour of the sticker.
If you want to email me off list on info [at] junkk.com maybe we can
swap numbers and have a wee chat on possible options if it's not
confidential that make a silk purse out of this sow's ear (well, if
we're talking a few thousand it might get sticky. But I did something
very similar with a brochure, a hole punch, letter stamp, a bottle cap
and a ring pull)? I have a whole website with fun notions on this very
topic at my disposal!'
CON
'I would do it properly, start again...
Sending out old information will just raise questions and create more work.'
'I would get everything re-printed – it looks bad otherwise and might make
people [wonder] why there was a delay...'
'Just write yourself the headline "[client] SUFFERS DELAY" a few times and
see how you feel about it. Change the date.'
'Tough call...I totally understand your reticence to reprint but think it's
the best option. Environmentally sounder to add an addendum or put a sticker
over it, but from a PR point of view I think it's better to do the reprint
and avoid raising questions and/or potentially looking unprofessional.
Can you use the paper for something else...exciting scrap pads??!'
At least that last was trying for a positive.
At the end of the day it's their client, and product, in an industry they must know, reported on by a trade press whose tendencies must be clear. At least they tried. And if the client changed the date after an agreed production schedule and cost estimate then it's their wallets. I guess the planet may lose a little, but it's understandable in the face of such 'pressures'. Pity.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Well I never
Meanwhile, where the Daily Mail may have a point: Dimwits: EU's edict to keep car lights on ALL day will cost drivers £160 a year in wasted fuel
My Volvo is ten years old. The headlamps have burned bright since I bought it. Never really thought about it, but enregy has to coem from somewhere.
Now another e-lemma: 'safety' vs. 'eco'. And the dosh, too!
My Volvo is ten years old. The headlamps have burned bright since I bought it. Never really thought about it, but enregy has to coem from somewhere.
Now another e-lemma: 'safety' vs. 'eco'. And the dosh, too!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Irony, with a dash of dilemma
I've been up and watching the BBC news for about 45 minutes now as I deal with the overnight emails.
So far a potentially interesting story about the methods and motivations behind trying to effect better public behaviour in domestic recycling. And it seems that, surprise, surprise, the predominantly threat-based mechanisms touted are not quite working out, or into the systems as extensively or smoothly as they might.
Good. Well... good... ish. Something still needs to be done, and my experience that hasty, ill-conceived compromises are it. Or, as the MP select commitee has called it, 'a messy compromise'. (Where have I heard that applied to almost all in our current level of governance lately?).
Addendum 1: Just got the latest from LA on the Oscars. Seems half the BBC is now flying in to, um, 'help'. Bless.
Addendum 2: At least they are trying to offset it all, I presume, by acting as a commercial station. At least BBC Midlands. Seems someone is flogging their business, a newsagents, on eBay. Hope we licence payers get a cut of the ad revenue that has been devoted to this sale. I wonder if Aunty will help me shift my motor?
Which brings me to persuasion, preferably via inspiration and reward, which I favour.
And, by association, example.
And in this, accepting we live in a highly celebrity-influenced culture, we are surely very dependent on what our media serve us up with this as the majority of their fare, from who they talk about, how they talk about them... and, even, who we have talking at us about them.
So to help me get in the right frame of mind to cut back a tad, I have just endured a 5 minute gush about the Oscar party excesses. The dresses, the booze, the outrageous demands and incredible requirements for a one-off that will all get disposed of the next day.
I just threw that in, in-passing, as this blog was actually initiated by something else earlier.
And that was an exchange between the main presenter and the weather girl about their drives to work this morning.
Now at this time of the morning it's doubtful they have much choice and even they did, to use Tony Blair's words, 'it would be highly impractical [for them]' (though I doubt in the BBC's terms the same applies to some poor shift worker waiting for a night bus), but I just wondered where the cut off might be for such as the BBC (and others) before individual behaviour that is deemed climatically unfavourable becomes a matter for media approbrium with no sense of double standards, 'doing what we say, and not...' and all round wanting it all ways?
I can see it is tricky, but as one who sees the need for a change in behaviour yet makes big compromises on various lifestyle, cost, convenience bases almost daily, at least I don't preach what I am unable or unwilling to practice.
The medium as the messenger. But sadly, when it comes to example, too often rare in consistency and seldom well done.
So far a potentially interesting story about the methods and motivations behind trying to effect better public behaviour in domestic recycling. And it seems that, surprise, surprise, the predominantly threat-based mechanisms touted are not quite working out, or into the systems as extensively or smoothly as they might.
Good. Well... good... ish. Something still needs to be done, and my experience that hasty, ill-conceived compromises are it. Or, as the MP select commitee has called it, 'a messy compromise'. (Where have I heard that applied to almost all in our current level of governance lately?).
Addendum 1: Just got the latest from LA on the Oscars. Seems half the BBC is now flying in to, um, 'help'. Bless.
Addendum 2: At least they are trying to offset it all, I presume, by acting as a commercial station. At least BBC Midlands. Seems someone is flogging their business, a newsagents, on eBay. Hope we licence payers get a cut of the ad revenue that has been devoted to this sale. I wonder if Aunty will help me shift my motor?
Which brings me to persuasion, preferably via inspiration and reward, which I favour.
And, by association, example.
And in this, accepting we live in a highly celebrity-influenced culture, we are surely very dependent on what our media serve us up with this as the majority of their fare, from who they talk about, how they talk about them... and, even, who we have talking at us about them.
So to help me get in the right frame of mind to cut back a tad, I have just endured a 5 minute gush about the Oscar party excesses. The dresses, the booze, the outrageous demands and incredible requirements for a one-off that will all get disposed of the next day.
I just threw that in, in-passing, as this blog was actually initiated by something else earlier.
And that was an exchange between the main presenter and the weather girl about their drives to work this morning.
Now at this time of the morning it's doubtful they have much choice and even they did, to use Tony Blair's words, 'it would be highly impractical [for them]' (though I doubt in the BBC's terms the same applies to some poor shift worker waiting for a night bus), but I just wondered where the cut off might be for such as the BBC (and others) before individual behaviour that is deemed climatically unfavourable becomes a matter for media approbrium with no sense of double standards, 'doing what we say, and not...' and all round wanting it all ways?
I can see it is tricky, but as one who sees the need for a change in behaviour yet makes big compromises on various lifestyle, cost, convenience bases almost daily, at least I don't preach what I am unable or unwilling to practice.
The medium as the messenger. But sadly, when it comes to example, too often rare in consistency and seldom well done.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
What's a boy or girl to do?
I bang on a lot about doing here. And will continue to do so.
I have more faith in the benefits of substantive, positive creative activity than an awful lot else waaaaaay too much energy gets expended upon.
But every so often I give pause to ponder the consequences of 'doing'.
No so long ago I debated with myself at length how so much of the human condition that drives one to make stuff might indeed now be what's causing us the problems we are experiencing. There are simply so many of us making so much, the consequences of the processes are having a global effect... possibly.
Makes having a great idea... that needs manufacture... less of a thrill if you are cursed with the thought in the back of your mind that it might just add to the short-term problem. I certainly have a file full of such things. And a few might well feed the family a lot quicker than Junkk.com, I can tell you!
But actually, when it comes to 'doing', at least in this post, I am thinking of the people who don't do that much that's really very 'necessary' or 'useful', and what on earth society would do with them if they are no longer funded (via salaries, etc) to be kept occupied and in chauffeured Priuses or Bali conferences. Tricky.
The pages of government documents and the media and activist websites are full of things to ban. Some worthy of consideration; some vacuous, self-serving rants.
Trouble is, behind almost all is an entire infrastructure of folk who would be, quite simply, out of a job if these things did, in fact' cease to be'.
Take the leisure market. By some estimates, it represents 10% of the world's economy. No more flights would mean 600 million (well, a large % as 'we' returned to our roots. Though the thought of competing with 60M Brits for a campsite slot is not appealing) out of work. And they cannot all become Local government compost advisers or carbon traders.
Woah. Big, connected issues need big, coordinated thinking. Trouble is, I am not seeing any big thinkers on the horizon. At least, any who are not out for No. 1 first and only.
Indy - The ethical dilemma posed by organic food - QED
Guardian- Air-freight food must pass fair trade test to retain organic label in future
Sloppy Science Reporting Alert!
'Air freight by weight can generate 177 times more greenhouse gases than shipping'
What does that mean without any context?
ADDENDUM -
Meanwhile, where the big money is - Olympic consultants cost £1m a week - And they are doing...?
I have more faith in the benefits of substantive, positive creative activity than an awful lot else waaaaaay too much energy gets expended upon.
But every so often I give pause to ponder the consequences of 'doing'.
No so long ago I debated with myself at length how so much of the human condition that drives one to make stuff might indeed now be what's causing us the problems we are experiencing. There are simply so many of us making so much, the consequences of the processes are having a global effect... possibly.
Makes having a great idea... that needs manufacture... less of a thrill if you are cursed with the thought in the back of your mind that it might just add to the short-term problem. I certainly have a file full of such things. And a few might well feed the family a lot quicker than Junkk.com, I can tell you!
But actually, when it comes to 'doing', at least in this post, I am thinking of the people who don't do that much that's really very 'necessary' or 'useful', and what on earth society would do with them if they are no longer funded (via salaries, etc) to be kept occupied and in chauffeured Priuses or Bali conferences. Tricky.
The pages of government documents and the media and activist websites are full of things to ban. Some worthy of consideration; some vacuous, self-serving rants.
Trouble is, behind almost all is an entire infrastructure of folk who would be, quite simply, out of a job if these things did, in fact' cease to be'.
Take the leisure market. By some estimates, it represents 10% of the world's economy. No more flights would mean 600 million (well, a large % as 'we' returned to our roots. Though the thought of competing with 60M Brits for a campsite slot is not appealing) out of work. And they cannot all become Local government compost advisers or carbon traders.
Woah. Big, connected issues need big, coordinated thinking. Trouble is, I am not seeing any big thinkers on the horizon. At least, any who are not out for No. 1 first and only.
Indy - The ethical dilemma posed by organic food - QED
Guardian- Air-freight food must pass fair trade test to retain organic label in future
Sloppy Science Reporting Alert!
'Air freight by weight can generate 177 times more greenhouse gases than shipping'
What does that mean without any context?
ADDENDUM -
Meanwhile, where the big money is - Olympic consultants cost £1m a week - And they are doing...?
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Barrages and other obstacles
For a long time I've been following in the local papers a discussion about a proposed Severn Barrage. Now it has hit the big time: Inventive compromise may be the answer to dilemma
Coincidentally the man vs. nature has already sparked a small piece already in another blog, this time from waaaay over in California.
There are a few potent causes fighting here. I am afraid that if 'we' are not prepared to do much/anything about our expanding population's (global and national, no inference on certain points made about on this topic recently ) calls on land and resources, the area will be toast (or a shopping centre) one day anyway. And this does not seem to be a trade-off deal. This is (very broadly) free energy as a substitute for carbon-emitting ones. I don't see the birdies winning.
BBC - New study for Severn energy plan - I have to say the Civ. Eng in me thinks this is waaaay cool. And I can see the enviROI shaping up well. But as to the birds... better this than Prescott's heirs sticking a condo on it?
Indy - Some worthwhile views
Indy - 'Strong case' for Severn barrage
Guardian - Barrage of turbines across the Severn could provide 5% of UK's electricity - Could? How can they not know? All the figures must be available.
Guardian Letters (ta, Dave) - very useful input!
Coincidentally the man vs. nature has already sparked a small piece already in another blog, this time from waaaay over in California.
There are a few potent causes fighting here. I am afraid that if 'we' are not prepared to do much/anything about our expanding population's (global and national, no inference on certain points made about on this topic recently ) calls on land and resources, the area will be toast (or a shopping centre) one day anyway. And this does not seem to be a trade-off deal. This is (very broadly) free energy as a substitute for carbon-emitting ones. I don't see the birdies winning.
BBC - New study for Severn energy plan - I have to say the Civ. Eng in me thinks this is waaaay cool. And I can see the enviROI shaping up well. But as to the birds... better this than Prescott's heirs sticking a condo on it?
Indy - Some worthwhile views
Indy - 'Strong case' for Severn barrage
Guardian - Barrage of turbines across the Severn could provide 5% of UK's electricity - Could? How can they not know? All the figures must be available.
Guardian Letters (ta, Dave) - very useful input!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Dilemma, etc
It has been a short while, so it's nice to see another celebrity has been wheeled out to help us with our climate unawareness.And to do so by travelling the world to visit lots of poor, but film-worthy places.
So this time I was treated to a very agitated Sienna Miller on BBC News 24 saying 'bring it on' to all those the blonde and the bouffant indicated my be being a bit cynical.
Thing is, I was pretty much on board until we we treated to how she offsets all her flights as 'it really wouldn't be practical, etc, etc... for her not to' . A bit of a mea culpa in this regard will be following at some juncture soon.
But what really cranked the eyebrow was how she has teamed up with Vodafone... yes, that's acres of free public broadcast PR for Vodafone... on a scheme to recycle your old mobiles. And what's really great is that the poor folk get some pounds too! I don't know, but popping 10% of value to charity on such a vast contributor to carbon as a 2"x5" mobly hardly seems top of the enviROI list to me, but hey-ho.
And now, having got that out of the way, her new film, which she's shooting next week, is...
It's a dilemma. Sure something needs to be done. But I remain unsure that these are the best people to do it. The media plays along because they get ratings from sticking a blonde celeb on screen, and can also gush a bit about global warming but also stir it up by asking here if she has a 4x4 or drinks Evian. I for one just find it a real trivial distraction.
And speaking of dilemmas, check out the picture above from today's Guardian. They will help us with ours!
Thing is, the only reason I saw that ad is because I clicked on a piece advertising an exclusive interview with conductor Claudio Abbado... (cue awestruck 'Oooooo') '..on a private jet'. I guess this was relevant because they were at least Lear-sharing.
Personally, I don't think celebrity and eco-cred mixes. So I really wish the media wouldn't do it.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Dilemma Number 2
I like the Eden Project. I don't like some of the senior folk privileged enough to be running it, but hopefully they are just an arrogant green elite minority. But when they dragged me and our then Head of Prose & Comms Anita all the way to Cornwall to tell us how great they were and didn't need to work with us on reuse (oddly, I still see no great efforts on this emanating from there) as they knew a lot better, I was a bit miffed.
And so again I was struck by today's PR event on BBC Breakfast, with an eco-motor show held there. Now, there are some who may see a certain irony in trying to get people to drive to Cornwall to see a show about how cars pollute and emit, but there you go. It's probably more logical than the NEC or London, apart from the whole majority of the audience base getting there issue. Oh, well. It's the message that is important, see.
Anyway, a lot of car brands got to say their 'all we have time for' sales pitch to the microphone munchkin. Nothing much about bio fuels looking less optimal on food production, etc. At least we were spared the Prius. Maybe explaining how getting it there was worse for the environment in comparison to many other makes was a factor.
And at the end we had Green Guru Dick Strawbridge, who has also to find time in his busy schedule (doubtless why he drove and didn't take the train. Hey, that's why we did, though it was car sharing...ish) to respond to our outreach efforts. Admittedly this may not happen as he was part of my less than positive feedback on the SKY BIG Idea set-up, but we did try and get int touch in several ways way before that.
Nobly, he had driven there in his 20-year old chip-fat powered Land Rover, which promoted me to write and ask:
'What's the tax on Dick Strawbridge's 20 year old Land Rover these days? Are bio 4x4's exempt?'
Sadly, selling new cars is all they had time for. Anyone know? I just thought as an example of joined-up e-government it was a fair question.
And so again I was struck by today's PR event on BBC Breakfast, with an eco-motor show held there. Now, there are some who may see a certain irony in trying to get people to drive to Cornwall to see a show about how cars pollute and emit, but there you go. It's probably more logical than the NEC or London, apart from the whole majority of the audience base getting there issue. Oh, well. It's the message that is important, see.
Anyway, a lot of car brands got to say their 'all we have time for' sales pitch to the microphone munchkin. Nothing much about bio fuels looking less optimal on food production, etc. At least we were spared the Prius. Maybe explaining how getting it there was worse for the environment in comparison to many other makes was a factor.
And at the end we had Green Guru Dick Strawbridge, who has also to find time in his busy schedule (doubtless why he drove and didn't take the train. Hey, that's why we did, though it was car sharing...ish) to respond to our outreach efforts. Admittedly this may not happen as he was part of my less than positive feedback on the SKY BIG Idea set-up, but we did try and get int touch in several ways way before that.
Nobly, he had driven there in his 20-year old chip-fat powered Land Rover, which promoted me to write and ask:
'What's the tax on Dick Strawbridge's 20 year old Land Rover these days? Are bio 4x4's exempt?'
Sadly, selling new cars is all they had time for. Anyone know? I just thought as an example of joined-up e-government it was a fair question.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Don't Drive or Drive?
Missed a day. Did you miss me?
The boys are on half-term and 'er indoors had set them up with an eye test in Hereford, so I decided to combo a whole set of chores.
So we set off at 8.45am for the 9.15am appointment. 30 minutes. By car. 3 up. Half a gallon. £2 round trip, plus £1 parking. Back after chores (see below) in time to get lunch ready for Mum.
Took a large box set of exhausted toner cartridges and expired drum thingy to Cartridge World to be refilled. Went to Volvo to see about connecting my solar trickle charger to the cigar lighter (it doesn't seem to work - no answer). Then to Sainsbury's to restock my supply of tinned palm hearts (shipped, I trust - do food miles weigh air vs. sea?). Home.
Now, the simple answer to how to do that 'eco' is to do it slowly or not at all. Was that an option? I guess. But I missed a morning anyway and a lot I needed to do will not get done (you could argue my reading and blogging the day's media is non-essential, but there are a lot of 'jobs' being carried out I'd say are equally forgoeable. It would have been a long day without the car, and more money (unless I never owned the car in the first place. Not really an option in the country). At least I can get this blog post out of it. The green elite would turn it into a TV programme, and pay their mortgage on the proceeds. Most are not so blessed in being rewarded for their good green practices, and I do wonder if those who preach most vocally would do so if not compensated for their special status
Hmmmn.
The boys are on half-term and 'er indoors had set them up with an eye test in Hereford, so I decided to combo a whole set of chores.
So we set off at 8.45am for the 9.15am appointment. 30 minutes. By car. 3 up. Half a gallon. £2 round trip, plus £1 parking. Back after chores (see below) in time to get lunch ready for Mum.
Took a large box set of exhausted toner cartridges and expired drum thingy to Cartridge World to be refilled. Went to Volvo to see about connecting my solar trickle charger to the cigar lighter (it doesn't seem to work - no answer). Then to Sainsbury's to restock my supply of tinned palm hearts (shipped, I trust - do food miles weigh air vs. sea?). Home.
Now, the simple answer to how to do that 'eco' is to do it slowly or not at all. Was that an option? I guess. But I missed a morning anyway and a lot I needed to do will not get done (you could argue my reading and blogging the day's media is non-essential, but there are a lot of 'jobs' being carried out I'd say are equally forgoeable. It would have been a long day without the car, and more money (unless I never owned the car in the first place. Not really an option in the country). At least I can get this blog post out of it. The green elite would turn it into a TV programme, and pay their mortgage on the proceeds. Most are not so blessed in being rewarded for their good green practices, and I do wonder if those who preach most vocally would do so if not compensated for their special status
Hmmmn.
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