Comments on: Why I don’t give a damn about the environment

By: Debt Reduction Formula

Debt Reduction Formula — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:15:51 +0000

I think there’s a balance.

We probably all have our quirks when it comes to HOW we like to protect the environment. And we’re all probably hypocrites to one degree or another.

One movie that opened my eyes to the economics of low prices was Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. It’s a fascinating movie. It makes the argument that low prices are an illusion… that low prices are achieved by pushing costs onto other people (tax payers, neighborhoods, other countries, etc.).

One thing that encourages me when I think about the environment is that, ultimately, God is in control. And he has promised, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

So whatever we do, at least we can’t screw up the earth beyond repair.

By: Nivek

Nivek — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:04:36 +0000

Great post! Al Gore has contributed far more pollution in his life than I have. While I would be happy to be able to live completely off-the-grid, the reality is I just can’t afford it. Being THAT green is expensive. Americans are slowly moving towards greener technologies but there won’t be any widespread adoption until there’s real economic incentive.

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:47:18 +0000

Also, China just endured it’s coldest winter in 100 years. http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/30095

By: Jesse

Jesse — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:47:39 +0000

hmmm a linking work might be good, eh?

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1485573.htm

By: Jesse

Jesse — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:43:21 +0000

A 2005 study by a scientist named Ola Johannessen and his colleagues showed that the interior of Greenland is gaining ice mass. See: http://www.co2science.org/scripts/CO2ScienceB2C/articles/V8/N44/C1.jsp Also, according to the International Arctic Research Institute, despite all of the media hype, the Arctic was warmer in the 1930’s than today.

By: zen

zen — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:24:37 +0000

I’m curious, where are you getting your proof for the statement that the polar ice caps are regrowing? I’ve searched and haven’t turned up anything yet.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:45:48 +0000

You are all right to some degree imo. You do not have to spend to help the environment…consuming less energy is one obvious thing to do. On the other hand, just by living in our society or driving a car, you ARE doing some damage so to say you would rather die than harm the environment is somewhat of a fallacy: you would have to die to completely stop ALL damage you are doing, unless of course you live in the woods by yourself.

By: Willfe

Willfe — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:39:40 +0000

Mark: There’s a bit of a flaw in your thinking. Since when does one have to *spend* money to help the environment? A person who isn’t spending very much money is, by the very definition of the term “spending,” isn’t consuming as many resources as someone who spends *more*.

Why the hell would you have to spend money to help the environment? Just *consuming* less helps the environment in a pretty big way!

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:37:51 +0000

I have to ask then, Lima, why are you reading a personal finance blog. By definition if you are saving money then you are not spending it to help the environment. Do you drive a car? Do you heat your home?

By: Lima

Lima — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:27:14 +0000

I would rather be in debt and die than harm the environment. You have to think for the long term good of the earth.