Comments on: Hemingway: Watching Crap So You Don’t Have To

By: Vincent.

Vincent. — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 23:10:45 +0000

“Carbon offsets” (a lovely euphemism if ever there was one) are nothing more than a way for the wealthy to continue to live as they always have (read: wastefully and lavishly) while at the same time providing the supposed moral authority to chide the working- and middle-classes about their eco-unfriendly ways.

“Do as I say, not as I do… unless you can afford carbon offsets!” Magic indeed.

By: niedermeyer

niedermeyer — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 01:37:19 +0000

The term “raising awareness” makes me wonder what the bottom of a bottle of Drano looks like….

But hey, as long as they buy a shit ton of carbon offsets, it’s all good with me. Carbon offsets are magic.

By: Vincent.

Vincent. — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:09:50 +0000

I had a somewhat animated — and thankfully short — discussion with someone a few days ago who was convinced that the whole Live Earth was “a really good thing” that “got people talking” and is “totally raising awareness — even among those evangelical types who just do what their preacher tells them”.

She called me “cynical and jaded” when I suggested that the only reason anyone was there — Al Gore included — was to make money, advance their career, and stroke their ego.

When I pointed out that the event was directly causing huge amounts of pollution, she didn’t really have a comeback (and I was pleased that she didn’t fall back on the old “carbon offsets” line, since that’s a debate all of its own…), but just repeated that it was finally making people aware and getting people “talking about the issues.”

I didn’t bother bringing up the fact that the ratings were abysmal and the only “talk” I’ve heard has been derision for Live Earth.