things that make me happy
Thing the first: Germany hosted a green World Cup. I'm a soccer fan, how did I not know this?
The World Cup organisers estimate the tournament will generate some 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
But this admission is made not sheepishly, but with a hint of pride.
For not only have they gone to great lengths to keep down emissions, they say, but they vow that every molecule created in Germany will be neutralised by projects they are funding elsewhere.
It will, in short, be "the first climate neutral World Cup".
They've refurbished the stadiums, fitted some with solar panels, imported hyrdoelectric power, given free game-day public transport to ticketholders, and funded ecological projects in India.
Of course, some people, like a Mr. Childs of Earth First, think they haven't done enough, because there's still the matter of all the airplane hours logged by fans and the flitting about the country by helicopter done by Franz Beckenbauer (former star player and head organizer). However, even Mr. Childs says their efforts are "commendable."
"The fact that the Germans have made this much effort makes you think 'why don't they do this much at every major sporting event?'"
I don't know. Maybe because people like you start nitpicking at them even when they do make all that effort?
I get that there's always room for improvement, but I've never heard of any sporting event doing this much to neautralize its environmental impact. Maybe his overall tone was positive, and the piece focused on his reservations, but I think the right thing for an environmental group to do when people take such steps is to applaud. Maybe mention that there's further to go, but focus on the well-deserved kudos. If they focus on the shortfalls, they're just sending the message that such efforts are not appreciated. "Why should we bother?" future organizers may think, "they'll just complain about what we didn't do." And on an individual level, people get overwhelmed by not being able to do all they "should", and so do little or nothing. This is counterproductive. Commend people for buying a hybrid or LEV, don't bitch at them for not taking (possibly non-existent) public transportation.
Thing the second, via maggiesox: Anti-choice nut unintentionally makes best. post. evah. Don't let your reluctance to visit a "pro-lifer"'s blog make you miss this. This is some funny shit.
I couldn't resist leaving this comment:
Excellent. I think you should devote all of your energies to tracking down Miss Weber and changing her mind about abortion. After all, if you can change her mind, you can change anybody's.
And don't listen to all these commenters telling you that the Onion is satire. They don't know what they're talking about. You'll show them.
I hope he isn't actually, um, "mentally challenged". Well, beyond the obvious. Then I'd feel bad.
The World Cup organisers estimate the tournament will generate some 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
But this admission is made not sheepishly, but with a hint of pride.
For not only have they gone to great lengths to keep down emissions, they say, but they vow that every molecule created in Germany will be neutralised by projects they are funding elsewhere.
It will, in short, be "the first climate neutral World Cup".
They've refurbished the stadiums, fitted some with solar panels, imported hyrdoelectric power, given free game-day public transport to ticketholders, and funded ecological projects in India.
Of course, some people, like a Mr. Childs of Earth First, think they haven't done enough, because there's still the matter of all the airplane hours logged by fans and the flitting about the country by helicopter done by Franz Beckenbauer (former star player and head organizer). However, even Mr. Childs says their efforts are "commendable."
"The fact that the Germans have made this much effort makes you think 'why don't they do this much at every major sporting event?'"
I don't know. Maybe because people like you start nitpicking at them even when they do make all that effort?
I get that there's always room for improvement, but I've never heard of any sporting event doing this much to neautralize its environmental impact. Maybe his overall tone was positive, and the piece focused on his reservations, but I think the right thing for an environmental group to do when people take such steps is to applaud. Maybe mention that there's further to go, but focus on the well-deserved kudos. If they focus on the shortfalls, they're just sending the message that such efforts are not appreciated. "Why should we bother?" future organizers may think, "they'll just complain about what we didn't do." And on an individual level, people get overwhelmed by not being able to do all they "should", and so do little or nothing. This is counterproductive. Commend people for buying a hybrid or LEV, don't bitch at them for not taking (possibly non-existent) public transportation.
Thing the second, via maggiesox: Anti-choice nut unintentionally makes best. post. evah. Don't let your reluctance to visit a "pro-lifer"'s blog make you miss this. This is some funny shit.
I couldn't resist leaving this comment:
Excellent. I think you should devote all of your energies to tracking down Miss Weber and changing her mind about abortion. After all, if you can change her mind, you can change anybody's.
And don't listen to all these commenters telling you that the Onion is satire. They don't know what they're talking about. You'll show them.
I hope he isn't actually, um, "mentally challenged". Well, beyond the obvious. Then I'd feel bad.