This is what I get for taking a class on global sustainability...
I am remembering now why I prefer the natural sciences - we generally don't have to read books by dutch people (who, by the way, import an INSANE amount of virtual water in the form of coffee) ranting about how greedy and horrible Americans are.
Do I wish Americans would have more reverence for the natural world, and tread more lightly on it? Of course. I wish that about the Chinese too. And I am SORRY it rains more here than in North Africa, but that doesn't mean we're bad people. It's not our fault the world's resources aren't perfectly evenly distributed.
And I don't think putting little labels on everything to inform people of virtual water content is going to do jack shit. You can't guilt people into doing what you think is right. You have to tax them. Doy.
I'll tell you this: if instead of giving me back a piddling 15 cents for bringing my own bag, the grocery store charged $1 for each plastic or paper bag you need, you can bet people would hop on the sustainability bandwagon.
Do I wish Americans would have more reverence for the natural world, and tread more lightly on it? Of course. I wish that about the Chinese too. And I am SORRY it rains more here than in North Africa, but that doesn't mean we're bad people. It's not our fault the world's resources aren't perfectly evenly distributed.
And I don't think putting little labels on everything to inform people of virtual water content is going to do jack shit. You can't guilt people into doing what you think is right. You have to tax them. Doy.
I'll tell you this: if instead of giving me back a piddling 15 cents for bringing my own bag, the grocery store charged $1 for each plastic or paper bag you need, you can bet people would hop on the sustainability bandwagon.