athada’s Recent Comments

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  How about some eco-grace?

  Wolverine -
  You may be more environmentally hardcore than others. You may see the need as absolutely urgent. That is great. Please keep it up. You may even want to prod more moderate Grist readers ... a bit.

  But how about a little eco-grace? Environmentalism will never go mainstream, will not go beyond greenwashing, until it is accessible to the masses (the global poor, the American middle & working classes). If not, it will remain a righteous fringe movement. And a depressing one at that, because all it can do is bring other people down instead of bringing them on board. And we need everyone, and we need them heading in the right direction. For those who have just turned the right way, they need a little grace to make the journey. Harsh words may send them packing.

  I've seen the same thing in other movements, be they spiritual or social justice related. A few very dedicated, courageous people get so absorbed in it that they turn inward and point outward, instead of being welcoming.

  We need strength for the long hall. We need a sustainable sustainability.

  Solar John is already doing much more than most. Even if you think it's not enough, have a little grace. Or your words may have the opposite effect.On All-electric car coming to the U.S. next year posted 1 year, 7 months ago 17 Responses

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  Life Cycle Analysis anyone?

  I know the Grist community (and Grist) knows about Life Cycle Analyses - especially that most issues are very complex and sometimes are counterintuitive.

  On car washing, for example, here we're worrying mostly about 2 environmental impacts of car-washing: water use and soap contamination. A huge factor that was never mentioned is the construction of car wash facilities! At least at home most people already have most of the materials to wash a car (a concrete slab, a hose), whereas at a car wash you have an entire facility built to serve one purpose - a facility that needs maintenance, electricity, etc.

  As for soap suds going to the waste water plant, yes the water isn't contaminated by the plant is also sucking electricity, polluting, etc.

  I know for the sake of our collective sanity we have to simplify sometimes, but we have to face the troubling facts and not allow enviro-critics to point out our oversimplification.On Umbra on washing your car posted 2 years, 7 months ago 7 Responses