<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Ask Umbra on license plates]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by hawaiifalvo http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-08-ask-umbra-license-plates/ Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:21:20 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-08-ask-umbra-license-plates/1 You think a duck or a wolf on your license plate makes you green? Get real. Ditch the car and really make a difference.

"365 PVC" is an appropriate license plate -- it reminds us of all the PVCs and nasties that are in the car, 365 days a year. Even better would be "365 GHG" or "365 CO2" !

]]> You think a duck or a wolf on your license plate makes you green? Get real. Ditch the car and really make a difference.

"365 PVC" is an appropriate license plate -- it reminds us of all the PVCs and nasties that are in the car, 365 days a year. Even better would be "365 GHG" or "365 CO2" !

]]> Comment #2 by Sara Barz http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-08-ask-umbra-license-plates/ Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:10:48 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-08-ask-umbra-license-plates/2 I think you just keep the license plate, if only for irony's sake.  Anyone who knows you won't consider your license plate as an indictment of your green cred., and most other drivers won't get the significance. 

Consider it fate's way of letting you lead a small ironic protest everyday -- like billionaires for Bush but in a less flashy, more-DMV style.

]]> I think you just keep the license plate, if only for irony's sake.  Anyone who knows you won't consider your license plate as an indictment of your green cred., and most other drivers won't get the significance. 

Consider it fate's way of letting you lead a small ironic protest everyday -- like billionaires for Bush but in a less flashy, more-DMV style.

]]> Comment #3 by Ann D http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-08-ask-umbra-license-plates/ Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:43:26 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-08-ask-umbra-license-plates/3 Dear Umbra.

Your comment regarding the "ducks Limited" vanity plates offered by Wisconsin is half-right:

While that organization has saved land for duck migration, the reason they have done this is because they are a duck HUNTING organization,so they save duck habitat so that they have lots of ducks to shoot!

Ann D

]]> Dear Umbra.

Your comment regarding the "ducks Limited" vanity plates offered by Wisconsin is half-right:

While that organization has saved land for duck migration, the reason they have done this is because they are a duck HUNTING organization,so they save duck habitat so that they have lots of ducks to shoot!

Ann D

]]> Comment #4 by Wrightsfd http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-08-ask-umbra-license-plates/ Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:37:04 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-08-ask-umbra-license-plates/4 Comment #5 by ringelmann5 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-08-ask-umbra-license-plates/ Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:35:08 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-08-ask-umbra-license-plates/5 D.U. (not Depleted Uranium) is responsible for the acquisition and preservation of wetlands, for which the greenies should be thankful, just as the efforts of Trout Unlimited have been responsible for the preservation of clean running water.  In fact the proceeds from sporting licenses are major contributors to the acquisition and preservation of wildlife habitat.

Yesterday I witnessed the family cat with a captured chipmunk, engaging in kitty play with the mortally injured creature until losing interest when it no longer had the life energy to respond to being repeatedly batted around and pursued.  Stark contrast to the quick death experienced by the shotgun harvested duck.  The duck hunter at least puts the duck on the dinner table.

Like it or not, we all have a place on the food chain.  You might care to discuss the subject with a hungry bear while unarmed.


my 2¢


]]> D.U. (not Depleted Uranium) is responsible for the acquisition and preservation of wetlands, for which the greenies should be thankful, just as the efforts of Trout Unlimited have been responsible for the preservation of clean running water.  In fact the proceeds from sporting licenses are major contributors to the acquisition and preservation of wildlife habitat.

Yesterday I witnessed the family cat with a captured chipmunk, engaging in kitty play with the mortally injured creature until losing interest when it no longer had the life energy to respond to being repeatedly batted around and pursued.  Stark contrast to the quick death experienced by the shotgun harvested duck.  The duck hunter at least puts the duck on the dinner table.

Like it or not, we all have a place on the food chain.  You might care to discuss the subject with a hungry bear while unarmed.


my 2¢


]]> Comment #6 by hawaiifalvo http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-08-ask-umbra-license-plates/ Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:03:21 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-08-ask-umbra-license-plates/6 Wrightsfd, I live in the sub-arctic, and my job takes me to tiny communities above the Arctic Circle (even farther North than Wisconsin ... :) so I know about lack of public transportation, and needing a car (or snow machine!) to get around. I also know about chairs, toilet paper and kitchenware. You read Grist and Umbra. So, you are obviously good people. And if you or Sarah are one of those people who absoutely needs to burn gas in order to make products so essential to humanity, then you have my appologies -- and my gratitude!

But, we both know that a lot of car trips are not made in support of the production of essential goods and food, and a lot of car trips are made in situations where public transit, cycling or walking are not only possible -- but healthy and cost-effective alternatives. (To say nothing about our consumption of manufactured goods that are not essential).

For every rural Wisonsite who desperately needs her car so she can bring important manufactured goods into the world, I am sure we will find a city slicker out for a land cruise, or heading to Bonzo Burger's drive-thru, or Timmy's for coffee in a paper cup. [And let's not knock city folk - their high density living means their eco-footprint is that much lower than folks in low density environments, at least in terms of space and often transport]. So let's not trot out that old argument unless it actually applies.

We also know about climate change, and the tremendous impact it is already starting to have. Here in the sub-arctic we are witnessing it first hand, including its effects on traditional lifestyles. Personal transport is responsible for a lot of that. Fighting climate change -- you can call it idealism. A lot of us call it survival.

Want to make a positive difference? How often you drive -- and whether or not you drive matters much more than what your plate says -- and whether DU got $12 from it!

]]> Wrightsfd, I live in the sub-arctic, and my job takes me to tiny communities above the Arctic Circle (even farther North than Wisconsin ... :) so I know about lack of public transportation, and needing a car (or snow machine!) to get around. I also know about chairs, toilet paper and kitchenware. You read Grist and Umbra. So, you are obviously good people. And if you or Sarah are one of those people who absoutely needs to burn gas in order to make products so essential to humanity, then you have my appologies -- and my gratitude!

But, we both know that a lot of car trips are not made in support of the production of essential goods and food, and a lot of car trips are made in situations where public transit, cycling or walking are not only possible -- but healthy and cost-effective alternatives. (To say nothing about our consumption of manufactured goods that are not essential).

For every rural Wisonsite who desperately needs her car so she can bring important manufactured goods into the world, I am sure we will find a city slicker out for a land cruise, or heading to Bonzo Burger's drive-thru, or Timmy's for coffee in a paper cup. [And let's not knock city folk - their high density living means their eco-footprint is that much lower than folks in low density environments, at least in terms of space and often transport]. So let's not trot out that old argument unless it actually applies.

We also know about climate change, and the tremendous impact it is already starting to have. Here in the sub-arctic we are witnessing it first hand, including its effects on traditional lifestyles. Personal transport is responsible for a lot of that. Fighting climate change -- you can call it idealism. A lot of us call it survival.

Want to make a positive difference? How often you drive -- and whether or not you drive matters much more than what your plate says -- and whether DU got $12 from it!

]]>