Comments on: Why Ethics Alone Can’t Save The World http://youngbritishandliberal.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/why-ethics-alone-cant-save-the-world/ An online magazine for young British Liberals Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:36:14 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: georgeinwashington http://youngbritishandliberal.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/why-ethics-alone-cant-save-the-world/#comment-656 georgeinwashington Tue, 11 Dec 2007 06:39:46 +0000 http://youngbritishandliberal.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/why-ethics-alone-cant-save-the-world/#comment-656 Great post, but I would disagree that people can spot hypocrisy and demand action on terrorism and the economy. The only demand that people are seen to be doing something, even if it does nothing. This fits in entirely why people dont mind that Cameron has his car follow him on his bicycle. Imprisoning people for six weeks without trial will not stop terrorism, it might even encourage it, and yet people support it because it looks tough. Similarly with the economy, people are impressed with the strong pound, simply it seems because if something is strong, it must be good. Never mind that British industry has been all but obliterated by the persistently high level of the pound and by staying out of the EMU. Great post, but I would disagree that people can spot hypocrisy and demand action on terrorism and the economy. The only demand that people are seen to be doing something, even if it does nothing. This fits in entirely why people dont mind that Cameron has his car follow him on his bicycle. Imprisoning people for six weeks without trial will not stop terrorism, it might even encourage it, and yet people support it because it looks tough. Similarly with the economy, people are impressed with the strong pound, simply it seems because if something is strong, it must be good. Never mind that British industry has been all but obliterated by the persistently high level of the pound and by staying out of the EMU.

]]> By: Joe Otten http://youngbritishandliberal.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/why-ethics-alone-cant-save-the-world/#comment-654 Joe Otten Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:19:45 +0000 http://youngbritishandliberal.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/why-ethics-alone-cant-save-the-world/#comment-654 This is an excellent post, and is along the lines I have long been <a href="http://joeotten.blogspot.com/search/label/environment" rel="nofollow">arguing</a> To Geoffrey I would say this. By all means continue to lecture, but don't consider lecturing to be political action. Environmentalism is overly infected with lifestylism way out of proportion to the good that it does. We don't respond to problems with crime, health or education with demands that we should all volunteer to help out more in the police stations, hospitals and schools. Lifestylism was understandable when next to nobody was interested in political action. But it was a kind of giving up. We should give up the giving up. This is an excellent post, and is along the lines I have long been arguing

To Geoffrey I would say this. By all means continue to lecture, but don’t consider lecturing to be political action. Environmentalism is overly infected with lifestylism way out of proportion to the good that it does.

We don’t respond to problems with crime, health or education with demands that we should all volunteer to help out more in the police stations, hospitals and schools.

Lifestylism was understandable when next to nobody was interested in political action. But it was a kind of giving up. We should give up the giving up.

]]> By: Geoffrey Payne http://youngbritishandliberal.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/why-ethics-alone-cant-save-the-world/#comment-653 Geoffrey Payne Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:24:36 +0000 http://youngbritishandliberal.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/why-ethics-alone-cant-save-the-world/#comment-653 Maybe people do not like being lectured. The popularity of Jeremy Clarkson proves how easy it is to be popular and speak out against being Green. But is the answer to stop? Let people continue to be wasteful and destroy the planet? If you have a better alternative to "lecturing", then tell us what it is. As far as I am aware, the only alternative is to do nothing. Maybe it is human nature that we will destroy ourselves. If that is what you think, then say so. The reality is that the EU, the US, China and India contribute to 70% of global warming. The energy intesive lifestyles we lead today are simply not sustainable. If we are not going to change the way we live - and maybe we won't - then we will suffer the terrible consequences. Maybe people do not like being lectured. The popularity of Jeremy Clarkson proves how easy it is to be popular and speak out against being Green.
But is the answer to stop? Let people continue to be wasteful and destroy the planet?
If you have a better alternative to “lecturing”, then tell us what it is. As far as I am aware, the only alternative is to do nothing.
Maybe it is human nature that we will destroy ourselves. If that is what you think, then say so.
The reality is that the EU, the US, China and India contribute to 70% of global warming.
The energy intesive lifestyles we lead today are simply not sustainable. If we are not going to change the way we live – and maybe we won’t – then we will suffer the terrible consequences.

]]>