Green noise is a scary thought. It does make people confused, and it will lead to rebellion. The noise is brought on by know-it-alls and the people who dont know it all will label the environmentalists as pretensious and above the average non-green joe and they could very well just give up. That's the danger in going green, it requires A TON of research. and yes, things will contradict.
The nalgene thing is one of them. Yes reusable is ideal. But only if its safe. And that is yet ANOTHER thing people have to look into! and as such, additional info will continue to surface. The Bisphenol A just surfaced very very recently and no doubt they'll find other compounds that leech. But at the same time, we have known about the risk of leeching for a long time (Fast food banned Styrofoam a long time ago for a reason).
Green noise will also be a problem because, for all the good intentions many individuals have, it will be difficult to make the necessary improvements unless there is government intervention. If anything, we should be making the same noise at our governments demanding change! But again that will not happen becuase if it forces society as a whole to make drastic lifestyle changes, well yea, we're lazy....
Doing the things that make financial and economic sense are the only things that will stick. CFLs will work but only when they are disposed of properly (
www.lightbulbrecycling.com..... but again, it increases the price of the bulbs considerably, so people wont tolerate that) <- However, if that cost is factored into the initial price (and a shipping container included) then people dont feel like its a double whammy.
As for a fad, I dont think this is just a fad. Words like "social responsibility" and "corporate responsibility" are leading to awareness. People are starting to feel guilt for the way we have been wasteful and the idea that the next generation will be faced with some ugly ugly issues if we dont start doing something. As such, people are showing this attitude with how they spend. I work in a green collar job (yes thats what its called....) and everyone wants to their part and free up some of that guilt. And there is economic benefits to it. I see many companies who buy our products and raise their prices 10% to cover teh addtional costs and when they explain it is to go green, people dont generally object. They like that a company's efforts is also their spending's efforts are in turn green.
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