The Green Religion: Do As They Say and Not As They Do

Interesting article from the Guardian on the political rhetoric of environmentalism....

``People who believe they have the greenest lifestyles can be seen as some of the main culprits behind global warming, says a team of researchers, who claim that many ideas about sustainable living are a myth.

``According to the researchers, people who regularly recycle rubbish and save energy at home are also the most likely to take frequent long-haul flights abroad. The carbon emissions from such flights can swamp the green savings made at home, the researchers claim.

``Stewart Barr, of Exeter University, who led the research, said: "Green living is largely something of a myth. There is this middle class environmentalism where being green is part of the desired image. But another part of the desired image is to fly off skiing twice a year. And the carbon savings they make by not driving their kids to school will be obliterated by the pollution from their flights."

``Some people even said they deserved such flights as a reward for their green efforts, he added.

Read the rest here

Lesson: Be wary of holier than thou preaching. They may be sounding noble, but the preachers themselves don't practice what they advocate.