tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post6370921398220440060..comments2023-07-20T11:49:35.977+01:00Comments on Low Carbon Lifestyle: Wednesday 25th February 09Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-44004062669105504512009-03-06T02:12:00.000+00:002009-03-06T02:12:00.000+00:00This is the text of the letter in The Ecologist:"I...This is the text of the letter in The Ecologist:<BR/><BR/>"I wanted to respond to John Cossham's advice on reducing your carbon footprint (How to... February). While I applaud Mr Cossham's lifestyle and his low carbon footprint, his statement that 'you are not green if you drive around everywhere' is simplistic.<BR/>Of course we should all drive less and use public transport more, but for some people it is just not practical. I have a severely autistic son and use my car to take him to school, therapy sessions and play activities. Using public transport, at the moment, would be too distressing for him. However, although I regularly use a car, I still consider myself green. Three years ago I bought a cleaner and smaller car. I am a vegetarian, work an allotment, don't fly, invest money with the Ecology Building Society and am a member of Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and the Green Party. I use recycled products wherever possible, recycle heavily and last year worked hard to persuade my council to install Tetra-Pak-recycling bins at various sites in my local area. When I can use public transport I do.<BR/>Vilifying car users is not, in my opinion, helpful to the green cause, and if a judgement is to be made about green credentials, one should look at the whole picture.<BR/>John Matthews<BR/>Harpenden, Hertfordshire"<BR/><BR/>My response to this is twofold. Firstly, he is, like many of us who do things which get criticism, defensive (hey, I defend my choices in exactly the same way!). Secondly, he doesn't 'drive around everywhere' as by his own admission, he uses public transport when he can. So I would describe this chap as pretty green, and if he did his C footprint, he'd probably find it lower than the UK average.<BR/><BR/>And when I said that quote to the journalist, I did so partly to provoke and to encourage debate! So it worked....Compost Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-85289238782080402502009-02-27T11:44:00.000+00:002009-02-27T11:44:00.000+00:00Bit negative I'm afraid.Bit negative I'm afraid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-48593648918838492242009-02-26T12:34:00.000+00:002009-02-26T12:34:00.000+00:00No I haven't yet... maybe I should go and buy the ...No I haven't yet... maybe I should go and buy the March edition? Were they positive comments?<BR/>JCompost Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-48364417610747814182009-02-26T08:44:00.000+00:002009-02-26T08:44:00.000+00:00Have you seen the letters reply to your article in...Have you seen the letters reply to your article in the Ecologist?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com