I've come to the ripe old age where I've finally realised I can't save the world single handedly but that every little thing I do to try, makes a difference no matter how small. There's a saying in the dog rescue world 'saving one dog won't change the world but you changed the world for that dog' . So do what you can but always enjoy life if you can - it's too short and precious not to.
Ha! Love the review at the bottom. I avoid Bird fair due to its promotion of high carbon holidays, but I feel like I’m missing out on seeing excellent people, and also I’m another tiny writer who could do with promoting my books more! It’s all so complicated. And with Amazon, I try to avoid it but also need it! I guess we can only do what we can!
Another tricky issue! I personally don't use Amazon I don't agree with their ethics or the huge waste generated. I prefer to shop local and support the high street shops. I have found them very helpful, they will order books in, if they don't stock them. Travel is also tricky, I don't drive because of the environmental cost instead I walk, use a bus or train. Sometimes you need that big summer getaway so flying is often necessary but I try to offset it by my vegan lifestyle and trying to raise as much awareness, and doing as much good as I can. We have in the past done coach trips, even 24 hours to Spain, so it is doable, but not as convenient!
Also grappling with these issues - I think Cara's "do less/better" point is the key. If everyone followed this to an extent, we could make a huge impact. So many people don't and those of us who do can easily get wracked by guilt at wanting to do more, or become very hairshirty about small things, that it's hard to feel you're getting the balance right. It's just frustrating that those who care never feel they're doing enough and those who don't do anything really don't care.
yes to this - there really is that rabbit hole to head down of becoming more and more 'pure' - and then wondering why you don't have many friends .... it would be so much easier not to give a damn!!!
Yes, the danger is getting sanctimonious about it all and judging others' values or priorities against your own, looking down your nose at people who, say, take domestic flights rather than engaging with their reasons for doing so (cost, reliability etc.) I think most people would like to do the 'right' thing, but don't necessarily feel they have the choice to, think it's not for them or don't really understand how to. The problem then is not to get too preachy towards them and,a s you say, end up with not many friends.
I think many people can understand Hugh. No one is perfect at the end of the day. As long as you do the best that you can in whatever situation you are in and listen to both your heart and head, I think it should be fine. For diet myself, I am strictly vegetarian and almost vegan. Although I prefer to use the term "plant based" to describe my diet as some people can get very fussy and hardwired on what constitutes a so called "perfect vegan" (some really extreme vegans I have come across don't think you can be a vegan if you visit accredited zoos, horse ride ethically, some even say you can't be vegan if you have any animals as companions (they class it as a form of "slavery", even if they have been adopted), and especially if you have carnivorous ones who need and that you feed meat/fish too like cats and ferrets). For travel, I don't personally go on any holidays at all and I haven't for many years. Both family circumstances and finances prohibit it. My last holiday was many years ago and that was simply just a 2 day trip to Edinburgh by plane (I think I could be forgiven though for that as I was a teenager at the time and obviously wasn't aware of the climate cost of flying). With Amazon, I occasionally buy from them but I prefer buying from physical stores mostly if I can because if there is anything wrong with what you buy, returning it is far easier to do in a physical store rather than an online one. The only time I will often buy from Amazon is either if a sale is on or if the product cannot seem to be purchased from anywhere else (I will hand it to Amazon on this, I usually say "If you can't find it on Amazon, then it is likely that it doesn't exist"). No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes and everyone is different. Just do the best you can do that also aligns with your ethical values. No one can really do more. I think a main key is to "do less and/but better".
Yes, I wrestle with similar issues, Hugh. We are still omnivores but have reduced our meat consumption over the years. I keep away from Amazon buying as much as possible and I'm trying to encourage hubby to travel by train more than car or plane (not really succeeding there). Hubby also pointed out that books require the chopping down of trees and maybe we should only read e-books. I think I'd struggle with that. P.S. I dont think I could ever give up cake, though some vegan ones are very nice.
Good point on the books however, with e-books I believe (although I am not 100% sure if I am correct here though so please feel free to correct me if I am wrong), they require electrical power to run online and that often comes from massive battery servers that are built on land (sadly, often on greenbelt and woodland, the same as many houses) and can destroy the area if they catch fire (from all the heat caused by the generators).
I wouldn't be surprised, Cara, about the impact of e-books and how they are supported. I limit the amount of paper based books I buy by using my local library and also donate any books I have bought to the libarary after I've read them (or pass them on to family and friends).
Now this is where I differ - if I've read a good book I buy another copy as a gift to a family member or friend who I think will enjoy it so that I'm supporting the author.
I think that's a lovely idea. There are a few books where we do that when we think family will enjoy something we've found (and they do the same to us).
Confession from the privileged end of the Global North. I'm fortunate enough to have an independent bookshop round the corner from me. Each time I order a book there (they usually arrive the next day), and pay a little more than I would at Amazon, I smile at the thought of how many extra hundreds of pounds it puts on the value of my house - when we sell it one day - to have an independent bookshop, not a Costa, round the corner. Gotta use it to keep it.
I've come to the ripe old age where I've finally realised I can't save the world single handedly but that every little thing I do to try, makes a difference no matter how small. There's a saying in the dog rescue world 'saving one dog won't change the world but you changed the world for that dog' . So do what you can but always enjoy life if you can - it's too short and precious not to.
this is such a good thought - 'saving one dog won't change the world but you changed the world for that dog'
Ha! Love the review at the bottom. I avoid Bird fair due to its promotion of high carbon holidays, but I feel like I’m missing out on seeing excellent people, and also I’m another tiny writer who could do with promoting my books more! It’s all so complicated. And with Amazon, I try to avoid it but also need it! I guess we can only do what we can!
Another tricky issue! I personally don't use Amazon I don't agree with their ethics or the huge waste generated. I prefer to shop local and support the high street shops. I have found them very helpful, they will order books in, if they don't stock them. Travel is also tricky, I don't drive because of the environmental cost instead I walk, use a bus or train. Sometimes you need that big summer getaway so flying is often necessary but I try to offset it by my vegan lifestyle and trying to raise as much awareness, and doing as much good as I can. We have in the past done coach trips, even 24 hours to Spain, so it is doable, but not as convenient!
Also grappling with these issues - I think Cara's "do less/better" point is the key. If everyone followed this to an extent, we could make a huge impact. So many people don't and those of us who do can easily get wracked by guilt at wanting to do more, or become very hairshirty about small things, that it's hard to feel you're getting the balance right. It's just frustrating that those who care never feel they're doing enough and those who don't do anything really don't care.
yes to this - there really is that rabbit hole to head down of becoming more and more 'pure' - and then wondering why you don't have many friends .... it would be so much easier not to give a damn!!!
Yes, the danger is getting sanctimonious about it all and judging others' values or priorities against your own, looking down your nose at people who, say, take domestic flights rather than engaging with their reasons for doing so (cost, reliability etc.) I think most people would like to do the 'right' thing, but don't necessarily feel they have the choice to, think it's not for them or don't really understand how to. The problem then is not to get too preachy towards them and,a s you say, end up with not many friends.
I think many people can understand Hugh. No one is perfect at the end of the day. As long as you do the best that you can in whatever situation you are in and listen to both your heart and head, I think it should be fine. For diet myself, I am strictly vegetarian and almost vegan. Although I prefer to use the term "plant based" to describe my diet as some people can get very fussy and hardwired on what constitutes a so called "perfect vegan" (some really extreme vegans I have come across don't think you can be a vegan if you visit accredited zoos, horse ride ethically, some even say you can't be vegan if you have any animals as companions (they class it as a form of "slavery", even if they have been adopted), and especially if you have carnivorous ones who need and that you feed meat/fish too like cats and ferrets). For travel, I don't personally go on any holidays at all and I haven't for many years. Both family circumstances and finances prohibit it. My last holiday was many years ago and that was simply just a 2 day trip to Edinburgh by plane (I think I could be forgiven though for that as I was a teenager at the time and obviously wasn't aware of the climate cost of flying). With Amazon, I occasionally buy from them but I prefer buying from physical stores mostly if I can because if there is anything wrong with what you buy, returning it is far easier to do in a physical store rather than an online one. The only time I will often buy from Amazon is either if a sale is on or if the product cannot seem to be purchased from anywhere else (I will hand it to Amazon on this, I usually say "If you can't find it on Amazon, then it is likely that it doesn't exist"). No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes and everyone is different. Just do the best you can do that also aligns with your ethical values. No one can really do more. I think a main key is to "do less and/but better".
do less and do better ... thank you!!!
You are most welcome Hugh!
Yes, I wrestle with similar issues, Hugh. We are still omnivores but have reduced our meat consumption over the years. I keep away from Amazon buying as much as possible and I'm trying to encourage hubby to travel by train more than car or plane (not really succeeding there). Hubby also pointed out that books require the chopping down of trees and maybe we should only read e-books. I think I'd struggle with that. P.S. I dont think I could ever give up cake, though some vegan ones are very nice.
Good point on the books however, with e-books I believe (although I am not 100% sure if I am correct here though so please feel free to correct me if I am wrong), they require electrical power to run online and that often comes from massive battery servers that are built on land (sadly, often on greenbelt and woodland, the same as many houses) and can destroy the area if they catch fire (from all the heat caused by the generators).
I wouldn't be surprised, Cara, about the impact of e-books and how they are supported. I limit the amount of paper based books I buy by using my local library and also donate any books I have bought to the libarary after I've read them (or pass them on to family and friends).
Now this is where I differ - if I've read a good book I buy another copy as a gift to a family member or friend who I think will enjoy it so that I'm supporting the author.
I think that's a lovely idea. There are a few books where we do that when we think family will enjoy something we've found (and they do the same to us).
Confession from the privileged end of the Global North. I'm fortunate enough to have an independent bookshop round the corner from me. Each time I order a book there (they usually arrive the next day), and pay a little more than I would at Amazon, I smile at the thought of how many extra hundreds of pounds it puts on the value of my house - when we sell it one day - to have an independent bookshop, not a Costa, round the corner. Gotta use it to keep it.