“ There needs to be a collective awakening to some of the prescriptions . A bottle that has been made from recycled plastic is still a plastic bottle which could materialise in the ocean ”
FOREWORD
Smoke and mirrors
“ There needs to be a collective awakening to some of the prescriptions . A bottle that has been made from recycled plastic is still a plastic bottle which could materialise in the ocean ”
It seems absurd that , up until the 1950s , doctors were regularly prescribing cigarettes to people with asthma . “ That ’ s 60 Lucky Strikes for you , Ethel ,” would not be an uncommon diagnosis from a GP .
What has this got to do with Sustainability , you may ask . It ’ s about refusing to look at the bigger picture ; refusing to take a really good collective look in the mirror . When it comes to climate change we have to start thinking bigger – much bigger .
Placing our myriad bins in colour and / or size order on Wednesday evening may make us feel better initially . But , like taking home fags from the pharmacy , isn ’ t much of what we are doing a short-term solution , designed to make us feel better without actually focusing on the wider , existential problem ?
There needs to be a collective awakening to some of the prescriptions . A bottle that has been made from recycled plastic is still a plastic bottle which could materialise in the ocean .
Furthermore , when it comes to offsetting , should we be more inclined to raise an eyebrow . Surely it would be better to refrain from damaging the planet , rather than planting a tree in the aftermath of that destruction .
We need to ignite a mind shift away from the dogma of ‘ feeling good ’ towards a culture of transformation . This means pushing the government towards an EV infrastructure , not in 2030 , but in the next 18 months . And , yes , it means not stepping on that plane bound for Ibiza . After all , 1m on the runway will ‘ offset ’ the previous five years of recycling you had been so proud of .
The march towards change , real tangible change , has started but we must make it fly ,
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