Living with Mangee

21:40:00 - Blog Action Day. Environment.

As Monday draws to a close, I thought i'd at least mention Blog Action Day.

Today (or tomorrow if you're timezone-impaired) is Blog Action Day, and the topic for discussion is the Environment.

( I would link to the site, but 15,000 bloggers already have... )

So on with it.

The World

Of note recently I find Al Gore getting a Nobel Peace Prize for a movie (amongst his other work). It has been interesting to see Apple as a company slowly moving towards environmentally friendliness, offering recycling options, and getting rid of toxic plastics from their products. Aluminium and glass do look better too. Maybe Al has done while serving on Apples Board than just a Keynote presentation on Climate Change with 9 factual errors.

Lil old New Zealand

Here in my country of birth, I think we're slowly moving towards more awareness of environmental issues. While the branding of NZ is that we're clean and green, I think there is a lot of 'she'll be right' happening. Sustainable living, and consumers paying attention to their carbon footprint is interesting. I think our politicians could do more. Far too often the interests of a few seem to take precedence, and we forget the bigger picture, and the long term goals as pushed aside. A few sacrifices now, can lead to a better future, can't they?.
I do like the rumblings about mandating production and fleet replacement with electric cars, I'd love to be able to afford an electric car. Despite budget issues, almost got an electric scooter last month. Lets make more 'hard laws' rather than soft fuzzy decisions though, eh? Come on Labour! Anti-smacking? WTF?

Recently I noticed Trade Me started listing new cars' details form manufacturers. I went for a browse - but soon was disappointed - I couldn't search by fuel efficiency or other environmentally friendly aspects.. I'm sure consumer action can prompt change?

Right here in suburbia, Totara Park, Upper Hutt

This morning I was driving out on my way on the 10 minute commute to work at 6am, pondering what an ideal world could be - in a local sense. It is Monday, rubbish day, and I was pleased (and feeling slightly guilty) to see the amount of kerb side recycling happening. I do fear too little of it is actually recycled, as NZ lacks the processing plants that mass population can fund, but it's a start.

I saw the mist rolling over the hills, over the green forested hills, and thought about renewable resources. There is at least one solar panel, and a wind turbine on the way to work. Too little, and not scalable (ever heard a small wind turbine?!)

In an 'all roads lead to Rome' way of thinking, I think that fibre-ing up the suburbs (FTTH) could come a long way towards cutting down on pollution. It would bring greater connectivity, and reduce reliance on transport. Further stretching it I pondered: If everyone could order in their groceries, and work remotely, then a fair few more people could chose to be car-free, carefree. With more people spending more time in their home suburb, locla business would thrive, who wants to get in their car and travel 10 kms to the township, when the local shops are 3 minutes walk away - as a nation we need the exercise! For some of course, real broadband, would lead to increased screen time.

This evening, going for a walk I could smell the number of household still using an inefficient wood fire. Does my gas fire use less carbon? Does it matter? Being in windy Wellington though, we don't notice it much. Stop in Christchurch, on a windless evening, and spot why they are far more proactive.

But where is the Blog Action

We can do little by just pondering. It should be time to act. One foot in front of the other. Go pop over to the Ministry for the Environments' Issues page, and pick one. Go talk with your newly elected local councillors, and fidn out what they are doing locally. Half of them promised to do something, and you elected them. Lets get things moving. Our government seems to think broadband is an environmental concern.

Tomorrow, I plan to go and see when my fibre is coming. Till then, wifi might do..


It's night now. Oh well - the rest of the world gets to see this on the right day :)