tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post7930820054202188975..comments2024-03-26T00:14:00.509-07:00Comments on Crunchy Chicken: Is air travel selfish?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-24274073923303843382009-09-15T08:27:40.862-07:002009-09-15T08:27:40.862-07:00I do absolutely think air travel is selfish.
So ...I do absolutely think air travel is selfish. <br /><br />So travelling is so beneficial to you, but how does that help Bangladesh when they are covered in water? If you really care about the planet, then if you really must travel, use transport other than air and stay there for a long period, don't use fly around here and there for a week. Always wanted to go to India? Fine, spend a year or Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-36379404540743853302009-06-01T05:38:57.954-07:002009-06-01T05:38:57.954-07:00I wish this discussion had gone on longer.
From w...I wish this discussion had gone on longer.<br /><br />From what I've read, flights involve both CO2 and nitrous-something-or-other (can you tell I'm not a climatologist?) that is LOADS worse than CO2. Comparing it to a per mile car ride isn't the same. (Although yes, we should be trying to limit the use of all of them).<br /><br />Is it selfish? Absolutely. I live in the UK, my entire family (Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16276695898162565225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-44790588634650255072009-03-23T15:03:00.000-07:002009-03-23T15:03:00.000-07:00Bring back the zeppelin, I say....now there was a ...Bring back the zeppelin, I say....now there was a way to travel in style :)<BR/>By the way, did you know you can actually travel as a passenger on some freighter ships? I found a website devoted to that a while back.....so there are other options than flying.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-75442166179164357452009-03-23T12:20:00.000-07:002009-03-23T12:20:00.000-07:00Ah, Greenpa's comment about sail travel got me thi...Ah, Greenpa's comment about sail travel got me thinking about my childhood. When I was a teenager, my family and I lived on a sailboat and sailed around the world. How long did that take? 4 years. So, while we saw a LOT of the world (and how they really lived), it took a long time. Really, it was a matter of an entirely different lifestyle. While I LOVE Greenpa's argument for more sail travel, I The Nurturing Piratehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13268305689672587081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-13704020095838020402009-03-22T09:20:00.000-07:002009-03-22T09:20:00.000-07:00Haha, yeah, I was wondering if it was me you were ...Haha, yeah, I was wondering if it was me you were talking about -- but no, I definitely didn't go on a plane to Tunisia so I could see environmental damage up-close and in-person. And in fact, I was there with about 8 people for a group vacation and we specifically chose that country because it was smack in the middle of where everyone was currently living; so in a roundabout way, it involved theAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-25166990462896881162009-03-21T06:20:00.000-07:002009-03-21T06:20:00.000-07:00I don't fly, have kids or eat meat (because these ...I don't fly, have kids or eat meat (because these things are hugely selfish!) and drive less than 10 miles per week. I made my life this way because it's the least harmful way I can think to live. I don't think I deserve more than that. By the way, anything (a square inch of dirt, sitting under a tree - think Buddha) can be transformative if one simply pays attention.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-14557854360564994432009-03-20T12:29:00.000-07:002009-03-20T12:29:00.000-07:00To Bucky:International travel inspired me to becom...To Bucky:<BR/><BR/>International travel inspired me to become a civil engineer in water resources. The issues I saw traveling made me aware of people who have poor access to clean water and sanitation, and how they are suffering. It also showed me how people are suffering in poverty to supply western countries with commercial goods that we throw in landfills. I could see the effects of poor Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-70751451695256090932009-03-20T12:17:00.000-07:002009-03-20T12:17:00.000-07:00I have some things in common with previous posters...I have some things in common with previous posters, such as my travel being responsible for opening my eyes and mind and making me want to contribute in a positive way to the world, understanding in a tangible way the many many issues we face and create, and flying, but then using low carbon emission local transport, and next time we fly we'll do carbon offsets.<BR/><BR/>But, the bigger thing to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-83042177683900918802009-03-20T10:06:00.000-07:002009-03-20T10:06:00.000-07:00Rebekka, not that it's the same issue, but - if yo...Rebekka, not that it's the same issue, but - if you subtract out the long trips we take instead of flying, we drive our car about 10% as much as "average American". We bike or bus for commuting, and bike or walk for local errands about 75% of the time.<BR/><BR/>A wholistic look at your total carbon consumption is a pretty big project, so Crunchy breaks it down into individual issues. But really, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-43638882450170841402009-03-20T06:16:00.000-07:002009-03-20T06:16:00.000-07:00Interesting question Bucky. But truly how much o...Interesting question Bucky. But truly how much of anything we do is actually for someone else with no benefit to ourselves?<BR/><BR/>We lessen our carbon footprint simply for the rest of the world or because it also benefits us (or our children) too? We lessen the chemicals in our life because it only benefits the watershed and not because we aren't worried about the effects of chemicals on Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-77024929599612532442009-03-20T03:38:00.000-07:002009-03-20T03:38:00.000-07:00I'm late to the party here. It's been interesting....I'm late to the party here. It's been interesting. People seem to feel strongly about their flying.<BR/><BR/>I agree that travel <I>can</I> be transformative. I just have a question for all of those that are trying to justify their pollution -- how has your travel made an actual difference in the world? Your travel has been of great benefit to you. What about to the rest of us? <BR/><BR/>I'm a Buckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09885809053657026847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-3893231106078162572009-03-19T23:07:00.000-07:002009-03-19T23:07:00.000-07:00I live in Idaho and have family in Oregon and Alas...I live in Idaho and have family in Oregon and Alaska and some back East. We have always flown once a year or 2 years to see each other. I don't want to keep doing this. I wonder how much less carbon would be used by taking a train? Would that be a big difference?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-34367550275690604602009-03-19T21:53:00.000-07:002009-03-19T21:53:00.000-07:00As if there weren't enough debate going on here, m...As if there weren't enough debate going on here, my husband and I struggle with something. There is a program called Engineers Across Borders at his university. As engineers passionate about the environment and alternative energy, this group flies to poor countries to install solar panels at schools to provide them with light in places like Rowanda.<BR/><BR/>All those students flying across theKatie @ makingthishome.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08720106984004009369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-41734374207506470922009-03-19T18:55:00.000-07:002009-03-19T18:55:00.000-07:00Interesting conversation, as usual. I tend to feel...Interesting conversation, as usual. I tend to feel less strongly about tourism vs visiting family -- since I have a 97 year old grandmother across the country. Seems like some distinction is in order. But I agree with you that it's degrees of rationalization. I also feel uncomfortable with carbon offsets -- I feel like emitting the carbon in the first place is something I should avoid - so JessTrevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11000531822628182708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-88538041235917695532009-03-19T18:29:00.000-07:002009-03-19T18:29:00.000-07:00I was simply struck by how passionate people are a...I was simply struck by how passionate people are about this issue. I live under the flight pattern of the planes coming out and in of the airport. It is trying at times listening to the noise. It also makes me realize just how much people travel on planes. I'm hoping they come up with a more eco-friendly way to achieve air travel.Green Fundraising Ideashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02455649047737533864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-22533428323863151902009-03-19T17:40:00.000-07:002009-03-19T17:40:00.000-07:00I'd add more right now, but I have to go make dinn...I'd add more right now, but I have to go make dinner... <BR/><BR/>Anyway, I wholeheartedly agree with e4 and what he's saying. Thanks for reading my mind and saving me time typing.Crunchy Chickenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10612320939936593420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-65394804647539986872009-03-19T17:28:00.000-07:002009-03-19T17:28:00.000-07:00I have to say the tourism argument is problematic ...I have to say the tourism argument is problematic too. Pouring lots of money into a country so we can traipse around their wonders and buy their trinkets is all well and good until the economy falls apart and they're suddenly left with an economy built on a house of cards. <BR/><BR/>Besides, it's very easy to prove that more money doesn't make a place better or it's people happier. Examples are e4https://www.blogger.com/profile/13435927076587347401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-32898838832449406972009-03-19T17:05:00.000-07:002009-03-19T17:05:00.000-07:00Rebekka - flawed logic. For one thing, I don't kno...Rebekka - flawed logic. For one thing, I don't know too many people who fly who don't also have cars. Not saying it doesn't happen, but most people who fly also drive. <BR/><BR/>Besides, driving 10 miles to the store or to a job is a whole lot different than flying a thousand miles to "better ourselves" as some people here propose. <BR/><BR/>Just to be clear, I'm not excluding myself from the e4https://www.blogger.com/profile/13435927076587347401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-9591502504120924472009-03-19T16:45:00.000-07:002009-03-19T16:45:00.000-07:00So I guess all you people who are saying air trave...So I guess all you people who are saying air travel is selfish are going to stop selfishly driving your cars?<BR/><BR/>Because travel by car is responsible for more than twice as much carbon as air travel.From the lion's mouthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08269847882599124126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-59376256797066534652009-03-19T16:34:00.000-07:002009-03-19T16:34:00.000-07:00Crunchy, we've managed to see a good bit of th...Crunchy, we've managed to see a good bit of the US without flying (not visit my brother in South America, though - not til the kiddo's a little older, I think.) Your Mexico trip sounds fabulous, and way more of a learning experience than flying to Cabo San Lucas for spring break (which some of my old coworkers did)<BR/><BR/>On an individual-trip basis, it's not a whole lot better to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-64872046034328767312009-03-19T15:53:00.001-07:002009-03-19T15:53:00.001-07:00Instead of 'is it selfish', why not ask 'is it wor...Instead of 'is it selfish', why not ask 'is it worth the consequences'? Bangladeshi scientist Dr Atiq Rahman reckons that for every 10,000 tonnes CO2 emitted, a Bangladeshi family dies. The land on which they live and grown their food and the water that the drink become contaminated by salt and they die. He thinks, for every 10,000 tonnes *your* family emits, you should take in the BangladeshiHeatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17588832912375311757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-80157123027546100712009-03-19T15:53:00.000-07:002009-03-19T15:53:00.000-07:00Actually, the comment was from another blog, not g...Actually, the comment was from another blog, not greenasathistle, just for the record.Crunchy Chickenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10612320939936593420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-56243783762856123292009-03-19T15:38:00.000-07:002009-03-19T15:38:00.000-07:00I think it was greenasathistle.com...she just went...I think it was greenasathistle.com...she just went to Tunisia and was writing about it.<BR/><BR/>But onto your question. It's not an easy answer.<BR/><BR/>I don't see it entirely as a question of "do we have the right?" I see it also as a question of "Do we have the responsibility?"<BR/><BR/>On the one hand, in terms of "do we have the the right?" yes it is selfish. You can't really get around Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11877639327788299519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-87962815094401827492009-03-19T14:00:00.000-07:002009-03-19T14:00:00.000-07:00Sharlene said: "But I also think there are alot mo...Sharlene said: "But I also think there are alot more harmful things to focus than air travel. If air travel and its pollutants is the worst thing we have to worry about then I would say we are doing very well as a planet."<BR/><BR/>That's exactly the point though. Air travel and its pollutants are about the worst way to travel, and most of that travel is unnecessary. To steal a quote from George e4https://www.blogger.com/profile/13435927076587347401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-71375066483325565842009-03-19T13:10:00.000-07:002009-03-19T13:10:00.000-07:00I don't air travel is selfish. I do think using pr...I don't air travel is selfish. I do think using private planes to go from one place to another to save timecan be borderline selfish. Or perhaps flying for the sport of flying with no destination in mind. BUt I also think there are alot more harmful things to focus than air travel. If air travel and its pollutants is the worst thing we have to worry about then I would say we are doing very well Sharlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08539955929237988325noreply@blogger.com