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E-PrinceThe story is, sadly, always the same: Each time someone on campus promotes an initiative under the guise of “sustainability” or “going green,” Princeton’s administration and its student body is quick to flock to it like sheep.
No one ...
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You're right and you're wrong. I don't think the whole Greening thing is one vast conspiracy, as some of it is good. For example, the energy saved by flourescent reduces mercury emissions from coal power plants (which mostly power America) by a far greater amount than what is contained in those bulbs.
I understand where you're coming from, but it should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, instead of brushing the movement with broad strokes, as you seem to do.
Very much in line with common sense. Nice article! Especially the points about the orthodoxy the "green" movement has created...some of them really treat environmentalism like a cult, and lose sight of the big picture. Worse, they view any criticism as heresy rather than legitimate, helpful dissent.
I agree with the main idea here...we need to make sure our green initiatives are well thought out and are not mere exercises to ease our consciences. Opinions on current environmental issues are diverse, and we would do well to encourage dialog rather than acting as peons of people like Al Gore...
great article
Most of these environmental initiatives are matters of social signaling - "look at how hip and virtuous we are!" - rather than sincere efforts to improve the environment. Else we'd be putting research into geoengineering and nuclear power, which are quantitatively much more promising in addressing climate change. But they've been deemed unsexy by the Stuff White People Like crowd, so we quibble over trays instead.
I'm definitely not involved/even really aware of what the environmental organizations on campus do, but why all the hate? I don't think they have any bad intentions, and I don't really understand how getting rid of trays will hurt you that much. I mean, I also don't see how it'll not help save energy/water/whatever to stop using the trays.
People need to just get over this on both sides and stop being so self-righteous and condemning of the opposing argument.
Most eating clubs as far as I know don't use trays, and they seem to get along fine. Are you just resisting the concept of change or is there really a strong need for trays that I'm unaware of?
I don't think the article is about hate or resisting change. It is about the constant flow of political correctness passed off as science, often with no objective evidence, often with much hypocrisy. The environmental movement is perfectly willing to embrace someone like Al Gore, since he has the correct opinions. Never mind his addition to private jets and his $1000 per month electric bills. Unfortunately, the environmental movement is much more about a political agenda than the environment.
The author of this article made a few good points and I do believe some "green" initiatives are short sighted. BUT this is not an excuse to lump together all "green" initiatives as over-the-top. (The low-flush toilets and other efforts are only doing good things.) Furthermore, I am not a "liberal progressive" but I can still recognize that organization is needed in order to make tangible changes in the wasteful patterns of our daily lives. I think the author of this article misses a major point of "green" initiatives in general: few people argue that these alterations to lifestyle are going to be EASY or CONVENIENT. But we have grown up with the privileges of waste and now feel entitled to those unsustainable habits. I believe a great deal of laziness and self-indulgence was displayed in the argument of this article. The author provided no concrete evidence about the (lack of) monetary savings of in trayless dining. On the contrary, his complaint was that it requires more movement on the part of the diner. Perhaps if people thought twice about what they filled their precious plate space with, they would not waste so much food in the end. THAT is a fact that has plenty of health studies to back it up. Ultimately, it is good to be critical, but please don't lump all initiatives under the banner of liberal hooplah. You or I may not be the ones to start such initiatives, but I am still glad that others are willing to raise awareness. Even a conservative, like myself, can admit that America fosters many unsustainable practices that will end up driving our resources into the ground in the long run. And ultimately, THAT is what will end up hurting your pocket-book, NOT minor "green" initiatives on a globally-aware campus.
Thank you for being the first person I've encountered at Princeton who agrees with me about all of this eco-nonsense.