Comments on: Before We Get Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Blogging…Let’s Save the World http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/ Learning with the Read/Write Web Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:36:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dany Bauer http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-28552 Dany Bauer Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:13:51 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/#comment-28552 I think the campaign which Al Gore leads is very important for the world...but the funny thing about it is in my opinion not everything he tries to tell the people is the truth. I saw an interview with him where he was asked what he personally does for this project. He said he just built about 30 solar cells on his house...so everybody who knows a little bit about photovoltaics cells knows that this is not the right way. You need so much energy (which comes from nuclear power or power made out of oil or sth like that) to build these photovoltaics cells that you will never gain with them again...so you put much more energy in it than you will get out of it... So why should you do this...the right way would be to put solar cells on your house which heat the water because they are good for the environment but photovoltaics cells are not...So you really need to be careful what you believe and what you do not. I guess it is dangerous that people like Al Gore promote things that are not true...(in my opinion)... I think the campaign which Al Gore leads is very important for the world…but the funny thing about it is in my opinion not everything he tries to tell the people is the truth.
I saw an interview with him where he was asked what he personally does for this project. He said he just built about 30 solar cells on his house…so everybody who knows a little bit about photovoltaics cells knows that this is not the right way. You need so much energy (which comes from nuclear power or power made out of oil or sth like that) to build these photovoltaics cells that you will never gain with them again…so you put much more energy in it than you will get out of it…
So why should you do this…the right way would be to put solar cells on your house which heat the water because they are good for the environment but photovoltaics cells are not…So you really need to be careful what you believe and what you do not. I guess it is dangerous that people like Al Gore promote things that are not true…(in my opinion)…

]]> By: Tom Krieglstein http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-27343 Tom Krieglstein Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:41:05 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/#comment-27343 I've been playing a ping pong game in my head lately between Al Gore being the face of anti-global warming and George Bush being the face of anti-terrorism. They are both in a similar position with respect to marketing their cause. The next time a terrorist attack happens (and you know it will eventually) Bush can sit back and say, "See I told you so." The media will flock to him for a response. The next time a major irregular weather event happens (and you know it will eventually) Gore can sit back and say, "See I told you so." The media will flock to him for a response. The difference is in the motives/actions of the two. I think Bush messed up big time and I think Gore is doing everything right. It would bother me if Gore did end up running, as much as I would like him to, because then it would mean he was doing all this for a political gain instead of out of the passion in his heart. I’ve been playing a ping pong game in my head lately between Al Gore being the face of anti-global warming and George Bush being the face of anti-terrorism.

They are both in a similar position with respect to marketing their cause.

The next time a terrorist attack happens (and you know it will eventually) Bush can sit back and say, “See I told you so.” The media will flock to him for a response.

The next time a major irregular weather event happens (and you know it will eventually) Gore can sit back and say, “See I told you so.” The media will flock to him for a response.

The difference is in the motives/actions of the two. I think Bush messed up big time and I think Gore is doing everything right.

It would bother me if Gore did end up running, as much as I would like him to, because then it would mean he was doing all this for a political gain instead of out of the passion in his heart.

]]> By: Rob Wall http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-27083 Rob Wall Sun, 15 Jul 2007 05:18:30 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/#comment-27083 With regards to your intended purchase of a Prius, I once read in the automotive section of a newspaper that it was actually far more effective from an environmental perspective to keep your current vehicle properly maintained than to buy a new vehicle, even a hybrid. The reason given for this was that the total energy and materials used to produce a new car was much higher than keeping an existing car working as efficiently as possible. Having said that, I think it would be really cool to have a vehicle that was nearly silent when running. :^) With regards to your intended purchase of a Prius, I once read in the automotive section of a newspaper that it was actually far more effective from an environmental perspective to keep your current vehicle properly maintained than to buy a new vehicle, even a hybrid. The reason given for this was that the total energy and materials used to produce a new car was much higher than keeping an existing car working as efficiently as possible.

Having said that, I think it would be really cool to have a vehicle that was nearly silent when running. :^)

]]> By: praqueen http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-26954 praqueen Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:52:28 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/#comment-26954 Inspiring indeed! To Mrs. Durff and others: If you're looking for a place to start visit http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change/take_action/7steps/climate-claymation-video-ein Inspiring indeed!

To Mrs. Durff and others: If you’re looking for a place to start visit http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change/take_action/7steps/climate-claymation-video-ein

]]> By: Mrs. Durff http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-26717 Mrs. Durff Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:18:25 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/#comment-26717 My, you inspire ne! I see several things on your list that I could be doing better and some I can't do because I don't own or in which borough I live. But there are things I could do and I suspect this is true of all of us! Vive Vegan! My, you inspire ne! I see several things on your list that I could be doing better and some I can’t do because I don’t own or in which borough I live. But there are things I could do and I suspect this is true of all of us! Vive Vegan!

]]> By: Suzanne http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-26683 Suzanne Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:38:39 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/#comment-26683 I just finished watching the video, Diamond Teague/Bill Moyers. I am amazed that our elected lawmakers can ignore an area of DC that is just a few minutes away. These kids struggle to make a difference in their lives and the lives and environment of others. They are my heroes, not the senators and representatives that can't come together and make decisions about war, economy or the environment. I just finished watching the video, Diamond Teague/Bill Moyers. I am amazed that our elected lawmakers can ignore an area of DC that is just a few minutes away. These kids struggle to make a difference in their lives and the lives and environment of others. They are my heroes, not the senators and representatives that can’t come together and make decisions about war, economy or the environment.

]]> By: MaryLou http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-26658 MaryLou Mon, 09 Jul 2007 20:44:55 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/#comment-26658 One of the amazing facts I heard today was the number of plastic water bottles that have to be dealt with after use. Some restaurants are doing away using bottled water altogether. So, maybe my mother was right when she said to reuse those bottles. One of the amazing facts I heard today was the number of plastic water bottles that have to be dealt with after use. Some restaurants are doing away using bottled water altogether. So, maybe my mother was right when she said to reuse those bottles.

]]> By: Jane Nicholls http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-26610 Jane Nicholls Sun, 08 Jul 2007 23:33:22 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/#comment-26610 My son turned to me during the coverage of Live Earth and asked, "mum do you think the best way to get people to use less electricity is to put on a 22 hour concert and televise it?" Out of the mouth of babes! My son turned to me during the coverage of Live Earth and asked, “mum do you think the best way to get people to use less electricity is to put on a 22 hour concert and televise it?” Out of the mouth of babes!

]]> By: lilalia http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-26598 lilalia Sun, 08 Jul 2007 19:14:28 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/#comment-26598 I've just started reading Daniel H. Pink's book, A Whole New Mind. He writes about the abundance of the American society, "When we can't store our many things, we just throw them away. As business writer Polly LaBarre notes, "The United States spend more on trash bags than ninety other countries spend on everything. In other words, the receptacles of our waste cost more than all of the goods consumed by nearly half the world's nations"" Which makes following many of the items on your list something that just plain sense not just futuristic evangelism. I’ve just started reading Daniel H. Pink’s book, A Whole New Mind. He writes about the abundance of the American society, “When we can’t store our many things, we just throw them away. As business writer Polly LaBarre notes, “The United States spend more on trash bags than ninety other countries spend on everything. In other words, the receptacles of our waste cost more than all of the goods consumed by nearly half the world’s nations”" Which makes following many of the items on your list something that just plain sense not just futuristic evangelism.

]]> By: Rich http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-26597 Rich Sun, 08 Jul 2007 19:13:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/#comment-26597 [just a note - the URL for the "Green Team" site in your fourth bullet point needs to end with "html" and not just "htm" - so it's <a href="http://www.thegreenteam.org/facts-tips.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.thegreenteam.org/facts-tips.html</a>] [just a note - the URL for the "Green Team" site in your fourth bullet point needs to end with "html" and not just "htm" - so it's http://www.thegreenteam.org/facts-tips.html]

]]> By: Dean Mattson http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-26593 Dean Mattson Sun, 08 Jul 2007 18:51:50 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/#comment-26593 Have you read Gore's latest book "The Assault on Reason"? There's some interesting parallels between the transformation Gore is hoping to see in politics and the one we're hoping to see in education. Here's what he says close to end of his book (pg 260): "In fact, the Internet is perhaps the greatest source of hope for reestablishing an open communications environment in which the conversation of democracy can flourish. It has extremely low entry barriers for individuals. The ideas that individuals contribute are dealt with, in the main, according to the rules of a meritocracy of ideas. It is the most interactive medium in history and the one with the greatest potential for connecting individuals to one another and to a universe of knowledge. "An important distinction to make is that the Internet is not just another platform for disseminating the truth. It's a platform for pursuing the truth, and the decentralized creation and distribution of ideas, in the same way that markets are a decentralized mechanism for the creation and distribution of goods and services. It's a platform, in other words, for reason." He goes on to specifically mention the importance of blogs, wikis and social networks. Have you read Gore’s latest book “The Assault on Reason”? There’s some interesting parallels between the transformation Gore is hoping to see in politics and the one we’re hoping to see in education.

Here’s what he says close to end of his book (pg 260):

“In fact, the Internet is perhaps the greatest source of hope for reestablishing an open communications environment in which the conversation of democracy can flourish. It has extremely low entry barriers for individuals. The ideas that individuals contribute are dealt with, in the main, according to the rules of a meritocracy of ideas. It is the most interactive medium in history and the one with the greatest potential for connecting individuals to one another and to a universe of knowledge.

“An important distinction to make is that the Internet is not just another platform for disseminating the truth. It’s a platform for pursuing the truth, and the decentralized creation and distribution of ideas, in the same way that markets are a decentralized mechanism for the creation and distribution of goods and services. It’s a platform, in other words, for reason.”

He goes on to specifically mention the importance of blogs, wikis and social networks.

]]> By: Christy Tucker http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-26571 Christy Tucker Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:33:11 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/#comment-26571 Jim, there is some truth to the idea that people will reject it just because Gore said it, but I think climate change was a political issue long before he became the primary voice. There are some evangelical voices calling for protecting the environment, and ultimately I think those voices will be more important to moderate evangelicals than rejecting Gore's ideas. Will, I hope you'll forgive me for doing a little plug for two sites I think may be helpful for people who are looking for small ways to start helping the environment. 1. Care2, especially the Daily Action Site. This is an online community of 6 million members working to help the environment, with lots of resources and discussions. The Daily Action is a recommendation for a small thing you can do each day, usually in just a few minutes. For anyone who feels that Will's list is too much for them (and if you're starting out, it may be), this is a place to start. http://www.care2.com/dailyaction/homepage.html 2. Ideal Bite has a daily tips newsletter, but it's focused on products as much as tips. If you have wondered about what you could buy instead of plastic silverware, check out the reviews for biodegradable corn-based plastic or bamboo options. It's a fun little newsletter (too bad they don't have RSS for the daily tips though). http://www.idealbite.com/ Sorry for the bit of marketing, but I do want people to know that you can start with some of these small actions and still make a difference. You don't have to start from nothing and then do everything on this list from Day 1--you build up to changing your lifestyle like this. Jim, there is some truth to the idea that people will reject it just because Gore said it, but I think climate change was a political issue long before he became the primary voice. There are some evangelical voices calling for protecting the environment, and ultimately I think those voices will be more important to moderate evangelicals than rejecting Gore’s ideas.

Will, I hope you’ll forgive me for doing a little plug for two sites I think may be helpful for people who are looking for small ways to start helping the environment.
1. Care2, especially the Daily Action Site. This is an online community of 6 million members working to help the environment, with lots of resources and discussions. The Daily Action is a recommendation for a small thing you can do each day, usually in just a few minutes. For anyone who feels that Will’s list is too much for them (and if you’re starting out, it may be), this is a place to start.
http://www.care2.com/dailyaction/homepage.html
2. Ideal Bite has a daily tips newsletter, but it’s focused on products as much as tips. If you have wondered about what you could buy instead of plastic silverware, check out the reviews for biodegradable corn-based plastic or bamboo options. It’s a fun little newsletter (too bad they don’t have RSS for the daily tips though).
http://www.idealbite.com/

Sorry for the bit of marketing, but I do want people to know that you can start with some of these small actions and still make a difference. You don’t have to start from nothing and then do everything on this list from Day 1–you build up to changing your lifestyle like this.

]]> By: Jim Gates http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-26566 Jim Gates Sun, 08 Jul 2007 13:27:27 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/before-we-get-back-to-our-regularly-scheduled-blogginglets-save-the-world/#comment-26566 Interesting post. And good luck on the 100 mile diet. I, too, liked Al Gore and voted for him. But, I do think that maybe the worst thing that the global warming movement could have done was to make him the spokesperson. Why? It instantly made global warming a political issue. Republicans (not all, of course, but MOST) will immediately reject anything he has to say because of his obvious political affiliation. I hear it time after time. What he says gets rejected offhand simply because he's a Democrat. What do you think? Interesting post. And good luck on the 100 mile diet.

I, too, liked Al Gore and voted for him. But, I do think that maybe the worst thing that the global warming movement could have done was to make him the spokesperson. Why? It instantly made global warming a political issue. Republicans (not all, of course, but MOST) will immediately reject anything he has to say because of his obvious political affiliation. I hear it time after time. What he says gets rejected offhand simply because he’s a Democrat.

What do you think?

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