{"id":2693,"date":"2010-05-11T16:05:22","date_gmt":"2010-05-11T21:05:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/?p=2693"},"modified":"2010-05-11T16:06:33","modified_gmt":"2010-05-11T21:06:33","slug":"from-the-it-depends-files-green-myths-debunked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/2010\/05\/11\/from-the-it-depends-files-green-myths-debunked\/","title":{"rendered":"From the “It Depends” Files :: Green Myths “Debunked”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This blog was originally posted on rhizomicon<\/a><\/em><\/div>\n

\n<\/em><\/div>\n
Money\/CNN has a feature on 25 green myths debunked.<\/a><\/strong> I tend to take issue with features like this, no matter what the focal issue is, since it tries to reduce often complex matters to a simple pithy paragraph or two. More often than not, the answer to the “myth” like with many things is that “it depends”. I dislike “it depends” as an answer. I had a boss who thought that was an answer he often looked for, but he tended to be a wishy-washy sort who was more talk than walk.<\/div>\n
Many of the 25 aren’t controversial in the least, such as debunking of the myth that “bottled water is safer than tap”. The main problem I have is that by calling something a “myth” and providing equivocal evidence, i.e.<\/em>, “it depends” answers, frames an environmental issue in a way that could turn people away from something that may have potential in the future to be green or actually is green in certain contexts. I wish these articles would go into greater depth on the issues behind what makes them “myths” and get people to think about how their choices fit in with their values.<\/div>\n
The paper versus plastic bag issue<\/a><\/strong> can get pretty complicated if you factor in all the variables, but the Money\/CNN snippet was right in saying that no matter which you choose, at least re-use or recycle the bag or better yet, use a canvas bag. The problem I have is that the article focuses on the energy used to create a plastic versus paper bag. Well, not all energy is created equal. If there’s a pulpmill or recycling plant in an area that uses hydroelectric {e.g<\/em>., British Columbia or the US Pacific Northwest}, that’s likely to beat a plastic bag factory using coal, despite a 4:1 energy use ratio that favours paper. So, the issues should be::<\/div>\n