Comments on: Build it (green) and they will buy?

By: SanityFound

SanityFound — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:28:20 +0000

Big topic incredibly written as TDYK and all the others have said. I find it fascinating that the very products that they tell us to use are so much more expensive than the other stuff. Guess they try to increase our need to save the planet with the intent to increase the pockets.

Dangit we have to find you a publisher – am still working on some people, you tried redroom.com yet?

By: angryafrican

angryafrican — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:12:23 +0000

@LJ – Sorry about that. Included in the “About AA” page.

@vanessaleighsblog – That’s the thing hey. If everyone can be like you and just try to do the best they can with what they have. We can’t buy all the environmentally and socially responsible product we would lie, but we can make “green” decisions at home like switching lights of, changing lightbulbs, planting veggies, walk more etc. And my wife is excellent at making her own eco-friendly cleaning products. And we buy the “right” stuff when we can afford it.

@kelli – Sorry to hear about the injury. Hope you asked for organic bandages…

By: kelli

kelli — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:46:19 +0000

someone who lives around the corner from me has a beetle with fake grass on it. Looks hilarious.

I like your article, if I wasn’t in pain I would get on my soap box as consumerism is something that bugs me somewhat. Pain? tore my calf muscle and spent half the day in the ER, fun NOT!

By: vanessaleighsblog

vanessaleighsblog — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:26:08 +0000

Hey AA: Green is the new fad here in the US; I believe so, anyway. We have been trying in my little family unit, for years now, to conserve and take care of our little corner of the earth, whether it be through recycling; planting our own garden; planting new trees; or trying to drive less. It isn’t perfect, but I do think that the impact we are making has been consistent over the years. I have to admit, due to working on a budget from paycheck to paycheck, sometimes green means more up front green, so we don’t always purchase products or from companies with commitments to that, due to needing to save green at the register. Sad, but true reality. We as a nation have been wasteful and ridiculous in our use and spending for far too long, and overall people just don’t want to face what the impact on our precious environment will mean in the near future.

I never had a Beetle, but my mom had two as we were growing up; I was so excited when they started making them again, and still have a wish to have one someday……

By: LJ

LJ — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:36:46 +0000

I enjoy reading your blog but I looked everywhere and can’t find your email?

By: angryafrican

angryafrican — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:42:23 +0000

@Saffer – Hey, my first car was a clapped out 1964 Beetle as well! Black with an old dune-buggy kit on it! No back seat for… hum… sleeping quarters.

@Sahlah – The odd thing is that so many Africans live “light” already. They have other negative environmental impacts, but they get no credit for living light. And I agree on the mindset. It’s the “What are we doing?” question all over again.

By: sahlah

sahlah — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:02:58 +0000

Terrific post, especially all the links to your past stuff.

I would agree with you that worrying about being green is a western conceit, or at least one of wealth and means. Life has a different meaning if survival is all you can manage.

Years ago Honda made a hybrid Accord that was a very poor selling vehicle. Why? It looked just like the non-hybrid Accord. People did not wish to spend the premium if they did not also advertise immediately their green status. Not for nothing do the hybrid vehicles either look different or have massive badging on them indicating their special-ness.

Living lighter on the planet is a bigger mindset than we have been taught in the past. As you note it’s more than just a consumer choice.

By: Saffer

Saffer — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:32:44 +0000

That pic of the beetle made me rather sad. I bought a completely clapped out 1964 beetle for my first car, it was bright green. Worked on it for months getting it all perfect (painted it white though), man I loved that car and now I miss it all over again!

By: angryafrican

angryafrican — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:36:08 +0000

@thatdudeyouknow – Haha! I walked right into that one, didn’t I? I forgot to add my previous eco-friendly topic attempts. So I included it at the bottom of the post.

By: thatdudeyouknow

thatdudeyouknow — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:19:13 +0000

Well, above has a good point, and you’re apparently willing to post it publicly as your work…