Brits Care More About Animals Than Climate Change
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02. 6.08
Yesterday we read that a "study of 11,000 Americans found that 62% of Americans considered global warming a serious danger, and even those who are worried about it aren't doing a whole lot about it." Today a study of 100,00 British members and customers of the Co-operative Group (bank and store) found that only 4% consider climate change as their top ethical priority, compared with 21% who think animal welfare is the most important. Fourteen per cent consider fair trade as their key concern. Twice as many are concerned about the amount of packaging on their food as think global warming is the most important issue.
The Co-op is doing something about it. In response to the concerns raised on this ethical survey, their 2,700 supermarkets will no longer sell eggs from caged hens. Ethical trading was identified as a priority issue by 27% of members so from now on the Co-operative will convert its entire hot drinks range to Fairtrade; that includes tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Environmental issues are a priority concern for 22% of members so the glass used for the bottles for 26 different Co-operative wines will be reduced, saving a total of 450 tons of glass per year by using lightweight bottles. They will also reduce their own brand packaging by 15% by 2010, and add a further 66 pesticides to their prohibited list. :: Guardian





















although it's unfortunate global warming wasn't seen as a top priority, this is an incredible and inspiring response to such a survey.
this actually makes a lot of sense. If you think about things like over-packaging and destruction of natural habitats (both of which rank higher than Global Warming, it would appear....I link destruction of natural habitats with Animal Welfare) and you try to reduce these two issues, you ultimately reduce emissions and help global warming.
Global Warming can be seen as the symptom -- the fever, if you will. And these other issues are the infections. If you cure the infections, you'll cure the fever. (Forgive the metaphor, I've just spent a few days taking care of an ill child so it feels relevant.)
Hello?!
That study was done in a supermarket (2700stores) off course people their raise the fair trade issue and question how their goods get produced. Doesn't mean that they don't care about global warming. Seems like some people forget the whole picture over global warming, there are still lot of toxins and male practices out there that are an equal threat to humanity and still worth fighting against. Saving energy is good to fight against global warming but also goo to cut down on other pollution and so forth. So please don't stress the warming issue to much and forget the other important issues. They are all connected anyway.
I don't care for the pessimistic spin put on this post. Just because it's not (some) people's TOP priority, that doesn't mean it's not a priority at all. The suggestion that people "don't care about Global Warming" seems at odds with the generally very positive things described in the post. This is definitely a step forrward, and shows that--possibly--businesses can respond to customers' wishes for a better or more humane environment.
Jro: male practises that are a threat to humanity?
Climate change is in progress and there is nothing in the near future we can do about it. Therefore it is pointless and a waste of energy to care about it.
What we can do NOW is stop contaminating ecosystems and wasting resources.
Worry about the causes and symptoms, not the effects.