Whole Life Times - by Charles Shaw
Mercury emissions, urban sprawl, toxic waste, and many other societal maladays are discussed in this stimulating article by Charles Shaw, based on his interview with renowned "green" business consultant Joel Makower. It is a head scratcher because it makes one stop to think and perhaps readjust their concepts of what (and who) is "Green". This is a must-read article for anyone with an environmental concience and an open mind.
Excerpt;
Accompanied by a press kit from General Electric’s new “Ecomagination” division, the wonderbulb rests cozily inside a bright green recycled cardboard sleeve covered with big, overlapping words like “sustainability,” “commitment,” “environment” and “conserve.” A corn-fiber string affixed to the packaging attaches a square of biodegradable fiber embossed with the GE logo and embedded with wildflower seeds, along with a little slip of rough, seemingly hand-made paper that bears a note encouraging you to plant the fiber and watch the seeds “burst into beautiful flowers.”
A second slip of paper bears a less lyrical message. “Warning. Lamp contains mercury.”
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So when they market a product that contains mercury as “eco-friendly,” it raises the larger issue of diminishing standards. In their defense, GE spokesperson Allison Eckelkamp had at the ready an EPA document on mercury, “Is It True That CFLs Contain Mercury? Why and How Much?” which explains that “CFLs present an opportunity to prevent mercury emissions from entering the environment because they help to reduce [by 77 percent] emissions from coal-fired power plants that produce the electricity required to power the bulbs.” No one doubts this is better, but it’s not a “green” light source.
Please post your comments on this article as I really want to know how others feel on this.
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