Enviromental myths blown away
Eco Doctor principal Alison Adams-Smith is staggered by the amount of environmental myths in common currency. If you want to know how to really save the world then you have to start by cleansing your mind of harmful misconceptions, astonishing though they may be.
Here are a few:
- The manufacture of biofuels is unsustainable.
- The current NZ government intends to repeal the RMA.
- The Kyoto Protocol will solve the world's global warming crisis.
- People in the developing world have lots of children because they don't know any better.
- Planting trees is a good way to offset carbon from overseas travel.
- Oil can easily be replaced by renewable energies.
- We are running out of fresh water.
- Global warming will improve the weather.
- Genetically modified crops are 'bad'.
- The cyanide produced by gold mining is poisoning the environment.
- Recycling is always a good thing to do.
- Bottled water is safer than tap water.
- There is a 'hole' in the ozone layer.
- Opening your car windows instead of using the air conditioning saves petrol.
- 'Natural', 'organic' and 'not-tested-on-animals' cosmetics are what they claim to be.
- Online banking might save paper, but it increases the chance of identity theft.
- Compact fluorescent light bulbs contain too much mercury to help the environment.
- Air quality is declining.
So what should we do about it? The news is not all bad. Every month in "Mythbusters", Alison will explode one of the myths listed above, or research an idea that you think may be "greenwash". Watch this space, and for further information, contact Alison at info@ecodoctor.co.nz.
