it devolves into boys talking about sports and hardcore
Posted by Miriam on 2007-04-19 15:41:03 +0000
Going Green
This was in my yahoo inbox:
Support Delta's Force for Global Good
Take part in the first-ever U.S. airline program to plant trees to help offset carbon emissions. Go Green!
Hello (my name here),
In a partnership with The Conservation Fund, we are the first U.S. airline to implement a voluntary carbon offset program — and we'd love to have you "onboard."
It's simple. Beginning June 1, 2007 , you will be able to add a small donation to fund the planting of trees in sustainable managed forests around the globe when you book your ticket at delta.com. These trees will help off-set carbon emissions by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it to oxygen as part of their natural processes.
We'll disburse 100 percent of your donation to The Conservation Fund program to plant trees and to support the organization's education and outreach efforts. Additionally, we'll make a donation to The Conservation Fund for every customer flying on a Delta mainline jet worldwide on Earth Day (April 22).
It's just part of our Force for Global Good initiative that strives to benefit the world we fly everyday. So go ahead and take a flight, and join us in uniting our customers and employees in support of environmental stewardship.
Posted by MF DU on 2007-04-19 15:47:38 +0000
Surprised the email is not from my new favorite "green" celebrity John Travolta.
Posted by Miriam on 2007-04-19 15:51:56 +0000
There's been a lot of talk recently about shrinking our Carbon Footprints. I can add $ to my electric bill each month to support creating more environmentally sound energy alternatives, so this is an interesting option put out by Delta Airlines. I think it's a good idea, but if they want me to start flying with them again, they should start serving lunch and having free movies on flights longer than 2 hours.
Posted by MF DU on 2007-04-19 16:00:13 +0000
Delta's "green" plan sounds a little disingenuous. Kind of like how its hard for me to take stock in health advice from RJ Reynolds or being asked to enjoy things responsibly by Anheuser-Busch.
Posted by pchippy on 2007-04-19 15:59:20 +0000
"education and outreach" = "not actually planting trees, but letting everybody know how important it is to plant trees."
Also, they don't say that your voluntary contribution buys enough trees actually to offset the carbon released on your behlaf over the course of the flight. You're supposed to just give something and then feel absolved of all guilt, apparently, without knowing where the net balance lies.
Posted by mr. mister on 2007-04-19 16:28:48 +0000
I read somewhere that airlines are changing the way they fly from Europe to China, effectively not creating something like 100 million tons of carbon emissions a year. Point a to point b saves the environment.
Posted by MF DU on 2007-04-19 16:31:58 +0000
I could get behind that - sometimes using common sense actually (gasp) works out best for everybody.
Posted by tommy on 2007-04-19 18:35:46 +0000
I'm agreed with chippy... Seems like a guilt fee.
The right way to do this would simply be to add the offset costs onto jet fuel at the production end, no? That way the true cost of burning jet fuel is felt all the way along the line. So, fuel producers, jet manufacturers, airlines, and passengers all would have actual incentives to cut down on fuel usage. Pollute less = spend less money.
Seems like the optional passenger fee actually introduces a disincentive to reduce fuel usage, especially if anyone is skimming a percentage of that fee anywhere along the line.
Also note that "carbon-neutral" does not imply "pollutant-neutral".
E-mail to tgl@rideside.net to add your tumblr.
Find me on github.