Sunday, May 11, 2008

Recommended Reading: Chapter 9 from Heat - for those who love air travel

Love to fly? Hawaii is next on your list of destinations?

Read Heat: How to stop the planet from burning, by George Monbiot [see link in right hand margin], especially chapter 9, that ends with the following words:

If you fly, you destroy other people’s lives.

Not because you’re a terrible pilot and can’t tell a runway from a hole in the ground (geez, sorry. Pleasant thought, eh? I hope you’re not reading this while circling an airport) but because air travel is responsible for so much greenhouse gas and the amount is growing and George thinks the best way to travel is by blimp (not kidding) or not at all unless you stay on the ground.

And, I have to agree with him.

Radical restraint is needed, and just as we know the best time to plant a tree is 40 years ago we know the best time to start keeping our feet on the ground is a long time ago too.


I know you can’t walk to Hawaii unless you live there but have you ever thought of just watching Blue Hawaii, a movie starring Elvis Presley?

Walk to the nearest Blockbuster and check it out.

It might be all you really need.

1 comment:

Jane said...

I'm thinking that my trips to England when I retire may need to be made in a tall ship!