Last week Mr FF attended a conference on UK Renewables, on and off shore wind systems, wave and tidal energy. I am not a huge fan of the wind farms dotted around our hills, Scotland has the largest in the UK, and looking at the infrastructure involved to construct these places I do wonder if they are sustainable. But I try to be a green person and keep an open mind so I was interested to hear about the conference.
Mr FF came home with a goody bag of glossy brochures and various corporate gifts. OK pens I can accept as useful but I feel the calendar proclaiming a greener tomorrow (though not stating that it was printed on recyclable paper) has limited appeal.
I don't think I'd want to spend a month looking at any of these photographs. But what really got me cross was this
a foam rubber model of a wind turbine. Now tell me what possible use this has apart from landfill that was probably imported from the other side of the world. A conference that proclaims the benefits of renewable energy and pays no heed to sustainability makes me think the whole event was a big business jamboree. You and I can keep sorting our recyclable products, composting our waste, saving energy but until the big guys take on board the needs of the environment rather than their own profit margins we will never save the world. When I was working I tried to get my office to use recycled paper but they didn't like it any more than they cared about the environment. And they couldn't stop using the ghastly coffee machine that produced more plastic waste than it did drinkable beverages. . 
Just don't get me started on the number of Christmas gift brochures included with this weekend's papers that all went straight into the recycle bin.
Rant away - they're the sort of things that I'd rant about too.
ReplyDeleteOMG the amount of stuff that came out of our weekend paper (only one we get each week) and my subscription copy of Country Living was shocking :(
Hmmmmmmmmmmm, I think that calendar must surely be a contender for 'most boring calendar for 2011'! And as for the foam wind turbine - no comment! Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteThat calendar is fab!!! Whoever got paid to come up with that idea? xxxx
ReplyDeleteThe inserts in our newspapers and magazines enrage me too, especially when they're sealed in plastic first!
ReplyDeleteLove the calendar ... it would really cheer you up on a rainy day!
Love Kathy xxx
Glad you had your rant. I totally agree with you! It's quite outrageous! Ros
ReplyDeleteThat calendar, it must be the funniest blog post of the year.
ReplyDeleteWell written, thank you.
I had the same shock-horror response as VintageVicki to my Country Living mag this month.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe that foam wind turbine, and as for the calendar photos .....
Maybe you're meant to squeeze the foam rubber turbine to stop yourself from ripping the calendar to shreds. Although by the looks of it that wouldn't be a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteOh, this is a rant after my own heart too, Jenny! So rant away! LOL... The amount of junk in the mail is staggering. We're getting s sticker from an environmental grout here, to put on our post in which anything not addressed to us will not go in our box. At year's end we get about a dozen calendars from various place and we end up binning all but maybe two of them. Such paper waste is always shocking. Hubby has gotten his far share of odd freebies from work seminars & kick-offs... but they are getting better. Last time he got a rather nice laptop carries that had no PVCs. But in all there's just too much stuff & junk out there that ends up in the bin or how to recycle is always a question. Such things, like that turbine, shouldn't even be allowed to be made. Great topic, Jenny! Happy Week ((HUGS)
ReplyDeleteIn our local shop and supermarket they have very kindly provided a waste bin next to the magazine stands where you can de-clutter your magazine or newspaper from all the junk leaflets they cram into them before buying them and taking them home.
ReplyDeleteA very good idea you may think, but then the self same supermarket bombards me with money off vouchers for things I'd never buy (50p off cat food for my non existant feline is just one example)and all sorts of leaflets promoting their new products, and they very kindly make sure that I receive this avalanche of junk on a regular basis through my letter box..........I hate the hard sell and consumerism.......sorry, didn't mean to rant back!
florrie x
He, He what a stupid gift the rubber turbine is! I am proud to say I have recycled my demi johns .Thanks for your comments, hope you find somewhere to use the idea.
ReplyDeleteAll conferences produce these freebies. For such a conference they should have been more thoughtful. I understand you concerns. The rest of us just have to continue recycling.
ReplyDelete