Much like the United States' 2010 World Cup team's season, the first round of the Tournament is at an end! I'm so excited! (about both the Tournament and the US losing. Now I don't have to pretend I care about soccer anymore!)
Canvas Bags
You've all seen them all over the place. Every grocery store and superstore and every bookstore and hardware store and (probably) every adult media store is carrying these reusable bags that you see by the check out counter. Why are they so popular and what was wrong with plastic grocery bags?
Impact on the Environment (10/15):
It turns out everything was wrong with those plastic grocery bags. They ended up in the oceans where sea turtles thought they were jellyfish and choked on them. The ended up in landfills where they would take 100,000 or more years to break down. They ended up in babies' cribs where babies choked on them. So yeah, they're pretty bag - I mean bad. But let's not err on the side of too many Canvas Bags. Otherwise we'll have too many of those and I can see them taking just as long to break down in landfills. And you can't recycled Canvas Bags as easy as you can plastic ones.
Practicality (8/10):
The least practical part of using reusable bags is just remembering to actually bring them to the store. I always forget, which is why I starting leaving them in my car. But then I brought them into my apartment and I always forget to bring them back out to my car. Stupid memory...
Sustainability (9/10):
With the aid of government-imposed taxes on plastic bags or corporate incentives to use Canvas Bags, I see plastic bags becoming very much obsolete within a decade.
Awesomeness (6/10):
They are sort of awesome. I mean, you get to show off your own distinct style by bringing whatever bag matches your personality. And let's face it, gross brown and pasty white plastic bags don't really match too many outfits.
User Input (0/5):
Nope, don't see anything here.
Carbon Credits
Carbon Credits, while similar to their tournament counterparts, the Carbon Offsets, are somewhat different. Carbon Credits (CC) are for companies or individuals that someday plan on polluting and want to buy the rights to pollute under a system of exchanges where companies that don't plan on polluting much sell their rights to pollute to the less Green company. It's complicated, but it makes sense if you understand it.
Impact on the Environment (7/15):
Ultimately, this system of buying Carbon Credits will regulate how much pollution is created by the industrial and commercial sectors. And it will cut down on the emissions from these companies, which is good. But it will come at the cost of more stringent regulations which will force companies to do business overseas where there are less environmental standards. Good for the US, bad for poor countries in Africa that have to deal with even more pollution.
Practicality (5/10):
This will mostly drive businesses out of developed countries and into less developed ones. While it is good to develop the economies of those countries, it's not good if it comes at the cost of economic collapse for the developed countries.
Sustainability (3/10):
The only way that this will take a hold long term is if all countries adopt them. And with the amount of corruption in some countries, there's no way that regulators will ever put up with standards in some countries.
Awesomeness (1/10):
Snoooooooooooooze.
User Input (0/5):
Comment away!
Alright, let's tally those scores!
Canvas Bags: 33
Carbon Credits: 16
Yeah, I think just about everyone saw that coming... Check back in on Tuesday to see the exciting first match of the second round! Recycling is going to go head to head with Wetland Conservation!
I have to go with Recycling. WC (not water closet) just isn't good enough. Plus wet land is gross, I prefer dry.
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