this post was submitted on 04 Mar 2024
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This is just blame-shifting propaganda for the uneducated. We've known for years that "just 100 companies are source of over 70% of emissions":
"Groundbreaking ‘Carbon Majors’ research finds 100 active fossil fuel producers including ExxonMobil, Shell, BHP Billiton and Gazprom are linked to 71% of industrial greenhouse gas emissions since 1988."
This assumes they just make product and shove it back into the ground.
We use it. Our parents used it.
The only thing they're guilty of is getting in the way of new development to greener tech, which is a massive thing, don't get me wrong. Edit by get in the way I mean lobby to mask impacts and block changes, which is fucking terrible.
The EPA and NASA also knew about climate change but our governments were corrupt and lobbied by these guys. THAT is a problem.
But the fact that oil was processed and consumed is not a corporation's fault, they produced it for customers. THAT PART ALONE is our fault.
If you use fuel, plastic etc, you're part of the problem.
If you corrupt government and hinder progress you're the source of the problem.
One is much worse than the other. EDIT BEING THE SOURCE IS WORSE! consumers have skin in the game but corrupt government officials (who engaged with lobbyists are worse)
Yeah great, the consumer has so much power over industry practices and standards
I clearly discussed that.
No, they don't. They only have responsibility for their consumption.
Further, they only have responsibility for the consumption AND the damage that consumption causes, WHEN THAT INFO ISNT OBSCURED FROM THEM. These corps, and corrupt government hid that info in the name of profits.
I still don't have access to good (more than 100Mbps) reliable internet service and as a consumer can do nothing to change that, how am I supposed to be able to expect a new electric vehicle fast charger in my area to cut back my emissions? Also that where I live I have no access to public transit, and am forced to drive everywhere.
I didn't say you had much control, or are.the root of the problem. But all of us have skin in the game when we consume products that cause global warming.
Things like eating beef, using gas, using plastic products. I'm not saying you have an alternative, but nobody other than you is using the gas that you're using.
The separate, bigger part of the equation is the corruption.
But if you admit that there are no alternatives then one more step down the chain would be to blame, ie the companies producing, and not providing alternatives... You're so close and keep making points against what you then say is your conclusion.
I don't entirely disagree. I'm not going to completely deny consumer responsibility, but I think it's important to hold corporations much more accountable. My reasons are: sabotaging alternatives (this is huge), tons corporate money in politics (actively preventing change even if people want it), climate denial and false research (lying), and making sure everyone but themselves gets blamed when problems can no longer be hidden.
In the case of manufacturing, when environmental controls are implemented the corporations affected often just ship the work abroad. So even if citizens manage to make change in their own country the corporations just export the damage. You may say that people could just stop buying, and there is that aspect of consumer responsibility I've acknowledged. However, when all the options are bad it's not realistic to say everyone should have forgone all cars, phones, or electricity produced by fossil fuels.
The general population has been deliberately denied information and agency to enact change. This latest statement in OP's article is just a continuation of decades of corporate greed over truth and the environment.
Woah that was not my conclusion!
Edited to clarify.
Edit I figured it was clear that systemic corruption was worse than consumer usage but I guess not
My bad. Sometimes it's hard to tell when you're having a discussion via message board because nuance can get lost. I'll edit that assumption out. Sounds like we're on the same side.
I don't get why this 100% correct take us being downvoted so hard, but I suspect that some heads are in the sand, just like with the O&G CEOs.
Don't be like them. I mean I know this is Lemmy, but just for a minute, don't be a lemming. Everyone plays a role here. The industry plays an outsized one but we also all opt for comfort and convenience and avoid dealing with the consequences. We also don't want to be told we are wrong, or what to do. It's a potent combination so keep that shit in mind when you're going about your day. You think they'd keep making soap in plastic bottles and putting them at eye level in Wal-Mart if we all collectively decided bar soap was better and shunned "body wash"? There is a reason things are this way and each of us contributes to the cause of that reason.
Yep. I'm not worried about the downvotes. Head in sand is right.
Lots of people here act like young, disenfranchised idealists who act like every comment is a litmus test if anyone shakes the narrative. "Oh you didn't say the right phrase, you aren't mad enough!" No, I'm addressing another part of the situation, not reading a loyalty list.
Yes it would be better to revolutionize our production methods, heavily shift to public transit, use green energy production, get lobbyists out of government.
But that all takes time. In the meantime, recognize you are the consumer, that you're consumption has impacts, and that all that shit was made for you to use is an important step on living a greener life.
I'm sorry you had trouble reading the parts where I clearly pointed out corruption and lobbying are the reasons, the source of the issue.
I hope you get to a point where you accept your externalities.
🥱
I'm done with you. You didn't address or read the parts I wrote which specifically saddle "the owner class" with the core of the responsibility.
They're temporarily banned.
Thanks. They're following me to other communities now. Oh well.
I know I didn't express an easy, or very popular opinion, but I'm no shill. I just believe in owning personal responsibility for what we consume. I never said we, the consumers, were alone, or principly to blame for the state of the world.
For the record, I disagree with you somewhat. I think the plastics industry in particular has had a great deal of success by doing things like convincing consumers that recycling is up to them, instead of rethinking the nature of their products. Did you know that a lot of the anti-littering campaigns from the 1970's onward were bankrolled by the plastics industry? It was an effort to offload the responsibility to care about the environment onto consumers.
That said, this can be discussed civilly. The person who was arguing with you wouldn't do that, though.
Yes! That exact type of bankrolling is part of the "real" problem: actions by corps and govs to ambiguate the issue.
But most people don't think twice when they go into a store, get a plastic drink, then throw the bottle in the regular trash, or even litter. They should acknowledge their use of that onetime bottle is their responsibility.
I guess I take issue with folks posturing like the only needed action is systemic change, when personal change can start right now. ( Don't litter, find a reusable bottle, etc)
Anyway you didn't come here to continue this with me lol. Thanks for being legit
Yeah, I heckin specified that. Good luck on developing responsibility and not just dealing with your problems but throwing them over the fence and name-calling.
Pretty immature behavior, but I know it comes from frustration of not being in control.
Here's one to help you: If you drive a large car, which are known to be very dangerous to pedestrians, and emit a lot of pollutants, are you responsible, at all, for the emissions and risk factors of your car?
By your logic, no, it's the fault of the city planners and the auto manufacturers. You have zero blame or responsibility in the matter.
All I'm saying is that you DO have responsibility in the choices you make. Your choices are potentially limited, but you own the results of your actions.
Yeah, you don't know the rules. You aren't being civil.
Im not gonna keep fighting with you and get banned. They deleted my comments too so not sure what weaponization you're referring to.
You missed the point entirely and were rude while you did it.