Comments on: Small steps http://www.marcgunther.com/2008/06/08/small-steps/ This blog is about the impact of business on society. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:08:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: betsy - Money Changes Things http://www.marcgunther.com/2008/06/08/small-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-55889 betsy - Money Changes Things Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:18:25 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=374#comment-55889 Nice about BestBuy. Are you aware of the Costco/UPS connection? costco will, via a UPS pickup, take back old computers or other electronics for no fee to the customer. If your computer has any resale value, you get Costco credit. If not, it's recycled responsibly, apparently as a public service from Costco which is concerned about its big box footprint. Nice about BestBuy. Are you aware of the Costco/UPS connection? costco will, via a UPS pickup, take back old computers or other electronics for no fee to the customer. If your computer has any resale value, you get Costco credit. If not, it’s recycled responsibly, apparently as a public service from Costco which is concerned about its big box footprint.

]]> By: Nick DiGiacomo http://www.marcgunther.com/2008/06/08/small-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-55885 Nick DiGiacomo Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:24:12 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=374#comment-55885 You make a very important point about the scale and reach that companies like Best Buy, HP, Wal-Mart have relative to energy use, recycling, etc. Many self-styled environmentalists are quick to tout their "personal virtues", while at the same time dismissing as somehow self-serving the efforts of companies that address mass markets. But it's the mass markets that have to move to effect change on a global scale, and only the major retailers and manufacturers (and of course government, as you point out) can do that. I will take issue, however, with the "save the planet" introduction. The planet has done just fine for itself for a few billion years, through extremes beyond anything we personally imagine. Any claim that we somehow control the fate (writ large) of an entire planet is presumptuous, to say the least. Addressing climate change is in reality about "saving our lifestyles". Quite simply, we like the temperature the way we found it. Admitting this would make it much easier to muster the broadest support for the requisite economic and political changes. You make a very important point about the scale and reach that companies like Best Buy, HP, Wal-Mart have relative to energy use, recycling, etc. Many self-styled environmentalists are quick to tout their “personal virtues”, while at the same time dismissing as somehow self-serving the efforts of companies that address mass markets. But it’s the mass markets that have to move to effect change on a global scale, and only the major retailers and manufacturers (and of course government, as you point out) can do that.

I will take issue, however, with the “save the planet” introduction. The planet has done just fine for itself for a few billion years, through extremes beyond anything we personally imagine. Any claim that we somehow control the fate (writ large) of an entire planet is presumptuous, to say the least. Addressing climate change is in reality about “saving our lifestyles”. Quite simply, we like the temperature the way we found it. Admitting this would make it much easier to muster the broadest support for the requisite economic and political changes.

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