to think that "environmentalists" should actually care about the environment??

[LewesHamilton]

We have a new, very vocal anti-plastic group in our town. They post on FB to tell everyone about cutting down on plastic, have given radio and newspaper interviews as "environmentalists", hold events about reducing plastic and tell local shops to stop serving things in plastic. All of which is fine, who doesn't want less plastic in the ocean of course. BUT - a couple of the most vocal members live near me so I see them driving to the gym even though it is literally 800m away, they talk about their many holidays (by air, not train) on FB, live in big houses that must cost a bomb to heat and are under-occupied as they don't want to downsize, multiple cars parked on drives. AIBU to think that they are picking the easiest option to salve their consciences?? Up to this point, all the people I know who call themselves environmentalists are also no-car, small living, not consumerist mentality, wouldn't fly on holiday, vegetarian or vegan.

What really annoyed me was when the group started telling people to shop at a new shop 8 miles away because it lets you serve yourself out of bulk bins - ignoring the fact that they are all driving there in their cars to get a few items, then driving to the supermarkets as well.

DH says at least they are taking the first step. I say they are hypocrites and should stop lecturing people who actually take the bigger, less convenient/fun steps to help the environment!

Envy does come in to it too for me. Plenty of people in our town live amazing lifestyles, great houses, great cars, big holidays to far flung shores. Just have a bit of self-awareness, people with amazing lives, and don't pretend that your carbon footprint is just fine because, waxed VEGAN wrappers around your meat-based leftovers for the fridge. The irony is hilarious in an OMG kind of way.

(Disclaimer, I'm not from Lewes, don't know what the environmental scene is there so I'm not talking about any Lewes-ians)

Every environmentalist has eco-friendly solutions which they are happy to do, and ones which they don't want to do, and they want people to follow the latter.

This is largely a parenting forum, so there's more support for not flying on holiday than there is for only having one or two children, for example,

So if they don't do everything to save the environment, they should do nothing to save the environment?

It's better to have large numbers of people doing environmentalism imperfectly, than a few doing it perfectly.

I do see your point, but equally, who does this ‘you’re a hypocrite’ stuff help?

The destruction of the planet affects us all equally and meanwhile we’re just like ‘I’m not going to stop driving everywhere because YOU’RE not a vegan.’

Shouldn’t we all be commending each other for whatever small steps we take?

Exactly what @tedandlola and @keepithidden said.

First of all, I don't understand why people think plastics is not a climate issue. Plastic is made from fossil fuels.The petrochemical industry (which produces plastics alongside fertiliser, and pharmaceuticals is the largest driver of oil demand growth. We're quite good in increasing renewable energy use to power our houses, but at the moment almost all of this is cancelled out by a growing demand for oil by the petrochemical industry. And the main driver of the petrochemical industry’s growing climate footprint is plastics. (Report here: www.iea.org/newsroom/news/2018/october/petrochemicals-set-to-be-the-largest-driver-of-world-oil-demand-latest-iea-analy.html)

Secondly, I have little problem with people who are vegan but occasionally fly, people who use plastics, but don't drive, etc. I think we should focus on what people are trying to do right and encourage them to do more of that, rather than bitch about all the things they are not doing.

I agree with you but the more people that shout about all the different things the more other people name politicians will take notice which will benefit us all.
We really need the big leaders/governments to make news laws to sort this out as like you point out even the individuals who are interested in it don't make all the lifestyle changes needed.

I think everyone should be doing as much as they can even if it's only a little, forgoing holidays is a step many people are not willing to take but doed that mean they shouldnt try elsewhere.

HOWEVER I must admit those groups on Facebook really piss me off. So many people can't see outside of their own circumstances and rubbish other people's efforts and it doesn't endear anyone to the cause. You can guarantee every post where someone says they're struggling with a change will have someone pop up who works a 1000 hours a week down a mine earning a penny an hour with 10 kids and a disabled partner yet they still manage to traispe all over the town on foot to buy from small independent eco retailers, bakes their own bread and weaves all their children's clothes by hand under candlelight every weekend. Competitive ego-warriors indeed.

Plastics are sometimes a climate issue but not always. If you pressure shops into virtue signalling by substituting plastic bags with paper one which have a much greater carbon footprint, or drive several miles to the shop which has refillable containers or have umpteen cloth bags. In a lot of cases plastic is used because it’s the cheapest option and “cheapest” is often a proxy for “uses the least energy to manufacture”. Of course if you can just do without the disposable plastic item altogether then that’s definitely a climate win.

The planet is fucked regardless. Recycling your cans will do nothing, and nor will sharing posts on FB.

Let them ease their consciences. It's all you are effectively doing to be fair. Neither side is actually making a difference.

@Deadbydaylight I don't agree! But that's the attitude of some people which also adds to my point above about Leaders/Governments needing to change laws to limit environmental damage.
Individuals just can't do enough on their own, even if they want to.

YANBU OP.

Virtuous environmentalists drive me nuts. I agree we should all be doing more but the reality is that people are very reluctant to actually make big changes to their lives that would actually make an impact. How many of those virtuous people are willing to walk their kids to school rather than drive short distances each day.

Also while I admire and welcome the recent student climate change protests, I wonder how many of those young people are willing to give up the cheap fast fashion and fast food they enjoy so much. It's all very cool to carry a placard but are they actually willing to lead by example.