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AIBU?

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Original poster

Prince Harry - AIBU?

999 replies

barniee · 03/09/2019 14:13

Prince Harry saying "we can all do better" has really irked me- aibu?! He has every want and need satisfied while the majority of us and trying to do right by the environment whilst making ends meet. He is becoming very sanctimonious!

OP posts:
FromEden · 04/09/2019 17:58

I wish he'd just quietly go on supporting his causes, such as disabled veterans for whom he seems to really care about. Now he's gone a bit Bono.

Watch him quietly move away from supporting these types of charities in favour of ones that are more topical and preachy.

Yabbers · 04/09/2019 18:20

Just reeks of "do as I say, not as I do"

You think he doesn't recycle? Or choose environmental options when he can? You have proof of that. He can afford to pay for carbon offset. That is HIM doing what HE can.

trying to do right by the environment whilst making ends meet.

I'm curious, how does being more environmentally friendly cost you more money?

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 04/09/2019 18:32

He can afford to pay for carbon offset. That is HIM doing what HE can.

Carbon offsetting is not an acceptable way to help the environment. Its basically saying I'm rich so I can do what the hell I like.

I'm curious, how does being more environmentally friendly cost you more money?

Just off the top of my head:

Electric cars cost more.
Using public transport often costs more.
Using shops that allow you to fill containers to reduce plastic costs more.
Most eco friendly products cost more.

Being green can indeed be expensive.

Dollymixture22 · 04/09/2019 19:48

The whole carbon offsetting stuff sounds like a con. Trash the planet, then bung some business a few quid to plant a tree (or pretend to), and all the guilt is gone😂😂

It’s like a modern day indulgence.

Can’t believe environmentalists are peddling this crap

Jade218 · 04/09/2019 21:56

He said 'we can all do better' not 'you can all do better' ?!!!

MissEliza · 04/09/2019 22:27

Just saw that MM will return to her royal duties tomorrow to launch her charity fashion collection. Is that actually a royal duty?

Ticklemeelmo · 04/09/2019 22:58

Ridiculously hypocritical and wrong to boot- it is a nonsense to suggest that damage done to the environment can be 'offset'

Yabbers · 04/09/2019 23:33

it is a nonsense to suggest that damage done to the environment can be 'offset'

Carbon offsets were sanctioned in the Kyoto Protocol. If the people who drew that up are happy with it being used as one of the tools to reduce our impact on the environment, that's fine by me.

The whole point is that offsets are used to support green projects which reduce impact. They are used where companies or individuals can't avoid damage. For example, my energy company offer me the option to offset my energy use. It doesn't stop me reducing my usage but we can't live without power so can offset. Airlines offer passengers the same option. The alternative is we are all highly taxed to pay for those projects. You'd be happy to pay more tax to compensate for the RF flying places?

Seahorseshoe · 04/09/2019 23:43

I agree with you op. The private jet hopping Prince is a hypocrite. I can't afford a holiday abroad, let alone have to think about the carbon foot print of such a trip.

Him saying he needs to take a private jet for the safety of his family is bs. He didn't HAVE to go to Ibiza or the South of France, he wanted too.

Also, there is this rich notion of paying to have your carbon debt erased, it's crazy. One rule for the rich...

Yabbers · 05/09/2019 00:04

Also, there is this rich notion of paying to have your carbon debt erased, it's crazy. One rule for the rich...

As I said, all sorts of places offer this to pretty much anyone now. I pay a few quid a month extra on my bill for electricity. I sometime have to fly for business, offset for a flight to London is a few quid.

Hardly the preserve of the rich and something everyone should do to support green projects if they can.

Aderyn19 · 05/09/2019 08:01

Offsetting is supposed to compensate for the things we do which are unavoidable. Going on holiday by private plane isn't unavoidable.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 05/09/2019 08:04

Like the rich man and the poor woman in the temple, eh? She donated a tiny amount to charity which was massive to her and he swanned in and have £££ which was chump change to him.

IrmaFayLear · 05/09/2019 09:08

“UN Environment supports carbon offsets as a temporary measure leading up to 2030, and a tool for speeding up climate action,” says UN Environment climate specialist Niklas Hagelberg. “However, it is not a silver bullet, and the danger is that it can lead to complacency. The October 2018 report by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change made it clear that if we are to have any hope of curbing global warming we need to transition away from carbon for good: by travelling electric, embracing renewable energy, eating less meat and wasting less food.”

IcedPurple · 05/09/2019 09:12

YANBU.

Harry is a sanctimonious hypoctite, but that's not new news.

What's worse is that he's launching this 'initiative' with for profit companies such as Skyscanner and Booking.com. Why is a member of the royal family promoting commercial entities, not one of them British or even Commonwealth? His job is to represent HM and Britain, not to jump on the latest 'woke' bandwagon with commercial sponsorship.

I think it's fairly obvious that he and his wife are getting kick-backs from this. He is the 'celebrity spokesperson' so to speak. If they are making money from private business, why does he need even a penny of taxpayers' money? I can think of a hundred better things to spend it on than this dsyfunctional family.

IcedPurple · 05/09/2019 09:14

Also, there is this rich notion of paying to have your carbon debt erased, it's crazy. One rule for the rich...

On a previous thread, someone said oufsets are the modern equivalent to indulgences. If you're rich enough, all of your sins can magically be erased. If you're not? Tough luck.

CallmeAngelina · 05/09/2019 09:15

Can anyone verify the story I've just read, that H&M haven't gone/won't be going to Balmoral this year because Archie is too young to travel? But clearly not too young to travel to Ibiza and the South of France?
If true, then this is the sort of hypocrisy or double standard that is doing real damage to their "brand."

Kokeshi123 · 05/09/2019 09:21

Offsetting is supposed to compensate for the things we do which are unavoidable. Going on holiday by private plane isn't unavoidable.

THIS.

I take one plane a year (economy) because otherwise my parents would never see their grandchildren. I have started offsetting for this. I no longer use planes for any other journeys--in fact, I'll be taking the train to Cornwall next year even though flying would be both quicker and cheaper.

Pitterpatterpettysteps · 05/09/2019 09:29

Where did you read that, CallmeAngelina ?

MangoFeverDream · 05/09/2019 09:30

I think it's fairly obvious that he and his wife are getting kick-backs from this. He is the 'celebrity spokesperson' so to speak

This concerns me as well. He must be getting some sort of compensation; I also think MM got some as well for that baby shower as lots of brands were mentioned in the US media.

LaMarschallin · 05/09/2019 09:30

I really don't know the answer to this, but paying some extra on your electricity bill, for example, is one thing.

But is it really feasible to cover the environmental costs of taking a private jet by, say, paying for trees to be planted or investing in wind farms? I don't know if it's a like for like situation.

Especially if you choose to take private jets once a week rather 3 times a year or something. Or maybe even feel you can take private jets more often because you can "offset" it.
Surely it's better, in the first instance to try to avoid them if at all possible?

This isn't a "get at Harry" thing it's a general question and I really don't know the answer.

LillithsFamiliar · 05/09/2019 09:38

LaMars yy that's the point I'm unsure about too. Surely any offset scheme is by its nature reactionary. So the benefit is delayed whilst the damage is immediate. It would imply you're better not committing the damage in the first place.

Harry also seemed to be implying that himself, M and baby A are a higher security risk now and tbh that makes sense. There's a lot of negativity about them. There's more interest in them from the US because of M. Their PR response is still a disaster but I've almost given up on them ever having a PR team that understands the British media or people.

LaMarschallin · 05/09/2019 09:47

Harry also seemed to be implying that himself, M and baby A are a higher security risk now and tbh that makes sense.

Yes, it does.

Dahlietta · 05/09/2019 09:47

I felt both him and William were 'one of us'.

They did work quite hard to make us feel this. William still does, with his constant comments about how the kids keep him awake at night and Kate isn't great at cooking.
I can just about cope with the Queen. I definitely couldn't have worn colour-coordinated outfits and managed not to say anything outrageous for as long as she has, but I don't understand, if royals are exactly like us, what on earth is the point of them?

MauritiusNext · 05/09/2019 09:49

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LaMarschallin · 05/09/2019 09:58

Harry also seemed to be implying that himself, M and baby A are a higher security risk now and tbh that makes sense.

Again though, something I don't know, are private jets that much more secure?
Never been near one, so wouldn't know.

If the security risk is that great, maybe it would be worth them just flying as little as possible.
I'd do that if I felt my family were at personal risk. Not saying they shouldn't fly but should weigh up the risk to themselves (maybe against risk to the environment).

So, if Harry's particularly worried about his family and the environment, perhaps he could make sure he personally doesn't take private jets when travelling without them.