To ask you to swerve vacations abroad on airplanes

[Happyone99]

Inspired by https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5433252-to-ask-you-to-swerve-shein-temu?page=24

As mentioned above, I personally don’t use Shein or Temu because they ARE terrible. However, why only change bad things lower income people happen to be involved with, rather than starting with things higher income people are involved with

Slave labour and poor working conditions are indeed terrible. So is the climate crisis, exacerbated by rich people flying on airplanes for vacations, and poor people in low-lying countries like Bangladesh suffer worst environmental consequences

Who are responsible for the most emissions and who are suffering the most?

I find travelling stressful so I prefer to just get there
Driving through France or similar would not be relaxing for me. We flew to salzburg and took the train to Munich due to a flight F up and the journey was fine but I couldn't chill until we got to our destination
DH wants to look into trains in Europe when we retire and have more time but as we are both SE travel time just means we have more non earning days

Nope. I rarely go on a plane anyway. But do like a holiday abroad

I also love Shein and Temu.

Absolutely this.

I don't have a car, children, or shop at those places. I replace clothes when they're falling apart. And I'm flying once/twice a year. I'll not stop.

yanbu op. people should be allowed to shop at shein and temu if they want. clothes/household items/appliances/etc etc all come from china anyway, so what's the difference?

Why do you think emissions are so high in China?

They do have a liking for solid fuel power stations - which make the energy to produce the renewable energy products they pedal to us!

So, you're saying that if less people decided to fly, there would still be the same amount of flights because planes just fly around irrespective of demand? 😆

In that case I don't know why airlines bother advertising!

You do you? Are you genuinely not flying anywhere ever again???

Other people are capable of making their own informed decisions thanks

exactly! it's as though people here think china is pumping out emissions because they feel like it and they just hate the earth!

I fly once or twice a year and will not be giving that up. It's important to me and I am really not the problem here. Sports teams flying all around, the Olympics, jetsetters, business consultants... these are the real issues here. My one indulgence of flying some sort of budget airline to somewhere new once a year isn't really going to change the world.

I disagree that only low income people are involved with Shein, etc. Plenty of influencers etc buy loads of junk in order to post hauls and reviews.

I’d love to swap planes for trains but unfortunately both the cost and the time it takes make it impossible.

I’ll review my position once millionaires and billionaires review theirs.

I haven't been on a plane since 2012. My children have never visited another country. If by some miracle I can afford to take them all on a plane to somewhere wonderful I will be.

I know I'm likely not the demographic you're asking. I get that collectively we could all make a difference but I think these kind of things should start from the top down to make the biggest difference.

Most people I know are already doing second hand reusing mending don't use temu/shein recycling. Cycling/walking instead of driving. That's not where the big changes are going to come from.

I'm SE too. And I enjoy the train as part of the holiday itself.

Way better than enduring airports 😬

You’d be better asking people not to have children. That’s multiple times worse than flying abroad multiple times a year 😄

It's not an excuse. My family not going on holiday will have zero impact on global emissions. Literally zero. It is not up to individuals to solve a systemic issue.

I also don't eat meat. So, as long as the VIPs take flights to environmental conferences, I'll continue what I'm doing.

I pledge to restrict using a private jet and stick with commercial airlines instead. I don't drive but once I learn how to and get my own car I pledge to occasionally use public transport as well.

😂 and where do you think Electricity comes from.......half the power grid is renewables on average (a good increase but not at 100% reliable and a good way off). Or do you want biomass to fill the shortfall which produces more methane which is a worse greenhouse gas per volume then CO2?!

I suggest going to watch Guy Martin energy show to understand some fundamental concepts on energy consumption, requirements and balancing the grid to get some basics. Rather then spouting Greenpeace etc al web pages - ironic which need a server and therefore energy demand.....

Agree, the train journey is part of the holiday

Look into Interrail passes. They're a great bargain, especially if you live a long way from London/ ferry ports, have DC under 12 (they get a free pass!), or are confined to school holidays (they don't go up in price unlike single train tickets/ flights).

I’ll keep flying. I live in the North. I won’t be wasting days of my precious annual leave travelling on trains, boats or buses to get to the warmth.

There are plenty of people who I KNOW aren’t rich, who go on holiday abroad on aeroplanes. They probably find it cheaper than a UK holiday.

And I’m not camping for anyone.

Are you stopping flying for holidays OP?

Do you drive @Happyone99 ? When did you last get on a plane?

Nope
Going abroad occasionally is joyful for me and I am going to do it on a plane.
My day to day life is exceptionally stressful and worrying and when I get a little pocket of opportunity I’m going to take it.

I notice you didn't answer my question there.