In terms of the environment our carbon footprints appear to be very important. The more carbon we put into the atmosphere the hotter this place will get (though you wouldn't realise it from the weather here today). Will your footprint just evaporate away like this one, or are you leaving a rather more permanent mark?

The trouble is that to minimise the level of carbon takes everyone to be involved. This is most easily seen on an international level where great effort is needed to persuade China and India to embrace carbon neutral technology. But they will not be persuaded (and why should they?) unless they see Europe and America cutting their emissions.

It also works on an individual basis. I'd be happy to cut my emissions if I felt everyone else would, but don't want to make the sacrifice for nothing. At the moment it seems to me that I, and most other people (at least in the western world), aren't doing enough. Sure, I recycle my rubbish, turn the lights out when I'm not using them and try to buy local produce. But that's the easy stuff isn't it. Do I drive my car less? Am I ready to give up foreign holidays? Will I turn down my heating in winter? Well, the answer to those questions is no I'm afraid. And it may well remain as a no unless I'm persuaded that everyone else is ready to make such sacrifices. Are any of us really putting enough effort into this? It's a bit of a conundrum isn't it.

World Environment Day

My other, rather less important question is, what happened to my little toe?

I think a big part of the problem is that a lot of people [I am one] agree that even if we do our own individual part here and there, it's tough to see any immediate effect and how it actually does help globally. But on the other hand, I know people who unfortunately thing global warming is not real and there is nothing wrong with the planet. So in turn, they do not recycle anything, they never think of conserving energy - which by the way, would also save them money; and are just overall very ignorant about the situation. Like a lot of things, I think unfortunately it is going to take something very, very dramatic to get people to listen and react. [Apparently the melting polar caps aren't enough] smbunation · 2009-06-05: 22:08

I agree with smbunation. This is a hard theme for me, Jon. Since I was a kid I know that we must do something. I fought with my father, who didn't care at all about recicling, save or have common sense. I cried, I shouted... but nothing was enough to change his mind. He thinks that nothing wrong happens... And like him, a lot of people. I have said it many times: we, humans, are a cancer for the Earth. And some day, the Earth will rebel against us. ????? · 2009-06-06: 02:52

Well i can but agree with the above from Mike and Ruth. But it would be nice to see that the industry really start doing something to. It's not just us little people who will be able to change it, even if we all do. Just look at what comes out of chimneys in certain country's, as you say, for example China, take some parts of the old USSR, and what about the US of A not wanting to sine the Kyoto agreement? If they did, it would cost them to much. So why not start there, at least it would make us users more aware that something has to be done by us also, and i'm sure many would follow the industry's example, but now we tend to say, if they can't make more effort, why should we? But this is a debate one can go one about for months and still get no where i guess. So i'll stop here, and congratulate you on your lovely shot :-) And i guess it's thanks to pollution, that the little to has fallen off ;-)) eternity65 · 2009-06-06: 04:23

Good question! jet28 · 2009-06-06: 04:27

Nous avons considérablement réduit nos émission, en occident, depuis quelques années. Mais depuis la révolution industrielle, c'est un siècle de saloperies qui doivent étre filtré par la planète, laisson lui le temps et continuons le combat ;-) kormoran · 2009-06-06: 04:42

What upsets me a lot is when I see vast container ships coming into Felixstowe bringing cheap plastic things (toys, ornaments gadgets etc) from overseas that we dont really need (or want) and just ends up in land fill once the novelty has worn off. Perhaps when we buy new things we should ask ourselves more whether we really want it. I hope that my personal carbon footprint wont be too big for my children to deal with. As for where your little toe has gone, perhaps that little piggy has gone to market! busybee36 · 2009-06-06: 05:24

You made some good points, Jon. At least there's awareness now that there wasn't in the past. Seems like the younger generation is more open to change than the previous ones. Guess I'm like you - just feel powerless. Unfortunately, I'm afraid, too that in time if there isn't change it might end up as Ruth envisions. It will take something big (like Mike says, the melting polar ice caps aren't enough) to be the wake-up call that's needed. Great shot for the post. lookagain · 2009-06-06: 09:18

I like the shot, and realy strong points! Ryana · 2009-06-10: 11:44

Tagged: world environment day carbon footprint