17 Jan 2010
Thousands of you responded to my last post! I am surprised at your vehemence...(lol).
Well, honestly only a few were LOUD or sw%#@*ng at me, but certainly 90% of the responses were passionate!
Some responses were very well written, with detailed reports. Some were just a few words, some were insightful, and a few were even thought provoking. Some congratulated me, some agreed with me, and even a few of them wanted me to join them in their green business (lol).
Let's say out of 2000 email responses, I would guess (because there is no way I could have read them all) there were maybe 1 in 100 really negative and angry letters. The rest varied from 'Thanks, nice email' to 'I couldn't agree more!!' to 'I appreciate your email, but...'
So I didn't piss too many people off, I guess!
Not only that, but a good portion of the responses agreed with me. So let me now share a few of the better ones with you, after I clarify my own position.
First, my wife and I have been married for 8 years, and one of the things that attracted me to her was her desire to leave as small a foot print on this planet as possible. She drove a small car, recycled, composted, chided me for not turning off the tap while I brushed my teeth, gave her used goods to Catholic Charities and Salvation Army, and picked up her doggie's doo-doo during walks.
Me, I was into recycling and picking up trash in the street, and not pouring chemicals down my drain or in my gutter long before I met her. So our life together has always been about living ecologically sensitive lives. Now we are teaching those values to our kids too.
So why the rant last week about going green?
Easy. It was all about the money.
You see going green has become a very, VERY big business (you will see some of that in the email replies below) and I have decided NOT to participate in that. I have witnessed way too many people get hurt by the Green Stream, and the Green Wealth, and the Green Profits businesses out there to simply stand by passively and look the other way!
Anyone looking at or actively involved in a 'go green' MLM or affiliate program beware! Just beware. The unfortunate and uneducated wanna be activists at the top are often taking another great idea, blowing it way out of proportion, promising events and results that will NEVER come to pass, GUILTING you into signing up, and then SELLING it to you as a way to get-rich by getting their stuff (tabs, liquids, whatever) into the hands of other gullible folks.
I hope the rest of this post will help you as it has me...
Replies to my email post: Go Green huh? Whatever.
Hello Karl,
Like most overblown concepts, "Green" is infinite. Its' momentum seems to be carried by a long list of corporations and small businesses promising to sell products and concepts built and used without harming the environment. It even appears to have the approval of Uncle Sam behind it.
People with brains are laughing at the Green scams that unfold daily, designed to make us feel good while they relieve us of our money. How about the pictures in magazines of the new SUV with moss and vines growing around it? In the woods- with cute songbirds flying above it in circles. It's GREEN! It makes you think Elves built it with wooden tools inside a hollow log. From the ads, some of us might think a green SUV makes grass grow thicker just by being parked in the driveway. Truthfully, its' paint is the same paint they put on every vehicle. Ever see a list of pollutants and chemicals in vehicle paint? Workers in auto body shops wear respirators to keep the toxic fumes out of their lungs. And like the paint, the same plastic parts are in all vehicles. What is GREEN about plastics? Ever consider how much electricity it takes to machine and build a car engine? The diesel fuel used to transport the different parts and components on ships, trains and trucks from overseas to the factory? The natural gas needed to heat the molten metals to be poured into molds? Molded parts that have to be machined into usable components. You know, assembling vehicles requires a huge manufacturing facility. And a massive array of specialized machinery. Built just like the vehicles they manufacture. With plastics, electronics, paint, lubricating greases and oils.. And using electricity to function.
Because we're all doing our part to save the planet nobody seems to mind paying more for green products.
Police Departments are adding "Environmental Enforcement" personnel. Truck drivers are no longer allowed to idle the truck engines that make air conditioning possible. (Ever try to sleep in a vehicle in 115 degree heat?) In some states, home owners are required by law to separate garbage from trash, glass from plastics, and to remove all the labels. Yes, they have to soak containers in the sink to peel off the paper and plastic labels. And the fines for violating these laws? The penalties are outrageous!
How about the new light bulbs? Did you know they contain mercury vapors? If one of them bursts in your house you need a hazmat crew to clean it up. No kidding.
You're right Karl, the GREEN movement is only like the top of an iceburg. It looks pretty until it's turned over. Under the surface where no one wants to look is the huge deception. Lies, misinformation and the worst of all- regulation and enforcement for fun and profit.
Ever heard of hemp fabric? Until 1937, hemp was used in clothing, rope and ship sails. It's so durable that years of testing and improvement in plastics still can't match hemp's qualities. It's against the law in Illinois to posses hemp cloth. Yet it's so durable and lasts so long that clothes made of hemp can be handed down to the grandkids. How is that for green?
Well- it's getting late. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Thanks for reading mine. I'm proud to see someone looking through the smoke screen of lies. The layers of buzz phrases and themes that others accept as the truth. . Dave
Hi Karl,
Sometimes I see red when green comes up. While I do believe there are companies legitimately concerned about the environment producing 'green' products, many today are simply jumping on the bandwagon. Companies that have been responsible for churning out some of the most offensive products are now suddenly environmentally aware? I doubt it. More likely they've 'seen the light' of brighter dollar signs and are playing to the concerns and possible feelings of guilt in the minds of consumers. Derek ()
Karl here is another question. What kind of damage does all the forest fires and a Volcano do to the atmosphere? How many cars running nonstop for 24 hours does it take to add the same amount of carbon into the atmosphere as the forest fires just last year?
And now it's not global warming, but the weather is changing. Like that has never happened before. Ask Noah about that. He saw the mother of all rainy seasons. They could drive Ya nuts with their bigger lies to get rich. You know...if you tell the big lie long enough, people will even believe that all life came from a rock.
So are you ready for something real? SAVE 50% ON GASOLINE! (USA and Canada only)
1. Purchase gasoline at any station in the USA or Canada.
2. Send your receipt(s) to the XXXXXX
3. Receive a rebate check for XXXX
4. Sign up here: XXXXX
You have up to 14 days free to explore everything the XXXXXX has to offer! SO THERE IS NO RISK (LMAO Hilarious that I got 14 offers at least to join various fuel-reduction affiliate programs and MLM's...where are they all coming from??)
Karl:
I enjoyed your e-mail very much! Your sincerity certainly shined through without cramming your opinion down my throat, or without telling me I'm a rotten and selfish person for not donating a year's salary to Greenpeace.
Of course, it also helped that you didn't try to sell me the next-best, earth-saving product, where the proceeds go to the poorest country in the world to buy them 100,000 new [green] dumpsters!
Changing your ways so you can integrate into a "Green" lifestyle is like doing anything else that involves getting rid of your bad habits: if you do it in a logical manner, plus with common-sense, and with a reasonable amount of thought and conviction, it can easily be done without raising the opposition's eyebrows, or without trying to re-invent every type of efficient production process in the world.
So, your point is well-taken. I too have purchased far too many [over-priced] green programs, way too many [useless] green products and I've handed over one, too many [pan-handled) green donations.
Even when most people do their part to become Green by voluntarily cooperating with honor-system type reqirements, there will be profiteers waiting to strike when the rule-makers eventually put down their guards.
Do you have any ideas? I've been in-tune with this idea for years. You didn't piss me off, but... Yes, the environmental issues are over dramatized for earning and hiding large corporate and government profits, for hiding or disguising holdings and resources, and for skewing future projects and objectives for power and wealth.
Sincerely: Alan
well put Karl
i recycle and am looking converting to solar because it's free but we have had the coldest summer on record!
I am with you
Gavin
Hi, Yes! Karl,
I do have strong feelings about this issue and I am glad to see that we are on the same wave.
I personally think this Green Wealth business is one big money making scheme.
Best wishes
Stephan
Hello Karl, i got your email about going green and your involvement in it. I can see your frustation and it is true there is only so much you can do but if the rest of the world does not their part it seems like anything you do might not make an impact , but i guess even a little bit by alot of people goes a long way. I guess all we can do is hope people take action !
Since i got your attention and i believe you are from Canada I was wondering if you could answer a question for me? HER OPPORTUNITY OFFER GOES HERE...
Hey Karl,
I appreciate what you are doing by making a bold stand here, and I agree for the most part it's just all crap! But I don't appreciate being placed into the community box of dim-whits. I for one DO NOT listen to the media and I rarely even watch it and if I do it is with a very cautious ear.
Just like everything else in this blessed country/world, if it has appeal and you can make money with it, it will be raped and plundered to squeeze out every money-making opportunity out there. After all it is the American way - so they say.
It's the ol' "the sky is falling" syndrome - again. A bunch of fear-based busy bodied people running around listening to a bunch of other fear-inducing chaos creating power mongers. It's been going on since the beginning of time. Now it's just covered in green!
I personally feel Al Gore has created such a fear in people and all for his own personal gain, I wish people could see what he has gained since his whole movie of "Revelations". If he were sincere in his efforts his whole way of living would be completely different, he's so full of CRAP, he drives me nuts! And by the way it has nothing to do with his political stand either, this isn't about politics, it's about him. In my personal opinion the whole character of the "Peace Prize" has now been demoralized, it seems as though there may have been an agenda for that as well?.
I subscribe to the notion that we must be responsible for our ownselves and not rely upon anyone else or entity to do it. I was composting, recycling, biking/walking if possible and eating clean before it ever became such a fad to do so, my family thought I was some nutty hippy for years, so I guess if anything I can thank ol' Al for making it cool to be Green, now atleast my friends & family aren't razzing me as much.
Jennifer
I really don’t know why you have sent out this email? What is your problem? I have not been harassed by any companies. I choose to use XXXXX products on my body and in my home! I certainly believe everyone should use these products! And generally I do my bit when out in the world!
Get over it Karl!!! Why have you wasted people’s time sending out this email? - Camilla
Hello Karl, You made a good point, and I agree. But how do you intend to wake them up ?
Life
Yes Karl some mountains do look to high to climb on your own but as a responsible educated Group we can and must purse the quest of hold big corporations and governments accountable for there short sightedness and continued destruction of the plant not just for our children but for every living creature, I don't know how much really know about climate change, extinction of species, heating of the plant, deforestation, pollution and over population are just the start this nightmare. your bitterness seems to me comes from a vision of what i can earn from this green movement not what can i give to the earth and mankind as we still know it. Just remember he/she who gives shall receive is this not basically what every get rich author or marketer states.
The Green Movement is not about making money online its about helping civilisation as we know it survive its biggest fight yet.
JAMIE
Good Monrning Karl,
Yes I did look into and register for XXXXXXX, but once I had all their information and saw what it was going to cost me, I didn't join up. I wasn't prepared to pay all that money on something that I did not know would work. I agree with everything you have just said. I already do my bit to help keep my 'street clean' and it doesn't cost anything to do.
Suzanne
Green is to start from birth to death. It must be a culture of all humanity to make it successful. It must start however, from the individual.
dIoscoro
Amen..Al Gore is the king of the assholes leading this movement in the US and personally its just another way for them to start taxing us in the future - you don't turn green you will be taxed..your house is not "Green certified" you will be taxed...global warming my ass - shut up and recycle and don't litter.....that's about it. Start worrying more about the illegal immigrants sucking up our tax dollars because we feel "sorry" for them. Good lord.... ok sorry I went off in another direction. LOL Thanks for the email.
Laura
I am with you on this, I call it revenue enhancement. The amount of money people are making off this Go Green crap is Sick. I have never bought into it and never will. Global warming that is another funny one. We are having one of the coldest years since the 70's. Old Al sure took people on a ride on that one. Anyhow take care and keep up the good work.
Terry
It's all abut money. Gore is a scammer, he stands to make billions (at least). Picken's is a scam, he's promoting natural gas (of which he controls).. There ARE REAL alternatives, but you won't hear about them through 'normal' channels, as the media is all controlled as well. There are over 6000+ US patents that are restricted on the grounds of "Nat'l Security" (most of them related to energy), it's ALL one big scam perpetuated by a relatively small number of people who want to control everything. That's OK, their day is coming! Pretty soon they will have to get off their lazy fat asses and go out and get a regular job like the rest of us! Those sheiks can go back to riding their camels all over their damned desert, and they can pave it with all the oil we will no longer need.
Richard
Karl,
I agree with you 100%. I think there are too many so called (Do Gooders) that are just blowing it out their ears and in the meantime scamming people out of their hard earned money while they reap the benefits.
I have been recycling for years now and don't use anything toxic in my drains. I have also been using recycling bags for my garbage and using a lot of the green products. It is difficult to teach that to most people, they sit back doing nothing and think it is just going to go away!
I believe that as long as we try, we are doing our part for this world as we know it, and are contributing to the "Green Thing" we are doing okay.
I have no intentions of buying into this anymore it is a lose, lose situation not a win, win one. This is where the Rich get Richer and people like us get, you guessed it, Poorer and Poorer!
Didn't mean to write you a book but it makes me angry. I'll say no more.
Kindest regards,
Hi Karl,
You're 100% on the right track regarding this, it's all about making money it has nothing to do with environment... Rick
Karl thanks for the email....yes these people have hurt me bad, I think they are running a pones game. John
Karl, I totally agree with you.
The Earth itself produces more pollution than all goats and humans combined. With just one fart from a volcano!
The "blaming humans for CO2 production" and so on, is a scam. Used by folks like the almost President of the USA, you know? It's all bullshit.
Keep spreading your message.
js
Hi......
I think your comments are accurate & I feel that
Commerce Generally is just taking advanatge of a swing
of popular references to everything Green.
That is the modern American Trend to follow the
Media influence for the promotion of anything that can
be related to Green....
I have a son who is an Environmental Lawyer with
NY state & believe me i get the message right....
I have been in a few programs this past year that
promote GREEN & they are not really successful....
I am in one this year which I would like you to look
over as a real answer for many folks in the USA for the
It is a Guaranteed BLAH BLAH BLAH...
Hi Karl.
You sound sincere, so I am responding out of courtesy.
I have done all that I am able to protect and preserve the environment. I know that I cannot change the world; I can only control how I live. I am not pissed off, and commend you for caring enough to send this email.
Sincerely,
Patricia
Dear Karl,
This is an excellent e-mail.------There is a lot of garbage out there on the internet highway and, unfortunately, we all have to wade through it!
There isn't any "Global Warming" here in Bellaire, Antrim County, Michigan. Our English Setter (Jakey) doesn't want to stay outside very long. Perhaps, I need to start giving him a package of XXXXXX each day. It works for us, it might help Jakey too. Thanks for the great job you are doing.
Fran
Hey Karl,
You are so spot on regarding most of these "Green Movement, Tree Huggers". I also agree with your suggestions about each of us doing one or two simple changes that can affect us directly. One thing I have started doing is to stop pumping salt brine into the sewer system from my Salt Softener on my homes' water line. I have replaced it with a Non-Salt conditioner & filtration system. Our system is a Lifesource whole-house filter/conditioner. They have been truly " Green" since 84. Thanks for your email, let's talk again soon.
p.s. I take my canvass bags to the grocery store, instead of using their plastic ones... Madeline
Right on and well stated. I would like your permission to forward this to friends and put it on my blog site - Doug
If this is a solicitation, I am impressed as I didn't really see how you could pitch anything based on that.
That being said, I agree with you. I thin the green movement is more of an agenda or a means to financial gain for most of these companies.
How about just using some common sense and dont destroy where we live. Like we wouldnt treat our houses or homes of friends and family like a duming ground but we have no problem doing it on a planetary level.
Ultimately though, multi-national corporations and governments are going to do what is cost effective, not necessarily what is right and until there is a way to regulate these entities AND enforce the regulations beyond fines that mean nothing to some of these companies, then I am afraid things are just going to continue to deteriorate.
Other times I just think that society at large is just too stupid to realize what they are doing, or simply don't give a shit unless it directly affects them.
Part of the solution is just being a responsible individual and not a wasteful ass ... turn off lights when you leave a room, dont let water run forever, drive a car that makes sense for where you live ... not to make up for a tiny penis, use less pre-packaged goods, grow some of your own food and/or raise animals for food where possible.
Aaron
Hi Karl
I agree absolutely. We are being forced into
situations through politically created panic, such
as the "Global Warming" (we are "enjoying one
of the coldest winters in decades here with it
lasting far longer than ever before and while the
Copenhagen Conference on this was taking place
Washington had record levels of snow!!!) and the
so called Swine Flu. That started as a major
global pandemic to force us into having unwanted
and unnecessary injections from pharmaceutical
companies who were making billions forrm it but
who had immunity from any claims against them
for harmful side effects. Why? Over here we
have had vey few deaths from H1N1 and normal
flu is very much more lethal.
In the UK in 1948 the then Government passed
the "Clean Air Act" to reduce the levels of smoke
being created by all the fires in the homes. In
winter we had difficulty in seeing in the Smog
(a combination of smoke and fog) and this was
meant to reduce it, which it did very successfully.
Far more CO2 was being produced then than now
and in the 1970/80s they were forecasting a new
Ice Age. Big business and politicians are doing all
they can to control us and probably reduce the
population as well.
We must do all we can to counter these lies.
Regards
Geoffrey
Hi Karl,
I am with you mate - the Global warming issue etc is just another form of mass-control.
This guy is worth watching - he knows what is going on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stij8sUybx0
--------------------------------------------
Karl Airey
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