ChinaDialogue: Latest responses to Surviving on Spaceship Earth

What the West must do

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:50:39 +0000

As comment number 3 says 'the economy and social system of a certain country have set the tone for the living style of individuals'. How true! It's unavoidable in a European nation that you will use many resources. In China this is different. But it is shocking to find Shanghai use at European or higher levels. The moral I draw from this is that 21st century city living anywhere on the planet draws heavily on resources. And the lessen is more for westerners as we are the ones who are living like this now. To save the planet westerners must change their ways. They can only hope that China follows suit if a good example is set, otherwise Chinese people will say 'you want us to make sacrifices and change the way we lead our lives but you are not willing to do so yourself'.

[TRANSLATED] My ecological footprint index is 4.5 in Beijing

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:18:04 +0000

It is interesting to take the ecological footprint test available at the bottom of chinadialogue homepage. But my test results are surprising. My index in Beijing is 4.5, much higher China's average at 1.5. My long journey everyday to work is mainly blamed for the high index. Well, I get an index of 5.1 in London, lower than the UK average of 5.3. The reasons are similar that I have to take train and bus to travel a long way to work in London everyday. Meanwhile, most food sold in the UK is imported. I have no other choices. Comparing the two test results, I have two thoughts: First: the test does not take individuals' actual situation into consideration. If you work in the downtown but live in the outskirts, how can you do with it? If only imported food is available, you have less choices. So the economy and social system of a certain country have basically set the tone for the living style of individuals. Even an individual could do something to help improve the ecosystem, but it should be a target for the whole nation and society. Secondly, you could tell average ecological footprint index in developed countries is much higher than that in developing countries. So the rich countries do need to take actions now, otherwise, it maybe indicate that advanced economy, higher ecological footprint index. This runs in the opposite direction of the sustainable economic development. So, sustainable economic development is a big topic for researchers.

Eco-footprints

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 01:36:09 +0000

My footprint was 1.7, but then when I took it more carefully, it was 2.7. I live in a cold climate, but I no longer drive. I use my three-wheeler to get around. And I only buy my food from local people. I boycott all national stores, and buy much from second-hand stores, locally. For me, this is also a good idea. It keeps my money out of the hands of monopolies. catnapping

Ecological footprints

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:23:45 +0000

This really got me thinking about different lifestyles around the world and their footprints. I just took the ecological footprint quiz linked at the bottom of the chinadialogue homepage. I live in London, UK, and my ecological footprint was 2.3 planets. What were other people's? I'd be interested to know what a Chinese city-dweller would score... SL