Global Warming
Out of context: Reply #142
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- raf0
"– why no start a campaign against thermometers?
– why not campaign against people eating fish (as the highest source of ingested mercury) or high-fructose corn syrup?"It is very simple. I am not forced to buy mercury based thermometers. I am forced to buy CFLs due to a global monopolistic market tweak.
I don't even need a thermometer and I can easily buy a non-toxic one if I want.
I have phased those mercury thermometers out from my place long time ago. I live in a boring mild climate now you know, same weather all year long... :)I need light bulbs though. I cannot buy a classic tungsten light bulb anymore, they are banned by the government for bogus reasons. I am forced to use the toxic ones instead.
On top of that home toxicity risk, there is a certainty most used up CFLs will go to thrash dump, being 100% sure to poison ground waters. This is pure madness.
As for weighing the risk.. I consider myself to be quite rational. The toxic light bulb in my house is a real danger (just like the thermometer you mentioned), more so than a can of tuna.
I do care not to eat too much seafood I must say, not easy living in a fishing village.I have to add, like many people – my eyes sometimes hurt from CFL light and I can get dizzy from it.
Connecting CFL use with lower pollution from coal power plants is a big stretch, especially when everyone compensates the bill by buying other power-hungry equipment like home cinema systems and there is no sign of power plants running at lower speeds.
Whatever heat I don't get from tungsten lamp in Winter, I get from an electric or gas heater.People should be encouraged to use alternative energy sources, but that's not what people in power(sic!) really want, is it?
Even people who market CFLs say savings per household are in the region of €42 per year (I bet those are not very conservative numbers). Is this worth polluting ground waters and putting tiny vials with mercury around the house? I say it is not.
Honestly.. I would understand a ban on CFLs, because they are toxic. I would understand a ban on non-rechargeable batteries (not gonna happen). Ban on tungsten light bulbs though is only a sign of corporate lobbying gone too far.