The New York Times (supplement for the SZ, 24. Dez.) remembers its readers in a number of articles that eco-friendly consumerism is a very tricky affair. A research project of the University of California, for example, took the local food hysteria under scrutiny and came to the conclusion that local food is - environmentally speaking – not always the better choice. All the pros and cons which a consumer has to take into consideration when trying his/her best to save the world eventually lead to an equation with dozens of variables unsolvable for the average Tesco consumer who is already now overchallenges by the choice the milk shelf offers (milk, guaranteed British milk, local Kentish milk, Organic…?).
However, more important for the season is the article which warns us that “eco-friendly Christmas may ruin the holiday spirit”. Now as the holidays have past without major calamities, I can heave a sigh of relief and be proud of our eco-friendly used-newspaper-wrapping-tradition and the fact that no carbon footprints were left in the snow while I walked per pedes to town for Christmas shopping. The salad drier I bought for my mum will hopefully be as sustainable as the last one, which she had for…well, I think she possessed this ugly thing since my birth.
