Two posts ago I examined how stopping profligate bread waste could reduce C02 emissions. Earlier in a comment to my post on climate change responsibility, Jordan had astutely noted that while consumers bear some responsibility in reducing emissions major corporations should also be held accountable. Today I will explore how assigning responsibility to both consumers … Continue reading Responsibility reloaded
Climate change and FMGCs
Following up on my last post, today I want to examine the importance of narratives in getting people – especially Europeans since I’m Austrian – involved in climate change activism. First, it is important to note that current inaction is not because people reject climate science. Europeans overwhelmingly agree that “the climate is probably or … Continue reading Climate change and FMGCs
Climate Change Responsibility
In my last post I posed the question: Who specifically is responsible for addressing climate change and reducing GHG emissions? Today I provide one possible answer. I believe that considerable, if not the brunt of, responsibility ought to lie with consumers. However, it is unlikely that individuals accustomed to unlimited choice among a glut of … Continue reading Climate Change Responsibility
Who is responsible?
When I started studying political, economic, and legal philosophy at the University of Graz just for fun, little did I know that climate change would play a prominent role in the curriculum. Now in my fourth semester, I have had the opportunity to examine the urgings and arguments of diverse researchers – philosophers, economists, climate … Continue reading Who is responsible?
Divine redemption or comedy of errors?
A few days ago in a much discussed post I posed the question: What duties do the living have to compensate victims of past injustices? The tenor from comments, and also my opinion, is that at minimum the living have obligations towards the dead regarding their historical memory. It seems that Sperello di Serego Alighieri, … Continue reading Divine redemption or comedy of errors?
Leftists of the World Unite!
Last summer I questioned the ability of social media to actually rally people and bring about populist revolution. The storming of the United States Capitol on January 6th, however, is a counterexample which clearly casts doubt on my claim. Social media played a critical role in mobilizing and unifying diverse right-wing groups – QAnon supporters, … Continue reading Leftists of the World Unite!
A message to my fellow Austrians and friends around the world
A few days ago Arnold Schwarzenegger, posted “a message to my fellow Americans and friends around the world” on LinkedIn. I won’t wade into the quagmire of comments (and rants masquerading as comments) that his video has triggered. Suffice it to say, the United States is deeply divided and Joe Biden faces a challenge. I … Continue reading A message to my fellow Austrians and friends around the world
Pence vs. Quayle
So much media attention has been focused on how the presidential inauguration in two weeks will remove Donald Trump from office that many may have forgotten that Mike Pence will also be out of a job soon. On January 20th Pence will become just the second Vice President of the United States in the last … Continue reading Pence vs. Quayle
Knocking down the walls
Today marks 30 years of German Reunification, and next week classes start again at the Karl-Franzens-Universität. One seminar I will be taking sounds very promising – The Desire for Walls After 1989. The course description : Thirty years ago the wall between East and West Germany fell. For many people, 1989 was also seen as … Continue reading Knocking down the walls
Ruth Bader Ginsburg 1933-2020
No pithy comments or smart ass remarks today - too busy reflecting on the passing or RBG.
