Men, take note. You have a bit of a problem being green. We’re not talking about wearing green to a Boston Celtics game. This is vegetable-eating, clean-energy supporting, turn-off-the-light-when-you-leave-the-room green.
Research suggests women are a little more environmentally conscious. They are less likely than men to support spending cuts on environmental initiatives and more likely to have positive feelings about environmental activism.
A report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research shows women have less trust than men that the institutions responsible for protecting the environment are actually doing their jobs, and they are more likely than men to volunteer for and give money to environmental causes.
Women’s support for environmentalism appears to translate into action both nationally and in Maine.
About 53 percent of the dues-paying members at the Natural Resources Council of Maine are women. Of the activists who have taken action on one or more issues with NRCM, about 57 percent are women.
At the national level, Christopher Weber, an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon, analyzed spending data and greenhouse gas figures and found the average single woman was responsible for 30 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The average single man was responsible for 32 tons.
The most significant difference was in driving habits. (Hello, pickup trucks). The analysis also found that single women spent more on home utilities and health care, while single men spent more on alcohol, tobacco and education.
Studies in Europe offered similar results, showing that men consumed more meat and processed beverages, used cars more frequently and drove longer distances. (Did you know it takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef?)
Granted, women and men are equally lacking in their knowledge of which measures save the most energy. In one 2010 study, most participants mentioned curtailment — like turning off lights or driving less — as the most effective way to conserve energy. Instead experts recommend greater efficiency, such as substituting compact fluorescent light bulbs for incandescent bulbs.
Whether you’re male or female, you can probably do a better job finding energy efficiencies. With only about five percent of the world’s population, the U.S. produces about 19 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Since 1990, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 10.5 percent.
While everyone can improve, it’s becoming clearer that men in particular could be pulling more of their weight. Women might — are? — get tired of pulling it for them. They certainly have been voicing their opinions through their voting habits. More women than men have been identifying themselves as Democrats for decades.
Being more environmentally conscious benefits more than the earth. It may even boost men’s egos, as some women find it sexy when men recycle. The eco-friendly dating site Planet Earth Singles has more than 70,000 members. Similar sites include Green Friends, Green Singles, Concerned Singles and Eco Dater. California has Green Speed Dating.
So, Maine men, are you going to lessen your red meat intake, buy a compact car, dry your clothes on a clothesline or plant more trees? Being environmentally responsible is not only the right thing but the manly thing to do. Time to lead the pack? That’s right, put the plastic bags down. No, we’re not coming back for your mud-caked pickup.
Researchers at our most prestigious universities have found that the 2 metric ton per year difference in carbon footprints between men and women is the result of having to drive back to the store for more beer to dull the sound of constant nagging about planting trees.
You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.
I am a woman and I understand you completely. Liked.
You Madam are a lady and a scholar.
This seems less like a commentary on environmental issues and more an attack on guys.
With differences of 6% and 14% for NRCM enrollment and action (and does “action” mean actually going out and planting a tree, or just hanging out at a protest holding a sign?), it really doesn’t seem like women are “pulling” that much more weight than the guys are. Take into account the percentage of men who NEED a pickup for work vs those who just have them and it can explain the extra CO2 tonnage. And I mean really, how many women actually NEED the SUV I see so many of them driving, rather than a wagon? How much energy (and resulting CO2) goes into producing the many extra clothes (from raw materials production to the shelf) most women have, and was it taken into account? And does this measurement of carbon output take into account sustainable energy usage, or just gross totals? I know of a lot more guys than women who heat with wood or pellets (both are considered sustainable and carbon neutral) instead of oil or propane.
But that’s ok. Educated and thorough journalism takes more work than just making blanket statements.
hahaha well put.
do you know why it takes 2500 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef?
And 10 pounds of corn feed to make 1 pound of beef.
Also, we could feed over 8 billion people with the corn we use to raise the cattle we eat?
That was what I was getting at; that figures like that are distorted. 10 pounds of corn feed is probably an understatement for what it actually takes to grow a beef cow. So 1 pound of corn needs 3 pounds of water to be grown… factories, machines, hands must be washed over and over… the cows have to have an in ground pool etc. That water isnt destroyed permanently for ever it goes back into a water table or treatment plant.
we could subsidize more corn and feed the entire world.
No you could not. The corn animals eat and that is used to make corn stuff is DENT corn and you can not eat it.
Also if you eat meat form the store you get what you pay for. It is full of all kids of “stuff” The meat from the animals I hunt has non of that growth crap or stuff in them.
Gee, we couldn’t possible plant a different type of corn in it’s place, could we?
ANd it does not matter what kind of meat you eat, it is still has fat, is full of cholesterol and causes teh same issues store bought meat does. Just not as fast.
I am guessing you have never partaken of most wild game. Fat in Bears yes fat in most everything else almost non existent. Fat is good for you. People all over the world have lived off fat in the lean times.
As for the Corn no you could not grow other types the reason people grow Dent corn is because it is a welfare system the fed pays you to PLANT the corn even if the crop fails you still get what the fed gives you when you plant it. Along with the massive demand for corn syrup and corn alcohol to power cars the FOOD grade corn crop shrinks every year. Thanks to all the greens who have no understanding how much energy is wasted making a fuel form corn that is anything BUT green…
I’ve heard recycling one aluminum can save enough energy to run a TV for two hours.
red meat is delicious and provides a source of protein. yeh yeh we know you can get protein from peanut butter or tofu but not as good… not to mention the current studies the impact of soy on mens health are starting to not look so good.
As far as driving compact cars. A lot of dudes do however, in Maine a pickup truck is often a necessity. For snow removal, for fire wood, for trash/recycling, for traversing our crappy potholed roads, for 4wd in snow.
Furthermore, you don’t have to been a democrat to be Eco-conscious/friendly. That is such a load. I was an active member of both college republicans and young Americans for freedom at UNH. I also help spearhead the campus-wide energy conservation challenge its inaugural year where dorms competed to reduce water and electricity produced. I offered practical advise from experience I had working in the field. However, go figure 30 young idealist ultra liberal save the world college students couldnt do practical. they just wanted to talk about technology that hadn’t been invented yet and about “inconvenient truth”. My dorm won the competition.
Protein from plant sources is the same protein you get from animal sources except it doesn’t have the added fat and cholesterol. Where do you thing the animal you just ate got the protein to make the steak?
As for the danger of Soy for man he would have to ingest a ton of soy for the effects described to occur. I recently changed from a Western Diet (eating meat, mostly chicken, Dairy, refined sugar and processed foods) to a whole food-plant based diet (yes, you could call me a Vegan but that would not be accurate) because of my Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol.
In 6 weeks I lost 12 pounds, which I needed to do and was unable to do on the Western Diet, my Blood Glucose level went from 135 mg/L medicated to 103 mg/L unmedicated. My blood pressure went from 132/80 medicated to 120/65 unmedicated and I no longer need to continue my aspirin regime to thin my blood. I will find out about my Cholesterol in a month.
Within a week I had more energy than I have had in 20 years and my mind is so much clearer then it was.
Do not mock that of whicvh you know not.
Congratulations. You have done well.
props to you. I like red meat and I will continue to eat it. I probably shouldnt because of the health factors you mentioned the big D runs in my family. I have cut way down on sugar and carb intake and that is good enough for now. When I am 40-50 whatever age you are I will cut other fun stuff out.
I like red meat as well but I like not having to take meds more. There are days I am like “hmm…. a hamburger sounds real good right now.” :)
You should try to be a week-end carnivore. Eat fruits, vegetables, whole grain and legunes during the week and then eat that steak, hamburger, roast chicken… whatever you want on the week-end. That way you can still enjoy meat occasionally and still help your system out. You may not have to cut meat out entirely if you help your body out sooner rather than later like I did.
It is never to soon to start cleansing your body, hardening of the arteries starts before we leave our teens but it takes willpower to stop eating what we are accustomed to.
Women are easier mislead then men.. True Fact.. Women swallow all the lies the Algorians put out there..
Example.. Yes I’ll respect you in the moring/ I’ll call ya/ you are the one I’ve been looking for all my life… They fall for it every time. The true weaker sex mislead by their fantasies of their realities of life..
Do you live a lone?
No I love and am well loved…
I was just pointing out how superficial “most” (not all) women are… They want to believe in anything, so it’s easy to convince them of anything… I myself couldn’t be with a women who didn’t or couldn’t think for herself in realities. Sorry Cheesecake I’m a realist and so is my honey… the tag Cheesecake must be how you feel about your own reality.. Now Davidvsgoliath will vanish in 33 clicks reaching a milstone of 10,000 likes so I must have someones approval. I don’t know why people will say anything for others approval. speak honestly and you will be surprised at who agrees with you. (-;
My comment was meant in none other than a humorous vein. The tag Cheesecake was arrived at without any deeper meaning than a joke between an old friend and I. It certainly does not hold any meaning that some have tried to attribute to it here. Btw way. I never post seeking another’s approval. Ever.
I have 140 acres of trees I need to cut some down not plant more.
Head to Lincolnville if you want to interview Tree-Huggers, they have a very big population of them there, they care more for the trees than they do their neighbors (humans). I’ll bet they will happily provide you with their expertise.