Weekend Weblink

BBC Radio has broadcast the first of a three part series called Energy Swap. In it, a British energy-conscious family is swapped for a week with an almost willfully wasteful Texan family. It's not my typical weekend weblink fare. It is neither short (30 minute runtime) nor funny (not even when the Texan father claims that mankind is playing no part in global warming), but my weekend weblink it is. I'll explain why later.

Energy Swap on BBC Radio 4

The BBC claims the link will be active for only about seven days, so let me know if you try it and it's no longer working.

Comments

[will van spronsen]

thanks for the link- what a great show! living on vashon island, an island of hippie do-gooders, makes it that much more apalling to hear the nearly criminal ignorance of the texan family.

[Swamper]

Interesting link. While I agree with their pov, the English come off sounding really smug. And in response to the previous comment, all of the truly "criminally ignorant" Texans moved to DC in 2000.

[The Gdada]

Kinda makes me wish I could say I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee. So it goes

[Sarah]

Actually - I thought the English family were fairly cool about it considering its their planet that the Texan family are contributing to the destruction of.

I can certainly understand how they feel, I'm also from England and we are constantly being educated about recycling, energy conservation. To go visit a home like the Texan one featured in the program would be a bit like watching someone burning dollar bills and/or purposely destroying a work of art - in that it doesn't make any personal or social sense to live like that.

[Loren]

Can I get a 'HALLELUJAH'?

Man, I need cable. Obviously I've been watching too much Sunday TV.

[Tammy from Twinstuff]

I've taught school in many states due to my hubby being in the military. Texas is the only state that held workshops training teachers how to teach kids the importance of keeping the enviorment clean and recycling. Texas also had a recycling pick up at houses. I have to take my recycled items to a recycling station in Arkansas.

[Loren]

Wow, that's insane, Tammy! Anywhere I've ever lived in the Midwest encourages recycling and gives you huge containers for pickup, sometimes as big as garbage cans themselves. We even put out huge cardboard boxes full almost every week and they take all of it. We recycle more at our house than we throw out - I'm addicted!!!

PS - Had to come back to this post because I just completed writing a global warming article. What a blast...

[DebiD]

This is a subject close to my heart.

I'm in Tennessee (CA transplant). We're the freaks in town who actually DO recycle rather than burning everything in a barrel in the back yard. And yes, we have to take the stuff in ourselves. I was also shocked to see that the produce in the grocery store is put on foam trays and wrapped in plastic. WTF???!