You really have to laff at this nobber

[Richard Mason]

The rerality is that as far as core environmental issues go, placky bags are actually pretty marginalin the grand scheme of things.

Still, if it makes the masses feel good about themselves - I'd compare it with collecting pots & pans and iron railings "to make Spitfires" back in 1940.

[Paulus]

Originally Posted by Lazlo

Ooh look - and without actually improving the Daily Hate's click count. I'm so proud .

Hardly a hate campaign is it?

I wonder what kind of headlines would make them less contentious??

Even if Brown's new found hate of polyethene is a stunt to please readers of the Mail we really should be more concerned that every aspect of real world policy is entirely constructed to please the readership of the Guardian.

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by Paulus

Hardly a hate campaign is it?

Um, yes it is.

Originally Posted by Paulus

I wonder what kind of headlines would make them less contentious??

I can think of several. Can you?

Originally Posted by Paulus

Even if Brown's new found hate of polyethene is a stunt to please readers of the Mail we really should be more concerned that every aspect of real world policy is entirely constructed to please the readership of the Guardian.

You mean, like ID cards? No? Ok, how about the removal of civil liberties? Um not that either, then. Maybe it's Guardian's unflinching support for the War On Terror ™ that you've got in mind?

[dave archer]

Sod it, yes there are more important big scale enviro issues, and yes the Daily Mail motives are nothing more than selling papers and I abhor the hate filled rag, but all publicity is good publicity and I support anyone promoting reducing use (which almost always leads to binning after one use) of placky bags.

Dave - bag for life owner and proud of it!

[Lazlo]

There's an interesting article/comment here (that's on the Guardian site btw, so some might wish to avoid it, or at least make sure that their tin-foil hats are secured first).

It makes various points among which:

- This is a joint campaign led by the Independent and the Daily Mail - notable in itself.

- "The making of a plastic bag uses up to 40% less energy, produces up to 80% less solid waste, 72% less atmospheric emissions and 90% less waterborne waste, than a paper bag"

- A better idea is to re-use the bags you have, of whichever type they happen to be.

- What happened to the idea to use bio-degradeable plastic bags?

[Ian B]

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

Aldi and Lidl charged for bags for years. Aldi sources a lot of their veg locally (about 1/2 the veg farms near me sell to Aldi). Yet no-one praises them.

Oh that's right... middle class voters don't shop there...

I like shopping in Lidls, but am grateful to Sainsburys - they keep the riff-raff out of Lidls.

[Ding Dang Doo]

Is there a reason we can't use those brown paper bags like the Yanks always seem to be using?

Surely they are okay? (not the Americans, the brown paper bags )

EDIT: In retrospect, we could use Americans to carry our shopping... at last, a use for them.!

Pete

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by Paulus

... every aspect of real world policy is entirely constructed to please the readership of the Guardian.

I can't read my Gruniard any more.

Its wet.

I just spat my Organic Nicaraguan Fair Trade RSPB coffee all over it...

Chris

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by chrisch

I just spat my Organic Nicaraguan Fair Trade RSPB coffee all over it...

I remember our student union shop used to sell Nicaraguan coffee to demonstrate our solidarity with the charming Daniel Ortega. Naturally it was horrible. They would have had far more luck selling Flor De Cana.

Jason

[Paulus]

Originally Posted by Lazlo

Um, yes it is.

Oh no it's not!!

I can think of several. Can you?

I don't need to, I like contentious head lines. Especialy from the Mail

You mean, like ID cards? No? Ok, how about the removal of civil liberties? Um not that either, then. Maybe it's Guardian's unflinching support for the War On Terror ™ that you've got in mind?

Hmm. We certainly could use a bit of Guantanamo hospitality in this country. It's way to cosy for undesirables who wander in shite on us then calim benefits for their trouble. Those civil liberties???