We hear a lot of moaning and groaning these days about global warming, and the planet overheating, and the melting of the Polar ice cream, and all other dire warnings leading to mass diarrhoea and the sewers cannot cope.
There is an obvious cause staring us in the face and we ignore it.
I don't know how it is where you live, but for many years I have commuted by train on a daily basis to London for work. There are millions doing this journey backwards and forwards each day. Not only to and from London, but I guess also Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow and other cities everywhere.
What a waste. Millions of cars, buses and trains going backwards and forwards. Can you imagine how much petrol/gas could be saved if we did not need these vehicle journeys? And how much electricity would be saved if we did not need all those trains?
And let's not forget the cost of heating two premises in winter. Your office, and your home for when you return.
And how about the human cost? Often my train used to arrive at a major London station and I had to run from one train to another platform to catch another train for an onwards journey. We would all get ready for the train doors to open and we'd run like ants to the next platform before the other train left. What does that do to your health every day? Especially if you are elderly and not well. On one occasion I saw a man collapse with a heart attack. Was it worth it?
When I worked in London, in my office there was a desk, a cabinet or two, a computer and a telephone. Oh ... and a chair in case I got tired working standing up. I could have had the same at home and worked just as effectively. In fact for a short period I tried it successfully.
The people working for me had the same equipment. They too worked in small teams but had no reason to be in a London office together. There was no reason for me to be with them or they near me. The work I gave them was project based. They had to do certain things by a certain time at a certain budget. To do this they used computers and telephones. They could have done it from home. There was no need for them to come to London daily. And we could all meet face-to-face once a month or so as long as they bought the beer.
Come to think of it, there were other people too who could have worked in groups and individually from home.
The only one who had to come in was the door-keeper. But then, with an empty buiding we would not need a doorkeeper.
If we're serious about global warming and the environment, let us think of obvious and easy solutions which we can implement quickly for the benefit of all.
