Page 5 - Feb2020

What is Flying Shame?

planes remain decades away,
weighed down by batteries that
can’t deliver nearly as much power
per kilo as jet fuel.”
So what’s to be done? Swear off
Dear EarthTalk: What is so-called “Flying
Shame” and what’s the climate connection? flying, that’s what. Flight Free
USA is a grassroots campaign
— Bridget J., New York, NY trying to get at least 100,000
“Flying shame” is one of those memic Americans to commit to not flying
terms that has sprung up recently to describe at all during the calendar year 2020
guilting people out of taking airplane trips in order to send a “clear signal to
given the massive carbon footprint of air industry and politicians—and also
travel. Some call it “The Greta Effect” in a to each other—that there are many
nod to Swedish teen environmental activist who are willing to change their
Greta Thunberg, who swore off air travel lifestyles to protect the climate.”
given its disproportionate drag on her Yet another slice of the apple is
efforts to slash her own carbon footprint. called A Free Ride, an idea which
Of course, Thunberg isn’t alone. In fact, assigns an escalating flight tax
the original concept of flying shame depending on how many flights
(“Flygskam”) actually started in Sweden, you take per year. One flight per
where “flying is becoming the new tobacco” year would be free of tax, while
in the words of Andy Rowell of the non- 14 flights a year would cost a pretty
profit Oil Change International (OCI). A penny in taxes, with the proceeds going
recent survey by the World Wildlife Fund to offsetting the jet fuel with green
found that 23 percent of Swedes have energy projects elsewhere.
abstained from air travel in the past year to
reduce their carbon footprints—a jump of six CONTACTS: Oil Change
percentage points from a year ago. International, priceofoil.org; “Direct
Meanwhile, 18 percent of respondents opted carbon dioxide emissions from civil
to travel by train instead of airplane over the aircraft,” eprints.soton.ac.uk/368576;
course of the year. “It’s time to wake up to the devastating
And the Swedes aren’t the only ones impact flying has on the environment,”
cutting back on flying. Other Europeans are http://bit.ly/2VoSW2e; Flight Free USA,
following suit, which makes sense given the flightfreeusa.org; A Free Ride,
excellent rail and ferry systems transecting afreeride.org.
Europe as practical alternatives to flying.
The concept has been slower to catch on in EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Learn about the new voting experience rolling out in LA County for March
the U.S. given greater distances and limited Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 2020. League of Women Voters of Los Angeles | 3303 Wilshire Boulevard , Suite
passenger rail options. nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https:// 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90010
emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://
Regardless, air travel is growing by leaps earthtalk.org. Send questions to:
and bounds overall worldwide. “The question@earthtalk.org. How you can help- By volunteering a
problem is that, as the science demands we Meals On Wheels few hours of your time, by referring our
radically reduce carbon emissions, the services to those in need, and by
number of passenger aircraft is set to double CABRILLO contributing and encouraging
by 2035,” worries OCI’s Rowell. Meanwhile, MARINE AQUARIUM organizations and friends to make
each and every day the aviation industry contributions.
You can donate on our website
consumes five million barrels of oil. In 2017 The Aquarium is located at 3720 www.lahabramealsonwheels.org
alone, the backs of airplanes emitted 859 Stephen M. White Drive in San Or mail a check to:La Habra Meals
million tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Pedro and is a facility of the City on Wheels, 101 W. La Habra Blvd, La
Indeed, burning jet fuel contributes roughly of Los Angeles Habra, CA 90631.
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worldwide. Analysts think this proportion Recreation and profit, volunteer organization assistance and live outside of La Habra,
please contact your local city services
could rise to 22 percent by 2050 as other Parks with providing meals for a nominal fee to for information. We have found similar
homebound residents living in La
sectors clean up their acts quicker. support from Habra & La Habra Heights. Meals are services in most areas.
Friends of Cabrillo Marine
Meanwhile, there are no truly green, Aquarium. prepared by a local vendor and are
practical alternatives to kerosene-based jet Open to the public on weekends delivered by our friendly volunteers Meals on Wheels began as
fuel on the horizon. “Aircraft are becoming from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday between 11:00am-12:00pm Monday a pilot program in 1965
more fuel-efficient, but not quickly to Friday from 12 noon to 5 p.m. through Friday. based on a study done in
To begin services contact our office
enough to offset the huge demand in For further information, please Monday through Friday between 8am- 1961 regarding food
growth,” reports The Conversation. “Electric call (310) 548-7562 1pm at 562-383-4221. delivery for the elderly.

February 2020 5