Good for the planet bad for your council

Residents in Toronto are conserving so much water that the municipality is struggling to cover it's costs. Which means ultimately life will get worse for it's residents.

The fact is that doing 'good' is often not quite a virtuous as it might first appear.

For instance plant a tree initiatives that so many cafe latte conservationists hopped on have led to increased forestation-in the wrong part of the world! Obviously many conservationists want to be able to visit the woods they are helping to plant, so new forests have been created in the western northern hemisphere. Problem is that all that foiliage prevents a clean snow covering. So what? Well in winter a clean snow covering across large parts of the norther hemisphere has a cooling effect, all that snow reflects sunlight back into space. Now we have acres of trees which instead of reflecting absorb the heat. Or something like that-I can't be bothered to find the article.

Similarly aid programs to developing countries have been shown to increase corruption, all that money/food flying in-the idea that it directly reaches those who need it most. Even when distribution centres are set up properly rioting and fighting often break out.

This was going to be a cogent defence of self interest, but I've run out of steam, besides the super bowl is on soon!

I will write something about my dislike for charity soon, in the meantime this will have to do.

When someone asks you to do something for free/provide a donation, remember that if their solution was all that good they'd be able to make you pay for it.