My point, YGirl, is
I'm not huffy or upset, Ygirl. I do find it interesting that you assume I am.
As for CFL's, you may have information I haven't been exposed to yet. I'll look into that. But let's assume for discussion's sake that you're 100% correct and use of CFL's should be stopped. I have the same opinion for them, in that case, that I have of using corn for ethanol, or any other flawed attempts to move us toward sustainability. At least they demonstrate recognition that there is a problem, and willingness to move toward a solution. It would be wonderful if we could foresee every possible consequence before we embark on any given course of action. Occasionally we can, but many times we have to make the best judgement we can with the information we have available to us at the time. And be willing to adjust and correct as better information becomes available.
But the success or failure of any one aspect of the move toward sustainability does not negate the need for, or the urgency of, the movement as a whole.
You sounded huffy the way you quoted my whole message and said I was giving you the "stink-eye".
Anyway, as far as taking steps "right now" is concerned. If you go back and re-read my post, I didn't say that we should STOP using them. I said that they should be DISPOSED OF IN THE APPROPRIATE WASTE STREAM, WHICH FOR THE AVERAGE CITIZEN, THERE IS NO EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE. The way it is now, people are chucking them in the regular garbage, which does not equate to doing the best thing, even in the short term.
Now that you have been exposed to "new information" (which is not that new), will you stick your head in the sand, or will you USE the "new information" to make more intelligent choices and act more responsibly? Once you "look into it", let us all know.
Finally, I have never denied that there is a need for a "movement as a whole". This thread has evolved from a debate about "global transformation" to a debate about the need for environmental remediation, and I never had an argument with your position regarding that. I am, however, skeptical about the vast majority of people being willing to cooperate unless some sort of incentive and/or deterrent system is put in place by government and beaurocracy. Recently my city has done this by requiring trash to be confined to special containers issued by the city, and charging money for certain items to be picked up curbside (for example, it costs $60 to have a couch taken away - they sent out brochures that have prices listed menu-style what it costs for different things to be removed). I personally think this is GREAT, but there are those who moan about not being allowed to throw away as much as they please whenever they want. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
I can also GUARANTEE that I am more of a recycling fanatic than EVERYONE on this forum PUT TOGETHER, so I'm not even going to GO there.
But I wish you wouldn't argue with me when I was actually AGREEING with you. That shit blows chunks.
ETA: you're going to find a lot of links that say the mercury content is not dangerous if the bulb is broken. They're talking about what if you break a bulb now and then in your own home. I'm talking about environmental hazards that are caused by a cumulative buildup resulting from the disposal of these bulbs in large quanities. These articles may not come to the surface readily in a google search.