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Let’s keep the GLUG website to diving issues.
Posted by expiredmember on July 29th, 2007
I would like to be able to visit the GLUG website without being told that I should consider the carbon footprint of my diving holidays. I understand that environmental issues are very important to some & applaud them for their convictions; I wonder however if the GLUG website is an appropriate place to promote these. We’ve given a menu tab to carbon offsetting, but we haven’t got any such links to “Save the Whale” or other marine issues.
Issues such as global warming should be left to the individual consciences of the members & glug should remain neutral on them.
I appreciate that I’m probably in a minority in my beliefs, however glug members should understand more than most that; just because 90% of the population holds a particular viewpoint, doesn’t make the other 10% wrong!!!
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I agree completely.
Reply to CraigI don’t (agree, that is), which is no surprise to those who know me.
Having a link from the site does not force you to go carbo-neutral, simply ignore the
link!
Maybe the link should be on a separate page, rather than the home page, with other links such as Save the Whales as you suggested.
I believe that global warming IS a diving issue, just as saving the whales is. Where are we going to dive when the Maldives have disappeared, the reefs have bleached and the sharks, whales and fish have been exterminated? Oh yes, I know, we’ll organise trips in Yorkshire and Gloucestershire. Does not sound as much fun though and preventing this should be in everyone’s mind, divers or not divers.
Reply to AdsHi Peter,
Reply to Jason StarmerSince air travel is a necessity in many a dive holiday, I would argue that considering the possible environmental implications of flights is both appropriate and relevant.
What our members choose to do with such information is entirely up to them. They can ignore it or discount it, should they wish to, or they can act on it.
The GLUG website should continue to act as an open forum in which any dive related matter can be presented and discussed. I’m sure that we are all adult enough to respect each others views and to recognise that not everyone can agree on every issue all of the time.
And, further to your suggestion that we add a link for “Save the Whales”, in the last meeting we discussed creating an Ethical Diving page. This would be home to information on a wide range or issues that divers may wish to consider when planning a dive holiday. Alongside carbon neutrality, it would also address environmental, ecological, social and political considerations.
We wouldn’t expect all members to feel equally strongly about each of these areas and, once again, what they chose to do with such information, would be entirely up to them.
I certainly don’t think the link should be on the home page, especially at the top. Moving it to an Ethical Diving page, as Jason’s suggested, would seem to be a good compromise.
Reply to Steven MathewI would definitely second an ‘ethical diving’ page. I think it’s a good all round solution, allowing members to be informed about general issues and destination-specific issues if they want to.
Reply to AdsThose choosing not to dive ethically can simply not go to the page.
I’d be happy to help in the setting up and maintaining of such a page if such help is needed.
Ads
Hi Peter
I raised the topic of Carbon Offsetting back in January 07 when I took position as Chair as I felt this was a diving issue. Look in most other dive web-sites, magazines etc and its being talked about and promoted.
Our contribution took six months of debate and discussion before it was included onto the website, please see the minutes for information.
Of course it is important to hear all members feelings on this but please rest assured we are not forcing anyone to get involved or highlighting if people do it or not.
We have been talking about an Ethical Page, although this is still in discussion and it may be appropriate to move Carbon Offsetting.
As it stands, I don’t feel it should be removed from the home page and at this stage I will not be asking for any changes to the web site.
Regards
Chris
Reply to Chris LeeChair
I still contend that it is a slippery slope for anyone from this organisation to seek to impose their beliefs as being ethical & by default those who do not agree with them as unethical.
Reply to psproulIt is offensive to me to suggest that since I do not agree with carbon offsetting that I am an un-ethical diver.
I think that anything not concerned directly with diving & especially any issue of personal conscience should be left to individuals.
It has taken long enough for society to stop wagging its finger disapprovingly & seeking to impose its opinion of what is right & wrong on many of our members, let’s not start doing it to ourselves.
Hi Peter
Reply to Chris LeePlease believe me that the purpose of this was not to use it against any member or to cause any offence. I apologise if you have been made to feel like this.
Also, to reassure you this wasn’t one persons beliefs, this was put forward by myself, people agreed (some didn’t) it was discussed and debated and six months later it was put in place, it wasn’t rushed or done behind members backs.
It could be a slippery slope but I feel one we should go down. I’m sure if we didn’t do it there would be criticism.
I feel that the issue of finger wagging falls outside of diving and diving etiquette but I understand your fears of becoming self-critical.
I’m sure you have your opinions on what is right or wrong when diving and if faced with someone breaking those you will want to make your case and have the freedom to do so without criticism.
I am open to discussions on other ways we can be more aware of our environment and helping to sustain/improve what is left, I know that carbon offsetting is not going to fix everything but it is a start.
Regards
Chris
My own view, for what it’s worth, is that the website should inform people about diving-related issues - and I would argue that environmental issues are diving-related.
However, possibly we’re pushing the point too far at present. I think the suggestion of an Ethical Diving page is an excellent one - however, I think it needs to be unbiased - for example providing the arguments for, as well as against offsetting. (And I know that the current page isn’t unbiased, and I admit I wrote it! Well, alright, bits were plagiarised!)
I don’t agree that the website should not have mentioned the subject at all, though - to pick up on Peter’s last point, for many years many sections of society and the media simply ignored the Gay community, hoping that the “problem” would just go away. Luckily, there were also many who were prepared to discuss the subject, and encourage greater understanding of us “queers”.
So, let’s not force views on anyone, but let’s not ignore the issue either.
Reply to NeilPeter,
Reply to Jason StarmerI think that the use of the word ethical, in the context of the phrase Ethical Diving, should be interpreted according to the definition “of, relating to, or dealing with ethics”, rather than the more prescriptive “being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice”, which is, I suspect, the definition that you have in mind.
The proposed Ethical Diving page would not seek to define what constitutes an ethical or unethical diver. I’m not even sure that such distinctions would be possible, the issues are simply too diverse, too complicated and too reliant on subjective beliefs for any individual to get everything right all of the time.
Rather, it would be an area in which the ethics of diving, and dive travel, could be presented and discussed in an manner which befits an open forum.
On a more general note: I will be bringing along a rough draft of the Ethical Diving page to the next meeting. After our discussion at the last meeting it was provisionally agreed that the only codes of practice which the club would adopt (and actively encourage our members to adhere to) are those that pertain specifically to dive practice. The Marine Conservation Society has given their permission for us to use their Coral Code, Underwater Photographers’ Code and Seashore Code for this purpose.
Reply to Jason StarmerAll other content on the Ethical Diving page would be unbiased and presented for the purpose of consideration alone. These issues would include: Carbon Neutrality; Human and Gay Rights; Marine Environment and Fisheries Management and Whaling. Whether members choose to read, act upon, or even care about any of these issues would be entirely up them.