Comments on: Green Moments in Germany http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:41:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nico http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-6226 Nico Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:56:18 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-6226 Südtirol isn't part of Austria since 1919. And at least in Vienna we have only 6 common containers (PET, white glass, other glass, paper, metal, other). Südtirol isn’t part of Austria since 1919. And at least in Vienna we have only 6 common containers (PET, white glass, other glass, paper, metal, other).

]]> By: Kohei http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5491 Kohei Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:06:26 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5491 Having said that, I also *do* know that a great majority of people still throw away dead batteries in their regular garbage can. Having said that, I also *do* know that a great majority of people still throw away dead batteries in their regular garbage can.

]]> By: Kohei http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5467 Kohei Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:39:45 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5467 Actually even in the US you are supposed to recycle dead batteries (i.e. put them into a designated residential recycle bin) and that's what we've been doing. I live in Raleigh. Actually even in the US you are supposed to recycle dead batteries (i.e. put them into a designated residential recycle bin) and that’s what we’ve been doing. I live in Raleigh.

]]> By: Bryan http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5376 Bryan Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:06:18 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5376 In Boston I would throw my batteries in the river to help clean it up! In Boston I would throw my batteries in the river to help clean it up!

]]> By: andre klapper http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5323 andre klapper Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:27:24 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5323 Plastic bags: Totally depends on where you are in Europe. In Germany I often had to pay extra money for a plastic bag in a shop, while in Czech I often have to tell people to not automatically put my stuff into a plastic bag when I obviously already have my own bag with me, visible. And if taking a plastic bag you can still use it at home to put your other trash in... Plastic bags: Totally depends on where you are in Europe.
In Germany I often had to pay extra money for a plastic bag in a shop, while in Czech I often have to tell people to not automatically put my stuff into a plastic bag when I obviously already have my own bag with me, visible.

And if taking a plastic bag you can still use it at home to put your other trash in…

]]> By: dré http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5279 dré Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:46:28 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5279 you should visit austria (südtirol). they had about 8 different containers there for all kinds of waste. you should visit austria (südtirol). they had about 8 different containers there for all kinds of waste.

]]> By: dré http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5278 dré Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:41:44 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5278 recently i went to kopenhagen and was amazed by the bike friendlyness. recently i went to kopenhagen and was amazed by the bike friendlyness.

]]> By: ... http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5274 ... Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:44:01 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5274 The Germans are dog lovers. That's one of the things I hate about them. If you speak German, watch this hillarious satire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4SLS0UR-7s The Germans are dog lovers. That’s one of the things I hate about them. If you speak German, watch this hillarious satire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4SLS0UR-7s

]]> By: Denis http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5239 Denis Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:17:17 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5239 A friend of mine from America visiting Europe didn't use escalators but the stairs next to them until I showed him how they worked. He simply thought they were broken. If I hadn't showed him, he still might be carrying his stuff up and down stairs everywhere. A friend of mine from America visiting Europe didn’t use escalators but the stairs next to them until I showed him how they worked. He simply thought they were broken.
If I hadn’t showed him, he still might be carrying his stuff up and down stairs everywhere.

]]> By: erlehmann http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5225 erlehmann Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:17:38 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5225 <blockquote> Bike stands are everywhere and car drivers have to be very careful when there’s a shared lane for bikes and cars as they are always guilty when they have contact with a cyclist. </blockquote> Haha, that reminds me of Münster, NRW. My mother was always afraid she would bump into a cyclist because there were so many of them.

Bike stands are everywhere and car drivers have to be very careful when there’s a shared lane for bikes and cars as they are always guilty when they have contact with a cyclist.

Haha, that reminds me of Münster, NRW. My mother was always afraid she would bump into a cyclist because there were so many of them.

]]> By: erlehmann http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5223 erlehmann Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:13:50 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5223 It is different between the German states: I have lived in Bavaria too and shops closing early annoyed me to no end. Now I live in Berlin and the supermarket at Ostbahnhof (Eastern Train Station) is open 365 days, from 8 AM to midnight. Also, there are small shops called „Spätkauf“ (literally „late buy“) where you can get stuff in the middle of the night (but things are more expensive there). Btw: Bavaria is the most conservative state, so that is not really a surprise. It is different between the German states: I have lived in Bavaria too and shops closing early annoyed me to no end. Now I live in Berlin and the supermarket at Ostbahnhof (Eastern Train Station) is open 365 days, from 8 AM to midnight. Also, there are small shops called „Spätkauf“ (literally „late buy“) where you can get stuff in the middle of the night (but things are more expensive there).

Btw: Bavaria is the most conservative state, so that is not really a surprise.

]]> By: Leonardo Fontenelle http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5222 Leonardo Fontenelle Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:40:57 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5222 I <a>translated this blog post to Portuguese</a>; Brazil has similar issues with environment protection. I translated this blog post to Portuguese; Brazil has similar issues with environment protection.

]]> By: bubli http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5221 bubli Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:56:30 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5221 I experienced "culture shock" in quite opposite direction when I came from Europe to USA. Separated collection of waste and recycling seemed to be largely unknown term, both in public places and in households. It was incredible how much food was wasted every day (I worked in an East Coast holiday resort) and it was, of course, thrown into the same trash can as paper and plastic. Also, traffic infrastructure was obviously not equipped to accomodate needs of cyclists and pedestrians. To get from point A to point B it has been taken for granted that one has a car ( often a big american car with twice as large consumption of petrol in comparison with European or Japanese car). If point B happened to be a shopping mall, sometimes there was even no entrance for pedestrians, one had to walk in though the garage. It seemed to me as if US folks had thought they were here alone and all the natural resources on this planet were here for their use and their comfort. Oh well .. but it was 8 years ago. Things might have improved in the meantime. I experienced “culture shock” in quite opposite direction when I came from Europe to USA. Separated collection of waste and recycling seemed to be largely unknown term, both in public places and in households. It was incredible how much food was wasted every day (I worked in an East Coast holiday resort) and it was, of course, thrown into the same trash can as paper and plastic.

Also, traffic infrastructure was obviously not equipped to accomodate needs of cyclists and pedestrians. To get from point A to point B it has been taken for granted that one has a car ( often a big american car with twice as large consumption of petrol in comparison with European or Japanese car). If point B happened to be a shopping mall, sometimes there was even no entrance for pedestrians, one had to walk in though the garage.

It seemed to me as if US folks had thought they were here alone and all the natural resources on this planet were here for their use and their comfort. Oh well .. but it was 8 years ago. Things might have improved in the meantime.

]]> By: Nat Friedman http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5219 Nat Friedman Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:04:52 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5219 They close at 8pm now in Bavaria, and everything is closed on Sunday. I don't think I will ever get used to that. They close at 8pm now in Bavaria, and everything is closed on Sunday.

I don’t think I will ever get used to that.

]]> By: anon http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5218 anon Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:57:54 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5218 There's a lot of difference between different European countries too. I'm from a neighbouring country (Belgium), and the German's insistence on closing at 17:30 (or whatever it is), and their sad looking grocery stores and supermarkets (don't get why that is) surprise me all the time too. There’s a lot of difference between different European countries too. I’m from a neighbouring country (Belgium), and the German’s insistence on closing at 17:30 (or whatever it is), and their sad looking grocery stores and supermarkets (don’t get why that is) surprise me all the time too.

]]> By: mth http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5210 mth Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:15:08 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5210 In the Netherlands, bikes are mostly used for distances up to about 10km. There are people who do inter-city commutes, but that's a small minority: even for people who are willing to cycle longer distances, it just takes too long. Commutes from a suburb or neighboring village are common though. Note that Dutch cities are built with many small shopping areas, so there is always a supermarket within 5 to 10 minutes cycling distance. Stores you don't need on a daily basis are mostly found in the city center. In the larger cities, parking a car in the center is always paid and can be quite expensive. So unless you plan to buy something bulky, going there by bike is a good idea. In the Netherlands, bikes are mostly used for distances up to about 10km. There are people who do inter-city commutes, but that’s a small minority: even for people who are willing to cycle longer distances, it just takes too long. Commutes from a suburb or neighboring village are common though.

Note that Dutch cities are built with many small shopping areas, so there is always a supermarket within 5 to 10 minutes cycling distance. Stores you don’t need on a daily basis are mostly found in the city center. In the larger cities, parking a car in the center is always paid and can be quite expensive. So unless you plan to buy something bulky, going there by bike is a good idea.

]]> By: Nat Friedman http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5208 Nat Friedman Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:33:06 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5208 Hey Jeffrey! Wow, nice law. The US is making a lot of progress. Hey Jeffrey! Wow, nice law. The US is making a lot of progress.

]]> By: Nat Friedman http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5207 Nat Friedman Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:32:11 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5207 Sounds more advanced than Boston. Nice. Sounds more advanced than Boston. Nice.

]]> By: Nat Friedman http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5206 Nat Friedman Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:31:18 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5206 Good to know, thanks! Good to know, thanks!

]]> By: Nat Friedman http://nat.org/blog/2009/10/green-moments-in-germany/comment-page-1/#comment-5205 Nat Friedman Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:30:55 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1382#comment-5205 We have the special, curbed bike lanes here in Munich too, on I'd say 75% of the streets. I love bicycles. Five minutes in a bicycle is always enough to restore me to a good state of mind. But you're right - Holland is even more bike-friendly. Is it true people even use bikes for inter-city trips? We have the special, curbed bike lanes here in Munich too, on I’d say 75% of the streets.

I love bicycles. Five minutes in a bicycle is always enough to restore me to a good state of mind.

But you’re right – Holland is even more bike-friendly. Is it true people even use bikes for inter-city trips?

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