The Interview: Lucy Setian, environmental blogger

Lucy Setian just won the overall impact award on TH!NK ABOUT IT: Climate Change, a 3 month blogging competition with a focus on the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15) in December 2009 and organized by the European Journalism Centre. She blogs on everything green from eco-sex to Bulgarian green initiatives to interactive plant fights. We managed to catch up with Lucy, who is also busy with other projects such as Az Cheta and Armengenocide.org.

What was the purpose of the blogging competition?

Positive lobbying. The aim was to create a portal into the daily life of the bloggers, to show how each one of us experiences the effects of climate change policies every day. For me personally, it was a way to show that social media communities have a great influence. The blog posts were read all over the globe and we made good connections with each other, which is another important aspect – networking possibilities. Also, concerning the COP15 meeting, it was a good way to concentrate the attention in the Internet via only one platform instead of using dozens of individual blogs.

Do you think the initiative actually made a difference in people’s opinions, attitudes and behaviors about climate change?

The initiative cannot make any such thing, because there are many differences in people’s thoughts on climate change. But it managed to show exactly these differences and to create dialogue between people who are polar-opinionated. Of course, there is one group which just ignores the fact that something as big as climate change is happening at all, so there, maybe, we changed something. I believe more Bulgarians are interested in green issues after they learned about my award.

When did your interest in environmental issues start?

If you live in a dirty city like Sofia, it won’t take long before you become interested.

You have some creative suggestions on how all of us can be sustainable and lead a green life. How do you come up with them? Where do you find inspiration?

Researching in the Internet, sharing ideas with “green” friends on- and offline, thinking on how to decrease my bills for water and electricity. You don`t need to become a vegetarian if you want to feel greener, but you love meat. My point is that you must find the things that make you good, the things that suit you, the things that you are really able to change in your lifestyle, like recycling. You can try to create a photo blog with the top green buildings in the world or to make a bio meal competition for your neighbors. Or plant a tree. You can sign up for paperless billing. It is different for each one of us.

What are the greatest environmental issues of our time?

Extinction of animal species, deforestation, bad city infrastructure, pollution…  Where shall I start from? It is hard to tell which one is first.

What are the challenges to having a “green planet”?

The technology of the green era is not cheap. This is the first problem. The second is that even if we want to use it, we must teach people to adapt to the new lifestyle, which is not easy. The mentality is very important when it comes to changes. After all, many people don’t believe in climate change at all, which you can easily see in both my personal and my green blogs. Also, some people won’t substitute their favorite brands for something with a bio label, just because we tell them that this is the right decision for all of us.

Talking about bio labels, many brands today claim to be environment friendly and sustainable. Do you think it is just a marketing trick or they actually care?

Both. It is amazing how some companies can act like eco friendly organizations, devoted to society’s problems and in the interim violate many environmental laws.

What can politicians do to really help the environment? We see them going to meetings and conferences, talking about the environment but we barely see any results.

Stop letting them meet in person. They can use web conferences. They can use their travel and accommodation money for better things instead of discussing how to collect milliards afterward.

Do you think that Millennials are more concerned about the environment than previous generations are?

Maybe we are because the critical point is coming closer and closer and we don’t have any other options. Cities grow bigger, companies too. It has its natural consequences on the environment.

What are the things we do every day that harm our planet, yet we don’t realize how harmful they are?

We leave the water running in the bath or in the kitchen sink for more time or with more power than we actually need. We rarely do double-sided printing. We leave the computer on when we get out of the office for lunch. We don’t want to spend little more money for eco plastic bags or we forget to take the textile bag from home. We prefer to drive alone instead of using public transportation, or ride a bicycle, or carpool. And so on…

What can common people do to help the environment? And I mean something different from using paper bags and recycle.

They can take part in initiatives like TH!NK ABOUT IT: Climate Change, TckTckTck, 350 and so on. They can meet and discuss, give suggestions that can be implemented – like the ecological Christmas lightening in Paris. We need to bring the topic in the public sphere in order to be heard from more people and we can make it even by one single blog as our personal contribution. We must teach our children to live in balance with nature and animals.

Many people say that they would lead a more environment friendly life if they had money. How do you respond to this?

Haha. Money doesn`t make you green. Maybe it makes it easier to place a sun panel on your roof or to buy the latest model of electric car but that is not the only way to live an environment friendly life. One can do so many other things that are eco friendly and cheap or even free. Such people take it like a fashion, today I`ll be green, tomorrow I`ll buy a Ferrari. That won`t last for long if they don’t believe really in the idea.

Now that the competition is over, how do you plan to inspire all the people who used to read your blog?

I’ll continue to write on the topic as far as I can. I’ll do my best to stay true to by readers. However, I hope I’ll offer them other interesting topics to think about too. I’m a Thinker after all, right?