the green guide to marriage

I was  over at My Year Without Spending and saw this post about the Australian lawmaker who told a Senate hearing in the Australian capital Canberra that divorce only made climate change worse.  I found it kind of funny.  In a “that’s not really funny” way.  More like a “that’s just ridiculous” way.  That’s just my opinion.  But that’s what you’re here for right?  No?  Oh.  Well, sorry.  You’re going to get it anyway.

When couples separated, they needed more rooms, more electricity and more water. This increased their carbon footprint, Australian Associated Press (AAP) quoted Fielding as telling the hearing on environmental issues.

“We understand that there is a social problem (with divorce), but now we’re seeing there is also environmental impact as well on the footprint,” AAP quoted him as saying.

Such a “resource-inefficient lifestyle” meant it would be better for the planet if couples stayed married, he said.

The concept of divorce being bad for the environment seems like it might be somewhat valid.  But then, so would moving out of your parents house or living on your own at any point in time.  Maybe we should mandate that to move away from home everyone is required to live with at least one other person, be it roommate, friend, partner, whatever.  And should you choose to marry and subsequently divorce  then you can only do so if each party will henceforth take on another housing partner.

It might be better for the planet if couples stayed married, probably because bad marriages might just end society before we have a chance to do in the planet.  Is it just me?

Oh, and by the way, this started with a study done at Michigan State University and published by the National Science Foundation.  (So it’s not just that the Senator is upside down.)