Something odd is happening in the eco-lexicon and I'm not too sure I like it too much. Carbon Dioxide is being replaced by the word Carbon in messaging and I'm not too sure I'm that happy about using a simpler phrase that's scientifically incorrect.I noticed the use of the word Carbon in a video that a PR person from Dell had sent me a link to. It's a clip from the computer people to suggest that we should all plant trees. In the clip a voiceover warns us that using computers is killing the world: we're all producing 'carbon' by wiggling our mouses the video warns us. But as I heard the use of the word 'carbon', I thought to myself, 'Aren't I producing carbon dioxide by help of the powerstation charging my computer? Surely, I'm not helping produce coal or something?'Isn't carbon a product we burn that creates greenhouse gases? Aren't we worried about the depletion of carbon fuels.?I'm sure at school they told us that carbon deposits take millions of years to create. And now Dell tells me I'm making carbon by just tapping this article on one of their computers (a new marketing strategy maybe ;)Who knows - maybe all this blogging will help solve the problem of a limited amount of oil! Ha!So, confused, I consulted my regular treehugging shrink Lloyd Alter. He said by email:

"I think just about everyone is using carbon as a short form of CO2, or I will have to throw out my pencils! It will lead to problems someday."

I then asked John Laumer, who Lloyd calls 'The Chemist'. John said:

"Yes. Once a scientific issue gets assimilated by media and government officials the lingo gets distilled down and down until only a vague essence of the original intent remains.

 

It started as "Climate Forcing Gases" or "CFG"

 

Then to "basket of gases" (ncluding HFCs, methane, C02, etc) which was rejected due to inanity.

 

Lately we stopped talking about the non-C02 CFG's entirely.

 

The concept of "carbon footprint" appeared and morhed with Carbon Dioxide to just carbon this and carbon that, which I and others will just have to be fine with.

 

"Carbon" is a surrogate for several sub concepts. It "frames" all discussions. "

So Carbon is the word. I feel like I'm a grand-dad who's just heard of this new band all the cool kids stopped listening to years ago. But still, I don't know if I like what I hear... I want Carbon Dioxide back. It sounds far more toxic!