I have been meaning to do more #GreenShoots posts of good news about environmental issues. Lots is happening and we need to hear positive stories to avoid getting too depressed. Still, it is no time for complacency. Most of my stories will come from The Guardian as their environment coverage is excellent and I do not have time to read lots of sites.
When we were at CAT last week we bought some soap nuts for clothes washing and some recycled scourers as part of our efforts to reduce our plastics usage. We have cut down a fair bit by using a shop where you fill your own containers and various bathroom products that come as bars rather than liquids.
Environmental activist Greta Thunberg is on here way to the US on a sailing yacht as she refuses to fly. I have seen people attacking her because of how she talks or looks. This is ignoring the message she is spreading. She is a young Swedish woman with autism who speaks perfect English. Her condition may make her obsess more about the cause, but she is just one of millions of kids who are really worried about the future the older generations (including me) have created.
A London university banning beef in their own food outlets made the front page of some papers. Cutting meat consumption is one of the easiest and more effective ways people can change their habits to reduce their impact. This is not stopping students going elsewhere to get their meat fix, but it may make them think about other options. Thinking about the issues is an important first step.
I liked this comic.
Despite what Trump may say a lot of miners in the US have given up on coal. He is trying to appeal to redundant beliefs in what is good for the country. Investing in renewable energy could provide lots of jobs and actually has a future.
A company in Cornwall is trying to make a fully recycleable wetsuit. The surfing community there care about the environment and will be interested in this. It does not look cheap, but those with purchasing power need to make these decisions.
Another habit that needs to change is the dependence on air conditioning. It boggles my mind that apparently 90% of US homes have it, but hardly any in the UK. A lot of workplaces do have it here now and it is over-used. Most of the time opening a window is all the cooling we need. I often find I am too cold in the office and have been known to turn up the thermostat to get some relief in summer. I know people in Florida will say it is essential, but what about the northern states? It is a sign of affluence to have it, but we need to worry less about impressing other people. The A/C in my car has not worked in a few years and I cope as well as I did in all cars I had that did not have it at all.
Be green, be healthy, be happy.
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