Today is Global Recycling Day - an initiative dedicated to celebrating the importance of recycling and to making the world think resource, not waste.
'The mission of Global Recycling Day, as set out by the Global Recycling Foundation, is twofold:
1. To tell world leaders that recycling is simply too important not to be a global issue, and that a common, joined up approach to recycling is urgently needed.
2. To ask people across the planet to think resource, not waste, when it comes to the goods around us – until this happens, we simply won’t award recycled goods the true value and repurpose they deserve.'
You can read more on official website: https://www.globalrecyclingday.com/
Save The Planet
This planet is dying and we are all acting too slowly. Thoughts, debates & suggestions on how we can act FAST and attempt to save the planet. No business posts or posts unrelated to saving the planet will be accepted and posters will be removed from the loop.
Open Loop 563
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Another reason to stop bottom trawling
Bottom trawling releases as much carbon as air travel, landmark study finds.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/17/trawling-for-fish-releases-as-much-carbon-as-air-travel-report-finds-climate-crisis -
Government considering compulsory nature studies lessons for all pupils after David Attenborough bac
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nature-studies-gcse-compulsory-david-attenborough-dasgupta-b1816508.html#comments-area
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Some of you signed the petition.
The Government has just U-turned and decided to call a public inquiry into the plans for the first new deep coal mine in the UK for decades. [1]
This is great news Lonicera, as it delays the application and gives us another chance to explain why this coal mine must never go ahead, but it wouldn’t have happened without the thousands of people, like you, who have signed petitions and sent messages to the local council. [2] Together - with other campaigners from all across the country - we’ve really piled on the pressure.
With everything going on right now it can be easy to feel powerless and alone. But we’re not. People power has shown time and time again that when we come together we’re unstoppable. And today we’ve proven just that.
But the campaign does not end here. Although the public inquiry is welcome news, we need to make sure the Government makes the only sensible decision at the end of it and rejects the plans. It's time for the UK to become a real climate leader with investment in green jobs in Cumbria for years to come. [3] -
Polystyrene to be phased out next year under Australia's plastic waste plan
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/04/polystyrene-to-be-phased-out-next-year-under-australias-plastic-waste-plan
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Ethical Consumer report on supposedly 'green' energy suppllers etc
Anyone who believed they're buying entirely renewable energy from their 'green energy' supplier should be shocked to see how few of those supply energy that's been generated from renewable sources, rather than simply compensating for its fossil fuel basis by buying REGOs.
The supposedly green supplier which I moved to over a year ago doesn't even appear in the lists of those which the Ethical Consumer report assessed. I recall not being the only member of this group who opted for Pure Planet at that time.
There's a free preview of this worrying reading, available at https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/sites/default/files/flipbook/Issue189Preview/10/ (and successive pages). -
Petition to save Pete's garden (Edited)
Here's a petition you might like to sign: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/help-stop-wealden-district-council-from-forcing-pete-to-destroy-his-life-s-work
.Here's a short video: https://bit.ly/3ldD6oe -
It would never have occurred to me to wonder about this but the much greater public interest in wildlife may well mean that sales of binoculars etc has become a growth area. So it's worth asking whether their manufacturers are ethical.
https://mailchi.mp/ethicalconsumer.org/event-should-we-care-who-makes-our-binoculars-with-chris-packham-1523136?e=57f084c3a9 -
Manufacturers to provide spare parts
This is a welcome initiative in an era when repairing goods is seen as non-profitable and discouraged so consumers are forced to replace.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/10/tough-new-rules-aim-to-make-electrical-goods-last-longer -
Tesco rolling out recycling points for soft plastics
I realise that it has already been possible to recycle soft plastics at many supermarkets but this should make it easier and more obvious. Lets hope it’s rolled out nationwide soon and more supermarkets follow suit. https://apple.news/AVRjPwupfSj6aVFn7iZuQhw
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M&S - come clean about the damage caused by your farmed salmon (Edited)
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/come-clean-about-the-damage-caused-by-your-farmed-salmon?share=71d84bb3-51d8-4aea-a15a-938500d23991&source=twitter-share-email-button&time=1615049334&utm_medium=socialshare&utm_source=twitter
One of the reasons for signing:
"I live next to a Salmon smolt farm and watch them pour up to 1000L of FORMALDEHYDE directly onto live fish 7 days a week for 9 months a year because the fish are so diseased. I watched last year as they took thousands upon thousands of dead diseased fish away in dustbins. Our life now is horrendous because of the fumes and stench of rotten Salmon. The loch is dead of all life with no native fish left at all. This is a horrific business." -
Government has no climate change plan - MPs
I don't think this is news to anyone.
Transferring production and therefore emissions to China doesn't amount to a reduction in our emissions
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56285239 -
Britain’s moths decline by a third in 50 years, study finds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/03/britain-moths-decline-by-third-50-years-study
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How ethical is Ecosia (the search engine)?
I've been using Ecosia for some time now and mostly found it very good, but I'm sorry to see from this Ethical Consumer report that Ecosia doesn't plant [m]any trees as a result of my searches - because I never intentionally click on the advertisements.
It's still rated as much better than Google, however, so I'll keep using it anyway - except when I need to use Google Maps or be certain of getting comprehensive results.
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/technology/how-ethical-search-engine-ecosia?utm_source=ECRA+Monthly+Newsletter&utm_campaign=bb4b9d9665-EMAIL_newsletter_2021_03_05+nonsubs&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9856040c29-bb4b9d9665-321357508 -
'Catastrophic': UK has lost 90% of seagrass meadows, study finds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/04/catastrophic-uk-has-lost-90-of-seagrass-meadows-study-finds
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Earthwatch: Citizens’ Science Projects
This looks like an interesting idea. Different projects to get involved with.
https://my.earthwatch.org.uk/ -
McDonald's X Beyond Meat Partnership Dubbed 'Clearest Sign Yet' That 'Future Of Meat Is Plant-Based'
https://www.scooploop.com/thread/mcdonalds-x-beyond-meat-partnership-dubbed-clearest-sign-yet-that-future-of-meat-is-plant-based
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https://blog.theveteranssite.greatergood.com/camp-century/?gg_source=VET&gg_medium=house&gg_campaign=Ad-720x360_Blog_Here%27s%20Why%20Greenland%20Could%20Become%20The%20Next%20Chernobyl_VET&gg_con
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Attenborough gives a stark warning on climate to the UN
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-56175714
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What changes have you made to live a more sustainable life?
Big or small, it would be good if we could share what we’ve done so far, any tips, and your next aim. It would be lovely to hear from some of you that rarely comment.
But please no one-upmanship- we’re here to support each other, and learn, not to find fault or criticise.
I’ll kick us off. A small thing - we replaced our old large kitchen bin with a really small one. I thought we’d be forever emptying it but instead it’s made us far more aware of creating waste. -
Call for nature's recovery by 2030
Over 50 nature conservation groups have joined together with a petition to urge the Prime Minister to set a legally binding target to reverse the loss of nature in England by 2030.
https://e-activist.com/page/75310/petition/1?locale=en-GB&en_chan=tw&ea.tracking.id=twitter-share&en_ref=204398232 -
Food waste: UK food retailers could do better.
In the UK supermarkets are not bound by law to redistribute their food waste, though many do voluntarily. In countries like France, where redistribution is enshrined in law the system seems to work more systematically and efficiently.
https://apple.news/AVNcEPztJRZmUD5w-R8Z-bg -
How clean are England's rivers? The latest report makes for uncomfortable reading
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/25/england-rivers-polluted-beyond-legal-limits
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Thames Water fined £2.3m for raw sewage pollution incident
Judge says firm’s breach of environmental standards in 2016 amounted to ‘high negligence’
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/26/thames-water-fined-23m-for-raw-sewage-pollution-incident?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other -
Row over UK tree-planting drive: 'We want the right trees in the right place'
Forestry Commission accused of funding non-native plantations that damage peatlands and imperil rare species
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/23/row-over-uk-tree-planting-drive-we-want-the-right-trees-in-the-right-place -
Date in the current year: February 27, 2021
World NGO DayWorld NGO Day is an annual international observance held on February 27. It was established by Marcis Skadmanis, a Latvian-born UK social entrepreneur who is passionate about creating organizations that make a positive contribution towards sustainable innovation and technology.
Non-governmental organizations, commonly referred to as NGOs, are usually nonprofit and sometimes international organizations independent of governments and international governmental organizations. They are active in humanitarian, human rights, social, public policy, environmental, healthcare, educational and other areas.
The term “non-governmental organization” was coined following the establishment of the UNO in 1945, although the history of international NGOs dates back to at least the late 18th century. The definition of “international non-governmental organization” (INGO) was first given in the resolution of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on February 27, 1950.
Marcis Skadmanis established NGO Day in 2009 to raise awareness about the importance of NGOs. A year later, it was officially recognized at the IX Baltic Sea NGO Forum of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. World NGO Day became truly international in 2014, when the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland hosted an official celebration with the support from the UNO, European leaders and international organizations. -
Drax scraps plan for Europe's largest gas plant after climate protests
Burning trees instead.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/25/drax-scraps-plan-yorkshire-gas-plant-climate-protests -
Found this article very interesting and informative.
https://apple.news/ApN7StwPCSNW5nPhPe6PIbQ -
Just bought a pair of their Mizzles waterproof shoes. They are really comfortable. Been wearing them barefoot all day.
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Washing products for clothes (Edited)
Has anyone got any recommendations for genuinely green, but nevertheless efficient, washing products? I’ve tried washing nuts and refills of ecover etc but is there anything better out there?
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Global salmon farming harming marine life and costing billions in damage
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/11/global-salmon-farming-harming-marine-life-and-costing-billions-in-damage
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Become a volunteer ranger in London Park City (Edited)
I think this sounds a lot of fun and very worthwhile - might have applied if we hadn’t left London.
https://www.nationalparkcity.london/rangers -
Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans approved
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-56031794
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https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/platypus-population-wetlands/?gg_medium=content&gg_source=ars&gg_campaign=dog-crash-reunited-family&gg_content=local
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Fingers crossed it works out and more will follow.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-56023723 -
Client Earth (Edited)
This is NOT an entirely new post. It`s just the first one I`ve come across that mentions Client Earth who`s campaign strategy is to take companies(possibly governments?) to court over their activities. Such a group has been long needed!😀
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/bp-greenwashing-climate-crisis-client-earth-oil-company-a9232986.html?fbclid=IwAR236xZ3ZjleBDvpXSrdMnKnSsdaVoncwouw6g76vOEudMGEPSanfsl741k -
There are some inspirational stories here. Amongst the winners is Nemonte Nenquimo, the indigenous Ecuadorian woman who has stood up against her government’s decision to allow exploration and exploitation of her tribal lands for oil and minerals. Her success was one of the good news stories posted yesterday.
https://news.mongabay.com/2020/11/meet-the-2020-goldman-environmental-prize-winners/ -
It’s not entirely doom and gloom.
Here are some positives to keep us going.
https://news.mongabay.com/2020/12/top-positive-environmental-stories-from-2020/ -
Amsterdam adopts new Doughnut Model
Still trying to get my head around this economic model which is designed to enable sustainable living. Find it very interesting.
https://time.com/5930093/amsterdam-doughnut-economics/? -
Has the pandemic disrupted your efforts to be ‘green’?
I’ve certainly struggled. Before the pandemic I’d made big strides in living a more sustainable life. But I have felt a bit overwhelmed lately and know I’ve been buying more things in plastic, buying less local produce, and so on. I obviously haven’t flown anywhere and car driving is minimal but I admit I have lost some of my drive and commitment. Anyone else feel the same?
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Plans for £3.5bn theme park on Kent marsh dismay conservationists
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/21/plans-london-resort-theme-park-kent-marsh-swanscombe-dismay-conservationists
Here’s what Buglife has to say.
https://www.buglife.org.uk/campaigns/save-swanscombe-marshes/#gf_1 -
Recycling building materials - a new resource.
This looks potentially useful. https://diygogo.co.uk/about-us/
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Wildlife Trusts explore legal challenge to Government decision to allow emergency use of neonics
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/wildlife-trusts-explore-legal-challenge-government-decision-allow-emergency-use-neonicotinoid
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https://www.oddbox.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyqOGi4G87gIVx7LVCh1OCwNtEAAYASAAEgJ4SPD_BwE
Has anyone heard of this scheme, and/or tried it out?
Sounds interesting. -
This article is from 2016, but still relevant; I saw a talk on this last week.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-36533155 -
As a 'green stimulus' Pakistan sets virus-idled to work planting trees
More good news.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pakistan-trees-fea/as-a-green-stimulus-pakistan-sets-virus-idled-to-work-planting-trees-idUSKCN22A369