If we ignore talk of celebrities and other 'scandals' the signs are plain that our civilisation is on a very dangerous path. George Monbiot in The Guardian often writes about this and a recent article resonated with me.
As you might expect he talks about Trump and his efforts to curtail legislation that hinders industry from wrecking the environment in the name of profit, but he also criticised the UK government. I think there was a comment that said the people have chosen these governments, but they tend to be motivated by things like tax and jobs. The industry lobbyists are the ones who influence policy by promising that they can provide more jobs if those nasty pollution laws just went away. The people need to be aware of what damage is being done and decide if the price is worth paying for our lifestyles.
A lot of the products we enjoy have never been cheaper. Food and clothes used to make up a larger part of our spending, but now we can buy far more 'luxury' goods. A lot of those are made of plastics that will end up in landfill or the ocean. The recent BBC Blue Planet series highlighted this problem and seems to have had an impact with politicians finally taking notice and retailers promising reductions in plastics. The problems have been obvious for years.
@trevor.george wrote about compostable bags. This is a good idea, but we should be trying to reduce how much of everything we use. Get some tough bags and take them to the supermarket. They can last years. Of course much of the food comes in its own packaging. The UK has a tax on plastic bags that has greatly reduced how many are used, but we can do more.
It's not just about plastics. Our energy, transport and food production all cause pollution. I know some are sceptical about human effects on the climate, but the pollution is plain to see, literally in some cities that are choking on smog. To make a difference we have to compromise on how we life. Turn the heating down a little and wear a sweater. Eat less meat. Fly less. The sheer number of people on the planet who want a better life means things are getting worse. Those at the top of the tree can definitely do with less so there is scope for those at the bottom to have a decent quality of life.
I'm by no means perfect. We have a couple of cars, but I drive a lot less recently. I'm not into buying loads of stuff and try to make what I have last a bit longer. I recycle all I can and I gave up meat many years ago for various reasons that included its impact on the world. Being a veggie is so much easier these days with a great choice in food. People are even making burgers that could fool many meat eaters. I know some say they just love the flavours, but the meat industry uses massive resources and causes a lot of suffering.
All it needs is for people to stop and think about their actions. I know some will say "I can't be bothered" or "why should I spend more", but we should be doing this for future generations and the other life we share this very finite planet with. I was fortunate to visit the Great Barrier Reef a few years ago on a rare long-haul holiday, but it seems to be in serious danger from warming seas and industry. Once lost these treasures are gone forever.
I think we can do so much better and we can make a difference as individuals with our own actions and our influence on those in power.
End rant.
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There's efforts out here in AZ to be more green. Some stores have dropped plastic bags and require customers to either bring their own reusable totes or just grab their purchases without bags. We do also have a fairly decent multi city wide recycling program with 2 separate cans designated for "trash" and the other collects all types of recyclables. Many commercial buildings are finally installing Solar Panels on top of their parking structures. But there's still a long way to go. I have been lobbying for stricter building codes here in AZ and have actively been encouraging builders to make Solar Power a Standard feature in all new homes. I wish it were a State Requirement. There needs to just be a critical amount of people that adopt cleaner living and the rest will follow. Consumers need to live by example and purchase goods by companies that are the Greenest. Once being Green becomes profitable, then companies will realize that being Green is a profitable way to do business. So in essence, election Day is Everyday and we vote with our $$$. Some sacrifice from everyone is also needed to turn this all around. It also takes people like you to continue to spread these ideas to your following so perhaps others will realize they can also live by example and start to make a small change. Over time and with each person, these small changes begin to make a difference. Sounds "campy" but it's the reality, so keep up the great blogs and spreading the truth !
Spot on about voting with our spending. That's a powerful force and has worked in the past. It gets to me that most issues have been known about for decades, but still the trashing of the planet goes on.
Bravo!
I notice how much trash we produce and I try to look for alternative less damaging solutions.
Recently I noticed how much trash a couple teas make. I went from this
To this
I now buy bigger bags of tea. It's still trash because of that one bag and multiplying it to earth's population it's still bad. I am looking for a vendor that I can buy herbs from without having to buy them in bags.
Everything we do is multiplied by millions
I appreciate what you are saying as I see such an overage of product all around me. We are drowning in our abundance. There's so much "stuff" we hardly have room to live and much of it has plastic involved whether it be in the construction of the item or the packaging with much of it winding up back in our oceans. Thanks for this informative post!
I have reduced my carbon footprint a huge amount. Not totally by choice,, because health issues make it so that I am no longer able to drive and travel is difficult. But I belong to a local CSA so all my veggies are grown just down the road, giving me enough produce to eat and preserve for winter use. I have a worm bin for my compost, and although I do eat some meat I try to make good choices. You have made some great points.
Here in the south of France, I found shocking when we have wind (the Mistral) all plastic bags are found in nature!
Even small towns are polluted. I live near Avignon, I can not walk in the city because we can not breathe normally, there are too many cars.
So I try on my scale to reduce pollution.
I recycle food waste in my garden.
I take the car just to work, the rest of the time I walk or bike.
I collect rainwater for my garden.
If everyone puts theirs, we may be able to preserve our planet so precious.
My country also adopted the same system, people should know that plastic releases products that raise the probability of having cancer and that those products and up sooner or later in our food chain...
The meat part is true, i've tried to be vegan before, i was vegan for 1 year, but i started adding weight and losing muscle, i went from 180lbs to 220lbs, i had a meal plan a good one, still veganism didn't agree with my body, tried vegetarianism too, i tried everything i could, i ended up going back to eating meat and dropping all that weight in 3 months, though i still reduce my meat consumption as much as i can, atm i'm eating more eggs and less meat, i don't want any animals suffering because of me, and i don't want to harm the environment.
Thank you for your post, step by step i'm sure we can change the world, even if people like trump don't care about it.
I've never been vegan, but I've not had meat in many years
Congrats than, each year you don't eat meat you are helping the environment and helping the animals. But i sometimes wonder, what if all humans started being vegan, why would we need animals than? We are already watching a mass extinction in the animal world, if we didn't need them at all animals would be doomed. And with the advancement that we see in the tech world why would we need bees for example? It scares me, I love animals, and i don't want to live in a world without them
They always ask when I go to the market if I want plastic or paper and being a vegetarian helps the planet also.
Im a big advocate to eating green and living a green life. We as human beings are so ridiculously wasteful. Im currently getting really annoyed with the amount of healthy foods, fruits and veggies that are packaged in essessive amounts of plastic!! ITS BEYOND RIDICULOUS! Im living a plant based diet and yet still polluting the earth! Oh and I cant wait to try an impossible burger although they are not here in Mexico yet 1my friend owns a vegan restaurant here and they do a freekin amazing burger!!
Whether we realize it or not that plastic and microplastic waste is the greatest threat to today's biodiversity. Sea waste has become a national, regional, and global issue, which if we continue to allow it, could result in a greater threat of pollutants in the environment and could cause dead ecosystems to eat the plastic.
I think that with the passage of time, many societies have become materialistic, they continue to consume or use products that cause a negative impact on nature, this occurs in developed countries. However, there are other countries such as Venezuela, where even buying a plastic bag has become a luxury, because of socialist ducts that maintain power. Obviously politicians have much to do with the development or involution of societies.
All political systems have issues. We need to ensure the people always have a say
Exactly, but sometimes the same system silences people. It's a difficult world!
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Hi, @steevs. Thank you for writing your thoughts about preserving nature. This is very important for all of us.
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The world is so crowded. Natural products are not enough for people. People should reduce the population growth rate. I think it is the best solution but It also needs time...
Your thoughts are really valuable. I support the words. People have to see the damage to the world. it must act as aware of it. In the consumer conviction, people only think of themselves. we will be our children and I want a cleaner air for them! and more different and more healthy and spacious living in each area ...
most people who have pamour often justifies any means for the achievement of a goal to be achieved without regard to the surrounding environment
Just like the rich people prefer to take imported and expensive drinks, which are 'unhealthy'; but they see Zobo and reject it, saying its too cheap and local. Not knowing that the Zobo(Hibiscus drink) is more nutritious and nutritional than the well-packaged foreign expensive drinks. Our HEALTH really is our greatest WEALTH
Thanks so much for this piece @steevc
I hate seeing people do things just to show how rich they are. It's just wasteful
I agree with you, not all rich people are happy and not necessarily also poor people is difficult
Here in Venezuela, the path seems to lead to some kind of cannibalism.
Greetings from a far-off land!
It is almost like we are gnawing our own legs off :)
if friend the solution is in our hands we must become aware of what we do and how we do it
so excellent post, wonderful green, thanks for sharing
You must be a very fast reader. What are your thoughts on this? I seek opinions, not flattery
Wow.....excellent post, nice green nature, thanks for sharing
I agree and happy to see ahead @maanabdullah (website Designer , Crypto Guru)