Yes that is a scary image and that is because recently reading about the environment has scared the bejeezus out of me. So welcome to my first real rant post, if you like scary films then read on.
I didn’t want this blog to be about convincing people why we need to sort our shit out, I wanted it to help people and maybe inspire them but some times we all need a kick up the arse. My main concern is that people don’t understand that it is not just our actions that need to change but how we think about the environment and how we view the world.
It is not just about recycling and buying a new product, we need to start thinking outside of the cardboard box. Reduce before you need to reuse.
A perfect example of this was in an article I read the other day by Labour MP Clive Lewis stating:
Currently we’re counting on our children and grandchildren to devise tech to suck vast amounts of carbon out of the atmosphere after 2050 – no pressure, kids Article link
What the actual f…. talk about belts and braces action or as I like to say arse over tit. Prevention is always better than a cure people. We can’t pin our hopes on future technology to solve problems that we already have.
Now I am not stupid, this guy is a Labour MP and Jeremy Corbyn has just announced his plans for the environmental reform but the he makes some damn good points:
And therein lies the political truth at the heart of the sustainability and decarbonisation project we’ve embarked upon. The understanding that tackling inequality – a core Labour purpose – dove-tails perfectly with saving the planet. A new socialist narrative for the 21st Century beckons, if we have the courage and vision to pursue it.
Political issues aside we do need courage and vision to tackle climate change. Another point raised in the article is that we are missing out on a huge economic benefit too. As people become more aware and dedicated to the issue it drives up demand for environmentally products, places to live with lower emissions, jobs that help the environment rather than hinder it. Wouldn’t it be nice if we were known as the most environmentally friendly country in the world, it might encourage tourism, we could export our bright ideas and best practices. Hell we might even be happier?
Seriously, you look at countries which pole highest for happiness, namely Scandinavian countries. The official ranking is based on GDP, life expectancy, social support, generosity, freedom and corruption. Check out The World Happiness Report. They appear again in the top spots for the worlds most environmentally friendly countries, check out Yale’s Environmental Performance Index.
Being kind to others, kind to the environment and having that reciprocated it just good for you. Think bigger, think better. Taking the perfect selfie whilst wearing fast fashion, with plastic nails, plastic eye lashes, chemically dyed skin, getting drunk every weekend to numb the thought of your dead end job on Monday just doesn’t fill the gaping holes inside. I am not trying to be judgy here as those are just examples that are easy to pick on when I am 34 and those things are no longer of interest to me.
People think they don’t have time to get ‘involved’, it isn’t about extra actions it is about adapting existing ones. How about instead of gassing to your husband tonight about Beryl two doors down bonking Roger from over the road, talk about one change you are both willing to make. It can be tiny like swapping the brand of washing up liquid you use or turning the thermostat down 1 degree. Or it could be bigger like taking the kids to the beach at the weekend and filling a bag with rubbish that otherwise would end up the stomachs of birds or fish. Once you realise how easy some changes are it will inspire more.
I have a friend at work who recently stopped buying cleaning wipes, the kind filled with chemicals that cost a lot, don’t last long and end up in landfill. She has replaced them with microfibre cloths and a bottle of all purpose cleaner that I bought her from Tesco’s Ecoactive range. And guess what? She prefers it, she feels things are cleaner and she has saved money. She asked me today what else can I do?
I am not asking you to suffer, I am not asking you to give up what you like or love. I am asking you to take control and help yourself and others.
Some thing else you may have seen in the news recently is people posting packets of crisps back to Walkers to force them into action regarding being able to recycle said packets/produce packets that biodegrade. The good news is that as a temporary solution to the problem Walkers have teamed up with TerraCycle to create the UK’s first nationwide recycling scheme for crisp packets (all brands) from December.
The power of the people did good, but how many of those people who posted those packets will now store them in their house and send them off to TerraCycle, or even better how many of them will commit to organizing a collection point? I really hope all of them but I also doubt it. People are looking to the big companies or the government to solve their problems but as this shows we all need to make an effort or it just doesn’t work.
Not convinced? Then have a neb on BBC iplayer and check out a recent programme called Drowning in Plastic.
I am far from perfect but I am trying and that is all I ask of you. Please help me, help your self and help the world.
Eco Lass 