There are many ways we can use our human energy to lighten theload on natural resources and tread lightly on our home planet.Check how many of these you do already:
1. Recycle and re-use Wherever possible, separate waste intocompost material, bottles, tins, paper, clothing etc and makesure that these get recycled. See if your local council has apolicy for recycling, food reclamation to fuel or even methaneextraction from waste. If they don't - start one. Ask yourneighbours to contribute to a local composting station.
"The UK has one of the worst recycling records in Europe (12.4%)compared with 64% in Austria, 52% in Belgium, 50% in Germany and47% in the Netherlands. In the UK we bury 80% of our rubbish inlandfills, compared to the Swiss who only landfill 7% of theirrubbish." (The Observer 2004)
2. Shop locally or order a veg box Give your local farmers aboost by buying direct - either by visiting farms, farmer'smarkets or through vegetable box schemes - which are usuallyorganic. This saves transport costs in 'food miles' andguarantees, fresh, local, un-polluted and healthy, in-seasonfood. Try and avoid supermarkets and shop locally when possibleto enhance your own local micro-economy.
"The average household [in UK] spends £470 a year (or one sixthof its total food budget) on packaging. In a typical Asda orTesco shopping basket only 26% of the cost is accounted for byfood; the rest is packaging, processing, transport, storeoverheads, advertising and the mark-up of supermarkets which issometimes as high as 45%." (National Farmers' Union)
3. Make more of your own food from fresh Stop buying ready-mealsand throw away your microwave. Take the time to make healthy,balanced and delicious meals and condiments from wholesome rawingredients. Be like the French and live to eat - rather thaneat to live ! Eating food is the only activity apart from sexthat involves all of our senses.
4. Promote community exchange If you can exchange skills, itemsor energy direct with other people without the use of money -this makes your activities more efficient. If you can shareresources with people around you - then you don't have to earnso much to buy things and you don't have to work as much.
5. Improve local diversity of nature See what you can do toprovide the right ecosystems to promote local biodiversity.Bring butterflies, moths, birds, wild flowers and so on intoyour local environment by providing the resources they need.
6. Review domestic energy use Check whether you can save energyby cutting down consumption or being more efficient. There aregovernment schemes in the UK to help with heating efficiency andinsulation. Even switching off at the plug at night saves power-those little red 'power on' lights add up to over £4 million ofelectricity used in the UK each year ! Look at how your homeuses energy and where it can be saved, even if it means puttinga jumper on occasionally.
7. Start a local investment scheme If you want to save for afuture - doesn't it make sense to invest in something you cansee and touch - like a local investment system that brings areturn on your money and improves your own locality ? Investmoney where you can see what it is doing - and where you canlend a hand if needs be. Community companies, localco-operatives and credit unions are a growing resource forsustainable local investment. What better way is there than toinvest your energy directly into your local micro-economy whereyou can cherish it ?
8. Use an ethical banking system Just what does your money dowhen you invest it a bank? Do you invest in the land mines thatblow off children's legs ? Do you support armamentsmanufacturing, the over-exploitation of rainforests, globalisedcartels intent on raping the planet ? Does your defaultinvestment in a bank endorse child slavery and prostitution,international drug running and money laundering ? Check theinvestment policies of your bank to see just where they areputting your energy as an investment. If you don't like what yousee, at least consider using an ethical bank that might investin things you want in the world. Even better - reach for alifestyle that doesn't include a bank account at all.
Did you invest in this ? "Japanese physicist Professor Yagasakicalculated that the 500+ metric tonnes of depleted uranium (DU)that the US unleashed on Afghanistan was the radioactiveequivalent of 51,875 atomic bombs of the size dropped on theJapanese city of Nagasaki. During the 2003 Gulf War the amountof DU used was the equivalent of 103,750 atomic bombs the sizeof that dropped on Nagasaki. DU fallout will travel from theMiddle East to the UK, US and parts of Asia." (InternationalPhysicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War)
9. Review car use and petrol consumption The real price ofpetrol, if you apply economic principles to its production -that includes the time the earth has taken to make it - comes inat over £1 million per gallon. Its use produces awful chemicalpollution and extreme noise. Most internal combustion enginesrun at an incredibly low efficiency (usually about 20%). Thelogic of having something that weighs over a ton to transport asingle person defeats me. Yes, I know they're incrediblyconvenient compared to the alternatives and that many motorshave cult status but - come on - there has to be a better waythan this ! Boy am I looking forward to hydrogen / oxygen fuelcells. Cycling is great!
10. Start a local energy collective Your roofs are a resource !Take a look at some of the rooftop energy panels availabletoday. Chat with your neighbours about a collective approach tolocal energy needs. Sell your excess energy back to the grid !Intermediate technology combined with modern technology in wind,solar or water power has come of age so start your own powersupply.
11. Learn more about the nature in your local environment Whichwild animals and plants live in your environment? Share sometime with them and see what they can teach you. Become a direct'friend of nature' and explore how other species see the worldwe share. You could even adopt some wild nature near you and'look out' for it.
12. Make things from found or recycled materials Do you rememberthe fun you had whittling wood when you were younger? Keep aneye out for interesting wood you can prepare to make usefulthings. So much stuff is just thrown away or destroyed thatcould be useful again given a little T.L.C. Wild wood can makeattractive coat hangers, boxes, shelves, even furniture. Wasteskips often have objects that can easily be given a 'new life'.Working with your hands to make things 'new' can be a deeplysatisfying experience.
13. Make your own Christmas and birthday presents Take time outto make things that you enjoy and give them away to people youlove. These have a value way over anything you can buy. If youhave a creative hobby - use it to make gifts instead of buyingthem. If you don't - find a hobby or activity that puts you intouch with natural things.
14. Stop using pharmaceutical drugs and chemicals and go naturalWe are in a culture where medical consumerism is the norm.Explore some of the alternatives like using your food aspreventative and curative medicine, or learn about the herbs andspices that have traditionally boosted mankind's health formillennia. There are many gentle ways to find, promote andmaintain health and you will find some excellent examples at theStarFields Network.
15. Join an environmental group Express your energy in acollective way by joining a group that voices your concerns. Putyour energy into changing the situation for the better bydirectly sponsoring a specific environmental cause.
16. Use natural materials from a sustainable source oversynthetic materials The more natural a product is - the lesspollution is usually incurred in its production. Support yourenvironment by valuing natural materials over synthetic, forexample (organic) cotton over polyester. Think about wherebuilding materials or other resources have come from and theprocesses it takes to make them.
17. Feed your neighbour A quick story based on Dante's Inferno:Dante (or someone like him) visits Hell and finds a room of'food torture'. The inhabitants are glued to chairs round alarge table covered with food, but they all have their armsreplaced by 10 foot chopsticks. They lift bits of food high overtheir heads and drop it down onto their faces in a patheticattempt to feed themselves. Later, our hero visits heaven andfinds exactly the same situation except for one thing. Thepeople in heaven are feeding each other across the table !
18. Dance, sing and laugh. Look after yourself and have fun Ifyou are happy, fulfilled, in good humour, enjoying life'sjourney and so on - the chances are that others around you willbe able to feel that way too. This moves us all along.
19. Don't fly in airplanes If possible, take a ship or train forlong hauls or holidays. Aircraft are extremely expensive inpollution terms. Enjoy the sensation of travelling more slowly.Accept the journey as part of the trip.
20. Take an action holiday Why not donate your energy to a causelike helping indigenous people set up sustainable economies ?There are many companies offering the experience of usefulvoluntary work overseas. This is a most direct way to contributeto a sustainable world and gives you face-to-face contact withother cultures.
21. Grow more plants indoors Enhance your pact with nature byturning your home into a plant haven. Even simple spider plantscan improve your space by bringing nature in and cleaning theair. Plants are pretty undemanding compared to pets and theybring life in and produce air. Go the whole hog and grow sometrees.
22. Consider changing your employment What does your 'means ofincome' do in energy terms ? If the 'ethics' of your employmentis distant from your own values then you have essentially soldyour soul for money. Think carefully about the consequences ofyour employment. Consider finding employment that is near toyour core values and you will find a more fulfilled 'you'.
23. Review how you are investing in your own future Concernedabout pensions ? It is certainly looking like someone has pulledthe plug on that one. Anyone under 45 should be looking toexactly what they want in older years and finding ways toachieve it that may not involve money. There are serious flawsin our investment systems that are becoming more and moreevident. Co-operative or communal solutions to support in olderyears will be an increasing solution to lack of money.
24. Review your usage of water If you have metered water, reviewhow much you use and where savings might be made. For examplebath water (without chemicals) can be used to water plants, abrick in the water cistern saves flush water. Can you use thewater that lands on your roof that you pay for the privilege ofhaving removed ? Water butts are cheaper than ever and somelocal councils offer price reductions to residents. There aremany water filters on the market that improve the quality oftap-water and water is a key issue in health, we are mostly madeof it ! Water is a key issue on planet earth in the 21stcentury.
" Nearly 97% of the world's water is sea water or otherwiseundrinkable. Another 2% is locked up in ice caps and glaciers.This leaves 1% to meet all of humanities growing needs,including agriculture, manufacturing, community and personalhousehold needs. Of that 1%, one quarter of the world's freshwater is found in Canada's lakes, rivers and streams." (CPS June2004)
25. Cut down on noise and light pollution Many birds in citiessing at night as it's the only way they can make themselvesheard. Generally birds in cities have to sing louder and thestress this causes gives them shortened life spans. Listen for amoment now - what can you hear beyond the hum of computer fan?How much of this noise is really needed? Wouldn't just some'quiet times' be nice? Get together with your neighbours and seeif you can negotiate a local 'quiet time', like a Sundaymorning. Unnecessary light also interferes with wildlife andeven worse - it blocks out the stars - a source of wonder tillthe end of time.
26. Start your own herb garden Grow your own medicinal andculinary herbs. Many of these are easy to grow on a windowsill,in a window box or tub somewhere. The direct growing and use ofplants ties you into natural cycles and rhythms - you could evenlearn about 'moon gardening' cycles and biodynamics !
27. Grow your own food Even simple growing such as mustard cressor delicious sprouting seeds contributes to a good diet. Asurprising amount of your own food can be grown in a littlespace by using 'potato stacks' or climbing fruits. There is nobetter feeling than harvesting your own crop and eating it withfriends. There are many dwarf bush varieties of fruit, some evenhave more than one fruit type on the same bush.
28. Downsize Think about how you can work less and keep a goodquality of life. Balance quality of life with standard ofliving. Contribute less to GDP and the national/global economyand more to a wholesome local and global ecology. Think globaland act local.
29. Go organic Whatever you consume, source it from a place thatvalues natural processes over industrial ones. There are manyenterprises providing organic food, drink, clothing or materialsfrom sustainable sources. Take pride in tracking these down andusing them in preference to more exploitative practices.
30. Spend time with nature Take the time to visit nature andspend time relating with it. Find and adopt special places whereyou can go to feel the cycles and forces of nature and know thatit is an aspect of you, and you of it. Many people are forming'collectives' to protect or improve special places they value.
About the author:SECRETS OF CREATIVITY by Simon Mitchell Arevolutionary ebook from a top internet author. This ebook givesyou the ULTIMATE POWER TO CREATE with structured courses toimprove your personal creativity. Unleash your SECRETS OFCREATIVITY at: http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/secrets.html
Electricity from Trash
Capturing methane from rotting garbage will help reduce climate change due to greenhouse gases.
Waste Management is creating electricity from rotting garbage at 100 of its landfills, and plans more such projects. This is a double win, as the methane gas produced by the garbage has a 21 times worse greenhouse gas effect than carbon dioxide. But now it can be captured to create energy rather than being emitted into the atmosphere.
Read more: Electricity from trash
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Astrologer Fails to Predict Cyclone
It wouldn't be important that an astrologer failed to predict the Myanmar cyclone if astrology weren't important there.
Continuing on the theme of what can and cannot be predicted, the weather is the next logical topic and evidently a noted Burmese astrologer has publicly apologized for his failure to predict Cyclone Nargis. But in a country like Myanmar where they take astrology seriously, evidently the citizenry depends on their astrologers for this kind of thing:
Read more: Astrologer is sorry for failure to predict cyclone
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Climate Analysis
From a post on calculating CO2 impacts correctly.
?m using this as an example of the kind of armchair analysis I would love to see more consumers and voters do on their own when faced with any buying or voting decision that has significant energy and/or environmental implications. Does this candidate?s claim make sense? How much money can I save by adjusting my thermostat a couple of degree or car pooling? How much CO2 can I avoid by signing up for 100% green electricity?
Read more: Analysis, done right
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Angelo's Is Back
Angelo's Restaurant in St. Marks was swept away by Hurricane Dennis.
Angelo?s was washed away by Hurricane Dennis in 2005 and just recently reopened this winter. It?s a beautiful place, lovely view and great food, but not the place to grab a quick and cheap bite to eat. We had enjoyable meal, though, sitting on the deck and watching the boats and birds over the bay.
Read more: Saint Marks Lighthouse
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Is Carbon Neutrality Actually Possible?
A look at whether products can achieve carbon neutrality.
The big question is where do you draw the line and say that this company is carbon neutral/negative and this one is not when they all rely heavily on carbon positive support?
Read more: Is Carbon Neutrality Actually Possible?
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Review: The End Of Suburbia
Will climate change force us to re-think suburban development?
Of course, no one knows what?ll happen to the suburbs we have now. Will they become the slums of the future? At least one expert in the film predicts a scarier scenario where we may not even have time to build new ?hoods with new urbanist design principles; we may just need to salvage what we have left in the face of global climate change.
Read more: Film review: The End of Suburbia
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Why Do They Hate Us?
A look at climate change and politics.
Yet another hot button topic these days is climate change and the environment. On the surface, you wouldn't think that this should be a conservative vs. liberal topic. After all, climate change is either happening or it isn't. And yet this is an issue that divides conservatives from liberals as much as any other.
Read more: Why do they hate us?
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The Perfectly Timed Vacation
Hurricane Ivan and other hurricanes have changed travel economics.
The best deals on lodging aren?t necessarily found in the hotels, but the low-rise condos. Thank Hurricane Ivan for that, she says. Many hotels were damaged by the 2004 storm, and have recently been repaired and reopened. So if you don?t mind staying in a condo, low season ? at least when it comes to saving money ? may last longer than a season. It could extend months, or longer.
Read more: 4 secrets for the perfectly timed vacation
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We Interrupt This Program
Has the federal government lost all credibility in natural disaster recovery?
Excuse me, while I open a space in the political discussion to point out something beyond the primaries on Tuesday - a powerful series of thunderstorms ripped through the Mid-South with tornadoes that killed at least 54 people and injured hundreds. They have been promised help by George W. Bush, which I can tell you as someone who lives in an area struck by hurricane Ivan in 2004 and knows what the Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas Gulf Coast still looks like after Katrina and Rita in 2005, is not going to happen any time soon.
Read more: We Interrupt This Program
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Anatomy Of A Local Breaking News Story
A great behind-the-scenes look at coverage of Hurricane Wilma from the local point-of-view.
Back in 2005, when Hurricane Wilma was about to smack the Naples area, our news organization made a commitment that when it came to real-time coverage, we were not going to get beat on this story by CNN or The Weather Channel or any other news organizations.
Read more: Anatomy of a local breaking news story
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Hurricane Felix Making Landfall
Is the quote machine broken:
The Nicaragua coast is experiencing powerful winds and surge at this time, as the wrath of a catastrophic monster category 5 hurricane Felix with winds of 160mph and gusts close to 190mph moves inland over Nicaragua very close to Punta Gorda and Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. Felix is the second category 5 hurricane to make landfall this year, and before Hurricane Dean a week or so ago, there were no land falling hurricanes at category 5 status for 15 years.
Read more: Hurricane Felix Making Landfall In Nicaragua
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Save The World From Your Desktop
Seven good tips to reduce climate change from the comfort of your computer.
Use GoLoco to make carpooling a whole lot easier, and do your part to reduce CO2 emissions and lessen traffic congestion.
Read more: 7 Ways to Save the World Using Your Desktop
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Dean Update - Monday, Aug 20, 11 AM
Waiting for Hurricane Dean.
Everybody?s talking about the hurricane and now everyone?s saying that it looks like it?s going south. We?re continuing our preparations (and so is everyone else, apparently), but we?re less worried. We?re reminded that with both Hurricane Emily and Hurricane Wilma, it barely even rained in Merida. It?s good to keep in mind that what happens on one end of the Yucatan Peninsula, doesn?t necessarily effect the whole peninsula.
Read more: Dean Update - Monday, Aug 20, 11 AM
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600 Naked People On A Vanishing Glacier
Click through for pictures of the living sculpture atop the vanishing glacier.
Installation artist Spencer Tunick and Greenpeace Switzerland present a living sculpture: hundreds of naked people symbolise the vulnerability of the glaciers under climate change.
Read more: 600 naked people on a vanishing glacier
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Bad Climate Change News Was Too Optimistic
The news on iceberg meltdowns is bad.
However, China is preparing for climate change induced disasters and plans 24 hour response with food and water for any emergency. Too bad the US isn?t doing the same.
Read more: That bad news about climate change was too optimistic
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Additional Resources
Green Energy Web Host Paves The Path For Other Web Hosting
By Steven Craig, Fri Dec 9th
Many companies are interested in installing a solar or windelectric system, but not many go forth with the idea. Onecompany stands out from the crowed and that is Read more...
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Additional Resources
South American Deforestation: Not The Usual Reasons
By nathfiset
South America is home to some of the world's largest and lushest rainforests. Fully one fifth of the different species of flora and fauna on the planet can be found in these forests, and quite a Read more...
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