Reflections and actions during COP26 and going on
25th October 2023
Cooking seasonally is a good way of reducing food waste. Apples are very much in season now, so this can be a good time to make mincemeat.
Surplus cabbage and root vegetables lend themselves to being turned into sauerkraut which is good for our gut biome and can be a handy part of a salad or – if heated – main meal.
24th October 2023
Food waste accounts for 24% of the green house gas emissions that relate to food. Of this food waste two thirds food’s emissions come from food that is lost in supply chains or wasted by consumers. Almost two-thirds of this is due to losses in the supply chain often the result of poor storage and handling, whilst the other third is food thrown away by retailers and consumers. https://ourworldindata.org/food-waste-emissions
Reducing food waste is something we can all do. See this earlier item for tips – https://greentau.org/2021/08/09/eco-tips-4/
And for a different way of using up bread that might otherwise be thrown away, try Chester Cake. It is a variation of bread pudding without the eggs, and baked as a pie. This recipe comes from https://www.wandercooks.com/chester-squares-gur-cake/
23rd October 2023
“Climate activists are sometimes depicted as dangerous radicals. But, the truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels.” So said the UN Secretary-General António Guterres last year at the launch of the third IPCC report.
Last week the Intercontinental Hotel in Park Lane hosted the Energy Intelligence Forum – an international gathering of influential figures from the oil and financial industries – formerly known as the Oil and Money Conference. These people hold great power with very little reference to either democratic decision making or alternative view points. The decisions they make, and the strategies they plan, will have a big impact on what happens in the world, on the future of wellbeing of people, the environment and the climate.
In opposition to this Fossil Free London and other groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace and Christian Climate Action, organised protests outside the hotel and at selected headquarters of oil and financial institutions across London. With our future at stake, it was imperative right to call out the injustice of what was happening. The IPPC and IEA have both presented the world with the scientific evidence that carbon emissions are causing the climate crisis, and that the urgent response must be cutting back now on fossil fuels extraction and use, as we all transition to net zero. And yet, regardless of this, the oil industry is continuing to expand its operations, and the financial world is continuing to invest in and to insure these projects – using what is ultimately our money.
On the Monday evening, the eve of the conference, Christian Climate Action held an act of worship out on the street opposite the hotel’s main entrance. Using words from the most recent papal encyclical, Laudate Deum (Praise God). It is so called, because the Pope says that when human beings claim to take God’s place, they become their own worst enemies. In the worship we bore witness to the injury and injustice that the oil industry is causing in the world, and in between prayerful silences we sang praises to God using the Taize chant ‘Laudate omens gentes’.
Tuesday CCA again gathered in the street opposite the hotel with a series of photographs – a mobile art exhibition – each an illustration of the effects of wild fire on the environment and people’s lives. Fossil Free London and others blockaded the hotel entrance – the hotel had erected high fences along the whole area restricting the entrance to a meter wide gate way which was easily blocked by protestors preventing guests from entering or leaving. A samba band played, people sang and chanted, and speeches were delivered – the key speaker was Greta Thunberg. Mid morning a group from Greenpeace abseiled down from a top floor window, unfurling a banner down the front of the hotel. The conference delegates could not have gone unaware of the opposition to their plans for an oil fuelled future. Indeed the CEO of Shell had to make his speech by equivalent of zoom. By the early afternoon the police had imposed a section 14 notice on the street, authorising them to remove all protestors from the site.
The Christian Climate Action group set off on a pilgrimage around Mayfair stopping to pray at the offices of a number of ‘Earth Wreckers’ – companies involved in financing, supporting or exploiting fossil fuels and thereby directly or indirectly polluting the world with carbon emissions. (For more information about Earth Wreckers visit – http://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/wreckers-of-the-earth-2021_409815#12/51.5222/-0.1234)
On Wednesday action was taken further afield to the City of London. Ten companies associated with the West Cumbrian Coal Mine and the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline were targeted, to protest against their involvement in funding these highly polluting projects. Christian Climate Action together with representatives of other faiths and a group from XR Scientists, peacefully entered and sat down in the foyer of 52 Lime Street – a modern glass and steel tower block that houses Chaucer, the UK subsidiary of China Re and a potential insurer of EACOP. Sat together in the middle of the space – allowing office workers to continue in and out of the building – we sang Buddhist and faith songs and shared an agape of bread and ‘good’ olive oil.
Within half an hour the police arrived and stood round us, watching. Then with such joy and hope, we saw the XR procession, that was marching between each of the sites, arrive with hundreds of supporters, flags and banners, and a samba band. They waved to us through the plate glass windows and cheered, and we sang and waved back. When they marched on, a contingent from CCA stayed on outside both protesting and praying. The building’s security staff obviously wished us to leave, but the police having taken advice from the CPS, took the view that as our protest was peaceful, they had no grounds for arresting us. After some discussion within the group, we agreed that we would stay until 3 o’ clock. So at 3 o’ clock we stood up, tidied up our banners and picnic lunch and still singing, walked out. We had made our point.
Despite the rain, we returned to the Intercontinental Hotel that evening for a further act of worship, this time led by various representatives of the Faith Bridge -Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Quaker and Christian.
Christian Climate Action continued with its support of other groups on the Thursday, targeting amongst others, the offices of J P Morgan. I meanwhile held my weekly hour long vigil outside Shell’s headquarters.
For information about Christian Climate Action visit – https://christianclimateaction.org/
20th October 2023
Repeating a previous blog – ‘Cars might seem essential for picking up shopping, delivering goods, or transporting children, but in reality there are many alternatives. Cargo bikes can just as easily fit the bill. Our local authority of Richmond upon Thames, has a hire scheme so residents can make use of cargo bikes for a minimal outlay’ – and the first 60 minutes are free – https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/roads_and_transport/vehicles/active_travel/cargo_bikes
And from another entry -‘Cycle courier services have been around for many years now as bikes are often far quicker than any other vehicle for short urban journeys – and of course have been used by Royal Mail for centuries. Likewise Co-op’s use of bikes for grocery deliveries is not new. Freddie’s Flowers – a weekly flower delivery service is also fulfilled by bike. Cycle delivery services such as Peddle Me, carryout same day deliveries for a variety of clients including coffee roasters, breweries, flower suppliers, film companies, local authorities, community kitchens, charities, restaurant chains and numerous food suppliers – “You name it, we deliver it”! They also offer a taxi service for people too! ’ – https://pedalme.co.uk/about
Bikes are the future!
19th October 2023
Cycling, walking, taking the train or the bus, all reduce our dependency on cars, and reduces carbon emissions. The more people use these car-alternatives the more likely the provisions of good infrastructure will increase. Equally the more people use car alternatives, the more that others will feel encouraged to do likewise.
Active travel is healthier, more sociable and creates pleasanter environment for everyone. And something we don’t always think about, active travel is good for local businesses. The following is a reasonably unbiased assessment – https://www.talk-business.co.uk/2019/12/02/are-car-free-streets-good-or-bad-for-business/
And this report highlights the value of cycling as industry with green growth potential – https://www.smarttransport.org.uk/insight-and-policy/active-travel/the-cycle-industry-a-green-growth-sector-that-can-help-deliver-net-zero
18th October 2023
Earlier this autumn the Guardian reported in an article about new electric cars ‘But even a low-carbon-emitting car remains a low-capacity mode of transportation. Doubling down on its near-monopoly over the surface transportation system would lead to a future of ever-worsening congestion and road accidents, which currently cost 30 lives in the UK every week.’
In other words greater use of public transport, cycling and walking would ease congestion on our roads. It has been well observed that building more roads increases traffic rather than reducing congestion. Money spent on road building would be better spent on public transport and cycling infrastructure, reducing congestion and more than likely, increasing journey times.
17th October 2023
Cycling as the days draw in and the weather gets colder, needs a little more planning. Have you got cycle-lights and are the batteries fully charged? Have you got outer-layers that are waterproof, warm and high-viz? Have you got a brim on your cycle helmet or do you have a cycling cap to wear underneath, that will provide shade from the low but bright winter sun? Shining straight into your eyes, the sun can dazzle and limited visibility.
For further tips see –
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/travel/cycling-in-winter
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/commuting/article/Daily-Commuting-Tips
16th October 2023
A recent newsletter from Sustrans told of Albert, Rosemary and 1 year old Teifi who, even though they live in rural Wales, do not have a car and instead use cycling as their mode of transport. Albert provided the following tips for others inspired to ditch their car.
“Try doing one trip a week on bike instead of in a car, that could maybe be a trip to the shops to get a smaller amount of things in or taking the kids to the park.
“I’d recommend starting off small and slowly reducing the number of trips you take in the car.
“Obviously it does depend on where you are, but you can certainly give it a go.
“I guess it’s important not to see it as this massive challenge and more just making small tweaks.
“It does involve changing habits and making adaptations, but it is doable.”
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/personal-stories/2023/all/living-car-free-with-a-young-child/?utm_campaign=205436_October Enews&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Sustrans&dm_i=7CK6,4EIK,CNH9L,HM8K,1
13th October 2023
“Money makes the world go round” goes the saying. But where does that money come from? National and international banks, the World Bank, the investment arms of pension and insurance companies – all looking for a healthy financial return. Choosing where to invest, gives these organisations a highly influential role in shaping the world. If they invest in airlines, then airplanes are built. If they invest in oil, then oil wells are dug. If they invest in wheat and palm oil, then wheat and oil palms are grown – clearing away rainforest if that is in the way.
But surely they could alternatively invest in wind turbines? Or solar panels? Or railways? Or indigenous crops? Or public health schemes? Or education systems?
Who decides? Could it be us?
Currently there are various campaigns encouraging us as individuals to choose banks/ pension funds/ insurance policies that work in favour of, rather than against, the environment.
It could also be us if we choose to press the bigger players – big banks, the insurance companies, national charities, churches and dioceses – to similarly opt for financial arrangements that benefit the environment and transition away from fossil fuels. Christian Aid earlier this year announced its decision to drop Barclays as its bank, whilst many National Trust members still object to the Trust’s continued use of Barclays.
Faith for the Climate has been pressing Lloyds of London to end their insurance of fossil fuel projects. XR and CCA continue to campaign against Barclays – Europe’s largest fossil fuel investing bank.
There are also campaigns to persuade sporting and art event organise against accepting sponsorship from environmentally unfriendly investors – eg opposing Barclays’ sponsorship of Wimbledon.
12th October 2023
“Global south countries are currently spending five times more on repaying debt than they are on addressing the impacts of the climate crisis.”(1)
Poor to start with, these countries have to borrow to fund basics such as road building, education, housing and healthcare – imagine how a country could pay for these from taxation when only, say, 5% of the population earns enough to pay tax. Add to that the increasing cost of the climate crisis – the cost of flood destroyed agriculture, infrastructure and homes; the cost of rising sea levels destroying costal areas and undermining agricultural fertility with saline water; the cost of droughts and wildfires destroying crops, infrastructure and homes. See how more debts escalate! And how can these countries find still more money to protect infrastructure and livelihoods against further climate change?
That is why “Cancel the Debt” is campaigning for the rich countries of the north that have made their fortunes through fossil fuels, to cancel these debts.
Like a bizarre plot twist, many of the indebted countries of the global south have been encouraged to develop fossil fuels as a way of boosting their GDP! But what was billed as means to a buoyant future has become a millstone round their necks. The evidence is that they become mired in a “debt-fossil-fuel production trap whereby countries rely on fossil fuel revenues to repay debt, and anticipated revenues from fossil fuels are often over inflated and require huge investments to reach expected returns, leading to further debt, eroding long-term development prospects, and causing devastating environmental and human harms.” (1)
Today various groups including Debt Justice, War on Want, the London Mining Network, and Christian Climate Action, are holding a demonstration outside the Bank of England, calling for the cancellation of the debts of the Global South.
For a related article on debt see – https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/11/severe-debt-burdens-thwarting-progress-on-climate-and-poverty-says-world-bank?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
(1) https://debtjustice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Debt-fossil-fuel-trap-report-2023.pdf
