Category: Counting On …

Reflections and actions during COP26 and going on

Counting on …. Day 1.141

5th August 2023

A lack of a level playing field can mean that the poorest face the highest costs. A recent Green Christian talk, “ Looking ahead to winter – making sure nobody is left behind”, highlighted that for the poorest fuel costs are likely to be highest. Those with money can afford to insulate their homes, install a heat pump and smart heating controls, all reducing the amount of energy needed  – and therefore cost – of keeping warm. Equally those who are poorest tend not to own but to rent their home and any improvements in energy efficiency, insulation and even repairs (to prevent leaks or damp etc), can only happen with the willing input of the landlord. 

To watch Dr Mike Pepler’s talk visit https://youtu.be/7b1KS4pazw4

Counting on … day 1.140

4th August 2023

The Wellbeing Economy Alliance highlights that a socially and environmentally improved economy can not be introduced without first creating a level playing field: “We don’t leave it to people to fend for themselves or rely on limited redistributive mechanisms, but pre-distribute power, wealth, time, and income so that the heavy lifting is done by the economy itself. Example: social enterprises and businesses owned by their workers, community wealth building and living wage”

It is that lack of a level playing field that leaves people struggling to afford somewhere to live, struggling to gain employment, struggling with ill health – caught in a vicious circle when they cannot afford the time or money to step into a better life. What is true of people is equally true of nations – poor nations struggle with debts, with low incomes and low investment that make improving welfare near impossible.

Counting on … day 1.139

3rd August 2023

For those who are interested the Global Footprint Network has a online tool that calculates in broad terms your environmental footprint. Knowing the size of our impact on the earth can motivate us to change our lifestyle accordingly. https://www.footprintcalculator.org/home

But do we want to shrink our lives, do we want to give up things we enjoy?

An interesting article on their blog reframes the approach. Rather than focusing on reducing our footprint, focus on creating a comfortable lifestyle that is more efficient in its use of resources. And a more resource efficient lifestyle will be a more secure and a more affordable lifestyle. And if shared, this lifestyle will enable others to enjoy a comfortable, safe and affordable lifestyle too . 

Do read the full article https://www.footprintnetwork.org/2023/01/18/dont-reduce-your-footprint/

Counting on … day 1.138

2nd August 2023

Today is Earth Overshoot Day – the day when we have used up a full year’s supply of the world’s renewable resources – ie the productive capacity of fresh water (for drinking etc) , fishing grounds, arable and grazing land, forests, space for urban infrastructure and recreation, capacity for absorbing waste such as sewage and carbon dioxide.  Here after we will be living in the red, taking more than our fair share from the earth such that others will suffer – through lack of clean water, declining soil fertility, low crop yields and lack of food, declining fish stocks, deforestation and biodiversity loss, air pollution, over heating and extreme weather events, etc. 

About Earth Overshoot Day

The organisations that calculate Earth Overshoot Day (including the New Economics Foundation, the Global Footprint Network and the WWF) are equally interested in solutions – the ‘Power of Possibility’. 

They highlight different schemes and approaches  that could – and are – being taken to reduce the our human impact in the earth . From planting more forests to designing smart cities, from developing a circular fashion industry  to food waste prevention legislation, from developing rural solar and micro grids to ending single use plastics. 

A different, better world is possible. 

For more info – https://greentau.org/2023/05/13/green-tau-issue-69/

Counting on ….day 1.137

1st August 2023

How often do we look around the world and think, “There must be a better way of doing things!”?

One group, The Wellbeing Economy Alliance, thinks there is: 

“A Wellbeing Economy is an economy designed to serve people and the planet, not the other way around. Rather than treating economic growth as an end in and of itself and pursuing it at all costs, a Wellbeing Economy puts our human and planetary needs at the centre of its activities, ensuring that these needs are all equally met, by default.  In a Wellbeing Economy, our definition of societal success shifts Beyond GDP growth to delivering shared wellbeing.” https://weall.org/what-is-wellbeing-economy

They suggest, amongst other things, that we need a change of Mindset.  From the  old way: “The dominant mindset is that there is no alternative to neoliberal capitalism and business as usual” to a new way: “The dominant mindset is that thousands of alternatives for designing economies exist – it is in our power to design economies differently. Economies should have human and environmental wellbeing as their focus. Innovation is the norm.”

If we have a clearer idea of what alternatives are possible, perhaps we can be more effective in making better demands of our politicians – particularly in the run up to elections.

Counting on … day 1.136

31st July 2023

To keep sourdough starters healthy they need regularly depleting and refreshing – often more frequently than the demand for more bread. The sourdough starter can be used for things other than bread – such as crumpets.. It can also be used to provide the acidic element for soda bread or soda scones.

Soda farls made with sour dough starter

Heat a heavy frying pan. 

Mix 200g of plain flour with a two generous tablespoons of sourdough starter.  

Add 1/2 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and some grated nutmeg.

Stir in a handful of raisins. 

Mix with enough oat milk to a soft dough. 

Brush the frying pan with oil. Scope the dough out and into pan and Pat it with the back of a spoon to a roundish even shape – about 2cm deep.

Once the bottom is cooked and the edges are beginning to form, slide the soda bread onto a plate. Invert the pan on top, flip over so that the uncooked side of the soda bread is now face down in the pan.
Cook the second side.

You can vary the flavour by using dried cranberries, dried chopped apricots, diced apple etc instead of the raisins. And you can use cinnamon or cardamom instead of nutmeg.

Counting on … day 1.134

22nd July 2023 

The Conservative by-election win in Uxbridge is being presented as an opposition vote vis a vis the extension of the ULEZ in London. Transitioning to net zero (including halving emissions by 2030 – less than 7 years away) is something we all need to be engaged with. That includes appropriate investment by Government and Local Authorities, appropriate investment and market by businesses, sound information to keep people in the picture, and a determination by all of us to make it work. 

Counting on … day 1.133

20th July 2023 

Thinking about the value of trees, this comes from a Guardian article earlier in the year.

“Heatwaves tend to be the deadliest type of extreme weather, the scientists…

Roop Singh, at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, said: “The results of the study indicate the need to work more urgently to put in place adaptations known to reduce heat-related mortality.” Lisbon, for example, has reduced the city heat-island effect by increasing the area covered by green spaces and water features.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/05/april-mediterranean-heatwave-almost-impossible-without-climate-crisis?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other