Category: Counting On …

Reflections and actions during COP26 and going on

Counting on … day 410 

17th December 2022

Delegates at the Biodiversity COP are working to define what it is to be ‘nature positive’. I would hope it means a default of working with rather than against the natural environment wherever possible. One of the Guardian correspondents commented that little is being said about how we as individuals can be ‘nature positive’, adding “Dietary changes, for example, is one of the most significant things people reading this could do to reduce their impact on biodiversity, namely cutting meat consumption.”

Counting on… day 409

16th December 2022

The Ethical Consumer has provided a list of alternatives to using Amazon this Christmas. I f you want to know more about why Amazon is considered to be so unethical follow this link: https://ethicalconsumer.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a8ca94202812f2c92c29fbe59&id=6f28a9172a&e=40cf608d55

1. Gift experiences instead of items

What makes the person you’re gifting to happy? You could make handmade vouchers for things like:

  • Their favourite meal
  • Book a week off work for summer, and say you want to start planning that trip they would love to go on
  • A full day plan: such as a hike route drawn on a map, packed-lunch menu, and table reservation for mulled wine at the end of the walk

2. Repurpose what you already have

Many of us have possessions we don’t use. Could they become presents?

  • A book on your shelf that makes you think of them
  • A piece of clothing they complimented you on
  • Old photos that could be dug out and turned into a collage
  • Niche ingredients in your cupboard could be bulked out to make a full meal box, with a handwritten recipe.

3. Shop from independent companies

Use these guides, especially created to help people find ethical alternatives to Amazon.

… last but not least, Ethical Consumer’s Christmas Gift subscription is a perfect antidote to the mindless foray of consumerism that the festive season has become known for.

Counting on … day 408 

15th December 2022

The cold weather is a reminder to us of the importance of food, both for ourselves to keep us warm, and for local wildlife. 

The RSPB has useful tips – 

https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/nature-on-your-doorstep/garden-activities/food-for-your-wild-friends/?utm_source=nature_on_your_doorstep_november&utm_medium=email&utm_term=&utm_content=3&utm_campaign=nature_on_your_doorstep

Counting on 407

14th December 2022

Euronews Green has compiled a summary of all the good news environmental stories from 2022 as a counterweight to all the less than positive stories we read.

https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/12/14/here-are-all-the-positive-environmental-stories-from-2022-so-far?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=green_newsletter&_ope=eyJndWlkIjoiMTJjMTk2MDNmOWI2YTEwZmZmMTQ0ODYyMWQ3NDJhNDcifQ%3D%3D

Counting on … 406

13th December 2022

‘France has been given the green light to ban short haul domestic flights. The European Commission has approved the move which will abolish flights between cities that are linked by a train journey of less than 2.5 hours. The decision was announced on Friday. The changes are part of the country’s 2021 Climate Law and were first proposed by France’s Citizens’ Convention on Climate – a citizens’ assembly tasked with finding ways to reduce the country’s carbon emissions’. https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/12/02/is-france-banning-private-jets-everything-we-know-from-a-week-of-green-transport-proposals?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=green_newsletter&_ope=eyJndWlkIjoiMTJjMTk2MDNmOWI2YTEwZmZmMTQ0ODYyMWQ3NDJhNDcifQ==

Does this sound like an excellent idea! 

Counting on day 405

12th December 2022 

The Wildlife Trust notes ‘Orchards are areas of trees and shrubs planted for food, usually fruit. They are an historic habitat; many species of fruit tree were brought over by the Romans and cultivating fruit trees might date back to the Neolithic period. Not only are orchards useful and beautiful, they can also be important for wildlife. They are perfect for pollinators, and fruit trees age quickly which creates essential deadwood habitats.’

Preserving orchards is an important way of maintaining the UK’s biodiversity. Many orchards are under threat partly because the lack of people to pick the fruit and partly because of the propensity of supermarkets to stock imported fruit – so equally that may suggest we as consumers need to ensure we seek out UK grown produce.

Counting on … day 403

10th December 2022

On Thursday the Government gave approval for the opening of a new coal mine in Cumbria despite the averse affect that its carbon emissions will have on the environment. Would this result have been different if Nature had a voice in Parliament? 

In the meantime if you wish to voice your opposition to this new coal mine Greenpeace a petition in place. https://action.greenpeace.org.uk/no-new-coal?source=UN&subsource=ECENCLPEUN03DJ&utm_source=Native&utm_medium=Thank+You+Page+Mobile+Share&utm_campaign=Pardot+Coal+Petition+-+Feb+22+%5BBW%5D++PE

Counting on… day 402 

9th December 2022

Faith in Nature (makers of ethical soaps etc) is  the first company in the world to make Nature a director. Two individuals appointed to the Board will be legally bound to speak on behalf of the natural world. ‘Developed in partnership with Lawyers for Nature and Earth Law Center, we believe this signals a new way of doing business. It’s about changing the way we think about Nature — no longer treating it as a resource but as central to our decision making process.’ https://www.faithinnature.co.uk/pages/sustainability

Counting on … day 399

6th December 2022

Today is the feast of St Nicholas who once threw three bags of gold into the house of a poor father who was no longer able to provide financially for his daughters. Amongst other things, St Nicholas s the patron saint of pawn brokers and hence the three gold balls that symbolise a pawn broker. Sadly there are still people who find themselves unable to provide financially for their household needs. One source of finance that has proved useful are credit unions. These operate like a cooperative with everyone a co member. Members use the the union both for savings and for loans and because the union is owned by them, it operates to their best advantage – and not say to the advantage of external share holders. They are always a cheaper option than pay day loans.