Counting On … – Page 90

Counting on …day 272

10th August 2022

Last week I began to collect newspaper items about the climate crisis just as I had a year ago. Within a day I had as many as I had collected in week. The climate crisis is certainly a hot topic in the Guardian, and I hope in other news outlets too. This should make it easier to talk about with friends, neighbours, businesses, MPs and councillors.

“Climate endgame: risk of human extinction ‘dangerously underexplored’
Scientists say there are ample reasons to suspect global heating could lead to catastrophe”

Counting on … day 271

9th August 2022

I don’t generally watch much television but have just watched the BBC’s series Big Oil v the world. I had not realised how little I knew about the power of big oil companies to influence the world’s future. When we talk about about the capacity of humanity to cause climate change, we are shocked and stunned. It seems we should be doubly shocked at our human capacity to create a deadly future for ourselves.

It is worth watching so as to be more fully informed and hopefully, be more committed to take preventative and mitigating action. If we can count on humans to cause this crisis, we must have the belief that humans have the capacity to reverse it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0cgqlv1/big-oil-v-the-world-series-1-1-denial

Counting on ….day 270

8th August 2022

Using trees to provide shade significantly reduces urban temperatures making it easier to cope with heat waves. The Mayor of London proposes increasing London’s tree cover from around 20% to 30% by 2050. Research shows that to be most effective tree cover should be at least 40%. We can contact our local authorities and ask them about planting more trees. And if we have the space, we too can plant trees in our gardens.

Counting on …day 269

7th August 2022

Saving water and saving energy often go hand in hand. Showering less often (swop for a daily wash) saves both water and energy used heating the water. Ditto if you wash your clothes less often.

As our hot water tank is upstairs and the kitchen sink down stairs, we realised that to get hot water from the kitchen tap we were drawing an extra 5 litres of water. By heating water for washing up in the kettle we have saved both water and electricity. (One kettle provides for one washing up cycle).

Counting on …day 268

6th August 2022

22% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from domestic use (Energy Savings Trust, 2021). Changing your energy supplier to one who specialises in producing and supplying green – ie renewable – energy will help reduce your domestic carbon emissions. Leading green energy suppliers include Ecotricity, Good Energy Group, Green Energy and Octopus.

Counting on ….day 267

5th August 2022

With climate change a reality we have to find ways of living with droughts. There are many ways of using less water in the house – washing up with a kettle of hot water rather than drawing off water from the hot water cylinder before it runs hot. Having a wash rather than a shower. Washing clothes less often and use a quick wash setting. Washing the floor with a damp cloth rather than a bucket of water. Another significant water saving action is to flush the toilet less often – after a quick pee just close the lid.

At the same time, if you can, save the water you have used – known as grey water – and use it on the garden.

Counting on …day 266

4th August 2022

It is surprising that more cafes don’t serve vegan food. Many cakes and biscuits can as easily be made with margerine as with butter and would instantly become vegan – flapjack and Anzac biscuits for example. And egg is an easily replaces ingredient in brownies and tray bakes. It maybe the perception that people might avoid foods labelled vegan but research shows that the more vegan options available, the more people will choose vegan items! So make a point of asking for vegan food when in cafés and restaurants and ease the change: we will all benefit!

Counting on …day 265

3rd August 2022

Rather than expecting farmers both here and globally to produce an ever growing amount of animal based food – which is adding to the crises of both the climate and biodiversity – we would all benefit far more from adopting a largely plant-based diet.

Courgette, Dill and Almond Soup (serves 4)

Chop and gently fry 1 onion and a clove of garlic in some oil. Cover pan so it doesn’t burn.

Chop into chunks 500g (thereabouts) of courgette and add to the pan. Stir well. Add more oil if necessary.

Add a teaspoon of dried dill or a handful of fresh dill, and a little black pepper.

Add 100g almonds. Stir well.

Cook for a few minutes so that everything is beginning to soften and cover with water.

Cook for 10-15 minutes.

Blitz with a hand blender till smooth.

Stir in half a carton of vegan cream (about 100ml)

Either serve hot, or cool before chilling, to serve cold..

Counting on …day 264

2nd August 2022

As plants shrivel and trees prematurely drop their leaves, we are seeing the damaging effects of climate change on our own environment. Periods of drought and heat waves are going to be an ongoing feature of daily life and something we need now to plan for. In our gardens it may be looking to see which plants are still surviving and which are suffering so that we know what to plant in the future. As we eke out water for our plants, it may be in setting up systems to collect grey water – even a bucket by the sink into which to our used washing up water. It may be in installing more water butts to,collect more water when it does rain. The Mains to Rains project has more helpful suggestions – https://mains2rains.uk/

Counting on …day 263

1st August 2022

Last year I suggested the following action: “Being self-informed, being curious about what is happening, where and why, helps us to have a better understanding of climate change. This week cut out any articles you find in the newspaper (cut and past if you read on line) about climate change and make a display with them. Looking at the overall picture may give you new insights.”

Below is the collage I produced – it feels as if not much has changed but I’ll do the same this week and see.