Reflections and actions during COP26 and going on
12th June 2022
Last Saturday I attempted a nature survey of the church garden which was impeded by wet weather. Once the sun came out, so did the insects and with the gentle back ground buzz that reminds us how the summer should sound. I saw three different types of bee, several hover flies, a shiny emerald rosemary beetle and some tiny mint moths. It is worth spending half an hour just observing a few plants to see what’s there.
11th June 2022
This morning to my great delight we were visited by a family of greater spotted woodpeckers – mum, dad and junior. Junior has a red patch on the top of his head, dad has the same patch but at the back of his head and mum has a plain head. They settled on the palm tree from where the two adults flew back and forth to the feeder bringing their offspring a succession of tasty snacks.
The day before I had spotted a newt in the pond, a resident I had not seen for the last few years.
Both filled me with joy and I realise how much I count on these moments of encouragement.
10th June 2022
According to the WWF, ‘Local communities are key to equitable, sustainable food systems’. They see working with local communities is the best way of developing climate resilient farming practices that enable communities to feed themselves. The charity Practical Action takes a similar approach using on the philosophy of Dr E. F. Schumacher that ‘small is beautiful’. The Fair Trade movement also puts communities at the heart of its work. Supporting groups like these and opting for fair trade products are ways of creating a sustainable world.
9th June 2022
Sustainability is also about maintaining communities. Communities are good because they provide support for those who are vulnerable as we saw when neighbours helped with shopping. Communities are good because they can rally together, sharing skills and resources, whether that is to celebrate jubilees or to cope with disasters such as floods. According to the World Bank, ‘Sustainable communities are resilient to social, economic, and natural shocks. They are well prepared for natural disasters, which are increasing in intensity and frequency due to climate change’.
Being good neighbours, being committed to our local communities, means we can count on each other to share the hard times and celebrate the good times.
8th June 2022
Sustainability takes many forms one of which concerns morality. Is it morally sustainable for the CEO of a business to take a pay rise approaching 300% whilst denying the basic living wage to those who working on the shop floor? This is a subject that has been taken up by Share Action, a charity that works oh share holders and campaigners to bring about beneficial change in listed companies. https://shareaction.org/news/weve-filed-a-living-wage-resolution-at-sainsburys-heres-why
If you want to express your concern there is also a petition: https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/sainsburys-living-wage-campaign-6.2022
7th June 2022
Consuming less but enjoying more!
Consuming less can be eating locally organically grown food rather than imported, intensively produced food. Take strawberries: eaten out of season we are consuming not just the fruit but the extra carbon footprint of importing them – often as airfreight. Additionally we may be consuming excess quantities of water – strawberries grown in Spain are reliant on artificial irrigation which is draining natural aquifers and jeopardising river and wetland habitats. Strawberries are also a labour intensive crop often invoking seasonal workers who are often underpaid and/ or abused. As strawberries become an everyday rather than seasonal treat, so supermarkets put pressure on suppliers to reduce costs. Strawberries often come packed in single use plastic boxes and even though the plastic may recyclable, the punnets themselves are invariably made from virgin plastic.
Sustainable strawberries are a treat to be waited for and savoured – hold out for ones with flavour and aroma! If you have the opportunity, grow and pick your own!
6th June 2022
The Cambridge Dictionary defines sustainability as ‘the quality of causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time.’ Earth Overshoot Day marks the critical point each year when we have consumed that sum of resources that can be replenished in the course of the year. Beyond that point we are consuming more than can be replaced and are therefore indelibly damaging the environment. Last year Earth Overshoot Day fell on 21st July: in seven months we had consumed a year’s worth of resources! The situation can be worse if we look at our individual countries: Earth Overshoot Day for the UK this year was 19th May. Sustainable living for most of us has to focus on consuming less.
5th June 2022
Today is World Environment Day, organised by the UN. This year’s strap line is MAKING SUSTAINABLE LIVING THE DEFAULT OPTION. This has to be a motto by which we live: when ever we make a choice, we need to chose that which is most sustainable. Choices will not be clear cut – imported organic carrots versus homegrown non organic ones – but will always be better than options that clearly damage the environment and with it our well being. Is this something we can share with our friends, our neighbours, our employers, the places where we shop? Can users and consumers change the world?
4th June 2022
Today we are carrying out a plant and wildlife survey of our church garden as part of the Churches Count On Nature project. Knowing what’s around in our own locality can inspire us to do more to care for the environment.
3rd June 2022
Forest bathing is the Japanese practice of immersing oneself in nature, especially in forests and paying particular attention to how that environment engages the five senses. Kate Bast, writing for Mental Health Today (https://www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/blog/awareness/forest-bathing-how-returning-to-the-trees-can-decrease-symptoms-of-anxiety) says forest it is like a “balm” for mental health and that it has the ability to slow down the fight, flight or freeze response, which is so often on high alert for those with anxiety. Forest bathing, Bast said also softens the intensity of symptoms such as ‘rumination’ which is something that often plagues those living with depression.
The Forest Bathing Institute offers guided sessions, including ones at Kew Gardens – https://tfb.institute/. The National Trust also offers a guide for self guided sessions –https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lists/a-beginners-guide-to-forest-bathing .
Why not have a gentle walk in your nearest area of woodland?
The Green Tau 