Health – The Green Tau

Green Tau: Food insecurity & what we can do

28th March 2023 update 2nd January 2026

1. Ensuring people have a sufficient income to buy the food they need.

Support companies that pay the Living Wage (https://www.livingwage.org.uk/)
Buy Fair Trade products which ensure producers earn a fair wage (https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/)
Press your MP for benefits to match needs – the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) frequently reports on this issue: https://www.jrf.org.uk/work/unlocking-benefits-tackling-barriers-for-disabled-people-wanting-to-work
Support campaigns focused on food poverty such as the Child Poverty Action Group https://cpag.org.uk/what-we-do/our-impact and Trussel https://www.trussell.org.uk/our-work/what-we-do
Support Transform Trade which campaigns to make trade rules person centred ( https://www.transform-trade.org/)

1b.. Growing our own food and enabling others to do likewise.

2. Taking action to limit keep rising global temperatures below 1.5C – curbing climate change will improve the chances of better harvests.

For this you might want to measure your carbon footprint to help identify areas where you could reduce carbon emissions. Try one of the following – https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx?ref=buffer.com https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/ (This looks at a wider range of resources other than just carbon)
Particularly relating to food, you might choose to reduce – or cut out completely – animal products from your diet. You might choose to only what is in season to avoid importing food over long distances. https://greentau.org/2021/08/14/green-tau-issue-12/
Campaign to persuade companies and governments for tackle the climate crisis – eg https://christianclimateaction.org/ https://greenchristian.org.uk/ https://www.christianaid.org.uk/ https://www.rspb.org.uk/ and many others .
You might support charities such as Practical Action that help poorer farmers change their practices to adapt to the new and more extreme climates – https://practicalaction.org/
You might support charities and organisations that support people whose crops have failed because of the climate crisis, such as UNICEF (https://www.unicef.org/), UNHCR (https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/food-assistance-yemen), and Oxfam (https://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/current-emergencies/east-africa-food-crisis-appeal/)
You might campaign to reduce food waste which accounts for about 6% of global carbon emissions – https://wrap.org.uk/taking-action/food-drink/actions/action-on-food-waste

3. Paying a fair price for the food we eat. You might buy direct from a farm – eg https://www.riverford.co.uk/ – or a group of farms, or via a local vegetable box scheme. You might support a local farmers’ market. You might buy from a local independent green grocer. Similarly you might buy milk etc from a milk round where the price reflects the cost to the farmer. For cheeses, look to buy from small scale producers via a local cheese shop. And again buying fair trade options for imported foods can help ensure a fair price for the producer. Alternatively look out for products – coffee beans and chocolate in particularly – that have been sourced directly from the grower. These are often available through local independent shops and cafés.

Another option would be to subscribe to the OddBox fruit and veg scheme which buys food stuffs that would otherwise go to waste because they are misshapen, because the supermarket doesn’t want the crop, or because the crop has been too large or too small for the supermarket buyer – https://www.oddbox.co.uk/ 

4. Buying from local producers and local retailers helps to improve local supply chains.

You might also campaign to improve global trading arrangements through organisations such as Transform Trade, the Trade Justice Movement – https://www.tjm.org.uk/ – and Global Justice Now – https://www.globaljustice.org.uk/our-campaigns/trade/

5. Again the best approach to improving global food security and ensuring there is enough food for everyone is to reduce – or cut out completely – animal products.

6. To support and encourage the maintenance of healthy soil, you might choose to buy organic produce (https://www.soilassociation.org/ ), or source items produced using regenerative farming practices (https://regenerativefoodandfarming.co.uk/)

7. You might read about and take on board the ideals of the Planetary Health Diet – a diet devised by the Eat-Lancet Commission as the most healthy diet for humans and for the planet: https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet/the-planetary-health-diet/

8. To improve the security of our food supplies through diversity, expand the range of foods you eat. Try different sorts and fruit and vegetables, different types of grain – emmer, einkorn, spelt, black barley – and different sorts of nuts, spices etc. This can also improve your health – it is recommended that our diets should include 30 or more different types of fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains etc per week. See for example https://www.theguthealthdoctor.com/how-to-get-your-gut-loving-30-plant-points-a-week.

9. Improving biodiversity as a whole is a good preventative against diseases that could ravaged farm production. You might therefore choose to grow more wild/ native plants in your garden, or choose plants that support and encourage biodiversity in terms of birds, insects, butterflies, and bats etc. many web sites have suggestions about improving the biodiversity of your garden including those of the RSPB and the Natural History Museum. You might want to support charities and organisations that encourage biodiversity and even extend that to the re-wilding of land, both in the UK – eg https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/explore-rewilding/what-is-rewilding – and overseas – https://www.cleanupthetropicaltimbertrade.org/about , https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/forests_practice/importance_forests/tropical_rainforest/ , http://savetheorangutan.org.uk/

Counting on … 179

4th November 2025

Planetary Health Diet

The EAT-LancetCommission is a global, interdisciplinary group of world-leading researchers with expertise in nutrition, health, agriculture, sustainability, social justice, and policy – working together towards a healthy, sustainable, and just food system. (1) In 2019 this group’s research developed the Planetary Health Diet being a diet that is both healthier for us and for the planet. It is a dietary outline that can be adapted to suit different cultural traditions and different social contexts – in other words it is a diet that everyone could follow with out difficulty.

“The PHD is rich in plants: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes comprise a large proportion of foods consumed, with only moderate or small amounts of fish, dairy, and meat recommended.” (2)

This year their research was updated producing the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission Report. This report demonstrates that the PHD could both bring the human behaviour back within safe planetary boundaries as well as cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

This 2025 report outlines eight areas where transformation can lead to positive outcomes. Protect and promote traditional healthy diets –

Create accessible and affordable food environments that increase demand for healthy diets
Implement sustainable production practices that store carbon, create habitat, and improve water quality and availability
Halt agricultural conversion of intact ecosystems
Reduce food loss and waste
Secure decent working conditions across the food system
Ensure meaningful voice and representation for food systems workers
Recognise and protect marginalised groups (3)

https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet

(2) https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet/the-planetary-health-diet/

(3) https://eatforum.org/update/eat-lancet-commission-warns-food-systems-breach-planetary-limits/

Green Tau: issue 117

16th October 2025

What are the problems with plastic?

Is plastic simply a litter problem?

“Plastic is a useful everyday item but has grown to become a global problem. Every year the world produces over 460 million tonnes of plastic, 90% of which pollutes almost all areas of our planet, it can be found at the bottom of the ocean, and on our tallest mountains. This pollution can cause harm to habitats and wildlife, impact livelihoods of people around the globe, and carries growing risks to human health. At the current rate, global plastic pollution could triple by 2040 unless we act now” – a quote from WWF. (1)

Could the answer be ‘more recycling’?

Yet last week an article in the Guardian reported that “in the past two years 21 plastic recycling and processing factories across the UK have shut down due to the scale of exports, the cheap price of virgin plastic and an influx of cheap plastic from Asia, according to data gathered by industry insiders.” (2) The UK now exports 600,000 tonnes of used plastic – making it the third largest in the world. Rather than being recycled within the UK, this plastic ends up in countries with neither the infrastructure nor the legal safety constraints to ensure that it is recycled without injuring either the environment or the local populace. The plastic is typically either burnt or allowed to build up in huge waste heaps where it invariably finds its way into rivers and oceans. Much of the UK’s plastic waste is exported to Turkey where, the Guardian reported two people are crushed, ripped, or burned to death in this work every month.

A combination of legislation to end the export plastics waste and taxes to discourage the use of virgin instead of recycled plastic is clearly needed. Rather than letting them close, recycling facilities should be seems as essential parts of the UK’s infrastructure: “If we were to stop exporting plastic waste, and we were to meet our increased recycling target of a 65% recycling rate for municipal waste by 2035, we would need to build 40 new factories across the UK – 20 of them would be sorting facilities and 20 would be processing facilities turning the material back into products,” said an industry source.

Or could the answer be ‘make less plastic’?

Earlier this year, an international gathering sought to agree a global plastics treaty. Work on this treaty began back in 2022 when growing scientific evidence highlighted the risks posed to humans (and other living organisms) by the toxic chemicals that can leach out of plastic as it breaks down. The ambition was not merely to ensure higher levels of recycling, but to to curb in absolute terms the amount of plastic produced globally each year. Plastic production had risen from 2 million tonnes in 1950 to 475 tonnes in 2022. However the treaty was successfully opposed by the large oil-producing nations and members of trade associations representing plastic producers. (3)

What if plastic pollution is a health problem too?

This week there was another newspaper article this time reporting on the spread of plastic into our bodies. “Microplastics have been found almost everywhere: in blood, placentas, lungs – even the human brain. One study estimated our cerebral organs alone may contain 5g of the stuff, or roughly a teaspoon.” (4)

What are micro plastics and where do they come from?

Microplastics are fragments of plastic that is between 1 nanometer and 5 millimetres wide. They come from two main sources:-

plastics specifically manufactured as microbeads which are added to face ashes, shower bells and other personal care products – they make the liquid both smooth and sufficiently thick that it does run off like water. Think of the difference say between an antiseptic hand spray and an antiseptic hand-gel. These are known as primary microplastics.
Plastic particles that derive from the disintegration of larger plastic items – eg plastic film and wrapping, takeaway containers, synthetic clothes , care tyres, paints and plastic turf etc.. These plastic particles may be shed as drinking from plastic bottles and take away cups (more plastic is shed when heat is present such as with hot drinks or microwaved food), from wearing and washing clothes, from friction between roads and tyres etc. These are known as secondary microplastics. (5)

Both types of microplastic can pass into water systems, can be present in the air we breathe, and can pass into the food chain and so into the food we eat. Microplastics are to be found all over the world – from the hops of mountains to the depths of the oceans and everywhere in between.

Nanoplastics are even smaller – less than 1,000 nanometers in diameter, or 100 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. They are small enough to slip through the walls of the cells in our bodies and can be found in our blood, lungs, brains, bones, the placenta and breast milk. (6)

Do these pieces of plastic harmful?

We don’t yet know whether having such buts of plastic in our bodies is good for us (unlikely), neutral or harmful. Nor do we know whether there is a limit below which they are not harmful but above which they might be. It is possible that they may aggravate complaints such as asthma, dementia, cardiovascular disease, cancers etc. (7) The issue is further complicated as plastics contain toxins such as bisphenols (BPA), alkyphenols, and phthalates and dioxins etc, which are also thus passing into our bodies.

It is not just human bodies that maybe adversely affected. Micro and nanoplastics are already known to be adversely impacting the health wild life – eg damaging the gut biomes of seabirds, increasing the number of pathogens present and reducing antibiotic resistance. (8)

Should we panic?

No. We don’t yet know enough to know how dangerous, or not, micro and nanoplastics are. We don’t know whether or not our bodies have a way of eliminating such particles from our bodies. And realistically there is no way we can avoid ingesting these particles given their presence in very part of the environment.

In many instances using plastics can be lifesaving with benefits outweighing the – as yet unclear – disadvantages. For example the use of plastic syringes to give vaccines, plastic pipes to provide clean drinking water, plastic bags for collecting blood donations, waterproofing coats that keep us warm and dry.

But we could cut back on our use of plastic

We can reduce our exposure to plastic particles by reducing the amount of unnecessary plastic we have around us and by adjusting how we use those plastics. For example we might use a reusable water bottle and a reusable cup when out and about (and often cafes give discounts when you bring your own take away cup). You might use glass or metal dishes for storing food and wax wraps or foil instead of cling film. You might use wooden spoons and chopping boards rather than plastic one; metal colanders and metal washing up bowls etc. Equally you might avoid body care products with microbeads and use solid or liquid alternatives. You could try a milk delivery service and get milk in glass bottles rather than plastic cartons. And following that line of thought, you may have a local refill store that allows you to buy various food ingredients and household items without the need for lots of plastic packaging.

There are plenty of guides on line about switching to a plastic free life. eg https://friendsoftheearth.uk/plastics/living-without-plastic and some of my earlier blogs have explored this topic – https://greentau.org/tag/plastic-free/ and https://greentau.org/2022/01/27/eco-tips-zero-waste/

However we should remember that not everyone can afford the plastic alternatives – a metal drinks bottle can cost more that a plastic one. A sliced loaf in a plastic bag will be cheaper than it paper wrapped alternative.

What about changing the system?

If we are going to be fair for everyone and everything – wildlife, ecosystems, future generations, then the whole system needs to be changed.

Nations need to agree on a workable plastics treaty that will cut the amount of plastic produced. The plastics industry needs to develop alternative safe and sustainable substitutes. Governments need to implement a combination of legislation, taxation and investment to ensure that the changes needed do actually happen.

We can advocate for change by supporting groups like Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, and we can raise awareness about the issue by talking with others – particularly if they are intrigued about the efforts we are making to reduce our use of plastic!

Counting on … day 142

12th September 2025

The inequalities exposed by the climate crisis are also feeding growing health inequalities. And health inequalities increase wealth inequalities.

“A new [2023] report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveal[ed] that the health impacts of climate change will be disproportionately felt by disadvantaged communities, significantly exacerbating existing health inequalities. The findings show that vulnerable groups – including people with disabilities, homeless populations, and those in deprived areas – will bear the brunt of extreme weather like heat waves and floods, which are becoming more common due to greenhouse gas emissions. This amplifies existing disparities, where those in poverty already have lower life expectancy.” (1)

The report does highlight that prompt intervention to tackle the issues of the climate crisis could simultaneously improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable. For example

* insulating homes addresses climate change by reducing carbon emissions whilst at the same time providing healthier homes because they will be both warmer and less prone to mould.

transitioning to smaller, electric vehicles – with an increase on good public transport – reduces both carbon emissions and air pollution so improving health outcomes.
if more journeys switched from cars to cycles, the improvements in health would be significant.
If more trees were planted and green spaces secured, more carbon emissions would be absorbed and more rainfall would be absorbed, whilst improving the mental and physical health of nearby residents and workers
Transitioning to a largely plant based diet, would reduce carbon emissions from livestock farming and release land for rewilding, and at the same time improve healthy eating.

https://raceequalityfoundation.org.uk/news/new-public-health-report-shows-climate-crisis-will-drastically-worsen-health-inequalities/

Counting on … day 141

11th September 2025

The inequalities around wealth and income mean that poorer people tend to live in areas with limited access to green spaces – which are beneficial for health and wellbeing as well for cooler ambient temperatures and absorbing rain – and are less likely to live in those tree-lined streets which similarly alleviate high temperatures and the risks of flooding.

For more information –

https://www.health.org.uk/evidence-hub/our-surroundings/green-space/inequalities-in-access-to-green-space

https://groups.friendsoftheearth.uk/resources/council-climate-action-nature

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/protecting-trees-and-woods/benefits-of-urban-trees/

Counting on … Lent 27

10th April 2025

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22: 1-2

The RHS reminds us that plants – and frequently their leaves – are important for the medicinal properties. “Many familiar garden plants were first grown for their healing properties rather than their appearance, and many common herbs were valued as much for medicinal uses as they were in the kitchen.” (1)

Whilst the Lancet notes “Human health has been inextricably linked to the use of herbal medicines for millennia, making natural medicinal resources one of the oldest contributions of nature to human wellbeing. Human health has been inextricably linked to the use of herbal medicines for millennia, making natural medicinal resources one of the oldest contributions of nature to human wellbeing.1,2 However, increasing global change in the anthropocene is jeopardising the future of these contributions to societies…Bioactive compounds produced by plants and their endophytes are integral parts of ecosystems, participating in fundamental ecological processes and contributing essential health benefits to populations globally. The current lack of transdisciplinary frameworks for evaluating medicinal biodiversity as a central component of planetary health hinders the ability to sustainably manage that biodiversity and fully benefit from its potential contributions to human societies.”

(2)

The natural world is very much there for the promotion of health and wellbeing in so many different ways – and we humans need to be more caring and appreciative of all that it is there for our mutual benefit.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/school-gardening/resources/wellbeing/the-healing-power-of-plants

(2) https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(22)00317-5/fulltext

Counting on … Lent 25

8th April 2025

He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. Psalm 23:2-3a

Even though we know it is good for us, both mentally and physically, it is surprising how often we don’t make time to walk in the natural world, to sit by the water, to watch the wildlife, smell the clean air, listen to the wildlife, or to absorb the pheromones from the trees.

The Woodlands Trust is passionate about the health benefits of trees and works to ensure that everyone has access to the benefits of trees and nature. “Embracing nature’s embrace: woods and trees do more than just clean air. Growing scientific evidence is revealing that reconnecting us to nature bolsters our physical and mental wellbeing.”

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/health-and-wellbeing/

Counting on … Lent 10

18th March 2025

“If you besiege a town for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you must not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them. Although you may take food from them, you must not cut them down. Are trees in the field human beings that they should come under siege from you?” Deuteronomy 20:19

Whether it is Psalm 1 or in God’s planting of the garden of Eden, the Bible presents trees to us as the means of providing what is needful for life. It is a gift we often overlook – and as demonstrated in Deuteronomy, something we should not destroy.

The following quote comes from the NHS Forest website.

“Trees, hedges, shrubs, meadows—they are all excellent for biodiversity and creating healthy environments, but trees in particular offer unique benefits not found in other planting options. In fact, humans need trees for health, which means the benefits of tree planting reach far beyond nice-looking grounds.”

Do read the full article which lists the many ways in which we benefit from trees.

Why do humans need trees for health? Here are the benefits of tree planting

Counting on … day 8

10th January 2025

Daily travel is an area where we can both reduce adverse effects on the environment and improve our health and wellbeing. Recently the Lancet carried out an extensive piece of research on the co-benefits of active travel.

The report began -“Private car use contributes substantially to carbon emissions, air pollution, and noise pollution. Furthermore, car dependency fosters a spectrum of health and social issues, including congestion, road injuries and fatalities, psychological distress, and sedentary lifestyles that increase susceptibility to obesity and chronic diseases. Conversely, active travel (also known as active transport or active commuting), which refers to travel behaviour involving physical activity such as walking and cycling to or from destinations, contributes to higher rates of physical activity overall…active travel interventions are likely to yield broader co-benefits, such as environmental (eg, carbon emissions and air pollution), economic (eg, travel costs and productivity), and safety (eg, traffic safety and personal safety) benefits.”

And concluded: “Based on evidence from 80 intervention studies, we have identified an expansive range of co-benefits that extend beyond physical activity, including safety, health, economic, environmental, transport quality, and social outcomes. The consistency of findings was high in favour of the interventions, particularly pertaining to environmental, economic, and transport quality outcomes. Findings from our study highlight the potential for promoting active travel as a promising strategy to jointly address major challenges in contemporary societies, such as traffic safety and road congestion, chronic diseases, fiscal constraints, air pollution, and carbon emissions. Active travel provides a unique opportunity to incorporate regular physical activity into daily life without requiring special skills or substantial monetary or time investments.” https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(24)00201-8/fulltext

Counting on … day 95

29th April 2024

For a change of emphasis, I plan over the next few weeks to look at some of the things we do as a household to live more sustainably. Maybe what we do might prompt some thoughts for you, and maybe you will have some ideas to share as well.

I follow a vegan diet and as I am the main cook, all home cooking is vegan!

Vegan diets have a smaller carbon footprint and cause less damage to the climate – research suggests somewhere in the region of 75% less! The food grown for vegan diets uses less water and less land – largely because of the significant amounts of land and water needed to grow feed for farm animals. Needing less land has two benefits – first the ability to grow more food for a growing population, and second the ability to set aside more farm land for rewilding and restoring levels of biodiversity.

I also chose a vegan diet on the grounds of animal welfare. Even eating a vegetarian diet involves the slaughter of young animals – principally male chicks and male calves – as well as the likelihood that the females will have stressful lives of repeated birthing.

I can see that for some people raising low intensity livestock can be a key part of a farm’s ecology, and that eating small amounts of meat and dairy would be consistent with that.