Tag: resilience

Green Tau: the human component 

How do and how should humans be key parts of the natural environment?

5th August 2026

Humans are part of the Earth’s ecosystems. Ecosystems are environments where participants give and receive such that, when in balance, everyone thrives.

Humans are not passive participants. We can and should be active participants for the common good of ourselves as a species and for the other species with which we are cohabitants.

When as early settlers we cleared land of trees and scrub, and planted hedgerows, we created spaces not just for grow food but spaces where other species could find their niche and thrive. Wheat fields for example  can provide niche spaces for birds such as the yellow hammer, corn bunting and the tree sparrow, animals such harvesting mice, voles and hares, and wild plants such as poppies, corncockles and cornflowers. Using the land in this way, humans gained food and straw (for thatching, making hats, bedding for animals etc) and gave back a habitats for a rich diversity of wildlife.

When as pastoralists we grazed sheep and cattle, our livestock cleared scrub and tough weeds creating niche habitats for other species particularly flowering plants, the insect life that these support and then the bird life that they support, whilst the dung supports other forms of life above and within the soil. Different animals graze in different ways supporting different ecosystems. Humans gained food, wool and leather, and means of transport and pulling power, and gave back habitats for a rich diversity of wildlife. 

To collect water for livestock, we humans created ponds, and to drain roads and fields we created ditches. Each of these features created more and different habitats for a wide diversity of wildlife.

Humans cultivated woodland coppicing hazel, willow and chestnut trees to provide wood for different uses – hurdles, fencing and gates, tools and poles etc. Humans planted orchards for fruit and at the same time provided habitats for another wide variety of wildlife.

All these are examples of ways in which humans have interacted with other species within the various ecosystems. As well as the obvious benefits to humans – food to eat, materials with which to build homes, make clothes etc – there are less obvious but equally important benefits that we gain from the ecosystems within which we live: eg air that is clean because plants have absorbed impurities, water that is clean to drink because rock strata, reed beds etc have filtered out impurities, rainfall because plants (especially trees) have recycled water back into the atmosphere, flood resilience because trees and plants, soils rich in organic matter and windy rivers have absorbed and slowed the flow of water, and a  comfortable climate because the air, oceans, trees and bogs  have absorbed carbon dioxide. 

And then there are yet other benefits – the mental and physical wellbeing that being in a green or blue environment gives us, the inspiration for worship, spaces to meet and spaces to build homes and communities.

These benefits accrued to us because our interactions with the numerous ecosystems was sustainable. Our interactions with these ecosystems were mutually beneficial. However we are increasingly witnessing what happens when humans destabilise and degrade ecosystems, when humans take too much and give back too little. We have crossed seven of the nine planetary boundaries; Earth Overshoot day this year was 30th July. 

An obvious example is the climate. By pushing more and more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, whilst at the same time reducing the capacity of the Earth to absorb carbon dioxide through deforestation, through draining and drying out bogs and wetlands, through compacting soils and reducing the levels of organic material, we have destabilised ecosystem that regulates climate. . Increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere have insulted the Earth, increasing temperatures and increasing the energy within weather systems making them more extreme.

Another example is biodiversity. By increasing usage of fertilisers, by increasing the use of pesticides and herbicides, by clearing forests and replacing them with single crop plantations, by increasing the numbers and the concentration of farm livestock, by destroying local habitat, by draining lakes and  rivers, etc etc, we have seen a steep and rapid decline in biodiversity. To take just one example until 50 years ago any summer time car-trip necessitated regular cleaning of the windscreen to remove dead insects. Now with the increased use of pesticides (and herbicides removing the plants that fed and sheltered many insects) insect populations have dwindled. Indeed the decline is such that there is risk that if this decline continues, it will materially affect the pollination of crops.

The Earth’s ecosystems cannot sustain our current lifestyles. We need to reform and reshape our lifestyles so that they are sustainable, so that they give as well as take from the ecosystems of which we are a part. 

Restoring biodiversity – and ensuring our existence on Earth is sustainable – is about looking at how we use the land (and seas). It is not necessarily about removing our presence from ecosystems but ensuring that our presence is beneficial. Industrialised agriculture is not beneficial for ecosystems – even if it produces extra food for humans and/or livestock. Less intensive agriculture that works in harmony with ecosystems is beneficial – and will produce food for the long term. However opting for the latter rather than the former does require us to review and change our diets to ones that are compatible with sustainability. 

Restoring biodiversity is also about recognising and valuing the life support systems that its sustains – a comfortable climate, clean air and water, water management etc. Our economic system does not have a ready way of doing this: legislation is likely a more effective route.

Restoring biodiversity should also involve us in reviewing how we use the land and in particular how it supports our physical and mental wellbeing, and how it can support good community life. Do we ensure fair access for everyone? Do we ensure our rural and urban communities are structured so that they provide meaningful employment, comfortable housing, pleasant spaces for relaxation and community building for everyone?

Counting on … day 84

4th August 2026

Resilience is about being able to cope with emergencies. Having a first kit is part of that. Ditto knowing how to administer first aid. The British Red Cross and St John’s Ambulance both run first aid training courses. They also have a downloadable handbook. Not included in a first aid kit, but nevertheless useful are essentials such as paracetamol and other such standard medications depending on why you would normally use.

As well as a first aid kit, it is sensible to have in hand a spare medication if you have some you need to take regularly. 

The British Red Cross has a useful emergency first aid app – https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/free-emergency-apps

Counting on … day 83

3rd August 2026

As well as knowing where the stopcock is, a bucket could be another useful asset in the case of emergencies.

Another handy item would be at least one torch and some spare batteries – or a rechargeable torch that you do keep fully charged. In the past we would have said have some candles but from a safety point of view a camping style lantern that runs on a battery would be better. 

Equally useful in a different way would be a head torch – handy for washing up or cooking in the dark.

Counting on … day 82

31st July 2026

Knowing where the stop cock for your water supply and the off switch for your electricity and gas supplies is sensible. In the event of a flood all three should be switched off.

The other sensible thing is to make sure they are working. We recently had a dripping tap. When we tried to turn off the water, we discovered the stopcock was not working. When we tried to turn off the water in the street we found that that too was not working! So first we had to get Thames Water to fix the stopcock in the street, and then a plumber to fit a new stopcock inside before we could tackle the tap!!!

Counting on … day 81

30th July 2026

As well as keeping a supply of water to hand, we also keep a supply of food – against a situation where we can’t get to the shops for 3-7 days (which could have been the situation during COVID, but could cover a situation where say power cuts/ internet outages/ floods might disrupt food supplies).

These supplies include dry goods like beans, flour, cereals; tinned foods; preserves such as bottled fruit, jam, chutneys; non perishables such as sugar etc. Having established enough for 3-5 days minimum, now when we use anything, we replace it so maintaining the supplies.

We also keep a 7 day supply of cat food which Hilda (our cat) says is absolutely essential!

Counting on … day 80

29th July 2026

Saving or conserving water is good at any time – emergency or not. 

Some eco houses have proper grey water systems that collect waste water. We have a basin in each wash basin, and a jug on the floor. Water from hand washing is collected and is used to flush the toilet of poured in the jug for later toilet flushing. The toilet flush is used when a good flush is needed.

Counting on … day 79

28th July 2026

With a few to having a degree of resilience should a crisis cut off our supply of water, we keep stored about 12 -14 litres of water (for a household of three). Rather than opting for a stock of plastic bottled water, we use a mixture of glass bottles and Demi johns, refilling each as we empty them, and rotating them so that they don’t have water more than about a day old. 

We use the water for drinking, cooking and washing up. If the water supply was cut, we would use this bottled water purely for drinking and rely on the water in the header tank in the roof space for washing up etc.

Counting on … day 78

27th July 2026

Collecting washing machine water for the garden.

Over the next few days I plan to share a few ways in which our household is trying to be more resilient in the face of the climate – and other associated -crises.

Last week Thames Water introduced a hosepipe ban which didn’t come as a surprise given a) how hot it has been and b) how little rain we have had these past few months. 

Routinely we try to minimise our use of water – water is a scarce and valuable resource. But now that our several water buts have run dry, we have moved one but so that we can use it to collect the water from the washing machine – 50 litres (5 buckets) per wash. At the same time we switched from us in a laundry liquid to an eco egg which produces less soapy water. This water is then used on plants in the garden – fruit bushes, squash plants, rhubarb etc. 

Green Tau issue 125

Defence or security?

16th June 2026

A recent article in the Church Times reported on 

The director of Trinity Centre for Post-Conflict Justice, at Trinity College, Dublin, Dr Jude Lal FernandoI, was among the participants, alongside Anglican church leaders, theologians, church partners, and USPG support. He warned that security concerns were increasingly being prioritised over communities’ basic needs, while hundreds of millions were still living in extreme poverty. “When space for peace and dialogue decreases, the space for violence and oppression increases, especially for women and children,” he said.

This led me to ponder what is the difference between security and defence?

Defence typically refers to the armed services and all their equipment and resources that can be used to repel enemy invasion either of our territory (here in the UK or elsewhere, eg the Falklands) or to support our allies where they are similarly threatened. Such defence would also include defence against cyber attack. 

Security I think is a wider issue that encompasses not just protection from enemy attack or aggression, but is about safeguarding the wellbeing of society as a whole. Thus security issues would include:

  • Food security: can we feed our population? Can we do so largely independent of imports? Do we keep enough in store to weather emergencies and/or supply disruption? Do we pay enough for farmers to survive financially? Do we ensure sufficient incomes so that everyone can afford healthy food? Do we grow the right range of crops (inc livestock) that allows us also to ensure the security of biodiversity and the environment?
  • Health security: are we doing enough to ensure the population is in good health? Do we have enough medical staff, hospital beds, drugs etc? Do we ensure everyone has access to a healthy diet? Do we ensure everyone has access to secure, safe housing – ie accommodation that does not damage their health? Do we ensure everyone has access to dental care? To mental health care? To social care? Do we ensure everyone has access to green spaces essential for mental wellbeing and to sports/ exercise facilities etc essential for physical health?
  • Community security: do we ensure everyone has access to education? That everyone can read, write, calculate and interpret information such that they are not likely to be deceived by false information. Do we ensure enough community spaces that are essential for developing and maintaining good social bonds and networks? Do we do enough to tackle discrimination essential for ensuring equality and harmony within communities?
  • Job security: do we ensure that everyone has access to an appropriate and fulfilling job? Do we ensure everyone has suitable skills and qualifications to enable them to contribute to the economy? Do we ensure sufficient investment in businesses to ensure that they contribute to our wellbeing and do not damage our environment? Do we ensure sufficient investment in our businesses that we can be self-reliant for all essentials? Do we ensure that all stakeholders in a business – staff, customers, nature etc – have a fair share of power and influence in determining the shape and future of the business? Do we ensure that everyone derives a fair benefit from the economy? 
  • Economic security: do we ensure that the economy that supports us financially does so in a way that is fair for everyone, that allows everyone to afford a healthy lifestyle, that protects the environment, that is sustainable over the long term?
  • Energy security: do we ensure we can produce enough energy ourselves to be self sufficient? Do we ensure that we do so at price that is affordable? Do we ensure all buildings, equipment and infrastructure is energy efficient? Do we have measures to ration water if necessary?
  • Water security: do we ensure that everyone has access to sufficient water for a healthy lifestyle? Do we ensure water efficiency at every level to ensure we do not consume more than we extract from our water resources? Do balance the need to maintain water resources against competing demands – whether from industry, agriculture, data centres, domestic users – and do we have measures to ration water if necessary?
  • Environmental security: do we look after the wellbeing of the natural environment to ensure that it can continue to support our wellbeing? Do we see it an essential life support system ensuring clean water supplies, for flood prevention, for clean air, plants to absorb carbon dioxide and provide protection from heat and winds, biodiversity to ensure fertile soils for food and insects for pollination, biodiversity to enrich life and safeguard against future unknowns?
  • Political security: do we ensure fair and democratic forms of government? Do we ensure truthfulness from political parties in both what they say and what they do? Do we ensure fair access to politicians such that those with money and power do not override the views of others? Do we ensure freedom of speech and nonviolent protest? Do we ensure a society where everyone feels valued and everyone feels their voice can be heard?
  • Judicial security: do we ensure a judicial system that provides access to justice to everyone and which is not influenced or used by those with money and power? Do we ensure fair policing? Do we ensure appropriate sentencing that will benefit the whole of society including both those who are victims and those who are offenders? Do we ensure a well designed and resourced custodial system that protects society and ensures the wellbeing of those imprisoned? 
  • Internet etc security: do we ensure that our internet and other communications systems are secure, that they cannot be compromised by error or deliberate intent? Do we ensure there are other systems in place such that if primary systems fail, essential services will be maintained?  Do we ensure that social media etc enhances rather than detracts from our wellbeing?
  • National security: do we ensure all the above which are essential for national security? Do we ensure good diplomatic, trade and welfare relations with other nations such that we work together to ensure peace? Do we ensure through good diplomatic, trade and welfare relations the wellbeing of other nations? – for unless they are at peace and thriving there will always be the risk of conflict and war that will impact us as part of a shred global economy.  Do we with care for the consequences of war, ensure  our nation has appropriately trained personnel and equipment that we can defend ourselves attack?

It seems to me that this bigger vision that the need for security rather than just focusing on defence, is essential if we are to be a happy secure nation. Indeed I’m not sure we gain much from defence if what is being defended doesn’t ensure happiness and well being for everyone.

Counting on 2026 …. Day 56

9th June

Another seasonal harvest is lavender. 

Lavender is best picked before  in the morning before the sun warms the flowers releasing their fragrant oil and best picked before the flowers become to open – again to ensure maximum fragrant oil that you are essentially harvesting. The cut flowers are put in paper bags (or large envelopes) before being put somewhere to dry – eg the airing cupboard. 

Later in the year the dried flowers can be put into cotton bags and used to scent drawer and bed linen.

However only  cut some of the flowers. Leave plenty of flowers for the insects – especially bees – and then for the birds – such as goldfinches – which in the winter will enjoy pecking out the seeds.