Off Topic The Environmental & Pollution Thread

[Kaito]

Absolutely agree. But I’ve been labelled an alarmist, an eco-terrorist and a weirdo for banging on to people I know about the importance of tackling climate change. Sorry to bring politics into this, but most of the people I’ve cannot get to accept global warming (“it’s always been up and down with temperatures”, “there’s no such thing as global warming” and “it’s just scare-mongering to sell more things”) tend to be Brexiteers and I despair of where we’re going as a human race ......

It's the same in my family Dave. It's absolutely ridiculous and if these attitudes are mirrored across the country then we are in deep crap. Really deep crap. The problem with most of the human race is that we are creatures of habit and we don't like change very much. We tend to only change when it's forced upon us and if we don't act quickly then it really will be too late to change.

We just have to keep banging away at it, and also supporting the efforts of the young activists battling against governments who don't want to listen. The climate crisis marches will grow this year and I plan on joining in with as many as I can, but marches only send a message that those in power continue to ignore. The time has also come to start withdrawing our money from unethical banks and don't spend our money with dirty companies. If enough people do that it will have an impact.

 

[MIsaints]

It's the same in my family Dave. It's absolutely ridiculous and if these attitudes are mirrored across the country then we are in deep crap. Really deep crap. The problem with most of the human race is that we are creatures of habit and we don't like change very much. We tend to only change when it's forced upon us and if we don't act quickly then it really will be too late to change.

We just have to keep banging away at it, and also supporting the efforts of the young activists battling against governments who don't want to listen. The climate crisis marches will grow this year and I plan on joining in with as many as I can, but marches only send a message that those in power continue to ignore. The time has also come to start withdrawing our money from unethical banks and don't spend our money with dirty companies. If enough people do that it will have an impact.

And be as eco as we can. If people see the ordinary person can do these things, and save money usually, we can get others to follow. Not sure the human race has that much time before we cook this place but it helps.

 

[davecg69]

It's the same in my family Dave. It's absolutely ridiculous and if these attitudes are mirrored across the country then we are in deep crap. Really deep crap. The problem with most of the human race is that we are creatures of habit and we don't like change very much. We tend to only change when it's forced upon us and if we don't act quickly then it really will be too late to change.

We just have to keep banging away at it, and also supporting the efforts of the young activists battling against governments who don't want to listen. The climate crisis marches will grow this year and I plan on joining in with as many as I can, but marches only send a message that those in power continue to ignore. The time has also come to start withdrawing our money from unethical banks and don't spend our money with dirty companies. If enough people do that it will have an impact.

Yes, you’re absolutely right. If enough people hit companies economically then something will happen. Back in the 60s, my parents opened a Barclays savings account for me. During the apartheid era I (and many others) realised how deep Barclays were with the SA government, so I withdrew my paltry sum and put it in a building society. I like to think that (not just me obviously) got their attention.
If loads of people signed up to only ethical, climate conscious companies, the shareholders of the others would put increasing pressure on the boards ...... something might happen .....

 

[----HistoryRepeating----]

Nice to see our plastic waste has had a nice cruise around the world.

Malaysia is returning 42 shipping containers of illegally imported plastic waste to the UK, its environment minister has announced.
The UK government said it received a request from Malaysian authorities last year to repatriate the waste and some containers had already arrived back.
Many wealthy countries send their recyclable waste overseas because it is cheap, helps meet recycling targets and reduces domestic landfill.
Last year the UK was singled out by Malaysia's environment minister, who said:
"What the citizens of the UK believe they send for recycling is actually dumped in our country."

We can't just make it someone else's problem, whatever the quote.

 

[TheSecondStain]

It's the same in my family Dave. It's absolutely ridiculous and if these attitudes are mirrored across the country then we are in deep crap. Really deep crap. The problem with most of the human race is that we are creatures of habit and we don't like change very much. We tend to only change when it's forced upon us and if we don't act quickly then it really will be too late to change.

We just have to keep banging away at it, and also supporting the efforts of the young activists battling against governments who don't want to listen. The climate crisis marches will grow this year and I plan on joining in with as many as I can, but marches only send a message that those in power continue to ignore. The time has also come to start withdrawing our money from unethical banks and don't spend our money with dirty companies. If enough people do that it will have an impact.

When I mentioned about "things to do" several weeks ago, I included moving from banks which fund the fossil industry, or other questionable recipients. I realised earlier, that despite all good intentions, I had not examined my actions closely enough. Plus I let it slide for something like 6 months before I shifted my lazy arse into changing. My former bank, Natwest, was a major contributor to the FF industry. And so, despite them being an exemplary bank in all their dealings with me [nice, but it doesn't make a hap' pence of difference], I let them go and went to the Nationwide Buildling Society. I checked them out and asked on the day if they did ANYTHING questionable, because otherwise I was off looking elsewhere.

But, the thing is, we all do it. Either out of ignorance, forgetfulness, or laziness. After all, what is my little consumption/contribution going to matter? Look Greta Thunberg in the eye and say that. Better still, look your own kids in the eye and say it. They may not understand, but you will. We can move governments if we want to. This is why they listen to social media, or sometimes want to shut it up or control it.

 

[West Kent Saint]

OK, here are some of those annoying changes that myself and my wife have made over the last 6 months, apart from banking (we have been with Smile ethical bank part of co op for over 10 years):

• We don't buy red meat anymore - occasionally when out dining
• we buy meat from local sources with better welfare most of the time
• We eat a lot more veggie food
• we have an allotment
• we avoid palm oil where possible in the super market
• Changed to bulb, who only purchase fuel from 100% renewable sources
• we use ethical soap, not hand pump soap - thats a lot of plastic over the year! Soap lasts ages!
• all toiletries are from the ethical superstore and minus palm oil - https://www.ethicalsuperstore.com
• we are fastidious about recycling
• try to not to buy too much crap

There probably is a bit more. I don't want to be a bore, but is it that difficult? No not really. A bit of an adjustment. Cooking wise it forces you to be more creative. We both like cooking.

Why do we bother? Because I have kids, I care about the environment, and consumers can make a difference.

 

[StJabbo1]

OK, here are some of those annoying changes that myself and my wife have made over the last 6 months, apart from banking (we have been with Smile ethical bank part of co op for over 10 years):

• We don't buy red meat anymore - occasionally when out dining
• we buy meat from local sources with better welfare most of the time
• We eat a lot more veggie food
• we have an allotment
• we avoid palm oil where possible in the super market
• Changed to bulb, who only purchase fuel from 100% renewable sources
• we use ethical soap, not hand pump soap - thats a lot of plastic over the year! Soap lasts ages!
• all toiletries are from the ethical superstore and minus palm oil - https://www.ethicalsuperstore.com
• we are fastidious about recycling
• try to not to buy too much crap

There probably is a bit more. I don't want to be a bore, but is it that difficult? No not really. A bit of an adjustment. Cooking wise it forces you to be more creative. We both like cooking.

Why do we bother? Because I have kids, I care about the environment, and consumers can make a difference.

We do similar, once you've identified and sourced the products organised the menu, sorted the recycling or better reduce and reuse first, then it becomes an easy enough regime to follow. We're also happy in the kitchen, Mrs Jab is Indonesian, Chinese father loadsa good grub.

 

[West Kent Saint]

We do similar, once you've identified and sourced the products organised the menu, sorted the recycling or better reduce and reuse first, then it becomes an easy enough regime to follow. We're also happy in the kitchen, Mrs Jab is Indonesian, Chinese father loadsa good grub.

We cook a lot of veggie indian. Meera Sodha's books are excellent. I find with indian flavours, I don't miss the meat so much!

 

[OddRiverOakWizards]

Well done guys, I'm impressed!

Now we just have to persuade people to cut back on the difficult things like having fewer children and pets .

 

[Beddy]

My wife keeps telling me I should be a veggie............Not sure what she means though.........

 

[Schrodinger's Cat]

Well done guys, I'm impressed!

Now we just have to persuade people to cut back on the difficult things like having fewer children and pets .

Pets aren't essential so could be reduced, kids however are future tax payers and we need more of those because people are living so long after retirement. If we gave up our pensions and worked till we dropped, then we probably could reduce the numbers of future generations.
Think there are many takers for this?

 

[StJabbo1]

We do similar, once you've identified and sourced the products organised the menu, sorted the recycling or better reduce and reuse first, then it becomes an easy enough regime to follow. We're also happy in the kitchen, Mrs Jab is Indonesian, Chinese father loadsa good grub.

We don't eat out that often so, having seen half eaten meals heading for the bin, we'll share a main course and/or make sure we can take away any leftovers. Mrs Jab does wonders in the wok with pre-cooked Udon rice noodles and whatever's in the doggy bag.

 

[Beddy]

Pets aren't essential so could be reduced, kids however are future tax payers and we need more of those because people are living so long after retirement. If we gave up our pensions and worked till we dropped, then we probably could reduce the numbers of future generations.
Think there are many takers for this?

Surely small pets don't contribute too much to the environment ? Also Children are our future too they will have to pay for us in our old age. Just as we did for our parents generation. Isn't that the circle of life??

 

[StJabbo1]

Pets aren't essential so could be reduced, kids however are future tax payers and we need more of those because people are living so long after retirement. If we gave up our pensions and worked till we dropped, then we probably could reduce the numbers of future generations.
Think there are many takers for this?

That was the awful Ian Duncan Smith's plan. He's a suppurating carbuncle on the backside of humanity (apologises to suppurating carbuncles).

 

[Schrodinger's Cat]

Surely small pets don't contribute too much to the environment ? Also Children are our future too they will have to pay for us in our old age. Just as we did for our parents generation. Isn't that the circle of life??

Beddy, I was responding to a post about reducing the number of kids. I know maths isn't your friend but I was pointing out that you can't reduce the number of Offspring people have if the expectations are that they will then pay for our retirement pensions.

 

[Beddy]

Beddy, I was responding to a post about reducing the number of kids. I know maths isn't your friend but I was pointing out that you can't reduce the number of Offspring people have if the expectations are that they will then pay for our retirement pensions.

Sorry mate.........wasn't arguing against what you said or didn't mean too...............Was writing and keeping an eye on the toaster so didn't pick up I was replying directly to you.........and I burnt the toast..........

 

[Beddy]

That was the awful Ian Duncan Smith's plan. He's a suppurating carbuncle on the backside of humanity (apologises to suppurating carbuncles).

They are painful too.........

 

[StJabbo1]

They are painful too.........

As are a dangling cluster of hemorrhoids with which I equate the Johnson's* cabinet.
*The slang term "johnson" to mean penis is attested by 1863, a century before LBJ's time.

 

[Schrodinger's Cat]

That was the awful Ian Duncan Smith's plan. He's a suppurating carbuncle on the backside of humanity (apologises to suppurating carbuncles).

Absolutely, IDS is scum, but his solution makes sense if you look at it from a purely bottom line perspective rather than as a plan for future welfare.
I wasn't advocating that the plan should happen, just saying that It does partly solve the problem governments face regarding how to pay for our pensioners

 

[StJabbo1]

Absolutely, IDS is scum, but his solution makes sense if you look at it from a purely bottom line perspective rather than as a plan for future welfare.
I wasn't advocating that the plan should happen, just saying that It does partly solve the problem governments face regarding how to pay for our pensioners

Signing up to the EU directive on tax avoidance and going back seven plus years may help to plug the gap, OH