Climate Change, what are you doing to change your life?
Climate change is something that if you are not aware is happening you have been living in a whole somewhere since the 70’s
It is happening and the world is moving to towards a tipping point where mankind (not nature) will have created and environment where they cannot survive. There have been so many studies, and movies, and documentaries that if this is not the conclusion you have come up with then perhaps you need to read or watch more.
Why are people not changing their lifestyle?
This is the one that has perplexed many a person, in fact there has been a book or two written about it, and the theory is that we are going through the cycles of mourning. And at the moment we are in denial. The reasonable man in the street believes they cannot do much, and they are mourning their lifestyle lost.
In some ways I understand this, because when in the 80’s there was a panic about the ozone layer and CFC’s, big business responded quickly to what they perceived as public demand, and within 14 months, manufacturers around the globe stopped using CFC’s in fridges, aircons and sprays.
So it is time to realize the mourning is over and we the reasonable men and women need to start changing our lives, so take off the black shawl and put on the united colours for the world, and look at what you can do
What are the easy things you can do?
Local is Lekker
Did you know that the food you eat in one year has done so much travelling, even if you are the world’s best jet setter you cannot compete? Depending on the country you live in your food you eat travels between 4 and 6 times further more than you.
So start buy local. I was amazed how many local produce markets there where when I started looking. And was even more amazed when I started looking at where some of the stuff we were buying in our supermarkets comes from. Do we really need tomatoes from another continent; do they taste that much better? Even if they do, make purchasing them the exception not the norm. I have started trying to buy within the 50 km’s radius for as much as possible. The best thing is that this supports two great things, your food foot print is decreased, and the money stays local, growing the local economy not subsidizing one you do not even live in
R, R & R
We have all at some point started saying we should recycle. Yes it is a little effort to begin but the joy of having a bin that does not stink, is one plus. And most places have a school or community that will be supported by your recycling, so you are giving back to your local community. The most amazing thing is once you have a couple of recycling containers setup it is quite easy.
What does reduce mean? Well it means a few things to me:
1. Pre-recycling, look at what you buying, and see that if you need the container, and if it is recyclable, if it is not recyclable in your area, then buy an alternative brand that is. How much of what you buy is going to end up being dumped rather than being reused in some why, and what effect does it have on the climate
2. Buy local produce, and take your own containers, this is also re-using, but more importantly it is reducing
3. Stop buying stuff you do not really need, this is good for the soul and the pocket
4. Grow as much as you can at home, herbs are the easiest, and it is amazing how much you can grow (with a little patience)
5. Use and purchase more efficient devices. I was amazed how many devices there are that are making a difference
6. Purchase micro fibre clothes that use less chemicals and work with a little water
Re-use, the easiest way to reuse, is composting. Yes there are worm farms and other goodies, these I found were just an excuse, for us to do nothing, we are always getting round to doing them.
Honestly all you need a 5 litre ice cream container, and a composting bin. When the 5 litre container is fill empty it into the composting bin. It promotes worms in your garden, and reuses you bio waste, almost all of it. The next easiest thing to reuse is the shopping bag, every time you do not use one you have wasted a litre of oil.
Consumer Pressure
Start thinking before buying, if you think about local, and recyclable, and the effect all this has on the climate, then more will start thinking about it , and break the mourning cycle, and slowly big business will be forced to respond like they once did.
When you buy anything ask how was it made, where does it come from, what is the companies attitude toward climate change, and other green issues.
Final note
There are many more things to consider, especially when building houses, and when working with suppliers, looking at the destination you travel too, and sharing your knowledge. But I feel this blog is too long already I can always submit another… ;-)
This initiative was driven by www.blogactionday.org
Comments
To me the most important thing is what are you doing to change the way you consume. Everything I have suggested will assist in reducing consumption of scare resources. Unless there is some study that has been done to show us where we can make our scarce resources renewable, we need to start looking at ways to change our lifestyle