Something more positive. There are projects to replant seagrass in areas where it has been destroyed.

However, 150 million tonnes of plastic added to the ocean during each holiday season (just in the Mediterranean) !!!

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/15/seagrass-neptune-balls-sieve-millions-of-plastic-particles-from-water-study-finds?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

UK taxpayers subsidising deforestation.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/14/carbon-neutrality-is-a-fairy-tale-how-the-race-for-renewables-is-burning-europes-forests

https://populationmatters.org/news/2021/01/14/humanity-headed-towards-ghastly-future-urgent-warning-top-scientists

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/10/paris-approves-plan-to-turn-champs-elysees-into-extraordinary-garden-anne-hidalgo

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/13/wildlife-rangers-in-uk-jobs-offer-no-bison-experience-required

Some good news (maybe) for balance. Words are cheap - we need action.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/11/50-countries-commit-to-protection-of-30-of-earths-land-and-oceans?CMP=share_btn_tw

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/13/top-scientists-warn-of-ghastly-future-of-mass-extinction-and-climate-disruption-aoe?CMP=share_btn_tw

This seems to be another case of the government saying one thing but doing another. And perhaps another regrettable outcome of Brexit.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/12/loophole-will-let-uk-continue-to-ship-plastic-waste-to-poorer-countries?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/10/who-doesnt-love-a-turtle-the-teenage-boys-on-a-mission-to-rewild-britain-with-reptiles

Lakeland now sell clingfilm that is non-plastic biodegradable.

https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/book-delivery-to-vulnerable-barking-dagenham-redbridge-6886426

I posted this in my local group but thought it might be of interest here. I see so many books disposed of but this is a lovely idea as it recycles as well as giving pleasure to people.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03625-2

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/08/climate-crisis-experts-2020-joint-hottest-year-ever-recorded?CMP=share_btn_tw

https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration/get-gardening/how-to-go-plastic-free-in-your-garden

https://www.itallcounts.org/ffi-pangolins?https%3A%2F%2Fwww.itallcounts.org%2Fffi-pangolins%3Faffiliate_id=Facebook_Desktop_Feed&affiliate_sub=6242172841580&fbclid=IwAR07L0QpQ7k12Jk_z7CiehZ4v0986MZKy5SBS5l2cpP-KxcPsMfh5hiC0Vo

https://ktcityfarm.org.uk/
Heard about this on Robert Elms Radio London slot today.

Chris Packham's petition on parliament.uk is gaining support. 1,400 signatures in the last hour. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/563380

Some of these look very interesting. https://blog.feedspot.com/sustainable_living_blogs/

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tree-lovers-around-country-dig-deep-to-save-young-oaks-73p5jnwk6

https://www.circularonline.co.uk/news/change-to-tesco-cheese-packaging-will-save-260-tonnes-of-plastic-annually/

There is a contradiction in the narrative, but it appears part of the saving in plastic material will be achieved by making the current slabs thicker. Removing the re-sealable zip to reduce plastic use sounds good, but if the pack cannot be resealed it may lead to more waste due to the cheese drying out and becoming hard. If that means more packs of cheese will be sold due to the wastage, more plastic packaging will be used, so no saving, only boosted sales.

What struck me was the anticipated saving of 260 tonnes of plastic packaging per annum. If that is the saving, how much is used now? And that is only hard cheese. What about all the other lines and all the other food retailers?

https://bylinetimes.com/2020/12/29/rage-hs2-attempts-to-fell-300-year-old-veteran-oak/

https://bsbi.org/new-year-plant-hunt

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/liberty-hillcorp-alaska-drilling-project-denied/

Y’earn is a parent-to-parent marketplace to rent Baby & Kids items from people and small businesses in your community or make some cash if you have items you don't need right now. Sign up for our newsletter and we'll plant a tree for you www.yearn.club

We’re on a mission to help parents create lasting memories and positive impact through convenient, sustainable, and affordable rentals. For every rental we plant trees and adopt bees, we have also partnered with charities like Great Ormond Street Hospital, Baby Basics baby bank and the Child Rescue Coalition.

At the moment we’re focused on: Bedroom & nursery, Feeding (highchairs, breast pumps etc), Around the home (bounders, stargazes, playmats etc) and Out & About (Prams, car seats etc). In the future we want to add musical instruments and toys.

We're a new business and hope you will like/comment to help us spread the word.

These are exciting projects. When we're unlocked we're hoping to visit the nearest one to us -Isabella Tree's project - where they have storks nesting.
https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/rewilding-network

So many wonderful places on this planet of ours. So many places to preserve.

https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/pantanal-wetlands-brazil-wildlife-fires-industrial-meat/?

https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2020/10/15/eu-banned-pesticide-exports-public-eye/?

I was sent this a while ago. There's nothing new for anyone who takes an interest in these things, but you may find it useful in helping to educate other people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6xlNyWPpB8

Don't know where the UK stands in relation to Ocean sustainability but imagine we're not doing so well. https://happyeconews.com/2020/12/13/14-countries-commit-to-ocean-sustainability-initiative/

Seen people using glass jars as drinking glasses. When questioned they reply. We not buying any drinking glasses when we can use some pretty jars and to help the planet.

I will in future too are you trying it?

More good news.
https://www.ceh.ac.uk/news-and-media/blogs/progress-protecting-genetic-diversity-uk-trees

https://theecologist.org/2020/dec/16/heathrow-expansion-far-certain

I'm going to relentlessly post good news stories for the time being because we need it!
Here's the first.
https://happyeconews.com/2020/12/07/scientists-in-costa-rica-are-growing-new-corals-to-save-reefs/

Is the massive spike in littering contributing to the spread of COVID19?
Either way it looks unsightly, is a danger to wildlife and completely unnecessary.

This petition asks the government to add ‘Bin Your PPE Properly’ to the national guidance.

https://www.change.org/p/british-government-remind-the-public-dispose-of-used-ppe-properly

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/15/restore-uk-woodland-trees-report-rewilding-britain?

Photos show a meadow near me that is rewilding naturally. We just hope it doesn't become part of another housing development.

I often see posts on social media where teachers and project workers are asking for people to donate spare art and craft materials. Scrap shops where businesses donate excess stock etc for community use are such a good idea but not necessarily well advertised. This link tells more
https://www.reusefuluk.org/

This was such a sad case. I've been following it for years. The mother has battled away, facing numerous setbacks, to get pollution acknowledged as implicated in her daughter's death. She's finally succeeded, testimony to a mother's love. Well done to her. This should help strengthen the fight against toxic air - a win for us all.

https://apple.news/Aqgx2FeUERYWi76_gUR0FOA

https://www.itv.com/news/2020-02-14/how-the-uk-s-fast-fashion-habits-are-polluting-a-country-halfway-around-the-world

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/15/french-judge-rules-noisy-frogs-grignols-must-go

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/16/top-uk-court-overturns-block-on-heathrows-third-runway?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_b-gdnnews&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1608112883

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55016453

This blog is written by a British activist, Thomas Cooks, and documents some of the reasons for optimism in relation to the environment. I particularly liked his last sentence,
...A quote I’ve recently found from Nelson Mandela resonates perfectly with my feelings. It simply says, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

https://happyeconews.com/2020/12/11/the-coming-revolution/

Recent program re: storage in iCloud. They highlighted how many pictures are store and the facility uses a lot of electricity.
One person had over 16000.

Should we all look what we can delete?

The landowner had recently had an application for 19 homes on his land refused.
One of the key points for refusal was the site’s proximity to the River...
See before and after photos.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9020773/Environment-Agency-launches-urgent-probe-farmer-bulldozed-Herefordshire-riverside-beauty-spot.html

I found this article interesting https://apple.news/ASLnkWn6bRMK5wMm7ceIFGw

World Soil Day Date in the current year: December 5, 2020

World Soil DayWorld Soil Day is observed around the world on December 5. This holiday was proposed by the International Union of Soil Sciences in 2002 to raise public awareness of the problems of soil and its importance for our life.
Many people forget, that the soil is the source of everything we have. We don't connect soil with food, climate, biodiversity and life, however, there is a direct relationship between them. The problems of soil have been neglected for too long, that is why the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations took the actions towards their elimination.

In 2013 FAO supported the formal establishment of World Soil Day and requested official adoption by the UN. In December 2013 the UN General Assembly designated December 5 to be WSD. December 5 was chosen to coincide with birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand, who officially sanctioned the event.

FAO annually organizes special events to observe World Soil Day since 2012. These events raise public awareness of the importance of soil and ways of its preservation.

This was included in a friends of the Earth newsletter.

SIGN THE PETITION

To: Tesco

“Stop buying from companies owned by JBS - the biggest industrial meat producer in the world, and one of the biggest drivers of Amazon destruction. Replace half the meat you sell with plant-based food by 2025.”
198,430 have signed. Help reach 200,000.


Forest fires have been raging across the Brazilian Amazon region for months already. Scientists say we could be seeing the highest surge in a decade.

Fires are used as a tool by the industrial meat industry to clear vast areas of forest in the Amazon and elsewhere to use for cattle farms and soya plantations.

Some of the UK’s biggest supermarkets and fast food chains are complicit: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Burger King, McDonald’s and KFC are all churning out industrial meat that’s fuelling the destruction of forests. [1]

Tesco uses more soya for animal feed than any supermarket in the UK: they have the power to help break this destructive cycle. Tell Tesco to lead the way in averting disaster.

[1] All of these companies are implicated through their use of soya for animal feed. All but Asda are also buying industrial meat from companies owned by JBS who is driving Amazon destruction.

https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/page/s/tesco-industrial-meat?source=WB&subsource=FOAMCCPEWB04IY&utm_source=gpeace&utm_medium=WB&utm_campaign=FOAMCCPEWB04IY&_ga=2.157694202.1958103683.1606391067-579213347.1606391067

https://happyeconews.com/2020/11/15/biodegradable-plastics-from-palm-oil-waste/

This is a nice happy story midst all the gloom and doom. https://happyeconews.com/2020/11/12/chameleon-last-seen-a-century-ago-rediscovered-in-madagascar/

Came across this. Looks quite interesting.
https://www.ailuna.com/what-is-ailuna/