An alternative approach (Edited)
Trees don't always need to be cut down because they are damaging a wall.
(Photo: Sandy De Born - Twitter, with permission)
This planet is dying and we are all acting too slowly. Thoughts, debates & suggestions on how we can act FAST and attempt to save the planet. No business posts or posts unrelated to saving the planet will be accepted and posters will be removed from the loop.
Open Loop 631
An alternative approach (Edited)
Trees don't always need to be cut down because they are damaging a wall.
(Photo: Sandy De Born - Twitter, with permission)
The only petitions worth signing really...Ticket office issue.
At least they have to debate them...
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/636542?fbclid=IwAR2BiVYT0wLvFoDdamldNdKsYyLyFCxvkFtlFz-Em0IBpBujLcSV9TSzwuU
Oak trees have their own defence against deforestation
https://twitter.com/TheKentAcorn/status/1679906851125641217/photo/1
Increase in Biodiversity at Gloucestershire Estate
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-66164640
I must admit I’d never really thought about the sustainability of the tennis ‘industry’ so found this article enlightening but also worrying. It highlights just how much needs to be done to save the planet.
https://resource.co/article/new-balls-please-what-happens-one-billion-tennis-balls-discarded-every-year?
Science has found a way to make plastic self-destructing. Start at 19 mins in:
https://bit.ly/44Dh2Zl
Retained EU Law Act (Edited)
https://www.clientearth.org/latest/latest-updates/news/reul-act-creates-uncertainty-for-uk-environmental-protections/?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=&fbclid=IwAR0az6ISjBc4zobKKTNgZsQ43KEaYMat8LMLZTt_S6gc7qaszN_kqdV3WlQ
"Government ministers have been granted sweeping powers to amend or revoke retained EU law until the end of June 2026, without any effective oversight from parliament. " So they don`t even have to debate or vote on protective laws they revoke!!
Cake Box tycoon prosecuted for felling 132 protected trees to build mansion
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12260933/Cake-Box-tycoon-founded-35million-vegan-bakery-destroyed-132-protected-trees-build-mansion.html
Kent quarry extension to destroy ancient woodland
https://campaigns.woodlandtrust.org.uk/page/130168/action/1?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=campaigning&utm_content=hermitagequarry
I like to focus on the innovative ideas and good news.
https://www.positive.news/environment/good-news-stories-from-week-24-of-2023/
Another Good Reason to cut down/out Plastic.
https://blog.thediabetessite.greatergood.com/phthalates-diabetes-risk/?gg_source=DBS&gg_medium=house&gg_campaign=Ad-B-1200_Blog_phthalates-diabetes-risk_DBS&gg_content=2023-02%2Fb1200blogphthal_230220110916.jpg&_ga=2.95118236.1281624219.1683987910-129394423.1683988006
https://news.sky.com/story/the-black-gold-that-could-help-fight-climate-change-for-centuries-to-come-12890032
Extinct York groundsel re-introduced
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/27/york-groundsel-bloom-again-britain-first-ever-de-extinction-event-natural-england?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR3C9yg03tbqawXLOJOzQe_Go23-NDX2qKGHnzYcjOuotpAERP2L8HT__XA_aem_th_ARUNtNbuFJWRCsCQbVu_lp3jbgyszlAhaTdEyh0g-bwZJOMRUy9L8g14S7KHpNs9c2c
Alex Prendergast has corrected the statement that York groundsel was the first de-extinction in the UK. The interrupted brome (Bromus interruptus) a flowering grass became extinct in the wild in 1972 and was reintroduced in 2004 .
https://naturebftb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Bromus_interruptus_LOWRES-10.02.21.pdf
Sustainable Products Innovation
I love hearing about these new ideas. I feel there’s a momentum building.
https://www.positive.news/society/five-sustainable-product-ideas-to-blow-your-mind-not-your-carbon-budget/
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/17/birds-vanishing-crisis-40m-birds?
https://news.sky.com/story/earth-day-2023-activities-history-date-and-the-story-of-its-founder-12843608
Farmer imprisoned for destruction of river
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/21/farmer-jailed-for-damaging-river-lugg-herefordshire
The photos in this article show the extent of the destruction.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/farmer-jailed-handed-12m-costs-29769778
World’s first rewilding centre opens near Loch Ness
https://littlegreenspace.org.uk/news/dundreggan-rewilding-centre-opens.html
Saving Our Wild Isles doesn't go far enough
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/10/david-attenborough-wild-isles-online-tv-british-nature?CMP=share_btn_tw
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0fd45w7
A petition against ban on new onshore wind farms (Edited)
https://action.greenpeace.org.uk/onshore-wind-ban?
Funding fails to materialise for green hydrogen project
https://nation.cymru/news/uk-government-accused-as-funding-fails-to-materialise-for-trailblazing-green-hydrogen-project/
https://www.positive.news/environment/the-plan-to-create-a-nature-recovery-site-in-every-english-county/
UK ‘strikingly unprepared’ for impacts of climate crisis
Nothing new here, but at least it has been said officially.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/29/uk-strikingly-unprepared-impacts-climate-crisis?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Thames Water ordered to fix leaks before pumping millions of litres from rivers
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/28/thames-water-ordered-to-fix-leaks-before-pumping-millions-of-litres-from-rivers
Lawyers Are Responsible (Edited)
Lawyers pledge to withhold their services from supporting new fossil fuel projects and acting against climate protestors exercising their democratic right of peaceful protest.
https://www.lar.earth/
UK planning to launch watered down net zero strategy in oil capital Aberdeen
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/24/uk-government-launch-revamped-net-zero-strategy-oil-gas-capital-aberdeen
Former Tory minister who tried to sell off forests is given Natural England role
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/10/ex-tory-minister-tried-sell-off-forests-natural-england-role-caroline-spelman
This seems like a good move. This is a Blue Diamond Garden Centre which I think is a chain. They do lots of peat free compost now as well.
Applications for bathing water status for English rivers rejected
Lots of applications for river bathing water designations declined. Could it be because the monitoring would reveal the water to be very poor quality, which would also make the country’s bathing water stats look bad?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64919789
Toilet paper and deforestation
A prog on the BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct3k5w? It's from January, so maybe it's already been posted somewhere . . .
Non-native plants outnumber British flora, major report finds
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64842402?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA
Report on Sheffield Street Trees Inquiry
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/06/sheffield-city-council-behaved-dishonestly-in-street-trees-row-inquiry-finds
The report can be found here. https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/independent-inquiry-into-street-trees-dispute?amp;amp;amp;amp
Emissions from food system alone will drive the world past 1.5C target (Edited)
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/06/meat-dairy-rice-high-methane-food-production-bust-climate-target-study?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Recommended viewing - This week's Click on BBC
Floating solar panels, cleaning the Pacific rubbish dump, and recycling buildings.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001jjd9
How one industry is moving towards net- zero emissions
I think it’s interesting to see what’s happening in industry - here’s one example of changes going on.
https://www.basf.com/gb/en/who-we-are/change-for-climate.html?
You’re never too old to save the planet.
https://www.positive.news/lifestyle/octogenarian-folk-songs-restoring-romania/
An article to set you thinking.
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/against-saving-planet
Mass rally 21-24 April against fossil fuel
This rally organised by XR is about showing the government through strength of numbers that people want action on fossil fuels. This is not about being arrested or damaging property, which XR admit have put many people off in the past.
https://extinctionrebellion.uk/the-big-one/?
Helping renewable energy generation at community level
One aspect of private solar installations having always been the emphasis on being able to sell any surplus power to the National Grid, I'd not previously heard that community solar power schemes apparently can't do so. If they have to give it to the Grid or invest in sizeable batteries to manage the excess, it must be much harder to make these schemes financially viable.
I don't agree with pestering MPs in person about this when a letter will suffice but there's every reason to sign up and get involved.
https://powerforpeople.org.uk/#sign-up
Positive News from some UK Councils
https://www.positive.news/society/councils-leading-on-climate-action/
New initiatives in the circular economy (Edited)
Some really positive ideas here being put into practice. You can vote on the initiative you like best if you wish. You do have to give your email address but hopefully it’s just to send you a code to confirm your vote. https://www.positive.news/society/circular-economy-class-of-2023-meet-the-fresh-crop-of-waste-busting-startups/
HS2 Ltd miscalculating impact on nature - Wildlife Trusts https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64558664
Can you put your pizza box in the cardboard recycling?
Previously people would say no because of the grease marks from the pizza. But a section in The Guardian a few days ago about how you can recycle almost everything nowadays suggests its perfectly ok to put your pizza box in the recycling bin. A few grease patches makes no difference.