I remember a previous thread a while back about composts and the poor availability of peat free compost. Well I visited the local garden centre yesterday and was delighted to see numerous options. There, at least, the tide seems to have turned.
Save The Planet
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
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Recycled plastic bottles leach more chemicals into drinks, review finds.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/18/recycled-plastic-bottles-leach-more-chemicals-into-drinks-review-finds?fbclid=IwAR1jqBKX619dNnLbxK0OiDYIc59oObOq-aX_eTsZ_hRcSg2vO1TQEQiEKdc
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Homeware from recycled materials
Some nice designs here.
https://www.positive.news/science/innovation/eco-homeware-smart-homeware-designs/ -
This might be useful for some of you.
https://londonrecycles.co.uk/repair-week/? -
Tens of thousands take part in climate protests across France
“I’m only 34 years old, and even I’ve seen the planet slapped in the face with a shovel.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/12/tens-of-thousands-take-part-in-climate-protests-across-france?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other -
Can the Russian energy crisis help to curb global heating?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60683929
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London’s air quality and hospitalisations (Edited)
I met a scientist at a wedding whose job was measuring and analysing London’s air quality. He was, sadly, full of gloom and doom. This report seems to bear out what he was saying. Edit: should have said things are improving - don’t want to be too gloomy!
https://airqualitynews.com/2022/03/03/londons-toxic-air-led-to-over-1700-asthma-hospitalisations-in-two-years/? -
ULEZ to expand across Greater London.
A brave move by the Mayor? https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/ulez-ultra-low-emission-zone-expand-greater-london-sadiq-khan-b986027.html?
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Plastic pollution: Green light for 'historic' treaty https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60590515
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North Sea oil exploration should not proceed but can, says UK’s climate committee
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/24/north-sea-oil-exploration-should-not-proceed-but-can-says-uks-climate-committee?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
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Eradicating ‘extreme poverty’ would raise global emissions by less than 1%
https://www.carbonbrief.org/eradicating-extreme-poverty-would-raise-global-emissions-by-less-than-1
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https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/feb/19/we-are-afraid-erin-brockovich-pollutant-linked-to-global-electric-car-boom?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
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Passivhaus: how to insulate your home against soaring heating bills.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/feb/19/passivhaus-how-to-insulate-your-home-against-soaring-heating-bills?fbclid=IwAR3wDS8765Gq9AyyPRoKSK1Xp5zAZ9wEch1oJ5MUikGgccX3sbmZQ-Bzgck
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Green travel in Europe (Edited)
I’ve travelled a lot in the Netherlands, never with a car, and it’s super easy to get around. It’s perhaps my favourite country. I remember the free transport in Luxembourg as well. Edit: I don’t entirely understand their lists in the article???
https://www.positive.news/society/the-greenest-countries-in-europe-to-travel-around/ -
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/17/uk-green-economy-has-failed-to-grow-since-2014-official-figures-show?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
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More than eight million UK trees lost in storms this winter
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60348947
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Petition to stop plastic pollution
I have just seen this. It's not doing very well.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/604318 -
https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/52326/greenpeace-argentina-saved-argentine-sea-oil-companies/?utm_campaign=oil&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=post
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Government considering UN recommendation to licence game bird shoots (Edited)
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/15/mp-eagles-not-welcome-constituency-received-funds-shooting-estate-chris-loder
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Pharmaceuticals in rivers threaten human health (Edited)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60380298
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Plants flourishing in Antarctica
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/14/flourishing-plants-show-warming-antarctica-undergoing-major-change-aoe?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
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New agreements to protect oceans
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/11/more-than-100-nations-take-action-save-oceans-from-human-harm?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
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We can`t solve the Energy Crisis without Public Ownership.
https://tribunemag.co.uk/2022/02/energy-crisis-bills-public-ownership-cost-of-living
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Whitby devastated by dead marine life (Edited)
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/10/my-heart-is-broken-death-of-marine-life-is-devastating-englands-fishing-industry?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
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Net zero target undermined by Government actions
A net zero target was always an excuse to do nothing.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/09/campaigners-fear-net-zero-could-be-a-casualty-of-boris-johnsons-weakness?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other -
How Big Beef Is Fueling the Amazon’s Destruction
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-beef-industry-fueling-amazon-rainforest-destruction-deforestation/?srnd=green
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https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/29/how-the-fossil-fuel-industry-is-pushing-plastics-on-the-world-.html
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UK drops ‘absurd’ case against Greenpeace for dropping rocks in sea
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/07/greenpeace-rocks-sea-bottom-trawling-marine-management-organisation?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
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This is from Wickedleeks, Riverford’s magazine. It has some helpful links in it.
https://wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk/features/cities-eating-drinking-community-climate-change/ultimate-guide-sustainable-food-city? -
Earth has more tree species than we thought
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60198433
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Giant trawler sheds 100,000 dead fish off French coast
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/05/shock-in-france-after-giant-trawler-sheds-100000-dead-fish-off-coast
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‘Carbon footprint gap’ between rich and poor expanding
This may not surprise you.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/04/carbon-footprint-gap-between-rich-poor-expanding-study?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other -
I keep seeing articles (and comments on SL) suggesting that in the light of the current energy price hike the UK should have a rethink about fracking.
I thought this article was good on the pros and cons.
https://eciu.net/analysis/briefings/uk-energy-policies-and-prices/fracking-in-the-uk -
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/ghost-forests-are-sprouting-up-along-the-atlantic-coast?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB
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I found this interesting- not something I’ve ever given much thought to.
https://www.archdaily.com/976015/strategies-to-reduce-embodied-carbon-in-the-built-environment? -
World’s best new building. RIBA 2021 Prize…
And the award goes to…
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/jan/25/riba-best-building-award-friendship-hospital-bangladesh-kashef-chowdhury-david-chipperfield-wilkinson-eyre? -
Carbon offsetting accelerating environmental collapse
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/26/carbon-offsetting-environmental-collapse-carbon-land-grab?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
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FIxing Factories being created in north London
This is a new venture for the Restart Project, which has hitherto only organised pop-up fixing sessions. I could wish that the two sites weren't both in NW London but it's a start, at least. If this works, maybe our failing high streets could provide space for more local fixing factories, in due course.
Read all about the venture - and the job opportunities it's offering - at https://therestartproject.org/news/fixing-factories/ .
Do share this news around sustainably-minded friends and your other networks, too. -
Pesticides used to deforest Amazon rainforest
https://news.mongabay.com/2022/01/pesticides-released-into-brazils-amazon-to-degrade-rainforest-and-facilitate-deforestation/
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Share your views on ending the retail sale of peat in horticulture with the Government
This message has been sent to everyone who signed the petition “Ban the use of peat in horticulture and all growing media by 2023.”:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/562054
The Government is asking for people's views on proposed measures to end the retail sale of peat in England and Wales. It wants to hear your views on measures it is proposing to end the use of peat and peat containing products in retail horticulture, and the impact these measures could have on professional horticulture and wider sectors.
Read a summary of the proposals, and share your views:
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/soils-and-peatlands/endingtheretailsaleofpeatinhorticulture/
The survey closes on Friday 18 March.
Who is running the consultation?
The consultation is being run by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which is responsible for improving and protecting the environment. The Department also supports the food, farming and fishing industries.
Find out more about DEFRA:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament
You can sign up to the UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/your-uk-parliament-newsletter-sign-up-form/
Thanks,
The Petitions team
UK Government and Parliament -
A consultation document for evidence on littering-that means plastic waste!!😁 (Edited)
Be prepared it`s quite long.It covers,wipes,sachets,single use bottles & cups and possibly other things I`ve forgotten.I didn`t give `evidence` every time,which is asked for,(!!) though I did try to provide links to either real evidence or at least articles from respected organisations laying out the problems.
I suggested biodegradables-easily obtainable materials available and `return-clean and take another full one` systems for bottles-like Milk deliveries. I did that because there are sytems to copy(milkmen) and sytems are already half there in some supermarkets anyway. I`ve also suggested Loyalty points can be consumer incentives! It`s very easy to find links to items that fit the bill on biodegradables and since they are sellers they provide costings too.
Worth doing IMHO
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environmental-quality/call-for-evidence-on-commonly-littered-and-problem/consultation/intro/?fbclid=IwAR1lsdV7nIw00Lzd6b5HmobvjOsozyzx7zNRryPYIVFxPfRplHiLjEJlPxo -
Environment Agency is no deterrent to polluters
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/20/environment-agency-cuts-staff-blow-whistle?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
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Why protecting the planet is essential to prevent future pandemics & failing economies.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/17/perspectives/planet-climate-pandemics/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0uHvPaj_KkG3gDrvybb6YvtZ4tKaaWK8jfnHq2jNS-mjEHD7i_KV26AkM
The latest World Economic Forum's annual Global Risks Report reveals that world leaders now rank biodiversity loss as one of the most severe risks facing humanity in the coming decade, alongside climate action failure and extreme weather events. More than half of global GDP coming from industries that rely on nature, such as construction and food, businesses are also calling for action to protect and restore nature, which is essential for a resilient global economy. -
Living life to the greenest (Edited)
An article from Positive News on greenest trends in 2022
https://www.positive.news/society/living-life-to-the-greenest-sustainability-trends-that-will-dominate-in-2022/? -
https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/one-of-the-world-s-wealthiest-oil-exporting-nations-is-becoming-unliveable-122011601067_1.html
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Dumped fishing gear is killing marine life
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/19/dumped-fishing-gear-killing-marine-life-governments-care-scottish-trawlerman-nets?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
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Government allows use of banned bee-harming pesticide
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/government-puts-bees-risk
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Chemical pollution has passed safe limit
Something else we already knew.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/18/chemical-pollution-has-passed-safe-limit-for-humanity-say-scientists?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other