Fished to Death

July 18, 2009
 | by earthpal
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We are fishing our oceans to death and it’s no secret that the poor tuna is grimly close to extinction. The Bluefin tuna is in deep trouble and it’s muchly due to the consumptive demands of us excessive humans.  Thankfully, there seems to be a growing realisation of this from some food chains who have consequently taken tuna off their menu’s.  For instance, Pret a Manger has taken an ethical tuna turn after owners watched the new documentary entitled The End of the Line.

Campaigners are not suggesting that fishing should be stopped altogether or that fish shouldn’t be eaten.  They’re just asking forresponsible restraint and that’s fair enough.  Fishing has got to be sustainable and friendly towards marine eco-systems because the extinction of any species impacts us all.  What we can do as  consumers is ask before we buy – ask where the fish was sourced.  The Marine Conservation Society has a very helpful Good fish Guide which will help you buy with a good conscience.

And now it appears that our government is “taking up tuna’s cause”. …

Team Green Britain

July 18, 2009
 | by earthpal
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July the 10th was the kick off day for the Team Green Britain project. I’m not sure but presumably (well I’m guessing) it’s all to do with making the 2012 London Olympics greener.  Well, the most obvious and by far the easiest way to make the Olympic games green is to cancel them altogether but seeing as that’s not going happen (and seeing as I’ve already had my rant about that idea), I guess the only option open is to work towards minimising the Olympic carbon footprint.

So enter Team Green Britain.  I’m cynical of course but also feel dutifully obligated to cheerlead their efforts.  So here goes . . .

Give me an M

Give me an A

Gimme an S – S – I

Gimme a V

Gimme an E

Give me an I – M – P

– ACT

Pah, it doesn’t ryhme.  That’s me not making the cheerleading team again. Ho hum.

Honey and Bees

July 14, 2009
 | by earthpal
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I was glad to read that some MP’s are giving the worldwide vanishing honey bee problem some significant importance and are asking for more funding and research.  The extent and the cause of the declining bee colonies are unknown but what we do know is that without the bees, we will have no food.

The honeybee is the key to our existence. If there is no honeybee, there is no pollination; if there’s no pollination, there are no plants; if there are no plants, there is no food; if there’s no food, there’s no life. Satish Kumar

I see the bees buzzing, collecting a little nectar here and a little nectar there. Never too much. Never a flower has complained that a bee has taken too much nectar away. Nature in balance. But this balance is tipping. Human beings go to nature and take, take, take, until all natural resources are depleted. Honey bees never do that. If I can learn that lesson of frugality and simplicity, I will be learning the art of living. Satish Kumar

Born to be Worn!

June 24, 2009
 | by earthpal
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Look at this croc of $”!T.  Designer label Hermes is breeding its own crocodiles in order to meet the demands of its customers for its expensive handbags.  Apparently, it’s not unusual to see three or four crocodile skins used to make just one handbag.  Oh the frivolities of fashion.

I have a designer handbag.  My son made it me for Mothers Day.  It’s made from organic cotton and scraps of unwanted fabric and it’s lovely. It’s worth a million times more than one of those ludicrously overpriced $50K ego-bags.

It’s the eco stupid, not the ego.  Shame on them.  And on any fashion-victim who buys one.

Greening the NHS

June 24, 2009
 | by earthpal
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Unison has teamed up with Great Ormond Street Hospital in a pilot project to green up the NHS.  This is a very good thing.  As one of the largest public sector employers, the NHS has a huge carbon footprint.

The NHS Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) was set up in April last year to promote sustainability and mitigate climate change and I’m eagerly waiting to see the plans implemented at the hospital where I work in the North West.  It’s a huge hospital.  Built recently, it possesses state of the art technology and equipment with many specialised departments to serve the needs of the county.  But in spite of it being a new build with the modernity that comes with new builds, it isn’t fitted with energy saving devices such as solar panels and it doesn’t even appear to have an environmental policy.

On a national level, procurement is a major contributor to the NHS waste/carbon footprint so I was mightily relieved to learn there is an action plan in place that is working towards sustainable procurement  . . .

.

…

Bluebells and Dreams

June 24, 2009
 | by earthpal
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That most lovely of all wildflowers, Ms Bluebell, has pushed her beautiful head upward and is abundant with life.angelzarke-021

When I was a little girl, there was a place called Bluebell Woods.  I would spend many enchantingly happy hours in Bluebell Woods.   I was a very wistful little girl and the carpet of Bluebells in the shade of the trees was my favourite place to be.  I would read up on the folklore that is said to surround Bluebells and I would create my very own fantasies involving fairies and witches.  Many of my dreams were thought up within those trees and the flowers knew all my deepest desires and wishes.

And in Springtime, our house was abundant with the pretty flowers.  I would pick handfuls, carry them home by the bundles and proudly present them to my mum who would always gasp with delight and promptly retrieve her assortment of vases and jars to display them in.

Of course, the Bluebell is now a protected wildflower and it is, quite rightly, illegal to uproot a bulb or damage the flower.  Bluebells grow in ancient woodland and are a vital …

Hello!

June 24, 2009
 | by earthpal
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Hello Folks,

Hopefully my thoughts and opinions here will be diverse and varied but I will probably bang on mostly about green issues and global ethics, the spirituality of nature and the wretchedness of humanity.

In addition, t’will be my take on topical news issues, politics, my personal ethics,  poetry, love, frustration, joy, my children, being sad, being happy and interacting with other like-minded people.

All friendly readers, discussion and feedback are welcome.

Merriest wishes.