reduce my environmental footprint

Bought some Ecover surface cleaner, was already using the laundry washing liquid. It has such a nicer smell than the chemical ridden ones, and works just as well.

Managing to refuse plastic bags, I use a cloth one instead.

This goal is also described as ‘reduce my ecological footprint’ or ‘make my ecological footprint smaller’. It might be worth looking at these other entries for more ideas.

One recommeded site, under one of these, is http://www.vanityfair.com/features/general/articles/060417fege09

I do sometimes despair at the lack of action from organisations, companies, governments and other collective groups with influence. At the doctors this week I was astonished to see that the air conditioning was on, blasting out cold air right behind where people were sitting so that they were uncomfortably chilly! The weather wasn’t even hot.

Any reassurance and encouragement to not be disheartened and to be positive about the small efforts I make, gratefully received.

Another interesting site.

http://www.slowfood.com/welcome_eng.lasso

You can sign up for a daily tip on helping the planet – and saving money! – from Friends of the Earth. This is part of their website, which has a good range of ideas and information.

http://www.foe.co.uk/living/tips/

I’d like to set up a team of people for this goal, it does enhance the knowledge and number of ideas – if someone adds an entry a notification goes to all members of the team. Do let me know if you’d like an invite.

Sally

Info about a UK event but following is a site with relevant ideas and info.

http://www.downshiftingweek.com/NDW%20The%20Downshifting%20Manifesto.htm

Although we continue to do what we can to achieve this, eg buying locally produced food, turning the telly off at the mains at night, I realise my taking driving lessons I’m aiming to do the one thing that seriously contributes to increase in Co2 levels. It’s a difficult situation, because we do live in a rural area, and not having the skill of driving does reduce my confidence. I so want to have the freedomm to be able to visit out of the way beaches, attractions you can only reach by car, to take up sailing, go to the theatre and clubs at night etc. Then I see the news again about global warming, and sink into my seat with shame, or even do without lessons for a few months.

My theory runs out in July. I am going to do this, take my test and hopefully get a car. My plan is to buy an electric car as soon as I can, in the meantime diesel if at all possible. I’ll drive it in a fuel efficient way, and use public trains say for longer journeys.

Felt almost tearful at times during the talk tonight, hearing how global warming may effect weather patterns is difficult to take in, particulalry when you have children and wonder just how different the seasons and the local area is going to be in yars to come (let alone the world as a whole).

It wasn’t an in depth talk, it was part of a local council meeting, but I did learn a few things. While I know it is better to buy local, avoiding the transportation of food, I hadn’t realised just how much those daily purchases of food from around the country and even abroad add up. I also had not realised that those lorries thundering up and down the motorways are often empty – not even transporting anything, just returning from having dropped off their loads.

The key points to help reduce global warming are:

1) Simply do less.
2) Use less
3) Use renewables
4) Aaah can’t read my note, use clean fuel??

People often think first of recycling, when they think about caring for the environment, but it’s actually better to not buy that heavily packaged item in the first place, to repair rather than renew, etc.

I’m glad I went, even though I didn’t get chatting to anyone, it was good to hear comments and discussion, and to then walk through the streets as a gentle drizzle fell. I’m certainly going to continue to go to Friends of the Earth and similar meetings. Greenpeace have a meeting coming up, and will throw myself out the door and go to that too.

There is a talk tonight which I plan to go to. at the moment going out the house is not easy – it isn’t agorophobia, but do put off and avoid stepping out the door. But I do want to go to this, am so worried about climate change, and hope it will either be reassurance (things are not quite so bad as the media are saying) or will give us clear ideas on just what we as individuals can do.

Have joined Friends of the Earth, and signed up for emails from Greenpeace. The almost daily news about climate change is so worrying, sometimes feel helpless, so if I can do wha†ever possible in the home, at least feel doing something.

Have used long-life lightbulbs since they first came out, years ago, they are far more convenient to use – no having to change them every two weeks in the winter! Also long done such things as filled the kettle with only the wa†er we need, and not used chemicals on the garden. But still more to do.