Category Archives: Health and plastic

Plastic…The Latest News…Week 7… Climate Change and renewable Energy…

 

There has been so much in the news about Climate change that I thought I would break it down and explain how it comes about…

green foot prints eco system

Climate change is bought about by Global Warming which is characterized by a general increase in average temperatures of the Earth, which modifies the weather balances and ecosystems for a long time. It is directly linked to the increase of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, worsening the greenhouse effect.

Although the greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon the increase in greenhouse gases is linked to human activities.

The massive use of fossil fuels is obviously the first source of global warming, as burning coal, oil and gas produce carbon dioxide – the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere – as well as nitrous oxide.

I have previously mentioned how everything I talk about in my blogs is interlinked one has an effect on another…and so it goes…

Fossil fuels are used to produce PET…( Polyethylene Terephthalate)

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This is the most commonly used plastic for consumer products which include:- Water bottles, soda bottles and some food packaging.

It is intended for single use only….One time usage…as reusing increases the risk of leaching and bacterial growth. It may leach carcinogens and should NOT be reused.

Still confused about the numbers on plastic bottles then click here for a guide

So to the solution...The first way to prevent climate change is to move away from fossil fuels. What are the alternatives? Renewable energies like solar, wind, biomass and geothermal.

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The German government realise what a problem this is and plan to close all 84 of their coal-powered power plants.

https://www.latimes.com/…/la-fg-germany-coal-power…

Roughly 27 % of Germany’s electricity is from renewables; the goal is at least 80 % by 2050. Following the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Germany has permanently shut down eight of its 17 reactors and pledged to close the rest by the end of 2022. It sounds to me like Germany are serious about using renewable fuel.

Update 2021…Germany’s plan was a brave one and as more Nuclear and coal-burning power stations are due to close there are concerns that renewables will not meet business and consumer needs…An operation like this does have many variables and also relies on outside factors so setbacks are inevitable but no pain no gain as they say…This is one of the recent updates.

Italy voted overwhelmingly to keep their country non-nuclear. Switzerland and Spain have banned the construction of new reactors.

Update 2021…In Europe, some countries stand out for renewable energy conversation, and Italy is one of the top players. For 2018 and 2020, respectively, Italy beat its renewable energy targets. The total energy produced by hydroelectric, solar, wind, bioenergy and geothermal power in Italy for 2018 reached 17.8% of final gross consumption, going past the 17% target set for 2020.

However, electricity in Italy is expensive.

Update 2021...Switzerland it was due to intense public pressure in Switzerland that the construction of new reactors was banned. Over the years intense public opposition has scuppered several nuclear power plant projects. This was the case in 1975 when plans to build a nuclear power plant in Kaiseraugst (canton of Aargau) had to be abandoned as the result of public protests.

At present, Switzerland is in the midst of an energy transition. One of the aims of the country’s ‘Energy Strategy 2050’ is the phase-out of nuclear power.

However, statistics show China and the USA are the largest users of fossil fuels which makes for scary reading…https://www.statista.com/statistics/263455/primary-energy-consumption-of-selected-countries/

This brings me to the conclusion that all these demonstrators do have a point…Governments need to be made to take notice particularly the ones at the top of the list as they are certainly making a huge contribution to Global Warming.

It is heartening to read about towns that are making their own efforts to combat Global Warming like the Finnish town of  Li in Northern Finland

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=980637838806635  

Globally is it going to be enough? I do hope so…but Finland is still leading the way on conservation in many ways as its people are on board and that my friends is the only way to ensure that we go forward and tackle this Climate emergency…

China who are top of the list for burning fossil fuel and it seems their answer is to deploy the army to plant trees…All is well and good but is it addressing the true problem?

Thank you for reading and I do invite your comments what do you think about the most polluted country planting trees????

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a great week  xx

 

Plastic…The Latest News…Week 6…Plastic releases Greenhouse Gases…

 

Week 6…an update…The manufacture of plastics and plastic, when exposed to the elements, releases methane and ethylene – two powerful greenhouse gases that can intensify climate change.

green foot prints eco system

It is little wonder that Sir David Attenborough was moved to give an update as the situation regarding Climate change is worsening by the day…

Update 2021…21st February 2021…

Sir David Attenborough joined the UK Prime Minister at the UN Security Council telling its 15 members that it is too late to avoid climate change.

Sir David Attenborough said: “There is no going back – no matter what we do now, it’s too late to avoid climate change and the poorest, the most vulnerable, those with the least security, are now certain to suffer.”

He continued: “If we bring emissions down with sufficient vigour we may yet avoid the tipping points that will make runaway climate change unstoppable. In November this year, at COP26 in Glasgow, we may have our last opportunity to make the necessary step-change.”

https://www.climateaction.org/news/sir-david-attenborough-tells-un-it-is-too-late-to-avoid-climate-change

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The first thing we need to do is to stop using single-use plastic, especially products made of LDPE (for example, grocery bags, 6-pack rings, sandwich and snack bags, strawberry containers, and plastic wrap).

We already know that greenhouse gases are released during the production of these materials, and now we have learned that greenhouse gases continue to be released while in use and as they degrade. We need to begin to phase them out entirely. In addition, we need better laws and policies to guide consumers to make better choices. If single-use plastics are banned, consumers will adapt and find alternative ways of bagging their groceries or filling a bottle, these being reusable items rather than items used for a few minutes and then discarded.

Update 2021.

Single-use plastic is still being produced and if it is still being produced it WILL be used…

https://www.climateaction.org/news/sir-david-attenborough-tells-un-it-is-too-late-to-avoid-climate-change

Government Policies can help make a difference globally…

However, we have seen how many governments are either paying lip service or blatantly doing nothing…

People Power has spoken...Well and truly in the UK over the last week…I am immensely proud of each and every one of those protesters and it was a peaceful protest which caused much inconvenience as from Monday 15th April: Extinction Rebellion blocked Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, Waterloo Bridge and Parliament Square…The aim was to man these sites around the clock until the government acts on Climate Emergency…

The London actions are part of a wider rebellion taking place across the Uk and around the world…Extinction Rebellion has 331 groups in 49 different countries…

Update 2021…

Reading the latest news reports on the demonstrations in London…is this the right way to protest? Red Paint, super glue has been used over the last 3 years to make a statement…is it working? The latest news shows the police are stepping up their actions and cracking down…Are these actions working for the man in the street the man who has to get to work…Three years on are the demonstrations working ? Has XR lost momentum? Numbers on protests are fewer, The press is more critical… I don’t profess to know what the answer is…What are your thoughts? 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/03/extinction-rebellion-tactics-police-crack-down-on-protests

Dr Rowan Williams…joined fellow worshipers and others as St Pauls Cathedral People of all faiths, everyday people, eminence church figures, celebrities are all concerned enough to take a public stance…

Update 2021…

Dr Rowan Williams has spoken again…good for him…I, unfortunately, missed this broadcast yesterday…Did anybody watch it? If so what are your views?

https://www.intelligencesquared.com/events/poverty-natural-capital-and-the-climate-crisis-with-sir-partha-dasgupta-and-dr-rowan-williams/

Children from around the world are responding to young Greta Thornburg and her calls for action…

Update 2021…

Young and full of hope…Having returned to school after a year out leading young people in school strikes for climate change, Ms Thunberg said the conference falls in her school holidays, and if she does attend she plans to travel by train.

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/greta-thunberg-cop26-host-scotland-b1911599.html

My conclusion… we need action and after what will be the 26th COP meeting I tend to agree with Greta when she said “We know that change will not come from the Cop, from within these negotiations. The change will come when there are enough people outside on the streets demanding change.”

I think Raj Patel was correct when he said…”If governments won’t hear you, If corporations won’t hear you, if the philanthropists do not return your calls or do not think you deserve the dignity of a response then the theory of change won’t get off the ground”

Throwing facts at people rarely changes minds…it’s talk that changes people and creates changes that work…

Thank you for reading this post and please if you are concerned about the future of our world and the effect of Climate change …Action is needed now….xx

 

 

Plastic…The latest News…Week 2… Microplastics and Glitter …

 

After the success of Plastic Free July, I decided that I will carry on from Plastic Free July and repost some updated previous posts on plastic from 2019…the reason being sometimes I feel we are going round in circles and promises are made and not kept…

This means I will name and shame but also praise those who are and have been as good as their word and made a difference…

As you know because I tell you every week I am really heartened by the initiatives which I am discovering that are happening from all around the world…Your comments are also a revelation when I hear from you guys what is going on in your neck of the woods all good stuff…How you are reducing the carbon footprints and coming up with ideas to cut waste and protect the environment.

green foot prints eco system

I am now going to revisit this post from 2 years ago and just see what if anything has changed ..gone forward, stood still or just disappeared into the ether..a black hole…

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Microplastics…

Basically, microplastics are minuscule man-made plastic fragments or particles that are  5.0 mm to 100 nanometers in size. These tiny bits are filling oceans, seas, and waterways which in turn end up into the organisms who live in these waters …Now for the scary bit, we swim, we eat fish and shellfish hence they end up in our bodies.

Where do they originate from .…microfibers from clothing, microbeads, plastic pellets (also known as nurdles), Glitter…Now what child doesn’t play with glitter, have their faces painted with it… so many uses and it doesn’t stop with the kids…Partytime…Almost everyone I know loves a bit of glitter…

My personal solution …is that I have changed my washing detergent to a plant-based one so far no one has complained that their clothes don’t seem the same in fact my son said his polo shirts were softer and easier to iron which is a plus and he invented fussy!

Microbeads.

Microbeads, a type of microplastic, are small plastic particles that are less than 5 mm in diameter. They are used in a number of ways, including as cleansing or exfoliating agents in cosmetics, soaps or toothpaste. …Microbeads are just one type of microplastic that can be found in lakes and streams …

There is no getting away from the fact that they are in most everyday products we use and either throw away or wash down our waste systems…

This article will tell you where the microplastics come from and where they can end up…

https://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=27095

My Findings…the above video and article are still relevant in terms of how we can “Be The Change“…However Covid has made some differences in some areas where the figures tell us we are back to 2006 levels BUT early on, there was hope that a silver lining of the COVID-19 quarantines would be a reduced impact on the environment while cars stayed off the road and planes were grounded.

The oceans tell a different story about the pandemic’s environmental footprint.

Last year, a new type of garbage—face masks—started washing ashore. The very same plastic products that helped keep people safe during the pandemic also caused a surge in plastic pollution.

A February 2021 study estimated that globally, the amount of plastic waste generated during the pandemic is 1.6 million metric tons per day. That includes 3.4 billion single-use face masks and shields—every single day.

I just don’t get why people think that carelessly tossing away a used facemask is ok…or any other rubbish to be precise…those of you who do are part of the 3.4 billion single facemasks and shields discarded every single day…How does fit with you and why don’t you care? Just asking ???

Glitter… I love anything sparkly and I WAS the first one to buy Lily glitter. Partytime we go for anything which glitters don’t we? Christmas all those sparkly decorations and the paper with glitter …I mean how much glitter do we find attached to our clothes… how much glitter do we sweep up ???

I really didn’t give it a thought when I saw media pictures and articles of sea life… I didn’t connect the dots…I truly didn’t…

tubes of various glitters.

So pretty and so deadly…

I also found out that…

  • Some research has also found that PET, the plastic most glitter is made from, can break down and release chemicals that can disrupt human and animal hormones.
  • As a result, some scientists and campaigners are calling for a total ban on glitter.
  • Festivals in the UK and some companies have already committed to banning glitter.

I was dreading having to tell Lily no more glitter and I won’t have to…

Never fear…

This UK company uses plant-based materials rather than plastic PROVEN through ISO14851 freshwater testing to biodegrade into harmless substances in the natural environment.

https://www.discoverbioglitter.com/

This video is very interesting …it picks apart the tests or lack of..a very clear speaking and conscientious young lady ..we do need more tests…she talks sense in a language that I understand…

I think if you read the article and then listen to her you will see how deep the deception actually goes…Who do we believe?

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Given that yesterday was ” International Day of the Worlds Indigenous People’s” I feel it needs a mention…

“Leaving no one behind indigenous [eoples and the call for a new social contract”

The treatment and going forward for indigenous and native people who have traditions and rely on certain herbs and roots to carry on those traditions or indeed rely on those to feed their families …It truly touched a nerve or a chord with me … and in future, I will be asking the questions and be mindful of what I buy and its origins.

But also going forward we must be more inclusive we can learn so very much about life, traditions, different foods…farming practises… our lives would be so must richer…I love learning about foraging for example which is very much practised here it opens up a whole new world of different foods and medicines if you are into natural medicines…It fascinates me…

I will leave you with the words of Dr Jane Goodhall…for International Day of the World’s Indigenous People’s.

I have enjoyed updating this post from over two years ago..it does highlight though that in many areas things haven’t moved on so much…

Thank you for reading this post which I believe will point the way to a few changes we can make to really make a difference as I know I am not doing enough and should be doing more and that seems to be backed up by much in this post what do you think?… Are you doing enough to Save the Planet ???

Just once I would love to pick something up off a supermarket shelf be it labelled healthy or just junk food and know with absolute certainty that it contained no harmful chemicals or preservatives and that the package was fully decomposable…I can but dream…

See you tomorrow for my culinary  A-Z  with the letter L.

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a great week xx

Plastic…The Latest News…Week 1.

After the success of Plastic Free July, I decided that I will carry on from Plastic Free July and repost some updated previous posts on plastic from 2019…the reason being sometimes I feel we are going round in circles and promises are made and not kept…

This means I will name and shame but also praise those who are and have been as good as their word and made a difference…

Starting with Sir David Attenborough’s Blue Planet 11...which when it first aired had quite an impact with many people pledging they would make changes…

What has been the impact of Sir David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II?

Blue Planet

Image by WikiImages from Pixabay

The nature documentary Blue Planet 11, which was narrated by Sir David may not have caused
people to move away from choosing plastic, new research suggests.
The BBC programme that was broadcast in 2017, highlighted humanity’s impact on the oceans
and the growing problem of plastic pollution.

However, an experiment by Imperial College London and the University of Oxford suggests that although watching the documentary increased environmental awareness in a group of volunteers, it did not translate into choosing to use fewer single-use plastics.

First author Matilda Dunn, from the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial, said: “The findings from our experiment are counter to the popular idea that Blue Planet II reduced viewers’ preference for plastic, instead demonstrating that human behaviours are complex and determined by more than just knowledge.

Does that shock you?
Did you watch Blue Planet 11?
Did you make changes to your buying habits and cut down or out plastic from your
home?
IF hand on heart you did …give yourself a pat on the back…IF however, you have just carried on
as normal…my question is WHY?
DON’T YOU CARE?…Just saying!
You are not alone because the world’s biggest plastic producers including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo
and Nestlé have been accused of “hypocrisy” after a report claimed that they have made public
pledges to cut plastic use while undermining sustainability reforms through lobbying groups
and trade associations.

Plastic Bottles…

plastic bottles

 

Let the fun began…Simples? It is not!

There are plastic bottles and plastic bottles and even more plastic bottles…All sent to confuse the **** out of the poor health-conscious shopper who juggles two jobs, 6 kids, a husband and 2 dogs… and has to clean her own house…

So I have simplified it a little for you( and me) I have grouped the numbers into good and bad and given you a little background…my advice is to do some of your own research as well if you have any concerns about how plastic may affect your health and your family’s health.

Also, check how your council or municipality deals with such waste as they may encourage you to recycle and then send it to a landfill…It happens with great frequency do not be fooled into thinking you are doing your bit you just think you are and they are not…

Group One. Are what I class as the baddies and I avoid like the plague.

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1= PET ( Polyethylene Terephthalate)

This is the most commonly used plastic for consumer products which include:- Water bottles, soda bottles and some food packaging.

It is intended for single use only….One time usage…as reusing increases the risk of leaching and bacterial growth. It may leach carcinogens and should NOT be reused.

3. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

A soft, flexible plastic which is used to make clear plastic food wrapping, cooking oil bottles, teething rings, children’s and pets toys.

PVC is known in many circles as poison plastic it contains many toxins which can leach throughout the life of a product.

It should not be re-used.

6. PS (Polystyrene)

Used to make styrofoam drink cups, take out containers, egg containers, plastic cutlery and foam chips for packaging.

It may leach styrene which is a possible human carcinogen into food especially a risk when food is microwaved.

Chemicals used in manufacturing are linked to human health and reproductive system dysfunctions.

Should be avoided where possible.

7. Other (BPA) Polycarbonate.

This is a known endocrine disruptor also this group 7 is a group for anything which doesn’t fit into the other categories.

Found in food containers labelled PC, baby bottles, sippy cups some of which are now labelled non-leaching but it is still possible..

THERE IS A NEW GENERATION OF PLASTICS BEING DEVELOPED TO REPLACE POLYCARBS USING POLYMERS LIKE CORN STARCH.

#7 should not be reused and where possible avoid using for children.

 

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Group 2 are better but I always look for alternatives where I can as in glass bottles.

2. HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)

A stiff plastic used for milk containers and detergent containers. toys and some plastic bags.

Considered the safest form of plastic…Reusable and recyclable.

4. LDPE (Low-density Polyethylene)

Used to make shrink-wrap, squeezy bottles, bread wrappers.

Considered less toxic( what is that supposed to mean) and relatively safe for use.

5.PP (Polypropylene)

This plastic is tough and light and a barrier against moisture, grease and chemicals it is used as a cereal box liner… the bag your corn flakes are in…used for bottle tops, margarine and yoghurt pots, potato chip bags and straws.

Considered safe for re-use.

These symbols are generally found around the base or on the bottom of bottles. It is also the number which is found inside the recyclable arrows which tell the real story behind your plastic.

It is not just our health and our families but the worlds health, animals and the environment even the Queen of England has banned the use of plastic bottles/straws on her estates and in the shops and cafes as well as her own homes. I…Well done your Majesty…

Something else I do as I had concerns about leaching into our food chain indoors was to dispense with tinned tomatoes as we used quite a lot and leaching into our food was a huge concern…I year later not only have I saved money but the tomatoes I use are tastier than tinned ones and healthier…

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Update 2021…

Bisphenol A (BPA) is well-known for its estrogen-mimicking properties and is used in many canned foods. While manufacturers have been removing this compound from their products, new research is showing that the substitute might be just as bad.

Why does this NOT surprise me?

Just once I would love to pick something up off a supermarket shelf be it labelled healthy or just junk food and know with absolute certainty that it contained no harmful chemicals or preservatives and that the package was fully decomposable…I can but dream…

That’s all for this week, thank you for reading and have a lovely week …

See you tomorrow for my A-Z on the environment with the letter M…

Smorgasbord Food Column – Carol Taylor’s Green Kitchen – Homemade Bread, Plastic Alternatives, Grated Cheese

Sally has kindly invited me back with my new series…Welcome to Carol Taylor’s Green Kitchen…I hope you all enjoy please let us know as we both love to chat…Hugs xxx

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

I am delighted to be back with a brand- new column at Smorgasbord Magazine. Thank you, Sally for inviting me back x

Those of you who know me well know how passionate I am about cooking from scratch using fresh ingredients, the environment and ensuring that the food I make for my family is clean and as chemical free as it can possible be.

I am also of an age where I need to keep myself as healthy as I can by eating a varied diet which will also keep me at a healthy weight as long as I continue to exercise which in my case is walking daily…

This monthly post will cover sustainability, news on food production…changes for the better and maybe a villain or three…haha, a recipe or two including some plant- based recipes, hints and tips on making my household a little greener…aka recycling and composting.

View original post 1,639 more words

The Story Of Plastic …Part 3

The story of Plastic continued…

Plastic was initially a waste product…a word that originally meant ” pliable and easily shaped” in recent years it became a name for a category of materials called polymers. The word polymer means “of many parts,”

Although there are natural polymers made from plants synthetic polymers have been found to be very useful…

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It started in 1869 when an American Inventor namely John Wesley Hyatt saw an opportunity when a New York company made an offer of 10,000 dollars for anyone who could come up with a substitute for ivory.

Hyatt found that if he treated cellulose derived from cotton fibres with camphor a plastic was created which could be moulded into various shapes and made to imitate tortoiseshell, ivory, horn and linen….the plastic revolution took shape…

Manufacturers were now no longer limited by the availability of natural products…

This was just the beginning…

We now come to today where the chemicals needed to make plastic come predominantly from shale products…Collecting shale products causes pollution at the point of extraction…Shale gas manufacturing has devastating effects on communities.

Sunoco Pipeline, Formosa Plastic, Dow Chemical, Exxon Mobile Chemical, Sabic, Chevron, Shell…just typing these names fills me with horror and looking at the names there is a common theme…

Formosa Plastic was found guilty of dumping 50 million gallons a day into estuaries…pellets were everywhere…

This is a common occurrence wherever there are pipelines, factories…waterways are polluted, there are blowouts, lower life expectancies in these areas, a higher incidence of breathing problems, cancers the risks to public health and wildlife are enormous…

Those plastic pellets, micro and nano plastics that are being dumped in our waterways are being increasingly found in our food and water around the world..fish ingest them and bingo ..no you haven’t won the jackpot you are eating or drinking them…

Although researchers are exploring ways to make bioplastics a more viable option the production of them presents sustainability challenges and of course that includes effective biodegradability…

These companies often ride over peoples rights and often you don’t have the rights you think you have as a homeowner. Check it out before it is too late.

There is so much to think about with plastic as in some areas it is a necessity a lifesaver e.g babies incubators and other medical equipment is often made of plastic…However, we need to make our voices heard and be asking the questions as to what is happening with the waste we put out for collection and also we need to make our voices heard and demand that manufacturers do not produce anything which is not biodegradable…

To me, 83 kinds of separation depending on the plastic product means that some products require separating and different machinery is required in order to recycle it… I understand if it is white goods or electrical but packaging…That has to stop I mean when a little single-use sachet is made from at least 5 different components and maybe 7 which means it cannot be recycled as no one has the equipment… it also isn’t worth it…However if you count the human cost of that waste…That isn’t worth it either!

Production of those should be stopped and replaced by a fully biodegradable product … the manufacturers need to be taking some responsibility.

That’s all for today…Be well and stay safe don’t forego those precautions too quickly as many areas are seeing an increase in Covid-19 cases…It ain’t over yet folks…Better to be safe than sorry…xx

About Carol Taylor: 

Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.

Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.

Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a fabulous week and stay safe these are troubling times xx