This year’s World Environment Day is to bring the focus on ecosystem restoration…
Launched in 1974 and held on June 5th every year it is the time when Civil Societies, Environmentalists, School Students, and Global Leaders take a moment to reflect on how human activities affect Mother Earth.
World Environment Day is observed on June 5 every year to remind people about the importance of nature. The day is celebrated across the world to inform people that nature should not be taken for granted and must be respected for its values.
This year Pakistan is the host…
The UN will launch ” UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration“…a 10-year plan that will make authorities think on the path of stopping the degradation of the ecosystem…
Something which is needed as we are seeing the climate crisis making some irreversible changes to life as we know it on Mother Earth…
“Reimagine. Recreate. Restore”
World Environment Day is the time to think about unique, workable solutions that can help in resolving such issues as deforestation, plastic pollution to think about green buildings and towns…
It is up to each and every one of us to take this forward…
My take on this is throughout my life I can remember certain actions which have impacted on the environment…where major roads and housing estates have swept through the countryside without a thought for nature which is being uprooted for our convenience.
However…the last word goes to one of my heroes...Sir David Attenborough…which proves it can be done…
Me I think we need to be more at one with nature…the world isn’t solely our domain it just seems to me man just wants to dominate anything or anyone who they don’t think has a right …indigenous people have been ousted from their lands and homes for centuries…WHY?
Our lives would be so much richer if we embraced inclusion and considered our actions on the environment…
“Reimagine. Recreate. Restore”
Thank you for joining me I hope you have enjoyed the videos and going forward feel you can make a change…Mother Earth needs you…xx
Welcome to my new series…still an A-Z but with a difference …it’s not food-related!
In the meantime, the idea for this series came about because yes as my regular followers and commenters know I am passionate about the health of the world I am living in… however often when I am researching and reading articles I come across terms and have to look them up which spawned the idea for this…two-fold… it increases my knowledge and I hope yours…
The A-Z of the environment and Climate Change… letter D.
The best way to predict your future is to create it...Abraham Lincoln.
Deforestation:
The meaning:
Deforestation is the clearing of trees, transforming a wooded area into cleared land. … You can see the word forest in deforestation. The prefix de- means “remove” and the suffixation signals the act or state of. So deforestation is the act of removing a forest.
Deforestation refers to the decrease in forest areas across the world that are lost for other uses such as agricultural croplands, urbanization, or mining activities. Greatly accelerated by human activities since 1960, deforestation has been negatively affecting natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and the climate.
An Update:
There are areas like South East Asia where there is a downward trend BUT elsewhere and I do think the pandemic has been the cause for much to slip under the radar…The latest figures from Global Forest Watch are quite frankly alarming…
Primary forest loss was 12% higher in 2020 than the year before, and it was the second year in a row that primary forest loss worsened in the tropics.
I am getting to the stage now when I see that someone is promising to plant a tree for every bracelet or drink we buy… I fear it is just publicity and hiding the bigger picture and that is what we should be focusing on…an example is mining in Venezuela…
The destruction can be seen from space. Satellite imagery of Las Claritas, a mining town in Bolívar state, shows tan scars sprawling out into the otherwise dense forest. Since 2016, Bolivar has lost 74,600 hectares of primary forest. Amazonas has lost 76,850 hectares, which is almost 1.5 times the amount of loss from the prior 15 years combined.
Dioxins:
Dioxins are a group of highly toxic chemical compounds that are harmful to health. They can cause problems with reproduction, development, and the immune system. They can also disrupt hormones and lead to cancer. Known as persistent environmental pollutants (POPs), dioxins can remain in the environment for many years.
The major identified sources of environmental releases of dioxin-like compounds are grouped into six broad categories: combustion sources, metals smelting, refining and process sources, chemical manufacturing sources, natural sources, and environmental reservoirs.
Dioxins are found throughout the world in the environment. The highest levels of these compounds are found in some soils, sediments and food, especially dairy products, meat, fish and shellfish. Very low levels are found in plants, water and air.
This is why we should be avoiding mass-produced processed foods and know where our meat, fish and shellfish come from and also know that it is not susceptible to secondary contamination…which is what happens when strict processing guidelines are not in place or practised…
I agree we should not have to police every aspect of our food sources but unfortunately, it has reached the point where we have to…Many known illnesses and conditions are a direct result of Dioxins…it is down to us to safeguard our families and our own health…
This is why I am a firm believer that we should not be fixated on calories we should instead fixate on chemicals in our foods…Cheap foods are off the menu or should be… there are ways and means of eating healthily without breaking our budgets…
Dumping:
Is a worldwide problem…if it is environmental dumping then we need to know our individual towns policies or nations policies…for town policies, we can address our local candidates and the same for National policies…we need to vote wisely…
On a personal level…cigarette butts, sweet/cigarette packaging, cotton buds…I can stand outside my local shop and in the space of a few minutes watch as someone walks out opening a packet and casually dropping it…they are waiting for someone and having a cigarette and then flicking it when finished…multiple that around the world we are just as liable of dumping…
Environmental dumping is the practice of transfrontier shipment of waste (household waste, industrial/nuclear waste, etc.) from one country to another. … The economic benefit of this practice is cheap disposal or recycling of waste without the economic regulations of the original country.
Although I understand some of the changes and what we can do to slow it down however I also know that the earth has gone through changes over the centuries so how much can we manipulate and stop what is happening and how much is just a fact of life ???
That’s all for today…I hope I have explained it in layman terms and made some things clearer as I believe we should all have a clearer picture in our minds as to what we can change and how…
See you in two weeks for the letter E…next Wednesday it will be Part 3 of the new A-Z on food and terms with the middle letter being D as in hotDogs.
Thank you for reading and please leave a comment if you feel a need… I love to chat it makes my day…Love Carol x
Welcome to my new series…still an A-Z but with a difference …it’s not food-related!
But don’t worry one of my regular readers( Chel) came up with an idea for me…all these good ideas to keep the grey matter active…Thanx Chel x
In the meantime, the idea for this series came about because yes as my regular followers and commenters know I am passionate about the health of the world I am living in… however often when I am researching and reading articles I come across terms and have to look them up which spawned the idea for this…two-fold… it increases my knowledge and I hope yours…
Not wanting to bore you I decided to run with Chels idea on the opposite weeks to my new idea…Chels idea for me was to go through the alphabet (as) is getting a norm for me but with the said letter (A) for this illustration as the middle letter…e.g. wrAps which of course need no explanation I mean who doesn’t love a spicy chicken wrap?
The A-Z of the environment and Climate Change…
The best way to predict your future is to create it...Abraham Lincoln.
Air Pollution…
Air is composed of a number of gases, mostly oxygen and nitrogen with smaller amounts of water vapour, carbon dioxide, argon and other trace gases.
The open burning of waste from individual residences, businesses and dumpsites are a large source of air pollutants. Globally the emissions from CO2 from open waste burning are relatively small compared to total anthropogenic CO2.
Anthropogenic carbon emissions are the emissions of various forms of carbon – the most concerning being carbon dioxide – associated with human activities. These activities include the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, land-use changes, livestock, fertilization, etc., that result in a net increase in emissions.
Regional CO2 emissions from developing country’s in Asia and Africa are a concern …it is often highlighted here as although it is illegal… farmers and individuals carry on burning the sugar cane fields.
We humans however can breathe easy. The average human exhales about 2.3 pounds of carbon dioxide on an average day. (The exact quantity depends on your activity level—a person engaged in vigorous exercise produces up to eight times as much CO2. as his sedentary peers.
Conclusion: Air Pollution leads to Air Quality which is a measure of the level of pollution in the air.
An air quality index is used by government agencies to communicate to the public how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become. Public health risks increase as the AQI rises. Different countries have their own air quality indices, corresponding to different national air quality standards. Wikipedia
Algae Blooms…
No, they are not beds of pretty flowers…
They are…Sudden spurts of algal growth, which can affect water quality adversely and indicate potentially hazardous changes in local water chemistry.
As algae blooms grow, they deplete the oxygen in the water and block sunlight from reaching fish and plants. … And when the algae eventually die off, the microbes which decompose the dead algae use up even more oxygen, which in turn causes more fish to die or leave the area.
What can we do at home?
Recycling items — and properly disposing of items that cannot be recycled — keeps them from making their way to rivers and oceans. Even cigarette butts have a dramatic environmental effect when people drop them on the ground at a beach or riverside area.
Eliminating or minimizing your use of harsh chemicals provides the surest way to protect global waters from chemicals. When chemicals leach into a body of water, they can devastate ecosystems. Nitrogen and phosphorus, commonly used in fertilizers, lead to a surge in algae growth when they enter a water body, killing off existing aquatic life, for example.
Proper disposal of hazardous materials such as paints, motor oil and pharmaceuticals keeps them out of the water supply. Inquire with your municipal centre about chemical pickup or drop-off locations in your area.
Water that runs down streets after rainfall, or after you wash your car with a hose, carries toxins from streets and yards that eventually may reach waterways. Sweep rather than hose down your driveway if you need to get rid of debris. When washing your car, use a bucket instead of a hose. Having porous outdoor surfaces like gravel, as well as gardens, also minimizes runoff.
Get involved with local initiatives to plan responsible water use systems and ensure that healthy waters become a component of any development initiative. Attend city council and town hall meetings regularly to contribute your input, or even run for a position on the city council or your county board of supervisors. Even if you’re not an expert on water use, you can put the issue on the agenda, bring in expert consultants and educate yourself and the public. By exercising a direct impact on local planning, you’ll also be protecting waters at the global level.
Personally, I think each one of us needs to start taking responsibility for the world we live in…the time has come for individuals to feature in a look at their own home and surrounding areas and take responsibility…Make a difference!
Alternative Energy Sources…
Is the energy that does not come from fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, gas), BUT from wind, flowing water, solar energy and biomass.
Wind and flowing water are simpler to understand… the wind is another source of solar energy…Winds are caused by the heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the rotation of the Earth, and the Earth’s surface irregularities. For as long as the sun shines and the wind blows, the energy produced can be harnessed to send power across the grid.
Flowing water…Hydropower uses a fuel—water—that is not reduced or used up in the process. Because the water cycle is an endless, constantly recharging system, hydropower is considered renewable energy. When flowing water is captured and turned into electricity, it is called hydroelectric power or hydropower.
Solar energy is the transformation of heat, the energy that comes from the sun. It has been used for thousands of years in many different ways by people all over the world. The oldest uses of solar energy are for heating, cooking, and drying.
Biomass is the fuel developed from organic matter waste of living organisms like plant waste, animal waste, forest waste, and municipal wastes. In biological terms, the word biomass refers to organic plant matter, which is converted into fuel and used as an energy source.
That’s all for today…I hope I have explained it in layman terms and made some things clearer as I believe we should all have a clearer picture in our minds as to what we can change and how…
See you in two weeks for the letter B…next Wednesday it will be Part 1 of the new A-Z on food and terms with the middle letter being A as in toAst.
Thank you for reading and please leave a comment if you feel a need… I love to chat it makes my day…Love Carol x
I love that around the world much is going on to minimize rubbish and clean up the world …I do think we all need to take part though and learn just how and what can be recycled as many things are made from a mixture of various types of plastics which then means they need specialist recycling. I am much more aware when I buy something now as to its composition so that in the event it will need recycling at some stage I know where and how…or even if it can be recycled. Are you?
However, the underlying message I am getting from the many programs that I watch is that ultimately we are at the mercy of big businesses, politicians, and governments who quite frankly are not doing enough…I am scared that much of what I read and see about meat is true in part but the answer for our health is not to cut out meat altogether but to cut down on our consumption as we do need to eat a healthy balanced diet.
However, there are farmers who are addressing the side effects of intensive farming they are in the minority though…This is where I feel governments need to put profit aside, get tough and mean it…
We need to step up what we do as individuals…Buy our food in season and know its origin if we don’t then don’t buy it …If governments won’t act fast enough we the consumer need to use our voices…I want my grandchildren to live healthy lives in a beautiful world and see what I have seen and more…
I am increasingly hearing and reading about animals that are becoming extinct and endangered I want my grandchildren and their children to be able to see those animals not just read about them and see exhibits in museums.
Some of those animals which are at risk are essential to our ecosystem and if that completely breaks down we humans will not continue to exist.
Many of the problems seem in my humble opinion to be linked to intensive cattle farming, deforestation, fires this is just for starters…
The good news is that some farmers are using alternative methods that pay for themselves and benefit the environment.
The program I watched was Our Planet Matters: Meat a threat to our planet… It was good because it showed the problem and a solution…
This method is being used by some intensive animal farmers however according to Our Planet Matters many companies who own these intensive cattle farms are not adopting this system…Why?
To me, it seems profit is put above the health of the consumer and the health of the planet…
Deforestation still continues ...Forests which are the habitat of many animal species are being depleted at alarming speed…Still…After all the publicity and public outcry, it is still happening…
The good news…
We can help every day if we shop and eat sensibly…
A great video and TED talk on how we can cut our carbon emissions…
Forest Fires…They are devastating to life and homes as well as wildlife plus all that smoke is going into the atmosphere…What can be done?
I have seen a few programs lately which are stating that the old aboriginal way of controlled burning is far better than all the wildfires…
It seems indigenous ways of fighting fires is far better and causes less damage…
Kenya has had a problem with water..fresh water but GivePower is starting to put an end to that…
I hope you have learned from this post that there are solutions to the bad news and scaremongering …Where we can utilize and use the carbon dioxide and methane gas which farm animals produce thus reducing the damage to the environment.
I have known Scott or Doc as many of us call himsince my Nuime days and I think it is good to hear different views and read different sources about climate change which then enables us to make informed decisions on our way forward what we are doing as a family to address climate change we cannot rely on governments and other people we all have to do our own bit to help address climate change every little bit helps…Scott’s thoughts on Climate change.
Lots of good news today…Please share your good news stories we would love to hear them…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.
The environment is also something I am passionate about and there are now regular columns on my blog this year. It is important that we are mindful of the world we live in…We all need to be aware of our own homes carbon footprints…where does our food come from? How far does it travel…Simple to do but if we all did it…Not only would we support local businesses but reduce our carbon footprint…
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 creative week ahead xx
Welcome to this week’s roundup and do I have some goodies for you…Lots going on in the world it was Halloween so I have some Halloween pictures for you…There was snow, beautiful white glistening snow in Susie’s part of the world and lots of it…I love seeing those lovely images from here where I am lovely and warm on this beautiful sunny morning…
So without any more ado let’s see what has been going on this week in my blogging world?… No… I have not been discussing Brexit although I have been watching the House of Parliament live…I have better worthwhile causes to champion…The stakes have been upped and there will now be a general election…
Will I be covering this on my blog? No! Nada! I will most definitely not be covering it…
I am sure there are many opinions and although I have mine …I am not wading in…But feel free if you wish to…I love a healthy debate…
Monday…Such an ugly looking bean which produces a mouthful of pure indulgence …such a shame that the production of this also causes hardship, lack of education, cruelty through child labour and deforestation…
Who doesn’t love a piece of chocolate??? Who pays more for chocolate and goods that carry “certified cocoa” endorsements?
It has been some 20 years that the big manufacturers of chocolate pledged to eradicate and not buy cocoa which is harvested using child labour.
Why am I surprised?… I am really old enough now to know that most promises made by companies and manufacturers are just clever marketing..lies…Designed to make us the consumer feel better and spend more money…To read the full story please click the link…
Because I am not a party pooper I wish you all a joyous time in the coming weeks I will be leaving you with a few tips to help you over the Christmas period and then I will leave you to enjoy it and come back just after the New Year…with more healthy eating tips…
It is one of my favourite days where I can indulge myself …Of course in the coming weeks, it will be more Christmas focused… I will be looking at you guys to provide me with some lovely family recipes, crafts anything Christmassy…Even a Christmas jumper or three…
Saw the end of Pumpkin month and it was Halloween…I hope everyone who celebrated Halloween had a lovely time there have been some lovely and some quite gruesome foods I have seen…but all tasty I am sure…
The 5th of November is Guy Fawkes and celebrated in the UK…Guy Fawkes Night is annually held on November 5. It is sometimes known as Bonfire Night and marks the anniversary of the discovery of a plot organized by Catholic conspirators to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London in 1605. Many people light bonfires and set off fireworks…
I have many fond memories of bonfire night, potatoes and chestnuts cooked in the embers of the bonfire, of course, there are now absolutely fabulous displays but they don’t come close to my memories of such happy times as we clutched our sparklers and my dad set off the fireworks… We made our own guy and he proudly sat at the top of the bonfire although we were never allowed to participate in… penny for the guy…My mother thought it was akin to begging and we were not allowed to do that…
I am nearing the end of my store cupboard basic series by now you should have nicely stocked store cupboards…Spices are this weeks theme and although I grow and use many fresh spices dried spices also play their part…stronger and more intense in flavour than their fresh cousins they are ideal for baking. Everything has its place…
Where I generally hand you over to Sally…This week she discusses skin and in particular eczema…I lived with skin conditions most of my life and am happy to say I am mostly itching and rash free…
Wool always made me itch so I wore cotton…when it came to bras, stocking, and suspenders it was the zinc in the clasps which gave me sore, itchy patches, I could never wear cheap earrings or necklaces ..zinc again..zippers anything which touched my skin brought it up in rashes and itchy patches…The introduction of tights wasn’t much better..nylon… Polo necks aka rashes, central heating aka rashes…Since living here…rashes…Gone…#recommended read…
That’s all for this week I hope you enjoyed the read…Have a great Sunday xxx
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 great weekend 🙂 xx
I am going to be looking at the many types of pollution over the next month or two and how as an individual we can help…
How does pollution affect us and which types of pollution affect us as humans?
To live we breathe air but the quality of the air we breathe does determine whether we live or what impact it has on our health…
I will be covering all of those when I have finished my research as much research is pointing at CO2 as the enemy I am not convinced…What do you think and why?
Today though I will be looking at the many positive actions that are being taken by individuals, communities or charity organisations…Good New stories…I think we all need those as much of the news is doom and gloom…
What I love about Climate Change is that it is bringing out the creativity of many individuals and that to me is good it is creating a society where people look at solutions and what is better than that?
Take Revive Eco who are finalists from Scotland in the Chevas Venture 2019...This is the 5th year the Chivas Venture competition has supported the world’s best social startups with $1 million in funding and expert coaching. Applications were to social entrepreneurs from around the globe who are using business to solve social and environmental issues. The finals take place today 9th May in Amsterdam and I wish all the finalists good luck…
Or these guys…Save the bees…
Both are worthy winners as are the others…Check it out…
Capri …a beautiful small Italian island situated 5km from the Italian mainland in the Bay of Naples…Known for its beauty and coastline it has been written about( Somerset Maughans) The Lous Eater and filmed…The soaring Faraglioni Rocks …Capri has been known in Greek mythology as the isle of the sirens, was a favoured resort of the Roman emperors. Most notoriously, the emperor Tiberius had his villa on the island, the location (supposedly) of debauched orgies. Those who displeased the emperor were flung to their deaths from the cliffs. The island is world famous and is very touristy, especially when swamped with tourists in July & August, but other times of the year it is calmer and more relaxing.
Well, it sounds like official mean business…and good for them…Tourists are now banned from taking any plastic to the Italian island and risk fines of up to €500 if they are caught using plastic bags, plates or cutlery as the Italian island introduces new draconian laws.
The ban, which started this month, has outlawed traditional plastics in a bid to protect the surrounding coastline near Naples.
Mayor Giovanni De Martino and the local head of the green group Legambiente have welcomed the decision.
This decision is not just confined to Capri...I think it is a great step forward…
News from New Zealand is that the government are close to finalising a plan to plant 1 million trees… I think trees and forests are very beautiful and peaceful and the habitat on wildlife and flowers and we need all of this preserved to preserve life as we know it…Deforestation is killing so much…
World Environment Day is a UN Environment-led global event, which takes place on June 5 every year and is celebrated by thousands of communities worldwide.
China is this year’s host for World Environment Day on June 5th 2019…China with its growing green energy sector has emerged as a climate leader. The country owns half the world’s electric vehicles and 99 per cent of the world’s electric buses. By hosting World Environment Day 2019, the Chinese government will be able to showcase its innovation and progress toward a cleaner environment.
Maybe I was a little harsh about them using the army to plant trees but given the amount of smog in their cities, I really hope they are serious and it is not all show.
Mindfulness And Meditation Will Now Be Part Of The Curriculum In 370 Schools In England…
I think is one of the best ideas I have heard for a while…I have always believed that when a child acts up much of the time it is because they do not understand their feelings and emotions…often this comes out as anger because of their frustration. Schools in England have started to look at this problem in a different way by teaching Mindfulness and meditation this is an initiative being run under a Mental Health study that the Britsh government is running until 2021…
Lots of good news stories this week I do hope you enjoyed them and it makes you feel more positive I look forward to your comments xxx
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.
The environment is also something I am passionate about and there will be more on this on my blog this year
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!
More and more of my blogging friends have joined me on MeWe…A social media site which is fairly new and which promises much without the restrictions some other social media sites are choosing to impose on many of us…Join me if you will onmewe.com/i/caroltaylor3
Retired? No one told me! 