Tag Archives: Plastic bottles

Plastic…The Latest News…Week 8…Our actions…The Consequences…

 

Individual choices are important and if we all took a pledge to make a difference…it would as collectively we have the power…Consumer Power can be very powerful…

We are at the crisis point WE the consumer have choices...I know you are all busy and have lives BUT sometimes we also have to make a stand…To stand up and be counted…Because if you think that your inaction doesn’t matter because everyone else is doing it…Try multiplying that thought by everyone else who has the same thought as yours…

Individual consumer choices are important as is collective action which can really make a difference.

I can hear you groaning…haha…Like my smartwatch which reads my actions…But consider this scenario…

In England alone, the government figures tell us that 4.6 bn plastic straws, 316 m plastic stirrers ( yep) those itsy little bits of plastic to stir your drink and 1.8 bn plastic-stemmed cotton buds are used by us( YES) you/us are used each year…The government and the Queen have now announced an outright ban…

3 things that we could all do collectively which would make a huge difference…

  1. Check and buy only environmentally compostable cotton earbuds…
  2. Drink stirrers…
  3. Straws...Come in paper, bamboo, stainless steel and glass

N.B. The links are Amazon I am not affiliated to Amazon I just used these links as an example…These items should now be available locally to you and should be easy to source…

But what a difference that would make…How easy is that to action???

Now for the good news stories...or is it?

a stack of paper cups

Compostable cups… are they really recyclable? …Ummmmm well Biodegradable and compostable are actually 2 different things…sigh

biodegradable
adjective
1. A substance or object capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms

compostable
adjective
1. Something that can be used as compost when it decays.

This means that biodegradable items can break down within the environment with the help of bacteria or other living organisms. But this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for the planet. For example, some plastic bags can biodegrade into tiny pieces in around 20 years but they are still harmful to the environment.

However, if something is compostable, it means it is made of organic matter and it can completely break down to make nutrient-rich compost.

The Solution:

Stop using single-use items and choose reusable alternatives. There are so many reusable coffee cups and straws available now. Lots of coffee shops give you a discount when you take your own cup in too! Why not put a set of cutlery in your bag so you can say no to single-use forks/spoons?

I know it means making changes however step up and be counted we all need to do this…

Rivers…They flow into the sea...Do you have a river near you? Is it clean are the fish abundant or is it like this?

Image by Rafael_Neddermeyer from Pixabay

It may be like this as not everything reaches the sea much drops off on the way…SEE THE ABOVE REPORT.

Plastic bottles, the detritus of our throwaway water and soft drinks habits, are the most prevalent form of plastic pollution in European waterways, according to reports and particularly worse due to covid.

Food wrappers, including crisp and sweet packets, were the second biggest form of plastic pollution in rivers, followed by cigarette butts.

All of these forms of litter can cause problems for wildlife and fish and are hard to clean up once they have found their way into the water.

Glitter…“Some major supermarkets are moving to ban these harmful microplastics, but the British public is clear; supermarkets should be moving faster to tackle plastic waste.”

Vanuatu...Has one of the worlds strictest plastic bans…

Vanuatu local band

Vanuatu is an island country located in the southern Pacific Ocean.

The official name of the country is the Republic of Vanuatu.

Its closest neighbours are New Caledonia (France), Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Tuvalu.

The country is located some 1,750 kilometres (1,090 miles) east of northern Australia.

Vanuatu has 3 official languages: Bislama, English and French.

A beautiful country with pristine beaches and they aim to keep it that way 

The above link is a lovely read as to what can be achieved…it also includes damming info on how far behind the USA are on this…I always thought and looked up to the USA as they have led the world in many areas SADLY…Not by tackling Climate Change and waste…

Every other country and government take note…However big or small you are an outright ban…WORKS…

Another brilliant idea…I have just received my weekly “Meatless Monday email and this week the topic is “Fight Climate Change with your Fork”

Lots of great info on how to do just that..some of which I already know and I’m sure you do but there are also some other great ideas please over and have a read…

Even though I bring you the harsh stark facts  think about those 3 small actions and how united we can make a difference…xxx

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

 

 

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.

energy-159105_640

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 4… an update around the world…

 

Following on from Plastic Free July…

I thought today I would have a roam around the world to see if the initiatives that I wrote about in 2019 have gone forward or backwards…or just disappeared into thin air…

Back in 2019…UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns the world is running out of time to contain climate change…as we have COP26 coming up…The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November 2021.

The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Today I am having a look at what is happening in the run-up to COP26...are those figures and plans made in 2019 come to fruition …have they gone forward or backwards?

This is one of my favourite beaches...so very beautiful..idyllic one might say…HOWEVER, what you don’t see is the beach after every high tide goes out…That beautiful blue water..what lies beneath it unless you go for a swim or a snorkel you don’t see that either…

11 facts you need to know…

Plastic bags, disposable napkins, plastic straws, plastic takeaway cups, glitter I could go on how could we not notice how could we not realise…did we not see the warning or more to the point heed them…I will be honest here I have read and seen lots over the years and still I didn’t heed the signs…I suppose I was guilty of thinking or not thinking and thought the problem was being addressed…By someone else…

Complacency is the word …

Thailand…

An obvious choice as I live here …Thailand is looking to ban the use of very thin single-use plastic bags in 2022, followed by single-use plastic glasses and straws three years …Thailand is also to ban foreign plastic waste from 2021. Thailand and other southern Asian countries are buckling under the sheer weight of imported plastic waste.

The reality 2021…

Plastic waste was still flowing into the country, brought in by recycling factories in the duty-free zone, indicating a loophole in the regulations.

“We have found that imported plastic waste of up to 150,000 tonnes was brought in in 2020, an increase of 2.69 times on the previous year.

“For this year, around 71,000 tonnes of plastic waste are imported into Thailand up until June,” Ms Penchom said…FULL Story here

The UK...

In January 2018, the UK announced a 25-year plan to set the global gold standard on eliminating plastic waste, according to environment minister Michael Gove.

The Reality 2021…The UK is under growing pressure to ban all exports of plastic waste…There are calls for the environment bill to be returned to parliament to be strengthened to tackle the global plastic waste crisis.

Australia …

Unlike other governments I couldn’t find much on outright bans it seems to be that it is happening state by state…South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory, have state-wide bans on single-use plastic bags, and Queensland is set to follow in July 2018. Ministers also endorsed a target of 100 per cent of Australian packaging being recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025, to be delivered by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation.

The reality 2021…it appears the recycling industry is not ready for the ban on exporting plastic waste…  

But reading the report and seeing statements like unsorted waste makes me think that waste will still be exported just under a different banner and as we see above when a countries regulations have loopholes …call me cynical but it seems to me to just be words and business as usual…

Canada…

In January 2018, Canada put a stop to plastic microbeads. Although microbeads were permitted to be manufactured and imported for non-prescription drugs and certain natural health products until July 1 2018.

The reality 2021…Plastics are not uniformly regulated in Canada. While the federal government is responsible for them to some degree, include for product regulatory matters, it is the provinces, territories and municipalities that regulate many environmental protection matters, including most waste management. This results in a patchwork model of regulation, with some jurisdictions having much stricter plastic regulations than others.

New Zealand…

Associate Minister for the Environment Eugenie Sage has confirmed that single-use plastic shopping bags will be phased out in New Zealand with regulations to come into force from 1 July 2019.

The Reality 2021…New Zealand has just announced that it will phase out single-use plastics between 2022 and 2025 in an effort to promote environmental sustainability. The country will ban plastic drink stirrers, straws, and cutlery, according to the Guardian, as well as PVC and polystyrene food and drink packaging.

France…

2016 saw France become the first country to announce a total ban on plastic cups, plates, and cutlery, to be brought in from 2020.

The Reality 2021…As of this week, straws, plastic bottles, coffee cups and takeaway containers made from certain materials are banned in the EU. Items made from expanded polystyrene, specifically, are no longer allowed to be sold.

India…

India pledges to beat plastic pollution by 2022…Wow, that is fighting talk as they probably have more plastic waste than many countries worldwide. India was the host to World Environment Day 2018 and they have taken 5 steps to fast track it already…

The Reality 2021…Given the mammoth task, India faces not just with plastic but with Covid, they seem to be forging ahead…Personally, I wish them luck and hope they succeed in turning things around …Next steps …

Holland…

With effect from January 2016, free plastic bags were banned… Although alongside France they have agreed to a Plastic Pact this is being condemned by the break free from plastics movement and Hollands recycling Network as they feel it should be law and not voluntary…

The Reality 2021…Holland as a country seem to be on board and happy to make changes for the good of mother earth…

Spain…

In October 2018, Spain became the 32nd country to sign up for the UN Clean Seas campaign, which aims to ‘turn the tide on plastic.

The Reality 2021…The Spanish government has approved a bill designed to discourage the production and consumption of single-use plastics, including taxes on their production and disposal and a timetable for phasing out their use in the food and drink sector.

Finland…

Collective working in Finland received a Plastics Roadmap, which is the first step toward a new, sustainable plastic economy. Of the more than 100 proposals made, the roadmap presents a set of key actions to find solutions to challenges caused by plastics.

The Reality 2021…work is still ongoing…

The USA…

This article published in Jan 2019 shows current legislation state by state…Plastic bags and paper bags…I’m sure that you my dear readers can tell me how your state is doing and where they send your carefully sorted waste and plastic…

The Reality 2021…I always thought the USA liked to be a world leader in everything…it appears waste is the exception

Sweden…This is an addition to my 2019 post as I like their thinking…to me, it seems they discuss, think and act…it also seems that in Sweden consumers are on board and want to save the world…not just a few but the many…

Circular energy is working here…

My conclusion…

I’m worried for the future of this beautiful world and wondering where this leaves my children and grandchildren…what kind of world will WE leave for them to inhabit?

I have noticed from this assortment of countries though that it is where the people and the government are on the same page where the government are not afraid to take necessary steps but also where the people accept the changes and get on and do it… make it work…

A whole approach is what is needed and where it happens it works… all these separate regulations don’t.

Ahead of the forthcoming COP26 of which the first one was in 1995..26 years ago…For the last 26 years, the attendees of these meetings have been discussing Climate Change…According to this IPCC report which has just been published ahead of COP26 UNLESS there are immediate, rapid and large scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming close to 1.5 degrees C or even 2 degrees centigrade will be beyond reach.

Climate change widespread, rapid, and intensifying – IPCC

I for one hope that at this COP26 action will be decided and implemented forthwith no ifs and buts but ACTION!

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

recycling-294385_1280
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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.

 

recycle-98855_1280
recycle-44089_1280
recycle-98858_1280

 

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…

tomatoes-1277845_1920

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…

Recycling and Climate Change…4th May 2020…and Covid-19…

A new month already nearly half a year gone…A few months of sadness and grief for many but for all of us unprecedented times and restrictions which many of us haven’t experienced in our lifetimes…

I am coping...worried about my family overseas I find it a struggle sometimes to write and even contemplated not writing/blogging last week and then I received a beautiful comment which made me cry…It cheered me on…Thank you…you know who you are…

I have spent more time in the kitchen...just because…my creative streak was waning as my waistline spread…I was eating all the pies…sigh…watching far too much Netflix…dreaming of a Cadburys CHOCOLATE BAR…says she who doesn’t eat chocolate…

Then the boxes of mangoes and bananas arrived at my gate…I shared some bananas with my neighbours who then gave me more mangoes…My son on his shopping trip told me about the queue for free food …someone was giving out free food, masks, handwash and checking temperatures…He said social distancing was being observed and everyone was masked up and waiting patiently…It puts it into perspective really doesn’t it?… I need to stop wallowing and count my blessings…Buck my ideas up…

Let’s have a look at the good things I can find…

Nature is showing us that we are only tenants in this world…That without us the animals will return…we need to learn big lessons from this in so many ways…I hope the people will remember, speak out and cast their votes wisely…

Food waste…I have always thought I have been a good model and wasted little ..I hold my hands up I could waste far less and be more frugal not mean just aware of more…

While I think many are being more frugal and mindful at home what about the bigger picture?

Food waste is increasing…What can we do?

Food Hubs could be the solution we are looking for…I think this is a brilliant idea which has taken off really quickly…In fact, it took only 11 days to survey farmers and pantries throughout the region about what they were facing, establish a plan to raise money to pay farmers to supply pantries and bring on partners.

Food Hubs have happened with GROUNDWORK…

What else can you do?

You can eat sustainably, cook sustainably, dine out sustainably…How to do that…You can take action by clicking this link…

Recycling…These are cool…I love the extension lead idea…The clutch bag so clever…

Lots of brilliant ideas!

Masks…most of us now are wearing a mask at some point when shopping or out walking …This N95 scarf filters the air around you and they are washable…

Also on the Good News Network...I found this…Air Pollution in Major World Cities Has Dropped By as Much as 60% During COVID Shutdowns, Says New Report. It also reports how the Earths Ozone layer is repairing itself…

corona-4971013_640

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/air-pollution-in-world-cities-drops-by-60-percent/

Even though we are in trying times and often very sad times there are lots of changes for the good and we are becoming more aware…I know I am… as to how quickly this world is repairing itself…

My hope for the future is a cleaner world… I do want to see communities, and caring for your neighbour becoming the new norm…WORKING TOGETHER INSTEAD OF WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER…

Thank you for reading be well and stay safe 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 stay safe and healthy xx

 

 

Recycling and Climate Change…24th February 2020…Are we doing enough?

I have agonised about this post…I have been banging the same drum for quite a while…It does seem however that the more research I do and the more I discover that you would think that I am enlightened,  I have a clear path which I wish to follow and everything is rosy… I am doing the right thing…I AM SAVING THE WORLD…

save the world-4076853_640

It certainly doesn’t feel like that…at times…sigh

Milk or more to the point cows milk…I have never been a great milk drinker even as a child… we had free milk at school and I just didn’t like it…In the end, my mum wrote a note and I was excused from drinking it…I love rice pudding and porridge although I do dilute the milk a little …I just for some reason have never liked drinking just a glass of milk…Yeah, Yeah… a fussy kid I hear you…

Which milk...

All these kinds of nut milk being sold as a better alternative…But are they…I have learnt that when deciding on the carbon footprint of my milk I should also be considering…Oh yes, there is more…Other factors which include how the farming of the crop affects people and native habitats in developing countries, the carbon footprint and water use. And while each product has its trade-offs, some plant milks are more sustainable than others. Sigh…This all adds to which milk I should use when making a rice pudding…

Because coconut trees only grow in tropical climates, the pressure to meet global demand is causing exploitation of workers and the destruction of rainforests… right…

Almonds are bad for bees and guzzle a lot of water during the growing and production of a glass of Almond milk…Ok!

Rice milk…Again the amount of water required to grow rice is a factor…Mmmmm

I could go on...Yep, I really could…This article, however, does it for me and so much more eloquently…

The bottom line for me is to plant more trees…Trees produce water…I am noticing a big increase in the planting of trees both here and around the world…Personally, I love nothing better than walking in a forest or jungle…Trees have that calming effect, don’t they?

There have been quite a few incentives on better ways to travel and Stansted Airport is no exception it is also very close to where I lived before I settled in the Land of Smiles…

Landside Operations Director Anita Harrison said: “London Stansted has been setting the pace among UK airports for years when it comes to addressing our local environmental impacts and we are well within legal limits for air quality, but there will always be more both we and passengers can do.

Stansted already offers a number of cost-reduction schemes aimed at encouraging passengers to use public transport or car share when travelling to and from the airport.

green foot prints eco system

An online portal which will allow drivers to pre-register their fully electric vehicles was recently launched.

The airport says the portal will be used to improve the experience of local residents registering for their discounted charge of 50p/£1 depending on their location.

The first 1,000 people to sign up will be eligible for a year’s free use of the facility.

This brings me nicely onto what I have been reading lately on social media and news reports…False News once again…It is bad enough trying to filter out what we can do without all this false news.

Child Labour goes on and on…to me it is an abhorrent practise, cruel inhuman so many words I could use to show my disgust and horror…young lives ruined…childhood cut short…Cobalt mining…but…

It is not just electric cars…So before all, you Climate Junkies start sprouting about electrics and the use of child labour…check your own gadgets… A lithium polymer battery is considered a type of lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion batteries are used in consumer products such as cell phones, electric vehicles, laptop computers, power tools and tablets…many made by Apple…just check Apple, Google and Tesla and lawsuits…sigh…

Now tell me that you don’t own or use any of these…

We all need to take a long hard look at what we do and use before we start preaching and demonstrating…

It is very admirable that young Greta is joining a Bristol schools Climate strike…To all you parents whose kids are participating maybe you should tell them this…and then ask them how they are going to change as all their expectations seem to focus on us changing…

  • You are the first generation who have required air-conditioning in every classroom.
  • You want a TV in every room and your classes are all computerised.
  • You spend all day and night on electronic devices.
  • DO you walk or ride bikes to school or arrive in caravans of private cars that choke local roads and worsen rush hour traffic.
  • You are the biggest consumers of manufactured goods ever and update perfectly good expensive luxury items to stay trendy…Child labour produces most of these…
  • Does your entertainment come from electric devices?

It doesn’t stop there… the people driving your protests are the same people who insist on artificially inflating the population growth through immigration, which increases the need for energy, manufacturing and transport.

The more people we have, the more forest and bushland we clear and more of the environment is destroyed.

Now be really radical...Kids…You know you want to…

  • Tell your teachers to switch off the air-con.
  • Walk or ride to school. Switch off your devices and read a book.
  • Make a sandwich instead of buying manufactured fast food.
  • Learn to research facts and think for yourself and not blindly accept the words and thoughts of others.

Can’t live without your electrical devices…Learn about clean energy…

https://cleantechnica.com/2020/01/05/energy-storage-2020-its-not-just-about-lithium-ion-batteries-any-more/

I do think it is admirable that kids are showing they have a voice but do it correctly and don’t vilify the adults…Get crafty and make your mum one of these…

Thailand is one of the worst users of single-use plastic...I can, however, see the changes and this idea is so cool…

Monk sitting

Monks a common sight here…either walking and collecting food and alms, blessing a new house or car, on the buses or planes where seats are designated just for the monks, the orange-robed monks are a familiar sight…and sound as the early morning air rings with their familiar chants…

One would think that Climate change was far from their thoughts well not so…for the monks here at this temple… Wat Chak Daeng is a Buddhist temple south of Bangkok, the monks here have found an ingenious way to both tackle plastic pollution and provide clothing for its monks – collecting plastic bottles from a nearby river and transforming them into the fabric for saffron-coloured robes for monks.

Thanks to Tori..who alerted me to this…I never knew…I knew about the temple made from recycled glass bottles but monks robes from plastic bottles…Thank you, Tori you are a star…

I like the use of circular recycling methods and love how around the world ideas and practises are spreading as it seems we cannot stop the manufacture of plastic we can find uses for the waste product.

Lots of food for thought today…Thoughts on how we can make a difference while in the main sustaining our current lifestyle with a few adaptions for the good of the planet.

Just imagine if we all thought of just one idea which appeals to us…Think of all those bottles we are saving from going to landfill or into the sea…..With so many ideas and enthusiasm around the world to make a difference, we will save the world.

Thank you if you are still here and reading to the end…I look forward to your comments 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 great week xx