The eBike Loan scheme now has an electric tricycle availed for 2 hour loans from The Cube.
Why what we eat matters: The Video
A video recording of our talk: Climate, Food and Planet: Why what we eat matters by Sir Jonathon Porritt on March 8th 2024 is now available:
The Big Solar Co-op
The Big Solar Co-op is a not-for-profit, carbon-first and volunteer-led organisation.
They are solarising commercial and community buildings all over the UK from doctors surgeries to factories and everything in between.
If you’ve got a big roof and a big energy bill then they can design, build and own solar on your roof – no capital cost, super energy and carbon savings.
If you want to see more solar in your area and have some time to volunteer they can train and support you to make it happen.
If you have some cash to invest, they run community share offers.
See https://bigsolar.coop/ for more information.
Why what we eat matters
An evening with Jonathon Porritt.
Sorry all the seats have been taken
If you have booked and now can not make it please cancel your booking to allow others to attend.
Our food and agricultural systems:
- contribute 30% to UK greenhouse gas emissions.
- impacts on our health.
- drives habitat destruction around the world.
Come and join us for the evening with the renowned environmentalist and campaigner: Jonathon Porritt.
He will be giving a talk that unpacks some of the issues around what we eat and how changes in it can benefit climate, health and planet.
The talk will be followed by a facilitated discussion around how we can reduce our food footprint within the Malvern Hills District and beyond.
Entry is free, donations welcome, booking essential at Eventbrite: https://Food-and-Planet.eventbrite.co.uk
Co-hosted by: Transition Malvern Hills and Malvern Green Party. Supported by: Castlemorton Environmental Group, Hanley’s Environmental Group and PACE
Carbon Footprint of your Food
Our World in Data has a very good article: You want to reduce the carbon footprint of your food? Focus on what you eat, not whether your food is local.
They have a detailed list of the carbon footprint of most types of food. I recommend you look at it.
7 Rs
Or
Recycling is not a magic bullet
For a long time, the 4Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle have been used to get us to “go green”.
But there are at least 7Rs:
Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Repurpose, Rot and Recycle.
Refuse:
Just say No. The best way to reduce the environmental impact of an object is not to create it in the first place. If we do not buy it then they will not produce it.
Reduce:
Buy only want you need. If you are not going to use it do not get it.
Reuse:
Were possible always get stuff that can be reused and reuse it.
Repair:
It an item is repaired then we do not need to get a new one and with do not have to dispose of it. A win win. The repair café movement is important.
Repurpose:
If we no longer need an item for its original purpose that can it be used in some other way and given a new lease of life. The in phrase for this is upcycle but that does not start with an R.
Rot:
When an item gets to the end of its life. If it is properly biodegradable, then we can give it to nature to recycle it. The emphasis is on properly biodegradable. See my earlier article “Is plastic ever really biodegradable?”.
There are two good ways to rot things, first as compost and the other is via biodigesters. Biodigesters have the advantage they produce carbon neutral energy. So if you have the choice, it’s probably better to send to a biodigester.
A not so good way to use Rot as a way of disposal is just to give it to nature to let it handle your waste. If this is just throwing an apple core away during a walk this is probably OK. But normally this is littering. But if the item littered is properly biodegradable then is will be less of problem as nature will eventually take care of it.
If you have the choice should you rot or recycle? This choice only applies, I think, to paper and cardboard. If it is good quality, then I think it will best recycled. But, if poor quality or contaminated with food then rot.
Recycle:
The last on the list
Recycling is not a magic bullet
Many people think if they recycle then they have done their bit for saving the planet. But doing some recycling will not on its own stop the climate crisis. The climate crisis is caused by us putting green houses gases into the atmosphere. In general recycling does reduce the carbon footprint but not by much. There are many things you can do that will reduce your carbon footprint more than by recycling. But you should do them all. See my Climate Breakdown what I can do slides.
Recyclable is a word I hate. Making packaging recyclable will not solve the blue planet problem. The blue planet problem is a problem of littering. If all the plastic now in the oceans had been put in land fill or incinerated, it would not be in the oceans.
To put it simply:
Plastic Free Moving
Greelink are closing their plastic free shop GL2 in Cowleigh Road. But most of the offerings have been moved to the main GreenLink in Graham Road. Call in to see what they now offer. Click here for a map.
Share the Veg
The Fold at Bransford are launching at Community Supported Agriculture membership scheme. See https://www.thefold.org.uk/event/community-farm-membership-launch/ for more information.
Pop-up Green Space
Malvern Green Space are holding a A weekly, pop-up Green Space in central Malvern.
Each Monday 11:30am Till 2:30pm Lyttleton Well, Church Street, Malvern WR14 2AY.
It will be a safe, inclusive community space to share skills, give support and get creative.
They will have their our usual activities there (used clothes to share, surplus food, information and advice about the climate and nature emergencies, seeds and growing advice, etc) plus a programme of events to be announced. Pop in for a drink and a chat, everyone is welcome. NO CHARGE.
Malvern Festival of Ideas
Malvern Festival of Ideas is on 3-5 March 2023. It's Title this year is As time goes by.
One of the talk is by Rob Hopkins. The founder of the transition movement.
See http://malvernfestivalofideas.org.uk/ for the full program.