One mans trash…..
July 30, 2008
Is another man’s treasure. We all know that but in my quest to be green what does this all mean? Well, this may sound excruciatingly obvious but here goes. The other day I was bemoaning the fact that our car costs a heap of money to run now that fuel is going up AND I am worried about the impact of the emissions on the environment. It is a Holden Commodore Wagon which is good when you want to transport bikes and kids on holiday or take the family for a long day out. It is not good for the school run, shopping in town or a quick trip up the hill to work.
Anyway, I started looking at what we could get for our money should we want to trade in. I quickly got disappointed when I realised that our choices were not great - well, not from an environmental perspective anyway! We bought our car from new and have looked after it pretty well. Tyres have been maintained and regularly changed, services are in order and any other repairs quickly fixed. Overall it has been very reliable and quite useful all bar the cost of filling it with fuel and the ensuing emissions…
I weighed up my options -
1) Sell our well maintained car for a low price as nobody else wants a gas guzzler and buy either an old wreck for essential trips only?
2) Get some other, slightly smaller, hopefully duel fuel car that is cheaper to run but then can’t accommodate us on family fun days?
3) Stay as we are and use the car less?
I quickly realised that option three was clearly best. Selling our car would not make it disappear from the universe (unless we took it to the wreckers and got it re-cycled….). Somewhere on the planet it would still be belching out those emissions. At best someone else would buy it, look after it and use it as we had. At worst someone could run it into the ground by not keeping it in top working order. The net environmental result if this should happen would be a heap worse! Yes we may be able to save a few dollars on fuel each week by buying something greener but wouldn’t reducing our dependence on it be better?
So it became clear that while one man’s trash may well be another man’s treasure, extracting “un-green” items from your life in order to replace them with something “better” may not always deliver the greenest outcome. Taking ownership of the cars impact and working towards reducing it - use less, maintain etc is probably far better at this point in time. Now all I have to do is resist the temptation to drive it everywhere!
PS: I am still weighing up the benefit of the gas conversion. That may be the way to go…….
Links on recycling: REDUCE, RE-USE, RE-CYCLE!
Science Week - Spreading the love!
July 29, 2008
Australia’s Science week goes from 16th - 24th August (yes, we know it is more than a week but if world youth day can last a week then……)It is a science extravaganza with events happening in schools, shopping centres, museums and public spaces all over the country. I am involved in the week through my association with Fizzics (www.fizzicseducation.com.au) we take our hands on science shows far and wide to spread our love and enthusiasm of science. I will be presenting at a few sites during the month of August including the Australian Museum - www.australianmuseum.net.au shopping centres in Canberra and various Sydney Schools. All up that will be around 1500 kids. Exhausting but I can’t wait!
While I will be presenting some workshops on renewable energy (interested to see what the kids have to say about the environment) for me the excitement comes in having the opportunity to try and inspire a new generation of scientists. I was lucky to have some good mentors in my mother and uncle. I remember being around 7 or 8 and getting a little microscope and a book on the human body for Christmas. We had a pond in the garden so I spent a sizable amount of the day’s that followed preparing slides of pond water, fingernails, snot (yuuuk) and anything else I could get my hands on. Although I didn’t discover any great new species I did discover my love of Science. I was hooked!
In a world full of plastic where most activities are heavily scripted and organised it is great to show children the wonders that lie in their own backyard, under their fingernails or even up their nose! At Fizzics we aim to present kids with a number of experiments and ideas that they can try at home for minimal fuss and cost. It’s heaps of fun and you never know we could be inspiring the next Al Gore, Buz Aldridge or Einstein.
Only 17 more sleeps……….
Green-spiration! Tips to keep you on the wagon.
July 24, 2008
Used the car too much this week? Made the bin overflow because composting, recycling and re-using have been one job too many? Bought TAKE AWAY food? Welcome to my world!I am feeling very tired this week. Partly because I have been trying to stay awake to watch the Tour (Tour De France) and partly because I am just exhausted with having a lot of juggling to do. This week my blood is not running green through my body - I went shopping one too many times, drove the car rather than walked and cranked up the fire.
If you, like me are feeling like a fallen green angel check out these web links for some “GREENSPIRATION”
Hugh tells how he lives from the land around his cottage. Great recipes and tips for life in the slow but fun lane.
http://www.ecotourdirectory.com/
Need a holiday? Browse through this great eco tour guide and plan your next retreat.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/
A great web site covering beautiful English properties and gardens. See what the National Trust is doing for the UK environment.
Just one example of a food Co- Operative that shows the power of working together as a community.
http://www.greenandblacks.com/
Organic Chocolate - For when nothing else will hit the spot. Recipes and philosophy!
http://www.thegreenpages.com.au/
Ideas for all areas of life from Australia’s own Green Pages.
Have fun and remember that there is always room back on the wagon……..
Helping the world - A message from my 7 year old…
July 22, 2008
My 7 year old’s reaction to the recent news that Australia is to adopt a “Carbon Trading Scheme”. It was covered on the kids news tonight.
I agree! I hope that you do to……
Freedom on two wheels…..
July 20, 2008
About two weeks ago our family celebrated a momentous occasion. My youngest daughter peddled her bike for the first time minus training wheels. I remember my first time as if it were….. Around 28 years ago actually! There is nothing quite like that feeling of freedom. That feeling of accomplishment. The thrill!
So far we have had no big stacks. We took our first big ride out as a family around our local regatta centre - an almost perfectly flat 5KM off road loop. Daughter no 2 was heard complaining that her legs no longer worked along the back straight while Daughter no 1 was bemoaning the fact that we couldn’t do it again. I was just being a proud mother.
There are not many moments as a parent when you are sure that you are doing the right thing. This, I feel is one of them. Love your bike!
A WELL EARNED BREAK!
Al Gore Leads the Way On Renewable Energy
July 18, 2008
On Thursday Al Gore told the American Public to “abandon electricity generated from fossil fuels within a decade and rely on the sun, the winds and other environmentally friendly sources of power” read the full report at The New York Times :
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/washington/18gorecnd.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
I live in Australia where we have endless sunshine falling on wide open desert. We also have a seemingly endless coastline. We really are the lucky country!
Do we have the ability to develop the technology needed? OF COURSE WE DO! Ausra, started developing Utility Scale solar power stations in Australia but moved to the USA’s Silicone Valley in search of capital investment. They are now going great guns and proving that Solar can meet the prices required to hit the mainstream.
So, the Australian nation wants clean, green energy. We have the technology. We have the space and climate. Let’s just take a gamble and do it - 100% renewable energy in 10 Years? Why not…….
The good things in life
July 17, 2008
The quest for Green Utopia is a long and winding one. For every decision made there is a consequence, for every action a re-action. Some days the only option is to celebrate the good things in life and remain faithful that human spirit and a shared love of the planet will see us through.
Cheers!
Response to the Garnaut Report
July 17, 2008
So it looks like Australia will be participating in a global carbon trading scheme by 2010. It is good to see the Australian government taking environmental issues seriously, whether a carbon trading scheme will help get our environment in better shape will remain to be seen.
Where this new tax goes will greatly affect the environmental outcome of the trading scheme. If you can earn credits for planting trees but then have those same trees choped down by your neighbour, the net environmental benefit has to be close to zero (I haven’t done the math). What about things like carbon capture technology, clean coal and biofuels? It is clear that there are still creases to be ironed out.
Carbon trading is probably the first ever taxation to be celebrated. It has potential to do good (but also to do nothing but make us worse off). I hope that the Australian government uses the time between now and 2010 to ensure that their carbon credits count.
Revelation: Cycling is good for you health!
July 14, 2008
Earlier on this month the “Green Razor” (From the Green Pages Magazine) covered the recent report produced by Professor of Global Health at the University of Melbourne’s Nossal Institute entitled “Cycling, Getting Australia Moving”. The report highlights the health benefits of cycling and the potential health care savings that the health service could make should more people take up the sport. View the report here:
http://www.cyclingpromotion.com.au/images/stories/downloads/CPFHlthRpr08V3prf1.pdf
Check out the green pages here:
http://www.thegreenpages.com.au/
It is great to see cycling on the agenda as it is a fantastic sport, cheap mode of transport and truly something for all of the family to enjoy. However, to get Australia - a country that has just won the fattest nation award, on their bikes is a mighty task.
I love my bike but am rarely seen riding it anywhere near the roads. I have seen the carnage that a car can inflict on a soft bodied cyclist. In fact when asked if I have been training much (on the start line of a mountain bike race) I happily say “No way! I know too many people that have been maimed while road training” My conclusion - training is very bad for your health.
Secondly love for my bike will still not get me riding it when I have to get to a business meeting in a hurry. One needs to look reasonably clean, refreshed and prepared rather than red faced, trousers tucked in socks and helmet haired!
Thirdly, have you ever tried bringing back from the shops 4 liters of milk, two loaves of bread, a Sunday paper and a cake for morning tea on a bike? Quite a challenge…..
Anyway, it is a good thing that the Australian Government has bike riding on the agenda. Funding of better cycle ways, better bike awareness from car and truck drivers and more encouragement are steps in the right direction. Cycling may not be practice for every occasion but is sure is fun!
As for road riding, I prefer to watch from the safety of my arm chair. below is a good site for cycling information in Australia!
www.bicyclingaustralia.com
Orang-utans future in the Palm of our hands
July 8, 2008
Following on from my earlier blog post I wanted to expand upon the Palm oil issue and share some more links. The issue of deforestation in Sumatra and Borneo is dear to my heart - I spent a summer working in the Tanjung Puting National Park, partly with the Orang-Utans babies at one of the rehabilitation centres and partly working to build a research base in the peat bogs. The experience was amazing for a 20 year old who was out for adventure. Now, 13 years on I look back at the constant stream of logging boats, the vast swathes of bare brown earth where rainforest should have been and the desperate plight of the “Men of the Forest” and feel a terrible sadness.
The fact that the lungs of the world are being destroyed for any reason is appalling and deserves our attention but again I would urge the passionate consumer to use their intelligence and rationality to get to grips with this complex situation before jumping on the latest band wagon / hate campaign.
Palm oil has been used in food and personal care products for many years. In the more recent future palm oil has also been used as a feedstock for biofuels. The demand for “healthy” fats, biofuel and consumer products have seen demand for this “natural” product rocket. This “biofuel” and “healthy food fat” demand has been bolstered by the EU and USA while the development and growing wealth of China and India also play a part. Indonesia, Malaysia and Africa are, for the most part “Supplying” the “demand”, our demand.
Biofuels once seen as our fuel crisis savior are now being seen as the elephant in the room. A case of premature enthusiasm maybe (with massive global consequences). However, as with all things scientific when presented with a problem, the solution is (potentially) in the lab…. Biofuels from agricultural waste, more efficient fuels and other renewable options are waiting in the wings.
Palm oil for food - this is an issue as the world population grows it has to be fed. At what cost is an issue for governments the world over. Not everyone is taking their Palm oil in the form of a burger and thick shake!
Palm oil in cosmetics - Another issue close to my heart. I notice that the Body Shop has announced that they will be sourcing their Palm oil from Sustainable sources in the near future. This is a step in the right direction and one that other large users are taking. At present the vast majority of palm oil is handled through trade desks (mainly in Singapore). Untangling this web enough to be sure of the oils origins will take massive co-operation and work. Palm oil is a key ingredient of many of our essential and some non essential personal care products so it is hard to see how it could easily be replaced (any replacement oil would also have to be grown somewhere!) so maybe at the consumer end the supply / demand equation comes back into play.
So what to do?
The Big Picture.
Countries have laws to protect forests, national parks and sanctuaries. The Laws need to be enforced.
Corporate have Social and Environmental policies and standards. Working towards truly sustainable supply chains is key to creating the demand for change.
Consumers have the power to vote with their cash. Do so wisely.
Value the Earth rather than the dollars you can squeeze out of it.
Some links that I found interesting:
BBC news item on the current state of the Indonesian Rain Forest.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7084306.stm
Environmental Science Site.
http://news.mongabay.com/2006/0425-oil_palm.html
Information about Global Palm Oil Production.
http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2007/12/Indonesia_palmoil/
Organic Consumers Association.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/Politics/palmoil100305.cfm
PS: Orang-utans do use soap! This one came down to watch us bathe and wash our clothes. She then took off with our soap and washed her baby with it.
