ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FIREWORKS

It’s that time again. Fireworks will once more fill the atmosphere with particulate matter and numerous heavy metals to be inhaled by human and non-human alike. These ‘delightful’ aerial displays rain down billions of plastic pieces to pollute our waterways and soil year after year. Let alone the noise pollution. Something to think about on this New Years. Please inform your family, friends and community of the toxic and environmental dangers of fireworks. Fireworks are deadly for numerous reasons. There are safer alternatives. Just say no to fireworks.
Thank you.

http://fireworkspollution.com

http://backcountryattitude.com/toxic_fireworks.html

https://youtu.be/KhDEEN4gcpI synchronized drones

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Night_festivals

What will be the carbon footprint of COP 25?

I posted this on another social network recently:

“Let’s fly around the world to save the world? Ever hear of video conferencing? Well meaning but think about it.”

Some one commented to the above: “…it isn’t so black and white. It may be worth spending a little carbon now to save more carbon later”.

And I replied:

“But they keep spending carbon year after year. Getting tired of it. Haven’t heard of any such organization using video conferencing. I try my best to reduce my carbon footprint they should also. So I will continue to call them out. Some one has to.”

And then I see this article today in Deutsche Welle that strengths my stand on environmental organizations and environmentalists flying around the planet purporting to wanting to save the world.

“Should private jets be banned to spare the climate?

As delegates arrive in Madrid for the next round of UN climate talks, many will be traveling by air — including in private jets. With luxury air travel taking off, DW looks at the environmental impact.”

https://p.dw.com/p/3TXvY

So many organizations hold international conferences requiring long plane travel increasing attendees’ carbon footprint. Yes, a few may actually need to meet face to face but most could view talks via video links. I find this hypocritical and it speaks of either extreme arrogance, selfishness and or ignorance.

Black Whatever Day Sales

Extremely tired of Black Whatever Day sales. Proves too many humans want cheap “stuff” and too much of it. Another contribution to global warming / climate change few acknowledge. Cheap water, food and electricity and so many other things do not help the situation. Higher costs in robust economies that can afford it will somewhat reduce consumption in those countries that help fuel the decline of our environment. Time for those who can afford it to pay the higher monetary and personal costs and reduce their consumption of water, fuel, electricity and unnecessary consumables. Changes need to be made. Choices made. Sacrifices made so everyone and future generations can experience the true wonders of the planet.

“Not Going To Take It Anymore”

This article hit a very sore spot which has been festering and growing larger for quite some time. I have a problem with cruise ships. 🚢 Large carbon footprint. Host ports beginning to grow tired of thousands flooding their cities. Environmental damage done dredging harbors and bays to accommodate larger and larger ships. Dumping at sea. Talked to several local business people. Gelato vendor gave out lots of free samples but no purchases. Restaurants say cruisers don’t eat locally because they have already paid for their meals on board. Well known regional artist told me yesterday that his gallery has never sold his work to cruisers. They have to carry art on board ship and possibly plane. Shipping/mailing too expensive. Many cruisers after they purchase cruise package are cheapskates. Then there are the free flights adding more carbon to atmosphere. There are more and more stories of tourist destination communities wishing they never joined the tourist rabbit hole spiral. So cruise shaming and flygskam people. (Unfortunately I will never make a Panama Canal passage unless there is a green 20 passenger boat from Astoria, Oregon through the canal and back.)

https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Travel-shame-travel-virtue

#flygskam #cruise_shaming #travel_shaming #reducetarian

This meshes with something I was going to mail but did not. See below.

**The Reducetarians are convening a three day international meeting today to promote a more sustainable, equitable, and compassionate food system. Great. Part of their mission is how to reduce the carbon footprint.

I was going to send them the following letter:

[Several years ago I wondered how to label myself with all the new nomenclature for different diets and environmental movements. I decided on “Reducetarian”. (Not knowing about your Reducetarian movement) Someone trying to reduce their carbon footprint by any practical method. The old three Rs reduce, reuse and recycle plus like your organization reducing meat, dairy, seafood and overall food consumption. A more ethical diet. But on top of that less flying, staycations, regional trips in our hybrid. Combined shopping trips. Buying local foods, cut flowers on and on. Promoting local businesses and farms. When I heard of your organization I thought, great. Then disappointment. I read you were going to convene another international Reducetarian summit. What kind of carbon footprint will all that travel produce? Why not regional meetings accessable by teleconferencing to “reduce” your carbon footprint instead of a large conference where most have to fly? Makes no sense for supposed reducetarians wanting to reduce their carbon footprint. True reducetarians fly less. #Flygskam]

On top of this all the environmental organizations complaining about carbon footprints, degradation of the environment but yet hold large international conferences instead of teleconferencing. Certainly the important “might” have to meet face to face but now hundreds or thousands. Such people and organizations can only be called hypocrites. How about #conferenceshaming #conference_shaming for a new shaming topic? How about I shut up? I’m just tired of all the crap people are doing not thinking of the consequences or just not caring. #selfish

Like Howard Beale in “Network” said https://youtu.be/WINDtlPXmmE

#made_as_hell

‘FLYGSKAM’

About time. Staycations and regional trips are several ways to lower your travel carbon footprint.

Interestingly the Reducatarian Organization is having a conference in Washington, D.C. this September with attendees flying in from across the planet. The organization promotes eating less meat for health and environmental reasons. Rather hypocatical. It could be done by teleconferencing and/or regional meetings. I consider myself a more basic reducetarian, a person who strives in reducing my carbon footprint in as many ways as I can. The other “reducetarians” need to rename themselves, perhaps reducemeatians if that is all they are concerned about.

Seems the majority if not all environmental and other groups campaigning for reducing our carbon footprint by various means have numerous conferences that require attendees to travel around the globe. Hypocrites. True, conferences are for communicating. Telecommunication is communicating over a distance not traveling a distance. There are many ways of achieving that exchange of information while reducing the carbon footprint. Does that exchange require or dictate that it be done in person? No. If these organizations truly cared about the planet and believed in their own mantras there would be far fewer international conferences and more “connected” regional and local meetings. I think many people are afraid of losing the perk of visiting new and exotic locations using the conference as a selfish excuse.

For that matter why am I, a practiceing hypocrite, wasting green and/or black electricity in writing this piece that few will read or heed and might be stored on one or more servers that require more energy for far too long? Or posting my art or written works? Who really cares? A drop in the wasted power bucket. Unfortunately there are far too many irrelevant drops that add up to a waste of resources. I certainly do not waste time, personal energy and environmental resources on the dreaded and hopefully soon to be passé selfie.

Now is the time for all good citizens to do their part and rethink their carbon footprint and reconsider if any of their online discourse is in reality meaningful.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jun/09/flight-airline-travel-rail-family-environment?CMP=share_btn_tw

Flight Shaming ‘FLYGSKAM’. Will It Put You Off Long-Haul Travel?

https://www.stylus.com/zmmhgb

——-

I wrote this a week or two ago and then thought, nah, I would offend some people. Then I read a news article about KLM promoting less air travel and rethought my self censure. What is more important – what people think of me and my opinions or the future of the planet? This is the KLM message all those who fly need to hear and heed.

https://flyresponsibly.klm.com/en

The Avengers

When we speak of The Avengers the lucky ones of us know we are talking about The “real” Avengers, Cathy Gale, Emma Peel, Tara King, Dr. David Keel and John Steed and can recall some of the heady times of the 60s. I was lucky to live during the orignal broadcasts of the Mrs. Emma Peel series and those with Tara King. I went back and watched the earlier programs that included Dr. David Keel and Cathy Gale. This series along with The Prisoner will be hard pressed not be two of the best and most influential television series ever produced.

(Screenshots are from various sources)

A wonderful retrospective of The Avengers can be heard below.

Night Waves – Landmark – The Avengers – @BBCRadio3

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010749m

ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FIREWORKS

 

It’s that time again in USerland. Fireworks will once more fill the atmosphere with particulate matter and numerous heavy metals to be inhaled by human and non-human animals alike. These ‘delightful’ aerial displays rain down billions of plastic pieces to pollute our waterways and soil year after year. Let alone the noise pollution. Something to think about on the Fourth, New Year’s and any other fireworks worthy celebratory occasion. Please inform your family, friends and community of the toxic and environmental dangers of fireworks. Fireworks are deadly for numerous reasons. There are safer alternatives. Just say no to fireworks.

Thank you.

http://fireworkspollution.com

http://backcountryattitude.com/toxic_fireworks.html

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Night_festivals

Facebook needs to face the music.

Just close it down. It has served its purpose, making some people very rich.

https://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-news-feed-fake/

Fire And Fury

Is that the 50s movie about the horse named Fury and how he saves the Broken Wheel Ranch from an approaching fire?
‘Fury’ was a kid’s TV program in the 50s starring Peter Graves and Bobby Diamond.
Just wondering. 🙃

Pay For the Paper Privilege

A wonderful idea that needs to be required everywhere. Pay more or use your own cup. Many carry their own reusable water bottle so why not a coffee/tea container. Take responsibly.

‘Latte levy’ of 25p urged by MPs in bid to cut cup waste.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42564948

(BBC)