Environment

I don’t read the news anymore. Not because I’m uninterested, but because as we all know, it’s filled with the very worst parts of what is going on in the world around us. It can be devastating and distressing.

Well, I’d like to take the opportunity to discuss and explore the big, heavy topics which plague a lot of our news feeds and thoughts, and view them in a more positive light. There is so much good happening, and it is so easy for it to be overlooked. This week I’ve been pondering all things environmental.

The thought was sparked by initial frustration as I unpacked my food shop and the endless plastic wrap coating veggies, all of which stated “recycle with carrier bags at larger stores”. If larger stores can recycle it, why on earth can’t we just put it in with our normal recycling?

Quite infuriating…Except it’s not (or it shouldn’t be), because just a matter of years ago, that type of plastic wasn’t recycled at all really. I have to consciously decide whether to view slow progress as frustrating (and too slow) or to just be grateful there’s progress at all.

Not sure where to spot progress? Look at the now hundreds of ethical clothing brands that plant a tree for every order, my favourite is here. There are an ever increasing number of charities that protect rainforests (I’ve linked my favourite) per tonne of trees or by square metre. There are corporate accolades like B-Corp certification, enticing big companies to make better choices, to be transparent and to focus on their carbon footprint.

Continuous new discoveries on how we can re-use and recycle plastic and other non-degrading properties. Scientists discovering better ways to clean our water - this happened just this week and you can read the article here. These are huge steps, and it might not feel like it now because the damage is a man-made mountain which we are at the bottom of, but we have to acknowledge these first steps, otherwise the rest of the walk is going to feel beyond our capabilities.

There are so many new ways we can get involved in speeding up the progress, and demanding more funding, and rejecting big corporations who prioritise their greed over our future - just look at movements like XR (extinction rebellion). You may not like all their methods of protest, I certainly don’t agree with it all, but fundamentally the noise they’re making is filling the deafening silence we allowed to go on for far too long.

So whether the change you make is limited to taking a refillable bottle with you rather than buying single use plastic, or whether you’ve found an ethical clothing brand you choose over fast fashion, just know that every small change does make a difference, and instead of feeling hopeless when the news drags you down - find news sources that fill you with hope, and that demonstrate that the small steps we can all make at home do play a part in undoing the damage we have all inadvertently contributed to.