World Clean up Day September 18 2021- EarthDay.org

   

 

Take Action with Earthday.org

Follow their Cleanup Checklist

The Great Global Cleanup® is EARTHDAY.ORG’S flagship volunteer program to remove litter from our lands and waterways. Together with partners around the world, the campaign mobilizes millions of volunteers and coordinates tens of thousands of cleanups. 

Checklist for Individual and Small Group Cleanups:

Individual and Small Group Cleanups can be done anywhere that litter is found. Just grab a bag and go!

Plogging and TrashTag are ways of doing individual cleanups. #Plogging entails jogging and quickly stopping to pick up trash while you go.

#Trashtag is a social media trend — take “before and after” pictures of the area you cleaned up and post them!

1. Ensure that it is safe and permissible by local authorities.

• During the COVID-19 pandemic or local health emergencies: Always follow health and safety ordinances before heading outside. If you live in an area where masks and social distancing are required, be sure to follow those rules

2. Select a safe time and route for your cleanup. 

• Select a route where traffic does not present a danger. Your cleanup route can be done anywhere. Our favorite spots include beaches, parks, our neighborhoods, and along streams or waterways
• Go with a buddy — including one or more pals in your cleanup adds to safety and fun
• Check the weather: Always do your cleanup in daylight and when weather conditions are suitable. Don’t clean up in high wind, rain, snow, fog or when extreme weather is predicted
• Dress for the occasion: Wear sturdy shoes or boots, apply sunblock, consider wearing a hat, and use non-toxic insect repellant

3. During the cleanup

• Mask up: Ensure that you wear a mask and some form of gloves for protection. Additionally, BBQ tongs, salad tongs, or other pickup device can help create further separation between you and the litter
• Stay clean: Never touch the litter directly or and don’t touch your face during your cleanup. Bring hand sanitizer, especially if you are somewhere where you are unable to wash your hands
• Safety first: Only pick up litter that is safe to handle and can be easily disposed of or recycled. Don’t pick up batteries or fireworks. Be careful picking up glass. If you’re unsure an item is safe, leave it alone!
• Follow guidelines: Ensure that you are following guidelines set out by the CDC and EPA on how to dispose of personal protective equipment
• Watch your kids: Children of all ages make great cleanup helpers. Always keep them in sight and off roads with traffic
• Bring a cell phone: Stay in touch and take photos!

4. After the cleanup 

• Make sure to wash your hands as soon as possible
• Disinfect all the reusable equipment that was used during your cleanup

Publicize the success of your cleanup on social media. Tag us at @EarthDay (or @EarthDayNetwork on Facebook) with the hashtag #GreatGlobalCleanup, #TrashTag, or #Plogging. We love to feature our volunteers! 

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Join the World’s Largest Environmental Movement!

This is taken from their website, however if you are like me and just want to do something on that day, then have a go!  

If we can continue doing this type of stuff then maybe more people will feel guilty about throwing their litter in the street instead of putting it in the bin, which is usually just feet away!

This day starts a week of a global clean up campaign, hopefully people will continue to do world cleanup day every day and we may see a glorious change!  It´s all about attitude!

So let´s keep on keeping on and make changes!

The saying of  ¨ït´s not my job, just does´nt wash anymore" it´s all of our jobs!

The blog song for today is: "Changes" by David Bowie

TTFN

 

 

 

Amazon plans to cut waste following backlash over the destruction of unused products

 Here is a report from CNBC TV

Published Wed, Aug 4 20219:15 AM EDTUpdated Wed, Aug 4 20219:41 AM EDT

Sam Shead@Sam_L_Shead

Key Points

• The so-called Fulfilment by Amazon programs, announced in a blog post on Wednesday, will help to build a circular economy, the company said.
• They come less than two months after British broadcaster ITV reported that Amazon is destroying millions of items of unsold stock at one of its 24 U.K. warehouses every year, including smart TVs, laptops, drones and hairdryers.
• One of the programs will allow third-party businesses on Amazon to resell returned items as “used” products, Amazon said. The other will allow sellers to use Amazon’s “wholesale resale channel and technology” to recover a portion of their inventory cost from returned items and excess stock.

In this article

Electronic waste is sorted and prepared for further processing reusing.LONDON — Amazon has launched two programs as part of an effort to give products a second life when they get returned to businesses that sell items on its platform or fail to get sold in the first place.The so-called Fulfilment by Amazon programs, announced in a blog post on Wednesday, will help to build a circular economy, the company said.It comes less than two months after British broadcaster ITV reported that Amazon is destroying millions of items of unsold stock at one of its 24 U.K. warehouses every year, including smart TVs, laptops, drones and hairdryers.

The online giant was sharply criticized by U.K. lawmakers and environmental campaigners at the time and Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to look into the allegations. In a blog post on June 28, Greenpeace said ITV’s investigation showed it was clear Amazon “works with within a business model built on greed and speed.” The group also described the environmental and human cost of Amazon’s wastefulness as “staggering.”

In response, Amazon had said it is working toward a goal of zero product disposal and that no items are currently sent to landfill in the U.K.The first of Amazon’s new programs, known as “FBA Grade and Resell,” will allow third-party businesses on Amazon to resell returned items as “used” products, Amazon said.Under the program, returns are automatically routed to Amazon for evaluation. 

Once the product is received, Amazon decides if it is: “Used - Like New, Used - Very Good, Used - Good, or Used – Acceptable.” Sellers then set the price for the item based on its condition.Amazon said the program has been launched in the U.K., but it will be expanded to the U.S. by the end of the year. FBA Grade and Resell will be rolled out in Germany, France, Italy and Spain by early 2022.

The company said a separate “FBA Liquidations” program will allow sellers to use Amazon’s “wholesale resale channel and technology” to recover a portion of their inventory cost from returned items and excess stock.

The program is live in the U.S., Germany, France, Italy and Spain, and is set to go live in the U.K. in August.“Customer returns are a fact of life for all retailers, and what to do with those products is an industry-wide challenge,”

 Libby Johnson McKee, a director at Amazon, said in a statement. “These new programs are examples of the steps we’re taking to ensure that products sold on Amazon — whether by us or our small business partners — go to good use and don’t become waste.”McKee added: “We hope these help build a circular economy and reduce our impact on the planet. And we’re excited that these program will also help the businesses selling on Amazon reduce costs and grow their businesses.”

The whole thing is absolutely daft, what a waste of resources! Why don´t they donate these items to local schools or give to charities?

Its such a shame that they only did this when it was exposed to the world! But it doesn´t matter, it´s the end result that matters and they are doing something positive about the situation.

Good on you Amazon.

 The blog song for today is " It´s a hard life¨by Queen

TTFN

 

We’re calling for New Zealand to become the first country in the world to ban seabed mining - closing the doors to this nascent industry.

A message from GreenPeace

I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself to you. Ko James tōku ingoa and I’m the new Seabed Mining Campaigner for Greenpeace Aotearoa. 

Ko Māhuhu-ki-te-rangi te waka
Ko Taurere te maunga
Ko Tāmaki te awa
Ko Ngāti Whātua te iwi
Ko Te Uri O Hau te hapū
Ko James Hita ahau
,

I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself to you. Ko James tōku ingoa and I’m the new Seabed Mining Campaigner for Greenpeace Aotearoa. 

I began life as a young Māori boy growing up in urban Auckland. Living in the suburbs of Tāmaki Makaurau I saw diversity, care, and compassion amongst the community I grew to call family. Being raised in a community with a large Pacific population, I developed a strong sense of home with my Pacific brothers & sisters. 

Whilst I saw happiness in the world, I also saw it being taken advantage of. Our planet has been subjected to huge pressures from extractive industries worldwide, being ripped apart for oil, gas, metals, and minerals. I knew then that I needed to join my elders in fighting for what is right: Protecting our natural environment.

The oceans are a direct lifeline to the people of the Pacific. A place to harvest kaimoana, connect with one another, and to share knowledge. Ko te wai te ora ngā mea katoa – water is the life giver of all things. 

I’m humbled and privileged to be the Seabed Mining Campaigner at Greenpeace Aotearoa, working to protect the ocean that is such a huge part of my identity and culture. 

There is a huge threat on the horizon. Seabed mining companies are eyeing up the Pacific to yet again take advantage of its resources. Dredging up soil from the bottom of the ocean, taking what is of “value” to the industry, then pumping back the rest in a sediment plume, leaving a trail of darkness and destruction behind. 

The seabed mining industry PR spin promises untold riches and a seemingly magical ability to do no harm, but their promises are empty and their words are hollow. We’ve just recently seen a glaring example of how untrustworthy the seabed mining industry is right here in Aotearoa. The Media Council upheld a complaint by our allies Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and found two statements in an industry opinion piece defending seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight, contained lies. A decision by the Supreme Court around Trans Tasman Resources’ (TTR) bid to carry out seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight is looming.

The good news is that it hasn’t started at full scale yet and we can stop it together! I’ll be working to amplify the voices of indigenous people fighting this industry, sharing their stories of resistance against this dangerous new form of extraction. You can take a stand right now, by learning more about the issue, sharing conversations about the risk of seabed mining, and adding your name to the ever growing list of people who want to see a ban on seabed mining both in NZ and around the world. 

We’re calling for New Zealand to become the first country in the world to ban seabed mining - closing the doors to this nascent industry. 

Your support is appreciated, please sign the petition now.

SIGN THE PETITION >>

Many communities in the Pacific are already mobilising to keep the mining machines out, and as their neighbour it’s essential we join this call.

I look forward to sharing with you; the stories of the Pacific, and the actions we can all take to stop seabed mining in its tracks. In the meantime whanau, stay safe, warm, and healthy.

Ngā mihi nui koutou,

 

This sounds absolutely fantastic, if anyone has the time to sign the petition that would be really great.  

If one country starts then the rest are sure to follow.  As individuals we can all try to do our bit, but we need governments on board too, after all they are individuals too.  

It is too late to stop some things but from now on we can slow down others.  It is the responsibility of our generation now to do something.

The blog song for today is "Moonshadow" by Cat Stevens

TTFN