End Overfishing - We can do more! for more informatin visit: https://save.our.fish

 

 

 

 

 

• We need to save the ocean to save the climate.

• The ocean is our greatest ally in the fight against the climate crisis. A healthy ocean full of fish removes and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, protecting us from the worst impacts of climate change.

• The ocean is full of the most incredible wildlife on earth. From the smallest phytoplankton to the biggest whale, life in the ocean is beautiful and mysterious. But these species do not just inspire awe and wonder, they play a vital role for our planet too. An ocean teeming with life captures and stores carbon dioxide, thereby reducing the impacts of climate change. Fish are not the only marine creatures that do this, but they are among the most prolific. The more fish in the sea, the less climate change in the world.

• The ocean is grossly overfished using methods that fundamentally damage it. On land, we know that if you cut down trees you need to plant more. Overfishing is like bulldozing the entire forest.

• Overfishing is a human rights problem, a food security problem, and a global justice problem. And it worsens the impact of the climate crisis, which drives all of those problems too. If we are to survive, we must end overfishing and look after the biodiversity of our oceans.

• The climate crisis is complicated, but action doesn’t have to be. Stopping overfishing is a straightforward, positive action that can make a huge difference in the fight to tackle climate change.

• The laws and policies we pass now can protect the ocean and the planet for future generations. There are simple steps decision makers can take to end overfishing today, which will protect us tomorrow and into the future.

Facts & figures

• The ocean contributes almost half of the annual primary production on Earth - it's a massive ecosystem, not just a body of water!

• The ocean covers over 70% of Earth, ​​produces up to 50% of the oxygen we breathe, and is responsible for absorbing over 90% of manmade heat; without it the temperature on Earth would be 35 degrees hotter!

• Marine sediments form the largest pool of organic carbon on Earth, which is estimated to store about 38 trillion metric tons of carbon. The carbon stored by the top layer of marine sediments is nearly double the amount contained in all terrestrial surface soils.

• Marine species, as part of the ocean’s carbon pump, have an indispensable role in mitigating climate change. An ocean teeming with life allows for carbon sequestration; specifically, it has been estimated that fish contribute to 16% of total ocean carbon flux.

• Overfishing is damaging ocean ecosystems and weakening the ocean’s ability to continue absorbing carbon and heat.

• The fishing sector’s carbon footprint is magnified when bottom trawling disturbs carbon retained in seafloor sediment. Dragging heavy nets along the seafloor re-releases CO2, which may have been sequestered for millennia. European seas are the most heavily trawled in the world.

• Climate change is further accelerated through fuel consumption by EU fishing fleets, which account for nearly 7.3 million tons of CO2 emissions per year.

Solutions

The EU can harness ocean-based solutions by minimising industrial trawling and improving its fisheries management, and thereby significantly and specifically mitigate the climate emergency.

• Remove subsidies that fuel overfishing and climate breakdown, such as fuel tax subsidies.

• Set an Action Plan to eliminate the climate and ecosystem impacts of destructive fishing with thorough impact assessments.

• Initiate a just transition to low-impact, low-carbon fishing by allocating fishing quota to those who fish the most sustainably and responsibly.

• Name and deliver on sustainable fisheries as a significant climate action in UN forums like the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change.

  We have to keep up the pressure because if we don't things will get worse.

  The blog song for today is: "Moby Dick" by Led Zeppelin

  TTFN
  

Recycling - How to break down TetraPak - all you need are: scissors,sharp fingernails and 10minutes: it is not easy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take the empty container and cut it into manageable pieces. Then carefully peel the paper from the silver backing.

Remove the plastic lid - One piece for recycling!

Impossible task - peeling off the plastic coating around the lid

The silver stuff (i am still not sure what it is)

After 10 minutes this is the end result! 

This is the problem with tetraPak.  It makes the content of the packs easy to store but afterwards difficult to dispose of.

Another point is that if I decide to buy milk in plastic bottles (there is nothing available in glass) then the price is nearly double, so it raises the weekly food shop bill by quite a lot for a family of 4 (for example).  At the moment because of one thing or another the cost of living is high and most people are naturally buying the cheaper things.  

Cutting down on dairy is another option! 

The blog song for today is: "The grand parade of lifeless packaging" by Genesis

TTFN

Cruise Ships Are the Biggest Black Carbon Polluters - a report from statista.com

 

Cruise Ships Are the Biggest Black Carbon Polluters

Cruise Ship Pollution

by 

Anna Fleck,

 

May 2, 2022

Larger ships make up the vast majority of black carbon emissions, with container ships, bulk carriers and oil tankers emitting 60 percent of all BC emissions, according to the 2021 European Maritime Transport Environmental report. Although cruise ships make up only 1 percent of the global fleet, they account for 6 percent of black carbon (BC) emissions. This reveals how disproportionately bad for the environment cruise ships are, releasing the highest amount of black carbon per ship of any vessel. Container ships, on the other hand, produce around a third of the black carbon per ship, at only 3.5 tonnes. But with so many of them (5008 according to the cited 2017 report, or 5,534 according to our latest stats), they have a far greater impact on the environment, accounting for 26 percent of the global fleet’s black carbon emissions.

Black carbon, or “soot” as it’s more commonly known, is created through the partial combustion of diesel, coal, or other biomass. When inhaled, the small particles can lead to health problems, namely with respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. Yet it’s also an environmental hazard, as the dark color of its particles means that black carbon is very good at absorbing sunlight, which heats up the atmosphere and contributes to the climate emergency; something reflected in the report, which states that black carbon was responsible for 6.85 percent of the global warming contribution from shipping in 2018, while CO2 contributed 91.32 percent. This damage appears to be regional, as when soot blankets snow or ice, it reduces the natural ‘albedo’ effect - the ability to reflect sunlight - while heating up the surface, leading to greater melt, and more warming than elsewhere. This means black carbon near the Arctic is especially harmful.

As it stands, BC emissions are not currently directly regulated at an international level. The Arctic Council and the International Maritime Organization are, however, looking further into the impacts of black carbon in the Arctic. The report states that next steps may be to introduce a potential ban on the carriage and use of heavy fuel oil by ships in the Arctic, as of 2024.

Anna Fleck

anna.fleck@statista.com

Description

This chart shows which ships are the worst soot polluters. 

 I have read about this before but haven't seen the numbers!  It really does make you think.  Apart from the health issues about being on board a boat with the same air circulating for 2 weeks or so, prospective passengers should think carefully about the environmental impact a cruise has.  There is also the question of where the waste gets dumped from all these people on the cruise, along with all of the rubbish accumulated. It just seems to me like a giant floating bin.

 The blog song for today is: "Moby Dick" by Led Zeppelin

TTFN

Why Should You Care About 1% for the Planet?- an earth911 report

Why Should You Care About 1% for the Planet?

ByEarth911

May 25, 2022 conscious shopping, environmental nonprofits

It doesn’t get much better than buying your favorite products from businesses that contribute to charity. Combining the thrill of an exciting new purchase with a good deed is a win-win. However, with the rise of greenwashing, consumers have become less trusting that their money is making its way to the intended cause. So how can we, as conscious consumers, guarantee companies are putting their money where their mouth is? Yvon Chouinard, the founder of the well-loved sustainable brand Patagonia, was asking the same question.

Alongside his business partner Craig Matthews, Chouinard set out to create 1% For The Planet. They created the organization to give consumers confidence that some businesses really were donating to their stated charitable partners. The organization certifies businesses that can prove they donate 1% of their annual sales or salary to environmental causes.

This is not philanthropy. This should be a cost of doing business. It’s paying rent for our use of the planet.” —Yvon Chouinard, 1% For The Planet co-founder

Why Shop With 1% for the Planet Members?

When a brand chooses to become a 1% For The Planet member, it commits to donating regardless of the business’ annual profitability. Many brands make claims about committing funds to environmental causes. However, these donations are often ad hoc or based on annual bottom-line profitability. When donations are calculated based on profits, there is more room for dishonesty. For example, business owners can take out large sums of profit, offer enormous bonuses, and pay for expensive business trips before calculating their profit. In other words, they can “cook the books.”

Patronizing 1% For The Planet members isn’t the only way to avoid greenwashing. There are undoubtedly many honest and generous businesses that are not current members. But this is one certification you can trust. When you see the 1% for the Planet logo, you’ll know the company has made a commitment to give back to environmental nonprofits.

How Does It Work?

Visit this page to found the businesses involved: https://directories.onepercentfortheplanet.org/

Once a business has committed to donating 1% of gross sales to environmental nonprofits and filled out the paperwork, it is officially a member. 1% For The Planet provides businesses with a preapproved list of charitable organizations to ensure that donations go to worthy causes. The businesses submit their records to 1% For The Planet to certify their contributions. In return, member businesses can display the 1% logo to alert conscious consumers that they support the environment.

Over 5,000 businesses have committed to joining 1% For The Planet. When you buy products and services from these businesses, your purchase supports their commitment to helping the planet. Since 2022, members have raised more than $265 million for environmental nonprofits.

Where Does the Money Go?

There are 4,000 environmental nonprofit organizations within the 1% For The Planet network, so businesses can ensure their donations go to the causes they believe in most.

These organizations fall into six categories: climate, food, land, pollution, water, and wildlife. Under each category, there are various subcategories. Examples of these subcategories include climate solutions, renewable energy, sustainable farming practices, conservation of natural resources, and cleanups.

Here are just a few of the nonprofits involved with 1% For The Planet to give you an idea of the variety of environmental causes member donations support.

National Forest Foundation

The National Forest Foundation was founded to restore and enhance America’s forests and grasslands. The foundation leads conservation efforts, helps recover lands damaged by wildfires, and plants trees, among its many projects. Minute Key, a locksmith and key cutting company, is one of The National Forest Foundations’ business partners. Through its ongoing donations, Minute Key is on its way to helping the National Forest Foundation plant 1,000,000 trees by the end of 2022. Now that’s an impact.

Audubon

Audubon is an American nonprofit dedicated to protecting birds and their habitats. Its work includes planting native plants to improve bird habitat, helping landowners establish bird-friendly land management practices, and conserving rivers, lakes, and watering holes that birds frequent. It also works on solutions to climate change, which is a major threat to bird populations.

Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots environmental organization whose mission is to protect the world’s beaches. It was founded over 30 years ago by three surfers who worked with their local community to prevent the destruction of their favorite place to catch waves. Since then, its mission has expanded to include water quality, beach access, healthy marine environments, and coastal preservation.

One Way To Identify Responsible Businesses

It’s important to recognize that 1% For The Planet is just one of many ways to determine a business’ commitment to the environment. The organization only verifies a business’ financial contributions to environmental nonprofits. It does not tell us about the company’s internal practices or other important factors that contribute to a sustainable business.

But when you see the 1% For The Planet logo, you can be confident that the business is putting its money on the line for environmental causes. So if you want your dollar to go a little further than the product you are purchasing, supporting 1% For The Planet businesses is a great place to start.

About the Author

Tayla Nova is an Australian writer specializing in all things sustainability. She began her journey studying fashion design in Paris before spending several years working in e-commerce, including working for a sustainable retailer and then moving to freelance writing.

 This is a step in the right direction, we are able to make change, more education for everyone, not just in schools is needed urgently. If we can destroy the planet we can save it, after all it is all of our responsibility.

 The blog song for today is : "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse.

 

TTFN