Electric Cars and the deception behind the "Green" Dream

 

Lately all we seem to hear about is electric cars (or EVs), saving the planet by cutting down emissions and all that other stuff.

But is it the answer?

In fact, building a battery pack for an EV is incredibly energy-intensive, and it takes significant mileage before the EV has worked off the CO₂ released during its manufacture.

 At the moment there is a big problem with mining for Lithium in Portugal, in January 2020, a map began circulating among the various WhatsApp and Facebook groups set up by concerned residents. The map, put together by a local software developer specialising in cartography, appeared to confirm their worst fears. A tapestry of geometric shapes spread across the country’s interior, abutting designated nature reserves. A series of local and national protests, including a march in Lisbon last year, sought to raise awareness about the impacts of modern mining on the natural environment, including potential industrial-scale habitat destruction, chemical contamination and noise pollution, as well as high levels of water consumption. They also raised concerns about the impact on tourism – an economic mainstay for the country’s interior, with an annual turnover of €18.4bn in 2019. 

Apparantly the same problem is happening in Chile.

The urgency in getting a lithium supply has unleashed a mining boom, and the race for “white oil” threatens to cause damage to the natural environment wherever it is found. But because they are helping to drive down emissions, the mining companies have EU environmental policy on their side.

“There’s a fundamental question behind all this about the model of consumption and production that we now have, which is simply not sustainable. Everyone having an electric vehicle means an enormous amount of mining, refining and all the polluting activities that come with it.”

In addition, they will play little part in cleaning up toxic air which plagues our cities and towns. Particulate matter is one of the greatest threats to human health, with no safe levels. And research shows that 45% of it has been attributed to tyre and brake wear in London. Furthermore, they will not make our streets safer, less congested or more attractive places to move around.

The problem of the length of time it takes to recharge the battery is an issue also. It can be anything from 10-15 hours, so unless it is a hybrid then if you have an emergency don´t expect to jump in the electric car and go!

Rather than focusing on EVs, the governments should be doing everything it can to shift people away from driving, to healthy, clean alternatives such as walking and cycling for shorter journeys. This is the best way to reach a zero-carbon future. 

All governments need to put an end to building more roads for cars and instead make walking and cycling the easiest and most convenient options for more people. Pedestrians and people on cycles should have priority and networks of protected cycle lanes on main roads should be the norm so that everyone feels more confident travelling around.

Travelling around in big cities should be made by introducing more public transport at a really good price, we went to Prague last year and found the tram system to be really efficient, cheap and clean.  I am sure there are many more cities like this one!  There were very few cars in the city centre which can only be better for the health of everyone!

I suppose that in the long run then maybe electric cars are better than petrol/diesel ones, but at the moment the high cost of buying one, the amount of energy needed to produce one, along with the use of electricity (powered by conventional fossil fuels) outweighs the positive effects.

The blog song for today is:" Dazed and Confused" by Led Zepellin.

 

TTFN

 

 

Jupiter and Saturn can be seen close together! December 21st

Great Conjunction 2020: Jupiter and Saturn Meet on Solstice

Rare Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction on December 21—Closest Since the Middle Ages!

When: Monday, December 21, 2020

Planets occasionally pass each other in the night sky, but rarely this close. Faster-moving Jupiter laps Saturn every 20 years, but not since 1623 has there been a “great conjunction” or “appulse” this close. 

Even more impressively, not since 1226 has such a sight been this easily observable. To see the two planets just 0.06º apart have a look to the southwest immediately after sunset. Don’t waste any time they’ll be sinking towards the horizon. 

Why does it happen on the exact date of the solstice? That’s essentially a celestial coincidence, though an inevitable one given the long-term celestial mechanics at play.

You don´t really need any special equipment but if you have binoculars they help!

 The blog song for today is "Starman" by David Bowie

 

TTFN

 

Update on the Cat Sanctuary of Ciutadella - New home

Great news, thanks to all the wonderful people who donated to my GofundMe page, 333 Euros has been raised so far.  I sent the money directly to their bank account and they confirmed they had recieved it!

If anyone wants to donate the page is still open!  Just go to the GoFundMe site and search for Cats - Ciutadella and it should appear!  

They also have a sterilisation programme in place to ensure that the cat population on Menorca does not get out of control, they are working with a group of vets to sterilise as many cats as possible.  When we adopted our two cats from the sanctuary they had both had their ops! 

Here are some photos of the work that has been carried out to make the place suitable for the cats to live in:

As you can see there is still quite a lot of work to do, but I am sure that they will accomplish it!  I hear they are looking for help with woodworking and other tradesmen! So if anyone can spare a bit of time and skill then please contact them on their Facebook page!

The blog song for today is "The Year of the Cat" by Al Stewart.

TTFN

What has gone wrong with BlackFriday? It has turned into a 7daylong day.

 

I have been a bit confused with the whole BlackFriday thing.   Since when did BlackFriday change from being a day (Friday) into a week? I was under the impression that it was a super dooper sale day on or around the end of November not a complete week and then running into CyberMonday!  

It seems that the first few years of the event were great with genuine reductions, but after that companies twigged onto the fact that were they to raise their prices for a while before BlackFriday it would look like the savings were real.  

This year was disappointing to say the least, the online companies were just selling all the stuff they couldn´t get rid of, I get that that was the whole reason for this supersale in the first place but it seems to have gone off the boil.Some of the high street shops raised their prices before and then discounted them for the sale.

Everyone and their dog is doing BlackFriday!  Unfortunately people have become aware that the reductions are not genuine and it has deterred them from going back to these shops, because they think that they are being duped!

If I want to buy something (after considering if I really need the item)there are online sites that have flash sales all year round and the same goes for shopping in the real world! 

I try to keep clothes for as long as possible and I buy a lot from the charity shops here, to me it is a way to help the environment and good causes. I have found some real bargains like levi jeans for 3 euros! 

I wonder what gimmick the retailers will come up with next to get us to part with our hard earned cash!

So stuff BlackFriday it is not what it was!

 The blog song for today is: "Lust for life" by Iggy Pop

TTFN

 

Microbeads (Microplastics), how can we reduce them?

Recycling plastics isn't the answer

For many materials, recycling is a useful way of preventing pollution – but not for plastic. It just delays the inevitable escape of pollutants into the environment. And many plastics can only be recycled a few times before they become too low-grade anyway.

That's why we need to phase out all but the most essential plastics. We certainly don't need them in our clothes and textiles.

Think of it this way:

A plastic bottle is thrown away

• It fragments into microplastics, which last for at least hundreds of years, spreading pollutants.

Or it's sent for recycling

• There, it's probably made into polyester because it's easier and cheaper than turning it into a new bottle.
• And maybe then put in a fleece.
• At once it starts shedding plastic microfibres. 
• They too find their way into the environment, and last for at least hundreds of years, spreading pollutants.
  

What can I do?

Without doubt, the best cure for plastic pollution is to phase out all non-essential plastics.

In the meantime, can we stop our clothes shedding millions of tiny plastic bits?

Research is still at an early stage but these suggestions are definitely worth trying:

1. Wash at low temperatures

A lower-temperature wash is less aggressive and therefore less likely to shake out plastic fibres.

2. Put your washing in a special bag

They claim to help collect the microfibres that shed from your clothes during washing.

3. Fill the washing machine

A full washing machine reduces friction between items – in other words, they don't rub against each other as much.

4. Reduce spin speeds

Faster spins dry clothes quicker but they also shake them up more, risking more plastics shedding.

5. Air dry rather than tumble dry

Tumble drying is more aggressive than air drying – and could cause your clothes to shed more plastic.

6. Use a front-loading washing machine

Tests show that top-loading washing machines probably release more plastic fibres.

7. Buy fewer fleeces

Polyester fleece could well be one of the biggest emitters of microfibres.

8. Keep your clothes for longer

Your clothes are likely to shed more plastic in the first few washes – so frequently changing your wardrobe will probably increase the amount of plastic you're sending into the environment. Buy higher quality clothes that last. I am a great fan of charity shops for second hand clothes, as well as doing my bit for the environment I also feel feel good about helping out!

The blog song for today is "I predict a riot" by the Kaiser Chiefs

 

TTFN

 

Clothes made with microplastics - AWFUL

 Here is some information I found from the Friends of the Earth Website, they are one of the oldest green campaigners that I know of.

"Microfibres: the plastic in our clothes

Could you be eating your own clothes? Our garments are shedding tiny bits of plastic that can escape into the ocean and potentially enter the food chain. 

It might surprise you, but you're probably wearing plastic clothes.

Even more shocking, your clothes may be leading to invisible plastics infiltrating our oceans and even our own bodies. A new report Reducing Household Contributions to Marine Plastic Pollution by research group Eunomia, commissioned by Friends of the Earth, reveals how your clothes are part of this worrying problem. Read on to find out  more, and get tips on how to clean up your wardrobe.

Many of our clothes contain plastics like polyester, nylon, acrylic and polyamide. In fact most new fabrics are made of plastic – up to 64% of them.

The thing is, every time we wash these materials they shed millions of plastic microfibres. Threads so small they can drain out of our washing machines and pass straight through wastewater treatment plants into the sea.

It gets worse. Once in our oceans they can absorb nasty chemicals. Disturbingly, sea creatures are eating these toxic fibres, potentially passing them up the food chain. Some studies have found them in seafood like mussels.

If you don't like the idea of eating your own clothes, we need to find alternatives to using plastic. 

Just to be clear, we haven't got all the answers yet and we're not asking retailers to press a magic button. But we are asking them to urgently look into ways of removing the most-polluting items from our shelves.Polluting our oceans and harming our wildlife should never be in fashion.

What is a microfibre?

Microfibres are a type of microplastic – particles of plastic below 5mm in size. Other examples of microplastics include:

• bits from larger plastic items like bottles and bags that break down in the sea
• pieces that wear away from tyres while driving
• microbeads in cosmetics
• and paints on buildings and marking roads.

Thinner than a human hair

A microfibre is a plastic-based thread that is thinner than a human hair. Certain products shed microfibres during their lifetime. For example, they wash out of our synthetic clothes.

Most of these tiny fibres derive from polyester. Its lightness and warmth and the fact that it’s quick-drying seemingly make it perfect for clothing. Your fleece jacket is made from this stuff.

Other common microfibres include nylon and acrylic. They’re hiding in our carpets, curtains and other household textiles, as well as our clothes.

Environmentally-friendly plastic clothing?

Some brands market polyester apparel as environmentally friendly because they use recycled plastic bottles to make it. That may sound like a good way to reduce plastic pollution, but we now know that these garments are shedding lots of plastic debris.

Washing machines and wastewater treatment plants aren't designed to trap the minute plastic fibres that our clothes shed during washing. Many of these fibres sneak into our waterways and ultimately the oceans. And lots are caught up in sludge at the treatment plants – which is then sprayed over our soils as fertiliser.

What happens when microfibres escape into the oceans?

Sea organisms like plankton can easily mistake these tiny plastics for food. In turn, many smaller animals and fish depend on plankton as their main food source – the great blue whale is also a plankton eater. Anything that dines on the plankton will get a dose of plastic pollution – potentially passing microfibres up the food chain.

These plastic fibres have even been found in mussels and fish destined for the dinner table. And there are other ways they might end up in your body too. Microfibres have been found in air, rivers, soil, drinking water, beer and table salt.

These fibres are tiny, so what's the problem?

They might be minuscule but these plastic pieces can absorb high concentrations of poisonous substances – some of which escaped into our oceans years ago. These include chemicals we once used in products like pesticides but are now banned, like DDT.

Even before the fibres reach the ocean there's a good chance they've soaked up toxins from detergents and fire-proofing chemicals. Some of these pose a threat to our liver, kidneys and nervous system. Others are toxic to aquatic life.

They're definitely not substances you'd want lurking in the food chain"

 So looks like no polar fleeces for me!  Good grief is there no escape from Plastic?  It is really hard to understand how it came to infiltrate all parts of our lives.

 It would seem like I have gone full circle and I need to buy less things made from plastic.

The blog song for today is: "Shangri La" by ELO

TTFN

 

 

 

The really bad thing about microbeads

 

I have been looking into microbeads lately and have found a great deal of information on a website called "Plastic Soup Foundation" (the address is on the right hand side of my home blog page).  This is what they have to say!

"What are microbeads/microplastics?

Microbeads are a kind of microplastic with specific function for scrubbing or exfoliating. In cosmetics, “microplastic” refers to all types of tiny plastic particles (smaller than 5mm) that are intentionally added to cosmetics and personal care products. They are often used as emulsifying agents or just as cheap fillers.

 

Why are microplastics a problem?

These microplastics, hardly visible to the naked eye, flow straight from the bathroom drain into the sewer system. Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to filter them out; that is how microplastics contribute to the ‘Plastic Soup’ swirling around in our oceans.

Sea animals absorb or eat microplastics; these particles can then be passed along the marine food chain. Since humans are ultimately at the top of this food chain, it is likely that we also ingest microplastics. Microplastics are not biodegradable and once they enter the (marine) environment, they are almost impossible to remove.

Using body washes or cosmetics that contain microplastics can put the ocean, ourselves, and our children at risk!

 Exposure to microplastics.

Up until now, there has been consistent evidence indicating that exposure to plastics and the additives therein may lead to a variety of health complications. We know that plastic particles have been found in human feces, but what does plastic actually do to our bodies?

Phthalates, for example, are a group of chemicals that can be found in hundreds of cosmetics such as nail polishes and hair sprays. These chemicals are known endocrine disruptors and may cause certain hormone-related cancers. We already know that many additives in plastic are considered extremely harmful, but there is no complete understanding of the effects of plastic itself on human health yet.

The health impacts of plastic in all its forms should be a major concern for all of us. We are exposing ourselves to chemicals that are proving to be dangerous to our health and to the health of our fellow species. This is alarming!

So what do we look out for when we are buying products to ensure that there are no microplastics in them?

RED FLAGS - Avoid anything with these ingredients in!

• Acrylates Copolymer
• Acrylates Crosspolymer
• Butylene
• Carbomer
• Dimethicone
• Ethylene
• Methacrylate Copolymer
• Methacrylate Crosspolymer
• Methyl Methacrylate Copolymer
• Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
• Nylon 
•  Polyacrylamide

• Polyacrylate 
• Polypropylene 
• Polyurethane 
• Polyvinyl 
• Propylene Copolymer or Polypropylene 
• PVP 
• Styrene Copolymer 
• Tetrafluoroethylene 
• Vinyl Acetate Copolymer 
• VP/VA Copolymer  "                                                                                                                         
  

So these ingredients are definately to be avoided! If you don´t have the time for this, download the BTMB app (plastic soup foundation) and it will do it for you simply by using your phone as a barcode scanner.

The blog song for today is: "Park Life" by Blur

TTFN

Cleaning with natural ingredients: Part 3 - Lemons!

 

Have extra lemons or a bottle of lemon juice that you rarely use? There’s a reason that plenty of cleaning supplies have citrus in them; lemons are a natural disinfectant and stain remover because of their acidity. As an added bonus, lemons will leave your house with a pleasant smell. Here are some common tasks where lemons (or bottled lemon juice) can lend you a hand.

In the kitchen:

• Clean laminate worktops and cutting boards: Squeeze the juice of a lemon onto the worktop or cutting board. Rub the lemon into the stains and let sit until the stains disappear, then rinse. (Although lemons do have antibacterial properties, it’s advisable to seek out alternatives for cleaning surfaces that have been touched by things like raw meat to ensure you and your family members don’t get ill.)
• Remove stains from food storage containers: Squeeze the juice of a lemon into the containers, then add a little bicarbonate of soda. Rub the mixture into the stains. Leave it to sit overnight if necessary.
• Clean your microwave: Slice a lemon, put it in a bowl of water, and microwave for 45 seconds. This should make stains easier to wipe away and get rid of nasty smells.
• Control odour in your fridge: Store a half a lemon in your fridge, uncovered, to help eliminate unpleasant smells.

In the bathroom:

• Remove lime scale from taps: Rub the fixtures with lemon juice and leave it to sit overnight. Rinse in the morning.
• Tackle grout stains: Make a paste from lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar (a natural bleaching agent) and apply to the area with a toothbrush. Once the stain is gone, rinse with water.

Throughout the home:

• Clean glass: Mix 3 tablespoons of lemon juice with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake the mixture, spray it on the glass, and clean as usual.

Miscellaneous:

• Remove rust stains from clothes: Apply lemon juice to the stain, sprinkle with cream of tartar, and rub into the fabric. Let sit until the stain is gone and then wash in the washing machine.

 

Guess what! Not all paper can be recycled!

 

Pizza Boxes and Used Paper Towels and Plates

Many people assume that pizza boxes are recyclable. Most boxes have recycling symbols on them and are traditionally made from corrugated cardboard. They are, in and of themselves, recyclable. However, what makes parts of them non-recyclable is the hot, tasty treat that comes inside — or, more specifically, the grease and cheese from pizza that soil the cardboard.

Food is one of the worst contaminants in the paper recycling process. Grease and oil are not as big of a problem for plastic, metal, and glass, as those materials are recycled using a heat process.

But when paper products are recycled, they are mixed with water and turned into a slurry. Since we all know water and oil don’t mix, the issue is clear. Grease from pizza boxes causes oil to form at the top of the slurry, and paper fibers cannot separate from oils during the pulping process. Essentially, this contaminant causes the entire batch to be ruined. This is the reason that other food-related items are non-recyclable (used paper plates, used napkins, used paper towels, etc.).

Shredded Paper

When you shred paper with a paper shredder, you dramatically decrease the value of the paper because you shorten the length of the paper fiber, which is the source of value of the paper

Shredded paper has a lower value to recyclers because of its shortened fibre length. Photo: Flickr/Peat Bakke

Nice white computer paper has a long, strong fibre, and every time you recycle that paper, the fibre gets shorter. If done properly, that computer paper can be recycled six to eight times.

However, if you shred that same crisp computer paper, you’re lucky if it can even be recycled once. Commonly, paper mills won’t accept shredded paper because of the difficulties it creates during the sorting process.

If you have a document that is semi-confidential, rip it by hand three or four times, then throw it into the recycling bin. For documents that absolutely require shredding, locate a resource in your area that specifically handles shredded paper for recycling.

Brightly Colored Paper

Believe it or not, bright paper can stop a whole batch of paper from being recycled. The idea behind this one is simple. “It’s like the red-sock-in-the-white-load syndrome,”  If you need to buy colored paper, avoid really rich colors and opt for pastels. Paper mills can usually handle the lighter tones.

Paper Coffee Cups

Currently, only a few places accept paper coffee cups (also called hot cups) for recycling. The thin polyethylene plastic coating on the cups that helps prevent liquid leaking makes it difficult for most processing services to recycle the cups.

 

 

 

 

 

Why pouring cooking oil down the sink is not a good idea!

 

Most of the blockages in the sanitation networks are caused by the oil that is thrown down the drains, since it adheres around the pipes reducing their discharge flow.
    • Cooking oil is an organic product, therefore, when it is dumped down the drains, it becomes food for rats, cockroaches, worms, etc.
    • The purification of oil in water is very expensive, therefore, it increases the economic costs of the municipal purification service.
    • On the other hand, cooking oil can be reused, since it is the raw material (after being treated) for the production of biofuels, which pollute 80% less than the rest of gasoline and oil due to its low CO2 emission.

Therefore, if we recycle used cooking oil:

    • We eliminate a polluting residue
    • We improve the reuse of treated water
    • We make wastewater treatment processes cheaper
    • We reduce the degradation and obstruction of sanitation systems
    • We reduce the probability of proliferation in living organisms in sanitation networks
    • We reduce energy dependence on the outside

The process to recycle oil begins in the houses, bars, restaurants or hotels that decide to save the oil instead of throwing it away.

WHAT PROCESS IS FOLLOWED ON MENORCA?

COLLECTION. With the fleet of vehicles at INGENI MEDI AMBIENT, the used vegetable oil is collected, both from street containers and drums distributed by catering establishments.

 

EMPTYING AND CLEANING. The oil from the catering establishments is poured and filtered, and then the drums are cleaned, which will be reused for subsequent collection. 

As for oil collected from the roadside containers, all the containers are emptied, later the containers are also recycled and we contribute the caps to social projects. 

SEPARATION OF PARTICLES AND WATER. The oil is allowed to settle because the particles and the water need to be separated.

 

 STORAGE. It is stored in special containers.

 

SHIPPING. It is sent to a recycling plant outside Menorca and BIODIESEL IS MANUFACTURED.

 

 

The blog song for today is : "Milk and Alcohol" by Dr Feelgood

 TTFN