Joe Manchin’s Final Betrayal: a report from the sierra club - https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/joe-manchin-s-final-betrayal

Joe Manchin’s Final Betrayal

It’s time at last to move on without him

By Josh Dorner | Jul 20 2022

Opinion
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Sierra Club.

If you were creating a cartoon villain to play the leading role in the story of planetary destruction, it would be hard to top a literal coal baron who lives on a yacht, drives an Italian sports car, and rakes in hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from oil and gas executives and assorted billionaires. But here we are, with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) single-handedly derailing our country’s (and perhaps humanity’s) last, best chance to finally pass climate legislation that will give us some hope of averting the most catastrophic effects of warming. 

How did we get here? After Manchin tanked Biden’s “Build Back Better” Act last December, it was he himself who proposed a slimmed-down version that he could live with. It would, he said, consist of tax increases on the wealthy and corporations, prescription drug pricing reforms, and major climate investments. “The climate thing is one that we probably could come to an agreement much easier than anything else,” he said in January. 

Not so much in July. Manchin’s excuse for sinking his own package last Friday, July 16—his latest in a series of excuses—is the red-hot rise in inflation that is squeezing family budgets. But inflationary  concerns simply don’t reflect economic reality. Raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations would have an anti-inflationary effect, and the bill’s climate investments—spread out over many years—would save families $500 a year on their energy bills. Besides, speeding up the transition to clean energy would also free us from our dependence on dirty, dangerous, and costly fossil fuels. The cheapest tank of gas is the one you never have to buy. 

Some point out that West Virginia is a deeply conservative, fossil-fuel-producing state. That’s true, but it’s also a state in desperate need of new investments and industries. The coal industry is dying, and there is really nothing Manchin or anyone else can do to change that. Clean energy is simply cheaper than fossil fuels, especially coal. A West Virginia University report (https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2020/12/14/report-renewable-energy-is-key-to-west-virginia-s-economic-future) found that the state could generate over 70 percent of its electricity from wind and solar by 2035, which would lead to a net increase in jobs. The state’s largest solar project is now being built on top of a former coal mine that went bankrupt in 2015.  

Senate Democrats had been reluctantly willing to go along with Manchin’s demands to boost fossil fuel production in the short-run and almost certainly would have given him even more concessions to secure his vote. “With his leverage, Manchin could have brought us anything—jobs, schools, restored mountains and rivers, opportunities. But he blew it,” wrote Mary Anne Hitt, a leading climate strategist (and former director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign) who lives in West Virginia.  

So why did Manchin do it? Sometimes the answers are sitting out in plain sight. As The New York Times documented, Manchin became a millionaire by using his political influence to benefit his family’s coal business. Last year, he made more than $536,000 from the coal brokerage, which, as CNN noted, is more than three times his annual salary as a senator. In total, his interest in the coal business is worth millions of dollars. 

Manchin is also the single-largest recipient of campaign cash from the oil and gas industry. Tellingly, during a key moment in the Build Back Better negotiations last summer, he traveled to Texas for a fundraiser hosted by Republican donors from the oil and gas industry. Then this spring, reporters spotted him huddling with fracking billionaire Harold Hamm.

Manchin’s final betrayal united his party in outrage. “It seems odd that Manchin would choose as his legacy to be the one man who single-handedly doomed humanity,” said John Podesta, one of many Democrats who argued that Manchin should not be able to evade accountability. Undeterred, Manchin suggested on a West Virginia radio show that actually he was still possibly, maybe open to climate investments if Democrats give him until after the next inflation report is released in August to make up his mind. As climate policy expert Leah Stokes observed in The New York Times: “He simply doesn’t want to be held accountable for his actions. He has consistently said one thing and done another.”  

Where do we go from here? Perhaps the only positive consequence of Manchin’s betrayal is that President Biden is now free to take the kind of bold action he may have been holding back on for fear of upsetting Manchin during the course of these interminable negotiations. Biden is reportedly considering declaring a climate emergency as soon as this week. He needs to order the Environmental Protection Agency to act as quickly and boldly as possible to tackle climate pollution from power plants. On the other side of the coin, Biden needs to end new climate-killing fossil-fuel endeavors like ConocoPhillips’ Willow project in Alaska’s Western Arctic. It and other looming dirty and dangerous projects will do nothing to help families deal with gas prices today and are fundamentally incompatible with the president’s own ambitious climate change and public lands protection goals. 

It may sound trite, but the ultimate solution to this crisis—and many other serious challenges facing our country, like attacks on voting rights and reproductive freedom—will be up for a vote in November, when climate will be on top of the ballot. If we elect a couple more pro-climate-action senators, we’ll never have to worry about Joe Manchin again.   

Wow "this man" is really something else, unfortunately there are many more like "this man" who are in positions of authority.  Greed is a terrible thing, how much do they want? As long as people vote for people like him, the longer we will be in this awful mess.  We are all responsible and must take control.  Even a small change can make a difference.

It really is good to see more and more of these writers becoming more and more outspoken, wonderful, thank you!!

The blog song for today is: " On the border" by the wonderful Al Stewart

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Hugelkultur Gardens: No-Dig, Less Work, And Great Yields- a report from: https://gardenculturemagazine.com

 

Jul 8, 2022

by Catherine Sherriffs

Hugelkultur Gardens: No-Dig, Less Work, And Great Yields

Are you looking for a gardening method with no back-breaking work or expensive inputs? Then look no further than Hugelkultur! This no-dig technique has been around for centuries and involves creating thriving gardens from woody debris and other natural materials found around the yard. You’ll not only recycle logs, branches, and fallen leaves, but you’ll also be sequestering carbon and helping fight climate change. Go, you!     

What Is Hugelkultur?

Hugelkultur is a German word meaning “hill mound” or “mound culture”. And even though traditional practice involves building a hill or mound to grow on, you can also incorporate hugelkultur into raised beds and containers. The best part? It’s easy to do; gather soil and other woody debris from the yard and build your gardens on top of it. 

The Benefits of Hugelkultur

Before we learn how to build a hugelkultur garden, here are some of the benefits: 

• You’ll recycle and reuse naturally decomposing materials from around the yard.
• No-digging, saving precious soil life and your back! Need we say more?
• The natural materials will break down over time, continuously feeding the soil and your plants.
• The raw materials retain moisture, meaning less time wrestling with the hose.
• Natural decomposition keeps the earth warmer, perfect for growing in colder climates.
• The logs used at the bottom of the bed store carbon, meaning it won’t get released into the atmosphere.
• This technique works on rocky and compacted soil.

How To Build A Hugelkultur Garden

Making a hugelkultur garden bed is similar to making a lasagna; it involves a lot of layering.

First, select a site for the garden and be sure you won’t be moving it anytime soon. Remember, this bed is built to decompose over many years, up to 20, depending on the size you create. So you don’t want to be messing with it by changing locations. 

Once you’ve chosen your spot, walk around your landscape and collect some dead logs, twigs, and branches. Hardwood (maple, ash, oak, birch) is recommended because it takes longer to break down than softwood, but fallen poplar trees will work well too. 

Build a log pile anywhere between one and three feet tall. Make sure it’s nice and snug. You don’t want your garden to fall apart. Although hugelkultur is a no-dig method, some gardeners like to dig a trench to begin so the logs rest nicely at the bottom. If you’re using raised beds, there is no need to dig at all.  

Once you’ve placed your logs and branches, cover them with a layer of nitrogen-rich material, like grass clippings, sod (upside down), compost, seaweed, or aged manure. You can add some garden soil too. These will help begin the decomposition process with the logs. 

Cover the nitrogen layer with 6-12 inches of hay, straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves. This material will act as a mulch and help with water retention. 

Surrounding the mound or garden bed with rocks or logs will keep the soil from washing away.

Growing In Your Hugelkultur Garden

Now that you’ve created your garden, it’s time to start growing. 

If you have layered the above materials in a deep raised garden bed, you can plant as usual and reap the benefits of the slow decomposition. Doing this will save you a ton of money; you won’t have to order as much earth or compost to fill the bed. 

If you’ve created a hill or mound, remember that the top of the garden will be pretty dry, so plant crops that can tolerate arid conditions higher and thirsty crops toward the bottom of the hill. 

Remember that although you have a layer of nitrogen-rich material in the garden, it takes time to decompose. So, in your first year of hugelkultur, you’ll likely need to add more compost than usual. 

After year one, you won’t need to worry about this so much, but you’ll need to spread a thin layer of compost on the top before planting.  

Happy Hugelkultur Gardening! 

We love Charlie Nardozzi’s guide to hugelkultur gardening and no-dig techniques in general in :https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53020020-the-complete-guide-to-no-dig-gardening 

If you don't have a lot of space this seems like the ideal solution! 

The blog song for today is: " The only way is up" by Yazoo

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5 Helpful Tips to Reduce Your Plastic Use — And Why You Should - a report from: https://www.healthline.com

5 Helpful Tips to Reduce Your Plastic Use — And Why You Should

• Reusable bags
• Reusable silverware
• Food packaging
• Cosmetics
• Water bottles
• Bottom line

Plastic is one of the highest produced materials — and the least recycled. In 2018, only 8.6% of plastic created was recycled.

With everything from your shampoo to your bag of lettuce being wrapped in plastic, it might seem impossible to avoid it. But there are a number of ways to reduce the amount of plastic that you use on a regular basis.

If you’re looking to reduce your plastic waste to protect the environment and even save some of your hard-earned cash, try some of these helpful tips.

Cutting back on plastic can preserve reduce waste and limit emissions

Environmental and human health are affected at each stage of plastic production: the extraction of the raw materials needed to make it, the processing of plastics, and the release of microplastics into the air and water.

And, since the world produces over 400 million tons of plastic each year, there are a lot of resources being used and pollution created. In the United States, it’s estimated that each person generates more than 286 pounds of plastic waste each year.

One concern all that waste poses? Microplastics.(https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/microplastics)

Microplastics are plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size that can be found in the water, in the air, and on land. This pollution is detrimental to the environment, animals, and human health.

Plus, making plastic requires the use of non-renewable fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels sends poisonous gasses like nitrogen and ammonia into the atmosphere, contributing to smog and acid rain.

Not to mention, making plastic drains our planet’s natural resources.

Four percent of the world’s petroleum is used to make plastic, and another 4% is used to power the manufacturing of that plastic. With single-use plastic making up 40% of all plastic produced, the waste of resources adds up quickly.

Since plastic isn’t biodegradable, the only ways to get rid of it is to let it sit in landfills — where it heats up and breaks down into microplastics, polluting the air and water — or to burn it.

Burning plastic emits toxic gasses into the environment, which then settle into waterways, crops, and eventually our bodies.

Using less plastic reduces the need to create plastic, preserves fossil fuels, limits the emissions of dangerous gasses, and keeps waste from ending up in the air, waterways, and land.

Global corporations contribute to plastic waste, too

While it’s a great idea to curb your plastic use and engage in other sustainability efforts at home, remember that individual consumers aren’t solely to blame for plastic overconsumption and other issues affecting the Earth.

A 2019 report found that just 20 corporations produced more than half of the planet’s single-use plastic waste. What’s more, many international banks and world governments support these companies’ practices.

Activists argue that making eco-friendly changes in our daily lives is a great start — especially since shifting our habits may encourage companies to adjust their practices — but ultimately insufficient. They say we need to hold leaders accountable for protecting the planet.

Some ways to champion environmental protections include engaging with nonprofits dedicated to sustainability, divesting from companies that don’t align with your sustainable values, and urging elected representatives to take action.

1. Invest in reusable shopping bags

If your grocery haul comes with a surplus of plastic bags that inevitably end up in the trash, it might be time to invest in some alternatives.

It’s estimated that 5 trillion plastic bags are used each year.

The impact of plastic bags on the environment has become so severe that a number of states have imposed bans on single-use plastic bags. Several other states have focused on implementing more effective recycling programs.

Switch to a shopping bag that you can reuse over and over again. Reusable bags made from cotton, hemp, or burlap are the best choices, as they’re more easily up-cycled or recycled when their lifetime of hauling your groceries is over.

If you often buy loose fruits and vegetables, skip the plastic produce bags. Instead, use reusable mesh produce bags or make your own by sewing or pinning a flour sack into a make-shift bag.

2. Ditch disposables

If your trash can is filling up with plastic silverware, cups, straws, and plates, then you’re not only adding plastic to the landfills and waterways but throwing your money away with it.

Plastic disposables have been used for years as the ultimate convenience tool. Everything can just be tossed and forgotten about instead of washed and put away.

The 2019 International Coastal Cleanup organized by the Ocean Conservancy picked up 23,333,816 pounds of trash off of coasts and waterways. This included over 2.6 million pieces of plastic cutlery, cups, and plates.

The popularity of plastic disposables ramped up exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to August 2021, there was an estimated 8.4 million tons of pandemic-associated plastic waste produced.

Because many businesses turned to disposables to avoid contamination from reusable utensils and plates, eating out led to more plastic waste than it had before.

Instead of buying one-time-use dinnerware, invest in cups, plates, straws, and silverware that can be washed and used again and again.

While doing the dishes or loading and unloading the dishwasher isn’t always fun, it keeps plastic out of landfills and off the beaches.

When eating out, pack a fork or chopsticks and a reusable straw in your bag. Just wrap it in a cloth to keep it clean and politely turn down any plastic options offered to you.

3. Pay attention to the packaging

In most grocery stores, it’s impossible to get away with a plastic-free trip. Unless you’re fortunate enough to live near a bulk foods store, your groceries — from produce to bread, meat, peanut butter, and cheese — all comes wrapped in plastic.

Plastic does make things more convenient when shopping, but the conveniences comes at the cost of extra waste.

When buying produce, choose loose items and pack them in your own reusable bag. And when given the choice between a loose head of lettuce or a bag of pre-chopped washed greens, consider the less convenient but plastic-free option.

When buying packaged foods, choose ones sold in glass, paper, or aluminum packaging if possible. These alternative food packages are more easily reused and recycled than plastic.

4. Green up your beauty routine

When it comes to your beauty routine, how much plastic is sitting in your drawers, on your bathroom counter, or in your shower?

The zero-waste and sustainable living movements have been building momentum in recent years and have brought with them a wave of more sustainable beauty and hygiene products.

Swap plastic soap and shampoo bottles for bars that come wrapped in paper (www.suubio.org). And, when that time of the month comes around, consider skipping the pads or tampons and investing in a reusable menstrual cup.

Not only do these swaps save on plastic waste, but they also add up to big money and space savings.

5. Bring your own bottle

If you’re getting your eight glasses a day from plastic bottles, your water habits — while good for you — could be harming the environment.

While bottled water can be a lifeline for people who otherwise don’t have access to safe water due to disaster, location, or other circumstances, it’s become an everyday consumable for many people that poses environmental risks.

There’s some evidence that water bottled in plastic might not be great for our bodies, either. Bottled water from 11 different brands, purchased from 19 different locations in 9 countries, was tested and discovered to contain microplastics.

The study authors said that while we don’t know a lot about how microplastic consumption may affect human health andt that more research is needed, there may be good reasons to limit bottled water use if possible.

With 70 million disposable water bottles being used and tossed each day, microplastics are continuously filling up landfills and waterways.

From manufacturing and shipping to the cost of waste, bottled water comes with an environmental price. Researchers in Spain found that the environmental impact of bottled water is 1400–3500 times greater than tap water.

To do your part, drink from the tap.

If you have concerns over the taste or safety of your water, have it checked by your municipal agency and install a filter or use a pitcher with a water filter attached. You’ll save plastic waste and have access to great-tasting water at your fingertips.

Consider investing in a water bottle that’s fun and easy to carry with you. Choose one slim enough to fit in your car or bike cup holder, that closes tight to prevent leaks, and has a handle to make carrying it easy.

If purchasing water on the go is a must, try an alternative like Boxed Water, which claims to have a 36% lower carbon footprint than plastic bottled water and can easily be refilled and reused.

The bottom line

While most plastic claims to be recyclable, the fact is that most of it ends up in landfills, the oceans, or other parts of the environment, contributing to plastic pollution.

You can do your part to fight plastic pollution by making small changes at home. For example, consider swapping single-use plastics like grocery bags and water bottles for reusable options.

Just one thing

Try this today: Microplastics are harmful to the environment, but you may wonder if they have the potential to harm your body as well. Learn more about microplastics and how they affect your health.

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-dangerous-are-microplastics-to-your-health

This was a very interesting article highlighting what I have been trying to get across!  Just a small action can make a lot of difference.  I am proud to say that I do make my own soap,shampoo,shower gels and other things.  The amount of plastic not used is very impressive. Not only do these things cut down on plastic,they are also good for the environment because it is only natural products that are being put down the drain! They are also great for us because they have no chemicals in them! It is a win win all around!

So to everyone of us out there keeping on with our battle, well done,we ARE making a difference.

The blog song for today is: " Since you've been gone" by Rainbow

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How Mushrooms And The Mycelium Network Are Healing The World- a report by : https://gardenculturemagazine.com

 

Jun 15, 2020

by Rich Hamilton

How Mushrooms And The Mycelium Network Are Healing The World.

Plants have been around for a long time; 700 million years to be exact. But fungi have been on Earth longer, making the first appearance on land 1,300 million years ago. Interestingly enough, the largest living organism in the world today is a honey fungus that measures 2.4 miles (3.8 km) in the Blue Mountains of Oregon. 

Fungi Facts

Fungi exist almost everywhere that moisture is present. They can be found as single-celled organisms that are invisible to the naked eye or as multiple-celled organisms, such as mushrooms.

Fungi do not reproduce through sexual reproduction, seed, or photosynthesis, but rather through spores. These spores germinate to produce a dense network of interweaved, single-cell structures known as hyphae, which collectively assemble with incredible precision into much more complex structures called mycelium. The word “mycelium” is derived from New Latin and Greek origins and means “more than one”. The growth of mycelium is rapid; they release enzymes that help break down matter into a more digestible form, which they take in as energy.

Fungi belong to a group of decomposers that includes bacteria, nematodes, snails, beetles, and earthworms. They help break down dead plant and animal matter into more soluble forms of simple sugars, nitrates, and phosphates that are used by other decomposers or for food by plants. Fungi are so numerous that they make up a large proportion of the biomass in all ecosystems. 

Essential To Life

The ecosystem and plants do not exist without fungi. Nutrients are rarely found in a soluble enough form for a plant’s roots to take up. Nitrogen, for example, the nutrient needed in the most significant amounts by plants, is usually trapped within proteins that cannot be easily accessed. That’s where fungi come in, metabolizing proteins and transforming them into more soluble nitrates.

A group of complex fungi exists that can form symbiotic (mutually beneficial) relationships with plants. Mycorrhizal fungi facilitate the transfer of nutrients from the soil into the plant roots, and in return, receive carbon from the plant.

These symbiotic relationships begin when mycorrhizal fungus colonize a plant’s root zone and then spread out densely into the medium, forming a massive web that increases the surface area of the roots and the capacity for absorption. This web hyphae or “mycelium” can increase root mass by 300-8000 times the original size. Hyphae are so small they can squeeze and push their way around rocks and other obstructions, making collecting nutrients for the plants an easy task. 

Picture This

Imagine the mycelium as if it is a giant sponge that is attached to plant roots, soaking up large amounts of water and nutrients. The plants, as a result, receive a much improved and increased take-up of all the essential nutrient elements, but especially elemental phosphorus (P) zinc ( Zn) manganese (Mn) copper (Cu) and water.

The mycelium of a single mycorrhiza can extend and connect multiple plants of different species. They form a hybrid underground system called a “common mycorrhizal network”. This network allows plants to communicate as they transport sugar supplies to one another when they are needed.

Networks can be extraordinarily vast or widespread. Mycelium can be hundreds or even thousands of miles long, all compacted into a tiny area. It is estimated that there can be at least 200km of hyphae in every kilogram of soil! 

Fungi And Human Health

Beyond plants, humans have also been successfully harnessing the incredible powers of fungi for thousands of years. For example, yeast, which is widely used for fermentation, produces countless products that we use every day. Medical science successfully applied the process of liquid fermentation to their research. In 1978, the first biosynthetic insulin using E. coli as a single-celled manufacturing plant was created and became one of the most compelling discoveries in the past 100 years.

Science has concentrated on learning about, cultivating, and manipulating fungi such as yeast, bacteria, and algae to its advantage. Fungi can be used in lifesaving drugs, bio-based fuels such as corn ethanol, fragrances, and other useful, small biological molecules.

Mycelium And Mushrooms

Mycelium has the potential to grow into much larger structures, also known as mushrooms. The mushrooms that we eat are just a small, visible part of the fungi organism. Like flowers, mushrooms bloom during certain times of the year when the conditions are just right; they are the fruit of these reproducing fungi. In nature, the chances of mushroom spores germinating and then producing a mushroom are quite slim. Environmental conditions have to be just right for a mushroom to grow. This explains why some species of mushrooms are so rare, sought after, and highly valued.

Mycologists can cultivate a specific species of mushroom as it forms in an environment where conditions are optimal. Under lab conditions, the mycelium can be persuaded to build a particular structure through the control of the variables of temperature, CO2, humidity, and airflow. The growth of mycelium fibers present as a visible speck after just a few hours. Within one week, it can transform into an 18”x12” sheet, 2” thick and weighing several pounds.

Mushroom Fibers Useful In So Many Ways

Much effort is put into recreating and manipulating the growth of mushroom fibers because they offer so many benefits to our lives. When used as a controlled technology, mycelium can help reduce the use of plastics. Mycelium is also used to produce materials for a wide range of items, including packaging, clothing, food, and construction materials. 

Mycelium is also a valid meat alternative; think plant-based steak. Eating more vegetarian foods has been found to have a minimal environmental footprint by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and harmful effects on agricultural land commonly associated with raising cattle.

The production of mycelium-based, self-repairing structures, where you add water and watch them grow is a fantastic development that shows the possible potential of using fungi in new and exciting ways. There are also mycelium cultivation projects in development by DARPA, which see mycelium automatically produce antidotes when exposed to specific toxins. DARPA is an agency of the United States Department of Defense, responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.

Self-assembling organisms maintain natural ecosystems. Fungi, its mycelium, and subsequent mushroom fruit play an integral role in sustaining all plant life and natural processes. With natural and raw resources being overused and wasted, it makes perfect sense that we should use anything we can to steer and repair our stressed environment. 

So Much Left To Learn

Biological technology is a powerful and untapped resource. With appropriate research and development, we can put it to good use. Previously put into the same culinary box as vegetables and herbs, mushrooms and fungi have a much higher worth than what they were originally thought to possess. We are only now starting to unlock their true potential and special magic.

I find this topic extremely interesting in so many different ways!  I will be looking into this subject more in the future!  I have heard that mycelium can be used to clear up oil spills! It can eat anything (except for our supreme enemy plastic, but apparantly they have discovered a bug that eats it)

Watch this space!

The blog song for today is: " Mellow Yellow"by Donovan

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Helping to cut plastic - Californa EPR bill - a report from https://www.recyclingtoday.com

While the plastics industry says its recycling infrastructure is growing, anti-plastic groups see the answer as shifting away from plastic in some applications.

Photo by Recycling Today staff.

Updated: California SB 54 ups plastic pressure

Advocacy groups say by phasing out plastic in some applications the state’s litter problem can be addressed.

July 1, 2022

Brian Taylor

Legislation & Regulations Municipal / IC&I Plastics

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 54, which creates several amendments to the state’s Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 and is designed to address plastic litter issues and low recycling rates in the Golden State, into law.

The text of SB 54 ( go to the website to view the document)sets reporting requirements for transfer station and “disposal facility” operators to provide “periodic information to the [state] on the types and quantities of materials that are disposed of, sold or transferred to other recycling or composting facilities or specified entities.”

Trade associations such as the National Waste & Recycling Association and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) likely will seek clarification on the reporting requirements and how they affect operators of transfer stations, material recovery facilities (MRFs) and other locations where discarded materials are handled in the recycling chain.

The bill also states, “The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 regulates the disposal, management and recycling of, among other solid waste, plastic packaging containers and single-use foodware accessories.”

At least one advocacy group sees this as the death knell for plastic in several applications in the state. Washington-based Oceana calls the measure “the strongest plastic source reduction policy in the nation” and “the first state law to mandate source reduction of all single-use plastic packaging and foodware, from detergent bottles and bubble wrap to cups and utensils.”

According to Oceana, the law requires packaging producers and product makers to “slash their single-use plastic packaging and foodware by at least 25 percent by 2032 and implement the first reuse and refill mandates in the nation.”

Christy Leavitt, Oceana’s plastics campaign director, says, “Oceana commends the state legislature and the governor for realizing the urgency of the plastic pollution crisis and taking strong action to protect California's coast and communities. California’s effort to aggressively tackle plastic pollution at the source and require companies to shift from throwaway plastic to reusable and refillable alternatives sends a strong signal to the nation, and the world."

The Washington-based American Chemistry Council (ACC) previously told Recycling Today it had concerns about the future of chemical recycling investments and other unintended consequences should the legislation be passed.

Joshua Baca, vice president of plastics at the American Chemistry Council (ACC), Washington, released a statement saying the ACC is pleased that the anti-plastics ballot initiative has been withdrawn and SB 54 was signed into law.

“Negotiating SB 54 over the last 18 months has not been an easy process," he says. "We appreciate the hard work of Sen. Ben Allen and his staff to get us to this resolution. The law is not perfect, as we outlined in our previous statement.  

“However, SB 54 is a better outcome than the withdrawn anti-plastics ballot initiative. Had that initiative passed it would have cost Californians an estimated $9 billion annually but only invest approximately 30 percent of that to improve recycling in the state."

Baca adds, “Now we will focus on working with lawmakers, regulators and other stakeholders to help ensure the implementation of SB 54 matches its intent: eliminating plastic waste and improving plastics circularity while minimizing costs on Californians.”

He continues, “Petitioners of the ballot initiative released a statement yesterday inaccurately questioning our intent to work collaboratively on the implementation of SB 54. Nobody got everything they wanted in SB 54, but we remain steadfast in our belief that all stakeholders can do more to benefit California by working on constructive solutions rather than attacking each other. We want to be a partner in sustainability so society can retain the benefits plastics provide to our modern lives while ending plastic waste in our environment.”

Oceana stresses the pollution control aspects of the legislation, with Tara Brock, Oceana’s Pacific counsel, commenting, “Single-use plastic foodware and food packaging products are consistently among six of the top 10 types of items most commonly picked up during annual beach cleanups across California. Voters are concerned and want change.”

The Washington-based American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), representing that sector, has tweeted it is “pleased California policymakers [have] taken a first-of-its-kind approach to extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation that recognizes the success of paper recycling.”

The AF&PA’s tweet says SB 54 “provides an off-ramp for industries like paper that have already stepped up and made the investments necessary to achieve a high recycling rate.”

“The paper recycling rate in the United States reached a record of 68 percent in 2021, and California’s new law recognizes this,” adds Natalie Urban, a spokesperson for the AF&PA.

The Ecology Center in Berkeley, California, says several environmental organizations, including the Ecology Center, provided input to the legislation, adding that it establishes guardrails to ensure compliance.

Martin Bourque, executive director of the Ecology Center says, “The industry-run producer responsibility organization (PRO) that this law creates will require more watchdogging than ever to ensure it does not follow age-old industry tricks, false promises and greenwashing. We are satisfied that CalRecycle will have the necessary authority to ensure the PRO lives up to its legal requirements, and we will be watching to make sure they do.”

At least we are making a bit of progress, some countries faster than others it would seem!

It is all about education at the end of the day, the one person can make a difference is really true!

The blog song for today is: " Passenger" by Iggy Pop

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What are parklets? A report from https://www.wearepossible.org/parklets

 

Parklets

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What are parklets?

A parklet is an old parking space that has been transformed into something for people to enjoy. There’s no such thing as a typical parklet; they can take many forms. They are great for bringing communities together, and providing some much-needed local green space. 

The current way our cities are structured means that we accept the harm that comes with cars. As part of our Car Free Cities campaign we want to help people reimagine their streets as places free from the harms of car dominance. Parklets are a great way to do this by giving space back to people and nature.

Parklets can be unique to your neighbourhood; with residents co-designing and maintaining them, they can increase peoples’ sense of belonging whilst meeting local needs. Parklets offer a place for children and adults to play outside and develop their independence. They can provide a space for those with mobility needs to rest, improve people’s access to greenery and public space, foster a stronger sense of community, whilst also being a place to learn new things. You can grow fruit and veg on them, use them as performance spaces or areas for outdoor learning, or even just have them as a simple patch of grass.

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In a world recovering from a global health crisis whilst also tackling the climate crisis; green space, and access to it, has never been more important. Green spaces help clean our air and cool us down. Being outside in nature fosters happiness and social connection, and can improve our health and wellbeing. But not everyone has the same access to adequate green space.

These graphics show publicly accessible green space in our four Car Free Cities: Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, and London. Tap or click to make them bigger. As you can see, access to green space is not always fairly distributed.

Parklets are a great way to transform our streets and bring people closer to nature. They provide the opportunity for communities to engage with nature and each other, whilst also helping residents reimagine their street space.

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Get parklets on your streets!

We are calling for councils across the country to set up a simple process that lets any resident transform their street with a permanent community parklet.

Local residents, such as yourself, must be actively involved and engaged in the process of reclaiming and reimagining the streets you live in. Therefore, councils across the country must establish a simple process that lets residents create their own permanent community parklets. 

You can take action by emailing your councillor to demonstrate how we can improve the streets we live in by converting parking spaces into parklets. You have the power to transform your street and start initiatives that challenge car dominance and can help tackle the climate crisis.

Take Action: Email your local council

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Parklet Plotter

Use our parklet plotter to find a spot you think would be ideal for a new parklet. We’ve created an interactive map to help people learn more about the areas they live in - from which communities have the least access to green space to how different areas measure up against the multiple deprivation index. Where could parklets be installed to best help improve access to green space and give streets back to people and nature?

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Design your own parklet

What does your perfect parklet look like? Maybe it’s a place to rest and relax outside, or play and socialise. Maybe it’s a place to grow some veg, or park your bike. The possibilities are endless! 

Why not have a go at designing your own parklet? Download our design tool to create your own parklet, and share your design with us.

  'Design Your Own Parklet' tool

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Parklets pot

We want to help communities transform parking spaces into areas to rest, socialise, play, and fill with plants. Can you help us spark this parklet dream? With your help we can get this show on the road (or into old parking spaces at least) and help pave the way for cleaner and greener neighbourhoods.

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What a really great idea, I will watch this ones progress!

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The blog song for today is: "with a little help from my friends"by the Beatles

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TTFN

Is TerraCycle Greenwashing the Waste Crisis? - an earth911 report

 

Is TerraCycle Greenwashing the Waste Crisis?

BySarah Lozanova

Jun 28, 2022

Although our municipal recycling programs collect only a few types of products, almost everything — from diapers to cigarette butts — is technically recyclable. However, economics typically drive what these programs can actually recycle. If the cost of collecting and processing a waste item exceeds the value of the recovered materials, the recycler has no financial incentive to recycle it.

TerraCycle is a U.S.-based company that’s dedicated to eliminating waste. Through collaboration and innovation, it helps manufacturers find recycling or reuse solutions. The company may be best known for its recycling programs for hard-to-recycle consumer items such as disposable gloves, candy wrappers, and markers. It also has an affiliate nonprofit organization dedicated to removing trash from waterways and is creating a global system for reusable packaging.

However, a recent lawsuit and allegations of greenwashing have eroded some public confidence in TerraCycle. Is it a legitimate company, and is TerraCycle greenwashing its partner companies?

TerraCycle Lawsuit

The Last Beach Cleanup filed a lawsuit against TerraCycle in 2021, alleging the company misled customers of eight companies into thinking they could send back products for recycling for free. Unfortunately, only a certain number of customers could recycle these products for free, leaving others with the option to either pay to recycle the product or dispose of it themselves.

Due to the settlement terms, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Late July Snacks, Gerber, L’Oreal, Tom’s of Maine, Clorox, and Materne must now state on product labels if participation in the program is limited. Also, TerraCycle must implement a supply chain certification program to help earn customer trust. The company says it was already doing this internally.

TerraCycle headquarters, Trenton, New Jersey. 

Image courtesy of TerraCycle

How Does TerraCycle Work?

The company was founded in 2001 by Tom Szaky to fix the broken recycling system. Municipal recycling programs collect certain products but aren’t equipped to handle complex products, such as toothpaste tubes and makeup packaging. Recycling many of these products without an added incentive is not financially worthwhile.

So, TerraCycle partners with dozens of companies, including the eight mentioned in the lawsuit. Through these partnerships, it generates millions of dollars that it uses to fund recycling programs for these companies’ products or packaging. However, when the funding for a given product is exhausted, TerraCycle stops accepting new participants — even if customer demand for recycling is high.

Unfortunately, some consumers may have made purchasing decisions influenced by the availability of a free recycling program that wasn’t actually available to all customers. This leads to greenwashing, misleading customers into thinking a product is greener than it actually is through vague language and false or irrelevant claims.

TerraCycle also operates mail-in recycling programs for hard-to-recycle waste that consumers fund. These zero-waste boxes range in price from $42 to $199, and participants simply mail back packaging and goods.

Does TerraCycle Greenwash Companies?

The way we consume clothing, food, and most goods has changed dramatically over the last century. Previously, packaging was reusable, and products were made to last years or even decades. As a society, we want cheap, affordable, and shiny new things. However, this is fueling the waste crisis. The amount of plastic in the world’s oceans is a symptom of this consumption and the use of disposable packaging.

Many people believe corporations should have greater accountability because they manufacture these products and put them on store shelves. Likewise, many of the products they produce are hard to recycle, often containing several materials. As a result, a lot of plastic packaging ends up in landfills. Even if consumers clean plastic takeout boxes and clamshell containers and leave them in their recycling bins, many recycling programs can process only plastic bottles. The rest of the plastic waste ends up in landfills or incinerated.

One desirable aspect of the TerraCycle business model is that it includes corporations in creating recycling solutions. Currently, most of the burden of waste management falls on local governments. When companies are paying at least part of the recycling bill, they have an incentive to manufacture packaging and products that are easier to recycle and widely accepted by local recycling programs.

Unfortunately, the claims made against TerraCycle for greenwashing plague the waste management industry and are not unique to the company. TerraCycle has been criticized for making the companies they partner with seem greener than they are because recycling is merely a step in the right direction and not a true solution.

Yet, misinformation plagues the entire recycling industry and isn’t specific to TerraCycle. For example, many of the products on store shelves feature a recycling emblem, alerting customers that the product is recyclable. However, this can be misleading because local recycling programs can’t accept all types of products and materials.

Is TerraCycle Fixing a Broken Waste Management System?

Although recycling efforts can certainly be improved by making packaging easier to recycle, using renewable energy when processing materials, and ensuring that there is proper infrastructure in place to handle waste, recycling isn’t fundamentally sustainable in many applications. After all, in the EPA’s waste reduction pyramid, reuse is higher than recycling.

To address this, TerraCycle launched Loop, a global reuse platform for multiple stakeholders, including manufacturers, retailers, operational partners, and consumers. The goal is to create a circular supply chain for packaging that manufacturers refill and use repeatedly. Loop is now available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Japan, and likely soon in Australia.

“Recycling — whether through TerraCycle or through municipal recycling — is only a Band-Aid,” said Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle. “We believe reuse is the right answer and we’re continuing to pour all our profits into making Loop work. And frankly, if Loop really takes off, it will actually cannibalize our other business, kind of like Netflix’s streaming killed off their DVD business. That will be a good thing.”

Whether or not Loop is ultimately successful, TerraCycle is in a unique position to bring together various stakeholders to create reusable packaging solutions. The recent lawsuit and greenwashing claims have harmed TerraCycle’s reputation, but the company has achieved a lot.

It has won numerous entrepreneurship and sustainability awards and launched a nonprofit organization, TerraCycle Global Foundation, which has removed nearly 1 million pounds of waste from waterways. In 2020, it kept 3,600 tons of waste from landfills or incinerators across 22 countries.

In particular, the company’s ability to encourage collaboration among stakeholders to find solutions is especially promising. After all, the waste crisis needs holistic solutions that involve redesigning products, establishing new infrastructure to eliminate waste, and stakeholder collaboration. Although TerraCycle may have let consumers down somewhat in the past, the company is achieving results in an industry plagued with issues.

I still believe that Terracycle have made a huge difference,but it is up to us the customer as well to look for products that come in packaging that can be recycled. Glass is the best alternative for me. As I have said before I make all my own soap, shampoo and shower gel and the amount of plastic that I have reduced from our family has been amazing.  I usually go to Camamilla and refill existing bottles for washing up liquid and general purpose cleaner. It really is quite amazing of how much I have reduced!

The blog song for today is: " Since you've been gone" by Rainbow

TTFN

How To Be Cautious About Cadmium Exposure-an earth911 report

How To Be Cautious About Cadmium Exposure

ByGemma Alexander

May 30, 2022

Cadmium wasn’t discovered until the 19^th century, when it quickly found use as a pigment that could produce bright yellows, oranges, and reds. Cadmium is still used in some pigments. But today it is also an important component of batteries, metal alloys, electroplating, solar panels, and plastic stabilizers. It’s kind of hard to imagine how we ever got along without it. And that’s too bad because cadmium and all its compounds are highly toxic and carcinogenic. In fact, cadmium has earned a place on the Red List of materials that green builders try to avoid.

Cadmium

Cadmium is a naturally occurring heavy metal. Elemental cadmium (Cd) is a soft, malleable, bluish-white material extracted from zinc ores, and increasingly recovered from batteries. Unlike other serious toxins, acute exposure to cadmium is rare. Rather, health effects occur through chronic exposure and the subsequent accumulation of cadmium in tissues over time. Skin does not absorb cadmium. But cadmium can be inhaled or ingested. The most significant exposure pathway for cadmium toxicity is smoking. Among nonsmokers, contaminated foods are the highest risk.

Cadmium Ingestion

Although mollusks and crustaceans can sometimes accumulate high concentrations of cadmium, more than 80% of dietary cadmium intake comes from plants. Plants absorb cadmium from soil. Except for crops grown in contaminated soil, dietary cadmium levels remain low enough to be safe for most people. People with anemia, the chronically undernourished, and those with hypertension may be more susceptible to cadmium exposure. Addressing these underlying health risks is a better strategy than focusing on food choices. Even unhealthy quantities of cadmium are measured in millionths of a gram.

While cadmium consumption is rarely an issue for adults, it can be a problem for small children in much the same way as lead exposure is. In 2010, there was a massive recall of children’s products, including play and costume jewelry and other toys with elevated levels of cadmium. Young children’s tendency to put things in their mouths created a risk of ingestion. In 2018, Consumer Reports found concerning levels of cadmium in many popular baby and toddler foods and presented suggestions for safer snacking.

Workers in certain industries — including nonferrous metals and NiCad battery recycling — are at a high risk of cadmium exposure.

Occupational Exposure to Cadmium

Workers in the nonferrous metal industry; those involved in the manufacture of products containing cadmium or doing work such as plating, soldering, and welding; and those involved in nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd or NiCad) battery recycling face the highest risk of exposure. They may experience flu-like symptoms from acute exposure and cancer, kidney, bone, and lung disease from chronic exposure.

Although occupational exposure is more likely to be a problem than products containing cadmium, it’s helpful to know what items in the home contain cadmium.

Batteries

Nickel-cadmium batteries are in widespread use in portable, rechargeable devices like cellphones, laptops, and power tools that are an important part of daily life. Alternative battery types like lithium-ion and lead-acid have their own health and safety concerns. So, even though the expanding Ni-Cd battery recycling industry is a growing concern for cadmium exposure, recycling your rechargeable batteries is still the best course of action.

Electronics

Heavy metals, including cadmium, are found in a wide variety of electronic products from televisions to computers. These items must be properly recycled to keep cadmium out of the soil, groundwater, and even the air. Although it is not always easy to recycle electronics, it is important to do so and may even be required by law where you live.

The European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive essentially bans cadmium from electronics except where absolutely necessary for product performance. Purchasing electronic products that are EU compliant, TCO certified, or certified under the EPEAT program managed by the Global Electronics Council will help you avoid cadmium and other known toxins as much as possible.

Today, cadmium pigments are mostly used in plastics but are still found in some artists’ paint.

Cookware

Cadmium is not commonly found in cookware, but some glazes and coatings on glass or ceramic can leach cadmium into food. Since ingestion is the primary pathway for accumulating cadmium in the body, it’s best to look for nontoxic cookware and kitchenware options.

Pigments

Like lead, cadmium used to be included in house paints. Old paint can lead to exposure through chipping paint or paint dust created during construction. Today, cadmium pigments are mostly used in plastics but are still found in some artists’ paint. Painters should avoid skin contact with wet paint to avoid accidental ingestion and take care when cleaning brushes. Spray applications and sanding dry paint can also create a risk through inhalation. A movement to ban cadmium from paints in the EU led to strict limits on the cadmium content of paints sold there. There are many cadmium-free paint options.

 Very informative and interesting! I have been told of instances where painters have collapsed because they were using this type of paint and didn't have any ventilation or take breaks! Very dangerous indeed! There are warnings on the containers advising people to use utmost caution but unfortunately this is not always the case.

The blog song for today is: " Best of my love" by the Eagles

TTFN

 

Morrisons becomes the first supermarket to scrap plastic milk cartons - A report from the Daily Mail.co.uk

 A report from the Daily Mail newspaper

Morrisons becomes the first supermarket to scrap plastic milk cartons and replace them with its own-brand fresh milk in plant-based cardboard cartons

• Morrisons will save around 100 tonnes of plastic in move to cardboard cartons
• Carbon neutral Tetra Pak cartons will be made from plant-based paperboard
• They contain thin layer of plastic coating and twist caps made from polyethylene
• Majority of its own-label fresh juice will also move from plastic bottles to cartons

By Jamie Phillips For Mailonline

Published: 14:29 BST, 22 February 2022 | Updated: 14:29 BST, 22 February 2022

Morrisons has become the first supermarket to scrap plastic milk cartons and replace them with its own-brand fresh milk in plant-based cardboard cartons.

Nine types of Morrisons fresh milk will be sold in carbon neutral Tetra Pak cartons, saving around 100 tonnes of plastic each year.

Fresh milk currently accounts for around 10 per cent of all plastic packaging used in the UK, but the new Tetra Pak cartons will instead be made from plant-based paperboard.

The new cartons contain a very thin layer of plastic coating and twist caps made from polyethylene - procured from sustainably sourced sugarcane.

The nine products have also been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, Carbon Trust and Carbon Neutral.

Tony Fearon, Dairy Category Director at Morrisons, said: 'Fresh milk does not need to be in a plastic bottle. It keeps just as fresh in a carton. 

'Fresh milk is the top user of plastic packaging in our stores, so this will result in significant plastic reduction. 

'Tetra Pak has also been independently verified as a better sustainable packaging option. If customers take to it, we could be looking to move all of our fresh milk to Tetra Pak cartons in time.'

Morrisons will save around 100 tonnes of plastic packaging in the move to carbon neutral cardboard cartons

The new cartons (pictured) contain a very thin layer of plastic coating and twist caps made from polyethylene - derived from sustainably sourced sugarcane

The cartons will be kerbside recyclable in most regions, as well as recycling banks across the country.

They will come in 500ml, 1 litre and 2 litre sizes and cover skimmed, semi-skimmed and whole milk options, Morrisons has confirmed.

Prices will be 60p for 500ml, 95p for one litre and £1.25 for two litres.

It comes as Morrisons has also announced that the majority of its own-label fresh juice will move from plastic bottles to cartons - a move that will remove a further 678 tonnes of plastic a year.

The supermarket also became the first in the UK to scrap ‘use by’ dates on milk last month.

The company switched to ‘best before’ dates on 90 per cent of milk bottles and cartons from January 31 to encourage customers to bin it only when it smells off – and see the date as no more than a guide to freshness.  

Hugh Jones, Managing Director of Advisory at the Carbon Trust, said: 'We welcome this move by Morrisons towards reducing the environmental impact of its milk packaging. 

'Our Carbon Trust ‘Carbon Neutral’ label, which will feature on these milk products in their new Tetra Pak packaging, recognises the CO2 reduction of this move and certifies that the cradle-to-grave carbon footprint of the packaging is in line with targets.'

Decreasing the volume of single-use plastic in stores is said to be the top concern for the supermarket giant's customers.

What great news! 

Let us hope that others follow suit. TetraPak being the main suppliers of milk cartons and other cartons, as I previously showed because of the many different components of it,without a lot of effort not easily recycled, so reading that they are behind the change is encouraging news.

The Blog song for today is: "Bloody Well Right" by Supertramp

TTFN

Broken Phone? Don’t Throw It Out; Fix It Yourself - a report from earth911.com

 

Broken Phone? Don’t Throw It Out; Fix It Yourself

ByEarth911

Jun 16, 2022 right to repair, smartphone

When your phone breaks or just doesn’t work as well as it used to, do you go out and buy a new model? It’s an exciting prospect to get a new phone. But tossing out our old phones has negative environmental impacts. With just a few repairs, your phone might work fine for several years and save you money, too.

If your phone isn’t functioning as well as it should, you have a choice to make: Throw it out and hurt the environment by buying a new phone, begin the process of recycling it, or repair it yourself. Let’s talk about why you should choose the latter two and how to get your phone up and running again.

The Environmental Cost of Discarding Our Phones

There are numerous reasons why improperly discarding your smartphone is bad for the environment. For starters, your phone is made up of many materials, including lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. If we just throw away our smartphones, these useful but toxic materials end up as waste in landfills. From there, they can potentially leak into the soil and make their way into our water supply.

When we don’t reclaim those materials by recycling our e-waste, companies need to mine new materials from the earth. This process is harmful to the local ecosystems and results in carbon emissions from machinery used to mine, transport, and process the materials. The use of recycled materials results in fewer emissions.

Also, when we are so quick to replace our phones, factories and manufacturing plants respond to the demand by producing more new smartphones. The production process, packaging, transporting — and even warehousing of excess inventory — all consume resources and energy, resulting in more carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

When we buy and consume more than we need, we are not working towards sustainability. So, to help the planet and save some money; consider trying the repairs yourself.

You Can Make Many Repairs Yourself

Although smartphones are becoming more complex every year, fixing some common issues is easier than you may think. By searching online at websites like iFixit, you learn which tools you need and get step-by-step instructions to fix any brand of phone. For instance, to replace the battery on an iPhone, you can use special tools to open the phone, unscrew the existing battery, make the switch, and then seal up the device like it never happened.

Whether you have an Android or iPhone, you can find instructions to replace your battery or screen, change out a headphone jack, remove the SIM card, and do many other tasks. Although you can find repair guides online, some of these repairs may need an expert; take your phone to a certified dealer if necessary. Always check the fine print on your phone contract to determine if fixing something will void your warranty.

If the phone appears to be a total loss or the manufacturer tells you it cannot be fixed, make sure it gets to a facility that will recycle it. You can do this by bringing it to the phone company or a local electronics retailer that accepts electronics for recycling, like Best Buy. If the phone still works but you still need a newer version, then consider donating it to a charitable organization or Goodwill, where they may be able to sell it to someone who needs it. Before you donate or sell it, be sure to remove all data from your phone for your protection.

Phone Companies Are Creating Solutions

The good news is that phone companies are becoming part of the solution by creating repair programs that can help you use your phone longer. For instance, Samsung is collaborating with iFixit to give customers access to parts, tools, and instructional guides to help them repair their phones. Initially, Samsung Galaxy owners will have the opportunity to replace display assemblies, back glass, and charging ports, according to Samsung. The company will accept the used parts for recycling. Samsung says it has plans to expand this self-repair option to other devices.

Over at Apple, they have a program called Self Service Repair. While currently limited to U.S. customers and iPhone versions 12, 13, and third-generation SE, Apple has plans to expand the service. Through the online portal, customers can access repair manuals, order parts and professional repair tools, and print a label to return replaced parts for recycling. Apple recommends that only those with knowledge and experience attempt to repair their device. To purchase Apple parts, you must supply your serial number, so make sure you have that before you start.

It’s worth noting that even if your phone doesn’t need a repair now, you can help it last longer by adding a screen protector, restarting the device periodically, and removing unnecessary apps and files.

In the end, the choice to repair your phone instead of throwing it away is a good idea for everyone. If repair is not an option, be sure to recycle your phone so that valuable materials can be reclaimed and reused instead of polluting the planet.

About the Author

Sam Bowman writes about people, the environment, tech, and how they merge. He enjoys getting to utilize the internet for community without actually having to leave his house. In his spare time, he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore.

Feature image by Kilian Seiler on Unsplash

I am so pleased to be reading a report like this one because it is not the first one ! I am seeing more and more people pushing to reuse, repair and conserve what they have instead of rushing out and buying new. 

The blog song for today is:"Save me"by Queen.

TTFN