Earth Day is nearly here: part two

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More activities that we can all do not just for earth day,but all year round!

1. Do your taps leak? If so, did you know that this wastes a lot of water on a yearly basis? If you haven’t done so yet, then you may want to look into how you can go ahead and get started with it during the next year. I know all about this one, we have just had to run a new supply from the main water supply into our house because there was a hole in a pipe somewherein the garden. It was impossible to detect where it was, so to quickly rectify the situation we decided to run a new supply, thankfully that solved the problem.

2. Plant a tree. Trees are a big part of our earth, and planting one will just add to the health and wellness of the world that we live in.

3. Join a group that is focused on taking care of the environment and see how you can help. It can get your family involved and excited about everything that is available. Here on Menorca I am involved with Per La Mar Viva who carry out many beach and sea clean up operations throughout the year.

4. Go to a local event. A lot of communities will have an “Earth Day fair” or something similar that your family can enjoy together and learn from.

5. Stop drinking bottled water! There are plenty of alternatives out there and, if you stop drinking bottled water, you can save a lot of plastic that would, otherwise, be filling up landfills and dumps.

6. Consider making your yard an oasis for birds and other creatures. You can put in a bird feeder, install birdhouses, put in a bird bath, and more. By making it comfortable for them, they will be more likely to stick around.  Over the years we have attracted many lizards and small creatures to our garden by building rockeries and little hidey holes that they can live in, it is very rewarding when they all come out again in Spring.

7. Help kids learn about the environment by installing a play garden. These can help children to start to fall in love with nature while also being a lot of fun and helping them to get their hands a little bit dirty at the same time.

 I hope that some of these ideas are useful!

The blog song for today is:" The way you do the things you do" by the Temptations

TTFN

 

Earth Day is nearly here! What are people doing? Part one

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My friends at PETA wrote this article on their website

"Wet markets, factory farms and slaughterhouses not only contribute to potentially deadly diseases, such as COVID-19, they also release significant amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. A 2018 University of Oxford study involving 119 countries and 38,000 commercial farms found that beef and other animal-based foods have an “outsize effect” on emissions, noting that just 2 pounds of beef generates 132 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, the production of animal-derived foods is responsible for 10 to 50 times more emissions than the production of vegan foods.

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that the West’s high consumption of meat and dairy is fueling climate change and that cutting them from our diets could reduce our carbon footprint from food by two-thirds. It will also help conserve resources, reduce pollution and prevent the loss of forests — not to mention the slaughter of billions of sentient animals.

Oxford University researcher Joseph Poore says that going vegan is “the single biggest way” to reduce our impact on the planet. Animal agriculture plays a huge role in everything from water pollution and water shortages to deforestation and food scarcity. A 2018 NRDC report called the agricultural sector “a serious water polluter” and indicated that it was the “leading cause of water degradation” around the world. In the United States, it’s the main culprit when it comes to contaminated rivers and streams, the second when it comes to wetlands and the third for lakes.

A recent University of Delaware study found that 55% of the water taken from the Colorado River basin is used to grow food for cows. As a result, 53 species of fish are at risk of extinction, because freshwater stores are wasted on water-hungry crops to feed animals who are bred to be killed and eaten, even though ethical and environmentally friendly options exist.

And freshwater stores aren’t all that’s being exhausted by meat production. According to the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, cattle ranching accounts for 80% of current deforestation rates, making it the largest driver of deforestation in every Amazon country.

When Jessica Fanzo, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, studied ways to feed a growing global population — without sacrificing any forests — she found that the only option is for everyone to go vegan, and that we’ll be in “dire straits” if we don’t.

Thankfully, we’re all learning that we can change our behavior to beat a crisis — or at least prevent one from worsening. Eating Earth-friendly vegan foods is easy and enjoyable, and it will help prevent future pandemics and further environmental destruction. So, this Earth Day, let’s help our planet and spare animals suffering by going vegan!"

And from the conserve-energy-future.com website:

Earth Day is on its way, and there are a lot of us who are looking to see what we can do in order to celebrate this special and important day. If you want to care for the Earth more, and you want to take the time to celebrate Earth Day, then this article will help you to figure out exactly what you want to do in the long run. Check it out, try some of them, and have a great time when it comes to helping the Earth to be what it deserves to be.

According to Wikipedia, ” Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which day events worldwide are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 193 countries each year.”

We required this planet more than this planet require us. Let’s plant as much trees as we can. Let’s divest from fossil fuels and make cities 100% renewable. Let’s be a part of global campaign aimed at educating people about environmental issues and factors responsible for environment degradation. Let’s start now. And let’s not stop.

Here are some suggestions of things to do, not just for earth day but forever!

Earth Day is more than just a single day — April 22. It’s bigger than attending a rally and taking a stand. Here are 25 different ways you can celebrate Earth day.

1. If you are in a situation where you can actually walk, ride your bike, or carpool in order to get from place to place, then it may be time for you to consider that. The fewer cars on the road, the better off that we will be when it comes to our atmosphere.

2. You can volunteer your time to organizations (local or national) that put effort into making the world a better place and helping the environment. There are a lot of great things that you can do, and on Earth Day, there are usually local activities as well.

3. Did you know that switching all of your bills to e-bills and online invoices can save millions of trees every single year? It’s true! If you are in a position where you can do that without making everything more confusing and stressful, then you definitely want to look at the different things that you can do in the long run.

READ  Causes, Effects and Interesting Solutions to Ocean Dead Zones

 

4. Education is the key to everything that you do for the environment. If you know more about what you can do to protect the environment, then you will be able to use that knowledge and share it with others who may be interested in it as well. And that, in the long run, can make a big difference.

5. Do you have a recycling plan in place? If you already do, start looking into what you have in order to expand what you’re recycling. If you do not, then you want to take a look and see what you can recycle in your local area and if you can work to make a difference in that way.

If you are reading this blog then I suspect that you are the type of person who is probably already doing most of the stuff I have posted today!  If not then I hope that you can change one small thing!  I will be going meat free for Earth day!  

Keep up the good work in whatever you are doing for this wonderful planet of ours!

The blog song for today is: "Common people" by Pulp

TTFN

 

Visit this shop called Punt Zero in ciutadella and take your empty container to refill it!

 There is another shop in Ciutadella providing a refill service!

 

 

Another shop now helping to save the environment and reducing the tidal wave of plastic that we are all in at the moment.

There is a variety of products available, just take along your container and shop with no guilt!

Thank you Punt Zero

The blog song for today is: " Us and them" by Pink Floyd

TTFN

Earth Day is on April 22, 2021

 Taken from Earth911 website

                                                                                  

"Earth Day on April 22, 2021, marks the 51^st year that people around the world have marched and participated in projects to clean up the environment. After another year of extreme weather and higher global temperatures, let’s use Earth Day to start our personal transitions to sustainable living with a 10-year-Earth Decade Plan to eliminate one big source of CO² from our lives.

The 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report established that humanity had approximately 12 years to reduce CO² emissions to 45% of the global levels recorded in 2010. Doing so will stabilize global temperature. Combined with additional cutbacks, land restoration, and carbon capture technology, it will put us on a path to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels enjoyed by our grandparents.

Big changes in every aspect of life are required, but not the wholesale abandonment of modernity. We can eat meat grown responsibly, switch to renewable electric power in transportation, and adopt nontoxic, efficient production processes to achieve a society that could look more like Star Trek than Mad Max. It is time to give up fear and act boldly.

Get Involved in Earth Day

Earth Day launched in 1970, the same day President Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency. This year, Earthday.org aims to get 1 billion people involved in Earth Day, with events throughout the month and on Earth Day.

This year’s theme is Restore Our Earth. Learn about the upcoming climate action summits planned for the week of Earth Day 2021, and watch the site for news about other events.

• Ready to start restoring our Earth? Check out 51 actions you can take today.
• Participate in the Great Global Cleanup by joining a group or picking up litter on your own — on Earth Day or anytime!
• Hosting an Earth Day event? Register it online so others can join.
• Another great way to help is to contribute to the nonprofit Earthday.org.

Transforming Your Personal Carbon Impact

Change is hard, but we can do it for our families and future generations. The suggestions below represent starting points for a plan to cut the carbon output of your life. These are just a few of the many possible steps you could take. Each of these ideas is likely to require significant effort. And, in some cases, a significant expense.

If you choose one big project annually, such as replacing your internal combustion car with an electric vehicle, eliminating excessive carbon-producing foods from your diet, or switching to sustainable sources of clothing, electronics, or groceries, the cumulative reduction over a decade can make a meaningful difference. If we all did it, humans could hit the 45% goals laid out by the IPCC.

You can transform your carbon impact over the next decade by taking any of these steps:

Go Meatless at Lunchtime

Let’s say you and three friends go to lunch and each of you has a quarter-pound hamburger, the four of you will consume a meal that cost almost 4,226 gallons of water to produce. Add to that the 26.4 pounds of CO² emitted by the steer and production process, and a weekly commitment to avoid beef at lunch twice a week will reduce your group’s carbon footprint by 2,750 pounds a year.

If you can’t stomach the absence of beef, try one of the emerging alternatives, from mushroom-based to lab-grown burgers. Check out the Blended Burger Project led by the James Beard Foundation. The organization hopes to offer savory options that don’t waste water or produce as much CO² as beef.

Eat Locally

Eleven percent of food-related CO² emissions come from the transportation of your meal to the table. Make a change to buying local produce, meat, and dairy to reduce the environmental cost of your dining.

Watch for Earth911’s upcoming guide to Earth Day events and get started on your Earth Decade Plan. Then you’ll be ready to march with another billion humans on Earth Day 2021 with pride and accomplishments under your sustainability belt."

 These are just a few things that we can do, so I will be giving them a go, I already have meat free days and buy local produce, so I feel quite good about that!

The great global clean up is really interesting to me because I am involved with a wonderful group called Per La Mar Viva which goes out regularly cleaning up beaches and the sea around Menorca.  I know many people who, when they go out for a walk, always take a bag with them to pick up any litter they see lying around!  

The blog song for today is: "House of fun" by Madness

 

TTFN 

 

Weekly news from "The Wave" Website by "Only One", dedicated to the ocean

 

"Coming up in The Wave this week, an expansive study shows that seagrass meadows can buffer ocean acidification, East Antarctic expedition scientists focus on predators of krill, and the Biden Administration made a swath of ocean between New York and New Jersey an offshore wind zone".

 

But first, what comes to mind when you envision a resilient future for the ocean nation of The Bahamas?

The Bahamas spans roughly 100,000 square miles of some of the world’s clearest waters, with 700 islands and 2,400 cays that formulate the largest archipelagic nation in the Atlantic. Yet, despite its evident geographic range and extensive microcultures and biodiversity, many outsiders’ perceptions have been reduced to a monolithic construct—a postcard understanding, if you will: secluded pink-sand beaches, private coves, idyllic turquoise waters.

From intricate mangrove forests to bright coral gardens to abundant fisheries, The Bahamas is evidently rich in incredible natural resources. But this narrative should not be told without its human element or representation from those individuals who call The Bahamas home. 

What you find by pursuing a more holistic account is that of myriad stakeholders of the sea who are looking to balance competing interests while acknowledging a complex past—all this compounded by threats from climate change, resource exploitation, and unsustainable development. The key to such success resides in empathy and understanding, both found at the heart of storytelling’s intent.

Our new Land of the Shallow Seas series is an attempt at this understanding, a delve into the challenges that Bahamians are facing and how they are a critical part of the solution. Through films and essays that champion the perspectives of Bahamian conservationists and community leaders, you will have the opportunity to expand your appreciation of the beauty of The Bahamas and to support wavemakers who are working to transform the ocean and world for the better. 

 

Are Recyclable Wind Turbines on the Horizon?

 Here is a report taken from one of my favourite websites; Earth 911

     

"Looming Waste Management Issues

The design life of wind turbines is about 20 to 25 years. The longest wind turbine blade to date is 350 feet, almost the length of a football field. Although certain parts of wind turbines can be relatively easily recycled, others are not designed for recyclability. In particular, wind turbine blades present the biggest waste management challenge, but researchers from the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) in partnership with Arkema Inc. are making progress in this area.

Most wind turbine blades are currently constructed with composite material infused with a thermoset resin, which makes them highly durable to withstand storms and the elements. Unfortunately, thermoset plastics are almost impossible to recycle, so the blades do not have much scrap value and are not very appealing to recyclers. Therefore, many spent turbine blades are piling up in landfills, although some reinforced plastic blades are downcycled into cement products.

Promising Turbine Blade Research

The good news is that researchers have developed a blade out of thermoplastic resin (instead of thermoset resin) that is low-cost, lightweight, and seems to be recyclable. If the new blade also proves to be durable, this could be a gamechanger for the offshore and onshore wind industry. Lower costs also could help boost wind energy deployment, reducing the use of fossil fuels. A lightweight blade is easier to transport and uses less fuel. It also seems easier to recycle and uses less energy in the manufacturing process. These are all wins for the environment and the wind energy industry.

“With thermoset resin systems, it’s almost like when you fry an egg. You can’t reverse that,” said Derek Berry, a senior engineer at NREL in a press release. “But with a thermoplastic resin system, you can make a blade out of it. You heat it to a certain temperature, and it melts back down. You can get the liquid resin back and reuse that.” This means that the blades could be recycled instead of downcycled into lower-value goods.

So far, the thermoplastic resin blade durability looks promising. “The thermoplastic material absorbs more energy from loads on the blades due to the wind, which can reduce the wear and tear from these loads to the rest of the turbine system, which is a good thing,” said NREL researcher Robynne Murray.

Although the research looks promising, progress will be slow. Most wind farms being constructed today will be decommissioned in a few decades. The benefits of recyclable blades are still decades away at best. The decommissioning of wind farms and the associated environmental impact has largely been a blind spot for the industry. Hopefully, recent advances will help make wind power even greener. Despite the waste issue, wind power is still one of the most sustainable sources of energy.

By Sarah Lozanova

Sarah Lozanova is an environmental journalist and copywriter and has worked as a consultant to help large corporations become more sustainable. She is the author of Humane Home: Easy Steps for Sustainable & Green Living, and her renewable energy experience includes residential and commercial solar energy installations. She teaches green business classes to graduate students at Unity College and holds an MBA in sustainable management from the Presidio Graduate School."

Let us hope that they can resolve this issue before we have all these things in the landfills, there are areas that have all the broken blades lying around on the ground, just left there to rot. I really do wish that they had thought of all these things before they mass produced and jumped on board the "Green Energy Train".  It seems that we are always playing catch-up, realising after the event that "oh maybe we should have thought of this before"over and over again.  We have the problems with old mobile phones and old solar panels coming to our attention now! How long have mobile phones been around and only now do we realise that disposing of them is a problem. The solar panel manufacture and disposal issue is rearing it´s ugly head now, making question them.

When will we learn?

The blog song for today is " People are strange" by The Doors

TTFN

 

 

 

 

Zero Waste campaign in Menorca -download the app

 

 

 

I really hope that this works better than the RECICLOS campaign. 

I have downloaded the app and registered, it is actually quite good.  It gives a lot of practical advice and there is also a points scheme too!

I have been trying to do zero waste for a while now and it is not as easy as you think, however a slight adjustment of the chip and it becomes easier!

Here is a screenshot of the first challenge, when it is completed you move on to the next!

I will at least be giving it a go!  

The most important thing is that it encourages people to start somewhere, no matter how small the action is!

 The blog song for today is: "Take me I´m Yours" by Squeeze

TTFN

The Cave of S'Aigua de Cala Blanca is inaugurated!

Taken from the Menorca Biosphere Reserve website: 

http://www.menorcabiosfera.org

        

After a long process, this Wednesday, March 31, the visit to the Cova de S'Aigua was given to the general public. It is expected that during the first two months, April and May, they can be visited free of charge.

 

People who want to visit it can purchase tickets that are already available on the website www.nanventura.es.  Unfortunately there are no tickets left!  They were all gone within hours of them being available, so everyone will have to wait.

 

Below is information about the organisations aims and works on the Island.

Menorca Biosphere Reserve Agency

 

Established in 2008, it is a specialized non-legal organization under the authority of the Consell Insular de Menorca island government. It is made up of different branches: the President, the Administrative Council, the Social Council and the Scientific Council.

Its main responsibilities are to manage and execute actions so as to work towards the Biosphere Reserve’s primary goals, with regard to sustainable management, education, conservation and development of the region. Please feel free to consult our statutes (there is a link on their website) 

The Biosphere Reserve’s natural environment

The Biosphere Reserve shelters a unique natural variety. Menorca is home to a wide array of natural landscapes that are full of life. Furthermore, the climate and the island’s singular geological diversity have fostered the conservation of a very rich biodiversity.  

Nature and humankind coexist in the same space by keeping a perfect balance between them. In a Biosphere Reserve, the caring for and preservation of the environment is a key factor to be able to survive in harmony.

Environment 

Courses of action:

Conservation of natural heritage (geodiversity and biodiversity), ensuring the integrity and diversity of the biotic communities, as well as the genetic diversity of the species that form it.

• Evaluation and monitoring of the natural ecosystems.
• Environmental management of the coast and other natural areas present on the island.
• Waste management, sustainable use of water and natural and energy resources.
• Territorial planning as a key instrument in striving for balance between its use and the principles of the Biosphere Reserve.Work as an outdoor sustainability laboratory to collect information about the Biosphere Reserve status and thus be able to use this knowledge for decision-making processes on its own management.

If you would like more information please visit their website and sign up for the newsletter!

When tickets become available again to visit the caves in Cala Blanca, I will attempt to get some! 

The blog song for today is "Stairway to Heaven " by Led Zeppelin

TTFN

 

Lights out on the 28th March 2021

 

In photos: World’s landmarks go dark for Earth Hour

 Author: axios  Published Date: March 28, 2021

Cities around the world were turning landmark lights off Saturday for Earth Hour, with this year’s theme highlighting the link between the destruction of nature and increasing outbreaks of diseases like COVID-19.

The big picture: From Australia, to America, city landmarks went dark for an hour at 8:30p.m. to mark global action on climate change. Organizer WWF said in a statement, “COVID-19 has given us a stark warning of the risks, vulnerabilities and inequalities of our interconnected systems.”

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The Palace of Westminster, containing the House of Commons and House of Lords, takes part in Earth Hour in London, England. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images

The India Gate in New Delhi, India. Photo: Prakash Singh/AFP via Getty Images

The Xi’an Bell Tower’s lights are turned off in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China. Photo: Shang Hongtao/VCG via Getty Images

A view of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, with the lights off. Photo: Baris Seckin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are plunged into darkness in Australia. Photo: Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images

A view from Red Square during Earth Hour in Moscow, Russia. Photo: Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Combination images of a view of the Puente de la Mujer at Puerto Madero neighborhood before (top) and after being submerged into darkness in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: Alejandro Pagini/AFP via Getty Images

This combination of pictures created on March 27, 2021 shows South Korea’s number one national treasure Namdaemun gate before (top) and after (bottom) its lights went out for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Seoul. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP) (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images

 

 

Source: https://www.axios.com/earth-hour-global-landmarks-turn-off-lights-photos-ece60a33-6e02-40af-be93-519e7f2f6f2b.html
Droolin’ Dog sniffed out this story and shared it with you.
The Article Was Written/Published By: Rebecca Falcone

 Thank you to Axios.com for the fabulous photos and information.

The blog song for today is; " Strawberry Fields" by the Beatles

TTFN

Earth Hour 2021, lights off for one hour at 20.30 today 27th March

 

 

To find out more information go the the WWF website, from the search engine, just type in earth hour.

MAKE AN IMPACT - WHEREVER YOU ARE

Earth Hour has always drawn its power from the people. Though global circumstances are different this year due to COVID-19, we still have an incredible opportunity to make an impact - online and from our homes.  No matter where you are in the world, you can speak up for nature and bring global attention to the issues facing our planet!

5 ways you can get involved in Earth Hour 2021

Posted by Earth Hour

Nature is essential for our survival and our existence. But we are destroying nature faster than it can replenish itself. We must change course. 

COVID-19 has knocked many plans intended to set nature on the road to recovery off-track - but as we emerge from a global pandemic, we look to a global recovery for our natural world too.

Around the world, more people than ever are getting behind action #ForNature. World leaders have signaled support for positive change, but we need these actions turned into words. That’s why Earth Hour 2021 is more important than ever, not just to bring us together, but to shout loud for our future and the future of humanity.

Even though many of us are confined to our homes, there are still ways to get involved and speak up for nature this Earth Hour. 

1. Speak up

Get creative. Our lives have been changed by the pandemic, but there are some novel ways to speak up for nature. You could design a poster showing why nature matters to you, write a letter, share your favorite nature-focused song on YouTube, or tag all of your friends when you watch the must-see video we’ll be releasing on the night of Earth Hour.

Even though we can’t be together physically, we can feel part of something digitally. This year get involved in the Earth Hour Virtual Spotlight - it’s going to be unmissable!⭐

2. Switch on 📱

No, it’s not about turning the lights on! You can still join a big switch off, but this year Earth Hour is all about staying in touch, via whatever virtual space works for you. COVID-19 has highlighted many challenges our world is facing, but Earth Hour is all about standing together in unity and showing that we care about our natural world.

WWF has created some slick GIFs that are perfect for sharing. So login, stay in touch and share one message of support #ForNature.

And if you want to really enjoy the community Earth Hour brings together, attend a virtual event - check the full list of events taking place around the world.

3. Inspire others to take action

See how Amanda Gorman has rocked the world! And you can too. You don’t have to be a superstar to get others to change their behavior, you can make a difference right from your own home. Have a chat with your mum, your sister, your neighbour, the postman! Every single person has an opportunity to encourage others to protect nature.🗣️

Of course it’s fantastic that the people we see on our screens are choosing to do the same. This Earth Hour there are loads of famous faces supporting. Noemie Tahiti (The Voice kids contestant) even wrote a song urging world leaders to step up their action for nature.

Share your story with a post on Instagram using the hashtag #VoiceForNature and a bit about why you care about nature, and see your face on the Earth Hour website too 

4. Change something in your daily routine

Earth Hour is a fantastic celebration of changing your everyday behaviour. But what else could you change? Perhaps turning the tap off when you brush your teeth, or choosing planet friendly food once a week. Our planet is our life support system, and recognizing the link between what we do, and where the things we use come from is a step to realizing just how important nature is.

There’s a wealth of resources available too, just check out the Earth Hour learning page to up your knowledge on nature loss and climate change and discover why your actions matter now more than ever. 🌴🌻🐦🐠

5. Show the world you care🙌

With a critical mass of support for nature it will be impossible for world leaders to ignore the interconnected crises we face - our health, our environment and our climate are at risk. We need action. Earth Hour not only reminds us that we are not alone, but that together we can influence decisions that can change the world. In the next decade we have an opportunity to reverse nature loss, but that can’t be achieved without the support of our leaders. That’s why organizations like WWF are campaigning for a New Deal for Nature & People - and your vote counts.

It can be as simple as signing a petition or sharing a pledge online. Start your journey today.

Check out the news later on tonight to see all the countries around the world taking part, it is really great to see.  Here in Ciutadella the council are doing their bit too! along with Mahon Airport and Mahon Council, so good to hear!

 The blog song for today is: "Boom Boom, out go the lights" by Pat Travers Band.

TTFN