Take a moment to be in solitude. Remove yourself from distractions, quieten the mind, breathe deeply and make some probing inner enquiries. Be totally honest with yourself and ask: How's that diet been going...is the drinking less and fewer late nights being adhered to, have you been physically active much since the start of the year...how many new year's resolutions have been kept up and how many of the plans made, have been put into action?
Are you a talker and not a doer? Chances are, your answer will be a yes. But before you beat yourself up too much about your inactions – take comfort in knowing that you are not alone.
Are you a talker and not a doer? Chances are, your answer will be a yes. But before you beat yourself up too much about your inactions – take comfort in knowing that you are not alone.
We all lie to ourselves. We all make grand plans and new year's resolutions that never last more than a f ew days or weeks past 1st Jan. We all procrastinate. We all love to talk about our grand plans with friends and talking is, for some, all it takes to assure ourselves that we are on the right track.
But maybe you have no intentions of ever being a doer – and talking about the futility of you ever taking action, is somehow a comfort in itself. What's the point in doing anything? We're all gonna get old and die anyway. So why bother going for that jog round the park, or what's the point in monitoring what we eat & dink, or who's gonna listen when we're speaking up about ecological/environmental issues? With much talk about the Anthropocene's 6th Extinction already being underway and the frightening rate at which we as a species, are approaching extinction (along with a very high percentage of the world's other living organisms), it appears we're on a one-way course towards catastrophe anyway.
Based on the evidence presented to us, the doomsayers appear to be right – we are heading towards extinction. Whatever your beliefs are about climate change and it's causers, you just have to look around at the changes over the last few years – the evidence is all there to see. We are already in a phase of mass extinction caused be human over-consumption and over-population.
For modern Homo Sapiens, it's taken until 1803 for us to reach 1 billion. For the second billion, it took 124 years. For the population to double from 2.5 - 5 billion - it took just 37 years! Since the industrial revolution, our carbon emissions have caused an increase in CO2 – with the greatest increase occurring in the last 20 years. The data make it clear that we are making an impact.
Without the effects of human involvement, the rase rate for extinction is still pointing towards a pending catastrophe – and without us contributing towards it, the event would be a lot further away. According to scholars, the last big die-off, was 65 million years away, with the previous one being around 200 million years. So it is a natural process, but with such a steep increase in population since the post-war years, advances in technology, medicine and agriculture, have helped accelerate growth rate and our extinction rate significantly. This is depressing information to hear, but necessary for us to know and understand, if we are to avert an extinction catastrophe within just a few generations.
With so many insects in decline, we can easily witness how our impact through use of harmful pesticides/herbicides and the destruction/clearance of natural habitats where millions of these insects and animals that feed on them live. Without insects, we kill off the creatures that pollenate plants and feed on them. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happens to us.
We all really need to stop talking and to start doing.
Over-poulation can be corrected in a number of ways. Left to the real people in power, I'm sure the solution can be actioned very effectively and unfortunately in ways which you and I will not see a benefit. Carbon emissions and other greenhouse gasses, can all be significantly reduced. Single-use plastics used in convenience foods and harmful pesticides/herbicides, can all be reduced with our efforts. We are the masses. We can change the world. We just need to stop, have more conversations with ourselves about what we are doing wrong, identify where we have an impact, make better choices and collectively take action.
Here's a list of some things we can all easily do:
1. Have less children.
2. Eat less meat and try non-diary and vegan options instead.
3. Eat seasonal, organic and locally sourced foods.
4. Reduce buying pre-packaged meals and make your own convenience food using Tupperware boxes instead.
5. Avoid air travel where possible.
6. Use public transport, or cycle.
7. Recycle waste and buy second hand items.
7. Pressure your local supermarket and fast-food outlets to reduce their packaging.
8. Lobby your MP re: pesticide use and demand more is invested on renewable energy.
9. Talk to your friends/family about these issues and raise awareness for society.
10. Change banks and swap over to a fully-transparent and ethical one like Triodos
11. Limit distractions: ditch social media addictions, turn off the mindless TV and pay attention to what's really important
12. Start a diary.
13. Put aside time every day, to evaluate our general progress and to assign some time towards activities that promote positive changes.
I have written to my local MP, supermarket and also to the three most prominent fast food organisations which frequent the most. You can see my letters and their responses below as a guide.
But maybe you have no intentions of ever being a doer – and talking about the futility of you ever taking action, is somehow a comfort in itself. What's the point in doing anything? We're all gonna get old and die anyway. So why bother going for that jog round the park, or what's the point in monitoring what we eat & dink, or who's gonna listen when we're speaking up about ecological/environmental issues? With much talk about the Anthropocene's 6th Extinction already being underway and the frightening rate at which we as a species, are approaching extinction (along with a very high percentage of the world's other living organisms), it appears we're on a one-way course towards catastrophe anyway.
Based on the evidence presented to us, the doomsayers appear to be right – we are heading towards extinction. Whatever your beliefs are about climate change and it's causers, you just have to look around at the changes over the last few years – the evidence is all there to see. We are already in a phase of mass extinction caused be human over-consumption and over-population.
For modern Homo Sapiens, it's taken until 1803 for us to reach 1 billion. For the second billion, it took 124 years. For the population to double from 2.5 - 5 billion - it took just 37 years! Since the industrial revolution, our carbon emissions have caused an increase in CO2 – with the greatest increase occurring in the last 20 years. The data make it clear that we are making an impact.
Without the effects of human involvement, the rase rate for extinction is still pointing towards a pending catastrophe – and without us contributing towards it, the event would be a lot further away. According to scholars, the last big die-off, was 65 million years away, with the previous one being around 200 million years. So it is a natural process, but with such a steep increase in population since the post-war years, advances in technology, medicine and agriculture, have helped accelerate growth rate and our extinction rate significantly. This is depressing information to hear, but necessary for us to know and understand, if we are to avert an extinction catastrophe within just a few generations.
With so many insects in decline, we can easily witness how our impact through use of harmful pesticides/herbicides and the destruction/clearance of natural habitats where millions of these insects and animals that feed on them live. Without insects, we kill off the creatures that pollenate plants and feed on them. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happens to us.
We all really need to stop talking and to start doing.
Over-poulation can be corrected in a number of ways. Left to the real people in power, I'm sure the solution can be actioned very effectively and unfortunately in ways which you and I will not see a benefit. Carbon emissions and other greenhouse gasses, can all be significantly reduced. Single-use plastics used in convenience foods and harmful pesticides/herbicides, can all be reduced with our efforts. We are the masses. We can change the world. We just need to stop, have more conversations with ourselves about what we are doing wrong, identify where we have an impact, make better choices and collectively take action.
Here's a list of some things we can all easily do:
1. Have less children.
2. Eat less meat and try non-diary and vegan options instead.
3. Eat seasonal, organic and locally sourced foods.
4. Reduce buying pre-packaged meals and make your own convenience food using Tupperware boxes instead.
5. Avoid air travel where possible.
6. Use public transport, or cycle.
7. Recycle waste and buy second hand items.
7. Pressure your local supermarket and fast-food outlets to reduce their packaging.
8. Lobby your MP re: pesticide use and demand more is invested on renewable energy.
9. Talk to your friends/family about these issues and raise awareness for society.
10. Change banks and swap over to a fully-transparent and ethical one like Triodos
11. Limit distractions: ditch social media addictions, turn off the mindless TV and pay attention to what's really important
12. Start a diary.
13. Put aside time every day, to evaluate our general progress and to assign some time towards activities that promote positive changes.
I have written to my local MP, supermarket and also to the three most prominent fast food organisations which frequent the most. You can see my letters and their responses below as a guide.
Sent 6.3.18
Dear Rosena,
I trust you are well and not too up against it with your responsibilities at Labour and in your role as MP.
I wanted to contact you because I realise I, like many of the UK (and word’s) population, are doing very little to affect positive change on our planet. I made a decision today, to invest more time in pushing for a better future – especially concerning ecological/environmental matters.
While I understand there are many tough and complex issues to tackle (fossil fuels, unsustainable farming and the consequential effects on global warming), I know doing my bit (and encouraging more to do so), on the obvious every day, street-level matters, will help elevate/speed up the necessary changes being made.
France have imposed a ban on plastics being used with convenience and fast food – citing cutlery and plates to be removed by 2020. Forgive me if I’m ill-informed in regard to the UK’s plans to implement something similar…I’m assuming there isn’t anything yet in place? If there is, please pass on the details.
I have contacted the three main fast food chains that I frequent for my lunch, who promote their messages of providing organic, healthy eating options (Pret, Pure and Pod), and yet they also use plastics. It’s surely a no brainer for them to switch plastics for bamboo or plant-based biodegradable options. McDonalds have come a long way in this regard, so I wanted to see what these other chains have planned. So far, the response has been very encouraging from Pure. I expect the same from the other two will follow – but there’s a lot more plastics being thrown away every day from other chains and outlets. Plastic cups are a big concern as is the packaging waste from ‘pods’ used in current vogue of snazzy coffee machines.
While I think taxing residents for their waste is a bit of a harsh move, I believe a system where we force the hand of convenience foods companies and high street grocers to remove plastics (as well as other packaging), is how to tackle this issue on a grander scale.
While I was living in Canada 15+ years ago, I witnessed how residents were able to influence their grocers to deal with waste. To do this, they encouraged shoppers to bring their own containers in to the store and to weigh out their desired produce. That way, most of the dry goods (grains, cereals, nuts, seeds, coffee, rice, pasta etc.), were contained in large (plastic) containers. Anything else that had cardboard or plastic packaging, could be left in recycle bins at the front of the store on departing – leaving the ecological pressures on the store and the issue of disposal costs, conveniently passed back through to the distributer – to encourage their ongoing support for reducing waste.
I’ve thought about this recycling/waste aversion issue for over 15 years now, commented on it numerous times and yet, until today, done nothing about sharing it with those that can look at viable solutions for implementing a fair and environmental/ecologically beneficial system.
Maybe my contact today, could spark a chain of thought that will permeate through your team and into the consciousness of other Labour MPs – and become a topic for consideration in parliament. One would hope that this issue is already a hot topic. I’m sure I’m one of many people questioning the plans afoot…
So that’s it really – I’d like an update please.
Keep up your good work, let’s all hope Labour can provide the momentum and culture shift in this country, for providing a fairer, more inclusive system for all and implement positive changes for the future.
Best,
Chris Lucy
07776120936
Please reply via email. While I do appreciate a nice conqueror paper letter posted to me, I’d rather I received a virtual letter, so I’m not adding further waste to fill landfill sites!!! :)
Dear Rosena,
I trust you are well and not too up against it with your responsibilities at Labour and in your role as MP.
I wanted to contact you because I realise I, like many of the UK (and word’s) population, are doing very little to affect positive change on our planet. I made a decision today, to invest more time in pushing for a better future – especially concerning ecological/environmental matters.
While I understand there are many tough and complex issues to tackle (fossil fuels, unsustainable farming and the consequential effects on global warming), I know doing my bit (and encouraging more to do so), on the obvious every day, street-level matters, will help elevate/speed up the necessary changes being made.
France have imposed a ban on plastics being used with convenience and fast food – citing cutlery and plates to be removed by 2020. Forgive me if I’m ill-informed in regard to the UK’s plans to implement something similar…I’m assuming there isn’t anything yet in place? If there is, please pass on the details.
I have contacted the three main fast food chains that I frequent for my lunch, who promote their messages of providing organic, healthy eating options (Pret, Pure and Pod), and yet they also use plastics. It’s surely a no brainer for them to switch plastics for bamboo or plant-based biodegradable options. McDonalds have come a long way in this regard, so I wanted to see what these other chains have planned. So far, the response has been very encouraging from Pure. I expect the same from the other two will follow – but there’s a lot more plastics being thrown away every day from other chains and outlets. Plastic cups are a big concern as is the packaging waste from ‘pods’ used in current vogue of snazzy coffee machines.
While I think taxing residents for their waste is a bit of a harsh move, I believe a system where we force the hand of convenience foods companies and high street grocers to remove plastics (as well as other packaging), is how to tackle this issue on a grander scale.
While I was living in Canada 15+ years ago, I witnessed how residents were able to influence their grocers to deal with waste. To do this, they encouraged shoppers to bring their own containers in to the store and to weigh out their desired produce. That way, most of the dry goods (grains, cereals, nuts, seeds, coffee, rice, pasta etc.), were contained in large (plastic) containers. Anything else that had cardboard or plastic packaging, could be left in recycle bins at the front of the store on departing – leaving the ecological pressures on the store and the issue of disposal costs, conveniently passed back through to the distributer – to encourage their ongoing support for reducing waste.
I’ve thought about this recycling/waste aversion issue for over 15 years now, commented on it numerous times and yet, until today, done nothing about sharing it with those that can look at viable solutions for implementing a fair and environmental/ecologically beneficial system.
Maybe my contact today, could spark a chain of thought that will permeate through your team and into the consciousness of other Labour MPs – and become a topic for consideration in parliament. One would hope that this issue is already a hot topic. I’m sure I’m one of many people questioning the plans afoot…
So that’s it really – I’d like an update please.
Keep up your good work, let’s all hope Labour can provide the momentum and culture shift in this country, for providing a fairer, more inclusive system for all and implement positive changes for the future.
Best,
Chris Lucy
07776120936
Please reply via email. While I do appreciate a nice conqueror paper letter posted to me, I’d rather I received a virtual letter, so I’m not adding further waste to fill landfill sites!!! :)
Pret:
Dear Chris,
Thanks for getting in touch and for sharing your thoughts and concerns with us. Pret are working hard to reduce the amount of plastic used in our shops and have recently introduced a number of initiatives to try and combat waste including:
- A plastic bottle deposit return scheme: This will be trialing in our Brighton shops from April to encourage the return of plastic bottles
- Wooden cutlery: We have a trial of wooden cutlery planned for the spring
- PLA cutlery: Our Veggie Pret shops have been using a corn-based cutlery since they opened and we're assessing the success of this over plastic cutlery to inform future plans
- Hot stopper removal: Our plastic hot stoppers work to prevent spillages; however, we're aware that they're often seen as unnecessary so we're trialing their removal
- Increased reusable cup discount: In January, we increased our cup discount to 50p off of all barista-prepared drinks when a customer uses a reusable cup or mug
- Increased number of shops offering ceramic mugs: This is an ongoing initiative, but we hope to add ceramic mugs to more shops to reduce the use of paper cups
- Reusable water bottle trial: In 2017, we introduced our reusable water bottle and filter water taps to Veggie Prets and our shops in Manchester.
Although we're working hard to test and trial new approaches, we now we still have a lot more to do if we want to reduce the volume of plastic used. Our Sustainability Team are working hard to find alternative solutions for packaging where possible and will continue to test and hopefully introduce them in the coming months.
Thanks again for getting in touch. If you have any further questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
James Smithson
Senior Customer Advisor • Pret A Manger
Ref:MSG5208752
Pod:
Hi Chris,Thanks for getting in touch and so glad to hear you enjoy our food.We are currently reviewing our packaging, with eco-friendliness driving this. I would like to reassure you that our cutlery is compostable, always has been and always will be, we are constantly looking at our sustainability. All of our cardboard is recycled, our food waste is compostable, our packaging is recyclable and 98% of our waste is recycled into renewable energy.I hope this information is helpful to youBest wishes,
Pure: Never responded to emails
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