Tag Archives: Environment

In My Hands Today…

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To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick–and How We Can Fight Back – Alden Wicker

Many of us are aware of the ethical minefield that is fast the dodgy labor practices, the lax environmental standards, and the mountains of waste piling up on the shores of developing countries. But have you stopped to consider the dangerous effects your clothes are having on your own health? Award-winning journalist Alden Wicker breaks open a story hiding in plain the unregulated toxic chemicals that are likely in your wardrobe right now, how they’re harming you, and what you can do about it.

In To Dye For, Wicker reveals how clothing manufacturers have successfully swept consumers’ concerns under the rug for more than 150 years, and why synthetic fashion and dyes made from fossil fuels are so deeply intertwined with the rise of autoimmune disease, infertility, asthma, eczema, and more. In fact, there’s little to no regulation of the clothes and textiles we wear each day—from uniforms to fast fashion, outdoor gear, and even the face masks that have become ubiquitous in recent years. Wicker explains how we got here, what the stakes are, and what all of us can do in the fight for a safe and healthy wardrobe for all.

In My Hands Today…

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Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet – Ben Goldfarb

An eye-opening account of the global ecological transformations wrought by roads, from the award-winning author of Eager.

Some 40 million miles of roadways encircle the earth, yet we tend to regard them only as infrastructure for human convenience. While roads are so ubiquitous they’re practically invisible to us, wild animals experience them as entirely alien forces of death and disruption.

In Crossings, environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb travels throughout the United States and around the world to investigate how roads have transformed our planet. A million animals are killed by cars each day in the U.S. alone, but as the new science of road ecology shows, the harms of highways extend far beyond roadkill.

Creatures from antelope to salmon are losing their ability to migrate in search of food and mates; invasive plants hitch rides in tire treads; road salt contaminates lakes and rivers; and the very noise of traffic chases songbirds from vast swaths of habitat. Yet road ecologists are also seeking to blunt the destruction through innovative solutions.

Goldfarb meets with conservationists building bridges for California’s mountain lions and tunnels for English toads, engineers deconstructing the labyrinth of logging roads that web national forests, animal rehabbers caring for Tasmania’s car-orphaned wallabies, and community organizers working to undo the havoc highways have wreaked upon American cities. Today, as our planet’s road network continues to grow exponentially, the science of road ecology has become increasingly vital. Written with passion and curiosity, Crossings is a sweeping, spirited, and timely investigation into how humans have altered the natural world―and how we can create a better future for all living beings.

In My Hands Today…

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Deep Water: The World in the Ocean – James Bradley

The ocean has shaped and sustained life on Earth for billions of years. Its waters contain our past, from the deep history of evolutionary time to exploration and colonialism; our present, as a place of solace and pleasure, and as the highway that underpins the global economy; and – as waters heat and sea levels rise ever higher – our future.

Deep Water is both a hymn to the beauty, mystery and wonder of the ocean, and a reckoning with our complex relationship to the natural world. It is a book shaped by tidal movements and deep currents, and lit by the presence of other minds and other ways of being. Weaving together science, history and personal reflection it explores the way the ocean connects every living being on Earth, the origins of the environmental catastrophe that is overtaking us and the question of what lies ahead.

Immense in scope but also human and intimate, Deep Water offers new ways of understanding not just our relationship with the planet, but the past – and perhaps most importantly, the future.

Sustainable Consumerism: Balancing Choice and Environmental Impact

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Sustainable consumerism has gained significant traction in an era of increasing environmental awareness. This approach to consumption seeks to balance personal choices with environmental responsibility, aiming to meet human needs while minimising negative impacts on the planet.

Sustainable consumerism uses products and services that fulfil human needs while reducing negative environmental impacts. It involves making conscious choices about what we buy, how we use products, and how we dispose of them. This approach recognises that our consumption habits have far-reaching consequences for the planet and future generations. At its core, sustainable consumerism is about doing more and better with less. It challenges the traditional model of consumerism, which often prioritises short-term gratification over long-term environmental sustainability. Instead, it encourages consumers to consider the entire lifecycle of products, from production to disposal, and make choices that minimise resource depletion, pollution, and waste.

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The Impact of Consumerism on the Environment
Before we explore sustainable practices, it’s crucial to understand the environmental impact of traditional consumerism:

  • Resource depletion: The continuous cycle of production and consumption puts immense pressure on natural resources, leading to their rapid depletion.
  • Greenhouse gas emissions: A 2015 study found that the production and use of household goods and services were responsible for 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The average product results in carbon emissions 6.3 times its weight across its lifecycle.
  • Waste generation: The culture of disposability associated with consumerism has exacerbated the problem of waste, filling landfills with products that were once coveted but are now deemed obsolete.
  • Pollution: The production, transportation, and disposal of consumer goods contribute significantly to air, water, and soil pollution.
  • Ecosystem Disruption: The extraction of raw materials and disposal of waste can lead to habitat destruction and biodiversity loss.
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Becoming a Sustainable Consumer
Transitioning to sustainable consumerism involves adopting a range of practices and mindsets.

Mindful Consumption: The first step towards sustainable consumerism is to become more mindful of our purchasing habits. This involves assessing needs vs. wants. Before making a purchase, consider whether the item is necessary or if it is driven by momentary desire. It also is about quality over quantity where one needs to invest in high-quality, durable products that will last longer, reducing the need for frequent replacements. A sustainable consumer also researches products and looks for products with eco-friendly certifications or those made by companies with strong sustainability commitments.

Reducing Single-use Items: Single-use products, especially plastics, are a significant source of waste and pollution. Sustainable consumers can use reusable containers for food storage and shopping, carry a reusable water bottle instead of buying bottled drinks, and choose products with minimal or recyclable packaging.

Embracing the Circular Economy: The circular economy model focuses on reusing, repairing, and recycling products to extend their lifecycle and reduce waste. Sustainable consumers can repair items when possible instead of replacing them, donate or sell usable items instead of discarding them, and recycle responsibly, following local guidelines for proper waste sorting.

Supporting Sustainable Brands: By supporting companies with strong sustainability practices, consumers can drive market demand for eco-friendly products. One should look for brands that use sustainable materials and production methods, have transparent supply chains, and implement take-back programs for their products.

Adopting a Minimalist Approach: Minimalism aligns well with sustainable consumerism by encouraging people to live with less. This can involve decluttering and only keeping items that add value to one’s life, borrowing or renting items used infrequently, and participating in the sharing economy for services and products.

Eating Sustainably: Food choices have a significant environmental impact. Sustainable consumers can reduce meat consumption, especially beef, which has a high carbon footprint, choose locally produced and seasonal foods to reduce transportation emissions and minimise food waste by planning meals and composting organic waste.

Considering Energy Efficiency: Energy use is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable consumers can choose energy-efficient appliances and electronics, opt for renewable energy sources when possible and implement energy-saving habits in daily life.

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The Environmental Impact of Sustainable Consumerism
Adopting sustainable consumer practices can have significant positive impacts on the environment. By choosing products with lower carbon footprints and supporting companies with sustainable practices, consumers can help reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable consumption practices help conserve natural resources by reducing demand for new raw materials and promoting the use of recycled or renewable resources. By opting for durable, repairable products and minimising single-use items, sustainable consumers contribute to a significant reduction in waste generation. Reduced demand for resource-intensive products can help protect ecosystems from destruction due to resource extraction and pollution. Many sustainable products and practices also focus on water conservation, helping to preserve this vital resource. As demand shifts towards more sustainably produced goods, there can be a reduction in pollutants released into the air and water during manufacturing processes.

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Balancing Choice and Environmental Impact
While sustainable consumerism offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges, particularly in balancing personal choice with environmental responsibility. Here are some strategies for striking this balance:

Informed Decision-Making: Education is key to making sustainable choices without feeling overly restricted. By understanding the environmental impact of different products and services, consumers can make informed decisions that align with their values and needs.

Gradual Transitions: Shifting to sustainable consumerism doesn’t have to happen overnight. Start with small changes and gradually incorporate more sustainable practices into one’s lifestyle. This approach can make the transition feel less overwhelming and more achievable.

Finding Alternatives: For every conventional product, there’s often a more sustainable alternative. Explore these options to maintain variety in one’s choices while reducing environmental impact. For instance, if one enjoys fashion, look into sustainable clothing brands or second-hand shopping.

Quality of Life Focus: Remember that sustainable consumerism isn’t about deprivation, but about enhancing quality of life. Many sustainable practices, such as buying durable goods or eating locally sourced food, can improve one’s overall well-being while benefiting the environment.

Leveraging Technology: Use technology to one’s advantage in making sustainable choices. Apps and websites can help one find eco-friendly products, calculate their carbon footprint, or connect with local sharing economy initiatives.

Balancing Priorities: Recognise that it may not always be possible to make the most sustainable choice in every situation. Prioritise efforts where one will have the most impact, and don’t be too hard on oneself when compromises are necessary.

Collective Action: Remember that individual choices, when multiplied across many consumers, can drive significant change. Engage with the community, share sustainable practices, and advocate for policies that support sustainable consumption.

The Role of Business and Government
While individual actions are crucial, sustainable consumerism also requires support from businesses and governments. Business initiatives like implementing circular economy principles in product design and manufacturing, offering repair services and take-back programmes for their products and providing transparent information about the environmental impact of their products help in cultivating sustainability.

Government policies like implementing regulations that promote sustainable production and consumption, offering incentives for businesses and consumers who adopt sustainable practices, and investing in infrastructure that supports sustainable lifestyles, such as public transportation and recycling facilities will drive the sustainability playbook.

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Sustainable consumerism represents a powerful approach to addressing environmental challenges while maintaining quality of life. By making mindful choices about what we buy, how we use products, and how we dispose of them, we can significantly reduce our environmental impact. The journey towards sustainable consumerism is ongoing and evolving. It requires a shift in mindset, a willingness to learn and adapt, and a recognition of the power of individual choices. While it may seem challenging at times, the benefits – both for individuals and the planet – are substantial.

As we move forward, it’s crucial to remember that sustainable consumerism is not about perfection, but about progress. Every small step towards more sustainable choices contributes to a larger movement for environmental protection and responsible resource use. By balancing our choices with environmental considerations, we can create a more sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come.

Sustainable consumerism is not just about what we buy, but about how we live. It’s about creating a lifestyle that values experiences over possessions, quality over quantity, and long-term well-being over short-term gratification. As we embrace these principles, we not only reduce our environmental impact but also often find greater satisfaction and fulfllment in our lives. The path to sustainable consumerism is a collective journey. It involves consumers, businesses, and governments working together to create systems and practices that support environmental sustainability. By making conscious choices in our daily lives and advocating for broader systemic changes, we can all play a part in building a more sustainable and resilient world.

In My Hands Today…

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The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives – Ernest Scheyder

Tough choices loom if the world wants to go green. The United States and other countries must decide where and how to procure the materials that make our renewable energy economy possible. To build electric vehicles, solar panels, cell phones, and millions of other devices means the world must dig more mines to extract lithium, copper, cobalt, rare earths, and nickel. But mines are deeply unpopular, even as they have a role to play in fighting climate change. These tensions have sparked a worldwide reckoning over the sourcing of these critical minerals, and no one understands the complexities of these issues better than Ernest Scheyder, whose exclusive access has allowed him to report from the front lines on the key players in this global battle to power our future.

This is not a story of tree-hugging activists, but rather of industry titans, scientists, and policymakers jostling over how best to save the planet. Scheyder explores how a proposed lithium mine in Nevada would help global automakers slash their dependance on fossil fuels, but developing that mine could cause the extinction of a flower found nowhere else on the planet. A hedge fund manager’s attempt to resuscitate rare earths mining in California relies on Chinese expertise, exposing the paradox in Washington’s quest for minerals independence. The fight to end child labor in Africa’s mining sector is a key reason, supporters contend, to dig out a vast reserve of cobalt and nickel under Minnesota’s vulnerable wetlands. An international mining conglomerate’s plan to extract copper for electric vehicles deep beneath Arizona’s desert would destroy a Native American holy site, fueling tough questions about what matters more.

In The War Below , Scheyder crafts a business story that matters to everyone. If China continues to dominate production of these critical minerals, it will have a profound impact on the geopolitical order. Beyond China, countries such as Bolivia, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo aim to wield their vast reserves of key minerals. There are no easy answers when it comes to energy. Scheyder paints a powerfully honest and nuanced picture of what is needed to fight climate change and secure energy independence, revealing how America and the rest of the world’s hunt for the “new oil” directly affects us all.