No Progress Without Campaign Finance Reform
Anita Heuss writes: I know we are all angry about guns today. Unfortunately I think something else needs to be said (displayed at left). (more…)
Tagged with: environmental stewardship
Pruitt Is Right To Protect Himself from Bodily Attack
From Time Magazine: The head of the Environmental Protection Agency has broken months of silence about his frequent premium-class flights at taxpayer expense, saying he needs to fly first class because of unpleasant interactions with other travelers. Pruitt told the New Hampshire Union Leader he had some “incidents” on flights shortly after his appointment by President Donald Trump last year. (more…)
From Guest Blogger Derek Lotts: Eco-Friendly Ideas for Granny Flats and Other Outdoor Rooms
Although most people think furnishing and decorating their homes in an eco-friendly manner is the easiest thing in the world, it’s sometimes far from that. You need to take everyone’s wishes into consideration and make sure every member of your family feels validated and appreciated as that’s the only way to make them see that their wishes are important. (more…)
From Guest Blogger Delicia Warren: Reasons To Be Cheerful–Good News in Today’s Media
It’s tough out there right now; everyday television screens, radio stations and newspapers tell of political upheaval, environmental damage and societal sorrow. Even our social media feeds are choking on unpleasant updates. However, optimism is a crucial tool in the toolkit during the quest to elicit positive change. As such, a spotlight must be shone upon the stories of good from around the world, as well as the bad.
We’ve rounded up some of the best ‘good news’ stories in the media right now, with the hope they’ll inspire a little hope and optimism.
FMCG Giant Unilever takes an ethical stand on the Internet
Keith Weed, Unilever’s chief marketing officer, has confirmed the multi-billion dollar company will not hesitate to pull marketing spend from digital platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter if ‘fake news’, radicalism and hatred continue to be spread, uncontrolled and unchallenged, on these sites.
Why is this good news? Well, Weed insists this move comes from Unilever’s desire to avoid “platforms which do not make a positive contribution to society” — and as a multi-national leader in many categories, it’s unlikely that now Unilever has made its stance clear, other companies won’t do the same. The argument is impossible for the likes of Facebook to ignore. What we can hope for, then, is a cleaner and more responsible Internet that’s safer for everyone to enjoy.
Stay tuned with the help of a new source, such as International brief, for the latest developments on this.
People power helps fund LGBTQ children’s book ‘Maiden Voyage’
Users of Kickstarter — the crowdfunding service — have once again come through for an independent project, raising more than the necessary total to bring ‘Maiden Voyage,’ the second in a series of LGBTQ inclusive books, to print.
Through ‘Promised Land Tales,’ co-founders Adam Reynolds and Chaz Harris want to give today’s children the books they needed to see when they were growing up; stories where diversity is key, yet isn’t questioned or used as a plot device.
This is great news, as it’s another step towards raising younger generations to be accepting and loving of each other as equals.
UK air pollutants continue to decline
Citizens of Great Britain can breathe a sigh of relief, for now, as motor emissions fell 12% between 2012 and 2016. It’s a great step in the right direction, yet the nation remains in breach of European limits for nitrogen oxides in sixteen cities across the country.
Nevertheless, a steady closure of coal-fired power stations resulted in a significant drop in sulfur dioxide levels, and in general air toxicity levels are within legal limits.
While there’s still a long way to go, it’s worth celebrating the positive change — it’s far better than the alternative!
Stay positive; share positivity
It can be hard to keep smiling in times such as these, but one thing is for sure: to drive change, we have to stay motivated. In this spirit, try to share one positive story with someone you speak to today, in the hopes they’ll share one with someone else. One by one, we can change the world.
The author is Delicia Warren. She is a freelance writer, passionate about the environment, organic farming and food production. An advocate for a holistic approach to the world’s problems, she has a particular interest in the small changes individuals can make to their lifestyle to minimize their environmental footprint.
Tagged with: air pollutants continue to decline
Germany Looks to Phase Out Coal. But Does It Matter?
I copied the title above from this article in GreenTechMedia as a preamble to a few remarks.
Some people may say that anything Germany does is a “drop in the bucket” of the world’s overall coal consumption, and thus it’s an irrelevant gesture. I’ve heard this argument before. In fact, I’ve actually made this argument before. But on balance, I think it’s wrong. Here’s why: (more…)
Take a COOL Guess – the Fun Quiz on Clean Energy. Today’s Topic: Divestment from Fossil Fuels
Question: What country just became the first to divest its entire national holdings from fossil fuels? (more…)
From Guest Blogger Lizzie Weakly: Four Reasons to Have an Environmental Assessment before Building Your Commercial Property
With many steps to take throughout the construction process, adding one more item to the list may seem unnecessary and excessively costly. In many situations, an environmental assessment may not be necessary, but it can be inherently beneficial. (more…)
Here’s What’s Happening In Your World…When It’s 4°C Hotter
I thought I’d publish this map of the world, created by the Metropolitan Art Museum, enabling you to get a glimpse of life on Earth if the planet warms 4°C, an extremely likely scenario. As we’ve often said, there will be some winners along with all the losers.
As interesting as it is, I question its accuracy, in that it features part of today’s land mass that will have long since ceased to exist due to the melting of a large percentage of the ice on Greenland and Western Antarctica.
Tagged with: Climate Change
Why Did the TV Networks Do Such a Terrible Job Reporting On Climate Change Last Year?
Media coverage of climate change is light, uninformative, and declining in scope–just as its impact in terms of extreme weather events is going through the roof. From this article by Media Matters for America: (more…)
From Guest Blogger Lizzie Weakly: Five Unique Ways to Save Money on Business Energy Bills
No matter what business you’re in, reducing costs is one of the surest ways to discover found money. Every dime you save applies 100% of its value to your bottom line, so it is to your benefit to find ways to reduce costs wherever you can. (more…)
Tagged with: automate lights, business energy, energy bills, energy efficiency, lighting, save money, windows
