Am I taking crazy pills? Does anyone see what is going on under our noses? Economy before environment. Is this logical to you?
What is going on in the UK? I was shocked to see last week that 80 acres of ancient woodland, Oaken Wood near Maidstone in Kent is to be destroyed so that a quarry can be extended to produce more building materials. New development laws have allowed 100,000 new homes to be built on greenbelt ‘protected’ land throughout the country and 5 coal power stations are to convert to burning wood – using 6 times as much wood as the entire UK can produce in a year. What a week! And all directed by our green Government.
This information is available, but what are we doing about it? Are you bothered about this? I am outraged! Ancient forest being destroyed?? We only have 2% of our forest left! These trees cannot be replaced. Where is the protection? And since when can greenbelt be built on? According to the government, the green belt serves five purposes:
Our government is so stuck in old habits. Why can't they be more creative? If we need more housing, why are they not using existing land and buildings? Building on greenbelt is bad news. It will allow further development and it will endanger our wildlife. Extinction is a natural occurrence of between one to five species per year. Scientists estimate we’re now losing species between 10,000 to 50,000 per year and at this rate half of all land animals and plants will be extinct within the next 40 years. Can you argue that this is the natural cycle and we haven't had any impact?
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/monitoring/climate/surface-temperature
What example are we setting for the rest of the world? What has happened to our goal to reduce carbon emissions? To protect biodiversity? Since the economic crash, the environment has been put on hold. The main focus is business as usual, even if it means polluting the planet to the point where our species cannot survive. Short-term thinking. Rant over. Sorry. Breath iiiiiiiin…..and ooooooouuuuuut……
We cannot rely on the government. We need change now. It’s all about grass roots action. You and I can make a difference. Forget the cynics, the scare mongers, the negative news stories. Let’s tell new stories….let’s talk about the future with wide, inspired eyes to the next generation to give them hope. Let’s be creative. Let’s work together and share resources. Let’s be open to continually learn and be willing to teach each other.
It’s time to re-write our future. Time to start telling stories of our abundant, peaceful, happy & collaborative world. I am not a rock or an island, nor are you. So let’s start working together.
“Ecosystems don’t know boundaries.”
Forget the man-made lines drawn on the atlas and take a different perspective. We are all one, together, on one planet. There is nowhere else to go. Let’s treat Earth, Gaia, Pacha Mama with respect. Environment first.
“The only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children, make it now.”
Bill Mollison, Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual
Some inspiration:
Greensburg in the US: http://www.greensburggreentown.org/
Transition Towns: http://www.transitionnetwork.org/
Permaculture: http://permaculturenews.org/2012/06/28/hope-for-a-new-era-before-after-examples-of-permaculture-earth-restoration-solving-our-problems-from-the-ground-up/
New York’s green work:: http://www.nyc.gov/html/greenyc/html/home/home.shtml
Be careful with your words, they are shaping our future reality. Let’s make our stories happy ones for us and the next generation. For this life is short.
I’m writing this as I sit on a train leaving Cornwall after returning for the funeral of a friend. Thinking about the cycle of nature helps me deal with death, but I feel winded but this blow, the passing of someone so familiar. Moments run through my head where our stories entwined. Now there is just emptiness as her story abruptly ends. And ours continue, rocked. Heart feels like it’s pounding in the mouth, body shakes, warm tears salt lips. Throat blocked with a lump you can never swallow.
Sadness.
Blank.
“Seasons change; things will never be the same.”
Life. Death. The reality is we are all so very fragile. Death just a knife point away. However you choose to live, be happy, be present, be mindful and treat others, yourself and the environment with compassion and empathy. Live today with full truth, love, energy and shine your light. We are all made of stars. See you in the next life chuck x
What is going on in the UK? I was shocked to see last week that 80 acres of ancient woodland, Oaken Wood near Maidstone in Kent is to be destroyed so that a quarry can be extended to produce more building materials. New development laws have allowed 100,000 new homes to be built on greenbelt ‘protected’ land throughout the country and 5 coal power stations are to convert to burning wood – using 6 times as much wood as the entire UK can produce in a year. What a week! And all directed by our green Government.
This information is available, but what are we doing about it? Are you bothered about this? I am outraged! Ancient forest being destroyed?? We only have 2% of our forest left! These trees cannot be replaced. Where is the protection? And since when can greenbelt be built on? According to the government, the green belt serves five purposes:
- To check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas
- To prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another
- To assist in safeguarding the countryside form encroachment
- To preserve the setting and special character of historic towns
- To assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
Our government is so stuck in old habits. Why can't they be more creative? If we need more housing, why are they not using existing land and buildings? Building on greenbelt is bad news. It will allow further development and it will endanger our wildlife. Extinction is a natural occurrence of between one to five species per year. Scientists estimate we’re now losing species between 10,000 to 50,000 per year and at this rate half of all land animals and plants will be extinct within the next 40 years. Can you argue that this is the natural cycle and we haven't had any impact?
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/monitoring/climate/surface-temperature
What example are we setting for the rest of the world? What has happened to our goal to reduce carbon emissions? To protect biodiversity? Since the economic crash, the environment has been put on hold. The main focus is business as usual, even if it means polluting the planet to the point where our species cannot survive. Short-term thinking. Rant over. Sorry. Breath iiiiiiiin…..and ooooooouuuuuut……
We cannot rely on the government. We need change now. It’s all about grass roots action. You and I can make a difference. Forget the cynics, the scare mongers, the negative news stories. Let’s tell new stories….let’s talk about the future with wide, inspired eyes to the next generation to give them hope. Let’s be creative. Let’s work together and share resources. Let’s be open to continually learn and be willing to teach each other.
It’s time to re-write our future. Time to start telling stories of our abundant, peaceful, happy & collaborative world. I am not a rock or an island, nor are you. So let’s start working together.
“Ecosystems don’t know boundaries.”
Forget the man-made lines drawn on the atlas and take a different perspective. We are all one, together, on one planet. There is nowhere else to go. Let’s treat Earth, Gaia, Pacha Mama with respect. Environment first.
“The only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children, make it now.”
Bill Mollison, Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual
Some inspiration:
Greensburg in the US: http://www.greensburggreentown.org/
Transition Towns: http://www.transitionnetwork.org/
Permaculture: http://permaculturenews.org/2012/06/28/hope-for-a-new-era-before-after-examples-of-permaculture-earth-restoration-solving-our-problems-from-the-ground-up/
New York’s green work:: http://www.nyc.gov/html/greenyc/html/home/home.shtml
Be careful with your words, they are shaping our future reality. Let’s make our stories happy ones for us and the next generation. For this life is short.
I’m writing this as I sit on a train leaving Cornwall after returning for the funeral of a friend. Thinking about the cycle of nature helps me deal with death, but I feel winded but this blow, the passing of someone so familiar. Moments run through my head where our stories entwined. Now there is just emptiness as her story abruptly ends. And ours continue, rocked. Heart feels like it’s pounding in the mouth, body shakes, warm tears salt lips. Throat blocked with a lump you can never swallow.
Sadness.
Blank.
“Seasons change; things will never be the same.”
Life. Death. The reality is we are all so very fragile. Death just a knife point away. However you choose to live, be happy, be present, be mindful and treat others, yourself and the environment with compassion and empathy. Live today with full truth, love, energy and shine your light. We are all made of stars. See you in the next life chuck x