We have decided to remove sponsorship from Amazon from our website with the realisation that it contributes to so many of the problems we are all striving to resolve.
The brilliant choice of the word “Amazon” is a stroke of genius- linked with one of the most life-sustaining, essential things on the planet!
Calling a Dumfries warehouse a ‘fulfillment centre’ smacks of Orwell’s gripping novel, 1984. Maybe it should properly be called a ‘full-Fill-ment centre’ as brand new products such as laptops and TVs are simply sent away to be buried in the ground from it, as landfill is cheaper than re-distributing them around the UK or donating them to schools and hospitals.
As the richest man in the known universe, Amazon owner Jeff Bezos made UK sales worth £14,000,000,000 in one year (2019) alone. He has a personal fortune of £155,000,000,000. However, he pays minimal UK tax by claiming small profits. It seems customers are unaware of the full story of buying and throwing away, over and over again, while gradually undermining small, local businesses in the long term. One charming designer I met cheerfully described his job, (working for several large chains based in China and Horsham) by saying, “I make landfill!” Read more
Destroying (the) Amazon – Think Local by Morag Warrack
/in Children & nature, Climate change, Eco News/by Eve DelvesWe have decided to remove sponsorship from Amazon from our website with the realisation that it contributes to so many of the problems we are all striving to resolve.
The brilliant choice of the word “Amazon” is a stroke of genius- linked with one of the most life-sustaining, essential things on the planet!
Calling a Dumfries warehouse a ‘fulfillment centre’ smacks of Orwell’s gripping novel, 1984. Maybe it should properly be called a ‘full-Fill-ment centre’ as brand new products such as laptops and TVs are simply sent away to be buried in the ground from it, as landfill is cheaper than re-distributing them around the UK or donating them to schools and hospitals.
As the richest man in the known universe, Amazon owner Jeff Bezos made UK sales worth £14,000,000,000 in one year (2019) alone. He has a personal fortune of £155,000,000,000. However, he pays minimal UK tax by claiming small profits. It seems customers are unaware of the full story of buying and throwing away, over and over again, while gradually undermining small, local businesses in the long term. One charming designer I met cheerfully described his job, (working for several large chains based in China and Horsham) by saying, “I make landfill!” Read more
Wow No Cow! by Keir Hartley (first published in West Sussex County Times)
/in Climate change, Eco News, Ecology, Food Waste, Health and wellbeing/by Eve DelvesIf you are reading this column, there’s a good chance that you have an urge to do ‘the right thing’. You’re the sort who’s first to help in a crisis. You were the first to raise the subject of climate change. And the first to actually do something about it! And what better first step than to start making educated choices in the way you shop? No more plastic bottles and dodgy packaging. You started shopping locally, avoiding waste, noticing how sustainable food might or might not be. And you are right.
But it’s complicated, isn’t it?.
Take milk as an example. To produce it from a cow is incredibly destructive. A study by Oxford University tells us that producing a glass of dairy milk results in almost three times the greenhouse gas emissions of any non-dairy milks! It takes approximately 120 litres of water, 150 square centimetres of land and produces 0.6 kg of carbon emissions to produce one 200ml glassful.
For almond milk, however, the figures are 78 litres of water, a mere 10 square centimetres of land and 2kg of CO2 emissions. It sounds like a no brainer, until you drill down – which is exactly what they have had to do in California! The Golden State is responsible for 80% of the world’s almond production which requires enormous plantations which slowly deplete and dry the soil. Farmers drill ever deeper to quench their thirsty crops, bringing up saltier water. This speeds up desertification, which in turn leads to fires, and the strong possibility of no more almond trees. Read more
There is an elephant in the room
/in Biodiversity & Nature, Climate change, Ecology/by Carrie CortTo Fly or Not to Fly by Anne Davies (first published in West Sussex County Times)
/in Climate change, Eco News, Ecology, Transport/by Nick BennettFundraise for us at no cost to you
/in Fundraising/by Carrie CortDid you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for Sussex Green Living?
Join easyfundraising and you can collect free donations for us every time you buy something online. It won’t cost you a penny extra so please help us to raise funds.
All you need to do is:
1. Go to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/sussexgreenliving/ and join for free. Read more
Beyond Be-Leaf: A Day in the Woods by Liz Stack
/in Biodiversity & Nature, Children & nature, Climate change, Eco News, Ecology, Education, Health and wellbeing, Youth Eco Forum/by Nick BennettSounding Out Horsham: Carrie Cort on Sussex Green Living and environmental issues
/in Climate change/by Eve DelvesExperience Education Employment Environment by Morag Warrack (first published in West Sussex County Times)
/in Biodiversity & Nature, Children & nature, Eco News, Ecology/by Eve DelvesKeith Colin at Sompting
Earlier this month I had the great pleasure of being shown around two of the four sites managed by Keith and Liane who, along with a great team of trustees run the charity Sustainable Sussex.
Volunteer Fiona, who lives in a flat 20 minute’s bike ride away, told me, “I’ve been helping for two years now. It was a real lifesaver during lockdown!”
The small area (it’s less than one acre) is rich in birdsong – all the more noticeable as there is little or no traffic noise. The scent of elderflower blossoms fills the air as swallows swoop low over the small fields. Read more
Lets visualise Horsham in 2030 together
/in Climate change, Events, Food Waste, Health and wellbeing, Recycling/by Carrie CortAt our next Sussex Green Ideas online meeting, on July 21st at 7.00pm, we will be useing two books to help identify what Horsham District groups could usefully build now – and by 2030.
Chris Goodall – “What do we need to do now?” (discussed at Steyning Green Books 6/5/21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrxFSLl9tsw). Chris explained a number of uncomfortable truths relating to food and agriculture (one quarter of the world’s emissions), travel, domestic buildings and clothing (fast fashion)
He then identified what local groups could do, focusing also on working together and making lives better. We have chosen to focus on food, agriculture and clothing in our meeting*.
In the first part, we will look at his suggestions for:
Food and agriculture – He suggested The Kindling Trust as a model of community horticulture.
Clothing. He suggested The Clothing Warehouse Ltd as a model for recycling clothes (and household textiles). And initiatives that improve sewing skills (like our Horsham Repair Cafe) and use alternatives to cotton. We are going to be joined by Karrie Mellor one of our trustees and the founder of Bags of Support, a West Sussex textile recycling initiative run for social and environmental purpose. Read more
Gardening to save the planet by Kia Trainor CPRE Sussex Director (first published in West Sussex County Times)
/in Biodiversity & Nature, Eco News, Ecology/by Eve DelvesFemale Orange tip
Dave Goulson is Professor of Biology at the University of Brighton. His books, include ‘The Garden Jungle’ and ‘Gardening for Bumblebees’.
At a recent talk, he explained that we need insects to pollinate our food crops. In the UK some growers are now employing people to hand-pollinate their plants, because insect numbers have declined so dramatically.
We can help here though. The area of gardens across England is over 4.5 times that of national nature reserves, so by gardening for nature together we can make a difference.
As part of the CPRE Sussex ‘Festival of Spring’, Prof Goulson explained how we can garden to save the planet: Read more
Why we need to talk about homes after gas – through a Horsham eco open house trial
/in Eco News, Energy, Events, Green Suppliers/by Eve DelvesClick to view presentation
At our last Sussex Green Ideas Zoom event on Wednesday 16th June we learnt about the challenge of transitioning from gas and the urgent need to cut the 17% of UK emissions that come from heating our leaky homes. You can view the Homes after Gas presentation here.
It helps that we can now choose renewable energy instead of fossil fuels – and generally save money, this is our energy cost comparison and switching site www.Bigcleanswitch.org/SussexGreen it only takes about 5 minutes to switch!
But the next step is the end of gas heating. From 2025 new builds will not be connected to the gas grid. The government hasn’t yet set a cut off date for new gas boilers in existing homes but it will need to do this soon. Read more
How does your garden grow by Sally Marshall (first published in West Sussex County Times)
/in Eco News/by Eve DelvesForest School: freedom and Fantasy by Terri Meadus (first published in West Sussex County Times)
/in Eco News/by Eve Delves1st public Bright New Future Roadshow on World Environment Day
/in Children & nature, Climate change, Events/by The WebmasterPRESS RELEASE: What does a 1974 milk float, 7 tonne lorry, a group of inspiring environmentalists and World Environment Day 5th June have in common? They are all part of the Bright New […]
What’s your next strategy for sustainable shopping? by Oisin Collishe (first published in West Sussex County Times)
/in Eco News/by Eve DelvesWhat’s your next strategy for sustainable shopping? Find out…
by Oisin Collishe
With the shops re-opening now, can we use this moment to briefly pause and ask ourselves if we need to rush out to buy stuff which we might use for a season then discard?
USEFUL QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN SHOPPING:
(We don’t necessarily even need to know the answers!)
Read more
Inspiration Eco Station makes its first appearance at Horsham Market
/in Eco News/by Eve DelvesHow to Build a Happy, Healthy and Green Community by Paul Hannam (first published in West Sussex Country Times)
/in Eco News/by Eve DelvesBy Paul Hannam, Chair of Greening Steyning
As Sir David Attenborough and others have warned 2021 is a turning point if we are to get on top of the climate and ecological crisis we are all facing.
Whatever your politics, whatever your lifestyle, whatever your values or interests, we have to rise above our individual differences to work together for the common good.
Will we look back and see the pandemic as a watershed in history, the moment when we acted as global citizens and community champions? If there is one definitive lesson from the Covid-19, it is that we have an astonishing capacity to unite under a common purpose. If we can maintain this resolve, we can prevent climate and ecological collapse.
Each one of us has a role to play as individuals, families, employees and members of a community. On our own, it is very hard to make the changes we need to. Working together, we can transform our communities. Through mutual support and community action, street by street, we can achieve our vision. Read more
Nuthurst Community Allotment by Sally White (first published in West Sussex County Times 6th May
/in Eco News/by Eve DelvesNuthurst Community Allotment by Sally White
One of the better things that happened in 2020 was that Jonathan van der Borgh turned up on Angus White’s doorstep. He brought with him the brilliant idea to create a new community allotment in Nuthurst. That idea is now becoming a reality.
As soon as we spread the word via the December issue of our local Parish Mag, The Link, we quickly gathered an extremely enthusiastic team of Nuthurst-ers! With seven pairs of hands on board, we cleared the ground of the old Architectural Plants’ site which has now moved to Pulborough. We weeded, shovelled soil, ploughed, rotavated, spruced up the glasshouses, chitted spuds, amassed loads of seeds and sowed.
We did another ‘shouting-about-how-great-we-are’ routine in The Link and on Social Media. These shout-outs have been very well received; we have had a flood of interest from local residents and also from local businesses who are keen to contribute much needed materials and equipment. Have a look at our website for details of how to get involved and for a list of the businesses who have been kind enough to donate to the allotment. Read more
Horsham controversy over wood-burning stoves (West Sussex County Times 15th February 2021
/in Eco News/by Eve DelvesSome fear that the fires are a danger to health and the environment.
And a Billingshurst man stoked up anger when he called on people to stop using them and suggested that the fires were merely ‘a fashion statement.’
Robert Bishop maintained that it was impossible to follow Government Covid advice and open windows because of smoke from neighbours’ wood fires.
And they maintain that wood is a renewable source of energy, unlike oil or gas.
However, Asthma UK says burning wood gives off tiny particles that can get into the airways.
A spokesman said: “Breathing them in can make your airways inflamed, bringing on asthma symptoms”.
Carrie Cort, founder of Sussex Green Living “If you’re using a wood-burning stove, make sure it’s well maintained, and that you’re using dry woods.”
Read more
Council green grants help fund Eco Station for Horsham District
/in Eco News/by Eve DelvesHorsham District Council is delighted to announce that funding from its recently launched Community Climate Fund initiative is set to benefit a local outreach project to create a mobile educational Eco Station.
Local charity Sussex Green Living applied for a grant from the Council’s Horsham District Community Climate Fund and successfully received £5,000 to get their Inspiration Eco Station on the road.
Volunteers at the multi-award winning Sussex Green Living have created a unique environmental outreach project using a refurbished 1974 milk float, they plan to show local people that there is a Bright New Future ahead.
The Inspiration Eco Station is a colourful and engaging mobile display that will travel to schools, colleges, faith groups and community events to share top tips on how residents can save money whilst reducing their negative impact on the planet. From tackling eco home and gardens, waste prevention and recycling, fast fashion to low carbon career opportunities there will be lots of inspiring ideas, solutions to help people save money and live more sustainably. Read more
Sussex Local coverage April 2021: Carrie’s journey
/in Eco News/by Eve DelvesThe Latest E-Zine from the Youth Eco Forum is out!
/in Eco News/by Eve DelvesThe April 2021 edition of this quarterly publication is out, and its fabulous as usual! Browse through accessible and beautifully illustrated articles: opinions on the pandemic’s impact on the environment to vegan feasts and managing food waste, Bee SOS, the Eco-Church, and the importance of seaweed. Interesting, engaging and inspiring.
Helping the environment through responsible investments
/in Climate change, Eco News, Events, Green Suppliers/by Carrie CortAdur & Worthing climate assembly lessons learnt
/in Climate change, Events/by Carrie CortA Fairer Easter for People and Planet
/in Children & nature, Eco News, Events, Food Waste, Green art & games, Green Suppliers, Seasonal celebrations/by Karen ParkThis article by Marie Allen, Fairtrade Horsham, was published in West Sussex County Times on 11.3.21
Horsham has been a Fairtrade town since 2005 and we are lucky to have so many shops and cafes which offer Fairtrade products, giving farmers and producers a better deal. Fairtrade Fortnight, which ended on March 8th, had Climate Justice as its theme this year, reflecting the importance of climate change for farmers in the developing world. Many of them are already seeing its impact in droughts, crop disease, floods and heatwaves.
Fairtrade and Climate Justice
Fairtrade means that farmers and producers receive a fair price for their products and that they have safe working conditions. In addition, they receive a Fairtrade premium which they can choose to spend as they see fit. Fairtrade farmers and producers adhere to a set of environmental protection standards and they are encouraged to learn about environmentally friendly practices. Many spend their Fairtrade premium on measures to alleviate the impacts of climate change.
Read more