The stages of grief are well known enough. The five states being Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. We all seem hard wired to go through this painful and time consuming process whilst eventually finding acceptance and a sort of peace. It’s a shame we can’t just fast forward to the eventual certitude of its conclusion a state a lot quicker, in particular over the issue over climate change.
I went to Climate Camp in 2009 and among the speakers and workshops, listening to a guy called Ayden Hector really made me configure my grief to quick acceptance and then ultimately to action. His 30-minute presentation on practical measures was so simple in its delivery I was able to come away with a feeling of empowerment and control over the chaotic senses of grief. Here are 4 simple ways you can take charge of your responsibilities to the climate changing namely your purchasing power and how you vote for change with your lizzies…
1. Reduce Flights
Those cheap weekend trips to France. Skip them. They were never essential and if it really mattered you could take the train or coach. A typical flight from Heathrow to Paris will cost 79 pound in a round trip but the volume of CO2 that is emitted into the atmosphere is 244 kg compared to just 22 kg if you took the train. It’s also a lot more comfortable. It collects and deposits you in central city locations and there’s no palaver in advance security waiting times before the boarding of the flight.
2. Buy in season and local produce
Buying local produce will initially seem like a chore when you discover those out of season strawberries look tempting, especially in the bargain box of your local supermarket. Don’t give in! Trying anything new out always seems a little daunting. There are numerous charts available for what is in season and local food producers are becoming ever more active on the independent food shopping scene. Get down to your local street market and discover the taste of local produce and feel better about taking an active part of the health of your planet as well as your body.
3. Buy brand new second hand
Being ethical doesn’t always have to mean spending vast amount of money, despite what your well-meaning but other era parents told you as a child. Since the decline of the high street and the growth of online shopping, many people are taking to market style trading by flogging their surplus to requirement belongings. With the security of online trading shops (that also offer high street branches) not only can you recycle those unwanted DVDs you no longer watch but you can put them to good use as store credit towards that new Camera lens you need for your photography.
4. Take local transport
The hardest one and least enticing tip can be to leave the car at home and find alternative travel means to work. When the weather is dreary and you have to wait on freezing platforms for your commute, you could be saving on average of 4.6 metric tons of CO2 in the atmosphere. And just think- you could catch up on so much reading whilst waiting for your train!
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