Transition
Kidderminster
Newsletter
April 2020
Kidderminster
Newsletter
April 2020
Sustainability - Survival
+++ Special Edition +++
Coronavirus
Coronavirus
We normally publish every other month but there are so many aspects to how the coronavirus emergency impacts on issues of concern to Transition that we've produced this extra edition.
Many issues have been brought into sharp focus and there is an opportunity to reassess accepted norms.
We can also learn how to prepare for other crises that will confront us in the coming years, notably those related to global warming.
We hope you find it of interest.
Many issues have been brought into sharp focus and there is an opportunity to reassess accepted norms.
We can also learn how to prepare for other crises that will confront us in the coming years, notably those related to global warming.
We hope you find it of interest.
Meet The Other Silent Killer
The UK's other big silent killer has been around for for a long time. Air pollution levels have been illegally high for 10 years, killing an estimated 40,000 a year. Yet, despite court rulings, there has been no really serious government action. Along comes coronavirus with a projected fatality of some 20,000 and we are in lockdown with the country on its knees. A few weeks into lockdown and air pollution is heading for a rapid 50% drop. Of course it's not a fair comparison because left to itself the coronavirus potential death rate is a factor of 10 more than that of air pollution. Nonetheless it is quite conceivable that lower air pollution brought about by actions taken to control the coronavirus could save more lives than coronavirus takes! Read more here ...
Moreover, the coronavirus death rate is highest amongst those with respiratory problems, many brought about by .... you guessed it, air pollution!
The UK's other big silent killer has been around for for a long time. Air pollution levels have been illegally high for 10 years, killing an estimated 40,000 a year. Yet, despite court rulings, there has been no really serious government action. Along comes coronavirus with a projected fatality of some 20,000 and we are in lockdown with the country on its knees. A few weeks into lockdown and air pollution is heading for a rapid 50% drop. Of course it's not a fair comparison because left to itself the coronavirus potential death rate is a factor of 10 more than that of air pollution. Nonetheless it is quite conceivable that lower air pollution brought about by actions taken to control the coronavirus could save more lives than coronavirus takes! Read more here ...
Moreover, the coronavirus death rate is highest amongst those with respiratory problems, many brought about by .... you guessed it, air pollution!
Time to Reassess Air Travel?
The aircraft industry is suffering badly from the coronavirus fallout. Airport operations companies face bankruptcy and Virgin are asking for hundreds of millions of taxpayers' money. Could this be an opportunity to re-assess the need for such a huge air travel industry? It contributes to air pollution, to global warming via CO2 emissions, and to the rapid spread of disease. Perhaps we could learn to live without holiday air travel at its pre-coronavirus level. and retain it primarily for freight and important trips. For the latest data on air traffic fall-off visit FlightRadar24 here....
The aircraft industry is suffering badly from the coronavirus fallout. Airport operations companies face bankruptcy and Virgin are asking for hundreds of millions of taxpayers' money. Could this be an opportunity to re-assess the need for such a huge air travel industry? It contributes to air pollution, to global warming via CO2 emissions, and to the rapid spread of disease. Perhaps we could learn to live without holiday air travel at its pre-coronavirus level. and retain it primarily for freight and important trips. For the latest data on air traffic fall-off visit FlightRadar24 here....
Cruise industry sunk by Coronavirus?
Carnival Cruises is seeking £6bn funding and admits the market may never recover after coronavirus. As another source of air pollution and CO2 emissions it's decline would be seen by many as no bad thing. Cruise passengers tend to be heavily represented by the over-70s, and ships are known to swiftly spread outbreaks of all viruses. The risks may now be seen as too great. Read more here ...
Carnival Cruises is seeking £6bn funding and admits the market may never recover after coronavirus. As another source of air pollution and CO2 emissions it's decline would be seen by many as no bad thing. Cruise passengers tend to be heavily represented by the over-70s, and ships are known to swiftly spread outbreaks of all viruses. The risks may now be seen as too great. Read more here ...
Where did the Coronavirus come from?
China has banned trade and consumption of wild animals. Not out of any consideration for wild animals sadly, but because they fear the coronavirus originated in the wild and then migrated to humans via the bushmeat trade. China would not take this major step without reason. Cause for celebration however, whatever the motive. Read more... |
Is Meat Exposing Us to Pandemics?
According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), meat production, driven by a growing number of consumers, is projected to double by mid-century, leading to heightened risk of new pandemics. The coronavirus may have been transmitted directly from a wild animal, facilitated through a traditional food market in Wuhan, China. Usually, however, the virus passes through a domestic animal first – camels in the case of MERS and birds and pigs in the Avian and Swine Flu pandemics. Read more here ...
According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), meat production, driven by a growing number of consumers, is projected to double by mid-century, leading to heightened risk of new pandemics. The coronavirus may have been transmitted directly from a wild animal, facilitated through a traditional food market in Wuhan, China. Usually, however, the virus passes through a domestic animal first – camels in the case of MERS and birds and pigs in the Avian and Swine Flu pandemics. Read more here ...
If this concerns you, there is a petition doing the rounds for you to sign here...
35,000 Badgers killed in 2019
And on the day the media and the public were focused on the coronavirus lockdown announcement, the government slipped out last year's appalling total. The inhumane slaughter of a protected species simply to placate the diary industry lobby. Even the government now admits it's ineffective. Read more here ...
And on the day the media and the public were focused on the coronavirus lockdown announcement, the government slipped out last year's appalling total. The inhumane slaughter of a protected species simply to placate the diary industry lobby. Even the government now admits it's ineffective. Read more here ...
Time to Rethink Food Supply?
The coronavirus has exposed the fragility of the UK's food supply system. Empty supermarket shelves have become the norm. And it's not all down to greedy hoarders.
The UK produces only 50% of the food we eat, leaving us at the mercies of the international markets. And our production methods are damaging to the environment and human health. Of the six million hectares of cultivatable land in Britain, only 168,000 hectares are used for human consumables. Much of the remaining land is used for crops to feed livestock or for processed foods. Our strap line "Sustainablity - Survival" has never been more apt. Read more here ...
The coronavirus has exposed the fragility of the UK's food supply system. Empty supermarket shelves have become the norm. And it's not all down to greedy hoarders.
The UK produces only 50% of the food we eat, leaving us at the mercies of the international markets. And our production methods are damaging to the environment and human health. Of the six million hectares of cultivatable land in Britain, only 168,000 hectares are used for human consumables. Much of the remaining land is used for crops to feed livestock or for processed foods. Our strap line "Sustainablity - Survival" has never been more apt. Read more here ...
A Silver Lining to Coronavirus Cloud?
Now that we won't be taking foreign holidays anytime soon, we might just discover that our local woods are more beautiful than foreign beaches, and that local farmers grow better and cheaper food than that which is shipped across the globe -with the associated harm to the climate. Read about some good things that are emerging here ...
Now that we won't be taking foreign holidays anytime soon, we might just discover that our local woods are more beautiful than foreign beaches, and that local farmers grow better and cheaper food than that which is shipped across the globe -with the associated harm to the climate. Read about some good things that are emerging here ...
Locked Down but not Locked Out
Here are some links to museums throughout Europe which are now offering free on-line tours. Plus on-line concerts, learning, etc. See the list here...
Here are some links to museums throughout Europe which are now offering free on-line tours. Plus on-line concerts, learning, etc. See the list here...
Tips on home-schooling
If you have kids at home here are some ideas from the Guardian on how to use time in the most productive way. Read the article here...
If you have kids at home here are some ideas from the Guardian on how to use time in the most productive way. Read the article here...
And a list of 20 learning Apps for stir-crazy kids here...
Lessons from Coronavirus
The mortality rate of Covid-19 is 2% or less. The mortality from global warming is probably going to be a factor of 10 more or worse, and if things go really badly, quite possibly approaching 100%. But the virus is now, global warming is by comparison, tomorrow's problem so the mañana mentality kicks in, with fossil investment in fuel extraction having actually increased by 40% since the Paris COP agreement!
Until a month ago the focus was on 2020 as the 'last chance year', an opportunity for the world's nations to take the drastic action required to limit the worst effects of planetary temperature rise. Nobody knows how long it will take to get the coronavirus under control and as a result there is a real danger that the 2020 COP will not happen. Of course there's always mañana!
Already, and rightly, the cry over coronavirus is 'the signs were there - why wasn't more done earlier?'. The chart below shows the value of early action. What chance that we will learn from this in forestalling the global warming tragedy?
The mortality rate of Covid-19 is 2% or less. The mortality from global warming is probably going to be a factor of 10 more or worse, and if things go really badly, quite possibly approaching 100%. But the virus is now, global warming is by comparison, tomorrow's problem so the mañana mentality kicks in, with fossil investment in fuel extraction having actually increased by 40% since the Paris COP agreement!
Until a month ago the focus was on 2020 as the 'last chance year', an opportunity for the world's nations to take the drastic action required to limit the worst effects of planetary temperature rise. Nobody knows how long it will take to get the coronavirus under control and as a result there is a real danger that the 2020 COP will not happen. Of course there's always mañana!
Already, and rightly, the cry over coronavirus is 'the signs were there - why wasn't more done earlier?'. The chart below shows the value of early action. What chance that we will learn from this in forestalling the global warming tragedy?
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2020 newsletter back issues at
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Join us on Facebook !
Get involved - it's your future too!
[email protected]
Talk to us on 07867 502575
Newsletter feedback/news items to
[email protected]
Visit our informative website at
transitionkidderminster.org.uk
2019 newsletter back issues at
tknews19.weebly.com
2020 newsletter back issues at
tknews20.weebly.com
Join us on Facebook !
Get involved - it's your future too!
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