Transition
Kidderminster
Newsletter
January 2020
Kidderminster
Newsletter
January 2020
Sustainability - Survival
Welcome to your bi-monthly TK Newsletter.
Designed for display on laptops, desktops and smartphones.
Do email us your upcoming green/eco events.
Give us your feedback - positive or otherwise!
You may have noticed our new strapline, above, and wondered what it is all about. Basically the TK core group has accepted that serious global warming (in the order of 4C) is very likely to happen and we should start preparing for it. Over the coming year or so we will make presentations explaining why we think this and what we think we should be doing to prepare for it. Initially you will notice changes to the information offered on our web site.
The Food section has already been overhauled and expanded - do have a look.
The really serious climate stuff will take a generation, possibly two, to hit us. So you may think we are panicking a bit too soon. However the point is that preparing to survive what we see as an oncoming disaster requires much the same action as living in a sustainable way so as to help avoid such a disaster! So nothing at all is lost in preparing for the worst. And change takes time so why not start now? We are not as vulnerable as Australia but in time no place on the planet will be immune.
The Food section has already been overhauled and expanded - do have a look.
The really serious climate stuff will take a generation, possibly two, to hit us. So you may think we are panicking a bit too soon. However the point is that preparing to survive what we see as an oncoming disaster requires much the same action as living in a sustainable way so as to help avoid such a disaster! So nothing at all is lost in preparing for the worst. And change takes time so why not start now? We are not as vulnerable as Australia but in time no place on the planet will be immune.
2020 - Make or Break year for the climate
"The decisions we make in 2020 will decide the quality of life for every living thing on this planet for at least the next century. That is not an exaggeration, that is our reality." - Christina Figueres, architect of the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement
“We are at a unique stage in our history. Never before have we had such an awareness of what we are doing to the planet, and never before have we had the power to do something about that. Surely we all have a responsibility to care for our blue planet. The future of humanity and indeed, all life on earth, now depends on us.” - David Attenborough
"The decisions we make in 2020 will decide the quality of life for every living thing on this planet for at least the next century. That is not an exaggeration, that is our reality." - Christina Figueres, architect of the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement
“We are at a unique stage in our history. Never before have we had such an awareness of what we are doing to the planet, and never before have we had the power to do something about that. Surely we all have a responsibility to care for our blue planet. The future of humanity and indeed, all life on earth, now depends on us.” - David Attenborough
If you want to get involved here is a useful Guardian guide to joining the fight against the climate crisis in 2020 ... read more
2019 - A record breaking year for UK temperatures
For February, July, and provisionally December, 2019 was a year of multiple records, concluding a record-breaking decade. The following graph illustrates how things have shifted in the last decade. Read the Met Office's analysis of 2019 and the last decade here ...
For February, July, and provisionally December, 2019 was a year of multiple records, concluding a record-breaking decade. The following graph illustrates how things have shifted in the last decade. Read the Met Office's analysis of 2019 and the last decade here ...
And ocean temperatures also hit a record high in 2019
New analysis shows the past 10 years are the top 10 years on record. The amount of heat being added to the oceans is equivalent to every person on the planet running 100 microwave ovens 24 hrs a day. More here....
Hotter oceans lead to more severe storms and disrupt the rain cycle, meaning more floods, droughts and wildfires, as well as an inexorable rise in sea level. Higher temperatures are also harming life in the seas.
As the Dylan lyric has it "you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind's blowin "
New analysis shows the past 10 years are the top 10 years on record. The amount of heat being added to the oceans is equivalent to every person on the planet running 100 microwave ovens 24 hrs a day. More here....
Hotter oceans lead to more severe storms and disrupt the rain cycle, meaning more floods, droughts and wildfires, as well as an inexorable rise in sea level. Higher temperatures are also harming life in the seas.
As the Dylan lyric has it "you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind's blowin "
Zero-carbon electricity outstrips fossil fuels in Britain across 2019
This is indeed great news. But read the article and the picture is not quite so rosy as it appears on first sight. Renewables still only account for about 10%. We have some way to go.
This is indeed great news. But read the article and the picture is not quite so rosy as it appears on first sight. Renewables still only account for about 10%. We have some way to go.
Microsoft to the Rescue
Microsoft pledges to be carbon negative by 2030 and to be so negative by 2050 that it will have compensated for all the CO2 it has produced since 1975, its founding date!
More on this here ...
More on this here ...
Meanwhile Microsoft founder Bill Gates is behind a bold venture to produce fuel from CO2 extracted out of the atmosphere - a double whammy. If he succeeds, his Microsoft derived fortune will become small change by comparison. And we will all be eternally grateful. We wish you every success Bill !
More here ...
More here ...
Meanwhile the climate crisis hasn't stopped a big sales increase in gas-guzzling SUVs.
People are still not prepared to make sacrifices it seems.
more here ....
People are still not prepared to make sacrifices it seems.
more here ....
Hopes for lower methane livestock
The livestock industry is trying to do something about methane production; methane is a gas produced by livestock (both ends) and is 10 times more powerful than CO2 as a global warming agent. The rise of meat-free diets has clearly got the industry rattled. Read more
The livestock industry is trying to do something about methane production; methane is a gas produced by livestock (both ends) and is 10 times more powerful than CO2 as a global warming agent. The rise of meat-free diets has clearly got the industry rattled. Read more
What's the Big Beef?
In case you aren't aware of the arguments surrounding meat production you can get an excellent overview of the facts here....
In case you aren't aware of the arguments surrounding meat production you can get an excellent overview of the facts here....
Veganuary
130,000 people have now pledged a meat-free January.
The move to a meat free diet is really taking off, but driven by flexitarians (39% of population) rather than vegans (only 1% of the UK population). Read the latest report on our changing eating habits here ...
OXO launch a vegan cube
KFC are launching a vegan-burger
Burger King now offer a meat free burger
Hot out of the oven is Gregg's meat free steak bake
McDonalds is launching Veggie Dippers & vegan meal deal
Most supermarkets are rapidly expanding their vegetarian offerings
And the 3D 'beef' printer is coming, home cooking will never be the same again! more here
130,000 people have now pledged a meat-free January.
The move to a meat free diet is really taking off, but driven by flexitarians (39% of population) rather than vegans (only 1% of the UK population). Read the latest report on our changing eating habits here ...
OXO launch a vegan cube
KFC are launching a vegan-burger
Burger King now offer a meat free burger
Hot out of the oven is Gregg's meat free steak bake
McDonalds is launching Veggie Dippers & vegan meal deal
Most supermarkets are rapidly expanding their vegetarian offerings
And the 3D 'beef' printer is coming, home cooking will never be the same again! more here
+ + + New + + +
The TK Ultimate Green Cuisine Recipe Booklet
We have now produced an 8 page booklet featuring 20 delicious meat free recipes
- quick & simple to prepare
- use readily available ingredients
- microwaveable for energy efficiency
The booklet is a free PDF download.
To create your own paper booklet simply print page 2 on the reverse of page 1, and page 4 on the reverse of page 3. Put the two sheets together and fold into a booklet.
Download your copy here ...
The TK Ultimate Green Cuisine Recipe Booklet
We have now produced an 8 page booklet featuring 20 delicious meat free recipes
- quick & simple to prepare
- use readily available ingredients
- microwaveable for energy efficiency
The booklet is a free PDF download.
To create your own paper booklet simply print page 2 on the reverse of page 1, and page 4 on the reverse of page 3. Put the two sheets together and fold into a booklet.
Download your copy here ...
Focus On Trees
Tree planting 'has mind-blowing potential' to tackle climate crisis.
Find out how much UK land could be used for trees here ...
Find out how much UK land could be used for trees here ...
How many trees does the UK actually need to plant?
In 2019, only 1,420 hectares of trees were planted in England compared to the government target of 5,000.
To meet our 2050 zero-carbon target, we need to plant over 30,000 hectares of trees every year for the next three decades! Read more here ....
But help is on hand from non-government organisations. For example the National Trust has just pledged a spend of £100m to plant 20m trees over the next 10 years. That's 18,000 hectacres, or 1,800 hectacres per year towards the 5,000 target. And many other organisations are stepping in too.
For example the Woodland Trust has an appeal here...
You can even offset your carbon footprint by planting trees - more here...
And don't forget to change your search engine to Ecosia - each click contributes to a tree planting programme.
In 2019, only 1,420 hectares of trees were planted in England compared to the government target of 5,000.
To meet our 2050 zero-carbon target, we need to plant over 30,000 hectares of trees every year for the next three decades! Read more here ....
But help is on hand from non-government organisations. For example the National Trust has just pledged a spend of £100m to plant 20m trees over the next 10 years. That's 18,000 hectacres, or 1,800 hectacres per year towards the 5,000 target. And many other organisations are stepping in too.
For example the Woodland Trust has an appeal here...
You can even offset your carbon footprint by planting trees - more here...
And don't forget to change your search engine to Ecosia - each click contributes to a tree planting programme.
Plastic Interceptor - Canadian Cleanup Boat
Some good news on plastics with this proposal for a plastic gobbling boat.
Click for a short video, in French but you'll get the idea!
Click for a short video, in French but you'll get the idea!
But the scale of the plastics problem is staggering.
Just don't watch this if you are prone to depression.
Just don't watch this if you are prone to depression.
Repair Café Photos from Dec/Jan
Our Repair Café continues to do its bit in a crazy world.
Always interesting items coming in!
TK Repair Café is on the first Saturday of the month
at Youth House, Bromsgrove Street, Kidderminster
Nothing to fix at the moment?
Just call in for a coffee/tea/cake and a chat!
Always interesting items coming in!
TK Repair Café is on the first Saturday of the month
at Youth House, Bromsgrove Street, Kidderminster
Nothing to fix at the moment?
Just call in for a coffee/tea/cake and a chat!
Recommended Book of the Month
An entertaining read, jam packed with data about everything you ever wanted to know about your carbon footprint - and how to reduce it!
Send us your own book suggestion for a future newsletter.
Send us your own book suggestion for a future newsletter.
From this highly recommended book comes the above data. As we currently emit some 50 billion tonnes of CO2 per year this means we have enough reserves to last us at least 60 years. By which time, if we continue as we are doing, we'll be well cooked. And billions of dollars still go in to fossil fuel exploration so 60 years is almost certainly a gross underestimate!
If you want to know what you can do to help combat the fossil fuel industry, download our eight point TK action plan here ....
If you want to know what you can do to help combat the fossil fuel industry, download our eight point TK action plan here ....
Need toner for your Laser Printer?
You don't need to spend £££s on new cartridges
Buy refills instead, any printer, - here...
Half the price. Half the carbon. Half the plastic
Great service from this local company with a strong eco-attitude.
The following is from their website:
"As the world burned from the Amazon to Australia and we all left it to a 15 year-old schoolgirl to lead the charge against climate change ....... and, we begin to lose bio-diversity at the rate of 200 species per day, innovation is needed across a range of human activities. Refillability has a role to play in that innovation. Will printer and cartridge manufacturers continue to look the other way? "
If you need assistance, your local Repair Café can help !
We now have our own YouTube Channel !
New videos being added all the time.
Join us at our Facebook page:
Wyre Forest Transition to Sustainability
Check it out here....
Useful Websites
If you want meat how about Bewdley Beef ?
These cattle also benefit the local eco-system
wyreclt.org.uk/buy-our-pasture-fed-beef
If you want meat how about Bewdley Beef ?
These cattle also benefit the local eco-system
wyreclt.org.uk/buy-our-pasture-fed-beef
Find out how to minimise your involvement with large corporations. Move the money from global to local.
www.noncorporate.org
Find out how to move to a more sustainable life style. This site is a treasure trove of practical information.
www.lowimpact.org
A mine of scientific reports on all environmental issues
www.greenfacts.org
Now you can even help plant trees without leaving your Smartphone!
Simply replace your search engine with Ecosia - profits are transformed into trees!
It costs you nothing and takes only a few minutes - read about it here...
And get your Smartphone app here...
Simply replace your search engine with Ecosia - profits are transformed into trees!
It costs you nothing and takes only a few minutes - read about it here...
And get your Smartphone app here...
Avoid plastic bags & packaging
get refills at these local outlets.
Kidderminster - Eat.Love.Yoga - Comberton Hill - café and refills
Stourport - The Vegan Hub, High Street - café and refills
Bromsgrove - Nature’s Intention - High Street - see web site
Worcester - Pack It In - The Shambles - see web site
get refills at these local outlets.
Kidderminster - Eat.Love.Yoga - Comberton Hill - café and refills
Stourport - The Vegan Hub, High Street - café and refills
Bromsgrove - Nature’s Intention - High Street - see web site
Worcester - Pack It In - The Shambles - see web site
email Transition Kidderminster at
[email protected]
talk to us on 07867 502575
Newsletter feedback/news items to
[email protected]
Visit evolving website at
transitionkidderminster.org.uk
2019 newsletter back issues at
tknews19.weebly.com
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 evolving website at
transitionkidderminster.org.uk
2019 newsletter back issues at
tknews19.weebly.com
Join us on Facebook !
Get involved - it's your future too!
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