Transition
Kidderminster
Newsletter
September 2020
Kidderminster
Newsletter
September 2020
Sustainability - Survival
+++ Upcoming Events +++
Transition Kidderminster is hoping to restart the highly successful Repair Café in October. We are still working on how best to achieve maximum protection from Covid-19, for both customers and repairers, but the main thrust will be to have a drop and collect-later system. Look out for confirmation later in September - we'll post on the TK Repair Café Facebook page.
Bewdley Repair Café is also starting up again, on 19th September.
To reduce risks associated with Covid-19, customers are requested to book an arrival slot in advance by ringing John Rhymer on 01299 403424 or email [email protected].
Visit their Facebook page for more details.
Bewdley Repair Café is also starting up again, on 19th September.
To reduce risks associated with Covid-19, customers are requested to book an arrival slot in advance by ringing John Rhymer on 01299 403424 or email [email protected].
Visit their Facebook page for more details.
And we are actively planning a Country Market - to run in parallel with the TK repair café activity and at the same venue. There will be stalls selling a range of locally produced goods, a chance to support local initiatives! More on this soon.
+++ About This Issue +++
The coronavirus pandemic shows no sign of ending anytime soon but as the newsworthiness of the pandemic decreases after six months, the warnings on the many and varied effects of global warming are receiving more attention. But with so many warnings, are we in danger of becoming immune to them? Are we getting disaster fatigue? Possibly the worst long term effect of the pandemic is that it has taken the focus off the even bigger problems of the climate crisis and eco-system destruction. So this edition of the TK Newsletter will shift the focus back to these issues. Sorry, it doesn't make for easy reading. The issues don't just go away, they become more pressing as governments everywhere keep treating them as tomorrow's problem.
Global Warming
In a high-emissions scenario (where far too little is done to curb planet-heating gases - our current trajectory), global mortality rates due to global heating are projected to match the current death toll from ALL infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, HIV/Aids, malaria, dengue, and yellow fever. Oh yes, and Covid-19 too. And as expected the people causing the least CO2 emissions will suffer most. Read more here ...
A total of 28 trillion tonnes of ice have disappeared from the surface of the Earth since 1994. That is the stunning conclusion of UK scientists who have measured how much ice coverage has been lost because of global heating triggered by rising greenhouse gas emissions. To visualise how much ice that is, imagine the entire surface of the UK covered with ice 100 metres thick. And the loss of reflective ice risks us passing a tipping point. Read more here ...
On current trends melting ice at the poles will raise sea levels by up to a metre by the end of the century. To see how this will impact on human life have a look at this amazing 3D population map. Guess what, most of the high density population peaks are coastal! Click map above for larger images.
Scientists have managed to pin down the cause of the more frequent winter storms that we have been experiencing. The rapid melting of Arctic ice produces vast freshwater ponds that increase the likelihood of violent winter storms in the northern hemisphere.
Read more here ...
Read more here ...
Following on from a sweltering August heatwave, a new report shows that most UK homes will be unable to cope with rising global temperatures. And worse, there is no legal requirement to improve them or for new-builds to conform to suitable standards. We need to be preparing for the inevitable rise in future temperatures now! Read more ...
Animal & Environmental Issues
Our UK animal welfare standards really do matter. Appalling though our meat production factories are, they could get even worse if the US gets its way with the UK-US trade deal. Read more here...
Global Heating impact on the oceans will hit top predators first. Combined with over-fishing that kills untold numbers of the ocean's top predators, so called by-catch, the future for sharks, dolphins, and other large sea creatures is not looking good.
More about this here ...
More about this here ...
Did you know that car tyres produce about 16Kg of plastic dust over their life, half of which ends up in the oceans as microplastic? And the trend to electric cars will only worsen things (!) as electric cars are generally heavier which means even more wear on tyres and brakes. Read more on this surprising new research report here ...
New research shows that plastic waste flowing into the oceans is expected to nearly triple in volume in the next 20 years. It seems efforts to stem the plastics tide have so far made barely a dent in the tsunami of waste. This has to be one of the most depressing news items of the year. After so much effort and what looked like real progress we are just not winning the plastics battle. The latest UK government initiative is to up the price of single use plastic bags to 10p. Just another minor dent at best.
More here ...
More here ...
And now the Good News !
The really good news is that Extinction Rebellion are back on the streets, all over Britain. They are fighting for climate, ecological, environmental and social action. These predominantly young activists give real hope for the future. In fact they could be our only hope for the future. Please read about what is happening in the XR world here...
The web page is updated daily during the September Rebellion so visit often to keep up to date.
The web page is updated daily during the September Rebellion so visit often to keep up to date.
The rate at which humanity is consuming the Earth’s resources declined sharply this year as a result of Covid-19.
Consequently, Earth Overshoot Day, the point at which human consumption exceeds the amount nature can regenerate in a year, has moved back by over three weeks from 29 July in 2019 to 22 August in 2020. However, in order to keep consuming ecological resources at our current rate we would still need the equivalent of 1.6 Earths! Read more ...
Consequently, Earth Overshoot Day, the point at which human consumption exceeds the amount nature can regenerate in a year, has moved back by over three weeks from 29 July in 2019 to 22 August in 2020. However, in order to keep consuming ecological resources at our current rate we would still need the equivalent of 1.6 Earths! Read more ...
By excluding incinerator emissions post-Brexit, the UK government is trying to cook the books over the UK's feeble 2050 emissions target. But thankfully there is a legal challenge. Read more here...
Applications for council-run allotments in England have soared during the pandemic – despite 18-month waiting lists – as consumers seek to grow their own fruit and vegetables. A big boost to sustainability and purity of food supply. Read more here ...
By adding a special coating to solar panels a significant increase in solar conversion rate is promised. These new panels based on UK research are due to go into production within the year. More about this great development here ...
China has started a national campaign to reduce food waste and even control over-consumption. Faced with crop failures after weeks of flooding, plus economic problems brought on by the coronavirus, the state is taking action.
One day we may have to follow their lead. More here ...
One day we may have to follow their lead. More here ...
A survey from YouGov found that a third of UK adults intend to keep their carbon footprints in check after the lockdown, by changing the way they travel and shop. Good news of sorts, but only a third? The message just isn't getting through. More details here ...
The world's largest nuclear fusion reactor build has started in France - the most complex engineering endeavour in history. The dream of low cost clean energy could finally be realised in 2025. Read more about this here ...
Offshore wind farm electricity generation potential is enormous. Now, wind turbines are no longer limited to shallow water but can operate from anchored rafts - and the size and output of the turbines keeps increasing dramatically.
Read more on this encouraging development here...
Read more on this encouraging development here...
Can rock dust offer a cheap and easy way of removing CO2 from the atmosphere - sounds too good to be true?
Read more here ...
Read more here ...
Investment in offshore wind energy has taken off all over the world - everywhere except in the US of course where it has actually fallen. In fact in the US investment in renewables has fallen 30%. Coal and oil return a faster buck it seems. More here ...
Government faces legal action from pressure group Plan B over inadequate action over climate change. Its £3bn Green Recovery plan has been labelled "a fig-leaf for polluters" Read more here ...
And some good news on the rewilding front - bison return to England after a 6000 year absence!
More here ...
More here ...
Here's a petition for parliament to debate the idea of health warnings on petrol pumps. This would raise the profile of the fossil fuel problem and also the climate crisis. If you think this is a good idea, please take a minute to sign here ...
A recent open letter from Greta Thunberg ends by stating "we have to face the climate emergency and change our ways. And that is the uncomfortable truth we cannot escape."
Read her impressive letter here...
Read her impressive letter here...
Focus on Population
In this section we invite you to have a hard look at what is increasingly seen as the fundamental driver behind the many ecological and environmental problems we now face. The growth of the human population.
Click on the image above for a fascinating history lesson on human progress over the last 2000 years. How the world went from 170 million people to 7.3 billion. Its message is clear - we have to reduce both population and consumption to exist on finite planetary resources.
And watch this highly informative Scientists Warning presentation on population from last year's COP in Madrid.
Click the image above to view.
Click the image above to view.
"Contraception should be used at every conceivable opportunity" - Spike Milligan
Useful Websites
Local vegan supercook has put together loads of fantastic recipes for you to try.
visit domesticgothess.com
Local vegan supercook has put together loads of fantastic recipes for you to try.
visit domesticgothess.com
Find out how to minimise your involvement with large corporations. Move the money from global to local.
visit www.noncorporate.org
Find out how to move to a more sustainable lifestyle. This site is a treasure trove of practical information.
visit www.lowimpact.org
Did you know that you can help plant trees every time you by search on the internet.
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 website
Worcester - Pack It In - The Shambles - see website
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 website
Worcester - Pack It In - The Shambles - see website
email Transition Kidderminster at
[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!
[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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