Every day is Earth Day. Let's talk about ways to make it better.

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  • SmellymanSmellyman Asia Posts: 4,517
    edited May 2018
    vaggar99 said:
    grow some food and share it with your friends.
    I don't get some things in life.  We know homes can grow food, produce their own power now, collect their own water etc.  But very few do it.  In bizarro land a certain POTUS will make it more difficult for you to do so.

    This should be celebrated and darn near mandatory

  • PJPOWERPJPOWER In Yo Face Posts: 6,499
    edited May 2018
    Smellyman said:
    vaggar99 said:
    grow some food and share it with your friends.
    I don't get some things in life.  We know homes can grow food, produce their own power now, collect their own water etc.  But very few do it.  In bizarro land a certain POTUS will make it more difficult for you to do so.

    This should be celebrated and darn near mandatory

    Any of you compost?  I’ve always recycled and grown most of the the food I eat, but am finally getting a good compost setup.  It is amazing how much useable organic matter goes to the landfill!  Excited to use the fresh compost on the garden.  Going to grow some hella tomatoes this year, lol
    Post edited by PJPOWER on
  • SmellymanSmellyman Asia Posts: 4,517
    PJPOWER said:
    Smellyman said:
    vaggar99 said:
    grow some food and share it with your friends.
    I don't get some things in life.  We know homes can grow food, produce their own power now, collect their own water etc.  But very few do it.  In bizarro land a certain POTUS will make it more difficult for you to do so.

    This should be celebrated and darn near mandatory

    Any of you compost?  I’ve always recycled and grown most of the the food I eat, but am finally getting a good compost setup.  It is amazing how much useable organic matter goes to the landfill!  Excited to use the fresh compost on the garden.  Going to grow some hella tomatoes this year, lol
    Have you seen this?  Pretty amazing.  Takes composting to another level.




  • PJPOWERPJPOWER In Yo Face Posts: 6,499
    Smellyman said:
    PJPOWER said:
    Smellyman said:
    vaggar99 said:
    grow some food and share it with your friends.
    I don't get some things in life.  We know homes can grow food, produce their own power now, collect their own water etc.  But very few do it.  In bizarro land a certain POTUS will make it more difficult for you to do so.

    This should be celebrated and darn near mandatory

    Any of you compost?  I’ve always recycled and grown most of the the food I eat, but am finally getting a good compost setup.  It is amazing how much useable organic matter goes to the landfill!  Excited to use the fresh compost on the garden.  Going to grow some hella tomatoes this year, lol
    Have you seen this?  Pretty amazing.  Takes composting to another level.




    I have seen that, “extreme composting”, ha
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 40,592
    PJPOWER said:
    Smellyman said:
    vaggar99 said:
    grow some food and share it with your friends.
    I don't get some things in life.  We know homes can grow food, produce their own power now, collect their own water etc.  But very few do it.  In bizarro land a certain POTUS will make it more difficult for you to do so.

    This should be celebrated and darn near mandatory

    Any of you compost?  I’ve always recycled and grown most of the the food I eat, but am finally getting a good compost setup.  It is amazing how much useable organic matter goes to the landfill!  Excited to use the fresh compost on the garden.  Going to grow some hella tomatoes this year, lol
    We just have a basic compost bin in the yard but it works well enough to make some decent compost mulch for the garden.  We have a little section on yard that is our native plant garden and a few years ago threw some compost around on it and before long all kinds of stuff started coming up- not native plants but we let them grow any way and got some nice tomatoes and small melons off of them.  We called it our "surprise garden". 

    My wife has an avocado tree that grew out of the compost bin.  It somehow survived last winter by keeping it close to the house in a big pot but I don't see that working too many years here at 2,000 ft elevation.  We're not in an avocado growing terrain! But it's fun to give it a go any way.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576
    Compost is amazing and the process that produces it is too.
    I have a 6x4 pile contained in some old pallets nailed together.  I make about 2 pickup loads worth per year.
    In spring the ready compost goes into the garden, and the droppings pit opens up and the chicky poo falls onto collection boards under the coop and gets scraped directly into the now mostly empty bin.  I add carbons through the summer and that batch goes onto the garden in the fall when the harvest is done.  Then the following spring's batch is started with the garden debris, but it doesn't cook through the winter because it freezes up.  In midwinter and then late spring I muck the coop and by planting time it's cooked enough for planting.  Then I start over, obviously. 
    I make sure each plant gets a handful around it's roots at planting time, and in that way I directly link myself into the food chain without having to die and decompose lol
    Pretty much anything organic is compostable, and that includes body fluids and wastes.  Fingernails, urine, and beard trimmings go in and disappear into black gold, and I just love emptying the vacuum cannister into the compost and seeing all that skin and hair dust get out to use.   
    I don't compost feces though, that changes your setup enough that it isn't worth bothering.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • PJPOWERPJPOWER In Yo Face Posts: 6,499
    rgambs said:
    Compost is amazing and the process that produces it is too.
    I have a 6x4 pile contained in some old pallets nailed together.  I make about 2 pickup loads worth per year.
    In spring the ready compost goes into the garden, and the droppings pit opens up and the chicky poo falls onto collection boards under the coop and gets scraped directly into the now mostly empty bin.  I add carbons through the summer and that batch goes onto the garden in the fall when the harvest is done.  Then the following spring's batch is started with the garden debris, but it doesn't cook through the winter because it freezes up.  In midwinter and then late spring I muck the coop and by planting time it's cooked enough for planting.  Then I start over, obviously. 
    I make sure each plant gets a handful around it's roots at planting time, and in that way I directly link myself into the food chain without having to die and decompose lol
    Pretty much anything organic is compostable, and that includes body fluids and wastes.  Fingernails, urine, and beard trimmings go in and disappear into black gold, and I just love emptying the vacuum cannister into the compost and seeing all that skin and hair dust get out to use.   
    I don't compost feces though, that changes your setup enough that it isn't worth bothering.
    Wow, I didn’t even think about hair and vacuum canisters.  Again, bit of a rookie to the process, so any advice is welcome :). I am doing one of the plastic bins with an open bottom and earthworms.  Any issues with pests if I should set it up next to my garden?
  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576
    PJPOWER said:
    rgambs said:
    Compost is amazing and the process that produces it is too.
    I have a 6x4 pile contained in some old pallets nailed together.  I make about 2 pickup loads worth per year.
    In spring the ready compost goes into the garden, and the droppings pit opens up and the chicky poo falls onto collection boards under the coop and gets scraped directly into the now mostly empty bin.  I add carbons through the summer and that batch goes onto the garden in the fall when the harvest is done.  Then the following spring's batch is started with the garden debris, but it doesn't cook through the winter because it freezes up.  In midwinter and then late spring I muck the coop and by planting time it's cooked enough for planting.  Then I start over, obviously. 
    I make sure each plant gets a handful around it's roots at planting time, and in that way I directly link myself into the food chain without having to die and decompose lol
    Pretty much anything organic is compostable, and that includes body fluids and wastes.  Fingernails, urine, and beard trimmings go in and disappear into black gold, and I just love emptying the vacuum cannister into the compost and seeing all that skin and hair dust get out to use.   
    I don't compost feces though, that changes your setup enough that it isn't worth bothering.
    Wow, I didn’t even think about hair and vacuum canisters.  Again, bit of a rookie to the process, so any advice is welcome :). I am doing one of the plastic bins with an open bottom and earthworms.  Any issues with pests if I should set it up next to my garden?
    Are you in town? 
    I have an open pile and it does draw critters.  Possum, coon, rabbit and skunk will occasionally dig in and eat up the egg shells and any other goodies they can find.
    I don't really mind, it all happens at night and they are around anyways, but I wouldn't want to draw them in if I lived in town.  Townie critters are organized and efficient and ruthless lol 
    A pack of coons in town is like a street gang robbing the neighborhood and out here the odd one that braves the yard is like a fella passing by picking an apple from a tree that isn't his.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • PJPOWERPJPOWER In Yo Face Posts: 6,499
    rgambs said:
    PJPOWER said:
    rgambs said:
    Compost is amazing and the process that produces it is too.
    I have a 6x4 pile contained in some old pallets nailed together.  I make about 2 pickup loads worth per year.
    In spring the ready compost goes into the garden, and the droppings pit opens up and the chicky poo falls onto collection boards under the coop and gets scraped directly into the now mostly empty bin.  I add carbons through the summer and that batch goes onto the garden in the fall when the harvest is done.  Then the following spring's batch is started with the garden debris, but it doesn't cook through the winter because it freezes up.  In midwinter and then late spring I muck the coop and by planting time it's cooked enough for planting.  Then I start over, obviously. 
    I make sure each plant gets a handful around it's roots at planting time, and in that way I directly link myself into the food chain without having to die and decompose lol
    Pretty much anything organic is compostable, and that includes body fluids and wastes.  Fingernails, urine, and beard trimmings go in and disappear into black gold, and I just love emptying the vacuum cannister into the compost and seeing all that skin and hair dust get out to use.   
    I don't compost feces though, that changes your setup enough that it isn't worth bothering.
    Wow, I didn’t even think about hair and vacuum canisters.  Again, bit of a rookie to the process, so any advice is welcome :). I am doing one of the plastic bins with an open bottom and earthworms.  Any issues with pests if I should set it up next to my garden?
    Are you in town? 
    I have an open pile and it does draw critters.  Possum, coon, rabbit and skunk will occasionally dig in and eat up the egg shells and any other goodies they can find.
    I don't really mind, it all happens at night and they are around anyways, but I wouldn't want to draw them in if I lived in town.  Townie critters are organized and efficient and ruthless lol 
    A pack of coons in town is like a street gang robbing the neighborhood and out here the odd one that braves the yard is like a fella passing by picking an apple from a tree that isn't his.
    Lol, good points.  It is a closed container, but I don’t want to draw in critters that would say “oh, look, strawberries” once they got there :)
  • Meltdown99Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
    5 countries dump more plastic into the oceans than the rest of the world combined

    https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-01-13/5-countries-dump-more-plastic-oceans-rest-world-combined
    Give Peas A Chance…
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 40,592
    5 countries dump more plastic into the oceans than the rest of the world combined

    https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-01-13/5-countries-dump-more-plastic-oceans-rest-world-combined
    Very good (even though also very disturbing) article.  It points out that the many poor people in the five countries (all Asian) can only afford small packets of items like shampoo and these smaller plastic packaging don't get picked up and recycled like some of bottles do.  It's also very discouraging to read about the garbage truck that dump trash on the side of the road and that 90% of the plastic ends up in the ocean.  Looking at the photos in the article is like looking at a world gone to hell. 

    Why the hell is everything going plastic these days?  My wife and I were on the way out to the car after work today and she spotted an empty flask-sized booze bottle on the ground.  It was plastic.  They put booze in plastic now?!  WTF?  (We brought the bottle home and put it in the bag of recycling.)

    What can be done to stop this? It's so discouraging, especially considering the vast majority of the plastic in the ocean is under the surface, much of it breaking down into irretrievable tiny particles that fish eat. If the oceans die, we all die.  This is suicidal insanity we are seeing unfold.  Can we, will we change our ways?
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • SmellymanSmellyman Asia Posts: 4,517
    brianlux said:
    5 countries dump more plastic into the oceans than the rest of the world combined

    https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-01-13/5-countries-dump-more-plastic-oceans-rest-world-combined
    Very good (even though also very disturbing) article.  It points out that the many poor people in the five countries (all Asian) can only afford small packets of items like shampoo and these smaller plastic packaging don't get picked up and recycled like some of bottles do.  It's also very discouraging to read about the garbage truck that dump trash on the side of the road and that 90% of the plastic ends up in the ocean.  Looking at the photos in the article is like looking at a world gone to hell. 

    Why the hell is everything going plastic these days?  My wife and I were on the way out to the car after work today and she spotted an empty flask-sized booze bottle on the ground.  It was plastic.  They put booze in plastic now?!  WTF?  (We brought the bottle home and put it in the bag of recycling.)

    What can be done to stop this? It's so discouraging, especially considering the vast majority of the plastic in the ocean is under the surface, much of it breaking down into irretrievable tiny particles that fish eat. If the oceans die, we all die.  This is suicidal insanity we are seeing unfold.  Can we, will we change our ways?
    Start by mocking all idiots who buy water in plastic bottles
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 40,592
    Smellyman said:
    brianlux said:
    5 countries dump more plastic into the oceans than the rest of the world combined

    https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-01-13/5-countries-dump-more-plastic-oceans-rest-world-combined
    Very good (even though also very disturbing) article.  It points out that the many poor people in the five countries (all Asian) can only afford small packets of items like shampoo and these smaller plastic packaging don't get picked up and recycled like some of bottles do.  It's also very discouraging to read about the garbage truck that dump trash on the side of the road and that 90% of the plastic ends up in the ocean.  Looking at the photos in the article is like looking at a world gone to hell. 

    Why the hell is everything going plastic these days?  My wife and I were on the way out to the car after work today and she spotted an empty flask-sized booze bottle on the ground.  It was plastic.  They put booze in plastic now?!  WTF?  (We brought the bottle home and put it in the bag of recycling.)

    What can be done to stop this? It's so discouraging, especially considering the vast majority of the plastic in the ocean is under the surface, much of it breaking down into irretrievable tiny particles that fish eat. If the oceans die, we all die.  This is suicidal insanity we are seeing unfold.  Can we, will we change our ways?
    Start by mocking all idiots who buy water in plastic bottles
    Good idea!  I can see people not trusting public drinking fountains like we used to, but lightweight metal water bottles are easy to carry, refillable, and last just about forever.  I almost always have one with me.  Other than maybe being used in emergency relief situations, they are totally unnecessary.  It's bad enough that every grocery store, gas station, and convenience store carries them but it also bugs me to see those plastic b.s. boutique  water bottles in places like our co-op or other "health food stores".  Health of what?  Not the planet!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • SmellymanSmellyman Asia Posts: 4,517
    edited May 2018
    I've done beach cleanups in Hong Kong.  90% of the rubbish was seemingly water bottles and their caps
  • my2handsmy2hands Posts: 17,117
    5 countries dump more plastic into the oceans than the rest of the world combined

    https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-01-13/5-countries-dump-more-plastic-oceans-rest-world-combined
    1 ton of plastic for every 3 tons of fish in the oceans by 2025...

    We are doing a fine job lol
  • Meltdown99Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
    my2hands said:
    5 countries dump more plastic into the oceans than the rest of the world combined

    https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-01-13/5-countries-dump-more-plastic-oceans-rest-world-combined
    1 ton of plastic for every 3 tons of fish in the oceans by 2025...

    We are doing a fine job lol
    I just don't see it getting better anytime soon...
    Give Peas A Chance…
  • Meltdown99Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
    I've been anti-bottle water in the past ... but mainly because we have fluoride free water.  Now there is a push by the local health board to re-introduce fluoride, all because parents are to lazy to teach their kids proper dental hygiene ... like flossing and brushing your teeth regularly.

    In the 8 years we've been without fluoride my dental visit have been better than when fluoride was in the water ....
    Give Peas A Chance…
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 40,592
    I've been anti-bottle water in the past ... but mainly because we have fluoride free water.  Now there is a push by the local health board to re-introduce fluoride, all because parents are to lazy to teach their kids proper dental hygiene ... like flossing and brushing your teeth regularly.

    In the 8 years we've been without fluoride my dental visit have been better than when fluoride was in the water ....
    I've avoided fluoride for many years myself. 

    Can you get a filtering system that would take the bullshit out of the water?  Or maybe some other alternative to plastic bottled water?  I would be outraged were I in a town that added fluoride to the water!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • my2handsmy2hands Posts: 17,117
    You guys watch too much Dr Strangelove lol
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 40,592
    my2hands said:
    You guys watch too much Dr Strangelove lol
    Yee haw!  Ride that bomb, baby.  YEEEEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!!!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • josevolutionjosevolution Posts: 28,258
    Anger Over Tourists Swarming Vacation Hot Spots Sparks Global Backlash - The Wall Street Journal https://apple.news/A_PzwfKhjQjuJlqb5KiKbRw
    We screw everything up ..
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 49,473
    brianlux said:

    brianlux said:
    Knock yourself out it you think it'll make a difference ... 

    I imagine hospitals/restaurants/seniors homes will never switch due to the risk of improper sterilization...
    OK, so you just want to deride my comments or argue.  Fine.  It looks like we are done here.  I am.  Adios.
    Who's arguing ... the earth is overpopulated with mostly poor people.  Poor people will always choose the cheaper option.  Can you fix those problems?  Because unless those problems are solved, the earth is doomed.  
    OK, so you say we're doomed.  Fine.

    Look, I think this thread is worth saving not because I made it but because the Earth which feeds and sustains us deserves it. 

    No, of course I cannot fix the problems that are harming the planet.  No ONE person can do that.  Saying we're doomed will not make it better either.  Anyone here can insist on being negative and pessimistic, that's their right.  But that is not the intent of this thread.  Maybe doomsdayers could create a "The World is Doomed" thread for those with that view who don't want to talk about solutions on this one. 
    Don't worry about Meltdown Brian. He is just very much a glass three-quarters empty kind of guy. ;) I'm not sure what will please you on any level Meltdown - I've yet to see it! You're the official forum naysayer I think, lol.
    The straw ban is a great first step. There is also a Canada-wide ban on microbeads already, to take effect I think this year or next, can't quite remember (they gave time for companies to adjust). Obviously hospitals and the like will manage to adjust just fine.
    I already ordered by set of stainless steel straws, they're on their way. I ordered a set for my mom too, since she has an essential tremour that goes kind of wild specifically when she raises a cup or glass to her mouth, so she sometimes needs a straw to avoid throwing her drink all over the place.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 49,473
    edited May 2018
    brianlux said:
    UK's Pledge to Ban Single-Use Plastics Includes Wet Wipes

    https://www.ecowatch.com/wet-wipes-ban-uk-2566716761.html


    "As part of our 25-year environment plan we have pledged to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste, and that includes single-use products that include plastic such as wet wipes," the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs told  MailOnline in a statement.

    That's great!  My only concern is that they follow through (i.e. "the best laid plans of mice and men") and "25 years".  I'll celebrate when it happens, keep up hope in the meantime.

    It's a disposal problem ... and who is responsible for proper disposal, humans.  Once again it just simply comes down over population ... 

    I worked for 25 years in maintenance for a school board, I can tell you, being in as many schools as I've been in over the years ... well most of what the school recycled was contaminated and likely just went to the land-fills eventually, not to mention how many bottles/cans/paper ended up regular garbage.  And this is the generation that grew up with recycling, and they do a shit job of taking care of their own little piece of the world...

    The town I live in about 2 years ago passed a hard sided garbage container by-law to supposedly keep the rodents away (not working), I've seen rodents coming out of the recycling, because no one properly rinses their recycling...in which case it just another garbage pail...last Friday on our recycling day, it was extremely windy, the recycling was blowing everywhere, what a mess ... now you think someone would realize this and design recycling containers with lids ... and maybe they have, you'd think recycling containers with lids make more sense.

    I'm not one for more taxes and fees...so I don't believe in a user fee for excessive garbage.  I would prefer the town remove weekly garbage collection and open up depots where people can bring their garbage.  Adding user fees to garbage collection will not help much.  Now start inconveniencing people ... that will have a much greater impact.  Of course, then we need to strengthen illegal dumping and littering by-laws.  I propose heavy fines and community service for those people (the community service should be cleaning up trash).  Littering is a pet peeve of mine, which obviously why the plastic is getting into our waterways.  The community I live used to be a nice clean community, now I notice more and more garbage.  I live across from Detroit, we are taking on the appearance of Detroit in the 80's...

    I just don't see the bigger problems being solved until people properly recycle, stop littering, walk every once in a while and make better decisions.

    You should see how many people just in my neighbourhood who drive full size pickups, just for pleasure...makes no sense.


    While rodents are obviously a problem, it’s a myth that recyclables need to be cleaned before being collected.  
    Is it? Why do you say that Often? I thought that too, but then all of a sudden this big news story came out very recently about how it's actually absolutely crucial that we do indeed wash our recyclables, and experts were being asked about it. They all said that it's super easy for recyclables to be tainted from even small amounts of contaminates, including food. Did you see this coverage? It was a news story nationally and locally I guess a couple weeks ago or so.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • SmellymanSmellyman Asia Posts: 4,517
    Anger Over Tourists Swarming Vacation Hot Spots Sparks Global Backlash - The Wall Street Journal https://apple.news/A_PzwfKhjQjuJlqb5KiKbRw
    We screw everything up ..
    Traveling used to be fun.  Now you travel only to find dbags you were trying to get away from.
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 40,592
    Smellyman said:
    Anger Over Tourists Swarming Vacation Hot Spots Sparks Global Backlash - The Wall Street Journal https://apple.news/A_PzwfKhjQjuJlqb5KiKbRw
    We screw everything up ..
    Traveling used to be fun.  Now you travel only to find dbags you were trying to get away from.
    Especially here in the U.S. on a holiday like Memorial Day.  Go somewhere?  Heck no!  We had another no-drive day.  Worked in the garden, watched some cool music videos, did a little reading, played with the cat.  My kind of day!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • PapPap Aspra Spitia, Greece Posts: 28,122
    edited May 2018

    Sperm whales killed in Mediterranean by supermarket bags


    Most of the endangered sperm whales that have been found dead in the eastern Mediterranean since 2001 were killed by plastic debris, a study has found.

    Post-mortem examinations on nine of 24 carcasses found in Greek waters revealed that the animals experienced slow and painful deaths after their stomachs were blocked by the large amounts of plastic they had ingested. The study was carried out by the Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute in Athens.

    Alexandros Frantzis, head of the team of Greek marine biologists, said that one young male found near Mykonos had ingested more than a hundred items of plastic, including supermarket bags. One bag originated from a kebab shop in the city of Thessaloniki, 500 miles to the north.

    “The young whale suffered an excruciating death,” Dr Frantzis told The Times. “We alone are accountable.”

    Sperm whales are considered endangered in the Mediterranean, which is home to about 1,800, of which 200 are in the Aegean.

    A sperm whale that washed up on the shores of Spain last month was carrying almost 30kg of plastic in its stomach. An emaciated whale carcass found in the southern Peloponnese in 2014 had two and a half metres of plastic netting in its intestines.

    “It’s alarming but not surprising,” Dr Frantzis said. “The trend is bound to get worse because the amount of plastic waste in the Aegean Sea is growing.”

    Other species such as sea turtles are also increasingly threatened by the plastic build-up in the sea. Since the start of the year the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation has documented 18 deaths of rare loggerhead and green turtles in the southeast Aegean. The true number is suspected to be much higher because most dead sea turtles are never recovered.

    Greece introduced a plastic bag surcharge this year but has yet to institute the nationwide ban adopted by several European Union member states, including France and Italy.

    Studies suggest that more than 90 per cent of the litter floating in the Mediterranean or lying on its sea bed is plastic. The concentration of microplastics in the Mediterranean, including fragments less than 5mm long, has been measured at 1.2 million per square kilometre, one of the highest rates in the world.


    Source: Times
    Post edited by Pap on
    Athens 2006 / Milton Keynes 2014 / London 1&2 2022 / Seattle 1 2024 / Dublin 2024 / Manchester 2024 / London 2024
  • Meltdown99Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
    PJ_Soul said:
    brianlux said:

    brianlux said:
    Knock yourself out it you think it'll make a difference ... 

    I imagine hospitals/restaurants/seniors homes will never switch due to the risk of improper sterilization...
    OK, so you just want to deride my comments or argue.  Fine.  It looks like we are done here.  I am.  Adios.
    Who's arguing ... the earth is overpopulated with mostly poor people.  Poor people will always choose the cheaper option.  Can you fix those problems?  Because unless those problems are solved, the earth is doomed.  
    OK, so you say we're doomed.  Fine.

    Look, I think this thread is worth saving not because I made it but because the Earth which feeds and sustains us deserves it. 

    No, of course I cannot fix the problems that are harming the planet.  No ONE person can do that.  Saying we're doomed will not make it better either.  Anyone here can insist on being negative and pessimistic, that's their right.  But that is not the intent of this thread.  Maybe doomsdayers could create a "The World is Doomed" thread for those with that view who don't want to talk about solutions on this one. 
    Don't worry about PJSOUL Brian. He is just very much a glass three-quarters empty kind of guy. ;) I'm not sure what will please you on any level PJSOUL - I've yet to see it! You're the official forum naysayer I think, lol.
    The straw ban is a great first step. There is also a Canada-wide ban on microbeads already, to take effect I think this year or next, can't quite remember (they gave time for companies to adjust). Obviously hospitals and the like will manage to adjust just fine.
    I already ordered by set of stainless steel straws, they're on their way. I ordered a set for my mom too, since she has an essential tremour that goes kind of wild specifically when she raises a cup or glass to her mouth, so she sometimes needs a straw to avoid throwing her drink all over the place.

    Give Peas A Chance…
  • oftenreadingoftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,821
    PJ_Soul said:
    brianlux said:

    brianlux said:
    Knock yourself out it you think it'll make a difference ... 

    I imagine hospitals/restaurants/seniors homes will never switch due to the risk of improper sterilization...
    OK, so you just want to deride my comments or argue.  Fine.  It looks like we are done here.  I am.  Adios.
    Who's arguing ... the earth is overpopulated with mostly poor people.  Poor people will always choose the cheaper option.  Can you fix those problems?  Because unless those problems are solved, the earth is doomed.  
    OK, so you say we're doomed.  Fine.

    Look, I think this thread is worth saving not because I made it but because the Earth which feeds and sustains us deserves it. 

    No, of course I cannot fix the problems that are harming the planet.  No ONE person can do that.  Saying we're doomed will not make it better either.  Anyone here can insist on being negative and pessimistic, that's their right.  But that is not the intent of this thread.  Maybe doomsdayers could create a "The World is Doomed" thread for those with that view who don't want to talk about solutions on this one. 
    Don't worry about PJSOUL Brian. He is just very much a glass three-quarters empty kind of guy. ;) I'm not sure what will please you on any level PJSOUL - I've yet to see it! You're the official forum naysayer I think, lol.
    The straw ban is a great first step. There is also a Canada-wide ban on microbeads already, to take effect I think this year or next, can't quite remember (they gave time for companies to adjust). Obviously hospitals and the like will manage to adjust just fine.
    I already ordered by set of stainless steel straws, they're on their way. I ordered a set for my mom too, since she has an essential tremour that goes kind of wild specifically when she raises a cup or glass to her mouth, so she sometimes needs a straw to avoid throwing her drink all over the place.

    Not cool to change others’ quotes. The mods have been clear on that. 
     
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
  • oftenreadingoftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,821

    PJ_Soul said:
    brianlux said:
    UK's Pledge to Ban Single-Use Plastics Includes Wet Wipes

    https://www.ecowatch.com/wet-wipes-ban-uk-2566716761.html


    "As part of our 25-year environment plan we have pledged to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste, and that includes single-use products that include plastic such as wet wipes," the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs told  MailOnline in a statement.

    That's great!  My only concern is that they follow through (i.e. "the best laid plans of mice and men") and "25 years".  I'll celebrate when it happens, keep up hope in the meantime.

    It's a disposal problem ... and who is responsible for proper disposal, humans.  Once again it just simply comes down over population ... 

    I worked for 25 years in maintenance for a school board, I can tell you, being in as many schools as I've been in over the years ... well most of what the school recycled was contaminated and likely just went to the land-fills eventually, not to mention how many bottles/cans/paper ended up regular garbage.  And this is the generation that grew up with recycling, and they do a shit job of taking care of their own little piece of the world...

    The town I live in about 2 years ago passed a hard sided garbage container by-law to supposedly keep the rodents away (not working), I've seen rodents coming out of the recycling, because no one properly rinses their recycling...in which case it just another garbage pail...last Friday on our recycling day, it was extremely windy, the recycling was blowing everywhere, what a mess ... now you think someone would realize this and design recycling containers with lids ... and maybe they have, you'd think recycling containers with lids make more sense.

    I'm not one for more taxes and fees...so I don't believe in a user fee for excessive garbage.  I would prefer the town remove weekly garbage collection and open up depots where people can bring their garbage.  Adding user fees to garbage collection will not help much.  Now start inconveniencing people ... that will have a much greater impact.  Of course, then we need to strengthen illegal dumping and littering by-laws.  I propose heavy fines and community service for those people (the community service should be cleaning up trash).  Littering is a pet peeve of mine, which obviously why the plastic is getting into our waterways.  The community I live used to be a nice clean community, now I notice more and more garbage.  I live across from Detroit, we are taking on the appearance of Detroit in the 80's...

    I just don't see the bigger problems being solved until people properly recycle, stop littering, walk every once in a while and make better decisions.

    You should see how many people just in my neighbourhood who drive full size pickups, just for pleasure...makes no sense.


    While rodents are obviously a problem, it’s a myth that recyclables need to be cleaned before being collected.  
    Is it? Why do you say that Often? I thought that too, but then all of a sudden this big news story came out very recently about how it's actually absolutely crucial that we do indeed wash our recyclables, and experts were being asked about it. They all said that it's super easy for recyclables to be tainted from even small amounts of contaminates, including food. Did you see this coverage? It was a news story nationally and locally I guess a couple weeks ago or so.
    The info we were getting from our local recycling agency, and most of what I was reading online, said that modern recycling facilities can handle the food waste left in containers as long as they are reasonably clean. The message seemed to be aimed at encouraging people to recycle rather than to have a “too much trouble” mentality. Perhaps the messaging has changed again. 
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 40,592
    PJ_Soul said:
    brianlux said:

    brianlux said:
    Knock yourself out it you think it'll make a difference ... 

    I imagine hospitals/restaurants/seniors homes will never switch due to the risk of improper sterilization...
    OK, so you just want to deride my comments or argue.  Fine.  It looks like we are done here.  I am.  Adios.
    Who's arguing ... the earth is overpopulated with mostly poor people.  Poor people will always choose the cheaper option.  Can you fix those problems?  Because unless those problems are solved, the earth is doomed.  
    OK, so you say we're doomed.  Fine.

    Look, I think this thread is worth saving not because I made it but because the Earth which feeds and sustains us deserves it. 

    No, of course I cannot fix the problems that are harming the planet.  No ONE person can do that.  Saying we're doomed will not make it better either.  Anyone here can insist on being negative and pessimistic, that's their right.  But that is not the intent of this thread.  Maybe doomsdayers could create a "The World is Doomed" thread for those with that view who don't want to talk about solutions on this one. 
    Don't worry about PJSOUL Brian. He is just very much a glass three-quarters empty kind of guy. ;) I'm not sure what will please you on any level PJSOUL - I've yet to see it! You're the official forum naysayer I think, lol.
    The straw ban is a great first step. There is also a Canada-wide ban on microbeads already, to take effect I think this year or next, can't quite remember (they gave time for companies to adjust). Obviously hospitals and the like will manage to adjust just fine.
    I already ordered by set of stainless steel straws, they're on their way. I ordered a set for my mom too, since she has an essential tremour that goes kind of wild specifically when she raises a cup or glass to her mouth, so she sometimes needs a straw to avoid throwing her drink all over the place.

    LOL,  I'm going to have to sit down with you two with some drinks and bamboo straws and work this out.  No one leaves the table until everyone is laughing and happy or passes out.  Deal?
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













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