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Margaret Mead, American anthropologist, 1901-1978
 


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  1. A quarter of UK dinners have no meat or fish

    Posted on

    Research shows that over 25% of all evening meals in the UK are either vegan or vegetarian.  Kantar Worldpanel's research shows that in the 12 weeks to January's end, 29% of them had no meat or fish. 

    Trends such as Veganuary - that's going vegan for January - and a continual interest in meat free diets are affecting people's habits.   Quorn Foods saw its global sales rise by 16% last year.

    The research was collected from a consumer panel of 30,000 households.  It shows a year on year move to more vegetarian meals.  In 2014, 26.9 of evening meals were vegetarian and this rose to 27.8 in 2016.  

    During January, 10% of shoppers bought a meat-free ready meal - so sales had risen by 15% compared with the previous year.

    Vegetables such as spinach and aubergine were up 43% and 23% respectively, compared to the last 12 months.


    Vegetarian books from Foyles

    Visit the Vegetarian Society

    Vsit the Vegan Society

    Compassion in World Farming

     

  2. South Korea to scrap coal and nuclear power

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    Greenpeace's EnergyDesk reports that the new President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in, has commited South Koare to phasing out all coal and nuclear power stations.

    This suggests a major change in the country's energy policy and a new internatinoal commitment to move away from coal since Trump pulled America out of the Paris climate agreement. 

    Moon made a speech at a ceremony which shut down the country's oldest coal station, in which he promised to:

    • scrap existing plans for new nuclear plants
    • not extend the life of existing ones,
    • shut down 10 old coal power plants and
    • cancel new coal projects.

    Moon noted that so far the country's energy policy has focused on low prices and efficiency but that this should change, the priority now being on public safety and the environment. 

    South Korea is one of the top producers of nuclear power in the world and was looking to export its expertise and technology.

    But air pollution has recently risen up the political agenda, as South Korean was at risk of becoming one of the more polluted countries in the world. 

    Back in January 2017, a study from researchers at Harvard University and Greenpeace International said approximately 50,000 lives a year could be saved by 2030 if no new coal-fired power plants are built in Southeast Asia, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

    At a recent meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Moon recently  suggested a 20% renewable energy target by 2030 and says South Korean will actively share their experience in building renewable energy sources and environmentally friendly energy towns with other AIIB countries 

  3. France ready to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040

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    The BBC reports today that France is ready to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040.

    Nicolas Hulot is a veteran environmental campaigner who was appointed by the new French President Emmanuel Macron.  

    The planned ban on fossil fuel vehicles is part of the French renewed commitment to the Paris climate deal;   France plans to be carbon neutral by 2050.  The decision was a factor as a result of the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Change Agreement. 

    It is not yet clear what will happen to existing fossil fuel vehicles still in use in 2040.   It is intended that poorer households will get financial help to replace older more polluting cars with cleaner ones.

    Volvo has announced that all its cars will at least be partly electric from 2019.  Renault's "Zoe" electric vehicle range is one of the most popular in Europe.

    The French also want to end coal power plants by 2022, to reduce nuclear power to 50% of total output by 2025 and end the issuing of new oil and gas exploration licences.  

    Paris saw several days of peak pollution in March, and it's put into place some measure to cut down on cars.  Several French cities have high levels of air pollution - but it's also a problem in mountain areas!

    Norway wants to move to electric-only vehicles by 2025, as does the Netherlands.   And Germany and India have proposed similar measures, their target date being 2030.

    While it's good to see governments taking action, that won't be enough.  We all need to see what we individually can do to cut pollution. 

  4. Watch out for.....Secrets of your cruise....

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    In the UK on Monday 3 July 2017, Channel 4 have a programme called:  Secrets of your Cruise:   Channel 4 Dispatches.

    The write up for the programme says:

    Tazeen Ahmad goes undercover to investigate the impact that some cruise ships could be having on the environment and public health, including pollution that some passengers could be exposed to.

    Should make interesting viewing.

    Click here to go to Channel 4 

    		  

  5. Solar Independence Day - 4th July 2017

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    The Fourth of July is of course widely recognised as Independence Day in the US.

    But there's another 4th of July - Solar Independence Day.   I discovered this from the Solar Trade Association

    We've got solar power to heat our water now, and if I could and our roof had been more appropriate, I'd have gone for solar heating in the house as well.  

    But the least I can do is to tell you how pleased I am with the solar power in our house that we do have - I'm determined to see what else I can do to switch off our need for power produced by any fossil fuel and to use solar instead.  

    Our bills for water have reduced our overall electricity bill, which is great news - and it's lovely to feel that hot water in a shower and to know we haven't had to fork out for it this month.  Yes, we had to pay for the solar system to be put in but prices are coming down all the time, so find out if you are eligible and go solar if you can!

    What I REALLY love about solar is the fact that we have acquired more control over our use of energy.  Now that the system is in, we've got more control over at least some of our electricity bill and - I think - greater protection against rising electricity prices for hot water use.