A round-up of this week’s environmental, green and ecofriendly news and updates.
I bet you’re like me – you pick up litter when you see it. Good for you! Of course some people may mock or think you’re daft – but that’s OK. Reducing litter – especially plastic – is a great way to stop plastic pollution and avoid killing or maiming animals before it starts.
But did you know there’s an app and a hashtag for it? #Litterati started in 2013 – just one man documenting how he picked up 10 pieces of litter a day. Now, thousands of people contribute to the Digital Landfill – and it’s being used to provide insight into problem areas around the world. Plus, keywords identify the most commonly found brands and products (Marlboro, McDonald’s, Coke), and they’re trying to work with them to find more sustainable solutions. I think it’s great! You can download the app here if you wish. Whether you want to post the trash you pick up on social media or not, just try it out – it’s satisfying (and sometimes quite addictive!).
Well, I’m obviously getting old – because I’ve been thinking about the problems people experience as we age. Did you know that people fear the loss of their independence more than dying?
I can absolutely understand that. There’s one way we can help prevent or slow that helplessness – and of course it’s green and ecofriendly too. See how to slow aging problems here.
General Motors will start selling a tiny electric car in China that will cost just $5,400 (after incentives). It can travel at 60 mph and cover nearly 1,000 miles on a single charge. So far, more than 5,000 people have registered to buy the first 200 cars. The car will not be available in the US.
Sometimes I look at the world, at our consuming society, at the advertisements for cheap holiday flights and huge cars, and I wonder what we think. It’s as if we don’t care about our environment, at all.
And I wonder why we think that way.
Here are some really, really interesting insights.
Global Green News:
Train travel is a big part of life in India. Now it’s greener with solar-powered trains in Delhi which is very polluted. It will save thousands of gallons of diesel every year and reduce CO2 emissions too. Driverless cars however have been banned in India, due to the impact on jobs.
It’s expected that there will be parity in the cost of gas or petrol-powered vehicles and electric cars as early as next year. The UK has announced that all petrol (gas) stations must provide electric car chargers.
US Green News:
There’s an intense drought in the Great Plains – and it’s putting the wheat harvest, other crops, pasture and hay at risk. It’s classified as “exceptional,” the highest severity level. “The damage and the destruction is just unimaginable,” said one Montana resident. Wildfires are prevalent – and it’s not even peak fire season yet. Kansas used to grow the most grain – but global warming has changed that. More than half of this year’s harvest may already be lost, and the cost of the drought and fires may exceed $1 billion. If the rains do come, they could easily lead to flash floods as the ground is now like concrete.
Cycling is very green and ecofriendly. A bike takes fewer resources to make, has zero emissions, reduces health care costs (because cyclists are healthier and fitter), and makes no noise. Sadly Oregon, a state known for its bike culture, is going to tax bike owners. How daft!
When Elon Musk’s planned “hyperloop” is completed, he says commuters will be able to travel underground from New York to Washington, DC in just 29 minutes, instead of the current 3 or 4 hours.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.
Please spread the Green word and share this info.
And if you’re on Twitter, get a daily green tip by following me – @EcoExpert1 . See you there!
Lots of good stuff here again, Clare. I knew about the strength training. My son keeps hammering me about it. I’m not sure I like driving a little car. Don’t really feel safe in one so I just drive much less than most. I think a little car would be excellent to drive around my own neighborhood though. I heard about the bike tax and am not sure if it’s going through. The idea behind it is that we have put and must still put so many bike lanes in that they want bicycle riders to carry their share of the roadway expense. I’m not a fan of the tax either but not sure I’ll get a vote on this as I’m in another county. It is getting less safe to ride a bike as the amount of vehicle traffic has increased incredibly over the last 10 years. Thanks for sharing this.