Environment News – Exciting New Plastic Alternative / Greta is Seriously Blunt (Again) / Using Spin in a Positive Way
Some bite-sized pieces of news from the environment this week.
18 September, 2019
News snippets
Surely there’s a better alternative? The British government has approved an increase in the number of badgers to be culled (killed) this Autumn. They are said to transmit bovine TB (tuberculosis) – but scientists say cattle-to-cattle infection is a bigger problem. The government has not shown that this cruel slaughter is having any significant impact on the problem. Shameful!
My hero Greta Thunberg was amongst young climate activists who protested the lack of global climate action outside The White House. She spoke briefly but let others lead. She did say in an interview that she would not “waste time” speaking with Donald Trump if a meeting were suggested. She also told the Senate climate crisis task force “I know you are trying but just not hard enough. Sorry.”
Here’s an interesting thought. You’ll read below how the oil industry is changing its spin (again). But it’s also accomplished something we’re not really aware of. We’ve “normalized” the role that polluting products play in our lives. For example, we talk about “hybrid” or “electric” cars, while petrol or gas-powered cars are just … cars. Instead, it’s suggested we need to start calling things by names that show their harmful impact. Like:-
- dirty, gas-powered cars
- polluting coal-fired electricity
- unsustainable, oil-dependent agriculture
I think that’s a great idea! It’s “spin” to help the planet instead of destroy it!
more below……
more snippets
Oil companies have spent millions each year, trying to convince us that there is doubt over the proven science of climate change. But in the US, some oil & gas companies are struggling – 26 fracking companies have filed for bankruptcy so far this year, and stocks and shares are not doing well. In Europe, over 80% of fund managers want oil companies to change their businesses to fall into line with the Paris Agreement. 24% of European fund managers want oil companies to close their business, give the money back to their investors, and stop wrecking the planet. So now they’re changing their spin. Adverts used to be full of “ramping up” production, now they’re using terms like “free cash flow” and “dividend” to try to reassure their shareholders. And of course, they don’t mention climate change.
We’ve really messed up the planet with all our plastic. That’s why I was heartened to read about a new material that’s been developed by combining fibers from trees with the silk in spider webs to make a material that is strong, flexible, and can do just about everything that plastic does — except, of course, litter the planet and kill wildlife. Researchers say it’s entirely biodegradable, it goes back to Nature after use. But I was getting concerned about spiders – I mean, how many webs are they going to destroy, I wondered? The answer, luckily, is none. They’re making synthetic silk. (Phew!) Isn’t that amazing!
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Warm regards,
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