Confessions of an Ecoworrier

Embracing technology, in the face of the pandemic, Becky and Mac video call their way through a lockdown chat. COVID-19 has obviously brought radical changes to our daily lives but what does this mean for climate action? What are our hopes for 'normal' life, whenever that resumes? A lack of travel, lower consumption, less waste, fresh air to breathe, and a renewed sense of what matters, it feels impossible that life will ever return to normal, and research indicates the vast majority of people in the UK don't want it to. Recorded on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we reflect on our changing perspectives and making the best of bad situations.

P.s. Free Deidre Rashid! 

Links:

• Earth Day 2020: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2020/

Love is in the air this weekend and so are greenhouse gasses. What is Climate Change and what is all this fuss about it being an emergency or crisis? Remember the carbon cycle and greenhouse gases from your science lessons at school? Turns out they are super important. In this month's episode, Mac helps us understand some of the big facts behind our changing climate and the large scale, potentially irreversible damage it is having on our planet. 

Not sure this episode is for you? Well guess again because who wouldn't want to hear more about ancient bubbles, cow farts and hockey sticks. 

You've had your fill of turkey and Bailey's, it's a New Year, January sales line the high street and you are ready to shop. But wait a second, the fast fashion industry is one of the most damaging industries to our planet as we buy more and keep less. In this month's episode we ask do you really need that animal print sequin crop top that you wouldn't have looked at twice when it was full price? Whether you think of yourself as fashionable or not - our clothes speak volumes. How many clothes we own, what they are made from, who made them, how we dispose of them, and how we wash and care for them all impact the environment in various ways. Make 2020 the year you reflect, reduce, and ask some new questions about how we slow down our fashion choices. The first step is resist the temptation of the sale rack. 

Resources:

• Planet Aid - https://www.planetaid.org/blog/8-little-known-facts-about-our-clothing-habits 

Episode 3 is here and we are feeling FESTIVE. 

Becky is a recovering gift lover who enjoys cheesy christmas films and ALL the trimmings the festive period has to offer. Mac is trying to find the true meaning of Christmas through her year-round appreciation of A Muppets Christmas Carol and has been saying BAH-HUMBUG to gift giving for a long time. The Most Wasteful Time of the Year explores how the holiday season can put a lot of pressure on us and the environment as the amount of buying unwanted gifts and throwing away un-eaten food dramatically increases. 

Join us as we learn about gift giving cultures across the World, ask parents to stop hating on each other in the war to buy the most presents for their children and we provide some handy practical tips to move from wasteful to wonderful. 

Resources:

• https://www.fsc.org/en  - Forest Stewardship Council 

• Josh and Ryan discuss minimalism in their film: https://minimalismfilm.com/  and on their blog: https://www.theminimalists.com/

In our very first episode we explore the nature of fatbergs - how they are created and their damaging impact on the environment. We shine the spotlight on how sanitary products contribute to the creation of fatbergs, ask why the period taboo has so many of us flushing and take a look at what alternative products are out there. Expect interesting facts, embarrassing stories and practical handy hints to try yourself. 

Resources

Bloody Good Period: https://www.bloodygoodperiod.com/

Dot Cup: https://dotforall.com/

Fab Little Bag: https://www.fablittlebag.com/

ModiBodi: https://www.modibodi.co.uk/

Natracare: https://www.natracare.com/

Whitechapel Fatberg: https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/discover/where-whitechapel-fatberg

Women's Environmental Network: https://www.wen.org.uk/

Music by Joseph Murray