Day One of Womankind's Combat Global Warming Challenge: Jess

The Challenge:

Starting Wednesday 1 March until Sunday 5 March 2017 (5 days in total), we want you to do ‘something’ each day to build awareness of or to combat global warming, and document your actions and thoughts in a daily diary.

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You know that feeling when you start seeing the same thing everywhere, like everyone is onto the same idea? It's called a Baader-Meinhof phenomenon or frequency illusion and it happens to me a lot. Right now it's plastics, no-waste living and climate change issues. It's not a new concern and people have been talking about it for decades; when I was wee it was the ozone layer. The point is we're still talking about it because it is still a real and present threat. 

It depresses me this business of global warming/climate change/human's negative impact on the the earth. When I saw the challenge from Womankind to do something for 5 days in a row I thought it was a great opportunity to explore the topic further. 

But where to start? It feels overwhelming; just watch this Four Corners episode on Oceans of Plastic . I feel so small in the big picture considering if the Adani's Carmichael Coal Mine goes ahead it will create billions of tonnes of pollution according to the Australian Conservation Fund. 

Hopelessness does not change anything. Being depressed by something doesn't have an impact. Feeling like any changes you make don't matter won't change a thing. 

Today I'm turning these overwhelming negative feelings into something. It must start with small; every tree started as a tiny seed. It's time to be proud of what we are doing and look for ways to improve and influence others to also take positive steps. 

So what do I already do? Compost, home recycling, cloth nappies, a bike instead of a second car, wash clothes on cold, avoid plastic bags and containers, shop locally, buy second hand first. All of these things I do to varying degrees but there are a whole lot more tiny things that can contribute check out this great list and very motivating site about making small changes: Be An Unfucker. 

That's not bad. But there is plenty of work to do. 

Today, to do something more I've emailed my local politician and signed up to a petition to appose the Adani Carmichael Gold Mine. Because we have to hold our corporations and elected officials to the highest of standards. 

source: wired