#save the planet

Demonstrating the consequences of deforestation, and the importance of trees

Author: Jackson3OH3 on gfycat

The Little Trashmaid

Gift that keeps on giving

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The Little Trashmaid

Introduction part 2

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The Little Trashmaid

Make a wish

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[deGruy] We’ve got to really rewire the way human beings look at our relationship to nature. In the same way that humans have the ability to conciously shift the balance of the Earth, which we’ve done, we also have the capacity and capability of stopping it. We can shift it. We have to. What we have on Earth is all we’ll ever have. 

[Safina] The sad fact of it is that the ocean could be empty and it would still look the same. It’s a very hard thing to convey what’s happening, how it will affect you personally. And so as the ocean is being emptied and as the ocean is dying, the surface looks the same, the waves look the same. 

[Earle] If I could be born anywhere in time, it would be now. It would be now because this is the time, as never before, that we know. We understand what we didn’t know 50 years ago. If we wait another 50 years.. opportunities we now have will be gone. This is the moment. Our decisions, our actions will shape everything that follows. 

Polar Bears are already endangered and it’s only getting worse.

According to researchers, Polar Bears are due to be extinct or nearly extinct by the end of the century.

Why might this be you ask? Well, there’s a few reasons but it all boils down to one thing: Global Warming.

Because of this, the icecaps that the polar bears depend on to survive are melting. Now, it can be argued that this isn’t that big a deal and the Polar Bears and go further south to solid land like they can do in the summer, but this isn’t fixing anything. Polar Bears can only go a few months without food, lasting that long thanks to stored up energy from their main food source, seals. But the Polar Bears can only hunt seals from the icecaps and there is simply not enough food on land to support the population of Polar Bears.

The Polar Bears are being forced away from their food supplies for longer and longer periods of time, this added to the fact that mother Polar Bears can no longer nurse their cubs for as long as they used to would lead to a quick decline for the reproduction and the survival of Polar Bears.

The Polar Bears will go extinct or be nearly extinct by the end of the century if we do not do anything to change the path our world is on. If we can reduce global warming before it’s too late, then we have a chance. Not just a chance to save the Polar Bears, but all the other species suffering and the environment itself.

I work with little kids all the time, I personally would like it if they could grow up not thinking that we did nothing to save the world we’re going to pass on to them one day.

Please share this post and make sure that people see this. I know things won’t change overnight, but I want to do as much I can at the moment.

blackforager

I’ve chatted about how the best way to combat the fast fashion industry is to wear what you have…however with more wear comes more tears, and instead of throwing out the garment and getting a new one, its very simple to mend and alter your own clothes (regardless of your ability) 

In this way you can very easily increase the longevity of your clothes 

Some General Fixes/Alterations that You Can Do

Sewing on a button, fixing a rip or tear, shortening pants, shortening shirt sleeves, cropping shirts, lengthen pants, expand the shoulders of tops, re-size bras, painting or drawing on clothes

General Supplies

• Thread
• Needle
• Buttons
• Extra Fabric (you dont necessarily need to buy new fabric, use scraps from old projects, or cloth from old clothing items)
• Scissors
• Fabric Paint 
• Paint brush
  

Some How-To Tutorials

Buttons

https://www.wikihow.life/Sew-a-Buttonhttps://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/sewing-on-a-button/

Fixing a Rip or Tear

https://www.wikihow.com/Fix-Clothes

Shortening Pants

1. Use a pen or colored pencil to draw a straight line across the pant length at the desired length

2. cut along line

3. either fray edges further or hem, its up to you

Hemming 

https://www.wikihow.com/Hem-Shirts

Shortening Shirt Sleeves

https://www.allfreesewing.com/Basics-and-Tutorials/How-to-Shorten-Sleeves

Cropping Shirts

1. Use a pen or colored pencil to draw a straight line across the t-shirt at the desired length

2. cut along line

3. pull the newly cut shirt out at the hem until the hem curls over a bit

Lengthen Pants

https://www.allfreesewing.com/Basics-and-Tutorials/How-to-Lengthen-Kids-Jeans

Expand Shoulders of Tops

https://www.allfreesewing.com/Refashioning-and-Upcycling/How-to-Expand-a-Top

Resizing a Bra

https://www.allfreesewing.com/Basics-and-Tutorials/How-to-Resize-a-Bra

Painting on Clothes

https://www.wikihow.com/Category%3ADecorating-T-Shirts

If you are wanting to reduce your waste, perhaps the best place to start is with plastics. Working on reducing single use plastics (such as straws, bags, cups, cutlery etc.) is a great first step, however, you may find that you still need/use things with plastic packaging. Now it comes down to what you do with the plastic after it has been used. Its time to look at what type of plastic you are dealing with to see if it is recyclable. In general, if you still need to buy plastic, you should take this into consideration as some plastic can skip the landfill altogether. 

You may be aware that each plastic product has a little triangle on the bottom with a number in it that ranges from 1 to 7. These numbers are called “Resin Numbers” and indicate what kind of plastic the product is made out of. Consider checking this number before buying any plastic item so you know how to dispose of it properly.

Here is a quick rundown on Resin Numbers:

1 = PET (Polyethylene terephthalate)

• Recyclable:Yes easily recyclable, curbside
• Examples: Plastic water bottles
• Cancer Causing: Yes
  

2 = HDPE (high-density polyethylene plastics) 

• Recyclable:Yes easily recyclable, curbside or outside programs
• Examples: Milk jugs, detergent containers, plastic bags
• Cancer Causing: No
  

3 = PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)

• Recyclable: difficult to recycle
• Examples: Berry containers, PVC pipes
• Cancer Causing: Yes
  

4 = LDPE (Low-density polyethylene) 

• Recyclable:Recyclable through outside programs
• Examples: newspaper bags, shrink wrap 
• Cancer Causing: No
  

5 = PP (Polypropylene) 

• Recyclable:Yes easily recyclable, curbside
• Examples: Bottlecaps
• Cancer Causing: No
  

6 = PS (Polystyrene) 

• Recyclable: difficult to recycle
• Examples: Plastic cutlery, plastic foam takeout boxes
• Cancer Causing: Yes
  

7 = OTHER 

• Recyclable: difficult to recycle
• Examples: bioplastics (these are plastics that are easily biodegradable, however, they are very new so there are few ways to easily recycle them right now), nylon, fiberglass
• Cancer Causing: No
  

Thanks for reading, and as always hmu with questions!

Hi! I wanted to call attention to a book, website and organization called DRAWDOWN. Basically they have made the most comprehensive plan for solving global warming ever created which is impressive, uplifting, and very very cool

Here is what is stated on their website:

“We did not make or devise the plan—the plan exists and is being implemented worldwide. It has been difficult to envision this possibility because the focus is overwhelmingly on the impacts of climate change. We gathered a qualified and diverse group of researchers from around the world to identify, research, and model the 100 most substantive, existing solutions to address climate change.”

                                                                         - https://www.drawdown.org/

I am currently reading the book and its incredibly accessible and informative.This is a fantastic book for people who are new to the climate change game and want to learn about current projects and research! Its a bit of an expensive purchase so consider the library or buying it on a kindle or nook to save money and paper.

Here is the complete list of solutions listed on the organization’s website:

https://www.drawdown.org/solutions-summary-by-rank

Please please look into this, I promise you will walk away feeling a lot more hopeful and optimistic than before

Here is where I will keep a regularly updated list of eco-friendly initiatives and companies that are fighting against climate change. 

KEY

 =I actively support 

 =I research often or keep up with almost daily

 = I cannot support because you have to be an employee, because I cannot afford it right now, or because its still in development 

= I would like to support in the future

1.Ecosia (search engine, plants trees, negative emission, transparent)

2.The Ocean Cleanup (initiative, cleaning the oceans of plastic, unsure about emission, transparent)

3.4ocean (bracelet company, cleaning the oceans of plastic and recycling them into bracelets, unsure about emission, transparent) 

4.AIR-INK (ink company, turning air pollution into artist quality ink, unsure about emission, unsure about transparency)

5.Patagonia (clothing company, slow fashion brand, I think they are zero emission, transparent)

6.Everlane (clothing company, slow fashion brand (some of their clothes are made of recycled water bottles), unsure about emission but I think its low, transparent)

7.Athleta (clothing company (activewear), sustainable fashion, unsure about emission, unsure about transparency, unsure about ethical treatment of employees (do some research))

If you’d like to suggest any companies/initiatives to add to the list, or would like to correct any info about them, please leave a comment :)

If it is within your means, a great way to help the environment is to support environmentally friendly, ethical brands! Instead of shopping at stores that dont put an emphasis on sustainably sourcing and making their clothing and paying/ treating their employees well, these companies/clothing outlets put a lot of effort into being transparent and eco friendly.

VOCAB (definitions from Wikipedia and Study New York)

Fast Fashion: an approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers

Slow Fashion: designing, creating, and buying garments for quality and longevity

So What?

Many times in fast fashion, corners are cut in order to make sure that the garments remain cheap. This may mean that the fibers used to make cloth are sourced unethically, harmful chemicals may be used, factory workers may not be paid very much, child laborers may be used, and/or one type of clothing may be mass produced to a hugely wasteful extent. This is not healthy for the workers or the environment. 

Why is Slow Fashion Better?

Slow fashion is better in the long run because, while you may be paying more money for the garment, the workers will be paid well, the company will focus more on their environmental impact, and you will have a piece of clothing with much better quality and longevity. Having higher quality clothing that lasts longer is good for the environment as well, as it decreases the need for new clothing items. 

Stores to Watch Out For

H&M (unethical)

Abercrombie & Fitch (unethical)

The Gap (Old Navy & Banana Republic) (unethical)

Walmart (unethical)

Forever 21 (unethical)

Stores to Look Into/Fast Fashion Alternatives

Everlane, Patagonia and PACT are a few slow fashion clothing brands that I have heard some very good things about!

Since these are price-y, some other alternatives are: reusing clothing you already have, buying off DEPOP, buying from thrift stores, making your own, maintaining a capsule wardrobe (there are lots of great vids on YouTube) and upcycling :)

Overall, it is not yet in my means to shop at ethical stores. Some ways I combat fast fashion are: shopping for clothes infrequently (I usually only buy things I really really love or that I really really need), looking in thrift stores before looking elsewhere, and altering clothes I already have

Reusing is the easiest, cheapest, fastest way to combat climate change! Our society might lead us to believe that we need this, or we need that, but in reality that is not actually the case. Having lots of currently popular stuff is bad for the environment, bad for your wallet, promotes horrible industries like fast fashion, and takes up a lot of your time. By reusing what you already have, you’ll find that you’ll be more creative,save your cash for what is really important (such as experiences!) and will really make a wonderful impact on our earth :) Here are just a few simple household items that you can easily reuse!

1.NEWSPAPERS can be used as wrapping paper, fire starters, packing material (instead of packing peanuts or bubble wrap), paper towels, scratch paper and much, much more!

2.OLD CLOTHING can be sold on DEPOP, donated to a charity shop/thrift store, made into quilts, used as dishtowels, made into sewable patches, turned into bandanas, turned into bags, or swapped with a friend or sibling

3.WATER USED FOR COOKING (if there is no salt) can be used to water plants, clean dishes or as water for your pets (or yourself)

4.PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES can be used as pots for plants, as cups, as pen holders, as jewelry holders, and can even be made into a makeshift sprinkler (if you poke holes on the bottom and fasten to hose with duct tape!) 

https://www.boredpanda.com/plastic-bottle-recycling-ideas/?utm_source=ecosia&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=organic 

5. OLD MOUSE PADS can be used as gardening knee pads, sponges, toe pads for high heels, and/or drink coasters

6.OLD BOOKS can be sold, turned into a cover for a kindle or tablet, turned into art (paint works really well), given to used book stores, or given to a friend or family member (great gift idea!)

7.BOTTLECAPS can be turned into candles, magnets, pins, buttons, art, windchimes, hair clips, turned into bracelets, earrings or necklaces, or turned into fishing lures

8.PENS AND PENCILS can be donated to local schools, re-sharpened, or turned into art!

9.OLD CELLPHONES can be sold back to many companies, given to a friend or relative, or used for electronic parts (the same is true for computers and tablets!)

10.STRAWScan be used to prevent jewelry from getting tangled during travel, to store bobby pins, to hold seasonings (like salt and pepper) if you are camping or travelling (if you tape the ends), and lastly, can be used as great cat toys :)

https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/23-practical-ways-reuse-disposable-straws/

As always, hmu with any questions!

For all who are interested in keeping the planet safe and healthy, I recommend reading nonfiction (and a lot of it!). As a young person (who may not be immediately taken seriously) it will help you educate people on important topics in a way that is factual and sophisticated!

Here are some of my all time favorite nonfiction booksabout our planet, where the future is heading, and what we as a collective can do to take action!

• The Ends of The World by Peter Brannen (10/10!!)
• This is a FANTASTIC, funny, and highly informative book that came out this year about the historic effects of global warming, and where we might be heading as a result. It reads like a narrative, and gives a really interesting perspective on global warming from a historical, geological and biological perspective! In the words of Michael Pye “This is a book about rocks: a vivid, fascinating, sometimes horrifying book about rocks and the story they tell about all the past and future lives of our planet”. 
• Things you’ll learn about: climate change, global warming, geology, the past 5 mass extinctions, paleontology, gigantic boney fishes, climate change, dinosaurs, and coral bleaching!
• Spineless by Juli Berwald (8/10)
• Spineless is an informative, beautifully written book about jellyfish and their effects on the oceans and ourselves. Berwald tells her personal journey studying jellyfish from start to finish in a way that is sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes infuriating, and always incredibly interesting!
• Things you’ll learn about: jellyfish (literally everything about them, how to catch them, how to eat them, how to raise them, the big, the small, how they broke a nuclear reactor, eating habits, mating, EVERYTHING), global warming, the scientific community, japan, etc. etc. 
• Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (10/10)
• A classic. Just a classic cornerstone environmentalism book. Everyone should read it sometime in their lives. Rachel Carson is a badass environmentalist who paved the way for female scientists and wrote a startling, unflinchingly honest book about the effects of DDT on wildlife (in the 1960s no less!). I love this book to pieces, please read!
• Things you’ll learn about: effects of pesticides on the environment, history, and the effects of widespread human ignorance
• the LOST species by Christopher Kemp (7/10)
• This book is incredibly unique! It focuses on the importance of natural history museums and collections, and how many species are discovered in the musty boxes and crates of huge natural history collections. The book is broken into small sections, each talking about a different species found in this way. Its full of surprises and narratives!
• Things you’ll learn about: endangered species, how natural history collections are built, how said collections are incredibly important and are falling into disrepair because no one cares about them, mass frog extinctions, and 30 ft. parasites that live in the stomachs of sperm whales!
  

Here is your regularly scheduled PSA about things mass media is ignoring! 

THE FACTS

1. An alarming 200 frog species have gone extinct recently, and we are on track to lose another hundred in the next century (ecowatch.com), this is enough to classify this as a mass extinction which is when nearly every single species of an organism ceases to exist any more (usually due to external environmental pressure) 

2. This is not just happening locally. Frogs are dropping on every single continent that frog populations are found. 

3.  The two main reasons for this are deforestation and a new pathogenic chytrid fungus calledBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis that is particularly prevalent in Latin America 

4. “…reptiles and amphibians are going extinct at 10,000 times the rate of other organisms.” (published by John Alroy at Macquarie University in Australia)

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Read up! Ignorance isn’t pretty, and will not help the situation whatsoever. Get well versed in the topic and spread the word :) Not much is known about this topic at the moment so any publicity is great. (I’ve included a section of links below to help you if you are so interested)
• Help prevent further deforestation! Plant trees with the browser Ecosia or stop supporting companies that thrive off of it (buy recycled paper for instance!)

Cool and Reputable Links!

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/frog-mass-extinction/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/10/05/scientists-say-we-are-on-pace-to-generate-a-mass-extinction-of-frog-species/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.232e053d51e5

https://www.ecowatch.com/frogs-are-on-the-verge-of-mass-extinction-scientists-say-1882106675.html

https://animals.howstuffworks.com/endangered-species/frog-extinction.htm

As always hmu with questions! Thanks for reading :)