We try but we don't always succeed.
Take a breath, breathe out. For the planet's sake we need to reduce the amount of Carbon Dioxide that we are putting into the atmosphere. Yet the simple act of breathing tells us that we can't be perfect. And sometimes we want to give up. So don't try to be perfect - instead try to be better.
Imagine we are standing by a river, on the other side is the greener future that we all need. Some us can jump across, some can use stepping stones, whilst some of us need a bridge. Yet we need to get us all across.
Some of us are vegans. Some of us make our own clothes. Some clean plastic from our beaches and our seas. Some of us are lucky enough to work in a job that is rewarding and feel valued by our employers. Some of us grow our own food, or grow food for other. Some of us have electric cars or solar panels on our roofs.
There are many ways to make a difference.
Not all of us can afford to buy food. So we should all think about what we throw away. We should all think about what we donate to charities and food banks. The best recycling is reusing.
Not all of us have local greengrocers - so try veg-box schemes.
Not all of us can give up meat - so try to eat meat from local farms, try to eat grass fed meat, try to buy from local butchers, farm shops or farmer's markets.
Not all of us can give up cheese - so try to eat cheese from local dairies, try to eat organic cheese, try to eat cheese wrapped in wax rather than plastic (and recycle the wax), try to buy from local shops.
Not all of us have a garden. So try to grow a few herbs on a window sill, try to find a local allotment, try a garden share scheme, try to find a community farm. Try to make a meal that includes one thing that you have grown yourself.
Not all of us own our own homes, so we can't insulate our flat or change oil-heating to electric-heating or install solar panels. So try to change your energy provider, try to get your heating oil from a family-run Devon company.
Not all of us can work from home and public transport is difficult with corona virus restrictions - so try to walk or cycle where you can. If you have to us your car for work, try to use it less when shopping or relaxing. There are electric car sharing schemes popping up around Devon. Most people only use their car for 4% of their day - is this worth £2-3,000 pounds a year. I'm 52 and I'm just learning to ride a bike.
Not all of us can do without our phone or our camera or our tablet or our computer. But can we use them better? Instead of upgrading every year, can we upgrade every other year or every five years or every ten years? I've recently swapped my phone provider to EcoTalk.
Not all of us have time. Not all of us have money. But there are always actions that you can take to make life easier for others and for the planet. Be inspired by the thoughts and actions of others. Recognise we are not perfect. Recognise that we can be better.
Each of these actions are stepping stones to a better planet. Each successful change makes it easier to take the next change. Being better makes change achievable.
#do1thing #buildbackgreener #regeneratedevon
