Why this website?
We are prone to thinking that the Earth is pretty big, that you need to
be the size of a government to change the system, and whatever we do
at the individual level will not really make much difference.
But the individual can do a tremendous amount, just by changing a few old habits. What's more, governments only change the system once the system is already being changed by the people. So the starting point for change really is with the individual.
I started this website as a personal vendetta to try and make those changes and offer up some help, advice and useful information along the way.
Anyone who cares about the planet will have been drawn to the TV series and book "It isn't easy being green" with Dick Strawbridge and his family. This was brilliant viewing and very encouraging. Like me, you will probably have dreamed about buying a big house in a couple of acres, the self sufficiency, the community.... Pop! There goes the bubble. OK, if you are in a position to do it, fab:>) If not, well, maybe you can make some structural changes to your own home such as collecting and using brown water more efficiently. If you can, this is a fantastic source book.
But, I can't do that! I got into the mindset that I could not do anything living in my maisonette in the middle of a town in the middle of England with no land except my 17 square foot patio, which is the concrete roof of a couple of garages - so no digging deep.
Once I started thinking about it, it soon became clear that the changes I could make fell into these areas:
Goal 1: Think about what I throw away.
Goal 2: Think about what I put down the drain.
Goal 3: Think about what I put on me.
Goal 4: Start writing letters.
Not necessarily in that order but this seems to cover the general areas that we can all work in.
I didn't intend to make sweeping changes over night. It is and will be a
gradual process. It started in little ways and then, before I knew it,
I wouldn't dream of throwing away paper in the bin, I recycle it. I wouldn't dream of throwing vegetable matter in the bin, I compost it - even on my little plot I have a bin and a wormery.
Making the system easy was part of making the change. In these pages I have set out my path to do something positive about living more sensitively on my planet. I hope you will find this inspirational :>)
I will also be glad to hear from anyone who has comments and information to offer either on my Comments page or through my BLOG.
Donna Forbes
Chesham, Bucks,
UK
Picture sources:
http://atmos.pknu.ac.kr
http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov