A Cry for Planet Earth

Written after returning from a protest march in Leeds to coincide with the COP30 Sustainability talks in Belem, Brazil. -o-O-o- It felt good to shout at the top of my voice for an hour as we paraded through the drizzle, especially since I  believed in the slogans. How much impact it had on the LeedsContinue reading “A Cry for Planet Earth”

Three Plastic Cartons…

…Les, Phil and Chris, sat on a kitchen shelf at the Golden Dragon takeaway. In wandered a young man wearing a smart leather jacket and his high-heeled girlfriend, bedecked with bangles and a pretty necklace. He fancied Chow Mein, she a Chicken Curry. The chef went to work, eventually grabbing Les, filling him with rice,Continue reading “Three Plastic Cartons…”

The Memory Tree

1975 A.D “Chrrup..Chrrup…” “Yes, of course, I’d be delighted. You’re the very first bird ever to settle on my branches! Make yourself at home, feed on the insects in my bark…” I beam with pride as the dappled light shines through the canopy way above my head. Now I’m growing up, I’m aware of myContinue reading “The Memory Tree”

Who’s afraid of the Permacrisis? Part 2

One of the joys of living in an otherwise female household (2 ladies, a 9-year-old girl and 3 chickens, plus our daughter Helen who often visits) is the craft activities that abound. Helen has taught our young house guest Olena how to cross stitch. One day I came across a sad tapestry with untidy threadsContinue reading “Who’s afraid of the Permacrisis? Part 2”

Who’s afraid of the Permacrisis? Part 1

Cartoon: from the Collins’ Dictionary Blog website Post office bosses under criminal investigation… UK ship sinking in Red Sea after Houthi attack…Putin shows off chilling convoy of missiles in Moscow…Biden’s hopes for Gaza ceasefire are wishful thinking…hopes of restricting global temperature rise to 1.5 degC almost gone… Whether it’s the BBC News, my Microsoft newsfeedContinue reading “Who’s afraid of the Permacrisis? Part 1”

A (Nearly) Car Free Week

Two weeks ago, I carried out an experiment. I decided not to use our car for a week. You probably wonder, “why should anybody do a silly thing like that?” At times, I wondered, too. Well, did you know that 20%, one fifth, of all the carbon we emit worldwide comes from transport? My littleContinue reading “A (Nearly) Car Free Week”

Rapid Returns, Future Folly

Attention All Allotment Members Topsoil Delivery 10 a.m Saturday 23rd Bring your Spades and Wheelbarrows The Committee “Oh, great!” said Scott to Barry. “I’ve been waiting for this for weeks. All that veg I’ve dug up. I compost what I can, but there’s no way I can stop the soil level sinking over time.” SoContinue reading “Rapid Returns, Future Folly”

Celebrating our Bronze Award

Something to feel proud of. My church, St John’s Rastrick, has just achieved the Eco church Bronze Award.
I feel like we’ve just arrived at Base Campo, with the summit of Everest towering way above us. But looking back, we’ve come a long way up.
But, does it make a ha’porth of difference?

Good Friday – A Rubbish Tale

How can Good Friday be so called, when it’s all about one of the world’s most gruesome ways of killing people? A visit to a Veolia plant where filthy rubbish is transformed, gave me an excellent illustration of what Jesus did for us on the Cross. It was also a most interesting and enjoyable experience!