With the start of a new month comes a new challenge for me. This month I have decided to do something a little different. So far I have been setting myself tasks which would help me to improve myself. A little selfish some might say. So this month I have decided to focus a little more on sustainability.
I consider myself someone who cares about the planet. But what do I actually ever do about it? Sure I sign the odd petition that gets sent my way from sites like Avaaz (sign up!) but that's really as far as it goes.
Sure I care about saving the environment. But do I go out of my way to do anything about it? Nope.
I watch documentaries and educate myself about all these different things going on in the world but I don't let it stop me buying a £6 top from Primark - even though I know about the horrible working situations young women and children have to put up with to bring us the luxury of cheap clothes.
This is what we're comfortable with in the UK. We distance ourselves from the problems happening on the other side of the world like it's not our problem. Like we believe it's a basic human right to be able to buy a nice dress for £10 because we couldn't afford a new dress from somewhere more expensive.
I'm not trying to be preachy here because I am guilty of all of the above. I'm just hoping that if you're reading this, maybe you will think a little harder about what you purchase and what effect it's having on the planet.
I've decided to try and make some changes. Only little things that I can afford to do. A small change is better than no change and if we all made small changes, where might we be ?
I'm so happy to say that I'm taking part in another charity challenge. Thailand was an amazing experience. It pushed me so much, I was terrified of the entire trip, I didn't stop feeling nervous until 3 days in - but this all lead to it being the most rewarding experience.
In September myself and Lauren (who I met on the Thailand trek) will be flying to Kuala Lumpur and then on to Sumatra to take part in the Sumatran Jungle Challenge. Click here if you want to see the whole itinerary :-)
Today marks 158 days until we depart!!!
This time I decided it would be pretty cool to see where the money raised is going. So I have chosen to raise money for the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS).
There are only around 6600 orangutans left in the wild, a very sad fact. We share over 96% of our DNA with these beautiful creatures and their numbers are falling because of habitat destruction (due to the number of palm oil plantations) and illegal pet trade. The SOS are working hard to protect these awesome creatures.
Please pay a visit to either their website or my Just Giving Page to find out more about why these animals need our help: http://www.justgiving.com/MinnieJungleTrek
If you're feeling generous you can donate through my just giving page or simply test UTAN 69 and the amount you wish to donate (e.g £1) to 70070. It't that easy :)
As I've mentioned on my donation page, the cost of the trip has already been covered so you can know in confidence that every penny you donate will go to this great charity.
Furthering on from this, I decided that I would try my hardest to not contribute towards the destruction of the rainforest. Most people have probably seen the horrible pictures of the effects of palm oil production floating around on FaceBook
This is the sad reality. Many of the products we're buying and consuming every day are contributing to the demise of the orangutan.
Whilst the SOS do NOT promote a boycott of products consuming palm oil (read why here, it's a very valid argument) they do suggest that you should let companies know that you do not agree with what they are doing. Palm oil CAN be sourced sustainably, it just cost a little more. But what's more important to you? A cheap biscuit, or the life of an endangered animal?
I found this website which lists a lot of products & companies in the UK which typically use palm oil: http://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/palm-oil-database
There is an easy to use traffic light system so you can know whether the company you're buying from is promoting the sustainability of the rainforest, or whether it's best to avoid them and or write to them and tell them it's time to change some things.
From now on I will be doing by best to source by every day products from companies that try and run sustainably and I hope you will consider it too, wherever possible.
Come on... support my long lost brother <3
Closer to home...my beautiful mother kindly bought me a little beginners gardener box from the Seed Pantry.
They send you everything you need in one box so all you need to do is buy a little soil. Perfect for those who might not have a lot of room for gardening.
We went a bought an extra propogator (yeah I know the gardening lingo now) as we had so many seeds to use.
We planted courgettes, peppers, chillies, strawberries and asparagus.
If this works (I'm not holding my breath) then in 16 weeks we should have lots of lovely fresh veg straight from the garden. I know I'll be buying from supermarkets until this happens, and once it does happen I'll eat the veg and go back to eating supermarket veg but every little helps right? Plus going through this process has made me realise just how easy it is to grow your own veg, and how cheap it is.
I'm already starting to think about what other veg I can plant later in the year to try and eat a bit more seasonably, the way nature intended...
It's so normal for us to eat blueberries from Morocco, Chillis from Kenya and Raspberries from Egypt. I don't know about you but I certainly find myself often thinking about just how much we get imported from all over the world. Just so we can live with these little luxuries. But how many of us actually see a pack of veg as a 'luxury'? Believe me it is. Someone, (who is probably grossly underpaid), has to grow that veg & farm it. It's then flown or shipped all over the world. Then when it arrives to it's country of destination, is piled into lorries which run the product all over the country. It's certainly not an environmentally friendly process. And how many of us throw food away every week?! If we stopped to think just how much effort and energy went into growing food, I really think we'd waste a lot less.
So that's one way I'm trying to make a change and I encourage everyone to have a go at learning about it. Whether you grow your own herbs on a window ledge, plant a fruit tree, grow a little chilli plant (you get your seeds free with your receipt at Wahaca - best excuse ever to go eat some amazing Mexican food...) or go full blown out and get a veg patch. Just have a go at it. I for one am very looking forward to eating my very own veg.
If you're still with me, thank you for reading and I hope this post might have opened your eyes to a few things you might not have previously considered.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend
Peace
Minnie
xXx
