10 easy ways to reduce your impact

We all would like to live a little greener, and we all like lists. Here are 10 easy ways to reduce your impact today and be a little more environmentally friendly tomorrow: 1. Buy a reusable coffee/tea mug. Reusable mugs are cheap, much nicer to drink out of, better for the planet. Treat yourself.

2. Put a brick in your toilet cistern. It's kind of mad that we use clean water to flush our toilets so lets try reduce the madness a few litres at a time.

3. Unplug electronics at night. Turn your computer off (don't just close it), unplug the wifi, turn as much off as you can. Most electricity is created by burning fossil fuels. The more you use the more pollution you are creating.

4. Buy reusable bulk produce bags and avoid using the plastic bags provided. We're all human so if you forget them use the paper mushroom bags from the grocery area instead.

5. Get a map of where you live. Draw a 5km circle around your house. Try to use public transport/walk/cycle/run to places in this area instead of using the car.

6. Avoid shopping at supermarkets. Due to their size they waste a lot of food. Stop supporting them with your money and shop at farmers markets and smaller, local grocery stores.

7. Buy local food where possible. Food that has travelled thousands of miles to get to you has a bigger impact on the planet than food from down the road (most of the time). You don't have to give up on things like bananas or coffee, that isn't available locally, but just choose the local apple over the New Zealand one (unless you live in New Zealand).

8. Take your own containers to the takeout store. I put off asking my local restaurant if I could do this for ages as I thought I was being difficult. When I finally asked them it was no problem at all.

9. Buy organic food. Non-organic food is sprayed with chemical pesticides. Those chemicals damage the ecosystem not to mention your health. If we support organic food we can help reduce this damage.

10. Don't do all the things on this list at once. Start small, maybe try one thing today and then if it goes well try another. We aren't going to change completely overnight but we can wake up with a slightly smaller footprint than when we went to bed.

Do you have anything to add? Share your suggestions in the comments below

Vancouver Mountain Film Festival Partnership

I am really excited to announce a partnership with this years Vancouver Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF). On February 15th I have been given the opportunity to help create a new night for the festival called "THE CHANGE I WANT TO SEE".

Tickets available here

The Vancouver Mountain Film Festival has always been a highlight for me each year. I love watching and hearing inspiring stories from passionate people in the outdoor world who are pushing the boundaries of what we believe to be possible. You can't help but leave the place inspired to push your own boundaries.

This evening will take a slightly different angle to the usual VIMFF shows. The night will showcase inspiring people in the outdoor community who are creating positive change with their actions. There will still be plenty of adventure on show but the message and action that the films and talks will inspire will be a little different. We are hoping that this program might just be the encouragement you need to take action in your own way.

We have some inspiring speakers and films lined up for the evening too including one North American and one World Premiere! It doesn't get much more showbiz than that!

February 15th 2016 @ 7:30pm (doors at 7:00pm)

The Cinematheque Theatre, Vancouver

Tickets available here

Speakers

Tim Cormode 

Challenge is relative, but the benefits of exploring your limits in nature are undeniable. Rapids or calm waters, mountain ascents or a flat wooded hike, the adventures to be found in nature should be open to everyone and making that possible has defined Tim Cormode’s life.

A social entrepreneur, he is the founder of Power To Be, a non-profit dedicated to facilitating outdoor adventures for youth and families living with physical, mental and social support needs. He will share stories of how the organization came to be, the inspiring difference it is making and the journey that lies ahead for greater social change.

Lessons in philanthropy, opportunities for growth through accessible nature-based adventures and the value of community combine to tell a powerful story of change.

Farhan Umedaly

Farhan is a filmmaker with a background in neurobiology, renewable energy and as a multi-instrumentalist music producer with over 17 years of experience in digital audio and video production. Farhan started VoVo Productions in 2009, with the original premise of producing videos and digital media to help explain complex subjects through turnkey video productions using his diverse background. Behind VoVo Productions’ work is Farhan’s vision to help create positive change in the world.

Films

Rabbit Island 6 mins

One man's quest to protect an island he loves leads him to ponder great questions: Is there an opposite to development? An antonym to subdivision?

This film is a brief study of an island set on the majestic Lake Superior, and the artists who gather there for inspiration.

A Last Stand for Lelu 24 mins - World Premiere

Produced & Directed by Farhan Umedaly (VoVo Productions) & Tamo Campos (Beyond Boarding)

A great injustice is being done on Lelu Island near Prince Rupert, B.C., the sacred and traditional territory of the Lax Kw'alaams people for over 10,000 years. The B.C. provincial government is trying to green light the construction of a massive LNG terminal on the island – Pacific Northwest LNG, backed by Malaysian energy giant Petronas, without consent.

The Lax Kw'alaams are the keepers of Lelu Island and its connected Flora Bank, a massive sand bar that is part of the Skeena River estuary and known by fisheries biologists as some of the most important salmon habitat in Canada. The project would devastate the Skeena River, the natural wildlife and countless communities in the path of the LNG pipeline that will feed the terminal with fracked gas from Northeastern B.C.

The Lax Kw'alaams have voted unanimously against the project and became legendary when they rejected a $1.15 billion dollar deal from Petronas in an attempt by the company to gain consent.

Ignoring the voice of the Lax Kw’alaams, Petronas, with full backing of the Provincial Government have illegally begun drilling into Flora Bank where they now face off against warriors of the Lax Kw'alaams who have occupied the island since August 2015.

Join the resistance of the Lax Kw’alaams on both land and sea in ‘A Last Stand for Lelu’.

Gold of Bengal 52 mins - North American Premiere

In Bangladesh, a young engineer called Corentin de Chatel decides to be the first to test the sailing boat that he’s created – with help from his team ‘Gold of Bengal’ – made from jute fibre and resin.  He has one ambition: to become self sufficient at sea. He sets off on his journey with two egg-laying hens, a small greenhouse to grow potatoes, and various other handmade contraptions for 6 months’ sailing around the deserted islands of the Gulf of Bengal.

This astonishing seafaring adventure is also a perfect opportunity to reflect, both alone and as a team, on the potential of so-called ‘low technologies’, simple tools, built with whatever materials are available, that help people to meet their basic needs in difficult circumstances.

February 15th 2016 @ 7:30pm (doors at 7:00pm)

The Cinematheque Theatre, Vancouver

Tickets available here

Healthy eating is simple

A couple of years ago buying healthy food was easy. I ate five fresh fruit and veg a day, watched my red meat intake, chose whole grains over white wheat, and often purchased products with the words "natural", "low fat", or "healthy" on the box. I purchased my food from the trusted, proper, supermarkets and was doing everything the "experts" told me to. Piece of piss this healthy living. But recently that has all changed. What happened to my easy healthy living? I now hear about pesticides, growth hormones and Genetically Modified foods, why can't all food just go back to being good for me? When did "Natural" become "definitely not natural", "low fat" mean "replaced with something dodgy" and "healthy" wait...surely all food is healthy!?

There is so much confusion around it all, perhaps I can simply follow a nice structured diet plan? Dukan, Paleo, Atkins, 5:2, Akaline, Cambridge....forget it... who has time to figure all that out? It's enough to throw in the towel and just hope pot noodles won't kill me too painfully. Unfortunately, the only ones who pay a price for avoiding the topic is ourselves. Bad food = bad health.

But it's not all doom and gloom. Turns out the answer to eating healthy food is actually the simplest option of the lot. No counting calories, no eating after a set time, no avoiding carbs or only eating carbs. Just eat real food. Organic, fresh, in-season and not processed. Real food that grows in the ground and isn't "extracted" or "added" or "enhanced". The fewer middlemen in-between you and the farmer the better. You don't have to stop eating meat but it probably wouldn't hurt to only eat organic, ethically sourced meat once or twice a week instead.

You don't need to do it everyday but if you want to eat healthier you should probably start someday.

How to reduce waste this Christmas

How to reduce waste this Christmas

I love Christmas. Probably more than a grown man should. It's a great time of the year that really demonstrates our community spirit in a positive light, even if that spirit is based around drinking spirits.

It's also one of the rare times of the year that people eat mostly seasonal food due to the traditions set when seasonal food was the only option.

However, one thing I have struggled with is the waste of Christmas. There is so much social pressure through work, friends and family to buy into the consumerism of it all that it can be hard to stick to values you might otherwise throughout the rest of the year.

Here are some ways to reduce this waste while also avoid being labelled a miserable, anti-Christmas Scrooge.

Let me know if you have any other suggestions in the comments below.

Wrapping Paper

Why is it a problem?

It's often not made from recycled paper and because of all the fancy, shiny stuff added to make it look snazzier, can't actually be recycled, and that's just the paper. The ribbon and bows etc, none of that gets recycled and is made from plastic so is going straight to the landfill.

What is the solution?

Obviously you could opt for not wrapping it at all, but that does somewhat ruin the surprise.  Instead use an old magazine or newspaper. The bonus of this is that if you and your friend have different political views you can even carefully select the pages to add subliminal propaganda to their present.

The office Secret Santa

Why is it a problem?

Is it just me or do you always get assigned the person in the office you know least about? It usually slides quite far down on your priority list and then the day before you panic and buy something in a rush. It can be fun and the gifts often cause some laughter but then what? So often the gifts are throw away items, wrapped in single use plastic, that cause a few minutes of joy but years of misery for the planet.

What is the solution?

As tempting as it is to stand defiantly with a raised Eco fist in the air while everyone around you swaps presents it's probably less damaging on your social status to simply buy ethically. Use the opportunity to give a gift to someone who actually needs it. If everyone at the office brought their gifts form a charity store then the impact is much smaller. The gift is used, the money goes to charity, and if the person has no use for it they can just return it to a charity shop afterwards.

Christmas Cards

Why is it a problem?

We send cards all over the country to show people we are thinking about them at Christmas which is an amazing display of love for friends and family. However, that card is often made of non-recycled paper and is covered in glitter and shiny bits and pieces so can't be recycled afterwards. It is also, like many Christmas traditions, a disposable, single use item. Once the card has been on display for a few weeks it is put in the recycling, but often not actually recycled. That's an unnecessary waste of energy and resources for a picture of a snowman and a few thoughtful words.

What is the solution?

If you absolutely have to buy cards make sure they are small, of recycled materials and can be recycled. It still uses a lot of energy to produce and recycle them though so why not make them yourself out of used cardboard. Alternatively, call someone and have a chat instead. It will mean far more to them than the card and leaves no impact.

Christmas Tree

Why is it a problem?

I always loved the Christmas tree at home it was a sign that Christmas had arrive. However, it does seem quite a strange tradition to decorate a dead tree in the corner of your room for a few weeks. Sure it smells and looks lovely but it really isn't the best for the environment. There are alternatives to the cut tree in plastic form, but then, why are we putting up a plastic tree in our house?  Not to mention the waste when all that plastic inevitably goes to the landfill.

What is the solution?

Source a potted tree that you can bring in for Christmas and move outside afterwards. Not only is this better for the environment it actually saves you money too.  However, why restrict yourself to keeping trees inside for only 1/12th of the year? Buy an indoor plant and just leave it in the house all year round.  You can still decorate the tree but just lay off the tinsel. That plastic, shiny shit isn't helping anyone.

Overall consumerism of it all

Why is it a problem?

The tradition of Christmas has long been diluted and morphed into what it is today. The main focus has become spending money. The media is obsessed with it and nearly every advertisement is focused on selling Christmas. We have fully bought into this and spend hundreds every year on gifts for those we love. While the giving and receiving of gifts is a magical thing, it has got way out of hand. No matter what the product, even ethically sourced ones, if you buy something new, then energy and resources are used. Mo' presents, Mo' problems.

What is the solution?

The hard line is to not buy into any of it, enjoy the festive time with family and friends, eat good food, drink, laugh, and drink some more. But it is hard to take such a drastic measure when everyone else around you has gifts to exchange. Instead just be mindful of the spending, go with quality over quantity. It is the perfect time to try to make something yourself, buy something second hand, or better yet gift someone to an experience. An experience has a reduced impact and is something that you can do with that person thereby strengthening the relationship. A memory lasts a lifetime...and so does plastic.

Over the top Christmas decorations

Why is it a problem?

If you have to ask you're probably at the wrong website.

What is the solution?

Disown your neighbours.

Finally, don't be too hard on yourself. Even if you only manage to do one thing that you didn't last year then you have still reduced your impact. If everyone does one small thing to reduce their impact then the world is moving in the right direction.

Do you have any suggestions for ways to reduce your waste at Christmas, I'd love to hear in the comments below.

Generation Why?

There comes a time in everyone's life when they learn the word "Why?" It happened to all of us.  Soon enough this magical word appears in our vocabulary and we decide to use it as much as possible. "Eat up all your vegetables"

"Why?"

"Because it's important to eat them to stay healthy"

"Why?"

"Because they have lots of nutrients in them which are good for us"

"Why?"

Sigh....

As an adult it is a chance to educate any inquisitive youngster on the ways of the world but after about the 4th round you've usually thrown in the towel. It's amazing that at a young age we wanted to question everything. Anything we were told had to have a logical answer. If it didn't we couldn't comprehend why we had to do to it. Makes perfect sense.

Recently I realised that I had stopped using "Why" as much as I used to....Why?

I stopped questioning things as much, I stopped asking why at the things society expected of me. When people responded with "that's what people do" I shrugged and got on with it.  No self respecting five year old would let you get away with that as an answer so why did I, what happened to that curious young child?

Recently however that why has come back with a vengeance.

Since learning about Permaculture my mindset has changed and why is now everywhere I go trying to muscle its way onto the scene. Why do I eat food that is sprayed with chemicals? Why do I spend my money on large, faceless corporations over local, independent organisations? Why do I buy things that are wrapped in plastic?

It's a powerful word. When you start to ask why at every small task you complete, no matter how mundane, you see things in a different light. In fact, why, is responsible for the majority of the world's greatest inventions or breakthroughs. Isaac Newton, asked why does an apple fall from a tree towards the ground? Charles Darwin, asked why do species on one island differ to those on another nearby island?  Why also highlights where society's expectations of you are guiding your decisions rather than things that you really believe in.

Thing about why is it's a sneaky little bastard. It's very easy to ask the question but it can be much harder to answer it truthfully. Excuses can disguise themselves as honesty. "I'm working five days a week because I need the money" or "I buy things in plastic because there's no other option". I've used these many a time. The truth for me was that I actually could survive working 4 days a week and reducing my plastic consumption has been far easier than I thought it would be.

I haven't got it all figured out, I'm at the beginning of this journey not the end. If you never step foot out the door you'll never reach the top of the mountain. You don't need to act on the answers but just simply start asking why a little more often and see where it leads you.