Dear First name / friend, Good morning! Here are some Earth wins to brighten up your week! If this newsletter brings you joy, please consider passing it on to a friend or family member to spread the good news :) |
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San Diego is banning styrofoam. |
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Styrofoam is extremely harmful to the environment. When discarded after a single use, the polystyrene foam breaks down into small pieces, polluting waterways, streets, and storm drains, making its way to the ocean. The nonbiodegradable material is extremely harmful to wildlife and the health of the ecosystem as a whole. As of April of this year, San Diego will no longer be using styrofoam. Under the San Diego Single Use Plastic Ordinance, polystyrene foam and single-use plastics are banned. This includes styrofoam bowls, trays, cups, plates, lids, egg cartons, plastic straws, and utensils. Additionally, purely styrofoam coolers, ice chests, beach toys, dock floats, navigation markers, and mooring buoys will no longer be distributed. Companies are encouraged to use reusable services that can be washed to cut down on waste. Recyclable materials are also highly encouraged. Materials such as sugarcane, molded fiber, bagasse, and “compostable” or “biodegradable” plastic are discouraged because they are not commonly accepted by local recycling programs. This ordinance will help San Diego meet the City’s Climate Action Plan and zero waste goals. |
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Construction projects in Wales were stopped due to environmental concerns. |
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Both the Menai bridge and the “red route” in Flintshire have been canceled and put under a year review as part of the Welsh government’s National Transport Plan. Under this plan, roads are required to not increase the number of cars on the road, carbon emissions, or negatively impact the environment in any way. These projects were a threat to the goal of reaching net zero by 2050. Upon concern over transportation issues, the deputy minister assured locals that new roads will still be built, just with higher criteria. Standards include a push towards public transportation through the inclusion of safer walking and cycling paths. Wales is pushing towards transportation paths that allow easy public transportation access to areas of economic activity. After a 2021 review of the roads, 15 of the 59 projects were approved. This shows how much thought and care Wales is putting into their construction projects. |
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EU leaders ban the sale of fossil fuel cars by 2035. |
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To encourage the switch to electric vehicles, the European Parliament approved a law to prohibit the sale of fossil fuel and diesel cars by 2035. A 100% cut in CO2 emissions is required from new cars sold. To achieve this, the law is requiring a 55% cut in emissions from new cars and vans sold by 2030. The parliament’s lead negotiator on the rules, Jan Huitema, talked about making electric vehicles more accessible. There have been many investments in electrification in Europe recently. From 2033 on, Volkswagen committed to only producing electric cars in Europe. |
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Hargila army of women helps save India's endangered storks. |
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In the Indian state of Assam, women part of the hargila army are protecting the greater adjutant, one of the world’s rarest storks. More than 10,000 women have helped this effort. Having been seen as a bad omen, the storks were attacked with stones and their homes were burned down by villagers. A woman by the name of Dr. Purnima Devi Barman attained her master’s in zoology and set out to save the innocent greater adjutants. She was taunted for her efforts because of how looked down upon the storks were, but that didn’t stop Barman. She started off by organizing meetings to encourage men to act as guardians of the land and animals, which resulted in not a single nesting tree being chopped down since 2010. Barman got creative with getting women involved, due to their confinement in their homes and chores. Baby showers and hatching ceremonies were hosted to tap into the women’s nurturing side. Thus, the hargila army was created to unite people and build ownership in the community. In the Dadara, Pacharia, and Singimari villages, greater adjutants’ nests have increased from 28 to more than 250 in the past 13 years. Creating this group has given women an opportunity to become part of a community, work towards a common goal, and conserve the environment. As the storks have become a cultural symbol, women can source their income independently through weaving fabrics, making bags, or other household items. |
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Final book touches, ITL work, and getting back into running! |
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That's all we've got for today. I hope this newsletter made you smile and encouraged you to keep up the good fight, friend. |
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