Living Kindly and Sustainably

Last Updated: Mar 6, 2023 @ 1:49 pm

To tackle the Climate & Ecological Emergency we need to fundamentally change the way we live. But that really is a change for the better, in so many ways.

The way we have been living has been harming us as a species, just as much as its been harming our planet and the other animals and plants that we share it with.

Many of us have become lonely, are suffering from mental health issues, are over weight,  unfit or suffering from breathing disorders.  Many others still don’t have enough to eat, safe drinking water, a secure place to live, access to medical care and basic human rights.

Whilst some of us continue to consume too much even to our own detriment, many others still don’t have the basics.

A vastly unequal world is not a safe world for anyone – and whilst we have been fixated on ever-lasting economic growth our world has become more and more unequal, more volatile and less secure for every one of us – no matter what we have in the bank.

We can’t tackle the climate & ecological crisis as individuals – but together we are society – and as society we can do this by choosing to live more kindly and more sustainably.  Here’s a few ideas for how to do just that.

Eat sustainably & kindly

Reduce, reuse & refill

Turn down the tap on new

Make your money matter

Get renewables if you can

Travel sustainably

Make space for nature

Eat sustainably & kindly

We are what we eat – so how happy are you about that?

In a Climate & Ecological Emergency one of the most important things we can do as an individual is to eat sustainably and kindly – but what that means is controversial and has been polarised into a black and white debate between veganism on the one side and eat what you want /support our farmers on the other. What is needed is a much more subtle and thoughtful approach than the media likes to portray.  So here are our thoughts on what it means to eat sustainably and kindly.

Travel sustainably

Holidays and foreign travel are often the highlight of the year for a lot of people. Flights are a hefty addition to your carbon footprint though, which probably isn’t the holiday souvenir you’d hoped for.

You may be making lots of beneficial changes in your life to tackle the climate crisis; shopping more sustainably, eating less meat, driving less. However, all it takes is one flight to undo all that good. The answer is not to give up on travel and holidays altogether, but to change how you get there.

Byway is a holiday provider that creates personalised travel and accommodation packages away from the traditional tourist trails, using trains, bikes, buses and ferries. They encourage sustainable, multi-stop trips which highlight the joys of slow travel.

Flight Free UK are on a mission to inform people of the climate impact of aviation and inspire people to travel by other means. They challenge people to take a year off flying through their #FlightFreePledge in the hope that the short-term challenge inspires a long-term behaviour change.

Not only will you skip the airport queues, but you’ll skip the harmful carbon emissions too!

Julia has enjoyed two recent trips organised through Byway, which you can read about on the below blog posts:
Sardinia
Scotland

Byway Travel Blog - Scottish Highlands

Byway Travel Blog - Sardinia

Supporting Transport Action Network

Gwent Wildlife Trust Donation

'In Debt to the Planet' - ShareAction holding banks to account

Nature’s Superheroes Leaflet – Plants you can grow to support wildlife in your garden

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Wild Woodbury at Bere Regis in 'extraordinary' restoration (BBC News Article)

Supporting #Youth4ClimateJustice

Martlesham Wilds - another Funding Nature acquisition

Nature’s Superheroes Leaflet – Plants you can grow to support wildlife in your garden

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The Ecological Land Cooperative Donation

Used & Loved

Gardening for Nature Leaflet – Tips on giving wildlife a home and helping it thrive

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Friends of the Earth Victory Ruling

Innovation: don't go chasing Unicorns - The Environment Magazine Article

Running the London Marathon for DSWF

Farming with Flower Power - Supporting the RSPB

Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project C.I.C

Reuseabox - Circular economy of cardboard

nibs etc.

Gardening for Nature Recovery

Strawberry Hill – Funding Nature acquisition no. 9

Greenpeace Takes Government to Court Over Jackdaw Gas Field

"It's not a Weed" Trail - Dorset Wildlife Trust & Bere Regis Primary School

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Catalytic Philanthropy: The Gap Nature Needs Filling - Philanthropy Impact Article

Make Your Commitment

How to Lower Your Carbon Footprint

MotheRED

Wildlife & Birdcare Nature Recovery Project

Spruce

Pandemic Profiteers

Patriotic Millionaires - BBC Interview

Less and Better

Council Climate Action Scorecards

Good Club Investment Update

Library of Things Investment Update

Patriotic Millionaires - Marketplace Article

Ecoeats Investment Update

Weston Farm, Purbeck, Dorset – Funding Nature acquisition no.4

National Trust acquires Dorset ‘speed-dating’ caves for bats - The Guardian

&Sisters - Reusable Period Products

Somerset Rewilding Project

Rewilding Our Farms Secures A Future For Our Kids - Environment Magazine

The UK Millionaires Who Want To Pay More Tax

Supporting ShareAction

Tax My Wealth

Net Zero Strategy Legal Challenge

Bold step for nature’s recovery in Mid Wales - County Times Article

Ecoeats: eco friendly takeaway delivery company at cop26 - Grocery Gazette Article

Pentwyn - Funding Nature acquisition No. 2

Radnorshire Wildlife Trust Farm acquisition - Wales247 Article

Reusables Working Group

Protecting 30 by 30 – COP 26, Glasgow

SHE Changes Climate – Finance discussion – COP 26

Saving the climate one takeaway at a time - Glasgow Times

Where are the women?

Ecoeats food delivery service - The Herald Article

Re-introductions summit at Coombeshead!

Millionaires petition Rishi Sunak to introduce wealth tax

Pandora Papers - Tax Justice UK

Greenpeace Core Funding

We Did It! London Marathon For IFAW Complete

Running London Marathon For IFAW

Beavers Are Back In Dorset - Dorset Wildlife Trust

Scientists Warning Europe

Combating The Climate And Nature Emergency - wildlifetrusts.org

Making Things Happen by Funding Core Costs

Climate 2025 help develop Funding Nature

Transport Action Network (TAN) - Try to bring sanity to DfT’s policies and plans

Rewilding the countryside, one farm at a time - Guardian Observer Article

Unlocking the land for nature’s recovery

Greenpeace - Plastic Waste Export Campaign

Local Conference of Youth in the UK - DMK Potential

KEAN - Kenya Kitchen Garden Project

City to Sea – Refill Revolution

Dorset Wildlife Trust buys site near Bere Regis - Bournemouth Echo

A place for nature and people in Dorset

World Ocean Day - reduce, reuse, refill and eat sustainably

Landmark legal cases by Plan B aim to protect our young people's future

Supporting green innovation and practical action

Somerset Wildlands - aim to develop a network of “stepping stone” sites

Eat sustainably and kindly

Grounded Community - Feed Our Community Project

Grounded Community - Feed Our Community Project

Pets with benefits!

Lions of the Ocean

Pets with benefits!

Making your funds go further

Lions of the Ocean

Transport Action Network - Legal challenge of the Government’s ‘largest ever’ road building programme

In The Press - Bournemouth Echo 10.4.21

Coal Action - South Lakes Action on Climate Change

Supporting green innovation and practical action

Encourage Coffee Vendors to accept reusable coffee cups by following contactless coffee guidelines

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Waste Warrior Fish

An emergency like no other – legal action

Friends of the Earth - Plastics Pollution Campaign

Greenpeace Net Expectations investor briefing

Two beavers released into an enclosed site in Dorset

Global Action Plan - young people step up

A financial system that serves our Planet and its people

The role of the Law in tackling environmental issues

Mock COP - we spoke, now you act

Dorset Wildlife Trust rewilding Project Manager

Legal Action

European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) Support

Rewilding and restoring Dorset nature

Protecting our Oceans

Say no to a new plastic rush here and in Africa

Inspiring People: Plastics video and podcast

Waste Warrior Fish Fundraiser on Just Giving

Mock COP 26

Supermarket Plastic Survey

Climate Action

Nature-based solutions in Dorset

Choose to Reuse

Waste Warrior Fish for Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole

'B' Friendly Sign - Remind and encourage people that our wildlife needs their help and they CAN make a difference

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EOCA – Plastic free tradeshows & core costs

Climate Action Leaflet - There is hope but we need our governments and companies to take action NOW

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Buglife - No Insectinction

Teach The Future - Calls to invest in low-carbon skills

ARC – Rescuing reptiles from wildfire in Wareham

Transport Action Network – Legal challenge to stop RIS2

City To Sea – Tackling plastic pollution

In The Press - Alliance Magazine

In The Press - Beacon Collaborative

In The Press - Bournemouth Echo 10.6.20

In The Press - Bournemouth Echo 2.7.20

In The Press - Bournemouth Echo 1.7.20

Waste Warrior Fish Arrives in Bournemouth!

Waste Warrior Fish is Coming To Bournemouth!

Waste Warrior Fish Colouring Sheet - Encourage our children to take positive action towards waste reduction and have FUN

View / Download PDF

The Wildlife Trusts - Green recovery

YPTE - Environmental home learning packs

Help bring the Waste Warrior Fish to Bournemouth!

Share Action

Greenpeace - Green Stimulus

Dorset Wildlife Trust - Beaver re-introduction in Dorset

Transport Action Network - RIS2 challenge

Teach the Future Campaign

Community Leaflet - Westbourne businesses delivering during lockdown