To ask what you're doing to 'save the Earth'

[mrsgrimbots]

My DS6 is a really sweet boy, hugely empathic, emotional, etc... and has had a bee in his bonnet about saving the Earth since his school had a non uniform day to raise money for the Australia fire relief.

He wants me to stop using the car and god forbid if I leave it running a second longer than needs be.

Today his last words to me as he went into school were....

'mum come up with a plan today of how we can save our world. We have to do something'

So of course, I'm putting it to the mumsnet community because I need ideas I can pass off as my own later you're always full of the best ideas ... what small or big actions/sacrifices/changes have you made to 'save the world'?

@zurala where do you get your jars of toothpaste from ? I've been looking for one that still has fluoride added to it as one of my DCs needs it.

Hi OP, my 6 year old is very much the same, I actually try to tone down the scale of the global problems as I know it would make her extremely anxious but we do talk about the impact of the things that we do. Things that she particularly likes:

Bamboo toothbrushes
Soap bars, solid bubble bath from Lush
Colourful re-usable sandwich bags and wax wraps
Reusable kitchen roll - look it up! Like a roll of double sided cloths poppered together
Second hand toys and clothes, and passing things on to smaller friends and family when things are grown out of.

@punknarwhal have you tried these? They have fluoride in and taste ok www.anythingbutplastic.co.uk/product-page/denttabs-toothpaste-tablets-with-fluoride?fbclid=IwAR117FNoye3FeCJnF9ROGmjDP6-a1RaEzfBHpp7crM1oykPyxL2VnyIhYds

Also, washable sanitary towels (maybe not something you can get the 6 year old involved in though!)

I'm educating people to focus on the real issues and not the scientifically sketchy claims about carbon emissions and plastic use.

Not using your car won't make a blind bit of difference to the environment. Modern emission control systems are so efficient that the level of pollutants is negligible and not a problem anymore. Also electric vehicles will be mainstream within a decade, this hysteria is not only misleading but misguided.

The majority of people who talk about carbon emissions have no clue what they're talking about. They claim "I only use public transport" but couldn't tell you the actual environmental impact of the bus journey. They just repeat soundbites from Fakebook.

Diesel emissions, air pollution, the plastics in the ocean, the burning of the rainforests, none of those things are the problem. They are all symptoms of THE problem. There are simply too many people living on too small a planet. The world doesn't need 7.5 billion people, it doesn't need 3 billion. Reduce the population and you reduce the pollution.

We don't have 10 years to save the planet, a la the Greta Thunberg mantra. The planet has survived asteroids the size of Belgium, Ice Ages, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, mass extinctions. It's been through much worse than us.

Reducing pollution is just a distraction. You could cut all pollution by 50 % tomorrow, it wouldn't help in the long run, without a curb in the numbers of people we would back to square one within a generation. You would have less pollution per individual, but twice the number of people generating it.

The fact is that "armchair activists" will never achieve anything. Trying to save the planet by using environmentally friendly toothbrushes or taking the bus to work, is just ridiculous.

We need a concerted effort from all governments to instigate a managed decline in the population of the planet. Whole cities need to be closed. Whole countries need to be left to return to a pre human state.

We don't need to reduce carbon emissions. We need to reduce the global population by a minimum 3.5 billion people.

But that conversation is too difficult, it's much easier to fiddle about with carbon emissions and renewable electricity. It makes people feel better about themselves while ignoring the real issue.

Interesting lilmiss
OP I hope he isn't genuinely terrified. When I was a child the threat of nuclear war seemed very real and I was scared to death, but didn't tell anyone (I was brought up on the 'pull yourself together' principle).
I would hate to think that he believes it is all down to him.

My post wasn't dismissive. It reflects if one is serious about making changes then there will be sacrifices.

It was dickish. There are lots of things to be done without going for the jugular from his point of view. He’s 6.

OP, lots of good suggestions on here. Making small manageable changes lead to bigger changes. He’ll feel happier knowing that you’re doing something.

Cutting down on meat and dairy us a good one. Can you research some veggie/vegan meals together?

We are really trying to reduce plastic.

I have bought a sodastream to save on all the sparkling water bottles
We have our milk delivered in glass
We all have chillies bottles
I have a reusable coffee cup
Have just started to use beeswax wraps for packed lunches
Our local takeaway will fill our tupperware instead of using their tubs
I've stopped using my Dolce Gusto and reverted to a cafetiere
Have metal straws for the kids

We eat seasonally and local where possible

Don't use any form of wipe any more

Recycle as much as we can, this year I was surprised how hard it is to find recyclable wrapping paper.

Try to avoid palm oil.

School runs a crisp packet recycling scheme.

When we go on a picnic I take our crockery from home instead of disposable.

All very small things but at least the kids are aware

@ScatteredMama82 thanks, I've ordered some to give them a try.

Another money and environmental saver I do. I love the special coffees from places like Costa. Instead I have bought 6 jars of flavoured instant coffee and some demerara sugar and I make my own daily to take on the school run with me in a reusable cup. It also saves me eating the oodles of cream which I can never resist when they ask

We need a concerted effort from all governments to instigate a managed decline in the population of the planet. Whole cities need to be closed. Whole countries need to be left to return to a pre human state.

Are you suggesting the OP should kill her 6yo? That the UK needs to return to a pre-human state (after we have somehow got rid of the British population)?

Or is it, by any chance at all, the case that it is other countries you envisage as being closed down and managed?

The truth is that there is a massive difference in carbon emissions between a traditional small farmer in a third world country and a wealthy Westerner/American who drives a car everyday, buys takeaways and goes on holiday to the Seychelles. One problem is that as wealth grows in large parts of Asia and Africa, they are going to want the same living standards as us- why shouldn't they? If we insist that we can't possibly make sacrifices, how on earth can we expect the rest of the world to be making them?

And how are you going to get anyone to agree to reduction in population if large parts of the world's population are going to suspect - possibly on good grounds- that what we actually mean is, fewer brown people so that us white people can carry on as we were?

Modern emission control systems are so efficient that the level of pollutants is negligible and not a problem anymore.

Really? That is not what the medical expertise are saying: they are quoting air pollution as a major cause in reduced life expectancy and early death in Europe, not least the UK.

Modern emission control systems are so efficient that the level of pollutants is negligible and not a problem anymore.

If this is the case, how do you make out the rising number of deaths in the UK to air-polluting

Being childless

I didn't have children.

Tell him not to have children then. Save up and give him a vasectomy as an 18th birthday gift. The worst thing you can do for the planet is procreate.

How is it in any way relevant or helpful to tell a six year old not to have children?

It will be many years before he’s thinking about that.

In the meantime, he wants to make some changes. This is laudable. Why are people being twats about it?

Interesting the PPs saying hankies rather than tissues. I use hankies and the 20-somethings at work say washing them is bad for the planet and I should use tissues.

I'm sure they're wrong but don't know why - can anyone more environmentally-aware than me help?

Thank you!

corythatwas

I am not suggesting that the OP kill her 6yo.

Why do you assume I am referring to third world countries when I talk about managed population reduction? I have no problem with the UK being devoid of humans in 100 years.

Please link any post mortem report which proves that the individuals death was caused by vehicle emissions.

Nobody in the UK has been killed by vehicle emissions without a concerted effort i.e suicide.

Not one single person in the UK or anywhere else has been killed solely as a result of vehicle emissions.

Being childless

This. Whilst I appreciate that it’s going to be too late for the (3?) children you have, maybe talk to him about the importance of not adding to the population. All the Mooncups, bamboo toothbrushes, Meat Free Mondays and we-don’t-fly-any-more policies in the world won’t make as much difference as not adding more consumers to the planet.

@LaurieMarlow I see the same kind of reaction towards Greta Thunberg... people wishing to make a positive impact on environmental issues seem to provoke a nasty/sarcastic reaction from a lot of people. 🤷‍♀️ I don't know why this is, surely making some changes is better than making none at all?

Thanks @MaxPaddyandHarry he is a little worrier but obviously I try not to tell him too much. I was worried about them gaining awareness about the bush fires as I thought it would really scare him but I'm proud of how he's wanting to help.

Grow your own fruit or veg with him
Buy second hand stuff and give old stuff to charity or sell it
Cycle more for short journeys
Is there anyone you can car share with?
Stop using clingfilm or freezer bags and get reusable beeswax paper / reusable freezer bags
Calculate your carbon footprint with him
Turn the heating down slightly, keep doors closed, put extra clothes on
Go on holiday by train
Buy bar soap and shampoo
Plant some wildlife friendly (eg bee friendly) plants

lilmisstoldyouso
Ella Kissi-Debra is one little girl who died due to air pollution.
Many more deaths are probably attributable to air pollution, but it is difficult to say how many. There is a lot of research into this topic and the results all point in the same direction.

Many western countries are already reproducing below the rate needed to keep the population stable. The real elephant on the room isn't reproduction, it's the fact that people are living longer and longer and this is the actual problem.

Reducing plastic use; bar soap instead of shower gel, glass shampoo and conditioner bottles with pumps filled with eco friendly refills, Splosh cleaning products, loose fruit and veg, refillable metal water bottle.

Reducing fuel consumption; turned the heating down 2 degrees, use oil heaters to heat rooms in use instead of having central heating on, take the train or walk nearly everywhere, car is only used once or twice a week, reduced holidays abroad last year.

If you have a garden or even a small out door space like a balcony. Grow vegetables & flowers, use a compost bin & make compost, water butt to save water. Make bird box, insect hotel, pond, bird feeder. Enjoy the insects & animals. You can also grow herbs etc on a windowsill.
Press flowers & leaves to make cards
Lavender to make bags etc
Honey
Photography & art
Cookery from local produce
Make things from seeds
Circle of life

I don’t drive my kids to school although it’s a distance. I bought a cargo bike and take them in that. I’m
Not flying anymore. I’m cutting down on meat .i only use the car when I have to.

Oh I forgot. I use washable cloths for cleaning, I use grape seed oil and a face cloth to remove my make up.