Planet
Taking care of the planet is the biggest challenge that humanity has this century. Every individual, organisation, business, and government has a duty of care to take part in protecting, conserving, reviving, and nurturing nature. Before my music career, I was working in environment & health advocacy, and I always knew it would sneak back into my life at some point! So here is what I've learned we can do, and some of how to do some of it... :)
Creating a new habit
One of the most important parts of lasting change is to do it properly. Forming a new habit takes around 8-12 weeks, says neuroscience. I have applied this knowledge to different areas of my life, and given myself 3-6 months solidly focusing on one area to develop a new skill or habit - from DJing, to singing, to music production, to going vegetarian, to going vegan, to setting up a business, to surfing. It's less about discipline, and more about working with your own psychology to gradually adjust to a new set of circumstances. The discipline and ease comes, and the change stays.
Capitalism is based on the concept that where you choose to spend you money dictates the market. So spend your money on the vegan sector. Choose clean energy, a clean bank account, carbon neutral browsers. Offset your carbon emissions from flights and transport. This is the most basic shortlist of actions that is relevant to every single person in the developed world. Nail the basics and the rest becomes easy!
Clean energy supply
This is one of the simplest and lasting changes you make. The electricity and gas for my house is supplied by Clean Energy, a carbon-neutral energy supplier. Assuming you live in a house or flat that uses electricity and possibly gas, it's pretty likely you can switch to a clean energy supplier in the time it takes to make a phonecall. Say an hour max? I've had Clean Energy as a supplier for over two years now, so that amounts to a big change in my carbon footprint, for the sake of an hour or so of my time. Easy win for your peace of mind and the planet!
Clean banking - personal and business
You may or may not be aware that your bank may be an investor in fossil fuels (or also the arms trade.. but that's not relevant right now). When you bank with a non-clean bank, you are indirectly supporting the fossil fuel industries.
I currently do my personal banking with Nationwide, who are an ethical business and therefore do not invest in coal or non-green energy (or the arms trade). The other clean high-street banks are the Co-operative and Britannia.
For clean investments, look at banks like Triodos, and other ethical investments.
My business banking is currently with Barclays, who is not a clean bank, because - to be honest, I used to have a Co-operative Business bank account, and they made a few mistakes which were annoying. Having said that, you can as a customer request that your bank becomes a clean bank. The process is called 'divesting from fossil fuels' - which means removing any investments in the fossil fuel industry, and has been done by organisations to whole countries - for instance, Ireland.
Clean search engine
The carbon footprint of digital use is huuuge, which is partly due to the coolers required to cool the super computers that power and support our browsing (don't ask me how!). The easiest way to browse cleanly is to switch your search engine to Ecosia, which is carbon neutral and event plants trees while you search! Whether you use Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or another browser, set your homepage to Ecosia (or a similar service) so from now on, any new searches will be clean!
Offset your carbon emissions from transport
When you book a flight there is usually an option to offset your carbon footprint. When you get deliveries, try and use a carbon neutral courier. Or you can use a Carbon Calculator. I drive about 10,000 miles a year, which costs about £20 to offset the carbon emissions, which you can do here.
Creating a new habit
One of the most important parts of lasting change is to do it properly. Forming a new habit takes around 8-12 weeks, says neuroscience. I have applied this knowledge to different areas of my life, and given myself 3-6 months solidly focusing on one area to develop a new skill or habit - from DJing, to singing, to music production, to going vegetarian, to going vegan, to setting up a business, to surfing. It's less about discipline, and more about working with your own psychology to gradually adjust to a new set of circumstances. The discipline and ease comes, and the change stays.
Capitalism is based on the concept that where you choose to spend you money dictates the market. So spend your money on the vegan sector. Choose clean energy, a clean bank account, carbon neutral browsers. Offset your carbon emissions from flights and transport. This is the most basic shortlist of actions that is relevant to every single person in the developed world. Nail the basics and the rest becomes easy!
Clean energy supply
This is one of the simplest and lasting changes you make. The electricity and gas for my house is supplied by Clean Energy, a carbon-neutral energy supplier. Assuming you live in a house or flat that uses electricity and possibly gas, it's pretty likely you can switch to a clean energy supplier in the time it takes to make a phonecall. Say an hour max? I've had Clean Energy as a supplier for over two years now, so that amounts to a big change in my carbon footprint, for the sake of an hour or so of my time. Easy win for your peace of mind and the planet!
Clean banking - personal and business
You may or may not be aware that your bank may be an investor in fossil fuels (or also the arms trade.. but that's not relevant right now). When you bank with a non-clean bank, you are indirectly supporting the fossil fuel industries.
I currently do my personal banking with Nationwide, who are an ethical business and therefore do not invest in coal or non-green energy (or the arms trade). The other clean high-street banks are the Co-operative and Britannia.
For clean investments, look at banks like Triodos, and other ethical investments.
My business banking is currently with Barclays, who is not a clean bank, because - to be honest, I used to have a Co-operative Business bank account, and they made a few mistakes which were annoying. Having said that, you can as a customer request that your bank becomes a clean bank. The process is called 'divesting from fossil fuels' - which means removing any investments in the fossil fuel industry, and has been done by organisations to whole countries - for instance, Ireland.
Clean search engine
The carbon footprint of digital use is huuuge, which is partly due to the coolers required to cool the super computers that power and support our browsing (don't ask me how!). The easiest way to browse cleanly is to switch your search engine to Ecosia, which is carbon neutral and event plants trees while you search! Whether you use Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or another browser, set your homepage to Ecosia (or a similar service) so from now on, any new searches will be clean!
Offset your carbon emissions from transport
When you book a flight there is usually an option to offset your carbon footprint. When you get deliveries, try and use a carbon neutral courier. Or you can use a Carbon Calculator. I drive about 10,000 miles a year, which costs about £20 to offset the carbon emissions, which you can do here.
Go Vegan
Swap to being Vegan. It has never been easier to do this. The secret is adjusting to really good alternatives. Go shopping, go to the 'free from' section and buy vegan goodies. Even if you are still veggie and eat meat etc, start getting used to enjoying and cooking with alternatives, and make it an easy transition to a vegan diet. Yes, it's going to require a bit of energy and concentration, but taking personal control and responsibility is one of the best things you can do for your own mental wellbeing. Humans love to conquer a challenge! Have snacks on hand, this is essential. Vegan food preparation can take a bit longer than non-vegan food, so make sure you have some oatcakes or carrot sticks and hummus to snack on whilst you prepare (especially if you happen to have a high metabolism, like me... or just like snacks, like me..).
Definition: A vegan does not eat meat, fish, eggs, honey, or any dairy products. Additional: a vegan does not buy any animal products, such as fur, feathers or leather (even if that sounds like one kinky Ann Summer's outfit).
Why go vegan? For me, the reasons are environmental, health, and animal welfare.
Meat: I really do love animals, and actually I really don't want them to suffer just so I can have something tasty on my plate. It just doesn't justify it for me any more. The peace of mind that I now have from not eating animals, and my relationship to seeing animals now has changed, from being "you're cute, and tasty" to just "you're cute". There's no internal conflict any more.
Fish: now, we've all seen the sealife eating plastic, and that's just not right. So when I go to the supermarket, I have a choice to buy fish or not buy fish. A dolphin does not have the choice to eat fish or not eat fish. Again, it's about alternatives: I have a choice and the dolphin doesn't. So why would I eat fish when I can have quorn or another non-animal protein. I cannot justify it any more.
Health: Going vegan is pretty good for you, ensuring you have the right nutrients. In the long run, it cuts down on diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Switching to healthier foods is a bit of a faf, and you definitely have to give it some attention - which, when I'm shopping and in a grumpy hungry mood, isn't always optimal, so try and go food shopping when you are in a good mood, and have the time and energy to think about what's going into your shopping basket. Take the time to (snooore) read the backs of labels. TIP: when you scan ingredients lists, look for anything in bold, as milk, eggs, and allergens such as nuts and wheat are usually listed. Lots of things are actually vegan even if they don't specifically say. A broccoli isn't gonna yell out 'oi, I'm vegan!'. Again, time and attention, and you'll maybe find some nice things you haven't had before. Hello chocolate hazelnut soya vegan ice cream. Dreamy.
Environment: Going vegan is one of the best things you can do for the environment, because the environmental impact of farming meat and dairy, accounts for a large part of the carbon emissions and toxification of the natural habitat. From fish farming, and run-off from agriculture creating 'dead zones' in the sea, to deforestation for cattle farming, and growing feed to raise the cows, to the hormones pumped into non-organic animals and getting into out own bodies and habitat, creating antibiotic resistance.. really there are so many reasons to stop eating meat and dairy on an environmental front. The bottom line is you either support it by buying meat and dairy, or you don't. But please do, if you can (and you can). :)
Taking control of your diet is actually a big part in taking control of your life. Living in accordance with your values - social and environmental - actually negates a lot of the sullen low-level discontent, inertia, depression, and anxiety we can feel about the state of this world. It removes the guilt from our individual choices having a negative effect on the world, and can help us feel empowered.
Cognitive dissonance is when our beliefs are out of synch with our actions, and creates unhappiness (perhaps manifesting in an unexplainable way). I have no idea if this is scientifically connected to high levels of depression and anxiety - especially in the younger generations, however, I feel that this disenchantment and disempowerment has something to do with it, and when we claim our own autonomy around our lifestyle and lifestyle choices. And small steps lead to bigger steps.
And don't worry, cacao is still vegan so you can still eat vegan chocolate. Yuuuuuuum!
Definition: A vegan does not eat meat, fish, eggs, honey, or any dairy products. Additional: a vegan does not buy any animal products, such as fur, feathers or leather (even if that sounds like one kinky Ann Summer's outfit).
Why go vegan? For me, the reasons are environmental, health, and animal welfare.
Meat: I really do love animals, and actually I really don't want them to suffer just so I can have something tasty on my plate. It just doesn't justify it for me any more. The peace of mind that I now have from not eating animals, and my relationship to seeing animals now has changed, from being "you're cute, and tasty" to just "you're cute". There's no internal conflict any more.
Fish: now, we've all seen the sealife eating plastic, and that's just not right. So when I go to the supermarket, I have a choice to buy fish or not buy fish. A dolphin does not have the choice to eat fish or not eat fish. Again, it's about alternatives: I have a choice and the dolphin doesn't. So why would I eat fish when I can have quorn or another non-animal protein. I cannot justify it any more.
Health: Going vegan is pretty good for you, ensuring you have the right nutrients. In the long run, it cuts down on diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Switching to healthier foods is a bit of a faf, and you definitely have to give it some attention - which, when I'm shopping and in a grumpy hungry mood, isn't always optimal, so try and go food shopping when you are in a good mood, and have the time and energy to think about what's going into your shopping basket. Take the time to (snooore) read the backs of labels. TIP: when you scan ingredients lists, look for anything in bold, as milk, eggs, and allergens such as nuts and wheat are usually listed. Lots of things are actually vegan even if they don't specifically say. A broccoli isn't gonna yell out 'oi, I'm vegan!'. Again, time and attention, and you'll maybe find some nice things you haven't had before. Hello chocolate hazelnut soya vegan ice cream. Dreamy.
Environment: Going vegan is one of the best things you can do for the environment, because the environmental impact of farming meat and dairy, accounts for a large part of the carbon emissions and toxification of the natural habitat. From fish farming, and run-off from agriculture creating 'dead zones' in the sea, to deforestation for cattle farming, and growing feed to raise the cows, to the hormones pumped into non-organic animals and getting into out own bodies and habitat, creating antibiotic resistance.. really there are so many reasons to stop eating meat and dairy on an environmental front. The bottom line is you either support it by buying meat and dairy, or you don't. But please do, if you can (and you can). :)
Taking control of your diet is actually a big part in taking control of your life. Living in accordance with your values - social and environmental - actually negates a lot of the sullen low-level discontent, inertia, depression, and anxiety we can feel about the state of this world. It removes the guilt from our individual choices having a negative effect on the world, and can help us feel empowered.
Cognitive dissonance is when our beliefs are out of synch with our actions, and creates unhappiness (perhaps manifesting in an unexplainable way). I have no idea if this is scientifically connected to high levels of depression and anxiety - especially in the younger generations, however, I feel that this disenchantment and disempowerment has something to do with it, and when we claim our own autonomy around our lifestyle and lifestyle choices. And small steps lead to bigger steps.
And don't worry, cacao is still vegan so you can still eat vegan chocolate. Yuuuuuuum!
