Goodbye 2020

Well it's the last day of the year, and what a year it has been. It felt like a decade passed in a year and March was just last month, all at the same time. Lockdown made this year feel like a time warp. I was much luckier here in Australia. I could live my life quite normally by September this year. But hard international borders meant I could not see my family, which continues to be challenging. I know I am not alone when I say that I can't wait to see the back of 2020. COVID-19 was pretty much at the center stage this year. It was on everyone's mind, all the time. It was overwhelming. Distress and despair was aplenty. Isolation and job uncertainty made mental health take a huge hit globally. Economies all over the world tumbled. It's not over yet, but vaccines are on the way. We are all hoping that 2021 will be kinder to us, and the worst is behind us.

Photo by Edwin Hooper on Unsplash

As far as the environment is concerned, what a contrasting summer we're having here in Australia. La Niña brought an end to drought conditions in much of Australia. In Sydney, our dam levels were 45% just a year ago, and today we are at 97%. While the rain was certainly welcome, flooding events and cyclones also become more common during a La Niña event. It is yet to be seen what more this weather pattern will bring for Australia in the next few months.

What is evident is how erratic these events have become. Just a year ago our whole continent was ablaze and farmers were inundated by the devastating impacts of a crippling drought. A year later with all that's happened, it feels like a million years ago. The pandemic is the only thing occupying our minds. It is imperative that we don't put climate change resilience on the backburner and continue to build on our efforts towards better water security in the months and years to come. With population growth and more unpredictable weather, we will need all the preparation we can get.

Photo by Luke White on Unsplash

2020 was not all bad. The Trump administration finally came to an end in 2020, with president elect Biden to take his place in January 2021. Trump's reign wrecked havoc in the last four years, with many environmental protections removed and big businesses doing what they want without much accountability for their actions. It will take some time for Biden to undo the damage done but the intent is there which is a great start! For starters the US will re-enter the Paris Climate Agreement which is an absolute win for the environmental community. 

Photo by Jose M. on Unsplash

Biden's win has also had far reaching effects on global climate action. It has put pressure on countries like Australia where climate commitments have largely been lackluster, their belief in a coal fired economy strong.  But the world's largest economy claiming clean energy is the way forward sets a precedent that the world needs right now. Here's hoping a cleaner and greener future lies ahead.

So that's a wrap on 2020. It was many things but uneventful was not one of them!

Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash

COVID-19 and Waste

July is the month of Plastic Free July. This year this is particularly challenging. With Covid-19  rampant all across the world, multiple cafes, restaurants, hotels have ditched their efforts to reduce single use items in the interest of public safety. It's been years since I ditched disposable coffee cups and only stuck to my sturdy Keep Cups. But the COVID-19 situation left me no choice but to accept disposable coffee cups at least a few times. I felt weighed down by guilt. But my coffee addiction emerged stronger! Luckily I discovered at least one local coffee shop which let me use my Keep Cup as they considered it a low risk. I always ensure to wash my Keep Cup well before taking it to the cafe and washing it well again after use. The Australian Government never released any mandate on solely using disposable items. It was upon the business owner's discretion. I understand the pressures on small businesses to keep their business risk-free and take all possible precautions, which is why many refused reusable takeaway cups. But the fact of the matter is, there is currently a lack of evidence on whether disposable cups or cutlery are any safer than reusable ones. In my opinion the climate crisis was and will always be a bigger crisis than this pandemic. Hence we should keep using reusable items where we are allowed to. If all else fails and your local cafe only lets you take disposable coffee cups, you can always choose to refuse the coffee lid as they are catastrophic for the environment. A coffee cup lid takes 400 years to decompose! 

The next tragedy is of course, face masks. Let me just make it clear at the onset that I absolutely do not disagree with the science of how face masks prevent the spread of Coronavirus and how they are an essential component in fighting this disease. Nevertheless it makes me shudder thinking about millions of disposable face masks just going to landfill. Even in Australia, I saw them littered across the road. I wish there was more awareness about how much waste this is causing. The majority of people are choosing disposable ones for the convenience of it and possibly also because they consider them safer. Even WHO has advocated for reusable masks such as fabric masks as they can easily be washed and prevent the spread of coronavirus. Using reusable masks also helps prevent shortages of surgical masks such as N95 masks, which need to be reserved for healthcare workers. Just last week the Victorian Government made masks mandatory in Melbourne. It is the first time any state in Australia has made masks mandatory since the pandemic began. There were lines of people outside pharmacies ready to purchase their disposable face masks. A slightly better sight was lines of people outside the Spotlight store ready to purchase materials to make their own reusable face masks.  Nevertheless an even better option would be to make your own facemaks at home using old materials you already have.

If DIY projects aren’t your forté, a quick internet search helped me find a list of sites that are selling sustainable masks in Australia. Similar retailers are present in other countries so when investing in a mask please think about the lifecycle of the product and do a little research before making the purchase. Choosing a reusable mask will also save you money. Target is selling a 12 pack of disposable masks for $10, which is a bit rich if you ask me!

This pandemic isn’t going anywhere, any time soon. We don’t want to be in a situation where once this crisis passes we have another waste crisis at our hands to deal with. When disaster strikes, human tendency is to just focus on short term outcomes that help us overcome the immediate hurdle. We can’t let our guard down when it comes to the environment crisis as that is and will always be the biggest battle our generation has to face.

Image courtesy: Flash Forward Pod

A nightmarish summer..but there's more.

It would be an understatement to say that Australia has had an upleasant 6 months. A crippling drought, bushfires, floods and then COVID-19. It feels as though we have been living in a thrilling "end of the world" saga, with a new season every couple of months. These have been just some of the headlines we have woken up to every day.

The bushfires burnt more than 12.6 hectares of land, emitted 434 million tonnes of CO2 and left more than a billion animals dead. The drought only exacerbated the conditions. Sydney alone had 81 days of poor air quality in 2019. On New Year's day Canberra had the worst air quality in the world, 26 times the level considered "hazardous" for humas. I wore a mask to work every day. There were so many days when I would look outside and all I saw was apocalyptic smog. I would keep my doors and windows closed, wondering when I would see Sydney's brilliant blue skies again. The bushfire smoke was linked to over 400 deaths in Australia. It took a while but the bushfires finally ended in early March, thanks to some record rainfall (which also landed up causing flooding in some parts). This bushfire season was one of the worst Australia has ever faced. It made us ask a lot of questions. Has this become our new normal? Are we equipped to deal with this catastrophe on a more frequent basis? Was this something that we could have foreseen? The drought made us ask similar questions. The 2006 drought was said to be a one in hundred year event, then how did we get here just ten years later?

Picture Courtesy: Matthew Abott, New York Times

We have known for years now that global warming will cause extreme weather events to become more common or more intense. Eerily, in 2008 a report commissioned by the Australian goverment predicted "Recent projections of fire weather (Lucas et al. 2007) suggest that fire seasons will start earlier, end slightly later, and generally be more intense. This effect increases over time, but should be directly observable by 2020." 

Surely with this knowledge we would have had some plans in place to address this threat. Renewable energy sources are responsible for only 24% of Australia's total electricity generation. Despite renewables rapidly becoming a low-cost solution globally. This report by Climate Works states that we can meet our goal of 1.5C heating by shifting to 79% of renewable enery by 2030 and 100% by 2050. Few can say whether current government efforts can make this a reality by 2030.

A worldwide pandemic has provided reason enough for some to find a convenient excuse to put this issue on the backburner. I'm not saying that the COVID-19 issue is not serious. It has had devastating impacts on many lives. Jobs have been lost. People have lost their loved ones. The economy has plummetted. But climate change is also a public health emergency. The timeframes are just different. While the window to act on COVID-19 is in the next few weeks and months. The window for climate change is the next few years. But both will be responsible for thousands of deaths globally unless urgent action is taken.

Many have celebrated a record drop in pollution levels across the globe since the lockdowns began. The skies are clear again, the local animal and birdlife seem to be reclaiming their land. As much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news, these effects are temporary. Carbon dioxide can stay in the atmosphere for centuries. Thus the total concentration will continue to increase even if there is less production temporarily. As soon as the economy is back, the emissions will be back too. Thus we really can't afford to push the climate crisis off our minds.

I've seen the below image doing the rounds on Linkedin. Perfectly summarises my thoughts.

Mum

I'm going to try and find the motivation to keep writing on this blog. My mum used to love my posts and always encouraged me to write a new one. I started this blog in 2014. When I started, I was quite active. But when the full time job started, the posts became infrequent. Mum would always urge me "write a new one!". Whenever I would finish a post she would be the first one to read it. Then she would share with all her friends and family. Even if nobody else was reading it I used to be happy I put a smile on her face. A doting mother, she always made me feel good about myself. She is the reason I have the confidence I have today. When the insecurities crept in, she told me to believe in myself. It was easy to do that when it came from her. All I had to do was look at her and see the solid belief she had in me. It was easier to believe then.

My mum passed away in September last year. It's been over 6 months now. Not a single day passes when I don't think of her. So many times I have caught myself thinking "oh I should tell mum about this" or "oh how does this work? Better ask mum". She was my answer to everything. My best friend. We would talk for hours and hours. Every single day I would call her on my way home from work. I would pour all my worries and frustrations on her and she would keenly listen to it all. Providing me with love and comfort after every interaction. 

Now she is gone and it is a process every single day. It'll become easier they say, for now I am just taking one day at a time.

 

Five every day things

I thought I'll keep this blog post nice and simple and share some of the easy ways you can have a lower footprint. They're just simple, small things but can make a whole world of a difference. It's just about getting in the habit.

1) Carry your own water bottle: This one is pretty easy, you just have to remember to do it! Plus it will save you precious money too. Why spend money on something you can get out of the tap?

2) Carry your own keep cup: I have spoken about this before. We simply cannot afford to throw a coffee cup 5 days a week in the bin. The waste this is generating is completely unnecessary. Plus look how much cuter keep cups look!

3) Carry your own shopping bags: I have always carried by own bags when going grocery shopping. Honestly I find them so much sturdier and easier to carry in comparison to flimsy plastic bags. I was doing this much before the single use plastic bag ban at Coles and Woolworths last year. It was a little amusing seeing everyone get used to this. There were quite a few grumpy people who thought the change was unnecessary and inconvenient. Nevertheless, the result was worth it. The ban saw an 80% drop in plastic use nationwide. That is commendable. 

(Courtesy Earth Bottles)

4)   Buy what you need: There is a running joke in my family about my fridge. People have often found a single tomato, a single capsicum and just a loaf of bread in my fridge many a times. Whilst it may be amusing, it is practical! I plan ahead for my week. I know exactly what I'll be cooking and when. So I buy the ingredients accordingly. I do this to minimise waste. I really don't see the point in buying a bag of carrots when I will only be needing one. I have to admit the supermarkets don't make buying small quantities of things easy. Bulk quantities are always cheaper. It boggles my mind why a 2L bottle of coke is $2.85 at Coles and a 600mL bottle $3.70? Consumers are forced to buy things in large quantities to get cheaper rates. The result of this, for single people like me is that a whole lot of it will simply go to waste. I never buy the 2L bottle of coke because the fizz disappears after the first day and then it goes so flat I just chuck the rest down the drain. Anyhow, resist the impulse to buy in bulk. Don't buy a bag of donuts which will expire in one day. You know you can't finish it (but if you can, I'm no one to stop you!).

5) Take public transport: I have to admit I am very lucky to live in a city like Sydney where there is an excellent, well connected public transport system. I don't have a car and very rarely take Ubers and have absolutely no problem getting around. If you live out in the country or are in a city with a poor public transport system, I feel for you. Investing in a good public transport system is imperative for every government to counteract the impacts of climate change. Think about this: a full bus can take 40 cars off the road. If you are lucky enough to have a choice, public transport should be the way to go. What's more? It gives you time to read a good book or get some work done while someone else does the driving for you. In my personal experience I have noticed that most millenials in Sydney prefer taking public transport whereas the older generation seems more comfortable taking their cars to their respective destinations. Some people like it the old fashioned way. While I understand that breaking a habit can be hard we have to understand the times are changing. The need of the hour is to do everything in our power to reduce the greenhouse gases we release in the air.

(My friend and I responsibly catching a train at Wynyard station, Sydney. 

Look how happy we are, public transport is fun!)

So there you have it. Those were my five every day things through which we can reduce our ecological footprint. There are many other ways and means to do better but it always helps to start with something small and easy so we don't overwhelm ourselves. Until next time!

The Time is Now

I feel cautiously optimistic. There is a growing realisation amongst people in Australia (the youth in particular) that the threat of climate change is no longer generations into the future. It's not a far away concept anymore where we don't see tangible consequences in the news every other day. 2018 was Australia's third hottest year on record. Rainfall levels were the lowest since 2005. Bushfires came early, coastal regions saw floods and erratic weather patterns were noticed all around the country. Drought conditions intensified and farmers in particular, suffered. Prof Will Steffen from Climate Council commented "We are concerned that there may be a point of no return a few decades down the track where we actually lose control of the climate system".

Australian Federal Elections are coming up next month. Nationwide polls are showing that the public attitude towards climate policies is shifting. According to a recent poll, only 13% Australians believe the government is doing a good job of addressing climate change. The drought in particular made many realise that climate change has the potential to destroy livelihoods for generations to come. The government's stance on climate action will play a pivotal role in the upcoming elections. 

When we talk about environmental issues in Australia, you cannot skip talking about the mega controversial coal mine project by Adani. The project aims to dig the biggest coal mine in Australian history. The catastrophic impacts of the project include, but are not limited to, releasing close to 5 billion tonnes of carbon pollution to the atmosphere, getting access to almost 300 billion litres of Queensland's groundwater (for free, might I add!) and severe coral bleaching in the great barrier reef. Just this week Environment Minister Melissa Price granted federal approval to the coal mine, strategically signing off right before the elections. The current government insists that the project has been subjected to a multitude of conditions which will restrict its environmental impacts. But that is hard to believe. What is disappointing is that the opposition has primarily taken a lukewarm approach as well, with no strong promises on how it will restrict the harmful environmental impacts of the project.

This is all happening at a time when it is clear that in order for the world to keep warming well below 2 degree celsius, we'll need to leave fossil fuels in the ground. Australia needs to take a strong, hard look at their policies if they are to meet the emissions reductions targets adopted in Paris in 2015.

Public support for large-scale energy transition is noticeable. A recent poll showed that a sizeable proportion of Australians believe that the government should focus on clean, renewable energy, even if it means that investment needs to be made to make the infrastructure more reliable.

We will have to wait and see how Australia truly stands on the subject of climate change and clean energy. The elections will reveal how serious the country is about electing a leader that will make tangible changes to improve our response to this climate emergency. Choose wisely, Australia. 

Escape to Mars

Mars. It has always been an enigma for mankind. Does life on Mars exist? How similar is it to Earth? Will humans ever get there? In recent times Mars has become synonymous with what people consider a safe haven, away from global warming stricken Earth. People casually joke "Oh well, I'm just going to move to Mars." This may not be too far from reality anymore as the race to Mars is real and talks about colonisation of Mars aren't all mumbo jumbo.

We have been told that Earth is heading towards its "tipping point". A term in climatology which means close to irreversible climate destabilisation. We have already raised global average temperatures by 1C pre-industrial levels. If this is raised by a further 1C, we will face a "hothouse" climate where Earth will continue warming even if all emissions cease. The Paris agreement on climate change made by 194 countries aimed to limit global warming 'well below' 2°C, or 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels if possible. However current efforts are unlikely to meet this target.

Reading reports such as these does make me pessimistic and I too wonder if we are fighting a losing battle and if Earth is hurling towards its inevitable demise. Grim huh?

This is probably one of the reasons why Elon Musk, Boeing and others decided it might be worth looking towards the skies for a way out. First humans on Mars are predicted to reach as early as 2020s. The idea is to start small,  build a base in Mars, learn how to survive and eventually build a self-sustaining community. It won't be easy. With freezing temperatures, radiation and thin atmosphere, humans can definitely not take a stroll in the Martian landscape without heavy spacesuits. But this too is being explored. A concept called "Terraforming of Mars" aims to alter the atmosphere of Mars through planetary engineering so it is more hospitable to humans. I have to admit, this concept does seem a bit far fetched to me and we definitely don't have the technology to do it in 2018.

But guess which place is hospitable to humans? Earth! I have nothing against space exploration. It is one of my key interests and it would be a grand day when we finally land on Mars. However I am hesitant to accept Mars as an escape route. We can make tremendous progress to reverse climate change here on Earth, through the resources we would invest in making a self-sustaining community on Mars. It almost sounds like we are giving up on this home, disregarding it as a sinking ship. Transferring the entire population of Earth to Mars is much, much more far fetched than making concrete efforts to reduce global warming here on Earth. Apart from everyday things that we do - reducing automobile use, eating greener etc. an important role we can play is to elect leaders who have an understanding of the delicate situation we are in and are willing to tackle climate change head on and not just cater to the whims and fancies of the fossil fuel industry and the likes.

So let's keep our eyes on the prize, shall we?

An Easy Switch - A Big Impact

I did not become a regular coffee drinker until recently. I mostly had a cappuccino at work if I felt like it, but for the most part takeaway coffee was usually only once in a while. However this has changed in the last year or so. There's a lovely cafe outside my gym and the smell of freshly roasted beans always lures me in after my workout. And then started my morning ritual of grabbing a coffee after gym and heading to work. For most Australians, having a coffee every day on their commute to work, going for meetings, etc. is extremely common. You'd be guaranteed to see busy commuters holding a cup of coffee from Starbucks or a local coffee shop while walking on George Street every morning.

Australians use 1 billion coffee cups each year. That is a LOT of cups. Is it sustainable? Most definitely not. Are there easy ways to reduce this waste? Most definitely yes.

Reusable coffee cups can be found quite easily in homeware stores around Australia. I prefer the brand KeepCup as their cups are quite high quality and come in various fun colours. But there are many other brands that you could easily choose from. Below are my cute KeepCups. I carry them while going to work, while going shopping (cause you never know when you might crave a coffee), they're pretty much in my handbag all the time.

I am not without fault. There are times when I forget. And that's okay. The important thing is to take the first step towards doing better. My good friend suggested that if you forget your reusable cup, you always have the choice of drinking your coffee inside the cafe in their ceramic cups - and that's always nice and relaxing.

The problem is that most people are aware of reusable cups but still don't think it's important enough to invest in them. There could be several factors responsible for this.

• Unawareness. People don't know the extent to which coffee cups have become a problem. Consider this -they are the second largest contributor to waste after plastic bottles. 

• Miscommunication. People think they are already doing right. Nearly all the takeaway coffee cups have a recyclable sign on it. But which part of the coffee cup is the sign referring to? If the sign is on the lid, it may just be referring to the lid, not the entire cup. Most coffee cups are not recyclable. This is due to the plastic lining inside the paper cup. Recycling rules vary from council to council - so you are better off not using them at all. 

• Just actually not caring. Had to include this cause there is a vast majority of companies and consumers in this category. Most cafes and hotels are well versed with the problem of waste. Despite this I find they are not making any effort whatsoever to reduce this. For instance, I stayed at a hotel in Melbourne earlier this year. When we ordered some coffees to our room, all of them came in takeaway cups. This made no sense to me as they could have easily used the ceramic cups when delivering coffees to rooms? Oh well. I left this feedback while checking out. I will have to stay there again to see if they've made any changes.

Okay so they're not all bad. I was heartened to see this movement pick up in Australia - https://www.responsiblecafes.org/. Basically participating cafes are offering discounts to consumers who bring their own reusable cups. How awesome is that! We need more measures like this to encourage behaviour change. You can look up if your cafe is participating through their map https://www.responsiblecafes.org/map-2/. You're instantly saving money AND doing your bit for the environment. Go you!

If it isn't renewable, it'll run out.

South Australia (SA) has been a shining beacon of light in Australia's clean, green future since more than a decade. In 2009 the state government committed to increase the renewable energy production target to 33% by 2020. This target was unsurprisingly reached earlier, by 2013/14. The target was then increased to 50% by 2025. This target was reached early as well, in 2016/17 - and they're not showing any signs of slowing down. With solar and wind capacity doubling in the next 5 years, they're heading towards 80% of renewable energy generation by 2021/22.

 

The state's stance on renewable energy has not been without its challenges. Last winter South Australia was hit by severe storms, causing thousands of homes to go without power. Criticisms came from far and wide. The opposition seized the opportunity with both hands. The blame was placed squarely on South Australia's renewables and their unreliability. There have been several articles since last year's events on what actually caused the mass blackout. The AEMO (Australian Energy Market Operator) itself has released contradictory statements on the issue.

Nevertheless the incident highlighted that something needed to change to increase the energy security for the state. Before the blackout, wind had been producing about 50% of SA's power needs with the remainder being imported from Victoria's interconnector. The state had the realisation that they had sufficient renewable capacity to source energy security within the borders. They did not need to rely on their neighbours.

Enter Elon Musk AKA real life Tony Stark. Musk offered SA Premier Jay Weatherill that his company will help resolve South Australia's energy security issue. They will build the world's largest lithium-ion battery in 100 days, else it will be free. The Government took him up on his offer. This move along with the Government's announcement on building a new gas fired plant were the first steps towards solving SA's energy security concerns.

Musk's battery is a 100 megawatt/129 MWh system. It has been designed to lower the intermittency issues and manage high demand during peak summer months. It has the potential to provide enough energy to power 30,000 homes for eight hours or 60,000 homes for four hours. The battery is by far the largest in the world, more than three times any existing storage facility. It is expected to stabilise SA's electricity grid and also lower energy prices. The battery was launched on 1 December this year. Its early completion demonstrated that sustainable solutions needn't be time consuming and difficult but could be fast and efficient.

What pleased me most about this entire ordeal was that even after the blackout, the voter sentiment in SA wasn't dampened. A poll taken soon after the storms showed that almost two thirds of the public still believed that renewable energy is the solution to Australia's energy needs. It sent out a strong message to the rest of Australia and even the world at large. Sure, venturing into new territories with renewables will come with its set of challenges and setbacks, as we saw last year. But the most important thing is to look at the bigger picture. Renewable energy is the only way forward. South Australia understands this and it is important that the rest of Australia understands this too.

In Musk's words "It’s a definition that if it’s not renewable, it’s going to run out at some point”.

Article Published in the Australian Water Journal

I wrote an article on the importance of Active Monitoring in smart metering a few months ago. I am pleased to share that the article was published by the Australian Water Association in their Water Journal as well as in their quarterly "Current" magazine.

 

Below is the article abstract. You can read the complete article here.

INTRODUCTION
Water security and demand management are prominent issues whilst discussing Australia’s future. Smart metering has emerged as an integral tool in this regard. It provides users with the ability to monitor their consumption patterns and avoid wastage. Significant time has been invested in exploring different types of smart metering technologies. However there has been little research on methods that will help employ these technologies to get measurable results. It is a common misconception that smart metering largely works on a ‘plug and play’ basis. This paper argues that the true benefit of smart metering lies in utilising the data obtained. Due to workload and other priorities it is hard for users to exercise diligence in doing so. This paper presents a possible solution by engaging an external party to provide that service. This is known as the Active Water Analysis, Risk and Efficiency (AWARE) service.

METHODOLOGY
Three studies were conducted to demonstrate the advantages of implementing the active monitoring service.
Study 1 compared the water usage, amount and number of leaks at 43 supermarket stores not covered by the AWARE service vs 123 stores with AWARE.
Study 2 compared the consumption patterns at a hospital with and without AWARE, six months apart.
Study 3 explored what was involved in ensuring the continuity of smart metering data acquisition at 90 schools.

RESULTS
At the end of Study 1, it was found that:

The average water use at the stores without AWARE was 170kL/month.store compared to 143kL/month.store at the stores with AWARE.
The average amount of leakage found at stores without AWARE was 64kL/month.store compared to 20kL/month.store at the stores with AWARE.
The number of leaks at stores without AWARE was six times higher than stores with AWARE.
The study found that the service was saving the client $2 for every $1 invested in the program.
Study 2 found that without AWARE a leak costed a hospital $8,436. Six months previously, the hospital was covered by the AWARE service. A leak on the same meter was found and resolved within one month resulting in savings of $7,000.
Study 3 explored issues encountered in maintaining 280 loggers at 90 schools. Cases such as vandalism, replacement of meters, among others are discussed highlighting costs and issues experienced to maintain the system.

CONCLUSION
The three studies demonstrate that a clear ROI from smart metering can only be obtained by actively using the data collected. Employing the AWARE service described herein ensures this. By taking complete responsibility for water management, it provides organisations time and resources to focus on more important issues. It helps customers avoid bill shocks and risks of property damage. The service helps justify budget allocation towards remote monitoring technologies and boosts the organisation’s sustainability profile. Allocating resources for the active management of data collected is essential to achieve the savings and risk reductions possible from smart metering.

World Water Day - Walk for Water

It's the peak of summer. I have a sip of water and my lips are immediately dry again. Water. We are running low. We still have to make our supply last a few more hours before I make my trip again. We try to ration it. We really do. But what can we do? We need it for everything. Cooking, washing, bathing, drinking. We are a family of five. My younger brother is only two. My older brother works in the fields. My mother has to take care of my younger brother.

I am twelve. My name is Sarita. Before my brother was born, I went to school. My mother made the daily trips to get water for us. I would jump up as I saw her approaching our house. She looked exhausted but pleased to see my face. I would tell her all that I learnt at school. She would listen with a smile on her face. I no longer go to school. I don't have much to tell my mother about my trips to fetch water. Now and then I meet the girls I went to school with. They have learnt so much more since I left. They feel sorry for me. I feel bad too. But this is my responsibility. Father said so.

It is time for me to go. I take my bucket and begin walking. It is a 5 km walk to my destination. The walk to the well isn't so bad. I feel it passes much quicker than my trip back. I walk faster. My lips are dry again. The sun is so strong on my back. The stones on the path dig into my feet. I don't even notice the cuts anymore. Far in the horizon, I see the well.

When I reach, I quickly lower my bucket, fill a little with water and bring it back up. I gulp it down and feel life returning back in me. I lower it again and bring it back up. My bucket is full to the brim. I put it gingerly on my head. Careful not to spill any of it. We will need every drop of the 20 litres. I prepare to head back.

"It's gotten worse." I think to myself. There is a sharp pain in my back. Mother had said it will go away. My body will get used to the load. I am not sure... I keep walking. The sun is stronger now. I feel sweat dripping down my face. Just a few more kilometers, I think to myself. I need to keep walking. I have no choice...

On average girls like Sarita have to travel 6 kms to get access to safe, clean water. Carrying heavy loads often causes them severe back and neck injuries. Easy access to clean water is not only important because this is a basic human right but also because it creates gender inequality. More often than not, women and girls are assigned the responsibility of travelling long distances and carrying heavy loads of water (sometimes up to 40 litres). This keeps them from attending schools or getting a job. This World Water Day, please join me for WaterAid's "Walk for Water" campaign to raise funds for girls like Sarita so they no longer have to carry this burden for their families. To join and/or donate please click here.

Image courtesy: Ankita Mehta

Omnipresent Palm Oil

Palm oil. The single most devastating environmental problem the world is facing today. Palm oil requires tropical conditions to grow. Nearly 85% of the world's palm oil supply comes from Indonesia and Malaysia. What were before luscious rain forests were slashed and burnt to make way for palm oil plantations. Every hour 300 football fields worth of forests are being compromised to make way for palm oil production.

The impact on the orangutan population in Indonesia has been catastrophic. Almost 90% of their habitat has been destroyed due to this activity. We are losing 6000 orangutans every year. The thought of it makes me very sad. They have been attacked by machetes and guns. The ones that survive often die of starvation.

Palm oil plantation workers are ordered to kill orangutans. They are treated like pests! These beautiful creatures have been said to share almost 97% of their genes with humans. Not just orangutans but the Sumatran Tiger, Clouded Leopard, Sumatran Rhino, among others are also chronically suffering due to this activity.

When I first learnt about palm oil I got really mad and went "Right, going to stop buying everything that contains palm oil!". Much to my dismay I found that palm oil is in literally EVERYTHING. It is extremely difficult to get around. Below are just some of the examples of products that contain palm oil.

What is the solution? The WWF has set up a sustainable palm oil certification system that sets environmental and social criteria that companies must abide by in order to get the certification. Although a move in the right direction, it has been criticized as more of a greenwashing tactic. In other words, the degree to which the companies are abiding by the criteria set is unclear. In some cases the auditors have even been accused of colluding with the plantation companies.

The other solution is to find an alternative to palm oil. A couple of years ago there were reports that scientists were working on developing an alternative on an industrial scale. If this happens, that would certainly be good news for all of us.

But in the meantime, if we want to stop the alarmingly fast rate at which palm oil production is causing environmental destruction, we must attempt to buy products that don't contain this substance. There are apps that can help you make better choices. I know it is hard. I myself struggle a lot with this (avoiding Nutella alone is an achievement for me). But, the change must come from the consumer's side. If the people boycott products containing palm oil, production and supply are sure to get affected - it's basic economics.

Can we do it? We have to give it a try. These guys in particular will be very grateful to you.

The Great African Crisis

I am thrilled to be in Africa currently, visiting my parents after three long years. Although I have been to this continent many times previously, its majestic wildlife, beaches and cheerful people never fail to delight me. I consider myself very lucky to have been on great African safaris many times before and am beyond ecstatic about visiting the Serengeti National Park end of this month. I think Africa is one of the few places left on Earth where people can feel truly connected to the beauty of nature and our fellow beings that roam the planet. 

This is why it saddens me that the very essence of this beautiful land is threatened by the inhumane and gruesome act of poaching. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, at the current rate, elephants, rhinos and other iconic African wildlife might be gone in our lifetime. This is simply unacceptable. 

Ivory, from elephant tusks and the rhino horn are sold in the black market for $1,000 and $50,000 per pound, respectively. To put things into perspective gold is sold for about $22,000 per pound. The significant money involved in the trade lures poachers into getting involved in such activities. A pair of tusks can be worth a few years' salaries in most African countries. This is the strength of the organised criminal gangs that are thriving on the money generated from this illegal trade. It is easy for them to bribe rangers and tempt local people into getting what they want. What makes them more dangerous is their use of high powered technology and weapons which enables them to kill many animals at once, without being detected. 

Apart from the endangerment of precious animal species, poaching poses a significant threat to Africa's tourism industry. In 2014, tourism contributed close to 5% of Kenya and Tanzania's GDP. Adding pressure to the problem is the growing evidence that suggests that wildlife poaching is funding criminal and terrorist organisations in several parts of Africa. Thus suggesting that the situation at hand must not just be treated as a conservation issue but also a security issue. 

There is no one solution to tackle this complex problem but several measures that need to be taken to bring the situation under control. The first would be to educate and create awareness among the consumers themselves. China alone accounts for about 70% of global ivory demand. The African governments will need to invest heavily in more sophisticated technology such as surveillance equipment, even drones have been proposed as a possible tool to assist in this task. All the countries that have been known to providing a market for these animal products need to take a tougher stand on the subject. In addition sustainable livelihoods need to be created in areas affected by wildlife crime.

Do we really want our children to grow up in a world where there are no elephants, no rhinos? Do we want them to learn about them in a museum and then explain to them that they were killed over something as trivial as trinkets and jewelry? Definitely not. 

Let's restore Africa's majestic wildlife and let our children enjoy it in all its glory! 

Creativity vs Drought by Clemenger BBDO, Vivid Ideas

It was a GREAT honour to be a part of the judging panel for Clemenger's "Creativity vs Drought" event, as part of Vivid Ideas. The event beautifully captures how creativity can tackle real problems we face today. Primary school children came forward with their ideas on how to combat drought in Australia. I was absolutely blown away by their creative thinking and enjoyed every minute of engaging with them.

Macro Problems Caused by Microbeads

Microbeads are minute pieces of plastic which can be found in toothpastes, body scrubs, face washes and many other products. They are added to products for exfoliation purposes. Would be fair to say that the advantages of softer skin far outweighs the ecological devastation they are causing. These tiny pieces of plastic are so tiny that our filtration systems can't pick them up and they go straight from our bathroom drains into the oceans, rivers and lakes.

Microbeads absorb all the toxins from the water around them and become one giant, tiny toxic nuisance. Then of course they are consumed by marine life and probably end up back on your dining table.

There is also no scientific evidence that these microbeads have any benefits at all. As far as exfoliation goes, products that contain natural ingredients such as almonds, apricots and others are much more effective and don't need to be used more than once a week. Products that contain plastic microbeads on the other hand can be used on a daily basis, which means consumers run out faster and buy the product more regularly.

If you see any of the following ingredients:polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polymethyl methacrylate in the products you use, you're unknowingly contributing to this environmental problem. If you're in Australia, this list contains all the products that you should probably boycott.

The personal care products industry loves this ingredient because it works out great for them. It is cheap, easily available and gives a "silky" texture to their products. Of course it's smooth and silky! It's plastic. Silky texture exfoliants aren't really exfoliating at all, it only makes them less effective so you use them daily and pay more money.

Nevertheless the good news is that leading supermarket chains such as Coles and Woolworths have committed to not using microbeads in their own products from 2017. The United States has already passed legislation to ban use of microbeads in cosmetics, which will come into effect this year.

Environmental Minister Greg Hunt has said that Australia is pushing for a voluntary phase-out by July, 2018.

Why are Bees Buzzing Off?

It's not very common for people to be extremely fond of bees (other than your cool beekeeper friends). Most people at the mention of bees would look wildly around them and check their hair in fear of getting stung. Well, we have a lower chance of getting stung now- which is not a good thing.

50% of the Midwestern native bee species has disappeared in the last century while in the last 2 decades 4 of the bumblebee species has declined by 96%. These alarming statistics have come to light in the last few years and also point towards a bleak future for the food security of humans.

Bees among other animals such as butterflies, beetles and birds help in the process of pollination. This process helps the transfer of pollen from one flower to the other, helping plants grow and reproduce. Bee pollination helps grow vegetables, nuts, fruits and wildflowers. This process is responsible for almost $200 billion worth agricultural revenue. Every third bite we take in a day comes from the pollination of bees or some other generous pollinator. Apples, oranges, blueberries and many of our favourite delicious fruits and vegetables can be credited to the hard work of the bees.

In the last few years the bees have fallen prey to what is called a "Colony Collapse Disorder" which refers to the mass disappearance of the worker, adult bee population from bee hives. Why is this happening? Scientists are still working on investigating this phenomenon however several factors have so far been presented as a possible explanation to the problem. Pesticides, in particular neonicotinoids seem to be playing a role. This class of pesticides is causing bees to have navigation problems as it attacks their nervous systems. Contact with the pesticide has resulted in mass deaths of bees.

The Varroa mite parasite is also playing a role since they attack the beehives itself. Additionally, the nutrition of the bees has been threatened due to habitat loss. Increasingly we are growing crops that cater more to our food preferences rather than flowers and other wild plants, which bees depend on to collect pollen for their hives.

Last but not the least, climate change has played a role since it has been found that flowers have started blooming earlier or later than expected in the last few years. After coming out of hibernation the pollinators have started finding that the flowers that provide nutrition for them to start the season, have already bloomed.

It will be a huge burden on the remaining pollinators to carry out the responsibilities of the bees, if they were to disappear. This occurrence is one of the many negative outcomes that our current chemical-intensive industrial agriculture practices have produced. Ecological farming has been proposed as one of the front-runners on providing a solution to the problem in question. It will promote habitat restoration and also ensure better nutrition from the food that we eat. The pesticide industry is a powerful player and there are a lot of political and economic factors that have led to the situation we currently face.

Organic farming is gaining popularity by the day however needs to reach a stage where it no longer caters to a niche market but a more robust consumer base which challenges and overturns the current toxic methods of food production.

The Predator

During my time at Monash, I met quite a few people outside of uni who asked me what I was studying. When I responded that I'm doing environmental management, some chuckled "Oh you're on your way to becoming a Greenie and spreading rumours about the world ending!". I chuckled back and wondered to myself when and how people's notions of climate change will change. You might be surprised how many people still think of climate change as a still from the movie 2012 (2 hours of my life I'll never get back).

One of the reasons people want to inherently dismiss climate change is due to their guilty bias. The primary discussion on climate change is how it has been brought about by the actions of humans. Naturally, we immediately defend ourselves and dismiss the idea altogether. Besides, people get bored when they hear about the long time-frames and "faraway" places associated with climate change. They don't see the urgency to take action now. Unfortunately this is the very reason why the situation is worsening.

Where's the proof that global warming is caused by humans and not just due to natural changes of the earth? The start of the growth of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere almost directly coincides with the start of the industrial revolution and increase in CO2 almost exactly correlates with the increase in the cumulative anthropogenic emissions.

Another staggering impact of human activities is the sixth mass extinction we might be entering, a recent study has found.

The earth has seen 5 mass extinctions before. The biggest of them all was the Permian mass extinction, which wiped out 96% of the planet's species. The last mass extinction is well known since it wiped out the dinosaurs in as few as three human lifetimes.

The current mass extinction might be the first of its kind, where the catastrophe is being brought upon by a single species alone, namely homo sapiens. We haven't even left the oceans alone. Our activities are destroying ecosystems in every corner of the planet. With extinction rates ten times higher the normal rate, we have really gotten our fellow living beings into trouble.

Even with all the progress we have made, we have failed. Poaching, whaling, furthering our own interests has led these beings looking at a bleak future.

Life is lonely for the the last male Northern White Rhino and many others. We can't do much about the past but we certainly can resolve that our presence does not directly correlate with the absence of others.

Circle of Life

It was a long drive from Hillston, a regional town in NSW to Sydney. I had my headphones on, with music blaring in my ears, till I caught notice of the massive truck in front of our car. It was packed with sheep from head to toe. I could not see an inch of space between them. Wondering how they were coping with the claustrophobic environment, I suddenly noticed one of them, at the edge of the truck. With its left leg stuck outside, it was desperately trying to free itself from the bars of the cage it was trapped in. It kept trying to shake its leg off to relieve itself of the pain the awkward position must be causing it. I watched horrified, almost disgusted that I was promoting this industry. I was party to animals being ruthlessly transported from one place to the other, to be slaughtered for someone's afternoon meal.  I never spared one thought of guilt at any point of my childhood, to re-think what my lifestyle choices must be doing to other living beings. However that one incident really shook me up. I looked it up and was relieved I wasn't the only one perturbed about the way these poor animals were being transported http://www.stopliveexports.org/

The way the animals are being transported, is not one of the only concerns. The conditions in which they are made to wait for their end is another.

Family and friends were a bit taken aback when I told them that I am trying to transition towards being a vegetarian. I have a reputation of being a hardcore foodie, barely ever filtering any kind of food that I would say no to. I am currently trying to be vegetarian for small blocks of time. I am certain many of my friends would laugh, but being vegetarian for a month was a big commitment for a foodie like me. I am currently on day 10 and I can definitely say it's not that bad!

Whenever I would bring up the morality issue of eating animals to my parents, they would bring up the age old argument of the "circle of life" (they totally stole that from Lion King). I was too hungry to even argue and would dig into my chicken without a bat of an eyelid. However as years passed by, I began questioning this argument. Sure, it would apply to lions in a jungle, as this is the only source of food they know. However, does the same apply to us?

Don't we have enough options to sustain a balanced diet, which would provide us with the strength and nutrition to live a long and healthy life? Yes we do. Which is why, I am going to put it in all my efforts to evolve towards a vegetarian lifestyle. If you are struggling with trying to make the switch, learn about how it will benefit you here: http://time.com/9463/7-reasons-vegetarians-live-longer/

Disclaimer: I did not write this blog to make all the non-vegetarians feel bad, but simply to discuss the issue :). You may not wish to change your diet but I would encourage you to support the causes of stopping animal cruelty in transportation, slaughter houses and others. I myself may not be able to radically change to a vegetarian diet, however the first step is the hardest. The best part is finding out that the grass is still greener on the other side, and that you still have plenty of "fun" options in a vegetarian meal. Think chocolate!