It’s a word that I feel very strongly about but that I’m also very wary of using. I remember resenting certain teaching methods as a child and the sense of rebellion against being told what I should or shouldn’t be doing.

I feel responisble now. For myelf, my actions, the world around me, and above all for my wife-to-be and our sons.

It’s not easy to live by your own standards however. I appreciate that. Particularly now as I live on an island reliant on bottled water, and in a culture that is not yet conscious of the consequences of it’s choices (or lack thereof). The insfrastructure to fit my desired way of life is not readily available, and will require some large changes to deal with a shift from a negative impact on our environment, to a net-positive impact.

For me, it’s not enough to reduce the damage we do, we have to (and I believe that it’s possible) find the ways to improve the natural environments we rely on, with our everyday actions and choices, not just with one-off extraordinary projects.

I’ve just listened to a speech given by a twelve year old girl at the Rio climate change conference in 1992. A call out to all the adults in power to live by the lessons of good behaviour and the values they teach their children; stop fighting and take care of each other and the planet.

Inspiring and heart-breaking at the same time, as I wonder about what impact that child really had on the politicians sitting in the room that day.

I’m sure she touched a few hearts, but I wonder what she’s thinking and doing now. With two billion more people on the planet and CO2 levels still rising, did Rio accomplish anything anywhere near good enough?

Have we made enough progress in the right direction?

It seems not.

Have I done enough?

Definitely not.

 

I am trying to make the best choices I can, and I have a long way to go to before I live all of my ideals, but even then, I know it won’t be enough.

I can reduce, reuse, recyle, go vegan, and stop buying things I don’t need, but on my own I’m beginning to believe it really is futile. I will continue to walk in this direction however futile it may seem however, because I can’t imagine a life where I don’t consider the consequences of my actions. I haven’t worked out all of the best ways to do, or not to do things, and I haven’t yet made all of the changes I want to make, but I will keep trying to improve step by step.

The so-called ‘solutions’ are are out there, but vary with location and time and are as diverse as the planet I’m so interested in saving.

Individual lifestyle choices are hugely important, but ultimately, worth very little if the massive-scale systems that we are so used to, don’t change in accordance with them.

Moving away from throw-away consumerism, and production of single use items (of any description or material) and subjecting every object or process to a thorough examination of its environmental, humanitarian and social impacts, from its conception through production to it’s recyclablity, MUST become the norm, not the exception.

Large-scale social change from the roots right up to the crown seems to me to be the only way that we can restore our world to its pre-industrial natural glory, and allow climate and ecosytems to return to a state of self regulation and change not dictated by human greed, ignorance, apathy or helplessness.

It has been yet again too long since I last wrote. I will not present any excuses nor attempt to justify my absence. I was gone and now I’m back. This time I hope, for a lot longer than the last. 

The plan for this blog will evolve and change, as rather than waiting any longer and hoping to come up with that one great idea, I’m just going to start writing and see where it takes me. It will most likely be a jumble of thoughts, musings and opinions at the outset, for which I will again make no excuse. I am hoping that the process will help me to find my path through the mess and move forward. In making this journey public, I am not allowing myself to hide behind my pen at a desk in the corner, waiting for the opportune moment.

We can’t always see the whole path in front of us, but we must still take the first step.

So here I begin once more, by revisiting a question and previous blog entry. 

What is always on my mind? The subjects that get me excited or upset. The things I wish I did more of.

Planet, plants, sport, the great outdoors. The sea, diving, writing, photography. Plastic, conservation, protection of the wild and flourishing diversity. Love, peace, expression and progress. Time for family, time for friends, time for me. 

Freedom.

Financial freedom… to have sufficient income and capital to liberate my family and I from having to base our decisions on whether or not we can afford to have or do x, y or z. To me it also means the ability to cover life’s essentials (water, food, shelter and power) without needing to spend money… at least not in large quantities every month.

Geographical freedom… the ability to choose where we live without needing to consider the local employment opportunities. To live somewhere because it’s beautiful and feels like home. To travel whenever and wherever we feel like.

The freedom to be me. This is my choice and I am fortunate to have a wife and family who love me for who I am, it’s up to me to organise myself and make the most of this opportunity. 

Purpose. The feeling that I am doing something useful. Not just that I enjoy doing it, but that it is doing some good out there for someone or something. Helping somehow.

Self sufficiency. Living ‘off-grid’, and capable of thriving without the need for a central system to supply us with life’s basic necessities. 

Supreme health. Physical, emotional, nutritional, intellectual.

 

 

If you happen to come across this blog, and wonder what the hell I’m writing about or where I’m going with this, then I fully understand your confusion or lack of interest! I’m using this as a means to motivate myself to write more often, in the hope that it helps me to filter through my thoughts and work out how to move towards an even better life for me and my family (by this I mean a life even more in tune with our ideals and dreams).

I’m not advertising this blog yet, as for the moment, it is more of a personal journey than anything else, but publishing it live somehow gives it more importance, and makes me think about the process differently than I might otherwise.

It may be repetitive at times, and confusing at others, but I’ll stick at it until it makes sense… to me at least!

In the meantime, I won’t be offended if nobody wants to read it.

 

 

I love this parenthood thing. My son is wonderful, and everyday there’s something new to be amazed by. A new facial expression, a smile, a new noise, and it’s incredible how happy we can be about a full nappy!

I only wish I had more time to enjoy my family! For the better, the arrival of (not-so-little) Lennie has made me re-(re-re-re-re)-assess my priorities. If I was frustrated by working forty hours a week before, I’m now doubly frustrated by all that time that could be better spent enjoying life or doing something with greater meaning. I have a job that I’m only in for the money it pays, which is no great fortune, but pays the bills and allows us as a family to live comfortably. I’m a hotel receptionist working shifts. Now however, it’s no longer enough… Financially, it still pays the bills but it neither satisfies me, nor allows me the time and location freedom I want. Time to find a new plan, and fast.

 

I just saw a headline that went something like…. 9 poachers killed by a pride of lions, 3 more injured. It was followed by various ‘likes’, ‘shares’ and ‘comments’ in favour of the lions, implying that the poachers got what they deserved.

I am a vegetarian because I disagree with the way we treat the land and the animals, and I absolutely agree with the idea that we should be protecting wild places, and endangered animals. However, in congratulating the lions on their vengence, there is a judgement being passed on the poachers, which I suspect may be innacurate. Yes, their goal is to trap or kill wild animals for profit, but I don’t believe that all poachers are evil, nor that they hunt these animals for pleasure.

I think it’s important to try to understand the circumstances that drive them to do what they do. It must be horrific, dangerous and at times terrifying, to hunt something that may well be hunting you, whilst at the same time, worrying that the authorities are also out there trying to track you down. I imagine it’s a very desperate person who would choose poaching as a career. What on earth has driven them to this decision?

I haven’t yet read the article, but I suggest that if we’re really interested in stopping the poaching of wild animals, we need to answer the question, why do they do it? Because unless we do, we’ll keep chasing these people around the bush until all the lions have gone.

We need to remove the incentive, because if it’s not profitable and they don’t believe it will help them in anyway, they won’t risk their lives doing it.

 

The seven day writing challenge is over, and I haven’t written any masterpieces yet, but I have managed to make myself sit down for a few minutes everyday and at least write something.

I have a long way to go to sort through the ideas going around my head, but I’ve enjoyed (re)starting the process, and I’m inspired to continue. I see the direction and the pattern developing. I have the theme, I now need to take some more steps towards it.

Location independent income, meaningful work, quality family time (some space for me too) and a positive impact on other people and the planet.

…and of course, I’ll continue to write something every day.

A clean earth, air and water revolution. A transition to a community that is conscious of it’s causes and effects on people and planet, and that seeks to improve quality of life for all living things.

 

I think I’ve hinted at this or pretty well covered it in the previous posts, and in my previous attempt at setting up my own blog.

I want to leave the world a greener, healthier and more bio-diverse place, within my lifetime. I live on a warm, dry and dusty island where we ‘rely’ on bottled water, significant amounts of imported goods and food, and export or bury most of our rubbish. I want to see an end to the wasteful use of plastic, irresponsible use and production of throw-away items, 100% recycling and reuse, and the subsequent end of landfill, littering and pollution. I want to see large-scale conversion to non-fossil fuel energy and an increase in small-scale, bio-diverse, plant-based, organic agriculture, with water collection and re-use systems.

I want to hear more people talking about how to make the world a better place and not just about how to make the next rental payment, how to cut costs or make more money. I want to raise my kids in a healthy, stimulating, optimistic environment, where the experience is the goal, and caring for each other and the planet are the priorities. And I want to show people that it’s possible to do all this, whilst improving your life and enjoying yourself even more.