Butterflies and Moths

Will we still have butterflies in a few years?

Soon there should be butterflies and moths flying round the buddlea bushes in the garden. But they, and other insects, have plummeted in numbers over the last few decades. Whether this is due to changes in climate, where their food stuffs emerge earlier than they used to and are not available to them. Or because their food plants are removed or not replaced. Or because insecticides like nicotinamides are being used when they are linked with insect deaths? Why don’t we see sense and try and limit increases in Carbon dioxide? Reduce insecticide use and stop being so destructive.

The bible says man shall have dominion over the animals and plants of the world. I wish that read responsibility for their care? We are the guardians of the Earth. We outnumber everything else and our behaviour is appalling in so many things. We should learn to support the Earth more.

November tomatoes

On a tomato plant at the back of the yard. Eight tomatoes in November. We have eaten four but we are waiting for the rest to ripen. But it’s NOVEMBER! How on earth have they lasted this long.

Tomorrow the weather forecast is for temperatures of 19°C. That’s about 8°C above normal. The COP 27 Climate change conference just discussed trying to keep temperatures from going above 1.5°C higher than before the industrial revolution. Only a small rise, but enough to cause damage and disaster. So what? Flooding in costal cities across the world, dangerous increases in the ferocity of hurricanes, tornados and typhoons. Melting icecaps and glaciers. We must all try and do something about it.

Cool

It’s a bit chilly inside but I just put my dressing gown on. It keeps me snug. I am concerned that the price of gas and electricity is going up soon and that people won’t be able to heat their homes or food. So what can I do to save money? I’ve started sweeping up instead of vacuuming. I only do that once a week. I try not to use my car as much. I’ve only filled it up about six times this year. I also microwave some foods first to get them hot, then finish them off in the oven. For instance jacket potatoes. I’m wondering if there are other ways of saving power. Maybe I should use a hot water bottle instead of central heating? They say we should insulate our homes more. I did try and find out about that but we didn’t fit the criteria. I’m sure ideas will be thought of. Hopefully before climate change gets us!

Wet

I looked out this morning and the wind was whistling down the hill and rain was pouring down. But we had it lightly, about eighty miles and further north of here, rivers have flooded and a couple of footbridges have been swept away. Then later today there was news of someone possibly being swept away by a river.

When I think about the buildings collapsing into flooded rivers in South Asia recently it just underlines how much rain is being dropped on the land in some places. Because the atmosphere is getting hotter it can hold more water which consequently precipitates in greater amounts when it does rain. Flooding events that were once in a decade or a century are becoming more frequent. We have to act. I don’t know about political slogans like ‘levelling up’ but I think the heavy rains are ‘levelling down’ and washing the ground away from humanities feet!

The Trick, a review.

I’ve just watched a TV programme about climate change called the Trick. I don’t know if you can get the BBC but it was very informative and interesting. It was about the way anti climate change supporters hacked into scientific information and twisted it to try and discredit the scientists. These were scientists who had produced the hockey stick graph which shows that global temperatures were relatively steady on Earth until the industrial revolution and then started a steep increase.

The Trick is based in 2015. A scientist and his colleagues are accused of exaggeration of global warming, based on emails that were hacked and deliberately misinterpreted to throw doubt on the reality of climate change.

The programme showed how the scientist had to defend his reputation and the serious harm it did to his mental health and to his family while investigations were ongoing.

In the end his insight was accepted. He was exonerated and he was reinstated in his job. But it did mean that public opinion was skewed and that it cost at least ten years in fighting global warming because of the actions of vested interests.

An intelligent BBC film that is very worth watching. Don’t expect car chases, do expect strong acting and thought provoking ideas.

Forest fires.

The world watches as forests burn. In the Amazon, around the Mediterranean. In the North where the temperatures have soared.

We have been told by scientists and young adults alike, but many turn their backs to the truth. Climate crisis deniers are like ancient Nero, fiddling while Rome burned.

We must take action now. Reduce our carbon footprints. Even in small ways we can help. One degree less on the thermostat, walking instead of driving, house insulation and double glazing. Not much in scheme of things, better than nothing. Now we are used to Zoom why not meet on line? Ask the important questions. Do we need the car today, can you replace things when they wear out with second hand, pre loved items. There are so many people on the Earth, let’s be fair, share, and waste less.

Wet!

Rain rain go away come again another day, or go to where its needed on the West Coast of the United States and Canada. I don’t think I’ll be walking far this afternoon. Watching the tour de France on the TV… And it’s raining heavily there too.

Thunderstorms are forecast here later in the day.

It’s amazing how much heavier rain seems these days, I remember rain in the past being relatively light compared with this! We live on a hill but the road looked like a river a few minutes ago (OK that’s overdoing it, a small stream). Off to get a towel to dry off!

Tree

Trees are huge, yet delicate. Branches, stems, twigs. So much to see, so hard to draw. Mature trees are suffering damage all the time now. Gales blow down limbs, rain undermines their roots. Fungi and bacteria, so small, can lay a tree low. Sudden Oak Death, Ash die back, so many trees are disappearing from the country. Once it was Dutch Elm disease, now it could be any number of infections and lesions.

We are seeing the effect of the anthropocine, the effect of humans on the natural world. We need to change for the good of nature.

Let’s be Optimistic!

DSC_2390_optimized (4)

Oh let’s be Optimistic,

Let’s have a laugh

Let’s not see the real world

Let’s have a blast!

Who cares if the world burns,

If the Elephants are gone

Let’s all have a party,

I’ll bring my gun!

Now the world is hotter

I can leave my home.

Holiday so far away

Maybe go and roam.

The Antarctic is melting

Trees burnt down to the ground,

If we see a single leaf

Optimism and relief?

Think of the environment

Keep it safe, in peace.