A famous writer, a community worker who brings people together, a successful animal activist, a screenwriter… I look up from my notebook. Outside, the wind plays with the long strands of hair of the birch that stands in front of the window. Inside, people are reading quietly among endless rows of books. This is my …
Message in a bottle
Our Plastic Challenge is over. For seven weeks we have forced ourselves to find alternatives for plastic packaging. Now that we are used to these changes, we keep avoiding plastic as much as possible. But individual choices are not enough — we need major social changes. Everything flows to the sea If I have learned anything …
Don’t push it
I cycle through Aberdeen, a bag of groceries swinging from my steering wheel. I have been to the Lidl where you can buy, for example, cauliflower and zucchini without packaging. Shopping vegan and plastic-free by bike, it doesn’t get much more environmentally friendly. But the warm, fuzzy feeling stays away. Instead, I feel anger bubbling up. …
Doughnut, anyone?
A full moon rises over a snowy Aberdeen. The merciful, white blanket covers not only streets and gardens, but also the litter at the side of the road. Last week I found a lot of plastic while running (it turns out this new sport is called plogging), but I can’t motivate myself to go out …
Wanted: Dump site
After a week, we are slowly getting used to plastic-free shopping. It does take more effort, but so far we haven’t run into any problems. The challenge also gave us the push we needed to get a vegetable box delivered from a local organic farm. They work with plastic, but give the option to order …
Food without plastic
Freddy has joined a group of colleagues who will try not to use single-use plastic during Lent. This Plastic Challenge started on Wednesday. So, in the coming weeks we will not buy anything that is packaged in plastic. Because plastic is mainly a problem when it ends up on the street, I also intend to …