Arctic Circle Cartoon - Veganism and Plant-Based Replacements for Animal-Based Foods
It is interesting how there is a move towards a plant-based diet, rather than veganism, which is a very loaded term. It is certainly something I want to try out, though I tend towards a low meat diet when left to my own devices. I’m not keen on vegan substitutes that mimic animal-based products, as they can have a lot of additives and aren’t as healthy as simply eating more legumes and whole grains.
Arctic Circle Cartoons and the Environmental Cost of Cruise Ships in Lyttelton, New Zealand
Cruise ships are a filthy way to have a vacation. Lyttelton Harbour, near Christchurch New Zealand is expanding its port to accommodate bigger cruise liners which is bad news for residence and the water and air quality.
As I write this post, I can hear a pile driver banging steel posts into Lyttelton harbour. The port is building a new cruise ship terminal to accommodate bigger vessels. This may be good news for Lyttelton Port Company (majority owned by Christchurch City Council) but it isn't good news for the endangered dolphins disturbed by the noise and for the residents of Lyttelton, New Zealand.
Cruise ships are as polluting as half a million cars. And some.
Cruise ships burn a lot of fossil fuel and at the moment they are burning the toxic bottom-of-the-barrel heavy oil that cannot be used anywhere else because it is so polluting.
Should cruises be allowed to the Arctic?
When they are docked in port they have to have their engines running the whole time to keep the power on. An article on national radio revealed that when big cruise ships do this they release as much pollution as 700,000 diesel buses. And when the easterly is blowing we can smell that pollution at our house.
But the biggest the most detrimental effect of cruise ships happens when please leave port. Once they are 12 miles offshore (sometimes sooner if no one is watching and nobody ever is) the cruise ships can dump all their untreated sewage. This often isn't just organic matter unfortunately and is contributing to the plastic pollution at sea. What's more, a lot of cruise ships dump their rubbish at sea as well as there is rarely anyone out there to stop them from doing it. The few times this has been reported has been due to whistleblowers on board.
Is there such a thing as an environmentally friendly cruise ship?
I'm a big fan of travelling by surface rather than by air, but not when it is done with a disregard for the environmental consequences.
Arctic Circle Cartoon - How to Fix the Internet
I am enjoying my social media-free month. My other half tells me anything I need to know from Facebook. I am able to focus on the more important things and I definitely feel less stressed. I have a feeling I would have even more time to do meaningful work if I switched off the Internet. But then I wouldn't be able to send my work, so I guess there are limits to how much you can go offline.
Arctic Circle Cartoon - Selfies
The art gallery shown in the first panel is based on the lovely Christchurch Art Gallery, near where I live in New Zealand.
