#biggest polluter on the planet <3

[troonwolf]

also hate to break this to the Americans but it’s actually really pathetic and dumb when y’all call other countries “colonisers” when those countries haven’t colonised anything in 100+ yrs but the country actively colonising other nations right now is you guys. you just look stupid :|

[reasonsforhope]

hey, how do you cope with people saying we only have a small amount of time left to stop the worst effects of climate change? no matter how hopeful and ok i am, that always sends me back into a spiral :(

A few different ways

1. The biggest one is that I do math. Because renewable energy is growing exponentially

Up until basically 2021 to now, all of the climate change models were based on the idea that our ability to handle climate change will grow linearly. But that's wrong: it's growing exponentially, most of all in the green energy sector. And we're finally starting to see proof of this - and that it's going to keep going.

And many types of climate change mitigation serve as multipliers for other types. Like building a big combo in a video game.

Change has been rapidly accelerating and I genuinely believe that it's going to happen much faster than anyone is currently predicting

2. A lot of the most exciting and groundbreaking things happening around climate change are happening in developing nations, so they're not on most people's radars.

But they will expand, as developing nations are widely undergoing a massive boom in infrastructure, development, and quality of life - and as they collaborate and communicate with each other in doing so

3. Every country, state, city, province, town, nonprofit, community, and movement is basically its own test case

We're going to figure out the best ways to handle things in a remarkably quick amount of time, because everyone is trying out solutions at once. Instead of doing 100 different studies on solutions in order, we get try out 100 (more like 10,000) different versions of different solutions simultaneously, and then figure out which ones worked best and why. The spread of solutions becomes infinitely faster, especially as more and more of the world gets access to the internet and other key infrastructure

4. There's a very real chance that many of the impacts of climate change will be reversible

Yeah, you read that right.

Will it take a while? Yes. But we're mostly talking a few decades to a few centuries, which is NOTHING in geological history terms.

We have more proof than ever of just how resilient nature is. Major rivers are being restored from dried up or dead to thriving ecosystems in under a decade. Life bounces back so fast when we let it.

I know there's a lot of skepticism about carbon capture and carbon removal. That's reasonable, some of those projects are definitely bs (mostly the ones run by gas companies, involving carbon credits, and/or trying to pump CO2 thousands of feet underground)

But there's very real potential for carbon removal through restoring ecosystems and regenerative agriculture

The research into carbon removal has also just exploded in the past three years, so there are almost certainly more and better technologies to come

There's also some promising developments in industrial carbon removal, especially this process of harvesting atmospheric CO2 and other air pollution to make baking soda and other industrially useful chemicals

As we take carbon out of the air in larger amounts, less heat will be trapped in the atmosphere

If less heat is trapped in the atmosphere, then the planet will start to cool down

If the planet starts to cool down, a lot of things will stabilize again. And they'll probably start to stabilize pretty quickly

[holdmybvbeer]

I don't think you guys realise how fucking awful and evil Bayer is (as in the pharmaceutical enterprise Bayer including all of their subcompanies).

Only takes 3 minutes of research to read about them (other than producing countless of harmful drugs just like any other big pharma company) knowingly supplying medication that's been contaminated with hiv, importing resources from war zones, financing unethical medical trials, hindering developing countries from producing vital medicines, producing very dangerous plant toxins, helping to keep up the war in kongo, exploiting children, building an unsafe 67km long carbon monoxide pipeline that could very much endanger the lives of thousands of people with that toxic scentless gas, or just literally being one of the biggest toxic air polluters on this entire planet

So no maybe I don't want a club owned by them to win the league

[loominggaia]

What are the biggest conflicts right now?

I'm assuming you mean conflicts within Looming Gaia at large?

There are actually a lot of major conflicts going on at this point in the main story. I'll try to keep this as brief as possible:

Nymph Pact: As civilizations grow, their impact on the natural environment increases, and this causes harm to Gaia. Some kingdoms realized that endless growth is not sustainable and signed a document to restrict technological advancement, called the Nymph Pact. But other kingdoms refused to sign this document and continue their growth unchecked, damaging the planet and enraging nymphs. This has led to countless battles, large and small, between nymphs and peoples all across the world.

Evangeline-Folkvar war: Evangeline decided to enslave fae and gaians. Refugees sought freedom in the northeast and founded Folkvar Kingdom. The two kingdoms now struggle for dominance over the land of Noalen.

Sovereign's Terrian genocides: Sovereign asked some of the Great Kingdoms to stop polluting the oceans because it was causing harm to Aquarian peoples. The kingdoms politely told him to go fuck himself. Sovereign retaliated by slaughtering and enslaving millions of kingdom Terrians, and refuses to stop until the pollution stops. Rather than addressing the pollution, the kingdom decided to wage war on Sovereign and the Aquarian Alliance.

Yerim-Mor vs. Cult of the Crescent: The Cult of the Crescent currently has Yerim-Mor's government bent over a barrel. The Morite people are not happy about this, to say the least, and demand that their government fight back. The Morite government is in no position to fight back and none of the other kingdoms have the balls to step in and help, so the poor Morites are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Zareen Empire's resource shortages: Zareen Empire has ravaged the land for thousands of years, greedily sucking up resources and leaving garbage in its place with no consideration for the future. Now there is too much garbage, the soil is unfit for farming, and crucial resources like iron, food, and oil are running out on the homefront. Now, Zareen Empire is left with two choices: they can change their hyper-consumerist, pollutive way of life, or they can start reaching into other lands for more resources. They have chosen the latter, meaning things are getting tense between them and other kingdoms. No one wants Zareen drilling, logging, and manufacturing on their land, because they've seen how everything this empire touches literally turns to garbage...so, Zareen might have to start some wars to get what they want, or else the Zareenite people might have to *gasp!* use paper bags instead of plastic! The Zareenites will not stand for such barbarism!

Matuzu-Etios war: This isn't so much a "war" as it is a "stalemate". Etios took over 1/3 of Matuzu's land and then allied with Folkvar, making them too powerful for Matuzu to mess with currently. The time for Matuzu to take back their land was ages ago, and they missed the window because they were too busy being dicks and harassing Yerim-Mor. Now it looks like they have permanently lost 1/3 of their territory to Etios, and they're stuck hemorrhaging resources defending the 2/3 they have left. This situation can only escalate as Matuzu keeps sticking its hands in everyone else's pies.

Rogue killer robots: A long time ago, Zareen Empire manufactured powerful robot soldiers to fight their wars. Long story short, this backfired horribly, and the robots were all recalled. However, many of the robots are still out there, wreaking havoc in various corners of Gaia, for their AI has gone rogue and all they care about is obtaining more petrol for their fuel tanks. They will destroy anything or kill anyone to keep themselves "alive". They are an especially bad problem in northern Wokina, where peoples depend on the scant supply of petrol to survive in the Bormek Ruins. These peoples must fight the rogue robots over petrol on the daily.

I know there are many more conflicts, but these are the ones I can think of at the moment!

*

Questions/Comments?

Lore Masterpost

Read the Series

[blorbocedes]

please give tips on how to grow thicker skin as a(n alleged) villain fucker... saw something the other day going "so-and-so and their [insert insulting string of words i've genuinely blocked out of my head ha ha] fans are [redacted]" and i've just been going back to it in my head like damn.... i genuinely just found this man hot.... i'm sorry if that has any bearing on my moral leanings.... this is the interwebs and even worse the Hell Site. please help i've seen you're one of the more steadfast people here on Liking Villain(ised) Characters (because lbr those are all characters of the drivers/etc framed by media)

first of all don't go on f1 twitter. the hivemind is amplified and everyone follows and repeats and regurgitates popular opinion and therefore if you like X it means you're evil and reflects your morality as a person 😶

curate your spaceeee. you don't need to participate in wider fandom if they make you feel bad or just aren't to your interests. fandom can be you and 3 friends. i do understand the pressure to fit in esp in a fandom as large as f1, but always put your own peace of mind first. unfollow/mute/filter tag/block LIBERALLY. hate your blorbo? blocked. annoying opinion blocked. fandom is supposed to be Fun, if it sucks hit da bricks!!!

i promise there's someone for everyone. maybe ted kravitz' dad bod gets you 😮‍💨😮‍💨 pfft there's like 5 of those on my dash at any given moment. my wife is universally cancelled and yet we're 6 whole nicologists strong here ✊✊

don't try to argue or fight even to defend your blorbo, don't look up what others are saying about him cause it'll inevitably make you feel bad. it's digital self harm ☹️ instead remember most people are neutral ab any given driver/f1 person and it's only the loudest people you're seeing. instead be unapologetic about enjoying your blorbo, don't be embarazzed. soooo many people have told me they hated max/nico but came to enjoy/be neutral about them bc I'm so enthusiastic about it. how can we lose when we're so sincere!!!

don't feel bad about being sensitive. I've been told I have the skin of a rhino, and I feel bad all the time!!! but ultimately, fandom is a space to have fun and you get to choose what you're expending your energy over. important to also accept that it's a sport, haterism is integral! I'M a hater! someone's gonna hate your blorbo/look down at you for it, but you can't worry about what an imaginary person is thinking about you.

and finally, this is a sport for money laundering and sponsoring shady ass corporations and greenwashing the biggest polluters on the planet (hi shell...), there is NO morally perfect person, and even the best of them are self admitted hypocrites and tax evaders. we're ALL rooting for the villains here.

[kp777]

By Julia Conley

Common Dreams

April 19, 2024

"Whether the treaty includes plastic production cuts is not just a policy debate," said one expert. "It's a matter of survival."

As worldwide government officials, civil society groups, and activists prepare to head to Ottawa, Canada for the fourth session of Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, climate advocates urged attendees to keep in mind the new findings of scientists who showed Thursday that plastic production—not waste—is the main driver of the synthetic substances' planet-heating emissions.

The federally funded Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California released a paper showing that the greenhouse gas emissions of the plastics industry are equivalent to those of about 600 coal-fired power plants and are four times higher than those of the airline sector.

Lobbyists for the plastics industry, along with countries that are home to the world's biggest fossil fuel polluters, have pushed for a plastics treaty that centers waste management and a "circular economy" in which waste plastic is used indefinitely to produce new synthetic products.

But the Lawrence Berkeley scientists found that 75% of the greenhouse gas emissions caused by plastics are released before the plastic compounds are even created by the polymerization process.

"Plastics' impact on the climate starts with extraction," said the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) in a policy brief on the lab's findings. "To fully capture, measure, evaluate, and address the impacts of plastic pollution, assessment, and regulatory controls must consider the complete lifecycle, beginning with extraction."

According to Lawrence Berkeley's research, if plastic production remains at its current level, it could burn through roughly one-fifth the planet's remaining carbon budget, pushing the Earth closer to planetary heating that exceeds 1.5°C.

"To avoid breaching the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris [climate] agreement," said GAIA, "primary plastic production must decrease by at least 12% to 17% per year, starting in 2024."

To achieve that goal, said the Center for Financial Accountability on Thursday, fossil fuel-producing countries must stop treating the Global Plastics Treaty "as a waste management treaty."

"While global leaders are trying to negotiate a solution to the plastic crisis, the petrochemical industry is investing billions of dollars in making the problem rapidly worse," said GAIA science and policy director Neil Tangri, a senior fellow at University of California, Berkeley. "We need a global agreement to stop this cancerous growth, bring down plastic production, and usher in a world with less plastic and less pollution."

At the third session of the the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-3) last year, 143 plastics industry lobbyists registered to attend, prompting advocates to call for their exclusion from future summits.

On Sunday, ahead of the meetings set to take place from April 23-29, the Break Free From Plastic movement is planning to march through Ottawa, to demand "strong conflict of interest policies that protect the treaty negotiations and its implementation from the vested interests of industries that are profiting" from the growing plastic pollution crisis.

The campaigners will also demand a negotiation process that respects the rights of Indigenous people, a treaty that supports "non-toxic reuse systems" and rejects a "circular economy" model, and limiting and reducing plastic production a "non-negotiable requirement to end plastic pollution."

Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, a co-author of GAIA's policy brief and a research fellow at Siliman University in the Philippines, said the climate impacts that have already hit his country illustrate the need for a strong Global Plastics Treaty.

"The Philippines is on the frontlines of both climate change and plastic pollution," said Emmanuel. "Heatwaves, powerful typhoons, and flooding are getting worse, and the petrochemical industry has displaced our traditional systems with mountains of plastic that poison our communities."

"Whether the treaty includes plastic production cuts is not just a policy debate," he added. "It's a matter of survival."

[arguablysustainable]

Why Fast Fashion Can be Harmful

Back before pre-covid, there was a time where I was carelessly throwing money away on fast fashion clothing. I had thought to myself, "I got to have the hottest and most trendiest style!". When I used to shop on websites like Shein, I had spend over $100 dollars of clothing, which looking back at in now, I never needed those clothes. However, if we keep shopping from fast fashion brands like Shein, Forever 21, Fashion Nova, and etc. If we want to undo harmful impacts inflicted on our environment by the biggest fashion brands such as violating unethical labor standards or releasing harmful wastewater onto our soil, then we must avoid these brands since they are doing more harm than good. Here are ways such big brands are committing such unethical standards.

1. Exploitation of Workers

Every time someone asks the question, "what are the negative impacts of fast fashion", the first thing that comes to mind is the pollution of the environment which is the biggest problem. However, many tend to forget the exploitation of workers used in other countries to manufacture our clothes here in the U.S. In countries such as Bangladesh or China, workers are often forced to work in such dangerous conditions with low wages and little to no human rights. According to ethical fashion ranking website Good On You, these works face anti-union labor policies which makes it even more harder for them to demand adequate wages, breaks, and safer work environments.

2. They pollute the environment

Many may not know that the fast fashion industry is the third biggest environmental polluter next to agriculture and food production taking up the number #2 spot, along with fuel and energy industry being #1. These days we are seeing more open discussions about how toxic this industry can be on our environment. Since fast fashion relies on using the most cheapest textiles to produce their clothing as one of their ways to reduce production cost, the majority of these textiles utilize cheap and toxic dyes. When fabrics are washed, toxic dyes can be found in waste water which then affects our ocean, fish population. This issue can also lead to a decrease in human recreation due to the pathogens in wastewater that can lead to potential diseases as well. Another issue is the use of polyester. Polyester is the most popular fabric used in clothing since it is cheap for manufacturers to produce. Since it is derived from fossil fuels, it is not biodegradable and can stay in the landfill for up to hundreds of years. To put it this way, this means that your shirt made out of polyester may not decompose for 50 years. Even natural fibers such as cotton may pose a problem for our environment. Conventional cotton requires tons of water and pesticides to grow in other nations such as India and China. This can lead to a drought in local communities as well.

3. Copying designs from other brands

Brands such as Forever 21, Zara, Shein, and many others have faced accusations of copying designs from other brands. In the past, Forever 21 has faced lawsuits from such brands like Diane Von Furstenberg, Adidas, and Puma for copying their designs. In 2016, Zara had also gotten some negative feedback from Tuesday Bassen, an independent designer. Lastly, SHEIN has faced backlash numerous times for copying designs from smaller indie brands. Small brand, Elexiay has claimed that they has copied her crochet sweater design. After this issue gained attention on Twitter, SHEIN decided to remove the product from their website. This copyright laws does little to protect small brands such as Elexiay. Many indie designers have worked hard to create their own unique products which is disheartening for them to experience this ongoing issue. This issue can make it hard for them to create a name for themselves and can lead to roadblocks when it comes to building their brand from the ground up.

There is a lot that you can do to help the planet and avoid buying from places that relies on factories that exploit workers. There are many alternatives that you can buy from that does not rely on the use of harmful chemicals, textiles, and is transparent with their consumers such as Girlfriend Collective. Girlfriend Collective has a high transparency rating, manufactures their clothes using recycled polyester, uses non-toxic dyes, and are certified for fair labour. As consumers, we must shift our shopping habits and stop supporting fast fashion brands who emit so much carbon emissions and have no care for the treatment of garment workers in other countries. If we don't stop shopping from fast fashion, we will continue to see enormous amounts of problems such as our oceans being polluted with microfibers and our dumps receiving tons of textiles that are non-biodegradable.

Want to learn more about ethical companies and how they are doing their part to keep our earth clean? Tune in next week as we discuss fashion brands that are practicing sustainability in the industry!

Written by Abigail Reyes

[mypoisonedvine]

Billy knight 🔭

billy would LOVE stargazing, telescope or not! taking you up to the biggest hill with the least light pollution so you can lay together and try to count the stars <3 and he shows you all the constellations and planets!

[hellofromuranus]

Residences account for about 20% of carbon pollution in the United States. We need to reduce residential pollution to stop climate change.

Energy use is the biggest contributor to carbon pollution. For a typical American household, heating/cooling and vehicle fuel make up 2/3 of your carbon footprint.

A typical home wastes up to 40% of the energy it consumes through lighting, heating and cooling unused rooms, poor insulation, or wasteful habits.

Almost anything you do to reduce your home carbon pollution will save you money. You can save up to half your utility bills.

Healthier diets make for healthier people and a healthier planet. If every American cut their meat consumption by half, we could cut agricultural carbon pollution.

You can multiply your impact by setting a good example and talking about why you are making different choices. Your neighbors are concerned about climate change too.

Sharing your commitment can help others save and live healthier lives. Engage with others to help them save money, save energy, and live healthier lives too.

[tipsorknow11]

Environmental News in 2020: The Impacts of the Australian Bushfires

In 2020, one of the biggest environmental news stories was the devastating bushfires that ravaged Australia. The fires, which began in September 2019 and continued until early 2020, burned over 18 million hectares of land, destroyed thousands of homes, and claimed the lives of at least 34 people and an estimated 3 billion animals. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the impacts of the Australian bushfires and what they mean for the environment.

The Impact on the Environment

The bushfires had a profound impact on Australia's environment. Some of the key impacts include:

Loss of biodiversity: The fires destroyed vast areas of bushland and forests, leading to the loss of habitat for many native species. It is estimated that over 1 billion animals were killed or displaced by the fires, including species such as koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies.

Air pollution: The smoke from the fires caused hazardous air quality levels in many parts of Australia, leading to respiratory problems and other health issues.

Carbon emissions: The bushfires released an estimated 830 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, making them one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia's history.

Water pollution: The fires also had a significant impact on water quality, as ash and debris from the fires washed into rivers and lakes, contaminating the water.

The Response to the Bushfires

The response to the bushfires was a massive effort by emergency services, volunteers, and the Australian government. Some of the key responses include:

Firefighting efforts: Over 3,500 firefighters were deployed to fight the fires, along with aircraft and other resources.

Evacuations: Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes to escape the fires.

Aid and support: The Australian government provided financial assistance to affected communities, and donations poured in from around the world to support firefighting efforts and help affected communities.

Recovery efforts: Following the fires, a massive effort was launched to help affected communities recover and rebuild. This included planting trees and restoring habitats for native wildlife.

The Australian bushfires of 2020 were a stark reminder of the impact that climate change is having on our planet. The fires had a devastating impact on Australia's environment, including its biodiversity and air and water quality. While the response to the fires was impressive, they serve as a reminder that we need to take urgent action to address climate change and protect the planet for future generations.

[getbettermedia]

Directed by the same directors as “What the Health”, the documentary was funded through crowdfunding ($117,092 dollars were raised by 1449 contributors) and explores the social and environmental impact of animal agriculture.

Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn investigated environmental organizations such as Greenpeace or Oceana. All through the movie, we understand how deep and urgent the problem is. We understand how everything is connected to our everyday habits and related to our individual choices: when we choose to buy chicken, eggs or steaks, we finance the intensive farming industry, which causes climate change, sea-level rising and overall alarming pollution.

The primary cause of loss of species on earth Is due to overgrazing and overfishing. 91% of the Amazon rainforest, which is being cut down at the rate of an acre per second, was destroyed in order to graze animals and to grow genetically engineered soybeans and corn, to feed cows, hogs, chicken and fish. Why are the large Environmental Organizations not talking about the fact that the primary source of deforestation is animal agriculture ?

Most experts interviewed by the director say it is because they don’t want to piss off the tyrannic agricultural industry. We all know that our general “human activity” is killing the planet, but nobody specifies which activity is mainly killing the plane,t which is farming, killing and distributing intensive farmed meat through the world. So we are told to turn down the heat, ride a bike to work and recycle if we want to help the planet. Of course, it will help a little bit, but it is ridiculously nothing compared to the waste generated by animal agriculture. The UN reported that 3 quarters of the world fish reserves are overexploited due to overfishing. If we continue down that path, scientists expect fishless oceans by the year 2048. Over 28 billion animals are pulled out of the ocean every year, which doesn’t give enough time for the species to multiply. The way fishing is done today in order to feed the demand for 90 million tons of fish every year is merely through massive fishnets. “For a pound of fish caught, 5 pounds of untargeted species trapped, such as dolphins, whales, sea turtles and sharks, it is called bi-kill”, kind of “by accident”. Between 40 and 50 million sharks are killed each year by bi-kill. But when you kill the large species, you destabilize the whole food chain: if there are no large species left (sharks, whales, dolphins, which multiply at small rate), nobody eats the middle species (regular-sized fish such as tuna), who multiply and will eat off the smaller species (minerals, reefs..). The natural marine system is organized in order to be self-sustainable, but is being destroyed by fishing.

I could go on and on, but I invite you to watch the documentary, which is still available on Netflix, to make up your own mind.

trailer : COWSPIRACY - Official Trailer - HD - YouTube

source : ‘It’s not the cow, it’s the how’: why a long-time vegetarian became beef’s biggest champion | Food | The Guardian

[atlantisknits]

3 - Knits and Charity Shop Fits

Hi hello

I’ve never really been one to buy much when it comes to clothing, I like to get wear out of the things I own, I take my time with my choices wanting to know if a piece of clothing will last me and if I genuinely really like it and whether it will fit in with other items already in my wardrobe. Since I started knitting this seemed to be emphasised as I began to realise not only the price of yarns and needles but also the amount of time and effort that goes into creating a piece. From a young age I’ve been aware of the impacts of fast fashion, but I’ve noticed over the past couple of years this seems to be getting more coverage and more awareness raised as the climate crisis only worsens. 

The fashion industry is one of the biggest contributors to the world’s pollution and after having also worked in what was labelled as ‘accessible luxury fashion’ and seeing the vast amounts of plastic used during my time doing so I began to feel like a hypocrite. How could I say I care about the impact the industry was having on the planet when each day I was peeling off thin protective layers of plastic from individual items of clothing? Every single piece that came into store would be covered in this plastic and multiple bags would be filled and taken to the bins with each delivery. 

Knitting in itself is a slow process and before even beginning a project there is the thought process that goes behind what that project is even going to be. For me that mostly just involves choosing a pattern from a vast range and then deciding on the yarn for that pattern. For designers this is an even bigger process- the designing of the garment, the amount of maths that goes into this, the actual knitting, making any changes to the design, writing out the pattern, having the pattern test-knitted, so much hard work, time and effort to finally be able to release a pattern. I admire anyone who has the skill to do this. 

When I first started learning how to knit I decided that I would make any item I wanted to buy and if I couldn’t knit it I would consider my purchase if I were to buy new, however as someone who was already an avid charity shop fan I knew I would be able to find some gems as and when. 

This blazer was one of those gems and I love being able to combine charity shop finds with my knits and being able to really tailor my style this way from the thought that goes into the things I want to create to the thought that goes into my consumer habits. 

For a couple of years I felt like I was having a bit of an identity crisis (in more ways than one lol), but taking a step back and considering my choices has actually focused that and I feel as though I’ve begun to reach a point where I’m more aware of myself and the things I like instead of just falling into whatever is on trend in a certain moment. 

I enjoy fashion, looking at trends and the creativity that goes into the design process, however I can’t help but hurt when I see the industry’s impact on the planet. I hope that by slowing down and making small changes I can contribute less to this. 

Pattern featured: the Marseille Sweater by Petite Knit

Yarn used: Sandes Garn Double Sunday

Original Images posted to my Instagram account: atlantis.knits

[karltface]

Oddball mystery box!

Back in the day, we didn't have no interwebs. If we wanted to meet fellow geeks, we'd do it through fan clubs, and ads in nerdy magazines. Trade and sale by mail was the order of the day. It was a dark time, but there was something about bartering toys back and forth that.... it just hits different. And I've managed to strike up just such a relationship with an eBay seller!

We exchange boxes of crap a few times a year, collaborating to an extent, but also throwing in lots of surprises. Now that I'm covering mystery boxes on the regular, I think it's high time I started including these.

We'll start with Slithe. I'm not a huge fan of Thundercats, but this guy is still a favorite because he captures the Rankin-Bass animation style remarkably well. He's just got that look about him, y'know? Nobody drew wretched lizardfolk quite like Rankin-Bass. And the sculpting here outshines the rest of the line besides. Just a stellar piece all around, even without his axe.

Speaking of accessories- well, I'll get to that in a second. Here's Dr. Killemoff and a Radiation Ranger, from Toxic Crusaders. Rambo and Robocop may have been oddly adult properties to base cartoons on, but the Toxic Avenger? That's some next level shit. It was one of those environmentally conscious 'toons too, which is doubly hilarious in context.

Anyway, Doc here is an alien cockroach monster out to pollute the planet beyond repair, like we needed any help doing that. He's short his backpack and belt, but as a base figure, he's not a bad specimen. The Ranger (evil mooks) is damn near pristine.

I bring up accessories because this box nearly finishes out my Bonehead. Basically the leader of the punks that accidentally created Toxie in the first place, the 'toon has him subsequently crashing his bike into a barrel of acid rain, withering into a near-skeletal horror with a powerful grudge. Mine had only the gas mask, and now he's a knife away from completion. Yay!

Here's a couple of fun little guys: an evil soldier from Air Raiders, and the snake dude from Dino Riders.

Air Raiders is a strange little property, revolving around air-powered missiles and a sort of 70s sci-fi periodical aesthetic. Distant planet, unsafe atmosphere, air supply controlled by totalitarian government, etc. Y'know what, this guy needs visual context.

There we go. The vehicle isn't quite complete, but yeah. Lots of swooping curves and rubber-tipped missiles. The heroes are looking pretty screwed here. I should track down something for them to ride on, at least.

Dino Riders, I've covered before, but the quick and dirty is that anthro aliens are fighting future humans on prehistoric earth, and they've kitted out a bunch of dinosaurs with armor and weapons. Simply amazing.

Moving on, we have a wonderful surprise in the form of Burnheart's shield and... well, flamethrower. Tonka's Supernaturals mostly stuck with a medieval theme, but the evil knight totally had a weirdly futuristic weapon.

I don't pretend to understand that, but he's the only villain I don't have, and this will save me a fair bit of money. Also, my Leech now has his crossbow, and there's another gun for the parts bin.

Speaking of the parts bin, there's a decent pile of sci-fi bits in here. Most I recognize from Transformers, others are less certain. The biggest surprise is 3/4 of a sprue of Morph-o-Droid guns. Now that's a deep cut. I'd literally never heard of them until I texted the guy wondering what the hell some of this was, but it turns out I did in fact own a secondhand one as a kid. And now I'm half compelled to find another. Dammit.

This wasn't the most exciting breakdown for general audiences, I'm sure, but it made my week on this end. Hooray for old-school toy trades!

[my-pretentious-den]

Going Corporate

It's safe to assume that if you're reading it here on Tumblr you are not the biggest aficionado of the pipeline "school-uni-corporate job". I am currently on the quest to find a (not even "the") job which wouldn't make me hate every single second of my life but would also pay me enough to be able to keep on living. I've never thought that it would be a high bar to have but alas, here we are. Going on three months of sending my CVS and cover letters into the ether. I would have greater success shouting my credentials on the top of the canyon - there at least I would hear the echo back.

It's frustrating. Plain and simple. We spend decades of our lives pursuing education which makes us more aware of the world we live in, its problems, challenges, complexities. Yet when we emerge from that bubble we realise that pursuing our interests, going into academia for its original purpose of learning for learning's sake, holds no real value in the contemporary world. Yes, I will be able to hold an intricate conversation about politics, art, and literature but it's all deemed meaningless the second I enter the interview room or the dreaded 'assessment centre'.

People praise "soft skills" our generation is said to excel in, the greater "general awareness" of the issues around us but how are we to use them if the entry-level jobs have requirements of prior 3 to 5 years of experience, of "hard skills" nobody taught us and refuses to do so. Leaving our generation stranded in the middle of the digital desert, saying that we're lazy and too picky and that is why we can't find employment. Back in the day (funny expression, seems to migrate in years depending on the speaker and skillfully ignore the systemic flaws of the system which allowed for the speaker's privilege) after leaving university, you went to a possible employer, handed your cv and more often than not were hired on the spot with life-long job security. Imagine it now, that instead of completing six different hiring stages, which take months on end and can flunk at any moment, you would have that improbable 'stability' at the ripe age of 25.

Does that scream enough of a dystopia to you? Because when you finally do get that dream position of a corporate rat, your life adds no value to the community. We seemed to migrate to the system, where your wage is inversely proportional to making the world a more worthwhile place to live in. You're a nurse, charity worker or an artist? Tough luck trying to survive on those wages but don't worry, the CEO of that company which was polluting your local water source and their lawyers are having a snuggly comfortable existence. But you just want to earn money, it's not a crime, right? Of course not, but where do we stop in this individualistic-driven hellscape where it doesn't matter how much damage you inflict on the world (even indirectly) as long as it brings you profit. I don't mean it on the personal level because we all just want to survive but the countries, multinational corporations and billionaires - the main players of our late-stage capitalism neoliberal playboard - are the ones with real power in shaping the world, telling us what are the current priorities to keep the world go round. And from what I reckon scrolling job posting sites - it's, hardly surprisingly, helping the rich get richer while the planet burns.

Toodaloo for now, in the meantime you'll find me on either indeed or likedin, slowly carving pieces of my heart out.

[antbuilt]

Sustainable Home Renovations in Sydney: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Living

In recent years, the desire for eco-friendly living has taken center stage in many households, especially when it comes to home renovations. For residents of Sydney, balancing modern comforts with environmentally conscious decisions has become a priority. sustainable home renovations in Sydney not only contribute to a healthier planet but can also reduce utility costs, improve indoor air quality, and increase property value.

This guide will walk you through how to make sustainable choices when renovating your home and provide tips to create an eco-friendly living space.

1. Why Choose Sustainable Home Renovations?

Before diving into the specifics of eco-friendly renovations, it’s important to understand the benefits of going green. Sustainable home renovations focus on reducing the environmental impact of construction and improving energy efficiency.

Key Benefits:

Reduced Carbon Footprint: Using eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient appliances can significantly lower your home’s carbon emissions.

Long-Term Savings: Energy-efficient designs and appliances reduce electricity, gas, and water bills in the long run.

Healthier Living Environment: Sustainable renovations often focus on improving indoor air quality by using non-toxic materials, making your home healthier.

Increase in Property Value: Green homes are becoming more attractive in the real estate market, making sustainable home renovations a great investment.

2. Planning Your Eco-Friendly Home Renovation

The key to any successful renovation is thorough planning, especially when trying to minimize your environmental footprint. Start by considering the elements of your home that consume the most energy and resources.

Steps to Begin:

Assess Energy Usage: Conduct an energy audit of your home to determine areas where you can improve efficiency, such as insulation, windows, and HVAC systems.

Set Clear Goals: Decide on specific sustainability goals, whether it’s reducing energy consumption, using recycled materials, or improving water conservation.

Choose an Eco-Conscious Contractor: Look for contractors in Sydney who specialize in sustainable home renovations. They will have experience in eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient design.

3. Sustainable Building Materials: The Green Choice

One of the most important decisions in sustainable home renovations is the choice of building materials. Opting for eco-friendly materials not only reduces environmental impact but also ensures your home is safe and non-toxic.

Eco-Friendly Material Options:

Recycled Wood and Metal: Reclaimed wood or recycled steel are excellent choices for both structural elements and decorative touches.

Bamboo: A rapidly renewable resource, bamboo is a durable and stylish alternative to traditional hardwood for flooring and cabinetry.

Cork: Cork is another sustainable flooring option that’s not only renewable but also provides excellent insulation.

Eco-Friendly Insulation: Materials like sheep’s wool, recycled denim, and cellulose are all sustainable insulation options that provide excellent thermal efficiency.

Low VOC Paints: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals found in many conventional paints. Opt for low or zero-VOC paints to reduce indoor air pollution and improve air quality.

4. Energy-Efficient Solutions for Your Sydney Home

Energy consumption is one of the biggest contributors to a home’s environmental footprint. Fortunately, many energy-efficient solutions can be implemented during home renovations to reduce energy use.

Energy-Efficient Renovation Ideas:

Solar Power: Sydney is fortunate to have abundant sunshine, making solar panels an ideal choice for reducing reliance on non-renewable energy. Installing solar panels not only cuts your energy bills but also allows you to generate clean, renewable energy for your home.

Energy-Efficient Windows: Double-glazed windows help maintain a stable indoor temperature by reducing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. This lowers the need for heating and cooling, thereby saving energy.

LED Lighting: Switch to LED bulbs, which use up to 75% less energy than traditional incandescent lights and have a much longer lifespan.

Smart Thermostats: A smart thermostat can optimize heating and cooling schedules based on when you’re home, saving energy without sacrificing comfort.

5. Water Conservation: Sustainable Plumbing and Landscaping

Water is a precious resource, especially in Australia. Incorporating water-saving measures into your home renovations in Sydney can make a big difference in reducing water consumption.

Water-Saving Renovation Tips:

Low-Flow Fixtures: Install low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets to reduce water usage without compromising performance.

Greywater Recycling Systems: Greywater systems allow you to reuse water from sinks, showers, and washing machines for non-potable purposes, such as flushing toilets or watering the garden.

Rainwater Harvesting: Collecting rainwater through tanks and gutters can provide a free source of water for outdoor use, reducing the demand on Sydney’s municipal water system.

Drought-Resistant Landscaping: Choose native, drought-resistant plants that require minimal watering. This not only conserves water but also reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides.

6. Sustainable Indoor Design: Eco-Friendly Living Spaces

Creating eco-friendly living spaces is about more than just the materials you use—it’s also about how you design your interiors to be energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Green Design Tips:

Maximize Natural Light: By increasing the amount of natural light in your home, you can reduce the need for artificial lighting. Skylights, large windows, and glass doors are great for bringing in more sunlight.

Sustainable Furniture: Look for furniture made from recycled materials, sustainably sourced wood, or eco-friendly fabrics. Buying second-hand or vintage furniture is another excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint.

Natural Ventilation: Proper ventilation is key to reducing the need for air conditioning. Design your home to take advantage of Sydney’s natural breezes, with windows placed to maximize airflow.

Thermal Mass: Incorporating materials like concrete or brick into your home can help store and regulate heat, reducing the need for mechanical heating or cooling.

7. Reducing Waste During Renovations

Home renovations often generate a significant amount of waste, but with careful planning, this waste can be minimized or recycled.

Tips for Reducing Renovation Waste:

Repurpose Existing Materials: Where possible, reuse existing materials in your renovation. For example, old wooden beams can be repurposed as decorative features, or existing bricks can be reused for outdoor landscaping.

Recycle Construction Waste: Many materials such as metal, wood, and concrete can be recycled. Speak to your contractor about waste management practices to ensure that recyclable materials are not sent to landfills.

Buy Recycled Materials: When purchasing new materials, opt for those made from recycled content, such as reclaimed wood or recycled tiles.

8. Choosing Energy-Efficient Appliances

Once your renovation is complete, choosing the right appliances will further enhance your home’s energy efficiency.

Appliances to Consider:

Energy Star Rated Appliances: Look for appliances that carry the Energy Star rating, which certifies that they meet high energy efficiency standards.

Induction Cooktops: Induction cooktops use less energy than traditional electric or gas stoves and offer fast, efficient cooking.

Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling Systems: Consider upgrading to a high-efficiency HVAC system or installing a heat pump for both heating and cooling.

Conclusion

Home renovations in Sydney are not just a trend—they are an investment in the future. By incorporating eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient systems, and water-saving solutions, you can reduce your home’s environmental impact while creating a healthier and more cost-effective living space. Whether you’re embarking on a full-scale Pergolas Inner in West Sydney or making small changes to your home, every step towards sustainability counts.

With the right planning and approach, you can create a modern, comfortable, and environmentally conscious home that stands the test of time.

[jitendraev10]

Beyond Fuel Efficiency: Additional Benefits of Owning a High Mileage Electric Scooter

Electric scooters are rapidly gaining popularity among commuters and eco-conscious individuals. While fuel efficiency is often the primary reason for their purchase, high mileage electric scooters offer numerous additional benefits that go beyond saving on fuel costs. This article explores these advantages, highlighting why investing in a high mileage electric scooter is a smart choice for the future.

1. Environmental Impact

One of the biggest benefits of electric scooters is their positive impact on the environment. Unlike gasoline-powered vehicles, electric scooters produce zero tailpipe emissions, significantly reducing air pollution. This is especially important in urban areas where air quality is often poor due to traffic congestion. By choosing a high mileage electric scooter, you help reduce greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants, contributing to a healthier planet.

2. Cost Savings

High mileage electric scooters offer substantial cost savings beyond just fuel efficiency. They are cheaper to maintain than traditional vehicles, as they have fewer moving parts that need regular servicing. Additionally, electricity is generally more affordable than gasoline, leading to lower operating costs. Over time, these savings add up, making electric scooters a financially sound investment.

3. Noise Reduction

Electric scooters operate much more quietly than their gasoline counterparts. This reduction in noise pollution benefits both riders and the communities they travel through. Lower noise levels create a more pleasant urban environment, reducing stress and improving the quality of life for residents. This quiet operation also makes electric scooters ideal for early morning or late-night commutes without disturbing the peace.

4. Convenience and Ease of Use

High mileage electric scooters are designed for convenience. They are lightweight, easy to maneuver, and often come with features like quick acceleration and smooth handling. Many models also offer advanced technologies such as regenerative braking, smartphone connectivity, and GPS navigation, enhancing the overall riding experience. Additionally, the compact size of electric scooters makes parking and storage much easier compared to larger vehicles.

5. Government Incentives and Rebates

Many governments around the world encourage the adoption of electric vehicles by offering incentives and rebates. These can include tax credits, subsidies, and even reduced registration fees. By purchasing a high mileage electric scooter, you may be eligible for these financial incentives, further reducing the overall cost of ownership and making the switch to electric mobility more affordable.

6. Health Benefits

Riding an electric scooter can also contribute to better health. While it may not be as physically demanding as cycling, it still requires balance and coordination, engaging your core muscles. Additionally, spending more time outdoors and reduced exposure to vehicle emissions can positively affect your mental and physical well-being.

7. Sustainability and Energy Independence

Electric scooters promote the use of sustainable energy sources. As the electricity grid increasingly incorporates renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, the environmental benefits of electric scooters will continue to grow. Furthermore, by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, electric scooters contribute to energy independence, making economies less vulnerable to oil price fluctuations and supply disruptions.

8. Urban Mobility Solutions

High mileage electric scooters are an excellent solution for urban mobility challenges. They can help alleviate traffic congestion by providing a compact and efficient mode of transport. Their ability to navigate through crowded streets and narrow lanes makes them ideal for city commuting. Additionally, electric scooters can complement public transportation systems, offering a practical last-mile solution that enhances the overall efficiency of urban travel.

Conclusion

Owning a high mileage electric scooter offers benefits far beyond just fuel efficiency. The environmental advantages, cost savings, noise reduction, convenience, and additional health benefits make them an excellent choice for modern commuters. With government incentives and the push towards sustainable energy sources, electric scooters represent the future of urban mobility. By investing in a high mileage electric scooter, you are choosing a practical and economical mode of transport and contributing to a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable world.