"Not even the most hardcore environmentalist", Hans Rosling Says

The other day I watched this video from a speech given by swedish statistician Hans Rosling. I've had a debate about the content of this video with teachers in school, so I actually had to watch it.

Hans Rosling claims that the washmachine made people's lives so much easier so that they could make time to read for their children, for example. From what I've learned it works the other way. The amount of time spent on washing laundry is as much 2012 as it was 1930 when washing machines were not very common. Today, we simply wash more, and more often than we did before. In the end, laundry still takes its fair share of time in our lives. In Science this is called The Rebound Effect about which you might read here (Swedish) & here (English).

Fun fact was when he gave a lecture to his environmental-students, who all claimed to be very aware etc. Some of them said they never used cars - but none of them, not even one of the most hardcore environmentalists, said they didn't use a washing machine.

So, Here I am, Hans Rosling.

I'm a hardcore environmentalist. I wash my laundry by hand. And the amount of time I use is about the same as if I'd use a washing machine.

An update in English!

Hey!

It's been a while since I last posted in English. My face, in a big-rolling banner on the LWF Blog made me remember!

To me, it's amazing how many people who have an interest in what I write here. While talking to people, so many have been interested, come up with suggestions or ideas. I started this project because I wanted to learn how to live a regular urban life, but within the Planet's bounderies. I don't wanna be part of the problem. I wanna be part of the solution.

22nd of February I initiated a project that'll change me forever. It's been 17 days out of 40, but I've learned so much. Do you know how hard it is to buy food from a food store when you're not using plastic of wrapping? Do you know how hard it is to only eat products produced in Sweden in March?

From time to time, I've had gigantic cravings! I really want that chocolate cake, the Hamburger or Pizza my friends sometimes eat. But I've come to think of it as eating chips:

If you just eat 1 piece, it's impossible not to take another one. But if you wait for a while, say until the morning afterwards, nobody really wants those disgusting chips; the cravings disappeared. That's the way I've experienced my 40 Days of Lent. If I just put up with the cravings for a few days, they all disappear: suddenly I don't want that slice of cheese, that ordered-in Pizza, Exotic fruits that have been shipped from New Zeeland.

I have never learned this much about energi-efficiency, climate-friendly eating and living. In the future, I have so much more knowledge of what to eat, and what to stay away from.

Day #10 - Baking time!

Hey!

It's been a while since I posted anything in English, so I figured it was about time.

Today I have an afternoon off, and my body is finally free of migraine. And, because the sun is shining, March has arrived, and winter is ending - I'm gooing to make bread! Here below are some pictures of me making my own flour of out locally grown wheat.

Spanish, sunshine and fresh bread for dinner. What could be better?

 

 

The Lent is on - Emissions are down to 0

Heey, Everyone!

Today, the 22nd of February, the Period of Lent starts. Traditionally in the Christian belief it's closely related to giving up parts of your life in order to reach higher goals, become close to Jesus or so. Nowadays, the kinds of fasting that I've heard of, might involve not using Facebook, only eating vegetarian food, not using Computer etc.

So I though, why not go with something less regular? And since I'm into the Green Movement, discussing issues of  Environment and Global Warming, let's try reducing emissions to an absolute minimum - and offset the rest, making the impact 0.This far, neither eating nor showering has been very difficult. A lot of things and routines are something I do every day, and for these 40 Days I have to switch routines, change the way I live.The first day went pretty smoothly, though with way too much water-use as well as electricity. I'll be working on getting the numbers down.

From today on, for 40 Days I'll be writing about my experiences in this blog, as well as living a life without Emissions. Interstate 40. Let's go!

40 Days, starting now - Are you ready?

First Post in English!

Heeeey!

The Blog is up and running! 40 Days - No Emissions!

The 22nd of February, I'll start the most exciting 40 days of my life. Not the most adventurous, nor the most pleasent - but indeed they will be exciting. For 40 days I'll be living completely without emission of Greenhouse Gases. The rules are at first glance rather simple:

1) The use of cars, trains, airplanes, buses or any other form of transportation that causes emissions are prohibited
2) Only products and food produced or grown in Sweden are allowed.
3) No plastic, no papper and no wrapping.

This evening I've been researching different kinds of hygine-related issues. How, for example, will I make my laundries? How do I brush my teeths with these rules applied? However, most intriguing is how I solve my toilet visits... I'm grateful if these issues are resolved before the 22nd of February, I might say.

And to all of you readers, I invite you to place promises of your own on the Facebook-Page for 40 Days - No Emissions
It could be any kind of promises, but they have to reduce your own emission of greenhouse gases. This far I've had promises about only using public transport, about not eating any meat, about turning the lights off whenever you leave a room.

22nd of February I start a journey more exciting than anyone before. A journey of changing my way of living. I hope to see you around, and that loads of challenging promises are made on the Facebook Page. Enjoy!