Karen Sutton’s Post

Turning back the clock.. The Body Shop first campaigned Against Animal Testing in the UK in 1989. Sadly we may have to go again…

We could just let these guys have a Turkey shoot with 2000 white rhino running unprotected on 8000 acres of South Africa. They pay $100,000 to get to kill one. That’s a LOT of money. Or we do the right thing and build new Rhino populations across Africa and regenerate the landscape where they have been intensively farmed. Some epic donation pledges. Some huge introductions from my network But really interesting dialogue on a Rhino Bond backed by Natural Capital economics from carbon and biodiversity credits Please do your bit to help spread the word as we need multi stakeholder engagement to pull this together. Let’s widen the net. ❤️#race4therhino

The next UK government will be the last government capable of making change before 2030 If we don’t limit global heating to 1.5 degrees by 2030, the consequences will be deadly So it’s not unreasonable to say that if the next government won’t spend 1.5% of parliamentary time on this, they shouldn’t be in elected office. #EthicalHour and 181st Street support every lawful action taken by our amazing community, and the sustainability community as a whole. But because the sector doesn't have the lobbying, advocacy and communications power, those acts of activism are struggling to get the cut-through to create the legal and life-saving policies we need. We know that every one of our community members, partners and readers does as much as they can as often as they can. But if every voice is siloed, every action unheard, then how do leaders become advocates, and advocates create permanent national change? The next UK government will be the last government capable of making change before 2030. Which is why many campaigners will ask you to rise. They'll ask you to rise up and fight. But real change comes with a conversation. Right here, right now, in the UK, and with the time with have, real change will come, not with rising up, but sitting down. Sitting down with the people who represent us, whether we like them or not. Sitting down with the parliamentarian, the prospective candidate and the peer. The sector is led by great voices who have made great change. Those voices need to be heard in the corridors of power. Those voices should influence the cabinet, the committee room, the Commons and the Lords. That's why we want you to raise your voice, not in parliament square, but in parliament. Our future will be set by politics and policy. If we don't influence the parties and make climate the priority, we will have missed our last opportunity. That's why we're calling on everyone within the sector to lend us your voice. To join the campaign. To speak up. And to make sure that what they do today, ensures our tomorrow: https://lnkd.in/eTVF5HCG

We're in the final furlong! With just over 24 hours left until our entry deadline, we wanted to highlight a feature which may help if you've been thinking about entering, but are now concerned about time. Any entrant who submits an incomplete entry will have an ADDITIONAL WEEK (until Friday 5th May) to complete it. Our awards platform allows you to 'edit after submission' essentially buying you extra time! Whether you're a big business or small - or perhaps an individual - there's a category for you, and we would LOVE to hear your story. Drop us a line if you need help, and find out more here >> https://lnkd.in/eD9xPqv8 #awards #sustainabilityawards #socialimpact #rewardwithpurpose #GlobalGood

Revealed: ExxonMobil made ‘breathtakingly’ accurate climate predictions in 1970s & 80s Exxon funded and drove cutting edge #climatechange science only to publicly dismiss global warming for last 30 years They knew what burning #fossilfuels would do to our Planet Image the cost of lives & money caused by this denial https://lnkd.in/eiAiEgM7

Ever thought about your climate shadow..? You're probably pretty familiar with the term carbon footprint'. Carbon footprints are a brilliant way of making the intangible tangible. Of allowing us to measure something that we can't really see. And helping us to see the impact of our actions. But there are lots of things that are brilliant things to do for the climate, that there isn't a box for on a carbon footprint calculator. And this is where the idea of a 'climate shadow' comes in. I first came across this concept on social media in an article by writer and climate journalist Emma Pattee. And I LOVE IT! Emma explains that she created the concept to help us to visualise how the sum of all our life's choices influence the climate emergency. So rather than solely focussing on our energy usage, or how much meat we eat, or how many flights we taken, it encourages us to think about how we vote, how we invest our money, and my very favourite: "how much you talk about climate change, and whether your words amplify urgency, apathy, or denial." I talk a lot in The Sustainable(ish) Clubhouse about the idea of the 'ripples' we create when we do something sustainable(ish). For example: 🚶♀️ If we choose to walk the school run a couple of times a week, not only are we reducing the amount of petrol we're using (carbon footprint), other people will see us walking and that might spark a conversation about whether they could walk too (climate shadow). 🥗 If we choose the veggie or vegan option when we're eating out, that reduces the emissions associated with that particular meal (carbon footprint) and might spark a conversation with the people you're with about why you've chosen that dish, AND it lets the cafe/pub/restaurant know that there is a demand for lower carbon choices (climate shadow) 🧵 If you repair the hole in your jeans with a very visible mend, it means that you can keep wearing them a bit longer and aren't having to buy a new pair (carbon footprint), and your beautiful mend (mine aren't beautiful, but run with it..) will spark conversations with people who see it about repair and the impact of fast fashion (climate shadow) It also takes into account 'contagious behaviours' - apparently solar panels have been found to be 'socially contagious', and Steve Westlake at Cardiff Uni found that half of the respondents who knew someone who has given up flying because of climate change said they fly less because of this example. AND there are things you can do that will grow your climate shadow without having any impact on your carbon footprint, eg voting, engaging with your MP or local council on climate issues, having gentle climate conversations with people you know, volunteering for the Green Team at work, and so much more. And none of these cost any money! How cool is that?! Have you come across the idea of the climate shadow before? How could you grow yours? Do share your ideas below!

A passenger ferry is an unusual place to find a classroom, but this is life for the Ukrainian refugees and their children who call 'Isabelle' their temporary home. We took our Canon Young People Programme to the boat, which is docked in Tallinn's Old Harbour, to teach photography and storytelling skills. But the lessons also brought smiles to the faces of youngsters who have been through so much. https://canon.sm/41UsGOa

This is a call out to any of my Linkies who know a lot more than me about new ‘better’ plastic alternatives. So, the situation is, for my giant floor game mats, that have to be very robust (they are used indoors and out) and have great longevity - I’ve had my own for up to a decade and still going strong. The only affordable option that can be printed in such large sizes so far has been PVC. Not ideal I know (pls don’t write in to tell me!) but my games are made to last. So recently I’ve been made aware of a alternative to #pvc called #kavalan. It has numerous eco claims. It’s is 50% lighter than PVC, but with the same strength and performance (this is what I’ve read, I haven’t tested for myself yet). It claims to have ‘emissions hundreds of times lower then pvc if it has to be incinerated’ but also claims it can be fully recycled ‘through a dedicated recycling programme’ - that rings alarm bells as it reminds me of Tetrapak - fully recyclable but only in dedicated recycling plants of which there are few in the UK. Now I want to believe in this product, and the fact it’s lighter has benefits in itself. But what about its other claims? I’ve heard said that ‘if landfilled it decomposes like paper’, I can’t see that being likely as it has a polyester base. Has anyone any independent intel or experience with this product they could share? I’m all ears. Also if anyone has knowledge of any other alternative that could work I’d love to hear.

For anyone who couldn't make it to #ukgovernment today for the Extinction Rebellion UK non violent direct action #thebigone #unitetosurvive this is for you - the amazing indefatigable Caroline Lucas MP Brighton Pavilion speaking to Business Declares and making more sense than our entire government has in 13 years. We missed you who couldn't make it, and sang and cheered for you and hope to see you next time. with Greenpeace UK Friends of the Earth Just Stop Oil PCS FUEL POVERTY ACTION Fashion Declares Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency Quakers in Britain Green Party of England and Wales London Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Citizens' Assembly Campaign Against Climate Change Ben Okri Dale Vince Fran van Dijk Ben Tolhurst Andrew Griffiths Alex Cronin Zoey Chan Liberty Bollen Madeleine Woods Amelia Cookson Heather Lynch Hermione Taylor Russ Avery FRSA CreativeZero Amelie Trolle Donna Okell Adam Bastock Jon Fletcher Matthew Letley Chris Cayley Siobhann Mansel-Pleydell Mairead Cahill Georgia Elliott-Smith Meredith Odgers FCIM Clover H. Charlotte Sewell #stoprosebank #climatecrisis #fossilfuels #climatejusticenow