Home or Away?

If you sit down and think about it, a lot of green movements are targeted at everyone. An emphasis on how "everyone can do their part" tells us that no matter where we are, one less straw or one less plastic bag helps to save the environment.

What people miss though, is the more immediate changes that we can affect. While it is true that five trillion plastic bags are used world wide every year, even if everyone in the world chose to use one less bag, it would result in less than 1% difference.

Because of that, some movements have taken to more local and impactful changes. While Singapore has few opportunities for it, take a look at what initiatives and causes other countries have taken up.

Coca-Cola in India accused of leaving farms parched and land poisoned

The largest Coca-Cola plant in India is being accused of putting thousands of farmers out of work by draining the water that feeds their wells, and poisoning the land with waste sludge that the company claims is fertiliser.

The GuardianPaul Brown

Regulated trophy hunting aids wildlife conservation | Letter

Letter: A group of academics and conservationists argue that bans on regulated hunting can lead to a greater loss of wildlife

The GuardianLetters

UK Bakery Chain Greggs Opens Eco-Shop to Trial Sustainability Initiatives - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

British high-street bakery chain Greggs has opened an Eco-Shop in Great Billing, Northampton, to test out new sustainability solutions.

vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

Singapore sites Asia’s biggest cultivated meat facility

The plant, owned by US start-up Eat Just and backed by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, shows how cultivated meat is making the jump from the lab to the factory. Singapore was the first government to allow the sale of cultured meat.

South China Morning PostBloomberg

Whether it be stopping toxic chemicals from entering local waterways or making more sustainable meat, supporting green initiatives have resulted in immediate benefit to communities.

It is, however, not a dichotomy. While people will only do so much for the environment, many global initiatives do require much smaller things of you. What is important is understanding that if you are passionate and do have a concern for the environment, to focus on what outcome you want to achieve.