Awareness..... the beginning

Some time last year I became incensed at the decision to cull badgers despite scientific reports that stated that this was unnecessary, costly and inefficient. I shouted at the radio 4 presenter that 'This is not fair', 'Something must be done', 'Someone must speak out', and then realised that the someone was ME.

Since that time I have come to realise many things. Firstly, no-one likes a campaigner. We are in the same category as rambling drunks and Jehovah witnesses..... to be avoided at all costs. I have alienated many 'friends' but also know who my real friends are. I have been frustrated, elated, constipated and berated., (well perhaps not constipated but it sounded good) in the process of trying to bring about change.

I wish I had started my blog then as the metamorphose I experienced as I moved between 'ordinary lavae type' who's only interest was personal survival to 'fully grown winged adulthood' with an overview of the world and my impact on it, would have made interesting reading. But I will attempt to fill in a few of the details.

Many, many, many (to the power of n possibly) letters and e-mails to various members of the Welsh Assembly to try to avert the non-selective cull of badgers in Wales. Most of these were totally ignored which puts your presence here on earth as a fully functioning human being in perspective. The others were mainly responded to with 'Newspeak' generated by some political machine which did little to answer any key points I made. I soon began to realise how fruitless being a campaigner was. But with my new awareness I could not turn back. I could not squeeze myself back into my lavae suit and pretend I did not know. So no option but to continue......

On a more personal level I started to make changes to how I live my life, what I consume, what I discard and how I do it. The question is 'What difference can one person make?' We are all 'justoneperson' at the end of the day, but if each of us shared this awareness that change will only happen if we DO something to bring it about then what may be possible?

So far I have stopped using plastic bags in my rubbish bin. Seemed a bit pointless to stop getting them free in shops and start buying them instead. I line the pedal bin with newspaper, put all the messy stuff in the composter (if possible) or inside tins and packets, then tip the whole lot into the wheelie bin. No plastic bags whatsoever! I must admit that the number 11 bin does have the tang of Bangkok about it, if you know what I mean. There are various 'bits' which have stuck to the bottom of the bin and I know that in time I will have to put my head inside and scrape them out...... but, small price to pay in my opinion.

I don't take plastic bags in shops.... sometimes this is very difficult as they automatically wrap things up while you are searching out your money. I used to take them when they did this so as not to hold up the queue but now realise that I need to be more proactive than this and just empty the stuff out and leave the bag behind. I must say that I have observed that the people who buy the most groceries, on the whole take the most 'free' bags. My blood boils as I watch bag after bag being pulled from the holder to wrap up stuff which could easily be put in a cardboard box. So far I have contained my anger and stayed quiet......

I am campaigning to get free plastic bags removed from the gym I attend. (Three letters so far). Evidently people find it a 'convenience' to keep the wet and dry things separate in their bags....... while the planet chokes on plastic pellets left behind for a millennia.

So, the purpose of the blog. To record my progress in my transformation to fully fledged environmental campaigner. To share my successes and many failures to have any impact at all. And in the best tradition of the BBC, to 'educate', 'inform' and 'entertain'. Welcome aboard.