Archive by category | Sustainability

A world of change

Posted by Barbara Kiser | Categories: , ,

A world of change

Watching the new IMAX 3D documentary film A Beautiful Planet, I was struck when astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti noted how contemplating the planet for months on end from the International Space Station (ISS) convinced her that it is a spacecraft. ‘Spacecraft Earth’ may be an old theme, but Cristoforetti spoke with passion about how humanity, as its crew, must look after the ship. The film, which showcases spectacular footage of Earth shot from the ISS, is intended in part to spur awareness of the negative influence we are having on the planet.  Read more

Share the repair

Posted by Barbara Kiser | Categories: , ,

Share the repair

A few decades ago, a broken radio, fan or kettle generally triggered a trip to the repair shop. Now, it often means a journey to the dump. In Britain alone each year, over 2 million tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment are discarded; in Europe and the United States, repair services have been in decline for some decades. This ‘take, make and dispose’ approach sits uncomfortably with shifts towards closed-loop thinking and policy, such as the European Commission (EC) package on the circular economy, which emphasises repair, recycling and reuse.  Read more