Ever tried to chase a summer thunderstorm?

Nothing like a huge Summer thunderstorm to wake us from the daily boredom of not knowing what nature is capable of. Two days I decided to chase this storm, just for fun, just because I was amazed with its presence and power over the mountains beneath. Occasionally a thunder would strike the ground and start a fire. The radio news counted a total of eight fires in the region. Anxious to escape the sunny 30ºC top of the mountain where I was, I decided to grab my car and drive through the storm, looking for some rain and wind that could refresh me. After crossing through it I stopped on another mountain top and saw the storm continue its path to the horizon. I was in awe. I could hear the firetrucks miles away running to the pillars of smoke that started instantaneously. Surely something I will never forget.

Sometimes…

… trying to live a greener life is very frustrating and makes us feel impotent and tiny.

Interview with Adolfo Luxúria Canibal to “TV ENERGIA TV” about renewable energies

It is strange to see the singer of the Portuguese band “Mão Morta” strip himself of his bad-ass role and appear in an interview talking about alternative energies and sustainability.

I like this interview specially for his moderate and impartial view of the problem, without any type of eco-fanaticism, explaining the good and bad things of certain energy strategies. It is really nice to see one of my favorite musicians express himself about these issues.

It is a pity it doesn’t have English subtitles, sorry about that!

One month later

It’s been a month since I started the green trowel. Been away from the Internet mainly because of my work, but couldn’t skip this date to register a point of situation about my recent green life.

Working and being away from home, as said before, narrowed my liberty of applying new green strategies to my routine. Ideas? Plenty. Unfortunately all of them require me not to be here, away from home. So, I concentrate on the changes I already made and try to be faithful to them.

#01 | One month of not eating meat. Never been so much time without eating anything related to meat (besides fish). It is a really interesting experience and, for now, I don’t feel the urge to return to my old habits. I admit sometimes is hard when you don’t find any meatless food being sold at gas stations or cafes, but that just exercises my imagination of how to get healthy food.

#02 | Reducing car use has been the most difficult. My job demands a lot of traveling, and during the week I am constantly behind the wheel. Yet, during the weekends, I prefer to walk or ride a bike.

#03 | It’s been a while since I went shopping for food here. My mother decided to pack me with huge amounts of supplies every time I go home. But I’m still aware of that change and the need to follow it.

#04 | Using less water became a routine, specially when washing dishes or during personal hygiene. It’s interesting how something can become  a daily habit, even when we though we would forget about it.

#05 | Paper saving became easy. I use both sides when writing or drawing, and I’m currently trying to narrow my handwriting.

#06 | About researching local groups, I admit my laziness and lack of success. The work has distracted me from this objective, for now.

#07 | Reducing plastic bottles became a major success! Besides an occasional soft drink, I don’t buy a bottle of water for a long time.

#08 | Recycling became another easy routine. I don’t mind saving my trash until I find a recycle bin. It is easier when I am alone during the week. Must make more efforts to apply recycling habits back at home.

#09 | About cooking vegetarian food… for now, I’ve just tried pasta.

#10 | Avoiding standby modes is a pain in the ass. It “hurts” every time I remember I putted the TV on standby, and need to get up and turn it off, just when I was almost falling asleep. But in general, I’ve been successful in this matter.

#11 | Visiting natural landscapes is a pleasure I don’t deny myself. Whenever I have a chance I do it… and I love it!

#12 | Still didn’t find a substitute for plastic dog poo bags.

#13 | Each time I go to an ATM, I make sure I don’t forget to not ask for the paper receipt.

#14 | My re-usable LAKEN bottle is a success. I take it to work everyday and it keeps the tap water fresh and tasty! I’m thinking about taking it everywhere I go, besides work.

A month of eco-conscience and I still have a lot to work, a lot of points that need more attention. But I’m proud for not forget the most important changes in my daily life, and to feel this urge to do it even better the next day. Only one month of existence and the green trowel became an essential part of my greener self.

#14 | Use a re-usable aluminium bottle

Sometimes we run after something and then realize it has been there, next to us, all along. I was so focused on trying to have a SIGG bottle that I didn’t remember my old LAKEN. I got it when I used to go to summer vacation camps back in 2000. Not sure when did I bought it, but at least it is from 2002. It has proven very useful since then, specially at archaeological diggings. It even has a big coup to drink from.

No more plastic bottles warming my water inside my car!

I’m specially happy about this achievement, because I made a green change by re-using something I already had.

LAKEN bottles homepage

Environmental conscience on corporations

Just received my first  Internet bill for this month (I’m trying a new wireless pen modem to use it everywhere I go) and was surprised by what it’s written in it. Between other aspects they praise in the bill format (simple, easy to ready, no data omission) they also include – “It doesn’t forget the environment (…) uses front and back page (…) the board with the communication data appears in two columns, using the most of each page and therefore diminish the environmental impact.”

I’m happy to see that environmental conscience reaches high grounds more often. Of course using recycled paper would have a bigger impact, but it’s better than nothing I guess.

SKIN DEEP – a cosmetic safety database

I learned about this website while reading the newest post at Paula’s blog. Basically, it’s a gigantic database of all the cosmetic products and the level of health risk they provide. Very complete and informative, made me realize the amount of crap we put into our skin. Thankfully I’m that kind of old school guy that doesn’t use a lot of products, only the basic. My next change, as soon as I get home, not this weekend but the other, is to make a drastic change in my personal hygiene products. Thanks Paula for the advice!

SKIN DEEP: Cosmetic Safety

Plastic bottles + heat + car = bad idea

I was thinking about this one when my mother, at the phone, warned me about leaving plastic water bottles inside the car. Apparently the heat makes the plastic leak toxins to the water. Didn’t have time to confirm that, but the truth is, after using the same plastic bottle for almost two weeks, the water doesn’t feel that good anymore.

This weekend I’ll go to a sports shop to find a permanent, non-plastic, bottle. SIGG will have to wait, unfortunately…

Food despair

It’s really  hot this evening – 31ºC. I’m having trouble surviving here, in a place where everything is meat. I ate all the fish dishes in the only restaurant I trust  in this village… repeatedly. I’m tired of fish… and they don’t do solo salads I think.

The lack of no-meat dishes is surprising… and I miss a good spaghetti so much! A nice spaghetti with lots of green ingredients, that I normally choose at those “make yourself” fast food restaurants. Damn… I miss pasta so much.

My commitment to not eat meat is strong enough to try to survive other ways… but I’m getting really hungry in this “no where land”. Thankfully my mother gave me cheese, bread, jam and cookies in the beginning of the week.

PLANS FOR TOMORROW: Buy every type of fruit in the grocery store, cheese, bread, every green food that doesn’t need cooking (I miss a kitchen so much) and… more fruit!!!

P.S - Any other suggestion is welcome. Now… to find a green dinner this night!

#13 | Avoid paper receipts at ATMs

A really small change that can make a difference on my personal goal to save paper. Just remembered that a few minutes ago while withdrawing cash from the ATM. Usually I would ask for the paper receipt to see my accounts credit, but I realized that sometimes I didn’t need to check it. It was a routine that I used for years: enter card, enter code, insert amount of cash to withdraw, ask for receipt, take card, take cash and take paper receipt. Even when I knew how much money I got left, I would ask for the paper. In fact, everyone does that, and what do they do next? They immediately make a paper ball and throw it to the nearest can. Can’t imagine the amount of paper wasted in that way. I even think there is an option to see the credit on the screen, but never seen anyone use it.

That’s why, for now on, I’ll check my credit through the banks webpage and avoid paper receipts at the ATM.