MaYa D on life: November 2007

Last week, I went to a lecture at my old college, the famous Imperial College in London on the topic of Energy Security. It was being given by the esteemed Sir Roy Gardner, the current president of the Energy Institute. He was a good presenter, and knew what he wanted to say and how to say. So, thus far good.

But, my disappointment and somewhat outrage came at the content of what he had to say. Whilst this is some 6 days later, I still remember him saying "we are increasing relying on further and more unstable countries for our energy", "we must tackle France and Germany" and that nuclear was the main option!!!!

He barely mentioned any renewables, seemed to barely have thought about the future beyond the next two decades, and thought of nothing but UK energy security. I wonder how someone can be allowed to say these things.

Energy Security is not unique to the UK, especially given it is part of the EU, and a small island on the west of this very entity. Nuclear energy is not environmentally friendly, is expensive and Uranium will also run out one day. NO body thinks the Mid East is currently stable, but hey, who invaded Iraq!?

Why is he (and people like him), not thinking about step change and truly about the future. What is wrong with thinking outside the box and using the free and actually easy to use energies our planet and solar system have provided to us???

Sir Roy and colleagues, please let us younger people have a say. It IS important.

I hate going to supermarkets anyway, they are dingy, with too much artificial cold light. They turn up their fridges many notches too high, so I have to wear a jacket to go there even in the summer. They are overcrowded, over-priced and over-packaged. However, I must at least at times go to one, as no local markets exist in London, and it's convenient to do one big shop every so often.

I persuade myself every time that it won't be all that bad, just make a list and get out quickly. Hmm, if only that were possible. I don't just mean due to the queues at check out, oh, no. It's the labels and thoughts that go with it. Here is an example of how this happens, I'll present you a simple shopping list of mine and the complexity that I face with it:

Milk - First of all, which level of fat do I want? Whole fat is only 4%, which is the one I usually go for, but for the last few months, my pregnancy has meant I had to reduce that to skimmed or semi-skimmed. Now, look at the choices there, UHT or fresh, in a plastic bottle or Tetrapak. I prefer fresh. So far so good, but which pack? Plastic recycling is more accessible to me, maybe that's what I should get. BUT, BUT, what about storing some UHT boxes at home for emergency. Okay, okay, one of each. Getting there? Oh, no!!! What if the milk comes from somewhere far away and it has many carbon miles on it? Look at the label, and here it is, some are from farms in the same country, but the other side of it, some are from France. Oh, wait, there's one from the closes farms to this megapolis of London. Phew, I can buy some milk now. Go on, must get out of this place, must hurry up.
Bread - Most of the bread is from while flour, not so good. Sliced toasting bread is fairly rank. I want continental nice bread. Yep, some of the baguettes and croissants look good. But, what's with the packaging? Four croissants are put on a tray, then wrapped in plastic, why? Were they promised comfort? Are they some poor animal who needs to protected? Okay, less moaning, choose the loose ones, yes that's better. But, wait, I don't want to come here for bread every day, must find some longer lasting bread for a couple of days' time. All white still... Look, look. Here's one with some brown/rye, but not as good as say German bread. After all, those have too much taste. I sigh and ignore the packaging, and where it comes from. Bread IS a necessity, "take it and move on" I think.
Butter - Hmm, what a dilemma it was to come back to butter. Like milk, the full-fat version is not that fatty. I think it's better than manufactured margarine, but only if eaten in reasonable quantities. What's available? All in these funny packs that have no chance of being reused or recyled, so forget that as a choice. Price is roughly the same for them all, so forget that, too. Oh, SALT, why is most butter salted? I have enough in my daily diet. This reduces the choice to 2 or 3. BUT, wait, two of these come from Normandy, and I bet not by ship or train... I tell myself not to scream, but just pick one with as little salt as possible and get away from this isle, quick. I'm freezing almost. I wish they did have doors or covers for the fridges...
Cheese - Oh, joy and fun. I love all cheeses, and know most nice ones come from France. They are all packed in plastic, and the good ones cost more. So, choices mostly already made in my head, and a conscious decision to go with perhaps more carbon miles for this one "luxury". Calories I can ignore, as the taste is otherwise compromised. Phew, I can just pick any. BUT, wait no. Pregnancy means I can't eat most of the nice ones, mould-ripened or blue are out of the question unless cooked, so no good normally. Of course many others are unpasteurised, so I don't have much hope here. I finally find a couple, but that was about 15 minutes wasted...
Fruit - Oh, I'm tired now. I'll just pick some British apples, hopefully they're okay. Some bananas, miles are far too far, but at least fair trade is reasonable. Oranges? Oh, gosh not from Spain! They have desertified their country for this... I'm getting depressed, quick, don't look and pick. I'm losing the will to live. I compromise my soul and beliefs, choose some fruits and move on.
Veg - Same story as above, but far more local-ish choice, hurrah. Except for tomatoes, from Holland!!! They never saw the sun poor things, but they're a good source of vitamins. Again, lose will to live, pick and move on. Don't waste too much time, it's too close to the fridges.
Meat - NOOO! I am going to my local butcher to get this whenever I need some. I can't cope with choosing this stuff.
Tinned beans - Yes, much easier to choose, no salt and no sugar. Probably from far away, but I really can't think any more.

I don't think I'm the only one feeling this rubbish about it all. Look at this article, apparently there are some concerns we customers want to be concerned. BUT, it does drive me up the wall.

MaYa D on life

Energy Security for the future - for us all

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Overwhelmed in supermarkets

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