Remembrance Day, held each year on November 11, is a day of commemoration for individuals who lost their lives in the First World War. At this time, many nations also choose Remembrance Day to honour all the individuals that have died during times of war. Remembrance Day, like so many other holidays and events, offers an opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint. We put together a small guide to help you make Remembrance Day more sustainable.
Alternative transport
Take your bike, walk, or carpool to attend any ceremonies or parades. Each mile a car drives emits about 0.3kg (0.66 pounds) of carbon dioxide according to information at The Environmental Protection Agency. If you must use a car, carpool with friends or opt to use public transport (the emissions are shared amongst a larger group of people), ride your bike (much greener than a bus or car use), or walk. Walking is the most ecological form of transport.
Airplane Free
Often Remembrance Day is celebrated with flypasts by the Armed Forces or some other component of the military. These flypasts, intended as a tribute, are extremely hard on the environment with their carbon emissions. Perhaps the event organizers should consider purchasing Gold Standard offsets to mitigate the greenhouse gases emitted by the airplanes. A better solution would be to go airplane free and then there is nothing to mitigate or offset.
Eco-Wear
It is important to dress a bit formally for Remembrance Day services as a form of respect, however you can minimize your carbon footprint by opting to rent a suit or dress rather than purchasing new clothes for the occasion. Each item made has an impact on the planet, from sweatshop conditions to pesticides to grow cotton to clothes miles (the distance clothes travel from field to factory to mall). Always rent clothing for formal occasions, or buy second-hand.
Also eliminate dry-cleaning, as it is extremely hard on human health and the environment. Perchloroethylene (perc), used in the dry-cleaning process, causes a host of health problems from male infertility to headaches and nausea. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that PERC can contribute to the formation of photochemical smog when it reacts with other volatile organic carbon substances in the air. Best to opt for wet washing, or wet cleaning, which uses water and gentle green detergents to clean sensitive fabrics. Remember to use a reusable dry-cleaning bag or simply refuse the plastic dry cleaning bags.
Poppies
Don’t buy the mass-produced poppy pins. Yes, the funds go to The Royal Canadian Legion (or other country-specific organizations) and help out veterans, but the poppies are difficult or impossible to recycle. The Royal Canadian Legion reports the Poppy Campaign distributes more than $8 million dollars annually and the funds are used to “…assist needy veterans, ex-service members and their families; purchasing medical appliances; funding medical research and training, providing bursaries to the children and grandchildren of veterans and ex-service members; and funding accommodation, care facilities, meals-on-wheels, transport and related services for veterans, seniors and disabled persons.” All extremely worthy causes that deserve to be supported.
Each year more than 18 million poppies, 70,000 wreathes, crosses and sprays are distributed in Canada alone. People wear the poppies for 2 to 3 days and then throw them out. The next year, rather than reuse the poppies, more poppies are manufactured and sold – and the cycle continues. If you want to support the cause, make a donation but do not buy a new poppy – reuse your old one.
Sustainable Tissues
Remembrance Day is a moving day and often the services can be very emotive. Use sustainably-farmed Kleenex or tissue paper to wipe your eyes and blow your nose. Greenpeace International explains that Kimberly-Clark –is cutting down ancient forests, such as Canada’s boreal forest, to make disposable tissue paper products including Kleenex brand products.
Greenpeace’s report, Kimberly Clark: Flushing Forests Down The Toilet, reports that many of Kimberly Clark’s brands - Kleenex and Scott - are made from 100 percent virgin tree fiber. In 2003, Kimberly-Clark required 2,811,000 tons of virgin fiber to produce its tissue paper products globally. So, definitely bring a reusable organic cotton hankie or use recycled tissue products at the services.
War Free
As well as remembering past wars, it is important that we work to ensure there are no future wars. War has an enormous impact on the planet – socially, morally, psychologically, financially and also a devastating environmental impact. For example, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to cost Americans $12.3 billion dollars per month, according to The Center For Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. The war in Iraq is expected to cost taxpayers more than $2.7 trillion dollars, reports CNN News.
The UK Government Stern Report states that the costs of dealing with climate change, if it is addressed now, is around 1% of world gross domestic product (GDP). If nothing is done, apart from all the cataclysmic effects to the eco-systems and life on planet Earth, the cost to the world GDP is anywhere from 5 to 20%. According to the CIA, the US GDP is 13.84 trillion dollars, so $2.7 trillion dollars (estimated cost of the Iraq war) is 19.5% of the GDP. Therefore, the USA is prepared to spend an amount equivalent to 19.5% of its GDP on wars yet it will not ratify Kyoto or spend the 1% needed to green itself (which just so happens to be equivalent to the $12.3 billion the USA is currently is spending every month on making war).
Show/Hide comment form
