We’re all probably a bit fed up of receiving and rarely reading newsletters. One Tree’s “Delete After Reading” is a newsletter with a difference though. It’s written weekly by Andy Davies, who creates and manages all our digital platforms. Andy was integral in making sure the One Tree project got off the ground. He’s also got a great sense of humour and a brilliant writing style. Our team eagerly awaits each week’s newsletter.
The newsletter doesn’t focus on us, it focuses on you, the reader. It’s stacked full of useful info, links to podcasts and articles, and discusses the problems we face from a frank but well balanced view point. It helps you see a broader picture whilst giving you valuable information and promoting positive change.
Below is a copy of this week’s email. Digest and if you enjoy why not sign up at the bottom of this page?
Welcome to issue #2 of “Delete After Reading”
This week the newsletter is on the subject of talking about climate change.
One of the biggest challenges people worried about climate change face is how to effectively communicate about it. It’s such a big, daunting and all encompassing subject that it’s difficult to know where to start or how to have a rational, calm discussion about it, especially with people who might be sceptical.
Read on for a great primer on Climate Change, tips on how to talk to your children about the problem, examples of how one person can make a big difference and some good news stories you might not have seen!
New Podcast – One Tree talk to:
This week we talked to Sian from Ski Physio. Ski Physio were one of the first businesses to sign up for the One Tree Pledge and since joining, Sian has been one of our most passionate advocates.
In the podcast Sian talks about the changes she has seen in the Alps in the last 24 years and discusses broaching climate change with her family, her suppliers and her clients.
There are some great insights to be had and Sian shows how much change you can make when engaging with the problem of climate change.
Listen on the One Tree site, on Acast, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Let us know what you think!
How to discuss the Elephant in the room?
So far this year Australia has suffered horrendous bush fires, the UK has been flooded and battered by Storm Ciara and the French Alps has seen wild swings in temperature and violent storms bringing rain and regular high winds.
It can feel like wild weather is the new normal but that the underlying cause is being ignored or, at the very least, not fully discussed. Raising the subject of climate change and it’s effects can be difficult, especially if you work in an industry like the ski industry, that feels inherently polluting.
So where should we start? Firstly get a good overview of the problem. This post from the charity WarmHeart is a (long) primer on climate change and offers a balanced and well illustrated view of where we are. It’s insightful and worth reading over a cup of tea.
The article covers a range of topics and provides evidence and counter arguments to those who would tell us that it is not a man made problem.
Who’s going to tell the kids?
“Did you work on One Tree stuff today daddy?” is something I am often asked by my five year old son. He’s a big fan of programs like Planet Earth and Seven Worlds One Planet and has a child’s eye view of things like global warming and plastic pollution. He asks questions about why the orangutangs have less jungle to live in and why whales have plastic bags and not snails on their tails.
Our family life has changed in the last 12 months as we try to take principled actions to reduce our impact on the planet. My wife and I discuss the changes and we try to include him in the discussions where appropriate. It’s a tricky thing to get right. He deserves a happy and care free childhood as much as any kid but it’s also our responsibility to raise him as being aware of his responsibility to the world around him.
Thankfully help is at hand. This article from National Geographic has some great ideas and resources to help you and your family navigate the issue. It is appropriate for a range of ages and has videos, galleries and activities to get them engaged.
Making your voice heard
One voice can be all it takes to make a difference. As Sian touches on in our latest podcast, without Gav starting the One Tree movement she wouldn’t have felt compelled to make all the changes she has made at Ski Physio.
This Patagonia produced video about Lauren MacCullum is a great example of speaking up to protect what is important to you. Lauren is a passionate snowboarder and outdoor enthusiast working hard to protect her beloved Scottish Highlands.
Reasons to be cheerful
Did you know that since 1990 France’s forest areas have increased by 7%?
Or that in the UK, thanks to conservation efforts, otters, pine martens, badgers and polecats have staged remarkable recoveries?
Or that the European Investment Bank, agreed to stop all financing for fossil fuels, and committed to investing half of its entire annual outlay — not just its energy budget — on climate action and sustainability by 2025?
While the world news can seem bleak there are positive things going on all around us. Get a positivity fix from the 99 good news story in this post from Futurecrunch.
There are good people in the world doing amazing things!
Can you help us?
Reader, we need your help. We have plans to expand One Tree’s activities. We want to engage with more businesses and start to hold our local authorities more accountable for how they look after the mountains.
To get bigger we need to spread the word. We need a bigger community, more engagement and more feedback.
So if you have read this far, thank you! Now we have a favour to ask.
Please forward this email to a friend (or two or three or your whole address book) and ask them to have a read and subscribe if they like it.
Finally don’t forget to delete after reading…
Andy
