Never mind the election, I just won a year's supply of ice cream!

It all feels like doom and gloom after the Tories slipped back in to Downing Street yesterday. So here's some good news for you:

I just won a year's supply of Ben & Jerry's ice cream! 

And the best news is, I don't even like ice cream! So I'm going to give it away to the people who pledged for me on the Do Nation website!

I won it for getting so many pledges on my Do Nation page. Did you sponsor me in April? Would you like a tub (or two) of Ben & Jerry's as a thank you? (I honestly don't want it, it has plastic packaging after all!). Email me your address, and I'll post you a voucher. lovebristolhatewaste@gmail.com

My challenge to live a Zero Plastic Waste April is now over, and I can report that it was very difficult. However, I now have some interesting new habits, many of which I did not expect or foresee, all of which I will be continuing with:

• I'm eating lots more fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds;
• Flossing my teeth (giving up toothpaste in plastic tubes has made me more careful about how thoroughly I brush and has made me start flossing daily);
• Avoiding palm oil (inadvertently - it seems that most products which contain palm oil, are also usually in plastic packaging);
• Eating less cheese (I did used to eat cheese on everything!);
• No crappy snacks like crisps;
• More excellent snacks like this nom nom Proper Welsh Chocolate flame roasted hazelnut chocolate...nom nom indeed.

HELP ME WIN AGAIN!

I have been sponsored by 10 pretty special people so far, who have pledged to give up everything from driving their cars, to smoking; and from overfilling the kettle, to eating meat and dairy. In total so far we have saved 

3820kg of CO2

My target is 10000kg, so we're already more than a third of the way there! Good work!

 If you haven't had a look at the DoNation website yet, here's a link to the (ever growing) list of things you can do to "sponsor me" http://www.thedonation.org.uk/doactions. And they've released this fab new video explaining how it works: https://vimeo.com/36015150

Feel like your small contribution won't make a difference? Well 42% of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions are a result of individuals' actions, at home and in personal travel. And you can save yourself time, money and get fit at the same time! Why not give it a try? CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR ME.

If you have sponsored me already, thank you! And please do let me know how you are getting on, and what new habits you have formed. You can email me at lovebristolhatewaste@gmail.com

THE FORFEIT

As I failed my Zero Plastic Waste challenge, I will be cycling around Bristol city centre dressed in nothing but plastic bags, on Monday 8th June, as part of the launch of the City to Sea project, which aims to raise awareness of (and prevent) litter in cities making its way to the ocean. More on that next time...

MEAT-FREE MAY

Mooooving on to meat-free May...This one is actually going to be pretty easy. I have already stopped buying meat, partly because I've been avoiding plastic, and it takes effort to find meat which is not wrapped in plastic. But also because I watched the film The Cowspiracy (http://www.cowspiracy.com/) and became aware of how much impact the animal agriculture industry has on the greenhouse effect.

I'm getting a little help with inspiration and recipe ideas from Friends of the Earth: https://www.foe.co.uk/page/meat-free-may

This is from their website:

"Our current diets are harming our health and our planet. How our food gets to our tables is almost unrecognisable from 50 years ago. While people in some parts of the world do not have enough to eat, others suffer from obesity, and our current diets are causing massive environmental damage. Meat production is responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gases emissions, and overfishing has led to 70% of fish stocks being declared ‘fully exploited’ or ‘totally exploited’. The global food system is broken, and something needs to change. By eating less meat and fish, we can make a difference to both the planet and our own health, while still enjoying the food we love."

The only time I have eaten meat in the last few months is when other people have cooked it for me, or occasionally when I've eaten out, and didn't like the sound of the veggie option on the menu! So now I have to "come out" to everyone - My name is Holly, and I am a vegetarian!!

SPONSOR ME

I want you to sponsor me, but I DON'T WANT YOUR CASH!!
Instead, I want YOU to pledge to make a change in your life too.
Why not join me for a meat-free May? Or just pledge to stop buying food in plastic packaging. And you don't even have to go down the same lines as me, you could challenge yourself to stop using your car, to give up smoking, or whatever you fancy. There are loads of suggestions on the DoNation website, so have a look around.
Whatever you choose, I look forward to hearing about how you get on! Good luck!