October sunshine in an Andalucian pueblo
October usually brings downpours, high tides, high winds and autumn to the pueblo, but this year has been different. Global warming is certainly to blame, and that means us, we are to blame. But that doesn’t mean we have to behave as Spartans or monks all the time.
Of course, we all have to do something about it. And we have to learn that doing something doesn’t just involve pointing fingers at everybody else, for a start. Sitting home and shouting at the telly does not count as doing your bit as an eco-warrior.
We in the West are particularly to blame as we use far more energy than the rest of the world, despite being far fewer in numbers. We can use less electricity and water. We can stop being so eager to jump into our cars for the slightest errand, we can use our legs instead. You don’t know how much you’ll enjoy it till you try.
If we can’t cut out meat altogether, we should eat far less and make sure it is meat from animals raised in pastures, from chickens that are free to range around the land in sunshine. Raising animals kept in dark and tight spaces is not only extremely cruel, but it is also damaging the planet. And we needn’t think that switching to fish will solve the problem, overfishing is threatening fish stocks so much that many spieces that used to be plentiful just a few decades ago are on the verge of extinction.
But all this doesn’t mean life has to stop while for us all to engage in an endless downward spiral of depression. The world is still a beautiful place to live and not to enjoy it will help nothing. This weekend I enjoyed myself watching others enjoy themselves.
13 comments on “October sunshine in an Andalucian pueblo”
Don't bottle it up, let everybody know your opinion. And please feel free to leave a link to any of your recent posts
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Bryan Hemming 
Wonderful pictures 👏
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Thanks for stopping by, Bryan. As you probably noticed, Vaska is one of the very few who bothered to leave a comment, and she was kind enough to cross-post, which brought a record number of views. I think she is still associated with OG, though less visibly.
My equating our neo-oligarchs to Big Box stores was brought about by watching Bernie Judas-Goat for the Dems, saying something to the left of la Clinton (which didn’t take much), but still supporting Empire and most of its Clusterfucks (http://kunstler.com/).
We’re thinking about a trip down your way (Algarve, Valencia) this winter, say Jan or Feb, duration unknown at this point. Love to stop by and gab.
Paz
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First time visit. Can’t remember how I found my way here.
Great blog, great post. Like that you include your photos. Popped over to Anji’s site and was blown away by her paintings.
As a US citizen (and an old motorhead), but having spent a fair amount of my working life outside the confines of the “Homeland” in some places I certainly don’t plan on revisiting, giving up the driving addiction, now that I live in France, while a bit difficult, was not impossible. We don’t even have a car here, in Paris. Have to admit we have one in the country. I think we drove all of 3k klm last year.
Agree with you and rangewriter about consumption in general. We’re lucky to have access to lots of organics both here and there at the local markets.
I started posting my scribbles on a blog, onceagain489.wordpress.com a while back if you’d care to take a look. It’s totally unorganised, so I won’t be offended if you give up!
Cheers,
Steve
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It’s a challenge to not drown in depression these days. I stopped consuming the media years ago. That helped immensely. I focus on my immediate surroundings rather than the world.
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Well said, Bryan, along with some terrific photographs.
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Thanks, Jane.
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These years are extremely hot. Summers that never end… I just want to use a cardigan. Beautiful pictures and encouraging speech.
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BTW, love the photos. Especially the cat.
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“shouting at the telly does not count as doing your bit as an eco-warrior.” Maybe not, but it helps bring down my blood pressure! You have no idea how frustrating it is to be an American with half a brain and a glimmer of a conscience these days. While that mop in the White House scatters hate and chaos, I’m trying to go about leaving as small a mark on this planet as possible. I sip utilities (well, compared to the average American consumer) and I bike/walk more than I drive. I eat less meat than I used to and try to consume only that which is grown locally by someone I know. I looked into retrofitting my house to solar power, but the price tag was too staggering. If everyone was conscious of their personal impact and tried to mitigate that, we could make a difference…
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I have done more than my bit of shouting at the telly too.
Angelica and I try to use things as sparingly as possible. We do eat meat and we are far from being too puritanical about food, or anything else in life. But I do tire of those, who think complaining all the time is doing their bit, while jumping in the car at the slightest excuse. They appear to believe the bit of fuel they use doesn’t count. And it wouldn’t, were it for all the other countless millions doing exactly the same thing.
You strike me as someone who cares very much about the planet, spending as much time as you can enjoying its natural fruits and beauty they way they are meant to be enjoyed, Linda.
It’s the sum total of all the little changes we can all make to our lives that make the greatest differences to the planet. For better, or worse. At the moment, too many of us are heading in the wrong direction.
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I’m a bit surprised to learn that some Europeans are so quick to hop in the car, Bryan. I thought if nothing else, fuel prices would cause most to take to the hoof or skinny wheel.
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If only it were just some.
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😢
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