Our environment

Are we conscious of our impact?

Have you looked at the ingredients lists on the labels of foodstuffs labelled ‘traditional’ lately? Things like traditional meat pies were made with maybe 6 or 7 ingredients; meat, flour, butter, gravy made from meat, salt, pepper and water. I now struggle to pronounce most of the ingredients on the packets that I find.

I ponder my grandparent's generation – much of what they ate, they grew; what was broken, they fixed; what they didn’t have, they swapped. Back then there was a nose to tail philosophy, out of necessity. That said, there were also toxic paints, the beginnings of processed food, and most back yards had incinerators. Were our grandparents conscious of the effect of burning rubbish? Probably not, urban pollution was still new.

Today we can access research and see the impact we have on the environment. I was chatting to someone at the airport recently about how mainstream society seems to be more ‘aware’, 'conscious' of challenges of the age: waste, nutrition, and sustainability… yet we willingly accept and frequent fast fashion chains and two-dollar shops (I call them 'landfill shops)'. None are necessary.

There are two films that come to mind when I think of of waste and environmental impact. Fern Gully, and The Lorex – children’s films. Both explore the devastation to forests and the impact of humans on the environment. The Lorex even goes further and tells a story of humans having to sell air to other humans because there are no trees left.

I recently went to a funeral, with tissues. I bought tissues because it was easy. And there it is. We choose what is easy, not necessary. Our grandparents knew about necessity. Now, we are beginning to face the new necessity; responsibility and remediation and that starts with moderating convenience.

Now, where’s my hankie?

For a conscious view of looking at our waste, it’s a necessity to watch War on Waste, view the preview here.

Words By

Anita La Forgia

Life learner, multipotentialite, lifestyle elevator and creator

A treechanger who cooks to elevate life. Anita is passionate foodie using local, quality and seasonal ingredients. Living in the Macedon Ranges in Victoria she frequents the local farmers markets each week, with her beloved luggy. Her grandparents instilled the life skills of sustainable living, before sustainable living was a buzz word. She grew up in a restaurant and completing her International degree at César Ritz colleges in Switzerland, the heart land of hospitality, food and service.

Incinerators and the necessity of consciousness