This is an interesting blog entry for me. I’m going to cover a few things that have happened in the last few weeks that I feel bring me closer to a few of my goals.

Last April (I think!) it was announced that the Government were going to go ahead with the expansion of Heathrow Airport with a third runway and a 6th Terminal. Greenpeace jumped up and objected, naturally and I joined their campaign to be a beneficial owner of a plot slap bang in the middle of the proposed land for the new runway/terminal. Part of this “plan” of the Governments would mean the destruction of an entire village, Sipson, the destruction of a graveyard, old houses, and not to mention further destruction of green belt land. Geoff Hoon, transport minister, claimed that it met all current climate bill, given that the initial plans for the runway were drawn up 2003 and the bill has changed many times since then, and it was a sound piece of planning with no flaws. Greenpeace disagreed. A year long campaign was issued culminating in a High Court hearing in the beginning of March. The campaign took on the Government head on. I wasn’t expecting much, surely the Judges would take the Government’s side, perhaps a new story of cash bribes or best Judge would stem out from the conclusion of the court. But no. We won. The Government now has to go back to the drawing board, so to speak, and completely rethink their plan based entirely on the fact that the “climate sound plan” was contradicting so much of the Governments own pledges to cut on CO2 emissions it was unreal. The sense of victory knowing I was a part of that campaign to help us get there, being a beneficial owner of the Airplot and making more people aware and helping out where I could in an online fashion, it was…I don’t even think I can think of a word to put in here, but it felt really good. And it has inspired me to take part in further campaigns by Greenpeace.

My current one is against Nestle. Nestle are accused of using companies who use unsustainable Palm Oil and that are being destructive to the habitat of the orang-utan. Let me go further. Other than destroying the habitat of the orang-utan and destroying its food, home etc, they are also outright killing the orang-utan’s   they are outright killing them in “defence”. There are stories of orang-utan’s being covered in petrol and set on fire, being kicked and stamped to death, decapitated, having their hand chopped off because they have become “threatening” usually only by just approaching the humans who have invaded their space. Therefore I have now started to boycott Nestle and all their companies. And I tell you, it’s hard. Nestle are only one link in a massive change of companies. I need to do some more research into just where the smaller links land, where they are tied into. I know L’Oreal is one of these links and they are tied to the Body Shop. L’Oreal I avoid anyway due to the fact they test on animals. Food stuffs are easier, most say Nestle on them although I’m now upset I won’t be able to have fruit pastilles but this temporary discomfort to me is nothing to what orang-utans are suffering at the hands of us, humans, one of their closest cousins. I find thinking about the whole situation quite upsetting. How long before we wipe them out? I’m not sure where they are on the endangered species scale they are but I’m sure they are pretty high.

Another thing I want to get involved with is the current decision of the Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And Flora (CITES for short). CITES was brought into place in 1963 to help protect the trade of endangered species, as the name suggests. This covers a wide variety of animals such as elephants, rhinos and tigers used for ivory or medicine. Two of the species in the meeting in March 2010 was Elephant ivory trade and Bluefin Tuna. The Elephant trade was brought up by 3 or 4 African nations and they wanted to allow a temporary trade to let them get rid of their ivory stores. There were fears that this would lead to an increase in poaching were this trade allowed to go ahead. Thankfully the elephants this time should be saved with CITES now allowing any further trading on ivory. A big hurrah for elephants. Bluefin Tuna was not quite so lucky. CITES disapproved a ban in the hunting of this type of tuna on the basis that “rare fish sells”. Or at least that’s what it seems to be. Rare fish brings in the money. I do not see how the extinction of one species is going to help in the long run. I don’t believe the Convention did quite so well this time around. And so I want to see if there are any campaigns taking place to try and turn around this decision.

The other thing I would talk about is Whales, but perhaps I’ll leave that for another entry.

Since the weekend I have also tried to rearrange my spare room. Now I know what you are thinking, how is your spare room comparable to orang-utan, elephant or tuna suffering? Well its not.

One of my other new year’s resolutions was to look into myself and look into my spirituality, my inner being and my self. Something I have failed to do in the first three months in the year. Only another 9 to go. I thought if I tided the room and rearranged it just a little I could create a space for me where I can start to look at meditation and yoga and use these to look into myself and see what’s there. I’m hoping the extra room will also allow me to look into a few new things; there is ample room in there now for a little bit of poi spinning although space is still a bit of an issue so just a few simple moves until it’s sunny enough to go outside. (Note to self: Start hooping again). I’ve also bought myself a journal. Yes, I notebook queen have bought, le sigh and le gasp, another notebook. This one I want to have as a spiritual and philosophical journal. I want to write in it my thoughts of everything. I do have some random philosophical thoughts on occasion and think this would be the best way for me to get them down and then look back and consider them further. Most of these thoughts will not make it into this blog until I feel I have a firm belief or understanding of quite what I mean. I do find it quite difficult to understand myself at the best of times so for the benefit of your sanity I’m doing it this way. However, if you wish to discuss philosophical stuffs with me feel free :) in the usual places.

I’ve also gone further on my personal “Say no to commercialism” campaign. You might remember from a previous entry I said I wasn’t going to buy anything from high street stores except the bare essentials. I’m doing well. I spent £50 on eBay on Thursday to get two skirts, four tops and a pair of trousers. Other than Primark, where else is that possible? To top it all off most were Nomads Clothing, who just so happen to be my favourite fair trade clothing brand, and all brand new with tags. Bonus! All fairly stylish in a hippie kind of way too.

So looking back to me resolutions I believe I’ve made quite a substantial start to them or I’m about to in the case of a couple of them. I’m standing up for things I believe in, I’m starting to find a way to look into myself and understand my beliefs and my personal challenge couldn’t be going better.

I just have to get back onto that diet…after Easter. I promise!