Wild Geese

The Stern Report is published today, detailing how the economic effect of climate change could be worse than the great depression, and the 2 World Wars of the last century.

It's a complex issue, but until we all start doing something, nothing will change. One issue i can rant and rant on is food miles. I don't understand why in the summer the shops have tomatoes from Israel, what do we do with all the tomatoes we grow? Why do i need strawberries in December from Egypt? Why can't i just wait for them to be back in season? Another article in the latest issue of the New Internationalist illustrated some of the madness of food miles. Here are a few examples:

- Heinz Ketchup eaten in California is made with California-grown tomatoes shipped to Canada for processing and then returned in bottles.

- In one year the port of New York City exported $431,000 of California almonds to Italy, and imported $397,000 of Italian almonds to the US.

- in 2004, the UK imported 17,200 tonnes of chocolate-coated wafers, and exported 17,600

- Also in 2004, the UK imported 43,993 tonnes of potatoes and exported 85,652.

If we looked at what food we transport around the world - and why, we could make a huge cut in emissions.

Then there are budget airlines..but that is a rant for another day.