Day 2 - 262 -- Thinking of the Environment

The rain poured down sporadically overnight - a pleasant, restful sound on the roof.  During the day, there were sharp showers -- the wonderful term for brief downpours I came across in London (UK). Sun shone between the rainy bits. Temperatures were warm but the humidity made it much more uncomfortable. There is a new weather system coming in that will bring temps back to seasonal for the coming week. Though, I will admit that I tend to listen to meteorology reports and then wait to see what really shows up outside my window <smile>.

Last week I took some household hazardous waste to the annual pick up at the mall.  For the rest of the year, we take this waste just outside of town to the depot. I have some further electronic waste that will need to go out -- may need to find someone to help me lift and carry the heavier items. Newer versions are so much more compact <smile>. This week is bulky waste pickup at the curb -- the time of year when we see mattresses, couches, barbecues and such on the street. I do have a couple items that need to get to the curb this week since I missed the day last April. Our weekly pick ups alternate between blue bags and clear bags of garbage with the large green bin. This provincially mandated system was one of the first of its kind in Canada. Others are now starting to pick up some of the same items at the curb, but on a smaller level -- far fewer recyclables are allowed in some places. This all fits well with my desire to reduce, reuse, recycle and best of all refuse -- something I've been doing since the '70s. A few people managed to design and implement this major effort to divert close to 50% of waste from landfills. It is simple, yet many people seem not to want to understand the sorting system or the broader environmental issues at hand. Even so, the power of one is important.

The song today deals with the rain and was written as an advocacy piece in the '60s by Malvina Reynolds. The version shared today is by a singer from the folk movement -- a stunningly clear and beautiful voice. Enjoy!

What have they done to the rain? -- Maryanne Faithfull