How are you placed in 2018?
There's much more to life than money, but that said, the growth of income inequality has long been a hot topic. The world's eight wealthiest men own as much as the 3.6 billion poorest people. One in ten people survive on less than $2 per day. According to Care International's Global Rich List website, an income of over AUS $40,000 a year puts you into the world's top 1%. Find out how you rank, and make 2018 your chance to live generously and let your dollar speak loudly for positive change in the world.
Our industrial food system
This sequence from Samsara shows a stunning, yet terrifying, recap of our current food system. The production and consumption of food is linked to the environment at every turn – from on-farm production, food processing and packaging, distribution, storage and consumption. Food choices contribute more to our eco-footprint than our transport and home energy use combined. Meat, eggs and dairy products are the biggest contributors. Find out the best way to support a climate friendly diet at Sustainable Table.
Return and Earn - deposit scheme
Another big step for recycling in Australia. The NSW Container Deposit Scheme 'Return and Earn' started on 1 December, giving 10c refunds on bottles and cans. QLD, the ACT and WA are in the process of introducing similar schemes. Sign the AMCS petitions encouraging Victoria and Tasmania, the only states that now do not have a scheme, to get on board!
Who feeds the world?
Who Will Feed Us, the ETC Group's new report, compares the industrial food system with peasant farming. Industrial farming gets all the attention. It accounts for more than 80% of the fossil fuel emissions and uses over 70% of the water supply used in agriculture, but it actually produces only about 30% of the world's food. See more lessons on Agro-Ecology here.
Closing the Loop has never been more fun!
Reducing your plastic use is essential, but you can also be part of the local recycling solution. Precious Plastic is a global community of hundreds of people sharing knowledge, tools and techniques to make it easier to start recycling plastic. Check out the map to find projects near you!
(See seven charts that explain the plastic pollution problem).
Quick Bites
Confectionery maker Darrell Lea has been sold for about $200 million to Sydney-based Quadrant Private Equity. The outgoing owner says 'absolutely no job cuts'.
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ABC news
AB InBev, the largest beer company in the world, has bought Adelaide craft brewer Pirate Life Brewing and Manley microbrewery 4 Pines.
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Craftypint
Fourth generation family-owned SA business Robern Menz has acquired the Violet Crumble brand from Nestlé. Robern Menz already makes FruChocs and Choc Honeycomb.
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The Advertiser
The Australian Open been criticised for selling bottle water from China. Spectators took to social media to express their upset on finding Ganten water from Shenzhen for sale.
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Aus Food news
Luxury fashion retailer Hugo Boss has found cases of forced labour in its supply chain with young female workers being held captive in garment factories in southern India.
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Guardian
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