After a bit of a break over the summer, things are moving along quickly here again – and Sept is being launched with a new addition to the online store! Mellow compostable phone cases are now available, along with all of your other favourite, sustainable and zero waste items!
(NOTE: Due to some tech issues, there may be delays with sharing this to IG. Apologies in advance. We hope to get it sorted out soon!)
Whatever you are looking for as we start another year, the online store has it!
Tech
Zero waste items
Clothing
Kitchen Items
Plant-based food
Bathroom and Laundry Supplies
and more!
Not sure what you are looking for? Browse through the store and see what is available. There might be a sustainable solution that you didn’t even know was an option!
This is a fascinating (if also slightly depressing) bit of research from the Guardian, with implications that go far beyond luggage design. and well into how we live sustainably – with each other, and with the planet. So, it turns out that wheels on suitcases – as obvious as it seems as a design – was held back, for far too long, because of negative gender stereotypes. Short answer: men are strong enough to carry a suitcase themselves, and women will only ever travel somewhere if there is a man with them (husband or other) to carry their bags for them. Therefore, the theory goes, there is no reason to have wheels on bags, since they would only be used by women who are travelling without a male… Seems that the goal was not to make it easier for women to be independent, and, in fact, the goal seems to have been pretty openly opposite – or at minimum, along with other items, was seen as an unworthy use of time/resources etc.
Two assumptions about gender were at work here. The first was that no man would ever roll a suitcase because it was simply “unmanly” to do so. The second was about the mobility of women. There was nothing preventing a woman from rolling a suitcase – she had no masculinity to prove. But women didn’t travel alone, the industry assumed. If a woman travelled, she would travel with a man who would then carry her bag for her. This is why the industry couldn’t see any commercial potential in the rolling suitcase. It took more than 15 years for the invention to go mainstream, even after Sadow had patented it.
From this starting point, the research goes on to point out countless other ways in which the contributions (and preferences) of men have dominated society – even when it’s detrimental, not just to society as a whole, but directly to the men impacted by their individual choices.
For example, many of us may have heard that EVs were designed long ago, but gas powered vehicles became more common, leading to a long period of dominance for gas over EVs. The part that was new to me, in this research, is that there was a gendered component to this, as well.
The rolling suitcase is far from the only example. When electric cars first emerged in the 1800s they came to be seen as “feminine” simply because they were slower and less dangerous. This held back the size of the electric car market, especially in the US, and contributed to us building a world for petrol-driven cars. When electric starters for petrol-driven cars were developed they were also considered to be something for the ladies. The assumption was that only women were demanding the type of safety measures that meant being able to start your car without having to crank it at risk of injury. Ideas about gender similarly delayed our efforts to meet the technological challenges of producing closed cars because it was seen as “unmanly” to have a roof on your car. (Bold mine)
As the author goes on to point out, this tendency in society, to give preference to things which are actually not in our own – collective – best interest, manifests in countless ways. We know that this is our history – and often part of our present. So, know that we know it’s an area where we tend to slip up (fairly catastrophically, at times), the next step is to own our mistakes, admit that we need to do better, and work hard at creating active, positive change.
What might that look like, for different people/circumstances?
switching to a (partly or fully), plant-based diet
getting rid of the gas-powered vehicle (as soon as is reasonably possible) and switching to other options
using legs, bikes and public transit more, and a personal vehicle less
buying/owning fewer consumer goods and being content with less
using zero waste products, instead of single use alternatives
downsizing to a smaller living space
less overtime at work (when financially possible) and more time with family/friends/community/volunteering etc (NOTE: This is in reference specifically to working unnecessary overtime to maintain an expensive, high end house/lifestyle etc. eg if you could downsize your house/lifestyle etc by 25-50+% and still have plenty of room for everyone, this one might apply to you…)
flying less, even when pandemic restrictions open up and allow greater opportunities
Other?
The sustainability of our planet, and how we care for each other, locally and globally, is critical – and far too important to get overtaken with outdated and gendered notions of what good choices look like. We can do better, together. 😃
……………………………
Looking for sustainable, plant-based or zero-waste info or items? Check out the MennoAdventures website and online store!
Reading this on IG or other spots? Full details on the website.
It’s almost the weekend, and today’s highlight is all about the online store! There are lots of great options for sustainable, plant-based and zero-waste items. Haven’t checked the store in a while? There are many options that you may have missed. Plus, two new partners have been added this week- and more may be coming soon! Happy browsing!
The online store saves you time – by finding a range of sustainable, plant-based and zero-waste items, all put together for you, in one handy spot! No need to search the internet – everything you need is in one spot for you. Whatever you are looking for – there’s a good chance that the online store has it, and we might even have some new favourites that you didn’t even know you were looking for! Plus, new partners are being added regularly, so check back often to see the newest sustainable items! 😃
CBC Keith Baybayon says he struggled with self-acceptance as he reconciled his sexual identity with his Catholic faith. He says flying the Pride flag at his school will help LGBTQ students feel more included and safe. (Jared Thomas/CBC )
Although this is only a small step in the right direction, it is worth celebrating. At the same time, there is still a shocking level of resistance – within the Ontario Catholic system and in other places, to a move as modest as flying a flag to demonstrate inclusion. For the record, the “faith-based” resistance to full acceptance of our LGBTQ+ members is not new, and it’s not something I am going to use space articulating here (but it is cited in the article, above). I’m sure that we’ve all heard it before, and the focus here is on how to move forward, more positively, not on giving space to outdated and discriminatory ideas.
So, in order to help transform the conversation from negative, to positive, I (along with countless others that are working for more inclusive faith groups), would like to suggest the following as a reframing of how we view our faith and actions, for ourselves, and others:
Instead of the too-often used, traditional, inaccurate and discriminatory stance:
“My faith tells me, based on centuries old (mis)understandings of gender and sexuality, that you – and your basic core identifiers, or what you do with your body – are wrong, and I am right. For me to live true to my faith, I need you to change who you are, in order for me to tolerate you.”
Let’s switch to:
“My faith tells me to love my neighbour, so I am called to accept and embrace the diversity (including gender, sexuality and many other things) that we all bring, without judgement or prejudice.”
“My faith tells me to be a good neighbour, so I am called to serve others, instead of demanding that others change their core identity to appease me.”
“My faith tells me that if I own two coats, and my neighbour has none, I should share – so therefore, I am called to give up my big house and move somewhere smaller, live simply, share my wealth, support a universal basic income and work to end wealth inequality in the world.”
“My faith tells me to care for creation, so I am called to stop eating animal products, use zero waste instead of single use products, switch away from my gas vehicle as soon as possible, and vote for governments that take the climate crisis seriously.”
My faith tells me to not kill others, so I am called to actively support peacebuilding instead of militaries, not own a gun, ensure that I am not glorifying war or weapons in any way, and actively vote in governments that show love to our global neighbours instead of engaging in war.”
“My faith tells me to live at peace with others, so I am called to learn the history of racism and discrimination in the world, locally and globally, and actively work to deconstruct any misperceptions I may have about systemic racism in our world. Likewise, I am called to actively welcome refugees and other newcomers with open arms.”
and so on…
Or, in the super-simplified form…
“My/our faith calls me/us to be better global citizen(s), and to serve others, without discrimination. One of the worst things we can do is latch on to the misguided idea that all we need to do is force someone else to change who they are (“be straight instead of LQBTQ+”, “don’t get an abortion”, “don’t be a refugee”…) and then that will be our ticket into heaven. Over and over, in countless faith traditions, we are called to change our own actions (giving up our own wealth, serving the poor and refugees, giving up our own power and status) instead of forcing change on others, especially on aspects of core identity, that break modern anti-discrimination laws in many countries. God calls us to give up our own privilege and wealth, (which is very hard to do), instead of demanding that others change who they are to appease us.”
So, with that, let’s get Pride Month going!😀
More info:
Taking a stand for her father and her family, she’s raising the Pride flag at her former Catholic school – CBC
…………………………………..
Looking for zero-waste, plant-based or sustainable items? Check out the MennoAdventures online store! There are always lots of great deals to be found, with our many amazing partners! Happy browsing!
Along with resources and lots of great info, you may not know that Menno Adventures has a new and improved online store experience, complete with access to countless sustainable items, through various partners.
No matter what you are looking for to guide your sustainable goals, one of our amazing partners probably has it! In fact, they might even have things that you didn’t know could help you on your sustainability journey. Ordering couldn’t be easier – all you need to do is go to the Menno Adventures website, browse the categories under the online store, find the partner(s) you would like to check out and click on their link. From there, you are redirected to the partner store, where you can browse and order. Ordering and shipping all happens directly through the partner website, the same as any other online ordering experience.
Whether you are looking for clothing, tech (compostable phone cases), food and related items or other sustainable solutions, you will (hopefully) find what you are looking for here. 😊
What difference does it make to order through MennoAdventures?
It saves you the work of researching and finding great stores that sell amazing, sustainable items. All the work is done for you – and there are lots of great options, all in one spot! 😊
Plus, by clicking on the link on the MA website, before continuing on with your order, with one simple click, you are helping support the work that this website is doing.
What cool things can I find in the online store? Lots of great things (all sustainable, plant-based, mostly zero-waste), including, among many other great options…
Each of the partners in the MA online store has amazing products – and there are often sales or discounts that come up as well (too many for me to list here…). So, check Menno Adventures often, see if any new partners have been added, click on the links and enjoy the amazing selection of sustainable, zero-waste and plant-based options that they offer! Know of others who might be interested? Please share widely in your circles. Have a great weekend!
Out of the many tragedies that have emerged from this pandemic, one of the few silver linings is the possibility that, once we have demonstrated the ability to completely shut down and restart our societies, we will, collectively, use that towards restarting in a manner that is safe and sustainable, for people and the planet. The power to do so is in our hands – all we have to do is make the choice, individually and collectively. The data could not be more clear – we know what we need to do, and we know how to do it.
US urged to cut 50% of emissions by 2030 to spur other countries to action Guardian
Global lockdown every two years needed to meet Paris CO2 goals – study Guardian
NYTimes: Volvo Plans to Sell Only Electric Cars by 2030 NYT
Carbon dioxide emissions must fall by the equivalent of a global lockdown roughly every two years for the next decade for the world to keep within safe limits of global heating, research has shown. (Bold mine).
Lockdowns around the world led to an unprecedented fall in emissions of about 7% in 2020, or about 2.6bn tonnes of CO2, but reductions of between 1bn and 2bn tonnes are needed every year of the next decade to have a good chance of holding temperature rises to within 1.5C or 2C of pre-industrial levels, as required by the Paris agreement.
Changes of this scale, as with the pandemic, are multi-faceted, including individual actions (eg wearing masks, staying home when needed to protect ourselves and others), governmental (eg clear public health orders, income support as needed), business (eg switching to curbside pickup or work from home, where applicable). Likewise, for the climate crisis, we need all levels and sectors involved, doing everything possible to get us to where we need to be.
So, in the most immediate term, reducing our emissions by 50%+ over the next few years (and then further after that) is not a small task. How are we going to get there, and what actions can we take, starting today, to get us there, in each sector?
Reducing the size of our home by 50% will reduce our heating/cooling emissions in half (as a rough estimate, simply because we have less space to heat/cool). If, by extension, we also own less stuff, there are emissions reductions (and other gains) to be found there, as well.
Switching from an animal-based diet to a whole-foods, plant-based diet has a significant impact (exact % depends on what you were eating before, and whether you switch fully or partly to plant-based etc)
Living in a higher density area helps reduce driving-related emissions, as more day-today trips are within walking distance (as does using public transit or an EV when you aren’t walking or biking)
Significantly reducing or eliminating flights will take out a significant emissions source, depending on how much you were flying before and how much you reduce. Before flying, consider whether the flight is essential or not.
Electing governments that are serious about tackling the climate crisis
Supporting businesses that are working to tackle the climate crisis (zero waste and others) instead of business-as-usual
Countless others – far too many to list here. 🙂
Naturally, different people will tackle things in their own order – and for someone who already lives in a small home in a high density area, downsizing is obviously not the place to start. However, most of us have room to improve, and places to start. What changes have you already made? Which are you interested in trying next? Which are you most curious about? Which do you think will be easier or more challenging?
We’re all in this together, so let’s help each other out, and build a better future for everyone!
…………………………………….
There are always lots of amazing deals on sustainable, zero-waste items in my online store! Check the website for details!
It is shocking (and quite disturbing) to me, that some faith groups still believe that they are called to a mandate of exclusion, instead of inclusion, on any of a wide number of otherwise protected identifiers, including gender and sexuality. Over and over, to the best of my knowledge, faith group and their major texts call for love of neighbour, welcome of the stranger, living simply and service to others. Nothing in that suggests, or allows, discrimination based on who we are at our core, or an acceptance of destruction of creation. And yet, some faith groups still fight for the right to discriminate, and avoid talking serious action on the climate crisis – and it must end.
Major Evangelical Adoption Agency Will Now Serve Gay Parents Nationwide
At a time when we are facing multiple global crises (including a pandemic and a climate crisis), faith groups should be leaders, setting an example of how to care for all of creation – including all people, animals, and the environment. Instead, some groups still put their energy into excluding others, and denying women the right to a full range of reproductive health services, as though that is the way to a better world for everyone.
A justification that I sometimes hear from others is that something can be found somewhere in one’s ancient texts to justify discrimination. In response, I would suggest that many people only take texts literally on things that are life-limiting for others, without requiring us to change ourselves. I’m suggesting a different approach (along with countless others).
Want to take the Bible or other ancient texts literally? How about focusing on the countless times that we are told not to accumulate wealth? Living simply requires a lot more from us than telling someone else how we think they should live their lives.
Think swapping out “My faith says that you should be straight” and replacing it with “My faith says that I should be less wealthy, live in a smaller home, eat more lentils, help others more, create less garbage and drive less often.”
Likewise, the admonition to not kill or steal features in many faith texts: how about putting our energy into banning militaries and the theft of natural resources (and extreme wealth discrepancies, locally and globally) that is contributing to climate change? The list could go on and on…
For faith groups to be relevant into the future, we need to, collectively, move beyond this idea that we can live our own lives as we wish, while excluding others, and destroying the planet. We can, and must do better, together. We can do it. 🙂
Winter may be almost over, or spring may feel a long ways away, depending on where you are living. Either way, the Encircled Winter Clearout sale is now, some items have been reduced by 40%. Looking for cozy items for next winter, or something for cool evenings in summer? Now’s the time to put an order in!
(Note: Discount code should apply automatically when you order items from the winter discount collection. Having trouble? The code is at the top of the Encircled page on my website for reference.)
Looking for other cool, sustainable stuff? Check out all of the amazing partners in the online store.
Great news! Another partner has been added to the online store! Our “Good Food for Good” page is now live and ready for you to browse, click and order!
On a mission to create a positive difference by making it easy for you to add flavors you crave without the added sugar or preservatives, and by donating a meal to a person in need through Buy One, Feed One program.
When love for great taste, meets quest for clean ingredients & giving back to the world.
NO ORDINARY SAUCE At Good Food for Good, we make our food with organic ingredients and ensure it is free of gluten, soy, corn, refined sugars, dairy, preservatives or any other ingredients you wouldn’t add if you were cooking yourself. That’s not all, every time you buy any of our products, we donate a meal to feed someone in need. We are a Buy One, Feed One venture.
We are a B Corp Certified™ Company. We use business as a force for goodin the world. Our accreditation aligns us with other like-minded companies globally.
2020 was not the year that any of us were expecting, when the year began. A global pandemic forced a radical reset of how the world operates, in countless ways. Some of those changes were relatively easy – such as office workers switching to more remote meetings, with less travel for in person work. Other changes were much more difficult – in addition to the catastrophic death toll that results from any pandemic or other major crisis. Some of these changes, however, have resulted in a significant – if temporary – reduction in our emissions. Contrary to the frequently asked question – “When will things go back to the way they were?” – we were, globally, on a trajectory that was not sustainable. Therefore, we should, instead, be asking “How can we come out of this pandemic to something better than what we had before?” (as many people are already doing).
Covid Took a Bite From U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2020: NYT
BBC News – Climate change: US emissions in 2020 in biggest fall since WWII
Amid 2020’s gloom, there are reasons to be hopeful about the climate in 2021 Guardian
InsideClimate News: Many Scientists Now Say Global Warming Could Stop Relatively Quickly After Emissions Go to Zero.
InsideClimate News: Many Scientists Now Say Global Warming Could Stop Relatively Quickly After Emissions Go to Zero.
Lloyd’s market to quit fossil fuel insurance by 2030: Guardian
What does coming out of this to a new, better normal look like? What changes do we need to keep? What new changes will we still need to make? There is not the space here to allow for a comprehensive answer, but there are a few key pieces to highlight:
We must continue with the significant, rapid reduction in emissions that we saw during this pandemic. The rapid pace of change that happened showed that change is possible, where there is a will. Now, we need to maintain the momentum of these changes, without the catastrophic pressure that comes from a global pandemic. Globally, we all need to act fast, without waiting for others who might be further behind in this process.
A Universal Basic Income is essential, for many reasons, and should be implemented as soon as possible.
Multi-party systems, with proportional representation, seemed to fair better (based on research that others have done), and also are key to reducing polarization and misinformation campaigns. Countries that still have First-Past-The-Post or other non-proportional systems should put serious effort into switching as soon as possible.
Food and travel/transportation are big areas of emissions, both of which we have significant control over in our daily lives. Changes are critical – and will need to go beyond what is easy or comfortable at times.
Moving into a better 2021 – and beyond – means living within our planetary boundaries, not taking more than our fair share and living simply, in balance with our global neighbours and with the earth. (Photo Credit)
