“Before the flood” – a liveaboards thoughts

Slap one of the biggest Hollywood stars face on it and you have people’s attention; Global Warming ladies and gentlemen. High five to Leonardo Dicaprio for doing a good on casting light to a very important matter. This blog post is about The new documentary Before the flood

If you haven’t seen it yet I would urge you to check it out on the link below.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/before-the-flood/

More importantly this text is about me and the message of global warming, because what can I do about it? And to be honest I do have some bad conscious about it. My floating home is made out of fibreglass which is highly toxic to make, The interior is covered with laquer which i guess is also toxic to produce. I have a Diesel engine, and every year I paint the bottom with Sea poisoning Anti Fouling…hmm.

 

Before the flood – how I cut down

It is easy to talk about global warming and that we need to cut down our emissions and start treating our planet with better care. The film just doens’t put an emphasis on HOW. What can one man do; what can you do yourself about saving the planet.

But here are some ideas from my life on how i do what I feel i can.

• Transportation is by bike and if i go further distances it’s public transport or carpooling to save emissions. Honestly i could rent a car, but I am aware of the excess pollution.
• I rarely by meat. And if i do, it’s ecological and free range. The later two doesn’t make it better meat production is (according to the film) an enormous pollution source.
• When the sun shines i go to solar power on the boat. Having set up my own solar system with batteries, i have become aware of how much power our daily life’s consume. Take a look at your fridge or ovens power rating. DAMN!
• Buy as much eco goods as I can.
• Heating when i’m docked is electrical. Denmark is a high producer of wind power, so i am hoping that power goes into my heater.
• Don’t throw things out but give away to charity.

My opinion is that even though being green is in my head, it doesn’t feel like i am doing much. I wish i had the option of doing more.

 

 

Automatic benefits of being Liveaboard

However; being a liveaboard have given me some interesting side effects, that correlate to being green.

• I am aware of not having things i don’t need.
• By good stuff because bad stuff breaks and causes waste (of money)
• Natural is king. Wool underwear, cork insulation, cotton clothing is among the best material you can put on a boat. If you are extra good. Consider where it comes from
• You cut down on resources. You don’t waste water because you have a limitied supply onboard.

Climate change is real for me. I have seen winters change and played in deep snow that will never come again. Being aware of it and finding ways i can cut down my contribution of water and emissions in my action to becoming green….I still wish i could do more.