Since the beginning of November, every email, every social media advert, every shop window has been like the Big Bad Wolf, lurking behind a bush and whispering in my ear, “Would you like to buy this?” … “Go on, you know you want to.” … “It’s cheap, so cheap!” But…
Climate Change
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Passing the Hat While the Planet Burns
Oil and gas are a “gift of God.” That’s what Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told world leaders in his opening speech at COP29 in Baku two weeks ago. It was quite an unconventional opening speech, especially considering why people from all around the world had gathered there. Then he continued:…
Climate Change
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A Year’s Worth of Rain In One Day
Last October, I was in Valencia to run the Valencia Half Marathon, enjoying the lively vibe of the city. Fast forward to this year, and it’s heart-wrenching to see those shocking images from Valencia. Cars stacked in the streets. Buildings flooded. People wading through rising waters. Europe is now facing…
Fossil Fuels: The Weapon of Mass Destruction
This summer was the hottest on record (surprise, surprise), and after a year where global temperatures finally exceeded 1.5°C, the need for faster and more effective climate action couldn’t be clearer. With the countdown to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, underway, the usual big topics are still on the table: climate…
Climate Change
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Food Systems and Climate Change
A Vicious Cycle Have you ever thought about the journey that a single carrot in your hand has taken, from the farm all the way to your plate? How was it grown? What processes did it go through? How was it transported? And how did it end up on the…
Environment
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Why Is Killing Someone a Crime But Fracking Is Not?
Last week, Dirceu Kruger, a Brazilian cattle rancher, was ordered to pay $50 million for destroying part of the Amazon. He destroyed 5,600 hectares of land in the Amazonian municipalities of Boca do Acre and Lábrea over the years. He used chainsaws to clear vegetation first, then set fires to…
My Better Version
I don’t want to be the best version of myself. There, I said it. This might as well be the end of this blog post. But no, I want to ramble on and bore you to death. How do you define being the best? You can measure the tallest person…
Health
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Do Not Disturb. I’m In My Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber
They said age is just a number. “You are only as old as you feel,” they said. But age and ageing are not the same thing. Yes, age is just a number and is often subjective. But ageing, on the other hand, is an observable process. And oh boy, we…
berlin
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Under the Linden’s Spell
It is that time of the year. The streets of Berlin are filled with the sweet scent coming from linden trees. You can’t help feeling that melancholy, the kind of melancholy that only exists in Berlin. Its sweet scent settles on your body, penetrates deep into you, and immortalises itself…
Where Are You?
Once upon a time, in the lush forests of New Zealand, there lived a beautiful bird called the huia. This bird is now extinct. A couple of weeks ago, a single huia tail feather was sold at an auction for an astonishing NZD$46,521 (US$28,365), making it the most expensive feather…
Climate Change
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Tell Me What You Eat and I Will Tell You – Oh Hold On! We Don’t Have That Anymore
Imagine one day you go to the supermarket to do some shopping. You start pushing the trolley and mentally go over your shopping list. You begin placing items in your trolley, a mix of the usual essentials, the must-haves, and a few indulgences with a cheerful ‘go on, treat yourself,…
berlin
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Tiergarten: Inclusive, Beautiful and Messy
I went for a run in Tiergarten this morning. I don’t know if it was the endorphins my body released due to running or the beautiful linden, oak, and chestnut trees – but by the end of it, I was feeling something more than a runner’s high. Tiergarten is more…
Wildfires
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Forgive Us, Bambi
Oh, hello summer! I am loving the sunshine and cannot be happier to bid farewell to the miserable winter. But I am not looking forward to hearing the wildfire news from all around the world. Or reading another ‘hottest year on record’ news article. While the fossil fuel companies continue…
He Didn’t Win the Lottery. He Just Saw a Caspian Plover
I have been following the @birddetective account on Instagram for a while. The account belongs to Emin Yoğurtçuoğlu, who is a bird watcher, nature photographer, traveller, and ecologist. The people I most envy and admire in life are those who succeed in turning their passions into businesses. When I say…
Sustainable Travel
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Flying, Guilt, and Other Mile-High Musings
What do you do about flights these days? Are you trying to cut down on them, do you take into account shorter roots or more direct routes? Are you offsetting the carbon emissions of your flight in some way? I have to be in London at the end of March….
Climate Stories
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Eternal Connection Between People and Nature
When I was a little girl, my best friend was a plum tree. Reflecting on it now, I think it’s fair to say that my bond with trees goes way back. I grew up in the heart of Istanbul, not in a rural retreat surrounded by nature, but even so,…
Environment
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Natural Capital 101
I am out of my depth, but let’s wing it! I’m not an expert in environmental economics, but I strongly feel the need to highlight the importance of safeguarding clean air, fresh water, fertile soil, and healthy forests. I want to talk about why it’s really important to keep these…
Storytelling
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Let’s Stop Treating Readers As Babies
I don’t like it when people say short form is the only way to secure your online presence. You need to write in a way that every line sounds like a punch line. People are scrolling; they don’t have time — hurry up, hurry up! Don’t use more than five words…