We humans are not an isolated species. Due to globalization, industrialization, and our number, we have an enormous impact on this planet. All the things we do and those we choose not to, have repercussions on the world we live in.

Interconnected

If we each started practicing a no-impact lifestyle today, without electricity, shops, or technology; if we just picked and ate berries and only used hand-made tools, one can argue that the planet would not be able support the current population. However, the opposite is certainly true. The planet cannot sustain every individual living an average Western lifestyle.

Join us at our next tree planting event on 18 March 2012 - from 10.00 to 16.00 - in the Forêt de Soignes / Zoniënwoud which will be dedicated to Wangari Maathai. Check out this list of frequently asked questions and watch out for updates on this website, on our Facebook page and in our newsletter. 

A second life

Do you want to get rid of something and it is still in good shape? Here are some options:

On a beautiful spring day, people of all ages and backgrounds planted the second Sunbeams forest in Belgium. International and Belgian schools, scout groups and girl guides, ambassadors and children, Belgian and expat organisations, all had the same task on that sunny day: to turn a meadow into a forest. Together, they planted 4300 trees in one day in the outskirts of a village called Oetingen (Gooik)!

What does the war in Congo, the chimpanzees, your mobile phone and your daily life have to do with one other? It was this strong and convincing holistic message of inter-connectedness which impressed me the most after hearing Dr. Jane Goodall speak in front of a full auditorium at the Free University of Brussels last 22 November 2010.

Monthly eco-challenge: Eat less meat!

Why?

The "eco-foodprint" of eating meat has been underestimated and here are just a few examples: 

• Cattle are producing 18% of all green house gases.
• 78% of all agricultural land is used for cattle (fodder and grazing).
• More than 2/3 of all agricultural production in Europe is used for fodder.
• To produce 1 kg of meat, you need 15.000 litres of water, while 1 kg of grain or potatoes only need 1.000 litres.
• Water pollution, deforestation, energy use, air pollution, loss of biodiversity, more waste and antibiotics in our food are but a few other negative effects on the environment (see the FAO document “Livestock’s Long  Shadow” for more details).
• The well-being of the animals has often been totally neglected, especially in big farming industries

What can you do?

• Eat organic meat and meat from small-scale farming where the well-being of the animals has been taken into account.
• Eat less meat and replace it with alternatives like fish (see our sustainable fish guides), beans, peas, lentils, tofu, seitan, cheese, eggs or other sources of proteine.
• Alternate between different types of meat (the bigger the animal, the more it pollutes).
• Take smaller portions of meat when you eat it and "beef up" your plate with veggies instead.
• Try out all kinds of vegetarian dishes and be creative when you barbeque.
• Join in with the Donderdag Veggie Dag ("Thursday Veggie Day", introduced in Ghent by the Ethical Vegetarian Alternative)
• Or just go vegetarian!

If you want to know more on the impact of your diet on our planet, read Jane Goodall’s “Harvest for Hope. A Guide to Mindful Eating”. The book is also sold at Sunbeams events.

This article was originally published in the June 2009 edition of the Sunbeams newsletter.

Presentations

• Hints Classes of American Women's Club Belgium, Rhode-Saint Genese, 2009 and 2010
• 3 at Welcombeek, British military spouses, Sterrebeek, 2009-2010
• 20 at international schools as preparation for our tree planting events in 2010 and 2011

Workshops

• Wildlife workshop, with our expert, at Savoorke, Tervuren, October 2009 and 2010
• World Water Day, water experiments, for Serve The City – Brussels, March 2010
• Composting, with master composters, private garden, Kraainem, June 2009 and 2010
• 12 workshops on several topics at Savoorke, IMS, Tervuren, 2009-2011
• 2 workshops on recycling at US Tri-Mission, Brussels and Evere, 2011

Fairs

• Environmental Fair IBGE/BIM, Cinquantenaire Park, Elsene, June 2010 and 2011
• 4 fairs for EC Welcome Day, Berlaymont, Elsene, 2009-2011
• Christmas fairs: 2 at IMS and 2 at BSB , Tervuren, December 2009 and 2010
• Irisfeest, Woluwe Saint-Pierre, May 2010
• Stand at Lester Brown presentation at EP, Brussels, May 2010 and May 2011
• US Embassy volunteers day, Brussels, 2010
• 3 Expatica fairs, Autoworld, Elsene, 2009 and 2010
• 2 days, Welcome Fair, The Bulletin Group, Area 42, Schaarbeek, 2009

Other events

• Tree planting events, Neerlinter 2010 and Gooik/Oetingen 2011
• Clean-up the World event, Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, September 2010
• Nature Walk with Biloba forest guide, Watermaal-Bosvoorde, October 2010
• Earth Day celebration, with Lokilino, Tervuren, 2010
• Biodiversity Quiz, in cooperation with Friends of the Earth, Brussels, May 2010
• Car sharing events to Bioplanet, Mechelen 2009-2010
• Peace Day celebration, Giant Peace Dove building of recycled material by kids, for the
• Jane Goodall Institute, Tervuren, September 2009 and 2010
• Organic wine tasting event, with R99, at British Commonwealth Women's Club of Belgium
• Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, February 2010
• Several Energy Saving Events, Elsene, 2009-2010

Internal events/meetings:

• Recruiting events (volunteers or interns), team days, planning meetings (including students)
• Preparation and feedback meetings on tree planting event, Helping hands events, packing
• information folders, Board meetings

Cooperation established with

• Vereniging voor Bos in Vlaanderen (forest association)
• Beehive associations (Apis Bruocsella and the beekeepers assocation of Flemish Brabant )
• Natuurpunt (nature organization)
• Embassies of UK and Slovenia
• Jane Goodall Institute Belgium
• Vogelbescherming (bird protection)
• Serve The City Brussels
• Brussels Environmental Institute (IBGE/BIM)
• Universities, several
• UNEP Brussels Office
• UNRIC
• MOS, Green School logo
• International schools, several
• Lokilino (eco-toys shop with workshops)
• Turtle Wings
• Transition Towns Tervuren
• Agenda 21 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and Molenbeek
• Biloba vzw
• Friends of the Earth, Brussels
• Youth movements, JNM and Girl Guides
• Friends of Amma
• Gardener's Club of Brussels

Cooperation with companies

• Levi Strauss Co, since 2011
• Lokilino, since 2010
• Reason2.be, since 2008
• Druk in de Weer, since 2008

Grants

• King Baudouin Foundation, BreXpat III, 2009-2010

Outreach

• Distribution of Info Packs: ca. 800
• Monthly newsletters
• 2 getting started guides
• Mailing list: about 1000 subscribers, including schools and embassies
• Launch of Facebook and Twitter in 2010
• Fairs (see above) and other Networking activities, e.g. at Greenweek

Articles in other magazines

• Expatica, several articles, Award Expatica Belgium Best Blog in 2009-2010
• Away Magazine: 3 main articles + 6 columns with challenge and events 2009-2010
• Small Talk, BCT, monthly article
• Danish Magazine, monthly article
• Brussels Newsletter of 19 communes, 1 article
• Woluwe Saint-Pierre Newsletter, 1 article
• Australian-New Zealand, newsletter, several

Interviews

• The Bulletin, e.g. the Green issue 2011
• Changemakers in Brussels, by Polly Akhurst of The Hub, 2011
• Newspaper articles related to our tree planting events (2010-2011)

Sales for others

• Jane Goodall Institute, several items
• Vogelbescherming, bird association, several items
• Earth Policy Institute, books by Lester Brown
• Apis Bruoscella , wild flower seeds

Other: Status of non-profit organisation ASBL/VZW since April 2010

Some organic farmers prepare a selection of their vegetables and/or fruit in “baskets” on a weekly basis. The baskets comprise mainly locally grown vegetables and fruit, but sometimes (e.g. in winter time) the local ones are complemented by some bio (often fair trade) ones from abroad. The local ones are harvested and selected by the farmer each week. You don’t always know beforehand which vegetables or fruit you’ll get (Reason2.be will send you an email two days in advance specifying what you'll get), but they’re always in harmony with the seasons and freshly picked – and they taste delicious!

There are various suppliers to choose from in Belgium, each with their own payment method (upfront or after delivery), ordering system (online, by phone, ad hoc, monthly or even via annual membership), and place of delivery (a pick-up place or delivery to your doorstep). We put everything you need to know to get started is in this article.

Children’s parties have become real commercial events. Now this is a touchy topic isn’t it? I think it has to do with the fact we all try to be perfect parents. Today, I will add another challenge to your parties, but maybe it will eventually might make things easier, and at least you might feel much better about it! Each party has quite an impact on the environment.  How can you make a difference? Here are some ideas to pick from (both for parents who are creative and those who do not even have the time to think of being creative!) to make these parties at least a bit more eco-friendly. Time to rethink and dare to change some things!

There are a few basic rules to bear in mind when trying to buy eco-friendly school materials. The main ones are: go for sustainable material which will last a long time, choose items with a minimum of packaging, and look for recycled, recyclable and non-toxic products. We’ve checked out the Belgian market and found the following ideas to get your child off to a planet-friendly start.