{"@context":{"rdf":"http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#","rdfs":"http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#","owl":"http://www.w3.org/2002/07/owl#","foaf":"http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/","dc":"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/","dct":"http://purl.org/dc/terms/","sioc":"http://rdfs.org/sioc/types#","blog":"http://vocab.amy.so/blog#","as":"https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#","mf2":"http://microformats.org/profile/","ldp":"http://www.w3.org/ns/ldp#","solid":"http://www.w3.org/ns/solid#","view":"https://terms.rhiaro.co.uk/view#","asext":"https://terms.rhiaro.co.uk/as#","dbp":"http://dbpedia.org/property/","geo":"http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#","doap":"http://usefulinc.com/ns/doap#","time":"http://www.w3.org/2006/time#"},"@graph":[{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2013/04/moderating-freegle","@type":"as:Article","blog:bloggerid":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18505529.post-6474955000839878568","as:actor":{"@id":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/12227954801080178130"},"as:content":"
I'm now officially a volunteer moderator for the Edinburgh Freegle group.
\r\nI love Freegle (/Freecycle) and have used it for years. I've got rid of stuff\r\nI didn't need and given a loving home to many unwanted things. Things I love\r\nabout Freegle are:
\r\nPossessions I have gained thanks to Freelge include:
\r\nWhen I met the other moderators a couple of weeks ago to become officially\r\ntrained in the process, I had no idea how much goes on behind the scenes.\r\nWell, I had some idea, but actually there's loads more. Edward\r\nHibbert is\r\nbehind it all.
\r\nAt it's core, Freegle still runs on Yahoo Groups. This means it's possible to\r\ninteract with it through email alone. Thus, moderation takes place through\r\nthe Yahoo Groups interface, but hugely enhanced thanks to Edward's moderator\r\nFirefox plugin. (It means I have to moderate using Firefox or suffer the\r\nconsequences, but it's not so bad. One day maybe we/I'll port it to a Chrome\r\nextension).
\r\nHowever, there's also a super high tech front-end at\r\nFreegle.in/Edinburgh. Check it out. The web\r\ninterface helps people get their subject lines correct and keeps track of\r\nvarious user stats. It detects where people are posting from from the subject\r\nline and plots it on a handy map; it categorises posts by picking out keywords\r\nfrom the subject line too, and usually gets it right.
\r\nThere's definitely more to write about here, but I'm going to save that for\r\nanother time.
\r\nMeanwhile, if you're not part of your local Freegle or Freecycle group, change\r\nthat! Check out ilovefreegle.com to find yours.\r\nIt's an easy and amazingly beneficial way to help the environment and interact\r\nwith your local community.
","as:name":"Moderating Edinburgh Freegle","as:published":{"@type":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#datetime","@value":"2013-04-13T21:21:00.003Z"},"as:tag":[{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/doing"},{"@id":"blog:Doing"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/environment"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/freegle"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/volunteering"}],"as:updated":{"@type":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#datetime","@value":"2013-04-13T21:30:22.358Z"}},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2019/09/reflections-climate","@type":"as:Article","as:content":"Since my day job is part of a workers' co-op, it doesn't make sense to strike against ourselves.
\r\n\r\nInstead, we're spending time conducting a thorough review of our internal policies (travel and equipment expenses mostly, but also what powers our servers etc) to find and act on areas where we can minimise our environmental impact. We're also looking for ways the co-op as an organisation can take some of the burden from individuals to help make environmentally friendly decisions in day-to-day work and home life. Because it's no one person's individual responsibility* and it is at best unfair, at worst impossible, to expect people to take the weight of the world on top of their immediate concerns; any real change will only happen at organisation, collective, corporate levels. We're a small organisation, but the least we can do are things like:
\r\nAnd besides that, we're a remote organisation, so homeworking or local coworking spaces mean none of us are required to commute, and we don't have to power an office space. We also consider carefully the work we do (things for public good) and who we take money from, and every member of the co-op has equal input in this. Not to mention - we are a co-operative. We provide an alternative to power-hungry, profit-driven, top-down companies beholden to greedy shareholders; our existence is a protest in itself as best we can muster given we still need to function in a capitalist society.
\r\n\r\nThis afternoon we had a meeting, optional, to share our collective trauma over the current state of the world**. Some of us will go out and find our local #ClimateStrike protests to join.
\r\n\r\nIt's small, and seems kind of futile in the grand scheme of things. Why even bother? What difference are fewer than 20 people going to make? It seems like most people are in a complete state of cognitive dissonance, and who can blame them? The best we've got is to scrape together our collective energy - make space for our colleagues to breath and take stock - and do the small things. Nobody is under the illusion that this is going to fix the problem overnight. But at the very least we can spread the message, the intent, the energy to our friends, family, and possibly our clients, who might spread it onwards. I'm trying to write this from a position of hopefulness, rather than my usual semi-apathetic nihilism, and honestly, it's a struggle.
\r\n\r\nI count myself lucky to have co-workers who are open to talking frankly about these issues and making changes at an organisational level, when many people can't or won't even do that. It's reassuring and even delightful to be able to bring my personal ethical stances to a group without feeling like an annoying nag. For example:
\r\n\r\nI mostly do these things quietly, for myself. But if it comes up, I can use myself as evidence that living this way is possible, and to encourage other people to try it out even just occasionally to start with. And to offer my now years of experience with inconvenient land travel planning and finding vegan food in veg-hostile places to anyone who needs help.
\r\n\r\nI'm aware that the fact I travel has a negative environmental impact in itself. In order to be able to do that, I make more extreme tradeoffs for a lot of things to try to offset that. Things I should be doing better:
\r\nWhen I fall short I try not to make excuses for myself, but I do sometimes. When I have energy to be, I'm angry at people with privilege and power who make excuses to not even make the smallest of changes to their own lives. I'm angry at people who use other peoples' disadvantages and circumstances as an excuse to not change their own behaviour, or scapegoat those less fortunate than themselves (see: disabled people and plastic straws; food deserts or poverty and particular diets). I'm angry at the society and power structures that make this happen.
\r\n\r\nBut mostly I'm not angry, just dead inside.
\r\n\r\nAnyway.. counting my blessings, noting my privileges, trying not to bury my head; acknowledging the futility without giving up hope entirely, supporting and being supported by people who feel the same.
\r\n\r\n* Though there are a few powerful individuals who could make a big difference if they weren't such greedy and/or oblivious assholes, of course.
\r\n\r\n** In the last minutes of the meeting, it was proposed to make a time-tracker job for \"existential crisis\" and log hours against that where necessary to see how much it's really costing our business.
","as:name":"Reflections prompted by #ClimateStrike","as:published":{"@type":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime","@value":"2019-09-20T16:58:00+02:00"},"as:tag":[{"@id":"http://opendataservices.coop"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/apocalypse"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/travel"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/vegan"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/climatestrike"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/coop"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/life"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/environment"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/ods"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/work"}]},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2020/10/big-essentials","@type":"as:Note","as:content":"\r\nA big essentials shop at a local zero-waste store costs more than twice as much as the same at my nearest big supermarket. I am happy pay to try to break the cycle of plastic, and to support a small local business instead of massive chains, but it's still infuriating. And I'm grateful to have a local zero-waste store in the first place. But ugh. Fix it, world.\r\n
","as:generator":{"@id":"https://apps.rhiaro.co.uk/no-ceremonies-are-necessary"},"as:published":{"@type":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime","@value":"2020-10-06T11:15:47+01:00"},"as:tag":[{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/life"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/zero+waste"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/environment"}]},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2020/10/brother-keeps","@type":"as:Note","as:content":"\r\nMy brother keeps complaining that I won't let him have cling film, but doesn't seem keen on the compromise I offered: he can use cling film, but when he's done with it instead of throwing it away he has to keep it all in his room forever.\r\n
","as:generator":{"@id":"https://apps.rhiaro.co.uk/no-ceremonies-are-necessary"},"as:published":{"@type":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime","@value":"2020-10-19T15:19:18+01:00"},"as:tag":[{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/life"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/zero+waste"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/environment"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/plastic"}]},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2021/03/anyway-nobody","@type":"as:Note","as:content":"\r\nAnyway nobody on Freegle has claimed my unmarked VHS tape after a few weeks, so I think I'll try to crochet it into something today.\r\n
","as:generator":{"@id":"https://apps.rhiaro.co.uk/no-ceremonies-are-necessary"},"as:inReplyTo":{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2021/03/brother-says-im"},"as:published":{"@type":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime","@value":"2021-03-13T13:01:26+00:00"},"as:tag":[{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/environment"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/secondhand"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/freegle"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/repairreuserecycle"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/zero+waste"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/life"}]},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2021/03/brother-says-im","@type":"as:Note","as:content":"\r\nMy brother says I'm walking a very fine line between repair/reuse/recycle zerowaste minimalist and what-if-it-comes-in-handy junk hoarder.\r\n
","as:generator":{"@id":"https://apps.rhiaro.co.uk/no-ceremonies-are-necessary"},"as:published":{"@type":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime","@value":"2021-03-13T12:51:26+00:00"},"as:tag":[{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/life"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/zero+waste"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/repairreuserecycle"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/freegle"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/secondhand"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/environment"}]},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2021/09/beyond-excited","@type":"as:Note","as:content":"\r\nI am beyond excited that my fave independent zero waste shop Grain & Sustain is coming to Kirkcaldy, and bringing a vegan deli with them!\r\n
\r\n\r\nAnd I'm thrilled that my local coffee bean supplier Ecobean is getting recognition for having a completely closed-loop zero waste thing going on as well.\r\n
","as:generator":{"@id":"https://apps.rhiaro.co.uk/no-ceremonies-are-necessary"},"as:published":{"@type":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime","@value":"2021-09-14T11:23:13+01:00"},"as:tag":[{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/life"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/fife"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/grainandsustain"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/ecobean"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/environment"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/sustainability"}]},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2021/10/morning-brother","@type":"as:Note","as:content":"\r\nThis morning my brother found me buzzing around at 7am in the kitchen, nodded knowingly, and said \"ah it's your superfan day. That's why you're up early getting all your jars out.\"\r\n
\r\nAnd indeed! The grand opening of the Kirkcaldy branch of Grain and Sustain has arrived!
\r\nI got there just after 9 to find it delightfully buzzing, jammed my backpack full of jars of supplies, and had lovely chats with a few local business owners who I bumped into who I also see regularly. Plus the sun was out. I am feeling the love for Fife!
","as:generator":{"@id":"https://apps.rhiaro.co.uk/no-ceremonies-are-necessary"},"as:published":{"@type":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime","@value":"2021-10-15T14:08:24+01:00"},"as:tag":[{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/life"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/fife"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/grainandsustain"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/environment"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/sustainability"}]},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2021/10/replacing-smelly","@type":"as:Note","as:content":"\r\nReplacing the smelly carpet with laminate in Dave's room the guest room has escalated into installing insulation under the floor in half the flat. Which is definitely good in the long run by BY GOLLY do I want this disruption to be over.\r\n
\r\nReplacing the smelly carpet with laminate in my room will, I anticipate, escalate into creating a secret compartment under the floor with a trap door because I think I have 4-5 feet of space down there.. (plus installing under floor insulation in the other half of the flat).\r\n
","as:generator":{"@id":"https://apps.rhiaro.co.uk/no-ceremonies-are-necessary"},"as:published":{"@type":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime","@value":"2021-10-07T12:29:57+01:00"},"as:tag":[{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/life"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/household"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/diy"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/environment"}]},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2021/12/61c629d24d24e","@type":["as:Activity","asext:Acquire"],"asext:amountEur":"82.85","asext:amountGbp":70,"asext:amountUsd":"93.80","asext:cost":"70gbp","as:content":"Curtain modifications (Violeta)","as:generator":{"@id":"https://apps.rhiaro.co.uk/latinum"},"as:image":{"@id":"https://i.amy.gy/obtainium/IMG_20211224_193334.jpg"},"as:published":{"@type":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime","@value":"2021-12-24T19:52:28+00:00"},"as:tag":[{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/household"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/invest"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/environment"}]},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2022/02/6215efcb90f7a","@type":["as:Activity","asext:Acquire"],"asext:amountEur":"1048.61","asext:amountGbp":873.29,"asext:amountUsd":"1189.04","asext:cost":"873.29gbp","as:content":"Shares in Ripple wind farm","as:generator":{"@id":"https://apps.rhiaro.co.uk/latinum"},"as:image":{"@id":"https://i.amy.gy/2021-fife/IMG_20210314_125227.jpg"},"as:published":{"@type":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime","@value":"2022-02-23T08:26:22+00:00"},"as:tag":[{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/ripple"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/invest"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/utilities"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/green+energy"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/eco"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/environment"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/wind+farm"}]},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2022/03/week-review-14th-","@type":"as:Article","as:content":"\r\nThe local 'ooligans tipped a communal paper and card recycling bin over the bank onto the beach (again) last night, so cleaning all that up at 7am was how I started my day.\r\n
\r\n\r\nSome critiques of my neighbours' paper recycling practices though.. good job to whomever flattens and packs everything inside everything else, including toilet roll tubes within toilet roll tubes... Zero points to the person putting mixed waste in a bin bag in there.
","as:generator":{"@id":"https://apps.rhiaro.co.uk/no-ceremonies-are-necessary"},"as:published":{"@type":"http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime","@value":"2022-04-23T08:36:09+01:00"},"as:tag":[{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/life"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/fife"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/recycling"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/environment"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/community"},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/beach"}]},{"@id":"https://rhiaro.co.uk/2022/04/week-review-28th","@type":"as:Article","as:content":"