Der Umfang des Kleiderkonsums in Deutschland
In Deutschland kaufen jeder Mensch im Durchschnitt 60 Kleidungsstücke pro Jahr. Hierbei werden Schuhe und Unterwäsche nicht mitgezählt. Ein erstaunlicher Anteil, nämlich rund 17 Prozent der gekauften Kleidung, wird nahezu ungetragen und dann entsorgt. Häufig werden diese Altkleider ins Ausland exportiert, wo sie auf riesigen Müllhalden verbrannt oder sich zu Mikroplastik zersetzen.Das ist ein bemerkenswerter Umstand, der uns vor Augen führt, wie unsere Konsumgewohnheiten die Umwelt belasten. Wir müssen uns bewusst werden, dass jeder Kleidungsstuck eine Umweltbeeinträchtigung mit sich bringt, wenn er nicht richtig verwendet und entsorgt wird.
Der hohe Konsum an Kleidung ist nicht nur für die Umwelt schädlich, sondern auch für die Wirtschaft und die Gesellschaft. Es führt zu einer unkontrollierten Produktion und Verteilung von Waren, die nicht immer nachhaltig sind.
Der Einfluss des «Black Friday» auf die Umwelt
Der «Black Friday» ist bekannt als ein Tag des massiven Konsums. Während dieser Zeit werden viele Menschen hektisch einkaufen und oftmals unbedingt die neuesten Modelle und Kollektionen erwerben. Dieser Konsumverlauf fördert nicht nachhaltige Kaufentscheidungen und verstärkt die ökologischen und sozialen Probleme, die durch den sogenannten «Fast Fashion» entstehen.Die schnelle Produktion und der ständige Wechsel von Kollektionen führen zu massiver Ressourcenverschwendung. Die Textilindustrie benutzt enorme Mengen an Wasser, Energie und Chemikalien, um die neuen Modelle herzustellen. Dadurch entstehen Umweltprobleme wie die Verschmutzung von Flüssen und Seen und die Emission von Treibhausgasen.
Außerdem führt der «Fast Fashion» zu einer Überproduktion von Kleidung. Viele der gekauften Kleidungsstücke werden nur einmal getragen und dann im Müll landen. Dies ist ein schrecklicher Verlust an Ressourcen und eine Umweltkatastrophe.
Die Forderungen von Greenpeace an die Textilkonzerne
Greenpeace fordert deshalb klare gesetzliche Rahmenbedingungen, die die Textilkonzerne in die Verantwortung nehmen. Die Unternehmen sollten ihre Produktion nachhaltiger gestalten und weniger Ressourcen verbrauchen. Sie sollten auch dafür sorgen, dass ihre Produkte längerlebig sind und dass die Verwertung und Entsorgung der Kleidung nachhaltiger organisiert wird.Greenpeace hat eine entsprechende Petition an Bundesumweltministerin Steffi Lemke (Grüne) gestartet, um die Forderungen der Umweltorganisation zu verfolgen. Die Petition fordert die Einführung von Gesetzen, die die Umweltbeeinträchtigung durch die Textilindustrie mindern.
Wir müssen uns als Konsumenten bewusst werden, dass wir eine Rolle spielen können, um die Umwelt zu schützen. Wir sollten uns bemühen, nachhaltiger zu einkaufen und weniger zu verwerfen. Nur so können wir die Umweltprobleme lösen und eine nachhaltige Zukunft schaffen.
Food Deserts and the Need for Solutions
Brooklyn, along with other neighboring South Baltimore communities, is classified as a food desert by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This means residents have limited access to a variety of healthy and affordable food. But this year, Gibbs had a better option. She filled out an online form and hopped onto Refuge Ride, a free shuttle bus that picked her up just a few blocks from her house at the Enoch Pratt Free Library's Brooklyn branch and took her to Walmart for her noodle shopping. The entire trip took less than an hour.Refuge Ride: A Game-Changer
Gibbs, who heard about Refuge Ride from a friend, was the only passenger on the shuttle that Tuesday. Billy Humphrey, the founder of the Brooklyn-based nonprofit City of Refuge, launched the shuttle service in June. The van serves the "South Baltimore 6" communities, including Brooklyn, Cherry Hill, Curtis Bay, Westport, Mt. Winans, and Lakeland. Lakeland is the only neighborhood that is not a food desert.The free bus connects neighbors to "food, pharmacy and fun," with trips to Walgreens, Walmart, and Aldi, as well as the newly built Middle Branch Fitness & Wellness Center in Cherry Hill. It can also drop off riders at transportation hubs, linking them with other attractions. Most riders use the bus to pick up groceries and prescriptions.As Melvin Stone, the shuttle driver, knows all too well, waiting for a bus can be frustrating. When he moved from Alabama to Brooklyn over a decade ago, he initially relied on the bus as his primary means of transportation. There were times when the bus would just keep going, ignoring waiting passengers. Now, he makes sure neighbors don't get left behind. Many of the bus's regular riders are seniors who live alone, and he enjoys chatting with them on the way to and from the store, learning about their lives.On Tuesday, Gibbs shared her Thanksgiving dinner plans, her pit bull's new puppies, and the Nightmare Before Christmas-themed cupcakes she had decorated for a niece's birthday. She said the shuttle is "lovely, especially if you don't have a vehicle in the community."The idea for Refuge Ride took root more than a year ago in the transportation committee of the South Baltimore 7 Coalition (SB7), a group of the South Baltimore 6 communities and the new Baltimore Peninsula development. Humphrey sits on SB7's board and volunteered City of Refuge to run the program. The coalition allocated a $190,000 grant to fund the purchase and operation of the 15-seat, handicap-accessible shuttle.Six months in, the program has seen some success. Humphrey says Refuge Ride has transported 46 unique riders, many of whom take multiple trips. But he hopes to see ridership grow. "We've had enough success that we want to continue to promote it and increase it if we can," he said. With more riders, the shuttle could add night and weekend shifts and target new sources of funding from community organizations and businesses interested in buying ads on the bus. "We're really trying to remove barriers and get the word out," he added.Have a news tip? Contact reporter Amanda Yeager at ayeager@baltsun.com, 443-790-1738 or @amandacyeager on X.Honoring a Tradition and Giving Back
Hawaiian Paddle Sports took the lead in hosting this event as part of its monthly Mālama Maui community service program. The efforts of the participants not only raised funds but also showed their commitment to helping those in need.With a total of $4,965 in monetary donations and 475 pounds of food, which is equivalent to 21,000 meals for the Maui Food Bank, this event was a significant contribution. Participants had the option to paddle the course solo or with a small group of friends using various watercraft like outrigger canoe, V1, surf ski, paddle board, surfboard, or any floating device. They recorded their time and GPS course, adding an element of friendly competition, and took photos of their paddling experience to share with others.
Distributing Paddle For Hunger t-shirts added to the excitement and sense of unity. Timothy Lara, the owner of Hawaiian Paddle Sports, expressed his gratitude, saying, "We are honored to host Paddle For Hunger and grateful to the community for helping us continue this tradition since 2012. Most importantly, we want to shine a light on Maui Food Bank, their ongoing needs, and their good work of reducing food insecurity on Maui."
How to Get Involved
If you want to learn more about Paddle For Hunger and other give-back programs hosted by Hawaiian Paddle Sports, visit www.HawaiianPaddleSports.com/Malama-Maui. By doing so, you can become a part of this meaningful initiative and contribute to making a difference in the lives of those on Maui.Each year, this event grows in significance, bringing the community together and highlighting the importance of helping those facing food insecurity. It is a testament to the power of collective action and the willingness of individuals to make a positive impact.
The success of Paddle For Hunger is not only about the financial and food donations but also about the sense of community and togetherness it creates. It serves as an inspiration for others to get involved and support local causes. Hawaiian Paddle Sports has set a remarkable example with this annual event, and it continues to make a lasting impact on Maui.