Hello and welcome one and all! 🎉
Friday’s almost over, but not without your fortnightly espresso shot of social ideas for impact – 5 finds I’ve discovered or re-visited over the last couple of weeks. Please enjoy and let me know how you find them.
1. What I’m reading: this free guide for plant-based dogs and cats – Researching and promoting vegan food for dogs (and to a lesser extent cats) is one of my recurring themes. I love this webpage and free guide that brings so much good evidence and support together. Check it out. (Note: as part of Climate Pets, we have an exciting tool coming out soon related to this. Watch this space!)
2. What I’m trying harder to do: pay with cash 💷 – It’s clear that paying in cash is becoming less common and less accepted. What may not be so clear is why standing up for cash is so vital. But it is. Here are 2 articles from The Guardian that explain why, on protecting the most vulnerable and standing up against big finance. Check out this umbrella campaign showcasing all the movements fighting for cash as a public good. I’m also preparing a poster that I’m planning to slap up in places that won’t accept cash. Feedback welcome.
3. What I’m listening to: the Swedish folk of Hazelius Hedin – I can’t get enough of this album, with its warm string instrumentals. Transports you in seconds to an open fireplace. Favourite track: Tretton Ã…r.
4. What I’m returning to: Open Source solutions – Over the past year, finding open source technology has become increasingly important to me, though I’ve used the likes of GIMP (photo editing) and Audacity (sound recording) for years. I’ve recently transferred all my sites to WordPress and started supporting Wikipedia (which uses many open source principles) financially. But why go open source? 1) It’s cheaper (often free) vs. private products, 2) it’s more secure since its code is publicly inspected, and 3) it’s revolutionary in building digital infrastructure that isn’t all the private property of companies. Check out this great list of easy open source alternatives – and share with me ones you’re already using!
5. What I’m using to digital detox: Niagara Launcher – I am very grateful to my friend Miquel for sharing Niagara with me. I’ve been using it for several months and love it. If you have an Android (another open source!) phone, this is an amazing way to change up your phone’s interface and reduce the distractions that seem to be in-built into their native user interface.
📣 Callouts from my network
🦶 MasterPeace Walk South Africa 2023 – 2 spots still available for this 10-day experience
📵 Join Charlotte and I and help organise the 2024 Phone Free February challenge
🧡 Trustee (Fundraising Lead) at Refugee Biriyani & Bananas (where I’m also a Trustee)
📱 Honest Mobile – kudos and money-saving when you join the UK’s most sustainable mobile network (use my referral code: jacobwarn1994)
That’s it for this week. Please let me know your thoughts and feedback – and send anything you’d like me to include in upcoming editions this way.
