WHAT’S ON – JULY 2024
Plastic Free July
This July, The Plastic Free Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation committed to ending global plastic waste, is encouraging people to avoid single-use cups, plastic drink bottles and plastic food wrap in a collective effort to combat plastic pollution.
“The significance of preventing waste before it enters our ecosystem cannot be stressed enough”, says the campaign’s founder, Rebecca Prince-Ruiz.
“This year, our message is to reassure people that this isn’t about being perfect; simply choose one item to pledge to avoid during July and give it a try.”
You can sign up for the challenge on the Plastic Free July website.
Alcohol Awareness Week (July 1-7)
Our thinking about drinking, as a society, is wonky. Drinking is not inevitable. Or compulsory. We don’t need a doctor’s note to excuse us from swan-diving into wine”, writes Catherine Gray in The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober.
The theme for Alcohol Awareness Week 2024 is ‘Understanding alcohol harm’.
“It’s time for alcohol to stop playing such a centre-stage role in our lives and in our society. We don’t need to be surrounded by alcohol marketing everywhere we go”, says Alcohol Change UK, the force behind this annual campaign.
The message is upbeat: alcohol harm is not inevitable and change is possible. Further info, plus details of support, on the Alcohol Change UK website.
The Big Butterfly Count (July 12 – August 4)
This nationwide citizen science survey, run by Butterfly Conservation, was launched in 2010 and has become the world’s biggest survey of butterflies. Butterflies are sensitive indicators of the health of our environment, so tracking their numbers is of great importance, not just for butterflies but for the wider environment and biodiversity in general.
National Marine Week (July 27 – August 11)
Coastal walks, rockpool safaris and beach cleans are some of the events planned for The Wildlife Trusts’ nationwide celebration of marine life and environments. The charity’s website has details of all events, plus a guide to using less plastic that includes tips such as using bars of soap rather than liquid soap that comes in plastic bottles.
NEW BOOKS
Easy Indian Vegetarian: Delicious recipes for every day by Chetna Makan
More than 80 flavour-packed dishes from award-winning food writer Chetna Makan. Featuring beautiful photography and informative introductions detailing the origins of recipes and other interesting titbits.
Published by Hamlyn (octopusbooks.co.uk) on July 4 (£26 hardback).
True to You: A therapist’s guide to stop pleasing others and start being yourself by Dr. Kathleen Smith
“True to You is a book for people who are masters at reading others, but struggle to know themselves. For people who please others to feel steady, or realize their relationships are stuck in superficial chitchat”, says Dr. Kathleen Smith, the book’s author.
Using the system-focused Bowen theory and examples from the lives of her therapy clients, Smith examines the questions we need to ask ourselves to create a solid sense of self in the context of our relationships—one that is not driven by others’ reactions, whether real or imagined.
Published by Headline Home on July 9 (£16.99).
Lead picture credit: Lee Jeffs on Unsplash
