Post
Region: Forest
Government Post
Hey there Forest-folk! Can you believe it's been another month already? That means it's time for your July transparency report! Between the environmental analysis work, the embassy votes, and the event planning for our upcoming Crystal Jubilee, we've had another successful month. Read all about it, here!
Greetings, Foresters, and welcome to the July 2020 Transparency Report!
Time seems to alternate between standing still and flying by during the ongoing chaos our world is experiencing, but our regional officers are always at work, doing what they can to try and keep Forest a small core of sanity that we can all rely on. Jumping right in to it:
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Forest’s Ecological Footprint Report for 2020 has released!
Kawastyselir released a brilliant report on the real-world ecological footprint of Forest’s nations! Based on voluntary survey results, and published and tested methodologies, Kawa gave us a glimpse of precisely how eco-friendly we really are. The fact that those of us here in NationStates largely represent people from technologically advanced areas who lead modern high-impact lifestyles was very much in evidence! Despite the fact that we make a point of being more eco-conscious than most of our peers, nearly all of us still exceed the global average ecological footprint, and every last one of us consumes at a rate greater than the planet can sustain.
All is not darkness, however! When compared with others who live in modern technologically-advanced countries, many of our members do in-fact lead comparatively sustainable lifestyles! Also, if we can take a small green lining from this horror of this global pandemic, the “Earth Overshoot Day” (the day of the year when global resource consumption exceeds the planet’s annual ability to regenerate) has slipped backwards by nearly a month due to the tremendous reduction in resource consumption this year! While nobody believes we will hold on to this year’s dramatic cuts permanently, let us take hope that it has demonstrated what is actually possible when we try, and puts the lie to all the naysayers who claim we can’t make a difference. One glance at the strangely smog-free skyline of LA shows what we can do.
Check out the report here:
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Performing an Environmental Impact Analysis
It is probably no coincidence that Turbeaux was our top performer in the report above – they really know how to take their impact in to account! As a follow-up to the June Environmental Action Item, check out Turbeaux’s work on an environmental impact report for a popular tech item, the iPhone 11:
This kind of thought process can be done for any aspect of your life! The study of Material Culture blends well with environmental analysis, and there are numerous organizations out there trying to make it easier to identify products and materials with reduced (never eliminated!) environmental impact. If you’re building a PC, look for a good 80+ certification on your power supply, and more efficient power consumption for your components. If you’re buying, building, or upgrading a home, the standards for LEED certification (now expanded to include Europe as well as North America) can help you reduce your impact! You don’t need to be trying for an actual certificate to see the standards and help them guide your choices. For both of these, going green can even save you money in the long run! I cut my power bill by 25% simply by replacing some lightbulbs, and the savings paid for the upgrade within a year. Even things like cleaning products have green certifications! Again, nothing will eliminate our environmental impact, but together we can bring it down to a more acceptable level!
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Crystal Jubilee Planning Update – Upcoming Flag Competition (and more)
The Forest Crystal Jubilee is coming! August marks 15 years since the original founding of our region, which today has grown in to thriving international community of people with a shared interest in our collective future. Chan island is leading a planning committee that includes Lord Dominator, Uan aa Boa, Mount Seymour, Kawastyselir, and myself to try and put together a little celebration appropriate for this joyful occasion. Please keep your eyes open for information about this, which should be forthcoming over the month of July.
For my own part, I will be operating a Flag Design Competition to develop a temporary Jubilee Flag to mark the event! This flag will be voted on by Foresters, and will fly on our homepage during the celebration period. I will send out the full announcement and with links over the weekend – keep an eye out, artists, we’ll want to see your best!
The contest, and several other elements of the event, will be taking place on our Forums, in order to preserve our RMB for its proper uses. Make sure you’re registered over on our forums at https://forest.freeflarum.com
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Forest’s Foreign Affairs
Our Foreign Ministry and diplomatic offices, under Ruinenlust and Middle Barael are continuing the reconciliation of our ambassadorial lists. If you are an ambassador or have recently volunteered to be one, and haven’t yet received a telegram, you should expect one soon!
Also, please welcome our recently opened embassy with Thalassia, which stood up operations last fall as the spiritual successor to our former ally region of Pacifica, and which is operating fully on its own two feet. Hello again, friends!
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Please reach out to me or my fellow officers with any thoughts or questions you may have! All of us are here to serve you. Stay strong and stay beautiful, you wonderful Forest folk!
Fondly,
Verdant Haven
Forest Keeper
As always, don't hesitate to reach out with any question, concerns, thoughts, or ideas.
Yours,
Verdant Haven
Forest Keeper
Murmuria, Kawastyselir, Octopus islands, Mount Seymour, and 6 othersAtsvea, Ruinenlust, Lord Dominator, Turbeaux, Northern Wood, and Middle Barael