A Bristol mum is so worried about her children's future that she's decided to take direct action to raise awareness about the climate emergency. Chloe Naldrett has been arrested five times during protests and has even spent five days in prison on remand.
The theatre producer said she first became active in 2019 after becoming increasingly worried about the threats of the crisis and what this could mean for her children. The 43-year-old was part of a semi-naked demo outside of the House's Parliament, protests outside Shell and Lloyds Bank's headquarters and she was part of demo targeting an insurance company, which 'invested in the worst projects'.
When she first joined Extinction Rebellion, she had no intention of being one of the protesters who were arrested. But the longer she was with the environmental group, the more she decided to do.
READ MORE: Bristol Animal Rebellion target supermarket eggs in latest stunt
Speaking about her time in prison, Chloe said it made her realise her privilege. She said: "I am an abled-bodied white woman and it wasn't a traumatic experience for me. I was very aware the women in there were generally there because they were poor.
"Nine out of ten were there because of their poverty. It made me really upset to. Women were suffering from mental health issues and were in distress and not getting the care they needed. They were badged as criminals. If there was the proper social care support or housing support these women wouldn't be there."
The Bishopston mum-of-two says she turned to direct action after contemplating having to 'consciously and lovingly' end her kids' lives if our environment became unhabitable in the future.
David Attenborough warned on a Twitter video that if we maintain our current trajectory our supply of fresh food and water could run out as early and in this case, he fears civilisation as 'we know it could collapse'. He said: "We are today perilously close to tipping points that once passed will send global temperatures spiralling catastrophically higher. If we continue on our current path, we will face the collapse of everything that gives us our security."
Under these circumstances, Chloe says she's exceptionally worried for her kids and it this was anxiety that led her to make some major lifestyle choices. These included selling her car, becoming vegan, buying new as little as possible and installing a heat pump and solar panels in her home.
She has also started doing presentations around schools in the Bristol area based on the positive changes people can make in their everyday lives. And launched a Facebook page full of tips on how people can make small adaptions to improve their carbon footprint.
These tips include things like natural cleaning products, buying milk from a milkman, re-using wrapping paper, buying dry goods from refill-shops, making veg stock from leftover veg trimmings and charity shop-shopping.
"It was a transition for me, something I moved towards over the last four years. It makes me a lot happier because I feel a lot more in control in a very scary environment," Chloe said. "I feel healthier too. I am aware of my privilege and that not everyone will be able to buy solar panels but everyone can make changes."
Chloe doesn't impose her veganism on her kids and allows them to eat dairy and meat outside of the home if they wish to.
"I'm really worried about their (kids) future. The crisis that's facing our world right now will affect all of us. We have to be clear about what's happening and we have to decide what we are going to do about it. I don't want anyone to think that I am putting myself forward as the ideal way to live. I'm just about running faster than how frightened I am."
A turning point for Chloe was when she attended a lecture by Rupert Read was giving a talk and he started with the words 'It's almost certainly worse than you think it is'.
"This is a problem for now, for us," said Chloe. "Although my first reaction was one of fear and horror, my second thought was 'well now I know, now I can't pretend anymore, now I can't ignore it anymore and now I have to do something'."
What you can do
Here's a list of Chloe's top actions:
- Who do you bank with? All the major international banks are major funders of the Fossil Fuel industries. Use this website www.switchit.money to check your bank’s rating and find alternatives. It’s your money: don’t let it be used in ways that you don’t endorse.
- How do you heat your home? Switchit does energy providers too so you can find a green tariff. And this may not be appropriate for everyone but the Govt has a new scheme coming online in April 22 which gives grants of £5k to reduce the costs of installing low carbon heating systems. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-may-be-eligible-for-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-from-april-2022. I’ve had my Air Source Heat Pump for over a year now and I LOVE it. I used Igloo and they were excellent: https://works.igloo.energy.
- What do you eat? 60% of the mammals on earth are livestock. Our meat and dairy-eating habits are driving deforestation, both to graze animals and to grow their food, and releasing vast quantities of methane into the air. The good news is that methane hangs around in the atmosphere for much less time than carbon, so reducing our meat and dairy consumption and switching to a plant-based diet is one of the most directly impactful things we can do for the planet. https://www.livekindly.co/60-of-all-mammals-on-earth-are-livestock-says-new-study/ If and when you do eat meat, don’t buy it from the supermarkets or food chains which are supplied by animals fed on soya from the Amazon basin. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Burger King, McDonald’s and KFC all sell meat (incl chicken) fed on the soya that is fuelling deforestation. Buy grass-fed and free-range from small, local farmers and don’t be afraid to ask questions about what you’re buying and how it was fed. If you can’t give up meat entirely, could you buy less and buy better? https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/meat-soya-fire-disease-amazon-rainforest-breaking-down/
- . What do you wear? The fashion industry produces nearly 100 billion items of clothing a year but there is so much already in circulation - in charity shops and our own wardrobes. Commit to a period of buying second-hand, or swap, repair, upcycle. https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/old-environmental-impacts
- How do you travel? Globally, transport is responsible for a quarter of all carbon emissions. While cars have become more efficient over recent years, they’ve also become bigger and heavier. And switching to EVs is not the straightforward answer. So if you travel primarily by car, could you reduce this? Could you commit to a period of not flying? https://flightfree.co.uk. If you exclusively use public transport or cycle then you’re my hero!
- Is there a Zero Plastic refill shop near you? If so, use it enthusiastically! Yes, it takes a bit longer, and yes it probably puts a few pence onto some items (not all!). But there’s nothing like the warm glow of buying waste-free and you’ll be amazed at how it reduces your household rubbish. Here’s mine: http://www.preservefoods.co.uk
- . Write to your MP. Tell them you’re concerned about climate change and don’t feel that the Government is doing enough. Ask them if they support the Climate & Ecological Emergency bill (https://www.ceebill.uk). This is a Private Members Bill (which is how the Climate Change Act of 2008 began) that has been written by activists, lawyers and scientists: it is a framework for this country to take action NOW and to secure a just and fair transition to an economy which is sustainable for the future. If they don’t or won’t support it, ask them to tell you why. Our MPs represent us: we are entitled to tell them what we want to see them doing. Ask if they attended Sir Patrick Vallance’s Climate Crisis briefing, offered to all MPs after Angus Rose spent 37 days on hunger strike over this - entirely reasonable - demand.
- How much do you consume? Not just food and energy and petrol, but how much stuff do you buy? The average carbon footprint in this country is 12.7 tonnes per year (equivalent to the weight of 10,500 bottles of wine); we need to reduce this to 2 tonnes. A lot of that is due to the household stuff we buy and dispose of too quickly, especially phones, computers and other electrical items. Buy second-hand, or repairable. https://www.fairphone.com/en/.
UP NEXT:
- Bristol district heat network to be ‘rapidly expanded’ across most of city
- Bristol ‘leading city’ in climate action as landmark renewable energy deal celebrated
- Meet the magical hidden off-grid community living in West Country woodland
- Bristol van dweller says living in his vehicle gives him financial freedom
- Boat owners fundraise for legal challenge to council fee hike
