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UPENDI ENVIRONMENT
Environmental healing is crucial for numerous reasons, spanning from preserving biodiversity to safeguarding human health and ensuring the sustainability of our planet for future generations.
Ecosystems provide a myriad of services essential for life, including clean air and water, pollination, climate regulation, and nutrient cycling. Healing the environment helps to protect and restore these ecosystems, thereby safeguarding biodiversity.
Healthy environments play a critical role in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Restoration efforts such as reforestation and wetland restoration can contribute to carbon capture and storage.
A clean and healthy environment is fundamental for human health. Pollution, habitat degradation, and loss of biodiversity can lead to a range of health problems, including respiratory diseases, waterborne illnesses, and food insecurity.
Restoring and protecting natural habitats can improve air and water quality, reduce the risk of disease, and enhance overall well-being. Environmental healing is not just about preserving landscapes or saving endangered species; it's about safeguarding the very foundation of life on Earth and creating a sustainable future for all living beings.
"The earth is what we all have in common.” - Wendell Berry
BIOMASS ENERGY
Bioenergy, or energy derived from biomass, is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels because it can be produced from renewable sources, such as plants and waste, that can be continuously replenished.
Biomass energy is energy generated or produced by living or once-living organisms. The most common biomass materials used for energy are plants, such as hemp. The energy from these organisms can be burned to create heat or converted into electricity.
Hemp biomass is the excess biological material left behind after the flowers are cultivated. It includes the stalks, seeds, and leaves, which are then burned and converted into energy.
There are also various social and ecological benefits induced through smallholder hemp cultivation. These benefits are a result of practicing a low-input, high-output crop, that is rotated amongst nitrogen-fixing winter crops.
As the hemp crop requires no pesticide, or herbicide, and requires significantly less irrigation, especially when using sustainable irrigation systems, such as the drip-irrigation system, and requires relatively low amounts of fertilizer.
Raw hemp materials can also be processed, such as hemp seed oil, which can be pressed and bottled for health and nutritional benefits.
PLASTIC RECYCLING
There is a solution to plastic pollution. In the Northern Philippines, where there is no concept of "waste" they have developed Ecobricks a no-politician, no-machine, no-money way to go zero-waste again.
An Ecobrick is a plastic bottle packed with used plastic to a set density. They serve as reusable building blocks. Ecobricks can be used to produce various items, including furniture, garden walls and other structures.
We want to give used plastic a permanent purpose and a trade “value”.
GLASS RECYCLING
Recycling is one of the easiest ways for you to have a positive impact on the world in which we live. By recycling instead of littering, you are ensuring our natural environment is kept clean and beautiful.
Glass recycling saves energy. Recycling just one bottle saves enough energy to power a fluorescent light bulb for seven hours! Recycling reduces our carbon footprint. Recycling conserves our natural resources.
Collecting glass for glass recycling can serve as a source of income. Unemployed people are able to earn a source of income by collecting and selling the glass to buy-back centres. Glass recycling is so simple Start recycling today to make a difference.
A glass bank is a very large container for collecting a community’s recyclable glass. This is used as a recycling point for members of the public to deposit waste glass to be recycled. The presence of a glass bank encourages individuals to engage in responsible recycling behaviour by separating waste and becoming involved in the collection of used glass.
OXYGENATED WATER AND WATER PURIFICATION
Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gases from water. The goal is to produce water fit for specific purposes. Most water is purified and disinfected for human consumption. The methods used include physical processes such as filtration, sedimentation, and distillation; biological processes such as slow and sand filters or biologically active carbon; chemical processes such as flocculation and chlorination; and the use of electromagnetic radiation such as ultraviolet light.
Quench Sea is a device that combines a hydraulic system, triple pre-filtration and a small reverse osmosis membrane to desalinate seawater into freshwater using manual human power. At sea or on the coast, it converts seawater into clean, fresh drinking water instantly.
Oxygenated water is a relatively new functional water product that has oxygen added to it during the bottling process. The added oxygen provides health benefits, including aiding exercise recovery and flushing toxins out of the body.
SOLAR ENERGY
Solar energy is promoted as a green alternative for the environment, one that harnesses free and bountiful energy from the sun. It comes with the promise of cheaper energy for consumers as well as being an energy source that is free from greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.
Solar energy is a form of renewable energy. It is the energy derived from the sun (sunlight) that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. Far greater than the financial benefits of going solar are the benefits to our environment. Some benefits of solar energy to the environment are outlined below:
Switching to solar energy as a renewable source of energy will contribute greatly to the reduction of global warming through the elimination of major sources of carbon emissions like the burning of fossil fuels.
Embracing the use of solar energy will greatly decrease air, water, noise and other forms of pollution. The implementation of solar energy will reduce mortality rates around the world by improving air and water purification and reducing health risks such as cancer, asthma etc.
Maintaining the environment, as there is no reduction in agricultural output with the use of solar energy as solar panels can be put on roofs and poles. There is no form of land misuse or pollution of the soil with the use of solar energy which fosters agricultural growth.
BLOOD DONATION CENTRES
Blood Donation facility at each of the Upendi Communities – blood donation can be used as a means of “exchange” for any produce, product or treatment.
We all have the same amount of blood and blood is one of the most valuable commodities we are blessed us with.
One person can donate 475ml (1 unit) of blood every 2 months, or 56 days. Your 1 donation can save the lives of up to 3 people.
Blood can’t be artificially manufactured, and blood donation services rely on voluntary blood donors.
Donated blood is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets. Whole blood is only used in cases of severe blood loss during surgery, trauma or for exchange transfusion in infants.
