Live Simply December 2024
Be Grateful
‘’It’s not being happy that makes you grateful, it’s being grateful that make you happy’’
Gratitude
Ref -The Road Home by Sister Stanilaus Kennedy
The great medieval Christian mystic Meister Eckhart preached that if the only prayer we ever said was 'Thank you', it would be enough. The essence of gratitude is acceptance of what is. It is amazing how much of life we can miss when we lose our sensitivity to wonder and awe. When we simply trudge through our days, we may easily miss the daily gifts of life, and lose our sense of gratitude. When we awaken to what is within us and around us, when we savour, relish and taste life fresh each day, our heart overflows with gratitude.
If we remember the people who have blessed our life we realize many of them may be unaware of what they have done. They may have blessed us with their smiles, their loving looks, their affirmations, their stories, their love, their compassion, their concern and their care. When we become aware of the vast goodness around us and the great blessings that abound, we also become aware of our own need to bless, with our presence, our goodness, our strengths, our healing, our courage, our vitality.
The Benefits of Gratitude
Abridged from - The Source of a Meaningful Life Lecture Robert Emmaus Greater Good Science Centre
Gratitude allows us to celebrate the present and magnifies our positive emotions.
When we appreciate we notice more positives and this magnifies pleasure
It blocks our negative emotions such as envy, resentment regret and depression. These emotions can destroy our happiness.
Grateful people are more stress resilient and recover faster from negative emotions
Gratitude strengthens self-worth and social ties
We recognise people past and present who are responsible for helping us to get to where we are.
Gratitude improves our mental health and sense of wellbeing.
Being grateful for what you already have reduces the urge to acquire more and more.
PLEASE TURN OVER
Proposals for an extensive Solar Farm in Rotherham and Doncaster
There are proposals for a solar farm with battery storage, to be built on three enormous areas of green belt land, including Dinnington, Kiveton, Ulley and Aston. If built, it would have a significant visual impact on the local landscape. See the map on the Live Simply noticeboard in church and on line at whitestonesolarfarm.co.uk. The map shows the land that is being considered for the solar farm, not all of this area would be used for solar panels or related infrastructure. The project will also include areas to support existing wildlife and create new habitats to enhance biodiversity, as well as setbacks from local properties and footpaths.
If constructed, Whitestone would generate up to 750 MW of energy, which is enough to power up to 250,000 homes or 35 large hospitals with clean, renewable energy. The developer says that Whitestone could make a significant contribution to our national energy goals – helping in the fight against climate change while also contributing to energy security.
The Need for Solar
The government made a legally binding agreement to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to eliminate all fossil fuels from the power supply. Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, would reduce carbon pollution, support energy security and possibly reduce future energy costs.
Our demand for electricity continues to increase. For example, by replacing gas boilers and traditional vehicles with heat pumps and electric cars, demand for electricity is projected to double by 2050. New renewable energy sources must be developed to replace the energy produced from natural gas. (The last coal fired power station was closed in Sept 2024). This all means we need many more renewable energy sources to come online and quickly.
Impact of the Solar Farm
Visual Impact of the Solar Panels
Solar panels are not pleasing to look at, they can be considered to be an eyesore.
The developer says that the solar panels will be set back away from homes. New trees and hedges would be planted to reduce the visual impact from homes and public rights of way.
Impact on Nature
Fences around the farm would block paths used by animals such as deer and may force them onto roads. Bats and bird may mistake the panels for water. Habitats may be lost.
However, well managed solar farms can positively benefit wildlife. The developers propose to plant wildflowers and native grasses in the green spaces around and between the panels. The wildflowers, grasses, hedges and trees would provide a diverse habitat for wildlife.
We need to inform ourselves about the plans and carefully consider what action to take
It is evident that we need solar farms, but a balance must be made between the benefits that solar farms bring against the visual impact on the local landscape and the loss of agricultural land.
Questions - Should we oppose the plan, campaign for a reduction in size, or support the plan and hold the developer to their promises?
Here’s the link to the consultation booklet
Please try to attend a Public Consultation
Friday 29 Nov 12pm – 4pm The Ruddle Centre Doncaster Rd, Braithwell, Rotherham S66 7BA Saturday 30 Nov 10am - 4pm Aston Leisure Centre Aughton Rd, Swallownest, S26 4SF
Tuesday 3 December 2pm - 6pm Harthill Village Hall, Harthill, Sheffield S26 7YL
Wednesday 4 December 2pm - 6pm Consort Suite, 8 Brampton Road, Thurcroft, S66 9JA
Thursday 5 December 10am - 2pm Ulley Village Hall, Main Street, Ulley, Sheffield S26 3YD
Tuesday 10 December 6pm - 7pm Webinar Please visit the webpage to register in advance
Tuesday 14 January 2pm - 6pm Consort Suite, 8 Brampton Road, Thurcroft, S66 9J
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