Why We Will Suffocate If We Don't Change Our Ways

The importance of phytoplankton
One of the effects of climate change that is -strangely- hardly ever talked about, is that it depletes the oxygen levels in our oceans. Most people don't really see the harm in this, because they see themselves as separate from nature, oceans and other species, but the truth is that everything is interconnected, and the oceans are extremely important for human survival.

The vast majority of the oxygen we breathe comes from the oceans, or more specifically: from phytoplankton. If the oceans suffocate, then so do we. Nevertheless, due to continued overfishing and the rising temperatures of the oceans as a result of climate change, we have been creating oceanic dead zones like there is no tomorrow (and if we continue, there indeed won't be a tomorrow) and yet most people do not seem to feel overly concerned. At the same time we have been steadily cutting down rainforests, so it almost seems like we want to make sure that we don't make it out alive.

I hope we do though, and that we all start to take this problem seriously, and make the necessary changes in our lives (**NB: this link contains suggestions that will not be sufficient anymore to avert climate change, but which can offer a way for you to get started. Eventually (and rather sooner than later) a carbon neutral - and preferably carbon negative- lifestyle is the only way to go**).

Why are people not massively taking action?
The 'consensus' among the public seems to be that they won't be personally affected by climate change, they will still have time when disaster strikes, or perhaps that others should fix it. However, this is not so. When the oceans suffocate, then oxygen levels are likely to drop down to levels that are no longer sufficient for humans to survive, which will give us just a few more minutes on the planet (however much time is needed to suffocate) before we all go extinct. This shift is most likely to happen suddenly, without warning (other than the many warnings we have already had) and therefore result in almost instant, global human extinction - along with most other life on the planet. There will be nowhere to hide either. No safe zones. 

The solution
As we are all contributing to climate change with carbon output, we are all partly responsible for this and so it is up to us all to lower our collective carbon footprints, all the way down to zero and ideally into the negative - before it is too late. (Going moneyless can be a huge step in the right direction! I personally believe this is the only solution - as money has become so intimately connected with destruction to the planet, but I am always open to other suggestions.)

Remember that whatever objections you may have to making changes, whatever difficulties you project, or whatever you may think is more important for you to focus on right now, it all fades into insignificance when you consider the alternative: extinction.

Links for further reading:

1. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11538-015-0126-0
Please read this article about oxygen depletion, which I think is the most important research related to climate change that is currently out there: (you need a university subscription in order to read the complete article, but if you don't have one you can email me a request: make sure to include the link).

2. http://russgeorge.net/2016/06/17/plankton-will-stop-making-oxygen-by-end-of-century/
The link at number 1 explained in a way that is easier to understand.

3. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/095937809190042R
Check here to see if you have these misconceptions about climate change. (Again, if you cannot read the full article, but you want to read it, please email me this link with a request for the full article).

4. http://www.theinertia.com/environment/a-horrifying-new-study-found-that-the-ocean-is-on-its-way-to-suffocating-by-2030/
Clear description of the research about deoxygenation of the oceans.

5. http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/v2/n2/abs/ngeo420.html
The link between climate change and ocean oxygen depletion explained.

6. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X13003925
More on the link between climate change and the oceans, and an explanation of mass extinction.

7. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.12754/full
More about climate change and ocean dead zones.

8. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11186-005-1993-4
The relationship between climate change and capitalism, plus some history.

9. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/314/5800/787
This article is from 2006, about biodiversity loss in the oceans. At that point it was still reversible. I hope that it still is. In any case it is a good reason not to consume ANY seafood anymore. Let's keep our oceans as healthy as possible, because the oceans are the basis for life on earth.

10. http://www.pnas.org/content/105/Supplement_1/11466.full
Mass extinction evidence from an article written in 2008 (basically old news by now from a scientific view point - remember that conditions continue to change, and changes are speeding up now as human populations continue to grow and continue to do more and more damage (on average).

11. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/277/5325/494
On human domination of the planet, and how it has harmed other species and the land.

12. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2015GB005310/abstract
More about the suffocation of the oceans. (see 4)

Overpopulation: Why It Matters

I am extremely surprised that many people still believe that overpopulation is a myth. I wonder if it has something to do with Hans Rosling's talks, who uses very unconvincing (and unscientific) argumentation to 'prove' that overpopulation is a myth, while he is conveniently overlooking the interdependence between humans and other species and completely ignores our unsustainable ways and what it would take to change this. Let me address those points now to help make clear why overpopulation is a huge problem that needs to be addressed.

1. Carbon negative living is now the only way to stop climate change
Did you know that to make life on earth sustainable (and survive as a species) we all need to start living a carbon negative lifestyle right now? The main reason is that even if we would all stop emitting carbon from now on, and if we all went vegan overnight, still more carbon would be added to the atmosphere than can be absorbed. Part of the reason for this is the carbon that is released from the permafrost, which is melting due to already increased temperatures.
So this means we need to be focusing on rehabilitating nature and on making completely self-sustainable communities ASAP: no more mass-production of food (because that requires transport), no more mass production of unnecessary products (which may include more than you think) and no more jobs that do not contribute to the well-being of the planet (or worse: which cause destruction). If we just continue "doing our jobs", there won't be any human life left in a few decades.

2. Humans require space and natural surroundings to remain in touch with nature
Do you think the human population of the entire earth can live in harmony with nature (i.e. living a carbon negative lifestyle)? If you think so, have you ever been to the Netherlands, India, China and other densely populated places? If you live in those places, you hardly have any contact with other species. It might seem that humans are the only species there, or at least the most important ones, which is of course very misleading. Where are all those people going to live, if not in high-rise apartment buildings?
Have you ever watched the world population clock? Have you tried growing all of your own food year-round in areas like Canada, Norway and other places with long winters? Have you ever tried growing all the food you eat anywhere in the world, or living merely on foraged foods? Do you know how much land is required to do this sustainably? And do you know how much land is required for us to repopulate creatures that are on the brink of extinction and to restore forest areas enough to reverse our collective footprint into the carbon-negative?

3. Carbon negative living requires us to live in a temperate climate
Weather conditions are often not taken into account when overpopulation is discussed, yet it is a very important factor, especially with regards to carbon negative living. Have you tried compensating for the carbon you emit by planting trees, living a fully self-sustainable lifestyle with a carbon negative footprint? I would say try it. You would at least need to be growing all of your own food, give up any fossil-based transport/consumption and live without heating or air-conditioning. Give it a go and see how difficult it is; especially in colder climates. And then put human overpopulation into that new perspective.

4. We are part of the ecosystem
Perhaps the most important point is that humans depend on many other species for their survival. When overpopulation is discussed, strangely enough other species are often entirely overlooked. We are not the only species that matters. In fact, there are species that matter much more, and that do far more for nature and their relative ecosystems than humans (also because we have lost touch and most of us don't even know the role of humans in nature anymore).

Yes I agree that 'overpopulation' would just be a matter of lifestyles and distribution of resources IF humans were the only species that mattered AND if we were not part of an ecosystem, but that is a rather simplistic view. Some resources are not meant to be distributed. Resources are in a certain area for a reason. It makes the earth habitable for humans in that area. Distributing resources pollutes the earth AND disconnects us from those resources and therefore prevents us from being able to manage them properly.

At this point even moneyless living is not enough to save life on the planet. We need to be out there tearing down factories, planting trees and cleaning our rivers and lakes. Are we willing to do what it takes to save ourselves?



(This blog post is adapted from a Facebook update I posted on 8 October 2016)

Why Having Kids May Not Be Such A Wonderful Thing

Before getting into this topic, I want to stress that what I am about to express are purely my own, personal views on the world. These are my own opinions that I have derived from my careful observations and reflections (as seen through my own world-view-perspective). These expressions are not intended to disrespect anyone who may think differently, and this post is by no means intended to change anyone's mind or make a statement about what is 'right' or 'wrong'. My only intention here is to provoke thoughts and reflections, because I believe that each of us can learn from another person's world view. It can be like an additional piece to the puzzle, making your own world view expanded and clearer, by contrast or by similarity. The differences put together can make for a broader and more complete perspective, and the similarities can resonate, strengthen and affirm current stances (which can be especially useful when you feel like a minority).

The words that will follow may resonate with you or they may not. Either way is okay. In the end, everyone is free to choose to live their lives in the way they desire and everyone is entitled to their own opinion on the subject matter. Feel free to use the questions that are posed throughout this article to reflect on your life as you know it, and perhaps to ponder things you may not have considered pondering about before. If you already have children, this article may not be as relevant for you, as all you can do is love them, raise them as best you can and teach them to respect the earth and each of the wonderful creatures that live here. However, if you haven't made up your mind yet, then it may be particularly interesting for you to read this.

Now, if you are ready, let's continue...

Could it be that there are too many of us? 

What is "too many"? And how can we tell? To answer this question, we could look at the consequences of our existence on the earth and all its inhabitants. If we do this, then the answer depends at least in part on our lifestyle and standards of living.

Right now, with the way that most people are living their lives, it seems clear that there are too many people on earth. How do I know that? The earth's resources get depleted faster than they can recover. Pollution happens faster than natural restoration. Other species have to make way for humans and some even go extinct. Food, clean water and other (natural) resources have become scarce. And most of all, the human population still keeps growing and natural selection is still on the decline for humans.

Simultaneously, people seem to be getting more and more violent and intolerant, because they are in each other's space. Maybe the (subconscious) sense of a lack of space and other resources even makes people closed-minded and overprotective of 'their' countries, so that when people (refugees, immigrants, different-minded people, rich people, poor people, etc) make an attempt to rebuild their life elsewhere, they are met with hate and violence instead of compassion and support. Would the same response happen if there was one earth we shared, with enough room for everyone to live freely, and with free resources for everyone, provided by earth instead of by governments?
I think our species needs to downsize A LOT and restructure societies and individual lifestyles in order to make the earth habitable again, and a pleasant and safe place for all creatures.

So where did we go wrong?

The invention of money, the introduction of power structures and hierarchies and the increasing loss of connection with nature are all important causes that support our rapid rush towards self-destruction and total annihilation. But something that seems to get constantly overlooked or ignored in the worldwide environmental and sustainability debate, is overpopulation. Apparently it is a touchy subject. But one has to wonder: How did our species get so out of control? How did we get from 2 billion people in 1927 to 7.3 billion people now in 2015 (not even 100 years later)? And how is this not an alarming statistic?

Aside from the fact that humans have found a way to eliminate almost all of their natural enemies (including most diseases), there are also still huge evolutionary, cultural and societal pressures to reproduce. However, the evolutionary component should not be as strong as you may think. As access to resources is changing, it is important for a species to be flexible and adapt to a changed environment. Most species therefore naturally and instinctively reproduce less when resources are depleting, but humans seem to have lost touch with their inner compass for balance and harmony, and they seem to have lost their connection with other species.
This is probably partly due to the fact that we pay for resource distribution, making uninhabitable places more habitable, while at the same time putting more and more pressure on the earth (due to transport, continued construction and expansion, and exploiting the earth for all its worth like our lives depend on it (even though in fact our lives depend on conservation rather than consumption). Also, we like to pay others to do the damage, so that it is not visible all the time. Pollution happens mostly in concentrated, remote areas. We pay others (indirectly) to cut down our rain forests by consuming meat, products containing palm oil and buying paper. Even the animals some of us eat are killed by other people and usually kept in horrible conditions. But we are rarely confronted with that, and this is why we don't feel motivated enough to change it. Most of us don't really have direct experience with resource depletion, pollution, climate change catastrophes and loss of natural surroundings. Out of sight, out of mind.
Reading this, you might be thinking: well, if we all went vegan, wouldn't that be enough? Obviously, this would be a huge step in the right direction. But even then, would our population numbers still be sustainable? And where are we headed if we don't downsize? What is going to happen? Our population will still continue to grow beyond control if nothing changes. So yes, even though going vegan and limiting overall consumption are great things we can all do for the environment, the best (most impactful) thing we humans can do for the environment is downsize our reproduction rates.

If - like most other species - we would be more aware of what is happening on earth everyday, and more in touch with the world outside our small personal circle of relevance, then surely our instinct and intuition would move us more towards balance. If we would be confronted with the consequences of our actions directly every day, it would be much harder to continue the destruction. We would soon realize that we can't go on like this. So the first thing we can do is find ways to get more in touch with what is happening on a global scale, and connect the dots back to ourselves. The second thing is to let go of the cultural and societal pressures and expectations we find ourselves under, which may dictate our lives to a further degree than we may realize. It may even be the very reason you want kids: because it is expected by society's standards. Could it be that the desire to want kids (as well as the desire to be rich/wealthy and over-consume) is one that was subconsciously transferred to you by the society you grew up in?

The pressure to breed:

Society puts a lot of pressure on couples to reproduce. It seems 'normal' to get a job, buy a house, get married and start a family. It is sometimes even equated with growing up, even though growing up clearly has nothing to do with having children (or age, for that matter). People who don't want children also occasionally have to deal with some resistance from others, which seems odd. Here are the top 5 things people have said to me to inspire me to consider reproducing.

"People like you should have kids"
This one tops the list. It is directed at some kind of quality the person likes about me at the time, as compared to the general population. The statement assumes that this quality will be passed on, which is obviously more a matter of chance than a matter of certainty and which may even seem unlikely. It may take many attempts to reproduce a child that has that quality. Or perhaps it is all a matter of upbringing, in which case I may as well adopt a child.
It should also be said that this argument in favor of reproduction is usually of a passing nature and lasts for as long as we don't upset the person who said it. So surely it will pass at some stage. Just wait for it. When it happens, the argument will change into: 'I hope for your sake that you will never have kids', or something along those lines.

"Your child may help change the world for the better"
Sure! This may happen. But how about I don't make my child responsible for this, but instead I take action myself? Otherwise the responsibility for making a change in the world just gets passed on from one generation to the next, and nothing happens. I can do much more for the world if I am able to devote all my time to it. If I can help change lives and perhaps inspire the leaders of the future, then why would I need my kids to do it? But most parents certainly hope their kids will finish what they started and make their mark on the world, because the life they once had will be swallowed by looking after the child as soon as it comes into the world.

"You are selfish because you don't want kids"
Well, really? Let's look at some facts.
With a world population of 7.3 billion people and a current annual growth rate of 1.14 percent, it seems that my contribution to the human race is not needed, as we are far from being on the brink of extinction. Other species, on the other hand, are struggling to survive, as the resources that we share with all of the earth's inhabitants are depleting. 
Each additional person uses up natural resources and takes up space, which means that more native flora, habitat and wildlife are lost and even more air and water becomes polluted. Is it selfish if you don't want to contribute to this and if you want to prevent further suffering for all creatures on earth? And even if someone chooses to remain childless so that they can keep partying and doing whatever they please, shouldn't we be glad that they made the sensible decision to remain childless, considering their life goals and values? Shouldn't we also be glad that at least some people choose not to reproduce and put more pressure on the earth, whatever reason they may have for this? And shouldn't we be glad that there is at least one less child that grows up unloved and unwanted, and perhaps even neglected or abused (because the parents weren't ready or didn't really support their decision)?

"Who will look after you when you are old?"
First of all, there is no guarantee that your kids will look after you when you get old. They will most likely put you in a nursing home as they are busy making money and perhaps raising kids of their own. You may even end up as the babysitter for their kids, just as soon as you thought you had some time for yourself again. 
As for who may look after you: what about the people whose lives you've touched? But more importantly, you can live with the intention to stay healthy for a long time and if life has other plans, you can deal with that then. I am sure there will be a way, especially if you have practiced resourcefulness, resilience and self-sufficiency all your life, which is something you can focus on with or without kids.
And if you are really worried about old age, you can always adopt a child. But it seems a bit sad (and selfish) to just opt for kids because you need someone to look after you when you are old. It is also a very big investment, money- and time-wise, so to me it makes no sense at all.

"It is all worth it in the end"
People with kids say it is a very rewarding experience. I guess this makes sense. My darkest moments in life have also been very rewarding, because having been through darkness it is so much easier to see the silver lining when the sun comes back. Also, if you expect to get a lot of love and gratitude from your child, you may end up disappointed. So if you want to reproduce so that you can experience unconditional love, it may be a better idea to get a dog.

The denial of overpopulation

Of course we all want to believe that we are doing a good job and that the world isn't so bad after all. We want to believe in the happy ending, without being too much involved in its creation. So when discussing this topic, I often get interesting responses, such as the following:

"Sure, there are too many people, but not in this country."
This somehow makes it okay to have a lot of children in certain locations on earth, because the country still has some nature that we can destroy. And why would we consider population counts of other countries? Well, maybe because this is one world we are living in, and because we impact the earth as a species, not as a nation.

"Surely nature will come up with a solution. It always has."
Yes, this will probably happen. It could be deadly virus, an epidemic, a mass extinction through climate change... Or world war 3 could break out and cause havoc due to increased aggression and conflict over dwindling resources. Are you willing to wait for it? Are you willing to - knowingly - contribute to this by choosing to reproduce and stick to your current lifestyle? And are you sure you want to put your kids on an earth that is heading in that direction?

What no one tells you about parenthood

You may be thinking: that is all very valid stuff, but I really want to have children, because apparently it is the most amazing experience in the world. Well, I have a few close friends who had kids recently and they have revealed some somber details about their new lives. And research seems to confirm it.

Your life now revolves around the child and nothing else.
Okay, this one is obvious. Just look at people with kids. They don't have any time for themselves. Their world has become very small. It all revolves around the baby. Most parents can't even talk about anything else. It seems very exhausting.

Say goodbye to your sex life.
Hormones kick in so that the woman can now devote her entire life to the child. She will no longer be that interested in sex, because her mission was accomplished. Biology is very efficient: it leaves the man free to move on to the next woman, because he may lose interest when he no longer gets any attention. Or he may settle for second place for the rest of his life.

Life becomes a struggle.
If you think having a child is a bonding factor, think again. Sixty-seven percent of couples come close to divorce during the first three years of a new baby’s life. Parents also tend to worry more than non-parents (about everything). And it turns out that overall, people without kids are happier than people who have kids, including people whose kids have already moved out of the house.

So, you may not be missing out on much after all if you choose not to have kids. It could even be that we have all been lied to about the idea that having children is a wonderful thing. Not on purpose, but because the people who told us didn't know any better, either. Or perhaps on purpose too, because there are people who benefit from continued growth in all areas, including population growth. So before embarking on that journey, it is good to consider the opposite: Perhaps it is not so wonderful after all.
Of course it is up to every individual to decide what they want to do with their lives and what mark they want to make on the world. But nevertheless it can be good to keep a world perspective when making the decision, instead of just looking at needs and desires on a personal and individual level. Because in the end we are all connected, and world consequences impact every creature on earth, including you.

Nature's Beauty

I haven't had a TV for about 15 years now and I have been perfectly fine without. I also try to stay away from other technical devices and appliances as much as I can and spend as much time as possible in nature. I guess I was privileged too, because my parents encouraged me to have a real childhood: I was out building huts, playing in the mud, catching fish with a net just to admire them (and putting them back after), building 'show jumping courses' for myself and my friends and spending time with my dog or with horses.We also went to beautiful places for the holidays, spending a lot of time outdoors in nature.

Traveling helped me realize that there was a lot more natural beauty in the rest of the world than where I grew up (The Netherlands). Most places had more diverse flora and fauna and more beautiful scenery than where I lived. I longed to live immersed in the natural wilderness more and more and got hooked on traveling, which has brought me so many enriching experiences. Spending time in various countries I learned about diverse cultures and traditions, and how people did things differently all over the world. But most of all, I saw all the different masterpieces of our beautiful earth.

Earth is my favorite architect. It provides everything I could ever need in terms of excitement, joy, peace, entertainment, a sense of freedom and awe, deep relaxation, inspiration, valuable life lessons, food for the soul and even a bridge to enlightenment. When I am in nature, I feel truly at home. It doesn't matter where in the world I am. Nature is my home. I often wonder how people cope when they don't spend much time in nature... What could ever replace this beauty and diversity? How do they manage to feel fulfilled when they don't surround themselves with the magnificence that is already here? Maybe they can't feel fulfilled, and end up searching their whole lives for something that could only be found in the peacefulness, stillness and aliveness of nature.

Here are photos of some of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen (and I know there are many more):

Antilope Canyon, AZ, USA

A mystical tree at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, AZ, USA

Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO, USA

Florida, USA

Near Petra, Jordan

Cuba

Elephants in the Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana

Northern Ireland

Oman

Queensland, Australia

Near Åndalsnes, Norway

Maybe you don't live near beauty like this. Maybe you live mostly around man-made structures and buildings. Maybe you would even miss that if it wasn't there anymore, because you have grown so used to it. But have you ever spent time in nature and felt so peaceful, in harmony, and one with everything? Have you ever marveled at the beauty of a waterfall, lake or ocean? Have you ever breathed in the clear and rich forest air, or the ocean air, and felt how it instantly invigorated your body?

Then you know the value of nature.

This is why I feel urged to protect what is left of it. If there were no more forests, no more clean beaches and clean waters, no more fresh air to breathe, then there would be no point for me to live. What if human-created pollution was everywhere and there was no escape from cities, smog, garbage, stinky cars, and cigarette smoke? What if there were people everywhere and no more wildlife, no place to be alone with nature, somewhere in the forest or on a deserted beach, to contemplate life? Yet this is where we are heading if we don't change our ways. Is this really what we ultimately want?

What about an earth where humans and other animals live in harmony with each other, leaving enough room for plants and trees and the natural beauty of the earth to flourish. An earth where we all have access to those sacred, natural places where we can recharge, contemplate life and integrate our experiences. A healthy earth with clean air and clean water, just as nature intended it to be. A place where we can be healthy because we are immersed in the healing energy of the trees and plants that surround us and give us life.

We can go back to this. It is not too late yet. All it takes is a little downsizing and simplification. This is why next time I travel, I want to look for a more sustainable way to do it. Perhaps hiking or cycling around the world. It is not just better for the earth, it also allows me to see and experience more along the way. My mode of transport will no longer be just a means to an end; a way to get somewhere fast. It will be an experience in itself. I am already planning my next trip, which will be on foot, by bike or on horseback (and 100% moneyless of course), after I complete my PhD.

What are your favorite places on earth and why? Where do you feel most peaceful and at home?

Interview with Liselotte by Dörte Giebel

Last week I was interviewed by Dörte Giebel. The interview was posted here: (part 1) and here (part 2). Below is the full interview. Thank you Dörte, for these awesome questions!

1) How old are you and where did you grow up?
I am 33 and grew up in Middelburg, the Netherlands. I lived there until I was about 20 years old. Around that time I started to travel more and subsequently I lived in a few different countries. At the moment I am living in Norway and I have no intention of moving back to the Netherlands in the future. The overpopulation, the lack of wildlife, the destruction of nature, the excessive pollution and the fact that only 12% of the country is dedicated to nature, make it a very unappealing place for me. And although these issues are global, the effects seem to be more apparent in the Netherlands than in most other countries I have visited or lived in. Yet that does make the Netherlands a great reminder of the importance of awareness. It helps to keep me motivated to do my part to preserve what is left of our beautiful earth.

Me and my horse Arizona

2) You introduce yourself as "working as a PhD Candidate in Environmental Psychology at NTNU in Trondheim (Norwegian University of Science and Technology). The topic is Climate Change and Art and explores ways in which art can promote pro-environmental behaviors and attitudes." Do you feel like an artist yourself?

I believe that everyone is an artist to some degree. I don’t really believe that art should possess certain elusive qualities to be called art. I think if you have a message and you want to challenge certain concepts, which may encourage people to reflect on what they are doing or on how the world works, then that is what is at the core of ‘art’. The manner in which you choose to convey that message will then be the determinant of whether or not it will be perceived as art by others. But to me, art is mostly about the message; it is about encouraging critical reflection and challenging ‘the way things are’. It is about looking at the world from a new perspective; through a different lens. That is also the main focus of my blog; to challenge or at least question certain ideas that seem to be widely recognized as normal, or even ‘the norm’; if not through our attitudes and beliefs, then at least through our collective actions.

One of my paintings :-)

3) Is blogging about your challenges and adventures a special form of art?

According to my own definition of art, my blog would indeed classify as a special form of art, although I know that many artists (and non-artists) would probably disagree with me. But to me, the purpose of the blog is more important than its definition.

The main purposes of the blog are (in no particular order): 1. To remind myself daily of the things that are important to me; so I use it as a self-motivator. 2. To uncover my truth and find ways to live my truth within society as it is right now. 3. To be a role model to others and (hopefully) inspire others to stand up for what they believe in and to live their truth. 4. To question things that society may consider ‘normal’ and to show alternative ways of living. 5. To create an online network or community of like-minded people where we can exchange ideas about doing things differently, and where we can support and encourage each other along the way.

4) On your About-page you write "However, society as we know it (and as we have created it) provides little time and opportunity for connecting and tuning in with the earth. This is why I feel that many people, including myself until recently, have lost their way." How would you describe this sense of being lost? 

At many times in my life I have felt uneasy about certain things, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was or what I could do about it. For example, the concept of ‘work’ bothers me, but not the idea of contribution. I see contribution as a basic human need, but the way this idea has been translated into society does not always seem helpful. And yet, I didn’t see a way out until recently (although I still have a job now, but I see now that there are other ways). I didn’t know what I could do about it or how I could do things differently. So in that sense, I was lost. And that resulted in that I unwillingly accepted and even contributed to the status quo, simply because I didn’t know another way.

I also always felt that the world was too crowded with too many people and not enough room for nature, other animals and plants. But I did not know what to do about it, other than making the decision not to have any children of my own. I did have a dream to build an ecohome one day with a vegetable garden, where I could live a self-sustainable lifestyle. But I was buying into the belief that I couldn’t do it right away; I felt like I needed a lot of money to be able to do that. I needed money before I could make a real difference. And even though I was doing things like saving water by having shorter showers and eating a mostly plant-based diet, it didn’t feel like I was doing enough. It didn’t feel like I was contributing anything on a larger scale, beyond myself. At least an ecohome would be something more permanent. It could change the structure of society. People could live there after me. Anything else I did seemed fleeting; more like treating the symptoms instead of fixing the structural causes. I felt like I could do so much more, but I didn’t know what it was or where to start.

Three happy stray dogs in Cuba that I wanted to adopt

5) How did this state of being affect your motivation?

That uneasy feeling (knowing I could do more but not knowing what to do) kept me very unmotivated to actually do much for the environment for a long time, even though I was convinced that something should be done! But my thought processes were very constricting most of the time. “There is nothing I can do”. “They make it impossible”. “It is too difficult”. “Why would I make such an effort for only small results if no one else seems to be doing anything anyway? What is the point?” This is how it felt at times. It felt impossible to do anything meaningful and the world seemed to be heading for total destruction and chaos. And it seemed there was nothing I could do about it.

6) Did something special happen in your life to shift your perception?

The turning point for me came when I learned about dumpster diving. It showed me how easy it was to make a big difference in a very short time: Not only did it have immediate positive effects on the environment (preventing good quality food from ending up in landfills) and on my own life (saving a lot of money), but also on the lives of others, because I could share my finds with them. I suddenly felt like the most generous person in the world. Suddenly, my life was no longer just about me: it was about truly caring for others and truly caring for the earth. My life had a clear purpose and I knew what to do to make a big difference that was positive on all levels. My capacity for empathy expanded and I felt more alive than I had felt for a long time.

Caring for the environment no longer felt restricting or pointless; it became meaningful, fun and rewarding. I felt expanded and inspired; which fueled the motivation to keep going but also to share this experience with others, who were perhaps also feeling held back at times by a strong sense of defeat or hopelessness.

One of my biggest finds behind a store in the Netherlands

Of course there are still moments when I feel hopeless and overwhelmed by all the sadness in the world. But I always remind myself at those times that whether or not humans will evolve beyond their current state as a species is not the point. I do not define my success in terms of getting other people to think like me. Success for me is living authentically. I want to do what is right for me, and stand up for what I believe in. This is also the only thing I would like to encourage and inspire in others: To do what matters to you, without letting society (or any person) get in your way! So whatever it is that is important to you, do it. Don’t wait for society’s approval.

7) Did your experiences as a psychologist / therapist over the last ten years influence your view or your decisions?

It certainly gave me the opportunity to learn a lot about myself and about other people. But I could never find a lasting sense of fulfillment from my work as a therapist. I always felt like I was just scratching the surface, treating the symptoms and yet never managing to get to the root cause of problems. At times I even felt like I had to come up with strategies for people just to make their lives ‘more manageable’, while the way we are expected to live our lives is completely unnatural. No wonder that so many people struggle.

We have to work almost every day, often doing jobs we would not necessarily choose or enjoy (but we all have to do ‘something’). We have to earn a lot of money in our lifetime just so that we can have a place to live and get fed (so apparently these are not basic human rights). We are taught to look outside ourselves for security, approval, love and acceptance, for the sake of our survival. In fact, most of us are made into very dependent creatures. After all, have you learned to survive in the wilderness? We never really learn to look after ourselves. Why is that, and why do we accept this as normal?

What if you could learn to survive in the wilderness and find a way to live a fulfilling, meaningful life, without chasing the illusions of modern societies… No job, no unnecessary possessions… Would you be willing to give up the comforts and securities you think you have now, in exchange for lasting freedom? I know I would, in a heartbeat.

This was my office when I was working as a psychologist

8) What does "to claim back my life" mean to you exactly? Can you describe that a little bit more in detail?

It means making my own decisions and not the decisions that are silently expected of me. But it also means becoming more and more independent; finding out how to live as self-sufficiently as possible. This means learning about all areas of life: what to eat to stay healthy, how to catch and filter rainwater, how to build a shelter, how to grow food, which wild plants are edible, and so on.

9) How did you get started with your moneyless lifestyle and how did the food donations come about? Did you start up your own charity group or did they already exist? And do they have a website?

I started my moneyless challenge after I had already been diving fairly regularly in Norway for several months. At the start of the challenge I went dumpster diving almost every night, and often at more than one store (I had about 2-3 favorites). I was only taking food home for myself at the time, and sometimes for a few other people as well. It was compelling and exciting to go every night because I never knew what I was going to find, plus I was a little worried that I would ‘run out’ of certain things, like laundry detergent and cleaning products; these are normally a bit harder to find. But this worry turned out to be unfounded, because after a few months of diving almost daily, I had so much stock of non-food products (such as cleaning products and soaps) and food products with a relatively longer shelf life (such as cooking oils and herbs) that they would probably last me at least a year. Then I felt secure enough to dive less often.

But the vast amounts of food I had found every time also had an impact on me. It was hard to let so much good food go to waste each day, as I knew that it would be there, but I also knew I could never eat it all by myself. So I started to think about ways to redistribute the food to other people. And in the process I learned about Folkekjøkken, an organization that was already doing something similar, but they were picking up food directly from the shops (they have a Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trondheim-folkekj%C3%B8kken-Mat-ikke-makta/129282655877?fref=ts). They used the food to cook for the community on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and sometimes also for special events. Anyone could join in and eat for free. Any leftover food was donated to the Free Fridge (a fridge accessible to anyone to take as much food as they needed).

So I decided to help out and pick up food three times a week for one of the cookings (on Saturdays). But after a while these cookings got cancelled due to a lack of committed volunteers in the weekends and I had to find other ways to donate the food. So I started giving food away on a local website and before I knew it I had quite a few contacts (mostly single moms and immigrant families) that I could donate the food to. These people were having a very tough time to make ends meet and they told me the free food really helped them get by. It made me feel so grateful to be a part of this and to be able to make such a big difference in these people’s lives.

In addition to donating to families in need directly, we also installed two more Free Fridges around Trondheim, where we can deliver any excess food. One of the free fridges is my responsibility now, so I make sure to fill it up regularly.

The Free Fridge at NTNU Dragvoll after a big delivery

10) How does the idea of the free fridges work? How many people know and use this already? Are there private people donating food as well or “only” your organization?

The free fridges have their own Facebook page and are set up in public buildings across the city. Anyone is allowed to donate food there and anyone is allowed to take what they need. Whenever a big delivery is made, a photo of the content of the fridge is posted on the appropriate Facebook page so that people know when to go and what they can find. People find out about it through word of mouth and through likes and shares of others on Facebook.

Here are their respective websites:

www.facebook.com/FreeFridgeDragvoll (this is the fridge I manage)

https://www.facebook.com/GratismatkjoleskapetArne?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/groups/863877990347715/

11) I am a bit curious about your daily life. Maybe you can describe a "normal" week, your Mondays, your weekends: For example: How many hours (per day / per week / per month) you spend with Dumpster Diving and organizing your moneyless life? In a way it is a kind of "work", isn't it? The time a farmer spends in growing his own food is the time others have to work to gain the money to buy the food - and this time you invest to "save" the food. :-)

My weeks are pretty busy :-) I pick up food at two shops every day now, even on most Sundays. I go by bike, because I don’t have a car. I use a bike trailer to transport all the food. Normally I pick up around 40 kilos of food a day, but sometimes up to 100 kilos. A trip to the shops takes about an hour or up to three hours if they have a lot and I have to do several rounds. Now that it is summer, there is especially a lot to pick up, probably because a lot of people are on holiday. One week I biked 150 kilometers just for food pickups, transporting at least 240 kilos of food (but probably much more)!

The food pickups and the distribution of the food take up most of my evenings, which means that I don’t have much time or energy to go dumpster diving nowadays. Only on Sundays I sometimes get a day off when the shop doesn’t have anything that day. On most weeks, I still manage to dive once or twice a week though.

And of course during the day I work on my PhD, although I do consider the blog and the diving/donating to be a part of this as well, considering the topic of my PhD. I am even hoping to create a research project around this at some stage in the future.

Even though I don’t have much free time, I find that being able to give so much good quality food away to people who really need it and helping the environment in the process, is a very rewarding experience. It always makes me feel incredibly grateful that I can see firsthand how my actions enrich people’s lives. This is definitely the fuel that keeps me going.

Me getting back from a pick-up on a rainy day

12) And what some of my blog readers might ask (not me actually :-) ): How do you spend time with friends or family without spending money? No more cinema, pubs or concerts? And if so, do you miss anything? 

Luckily, I have never been that interested in concerts, pubs or the cinema, so I don’t really miss anything. I prefer an interesting conversation with a friend, going for walks in nature, or just spending time together in any place, no matter where or what the activity is. To me, the connection is more important than the activity. What also helps is that I don’t drink alcohol (or use any other substances), so that makes my moneyless project a lot easier too.

So I can’t think of anything I miss… On the contrary: I have felt richer and life has seemed much more abundant since I went moneyless. The biggest bonus has been living from gratitude. With money out of my life, I have been focusing on much more valuable things. I have become more creative in how I give to others, including to my friends and family. This has also made me more thoughtful and aware of their likes and needs. And when I see free stuff being advertised or find something special in a dumpster that any of my friends would enjoy, I pick it up for them. The smiles and joy it brings are truly heart-warming.

At Lamington National Park

13) I guess that you already found like-minded people in Trondheim, right? Is there a growing community of Dumpster Divers in Trondheim (or in other cities of Norway) or do you always dive alone? 

Yes, there are many divers in Trondheim; more than in The Netherlands, where I first started diving. There is even a diving community for Trondheim on Facebook and there are many people who dive on a regular basis. But this doesn’t mean that all the food necessarily gets rescued. Even when I used to dive daily, I rarely encountered any other divers. I think I only met other divers on 5-10 occasions (in about 3 months of daily diving). So even with many active divers, there was still a lot of food that never got saved.

Because I am diving very often, I prefer to dive alone or with just one other person. This is because I don’t want to draw too much attention to the diving, because people could get upset and complain to the store, and the store managers then may decide to lock the dumpster. That would not be the first time this happens; many of the dumpsters here are locked. I guess another reason is that some people make a mess, they are very noisy when they are diving, or they dive during opening hours. Those are definitely some things to avoid if possible.

14) Do you see or believe in a trend or even in a movement in Norway (in Europe, in the world) concerning minimalism, simple life and sustainability that is growing? 

Yes! I have noticed a growing interest around the world in self-sustainable living and tiny homes. Also, more people seem to want to simplify their lives, even though they may not know where to start. But I think a lot of people are starting to realize that money isn’t the be-all and end-all of life and that there is a lot more to life than just having a job and buying a house. Life has a lot more to offer in terms of meaning and purpose.

Of course these movements have always existed and were even once the norm, but I do believe that many people are starting to get tired of the way society works now. There seems to be a ‘collective burnout’ happening, where people are no longer willing or able to do their job, so that they have to re-prioritize their life goals. And many people are waking up to the fact that having wealth or money as a top priority means selling your life away and ‘saving it for later’, only to discover there is no later. I don’t want that to happen to me. I don’t want to have any regrets when my life is about to end. So my priority is doing what matters now. And what matters to me now is being truly alive; being conscious, being present and being aware of the choices and contributions that I make. I want to contribute to a happy, healthy earth and to living in harmony and balance with other creatures as much as possible, in everything I do. And I know that I am still learning. It is a continuous process of uncovering blind spots. Layer, after layer and step by step. But I have come a long way already and will continue to find new ways of living an even more earth-friendly lifestyle..

15) What is a helpful first step towards a sustainable change in one’s life? Do you have a special tip for someone who wants to make such changes in his / her life but feels captured in his / her circumstances?

If you feel inspired to make changes, start today! Don’t wait until some future date, because the future never comes. Tomorrow will always be tomorrow. The only time to change is now. And it is possible to make some changes today!

Just start small. Write down some things you would like to change and brainstorm ways to make it fun and rewarding for yourself. Make it exciting. Choose something that doesn’t make you feel restricted, but enriches your life in some way (and/or the lives of others). This is why dumpster diving was such a great place for me to start: it did not involve ‘giving something up’. Instead, I gained a lot (lots of good food and discovering the joy of giving!). I felt like the most generous person alive! Giving away expensive cakes, pies, bread and other baked goods. Expensive types of meat, cheese and delicious vegetables. All kinds of stuff. It brought me a lot of joy. So find something that you might enjoy, and take a friend with you at first if it seems scary. That makes it a lot easier and more fun. I wrote a guide on dumpster diving that might help you get started, if you want to try it out (see http://liselotteroosen.blogspot.no/2015/07/dumpster-diving-101.html)

Seven cakes / pies and some bread.
This is only a fraction of what was thrown out that day (behind a store in the Netherlands)

And if you decide you also want to donate food, always practice food safety and donate responsibly. That means only taking meat and dairy products when they are still cold, storing them in the fridge as soon as possible and until they get picked up. And always give the person who picks up the food at least the following information:

1.       Where the food came from

2.       In what condition you found it and how you have stored it so far

3.       Tell them to smell and check the food for safety after opening the package

4.       Tell them consumption is at their own risk, because the food may be expired

5.       When in doubt, they should throw it away.

If you don’t know that much about food safety or how to check whether food is still edible, then it definitely helps to know a few people who know more. They can help you get started. And of course, the internet can also provide a lot of information. After experimenting with foods for a while, you get a feel for when foods are still edible and when they are not.

If you don’t really want to start with dumpster diving, but rather with something else, like saving water or eating less meat, just treat it as a challenge first! This really helps to get motivated. First you become aware of your current habits, and then you set yourself a goal. For example: no meat for 6 weeks. It is a fun way to test yourself! If you make it challenging enough, you will see that you will get creative very quickly in finding solutions to things you previously saw as ‘obstacles’.

Swimming in natural water sources is a great way to keep clean without showering

16) What's next? What comes after your PhD?

I have always been drawn to the nomad lifestyle, so I would love to experience life like that for a while, and just travel the world in a very basic way. For example by doing a ‘moneyless’ world tour, perhaps on horseback or walking, where I find places to stay in exchange for doing some work.  Many years ago, I had the plan to travel to Santiago de Compostela on horseback, just for the experience, while enjoying the journey. I would still really like to do that. But I would have to come up with a better plan first; including something I can do along the way to benefit others and benefit the earth. Any ideas are very welcome! :-)

Visiting the beach in the Netherlands with a friend's horse

I also still have the dream of building an off-the-grid ecohome. So after I complete my PhD, I would love to purchase some land in a country with a mild climate, where I am allowed to build my own house and preferably don’t pay any land tax (which I think is a strange concept anyway).

In the future, I would also like to continue to inspire others and be a resource for people who want to simplify their lives and rearrange their priorities in life, perhaps as a coach or trainer. Another exciting plan that I would like to develop further is to lead retreats that guide people back to the core of their being. I would like to start doing that soon if I find the time.

And of course the blog will also continue to exist, even after I get my PhD. I will update it regularly with tips, new ideas or information about what is coming next.