Initiatives for 2021: Denmark Edition
Happy New Year, everyone—a bit late, I know. Well, the turbulent year of 2020 has ended, and now, the start of 2021 is here! I was hoping that this year would finally be a good one, but it seems COVID is still raging. I'm not sure if we're in the second or third wave anymore, but countries across Europe are in lockdown again. I'm sure people in Japan are hoping for the Olympics to happen this year, but with this situation continuing, it's starting to feel a bit worrying whether they can really be held. I haven't been able to return to Japan even once in 2020, and I have several flight tickets that have been converted into vouchers, but who knows when I'll be able to use them?!
Now, since it's the New Year, looking back on last year in my own way, it seems it wasn't all bad because of COVID. To list the positive things for me:
1. From spring to summer, during the best time of year, I had no work and was able to relax at home. Thanks to that, I was able to stroll around and discover lovely nearby towns I had never visited before.
2. During my time off, I started exercising (walking), which I never did before because I was always 'too busy,' and before I knew it, my daily step count reached 20,000 to 30,000! Thanks to that, I lost 10 kilograms!
3. I started doing what I could regarding the SDGs, which I hadn't paid much attention to before.
When it comes to what I can do personally regarding familiar SDGs, there are things that are already integrated into daily life, such as sorting trash and collecting plastic bottles. However, what I discovered this summer was using an app for an organization that eliminates food waste to buy leftover food from that day at an affordable price! You search for what you want to buy on the app, reserve it, pay with a card, go to the store at the designated time to pick it up, and swipe the app on the spot to complete the transaction! The bread from the bakery I used several times this summer was a real bargain; a bag of five items, which would normally cost over 30 kr each, was only 39 kr. It helps the store avoid waste, and I get bread at an affordable price, so it's a win-win for both sides! (The photo below shows the bread I bought using the app called Too Good To Go.)
There are still people in the world who have no food and are starving to death. Recently, I've heard news that in Japan, too, the number of people struggling to make a living who end up starving to death without being able to consult anyone about it is increasing. It's truly sad. In Denmark, there is a wonderful organization called 'Food sharing' that receives food waste from stores and other places for free, which volunteers then go to pick up and distribute for free at event venues. The management and planning are all covered by volunteers, and since volunteers can take home vegetables, bread, and the like after the event, it seems to be very rewarding. A friend of mine also participates as a volunteer for this Food sharing. I am very happy that there are many volunteer organizations in Denmark that are set up with the mindset of 'Let's do this!'
