Ghosts, Ghouls, and Greenhouse Gases

Happy Halloween Friends

Halloween’s that magical night when we actively encourage children to approach strangers’ houses and demand confectionery. It’s chaos. It’s sugar. It’s perfect.

But behind the pumpkins, vampire teeth, fake blood, and naughty witches costumes, there’s another story unfolding, one where the planet is the main character, waving politely from the background, quietly muttering:

“I love what you’ve done with the cobwebs, but could we keep the real ones alive, too?”

Every Halloween has its monsters. Dracula, Frankenstein, the neighbour who insists on handing out raisins. But this year’s biggest horror story doesn’t come from Transylvania, it’s straight from the weather report.

Hurricane Melissa just gate-crashed the Caribbean like that one uninvited party guest who breaks the furniture and eats all the dip and gets sick in a plant pot. Jamaica and Cuba took the hit, a brutal reminder that nature’s special effects team is working overtime.

And yet, amid all this, we can still smile. Because when humans get scared, we also get brilliantly inventive.

The trick is thinking we have to choose between having fun and doing good.
Between chocolate and conscience. Between horror films and hope.

You don’t need to give up your KitKats or live in a cave to make a difference. You just need to approach sustainability with the same enthusiasm you approach a fancy-dress party:

• Commit to the bit.
• Get creative.
• And for heaven’s sake, don’t be afraid to look ridiculous doing it.

Because real change isn’t always glamorous, sometimes it’s just remembering your reusable coffee cup or switching the lights off before you go ghost-hunting.

Here’s the good news: we are improving. People care. Kids care. Even French Bull dogs in pumpkin costumes care (probably).

I see that optimism every day, turning waste into clean fuel, proving that progress can be as practical as it is magical. It’s not alchemy, it’s just smart science with a cape on.

When waste becomes energy, that’s the kind of treat the world actually needs, no tricks required.

There’s something oddly motivating about fear. Zombies make us run faster. Ghosts make us turn on the lights. Climate change? Maybe it’ll finally make us turn on our minds.

And that’s okay. Fear doesn’t have to paralyse,  it can energise, especially if we tackle it with a grin. Think of it like this:

• Every pumpkin light is a symbol of hope.
• Every recycled costume is a small rebellion.
• Every storm faced with solidarity is humanity at its best.

We’re not doomed, we’re just in the middle of the plot twist.

So tonight, as the doorbells ring and your fake vampire teeth lose suction halfway through a conversation, take a moment to smile at how absurd and wonderful it all is.

We’ve built a global tradition out of facing our fears with costumes, laughter, and sugar. Imagine what we could do if we faced the planet’s challenges the same way, together, with creativity, humour, and a bit of mischief.

Here’s to a Halloween full of light, laughter, and the kind of treats that last longer than a sugar rush.

Happy Halloween, may your footprint be light, your conscience sweet, and all your creatively carved pumpkins – be properly composted.

Until next time, thanks for reading, have a beautiful weekend.

Mike.

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