無人機新用途 每天可種樹10萬棵
http://www.epochtimes.com/b5/17/8/20/n9546926.htm
英國一家初創公司開發的種樹無人機，將從9月開始在緬甸幫助當地居民種樹。
（BioCarbon Engineering）
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcJ7vLwtSIM
BioCarbon Engineering Concept of Operations - YouTube
This is an excellent example of how drones can be used to repair the damage
done by years of legal and illegal deforestation. Let's hope these scaleable
solutions get under way soon.
更新: 2017-08-20 3:05 PM
標籤: 種樹, 種子, 無人機, 生態, 存活率
【大紀元2017年08月20日訊】（大紀元記者陳俊村編譯報導）在過去5年來，
緬甸居民一直在伊洛瓦底江（Irrawaddy River）的三角洲種植紅樹林，試圖
恢復已經消失幾十年的生態系統。但這樣的工作相當耗費人工，而且他們還有
更大片的土地需要種樹，所以他們求助於無人機，而這也是無人機應用在新的
領域的案例。
這些由英國初創公司「生碳工程」（BioCarbon Engineering）開發的無人機，
每天可播下10萬棵樹的種子。從9月開始，該公司將與一個非營利組織合作，開
始在緬甸以無人機種樹。
到目前為止，緬甸居民已經在750公頃的土地上種樹，無人機將協助在另外的250
公頃土地上種下100萬棵樹，而這些居民則可以專注於照顧已經種下的新樹。該非
營利組織希望無人機最終能在更大的範圍內種下10億棵樹。
以無人機種樹的技術可分為幾個步驟。首先，定位無人機飛行在超過地面300英尺
（約91公尺）的空中，以蒐集有關地形和土壤品質的詳細資料。這些資料經運
算法運算之後，可以得到種樹的最佳地點和最佳種類。
其次，第二組無人機低飛於地面上方，依據定位資料將富含營養的「種子豆莢」
（seed pod）射出，可迅速插入目標地點的土壤中，其誤差僅在幾公分的範圍內。
這些內含種子的「種子豆莢」由科學家所設計，可支持不同種類的種子生長。
利用無人機精準地播種。
而科學家還可以修正無人機種植的樹木種類和目標地點，以便取得最高的存活率。
相較之下，目前很多人使用的直昇機種樹法，是將種子從空中撒下，它們可能碰
到石頭或掉入沼澤地，存活率相對較低。
就技術而言，一名無人機操控人員可以同時監控6架無人機，進而達到每天種10萬
棵樹的最大值。這些無人機的種樹速度至少比人工種樹快10倍，而成本卻只有一半
左右。
The Prayer Vegan Heaven 釋 天 唐 祈 福 ♥❄✡純素生活✟創造和平🎂 卍Swastika 🌍Be Vegan，Make Peace🌍 ✡ Veganism Is Paradise♥素食主義是天堂✡ 敬愛尊貴的 聖德 佛菩薩~您好~您的來信敬悉感恩 ，謝謝！ 上帝與您時刻同在^_^㊗主內福佑 平安喜樂 ☼Remember God★環保♻️愛寰宇 銀河系 金星🌍 ★如果全世界都吃素，戰爭與飢荒將停止， ★讓愛與和平從我們心裡開始。 建設性的言語開創肯定的未來。 ♥藥師佛 釋 天 唐 祈禱佛光無暗。 無上正等正覺庇益一切眾生，如來身意供養天。 淨化布施為一種修行、布施貢獻不求回報、 無私付出使知識長進、擇友正念光榮棟樑、 尊貴敬愛鈞座佛菩薩∼護宥 環保 愛素 不殺生。 Please Save Our One Earth.The Heart of ASIA亞洲之心
電子發票、紙杯原來不能丟「紙類回收」？造紙公會點破台灣回收迷思
聖人樂活公益素食天空ForeverVeganLohasSkyUnion ♥
聖人樂活公益素食天空祈禱永遠純素世界：素食者所產生性情上的改變和淨化，對人類都有相當好的利益， 素食對人類很吉祥。觀音網站「美饌佳餚」 網頁設計師 祝您新的一年廚藝進步，生活吉祥^_^ ♥印度勝雄甘地說：如果你希望世界發生改變，就先改變自己吧!我們應該給我們的下一代做出傳播以愛、 同情心以及對我們的“家園”的尊重、感恩和愛護的榜樣。修改自己就是修改世界∼ ♥ "請加入我們一起來打坐祈求純素世界，世界和平" 請您盡量多打坐 祈禱以正面能量保護地球 全球共修時間一起打坐祈禱以愛心全心向天堂祈求 純素生活，創造和平 .願神聖恩典與幸福充滿您的心靈 ♥佛讚 ♥無上正等正覺利益世界所有眾生，分享是一種無我修行、布施貢獻是不求回報、 無私使知識長進、善念共存共享之、謝謝尊敬鈞長∼您無條件的大愛∼發揚純樸良善民風∼ 光福佑全球亮起來 不印紙本出版環保 愛素 拯救雨林和樹木
http://mypaper.pchome.com.tw/lohassky/post/1371052887
祝福 一切順心 好運、成功
2017/05/29, 生活
電子發票、紙杯原來不能丟「紙類回收」？造紙公會點破台灣回收迷思
https://www.thenewslens.com/article/69462
Abby Huang
現任 關鍵評論網新聞組採訪編輯
電子發票、紙杯原來不能丟「紙類回收」？造紙公會點破台灣回收迷思 - The News Lens 關鍵評論網
造紙工業同業公會指出，造成回收紙品質變差的原因，包含將不能回收的電子發票、ATM提款單等感熱紙丟入回收，以及含有防水防油的PE薄膜紙容器應該另外分類回收，卻被當一般紙類回收等。民眾對於紙類回收正確分類應該再加強。
（中央社）
台灣資源回收堪稱國際典範，但根據台灣區造紙工業同業公會統計，近年回收紙品質每下愈況，含水量以纖維、塑膠為大宗的排渣比例已達12%，認為國內紙類回收正確分類需再推廣。
為了讓垃圾減量，政府呼籲民眾資源回收再利用，其中紙類回收更可說是國內推廣循環經濟的典範。不過，近年來回收紙品質卻是每下愈況，根據台灣區造紙工業同業公會統計，含水量以纖維、塑膠為大宗的排渣比例已達12%，比進口回收紙的排渣率要高出三倍。
造紙公會祕書長謝世平表示，台灣廢紙有回收再利用比例超過七成，但由於近年有很多不該回收的紙類，像是感熱紙、標籤貼紙及複寫紙等參雜其中，因此相較於美日進口的回收紙，台灣廢紙再利用的排渣率高出三倍。
造紙工業同業公會指出，造成回收紙品質變差的原因，包含將不能回收的電子發票、ATM提款單等感熱紙丟入回收以及含有防水防油的PE薄膜紙容器應該另外分類回收，卻被當一般紙類回收等，民眾對於紙類回收正確分類應該再加強推廣。對此，環署廢管處長賴瑩瑩說，過去都有公告提醒，未來也會加強宣導。
咖啡紙杯幾乎100%不能回收
BBC英倫網、聯合新聞網報導，外帶咖啡杯的隔溫紙套上經常印有「100% recycled」的字樣，然而百分之百可以回收處理的，實際上就只是那個紙套，咖啡紙杯本身，無法回收。
咖啡紙杯無法回收，是因為做紙杯的硬紙，為了能防水，混入了聚乙烯（polyethylene, PE）。從技術上說，是可以將聚乙烯從紙杯中分離的，因此咖啡連鎖店可以聲稱紙杯「可回收」。但是要將聚乙烯從紙杯中分離出來，普通的回收處理工廠做不到，需要送到專門的紙杯回收處理工廠。而根據統計，被回收到紙杯回收處理工廠的外帶咖啡杯，全英國只有300萬個，但英國咖啡紙杯年消耗量卻多達30億個，回收率可能只有0.1％。
你知道咖啡紙杯其實很難回收嗎？為了防水加入PE，普通回收工廠可處理不了
紙杯回收CP值低，回收率一年不到一成
據環保署統計，台灣平均每年消耗的一次性飲料杯約有15億個，有逐年增加的趨勢，而其中紙杯就占了10.7億個，然而臺灣的紙杯回收率只有不到10%。會這樣低的原因是，在回收與處理的過程中，紙杯因為價格太低，加上常帶有食物與飲料的殘渣，有濃厚的異味，會被直接淘汰送到焚化爐，進不了處理廠的再生體系。
若紙杯能順利進入處理廠，將會經過PE膜與紙分離的流程而後成為再生材料。然而，像這樣紙與PE的複合材質得漿率僅有30%左右。此外，由於受到混入的食物殘渣影響，再生材料的品質也不佳。正因為CP值不高，許多與清潔公司合作的單位，會直接將紙杯歸類在「紙類」省得麻煩。綠藤生機報導指出，考量額外分類、處理與運輸成本過高，大部分的民間回收商會直接將整批紙容器與紙類都一起交給「一般廢紙」處理業者，而非專業的「紙容器」處理商。
一般紙處理廠的技術上還無法完整將紙容器的塑膠膜等雜質打散，剩餘的雜質會再度排放成為垃圾，不僅造成紙處理廠相當大的負擔，處理過程中所耗費的能源和製造的汙染，也是對環境的二度傷害。
【圖輯】垃圾回收率破5成的臺灣，只收回10%咖啡紙杯：問題出在哪？
環保署指出，為利後端回收處理作業、提高回收再生品質，建議民眾將廢鋁箔包、紙盒包及廢紙餐具分開收集（分為紙容器類），勿和舊報紙或其他廢紙混合。
獎勵回收率，民眾自備飲料杯、回收空杯都有優惠
另外，環保署也在2011年公告「一次用外帶飲料杯源頭減量及回收獎勵金實施方式」，規定連鎖速食店、連鎖便利商店及連鎖飲料店應提供自備飲料杯之消費者優惠如下：
現金回饋：購買之飲料容量650毫升(含)以上，每杯至少折價2元，以下至少折價1元；或飲料售價9折。
集點優惠：購買1杯飲料集1點，1點至少應有3元之價值，集滿至多10點可兌換商品。
飲料加量：如以中杯飲料價格購得大杯飲料，中杯與大杯飲料之價差至少2元。
未實施自備飲料杯優惠措施的業者，則需負責回收自家連鎖體系提供的一次性使用飲料杯，當民眾持該品牌飲料空杯至該連鎖體系任一門市回收時，業者應兌換回收獎勵金（每兩個杯子給予新臺幣一元獎勵金）。
環保署回收基管會執秘許永興表示，當初此辦法讓業者從方案中二擇一，但所有業者都是選擇給予民眾自備飲料杯折扣優惠，若要落實一次性飲料杯資源回收，應該還是要由販賣業者負起回收責任。環保署廢管處處長賴瑩瑩表示，將研議是否要折扣優惠及回收獎勵金併行實施，也將與環署內部及相關業者開會討論決定，以提高飲料杯回收效果。
===
家門口拜拜燒金紙 環保局：依法可罰10萬元
2017/03/27
影音訂閱: 三立財經
http://www.setn.com/news.aspx?newsid=237574
高雄市一家開了20多年的金紙店，上週五在住家門口拜拜燒金紙，引來環保稽查人員上門，劈頭就說你們在燒金紙已經違法，可處5000到10萬元，老闆聽了一頭霧水，解釋不燒金紙我們怎麼做生意，稽查人員不客氣地回那是你們的事，最後開出勸導單，說下次再看到就開罰，老闆氣憤只不過燒個金紙就要被罰錢，難道是有針對性要消滅傳統宗教產業？對此環保局解釋，根據空污法，露天燃燒會產生微粒狀污染物，本來就可開罰。
金紙店老闆坐在神桌旁跟客人聊天，有說有笑的，這時穿著背心的環保局人員戴著口罩，手上拿著公文證件走進來，另一名同仁也跟進站在後頭，稽查員一開口劈頭就說，你們金爐內是不是在燒金紙？老闆回對，稽查員接著又說，不能燒！你們已經違法，個體戶要開罰5000到10萬，如果是公司行號則是10萬到30萬，老闆不滿地說這樣大家生計怎麼辦？稽查員接著回，那是你們家的事。
傻眼!家門口燒金紙 環保員:要罰10萬元
▲稽查人員面對老闆提問「大家生計怎麼辦？」，怒回：「那是你們家的事！」。
金紙店老闆娘：「我覺得他的態度很傲慢，態度也很不好，口氣超級不好的。」
環保局最後開出勸導單，表明下次再來就開罰，老闆開金紙店已經20多年，頭一回在自家門口燒金紙被稽查人員警告，無法理解，難道以後初一十五大家拜拜，通通不能燒金紙嗎？金紙店氣憤環保局作法太強勢，難道要把傳統宗教產業通通消滅掉嗎？
金紙店老闆：「他是說有人檢舉，但我們覺得應該是針對傳統行業吧！」
空汙與噪音防制科長鄭嵐：「行為嚴格來講屬於露天燃燒，處分的金額以個人來講是5000元到10萬元。」
傻眼!家門口燒金紙 環保員:要罰10萬元
環保局搬出法條，根據空污法第31條，住家從事燃燒融化等，會產生明顯微粒污染物，的確違法可開罰，這條法行之有年，主要是全球空氣污染嚴重才會開始強制執行，但也說高雄市目前以勸導為主，沒真正開出罰單，但對一般百姓來說，只不過在門口燒金紙，就可能要被罰5000到10萬元，比起工業污染可說是小巫見大巫。
傻眼!家門口燒金紙 環保員:要罰10萬元
▲根據空汙法第31條，在公眾場合燃燒金紙的確可以開罰。
和平曙光分享Simple Vegan 少年打算種一兆棵樹救地球，目前已種140億棵!
聖人樂活公益素食天空ForeverVeganLohasSkyUnion ♥聖人樂活公益素食天空祈禱永遠純素世界：素食者所產生性情上的改變和淨化，對人類都有相當好的利益， 素食對人類很吉祥。觀音網站「美饌佳餚」 網頁設計師 祝您新的一年廚藝進步，生活吉祥^_^ ♥印度勝雄甘地說：如果你希望世界發生改變，就先改變自己吧!我們應該給我們的下一代做出傳播以愛、 同情心以及對我們的“家園”的尊重、感恩和愛護的榜樣。修改自己就是修改世界∼ ♥ "請加入我們一起來打坐祈求純素世界，世界和平" 請您盡量多打坐 祈禱以正面能量保護地球 全球共修時間一起打坐祈禱以愛心全心向天堂祈求 純素生活，創造和平 .願神聖恩典與幸福充滿您的心靈 ♥佛讚 ♥無上正等正覺利益世界所有眾生，分享是一種無我修行、布施貢獻是不求回報、 無私使知識長進、善念共存共享之、謝謝尊敬鈞長∼您無條件的大愛∼發揚純樸良善民風∼ 光福佑全球亮起來 不印紙本出版環保 愛素 拯救雨林和樹木
http://mypaper.pchome.com.tw/lohassky/post/1370547928
和平曙光分享了 Best Video You Will Ever See 的影片。
大人們覺醒吧！學習孩子的純真善良美德好嗎
少年打算種一兆棵樹救地球，目前已種140億棵! - 讚新聞
Children call at the UN for a common fight for their future - Felix Finkbeiner is speaking(en,fr,de)
We plant trees for a better world. Help us children to save our future. - Plant-for-the-Planet
https://www.plant-for-the-planet.org/en/home
上傳日期：2011年2月7日
Felix Finkbeiner and children of the Plant-for-the-Planet Initiative are speaking at the UN to open international year of forests 2011
Mit einem Klick auf das "cc" Logo könnt ihr euch das Video nun auch mit deutschen Untertiteln anschauen.
En cliquant sur le « cc » logo vous pouvez maintenant également regarder la vidéo avec sous-titres français.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGLtkbaeupI
http://hssszn.com/archives/23571
充滿我（生命河靈糧堂 含經文禱告旁白 國語詩歌）
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFbmgTlIYG8&index=5&list=RDW9MXraGUB3A
充滿我（生命河靈糧堂 含經文禱告旁白 國語詩歌）
如鹰展翅上腾 Soar on Wings Like an Eagle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXdQ80sUIZM&index=4&list=RDW9MXraGUB3A
歌詞：
我的心 唯有祢 我的靈 渴慕祢
我全人 獻給祢 以全心 讚美祢
舉雙手 敬拜祢 深深說 我愛祢
我的神 我的主 我渴望 親近祢
充滿我 澆灌我 使我靈 得滿溢
充滿我 潔淨我 更新我
充滿我 滋潤我 讓祢愛來圍繞我
我一生 我一世 屬於祢
Best Video You Will Ever See
3月24日 0:00 · 
She will never see her baby again. Please don't support this.
Learn more at Milk Hurts.
祝福 一切順心 好運、成功
Footage: http://vegnews.com/articles/page.do?pageId=9229&catId=1
Harvard Hosts Vegan Conference
By Anna Starostinetskaya | ?? 24, 2017
Students will discuss the bioethical implications of the vegan diet at the sixth annual Ivy League Vegan Conference hosted by Harvard Vegan Society Student Group.
The Harvard Vegan Society Student Group (HVSSG) will host the sixth annual Ivy League Vegan Conference from March 24 to March 26, 2017. Sponsored by vegan meal delivery company Purple Carrot and Whole Foods Market, the conference will welcome 400 attendees from a variety of disciplines to discuss peer-reviewed studies on the health, environmental, and bioethical implications of consuming a plant-based diet. Speakers will include former White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Administrator Cass Sunstein, Harvard Medical School professor Walter Willett, and Yale-Griffith Prevention Research Center founding member David Katz. “We take particular pride in having non-vegans in both our speaker lineup and audience,” HVSSG board member Matt Hayek said, “a testament to the growing relevance of veganism and its future role in society.” Last year, Harvard students launched the “Veguary Challenge”—a campaign meant to inspire colleagues to eat less meat during the month of February. Similarly, fellow Ivy League university Yale incorporated the offering of vegan options in school dining halls as a “core value” of the university in 2016.
祝福 一切順心 好運、成功 《奔向愛我的神》
神已聽見我的呼求,神也明白我的渴望,
放下重擔,脫去一切纏累,恢復神造我的榮美形象,
永在的神,創造萬物的主,他的智慧無法測度,
疲乏的他賜能力,軟弱的他加力量,等候耶和華必從新得力,
如鷹展翅上騰,翱翔在神的國度裡,
飛越所有艱難和風暴,單單注視你榮耀寶座,
如鷹展翅上騰,翱翔在神的國度裡,
領受聖靈恩膏和大能,活出美好自由的風采
和平曙光分享了 Simple Vegan Blog 的貼文。
http://simpleveganblog.com/10-vegan-recipes-ready-30-minutes-less/
Our recipes are really simple, at least most of them. They’re usually ready in 30 minutes or less, so today we want to share with you some of our favorite 30-minute (or less) vegan savory recipes.“I don’t have time” is not an excuse for cooking and eating healthy, there are so many simple and easy recipes we can make. You can also make big batches of legumes and healthy carbs once a week and you can make a delicious meal in just a few minutes.
Hope you like them!1.- Vegan Thai soup.
Vegan Thai Soup.- You only need one pot to make this delicious vegan Thai soup. It's made with easy to get ingredients and you can add your favorite veggies.
2.- Pasta primavera.
Pasta Primavera.- This pasta primavera recipe is perfect for spring, although you can make it any time of the year using what's in season.
3.- Cauliflower risotto.
Cauliflower Rice Risotto.- This delicious cauliflower rice risotto is lighter than the traditional risotto because is made with cauliflower instead of rice and is also vegan.
4.- Vegan Sloppy Joes.
Vegan Sloppy Joes.- These delicious sloppy joes are vegan, super easy to make and require less than 30 minutes. I think they are the best sandwiches I've ever tried!
5.- 5-Minute letil dip.
5-Minute Lentil Dip. - This 5-minute lentil dip is so tasty and really smooth. Eat it with some crudités, bread or tortilla chips or use it to make delicious sandwiches or toasts.
6.- Vegan mashed potatoes.
Vegan mashed potatoes
7.- Vietnamese spring rolls.
Vietnamese spring rolls - We're making these Vietnamese spring rolls at least one or twice every week because they're so refreshing, easy to make and perfect for summer!
8.- Vegan pumpkin Alfredo.
Vegan Pumpkin Alfredo. - This vegan pumpkin Alfredo is super creamy, lighter than the traditional one, so simple and is ready in less than 20 minutes!
9.- Quinoa stir fry with vegetables.
Quinoa Stir Fry with Vegetables. - Save some time cooking big batches of quinoa or rice to make healthy meals during the week, like this quinoa stir fry with vegetables. It's so tasty!
10.- Creamy vegan cauliflower soup.
Creamy vegan cauliflower soup. - This creamy vegan cauliflower soup is so light and simple and although cauliflower is not one of our favorite veggies, we really enjoy this amazing recipe.
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says
March 22, 2017 at 20:53
These all look great!
Thank you,
REPLY
Iosune says
March 24, 2017 at 16:51
Hi ! Thanks a lot 😀 Have a nice day!
Simple Vegan Blog
3月25日 17:00 ·
10 delicious, vegan recipes ready in 30 minutes or less. "I don't have time" is not an excuse for cooking and eating healthy.
Recipes: http://svgnb.com/2n3QZ9z
The Vegan Punk
20170325Experience: my chickens saved my life I thought, if they can cope with the trauma they have experienced, then I’ve got to find the strength myself
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/mar/24/adopted-battery-hens-saved-my-life-experience
"The hens accept me. They calm me down and I feel that, through the horrors in both their lives and mine, we connect."
祝福 一切順心 好運、成功
‘Bizarrely, one day, a friend asked if I’d ever thought about adopting ex-battery hens.’ Photograph: Shaw & Shaw for the Guardian
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Paul Checkley
Friday 24 March 2017 14.00 GMT Last modified on Saturday 25 March 2017 00.10 GMT
I took my first overdose at 11, my second at 18 and my third just after my 21st birthday. It was a cry for help. I had lovely parents, but I was desperately unhappy.
I was sexually abused at the age of eight, in the 1960s. I was afraid I’d get the cane if I told a teacher, so I didn’t tell anyone. When my parents found out, all hell broke loose. The abuser went to jail, but I never spoke about it. I couldn’t face it.
I left school at 15 and worked for Royal Mail, first as a telegram boy and then as a postman. We’d finish at 12.30pm and go straight down the boozer. I’d have three or four pints, five, sometimes. Alcohol masked my depression, and by my early 30s I had become dependent. If I got bladdered, I could kick the demons out. One Christmas, I drank 48 cans of Carling in two days. I ended up in hospital. The doctor said, “You either pack in the drinking or you’ll die.”
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That’s when, aged 34, I went to rehab and there followed six years without a drink. I lost six stone in weight and started cycling 15 miles to work and back. I’d never felt so fit.
Then, in 1997, I fell in love. It was a beautiful sunny day, we’d been to the Cotswolds and I had a beer. One became two, two became three… It was the ladder to oblivion.
In 2006, nine years later, I had a full psychotic breakdown. I was out with my dad and he said, “You don’t look well, son.” I remember feeling nauseous, my whole body trembling. Next thing I knew, I woke up in a psychiatric unit. I spent two months in hospital, then had treatment with support in the community.
I retired from Royal Mail on medical grounds, after 33 years, and filled my time volunteering for various charities. Then, in 2011, I suffered PTSD after I was beaten up in broad daylight. It was an unprovoked attack and I became paranoid, couldn’t sleep and began to self-harm – it was a way of coping.
I became a virtual recluse, and would let only a handful of trusted people into my home. Then, bizarrely, one day, a friend asked if I’d ever thought about adopting ex-battery hens. I looked at him as if he was stupid. He said, “They have a horrendous life, and you’ve suffered a horrible life.” He thought I would benefit from looking after them.
I had always felt good around animals, and I’ve got a huge garden, so I contacted the local rescue centre and went down for a look. It was like something from a horror story. The hens were in such a state: they had no feathers and the bottom of their beaks had been cut off. It shocked me to tears.
I took in four hens to start with, and they changed my life. I quickly realised that these hens depended on me, and that gave me a purpose. I thought, if they can cope with the trauma they have experienced, then I’ve got to find the strength myself.
Experience: I rescued a man dangling from a chairlift
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They were terrified at first, but the first time they ran out of that coop, flapping their wings, was one of the most pleasurable moments of my life. I’ve now got three coops, a 12ft run, a brand new fence, 13 hens – and counting. I’ve got space for 30. I have spent a fortune on lettuce, porridge and corn on the cob. Live meal worms cost £11 a kilo, but they love them. I’ve probably spent about £3,500 so far, but the joy the hens give me is immense. They jump on my trousers, sit on my shoulders, they make me smile. I hadn’t properly smiled in 40 years. Even my psychiatrist said, “Paul, this is the best I’ve seen you.”
I’d never spoken about the abuse, locking it away in the back of my mind, but one day last August I broke down and told my psychiatrist everything. The hens had made me feel I could be more open. When I heard them clucking, I thought, if they can still speak after what they’ve been through, so can I.
One of the most crippling aspects of mental health is the desperate loneliness and discrimination from some members of society. The hens accept me. They calm me down and I feel that, through the horrors in both their lives and mine, we connect. As ridiculous as it sounds, they give me what I need.
• As told to Ruth Addicott.
Do you have an experience to share? Email experience@theguardian.com
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