WEEE this Christmas

Yesterday I noted the excellent My Zero Waste website and urged folk to vote for them in the Green Web Awards. Today I wanted to highlight one of their recent blog posts about the campaign, by the Recycle for Gloucestershire team, to raise awareness of how to dispose of broken and unwanted waste electronics and electrical equipment (WEEE). More of that in a moment...

This is a subject dear to my heart having nearly established a company locally some years ago to deal with computer waste. I was working with a guy, Richard Drake, who set up a similar company in Canada - for various reasons, not helped by the repeated delays by our Government to bring forward WEEE guidelines, I didn't develop the project. Nevertheless it was a huge learning process and I was able to visit some very interesting projects - not least a unique machine to recycle monitors.

At the time this is what I wrote: "In the Western world there is an increasing problem with discarded computers entering landfills. At present there are few computer recycling programs to address this problem. Of particular concern are the toxic ingredients found in computers which, when disposed of inadequately, can pollute the environment. Many of these computers are still in working condition or can be easily repaired or upgraded, and thus are suitable for disadvantaged people in countries with little or no computer resources, or the needy in England. The CompuCycle project originated in Canada, where a series of public computer collection events were held on Vancouver Island in 2001 and 2002– the first of their kind. At each event a 53ft van was filled, and sent to a recycler who guaranteed ethical recycling. A number of working machines were also collected for donation to Third World countries."

CompuCycle, as it was called, was going to be divided into a non-profit and profit arm. Anyhow WEEE has now happened and is starting to work. UK residents currently throw away enough WEEE every year to fill new Wembley six times.

It’s estimated that around 150 million small electrical products are bought each year in the UK for Christmas - new toys, gadgets, power tools and kitchen appliances - and most will end up in the landfill once they have fulfilled their useful life - some even before then.

My Zero Waste blog (see here) writes:

Everything from kettles, razors, torches, drills, cameras and Christmas tree lights fall under WEEE. I was astonished to learn that a staggering 500 tonnes of Christmas lights alone are discarded in the UK over the holiday season.

WEEE consists of anything with a plug, removable or internal batteries. For more information see our WEEE article. You’ll learn about the crossed out wheelie bin symbol and the reasons why our WEEE should not be put into landfill.if you fancy something light hearted to help you remember things, why not have a go at the ReGeneration game!

On average every Gloucestershire home has at least 3 old broken or unwanted small electrical items such as hair dryers, kettles or old mobile phones.

Regardless of where you live, the message is to dispose of WEEE responsibly either at the local Household Recycling Centre or take it to stores offering a take back scheme. Check out Recycle Now’s “Don’t bin it, Bring it” site for more details.

To determine whether your item is WEEE or not, Recycle for Gloucestershire recommend asking these simple questions…

• Does it have a plug?
• Does it use batteries?
• Does it need charging?
• Does it have the crossed-out wheelie bin logo on it?

If you can answer “YES” to any of the above, you can recycle it with WEEE facilities.

Locally our nearest site fopr disposal is the Recycling Centre at Horsley.

Labour target Green seats

It is interesting that Labour letters in the SNJ have recently targeted Greens - well tried to - I personally think they are on a loosing streak with that argument - Labour have consistently failed regarding the environment - and indeed on other key Green issues like justice.....

Photos: Nothing to do with this blog entry but pics of Olivas in Painswick that has my vote this year for the best coffee in Stroud area

John Marjoram answered the SNJ Labour letters - see here - in John's letter he mentions The Independent on Sunday which shows a list drawn up in Downing Street of crucial constituencies with strong support for the Green Party - it identifies 31 seats (including Stroud) that Labour believe they can target among the 112 target seats the Tories need for a majority.

The Downing Street paper notes they have various options like to target voters with leaflets quoting some prominent Conservative climate change sceptics. This follows Gordon Brown's welcomed denouncement of "flat-Earth" environmental sceptics, including the former Tory chancellor Lord Lawson and ex-shadow home secretary David Davis.

As The Independent notes "one problem with the strategy is that the Green Party could benefit by the extra focus on environmental issues – making no difference to the battleground."

As for the Tories? Well Cameron didn't even list Climate Change as one of his top ten priorities (see here). Indeed Cameron's recent speech on "post-bureaucratic age" promises a return to Thatcherism with a government that would tiptoe round big business. Indeed he daren't even legislate for energy-efficient TVs, only 'appeal' to manufacturers to be 'responsible.' Well we've had decades of that, and it hasn't worked. We need a government that's going to take action.

Similarly we hear from Cameron about pledging to stop Heathrow's third runway in order to help cut greenhouse gases, yet simultaneously promoting the growth of regional airports despite the corresponding increase in greenhouse gases - it simply doesn't make sense. See also here frustration at Labour and Tory vote re wind turbines.

Labour have been inadequate, but the Tories in government were a lot worse and there is no indication they will be better now.

The failures of our democratic system has meant Greens have not had a voice in Government - unlike many European Governments - I've spoken before about the need for proportional representation and Labours failure to introduce it - and now they have the cheek to say vote Labour or the Tories will get in - shame on them. But I'm not going down that route now it's time for a mug of tea....

Vote Zero Waste

Gloucestershire's My Zero Waste website has been shortlisted for the Green Web Awards in the 'Green Living Advice sites" category.

This is a huge success in itself as competition is hugely steep - in the shortlist they are up against two companies - one being the Guardian newspaper with its several MILLION visitors per month and the other against a great company called You Gen.

Voting ends on Thursday, so if you can spare them 5 seconds, please click on the link below, scroll down until you find the 'Best green living advice" category and vote for My Zero Waste:
www.nigelsecostore.com/green-web-awards/vote/

As regular blog readers will know Ruscombe Green has linked and contributed to their website - they do a grand job with passion and humour and greatly deserve this recognition. Well done indeed.

Petition: Stop EU fisheries in Western Sahara!

Here is a petition launched last month to the European Commissioner for Fisheries that I signed regarding Western Sahara. Please consider signing - it is illegal for the natural resources of Western Sahara to be exploited in this way, yet the EU continues to buy permits from Morocco for EU fishing vessels which allows them to fish in Western Saharan waters. The people of Western Sahara have never given their permission for this to happen.

Go to petition at: www.fishelsewhere.eu

No state in the world has recognised the Moroccan annexation of Western Sahara. Still, the EU is paying millions of Euros annually to the Government of Morocco to allow EU vessels to fish in the waters of Western Sahara. The EU fisheries activities in Western Sahara must immediately come to an end.

Morocco continues to refuse to cooperate with the decolonization process in Western Sahara, thereby defying more than 100 UN resolutions that insist on the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination. Simultaneously, Moroccan authorities commit human rights violations against Sahrawis who voice their political views. No EU states, nor the UN, recognise the Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.

In this context, cooperating with Morocco in exploiting Western Sahara’s natural resources is highly unethical, and clearly jeopardizes the UN’s efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

According to the UN, the natural resources in Western Sahara cannot be exploited without regard to the wishes and interests of the people of the territory. However, the EU is transferring European taxpayers’ money to the Government of Morocco for access to Western Saharan waters, without even consulting the Sahrawi people.

The EU has the legal and moral obligation to stop subverting the UN peace process in Western Sahara, by respecting the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination over their land and their resources.

We urge the European Commission to put an immediate stop to the granting of all licenses to EU vessels fishing in Western Saharan waters, and we demand that no further EU fisheries operations take place in Western Sahara until a peaceful solution to the conflict has been found.

See previous blog on Western Sahara here.

Seasons Greetings!

Just a quick note to send Seasons Greetings to all the readers of Ruscombe Green.

Here are some pics from Standish Woods this last week - I've had some time off work but sadly missed being able to sledge in the little bit of snow we had - but love the Christmassy feeling the snow has given in the run up to today.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrope

I've just been yesterday to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at the re-launch of the Picturedrome Theatre in Barton Street in Gloucester - it was wonderful - it is still on until 4th Jan - see here.

Photos: White Witch, Mr Tumnus and Lucy, White Witch and wolf, Aslan and gang meet in woods.

The story from the Chronicles of Narnia, written by C.S. Lewis and first published in 1950 opened at the former Olympus theatre - the play written by Adrian Mitchell, produced by Adrian Locher and directed by Alexander Gifford.

One of the best characters in the play is Nicholas Allan (of Star Anise Cafe in Stroud fame) who played Mr Tumnus - indeed a perfect Mr Tumnus! Also in the cast is Bread Street, Ruscombe resident Alex Brabbins who played Edmund brilliantly and Penelope Wildgoose, a former Stroud District Green party candidate in local elections, who played the White Witch wonderfully terrifyingly scary...wanted to hide behind my programme.

Loved the movement of the Leopards and the wolf was also especially scary and loved the howl! Other highlights included Mr and Mrs Beaver and former Randwick resident Andrew Floyd who played Aslan and the professor.

The sets were great but the 'puppets' fantastic - the eagle moved wonderfully, the great giant and various other creatures.....thank you indeed - don't miss it!

Tickets cost £8, with £7 concessions, from 01452 503050 or online at www.ashacentre.org/narnia.

How to recycle your wine bottles

Here's a use for 2,500 wine bottles that I saw earlier this year - this was built at the Centre for Sustainable Technology - corks are put back in to ensure they don't fill with rain.

So perhaps start saving all those bottles drunk over Christmas?

See also the greenhouse made of plastic bottles on my 20th August 2007 blog.

Win on boiler scrappage

The Government has announced the formation of a £50 million greener boiler incentive to upgrade the boilers of 125 000 households. This incentive, to be launched in 2010, will help householders reduce their emissions by upgrading their old boilers to the latest efficient models.

Photo: Christmas Fairy cake sold for the Gloucestershire Chest Fund on Goodwill evening

This is good news - it was Green party London Mayoral candidate Sian Berry who helped launch the campaign for a gas boiler scrappage scheme - this is basically a short-term anti-recession measure to bring forward some overdue savings by replacing old equipment now and help small businesses.

Of course we can have greener boilers, but unless this is part of a mass insulation programme, lifestyle shift and renewables installation, there will be a tendency of replacing old boilers with new ones that are more efficient but just as big. This would be like campaigning against 4x4s - and just arguing for new, more fuel efficient 4x4's instead. Research has shown that by saving money on the new boiler without accompanying measures we will just heat our homes warmer. New boilers should be smaller as well as more efficient. So some caution!!

Mick Williams, a plumbers’ merchant based in Hampshire, had the idea for a boiler scrappage scheme. He argued that small businesses need a boost right now far more than banks and giant corporations. And, with lower bills and added carbon savings, the scheme would bring real green benefits as well. Mick started an online Downing Street petition after being inspired by the absurd car scrappage scheme, and could see that boiler scrappage would be far better for carbon savings.

According to the campaign website, www.reheatbritain.org.uk, the benefits of a boiler scrappage scheme would include:
- Reduced carbon dioxide emissions
- Boilers account for around 60% of the carbon dioxide emissions in a gas heated home. By replacing an old G rated boiler with a new high efficiency condensing boiler and improved heating controls, emissions can be cut by as much as a quarter (see figures here).
- Lower bills for many householders
- Savings in carbon translate into reduced gas bills, with the average home saving up to £200 per year with a new condensing boiler (see figures here).
- A boost to businesses involved in plumbing, building and related industries These businesses are largely sole traders and small companies, whose profits benefit local communities much more than those of the car and banking industries.
- A boost to British manufacturing
- A large proportion of gas boilers are still made here in the UK, so a boiler scrappage scheme would benefit many thousands of other workers here, not just plumbers and builders.

To read the full story, see pages 115 and 132 in section seven of the pre-budget report at: http://ow.ly/MHBI

Hedgehog Hospital website

Well regular blog readers will remember several blogs earlier in the year regarding the new Hedgehog Hospital in Brimscombe - well their website is progressing and recently had lots more info added to it: www.helpahedgehog.org/

Photo: Hamish at the Hospital

There is also a new car sticker which you can buy for £2. I think Annie has 15 hogs at the moment - and is also working with pupils from Thomas Keble Secondary School - they are creating a questionnaire mapping sightings of hedgehogs in Gloucestershire. Most of the pupils had never come face to face with a hedgehog before. This is perhaps not so surprising as figures show hedgehogs are dying out at a rate of about a fifth of the population every four years: if this continues there will be no more hedgehogs by 2025!

See my visit to Hedgehog Hospital here and more info here and bonfire alert here.

Thermal Imaging Houses project to cut heat loss

I previously mentioned my uncle's involvement in a project looking at Thermal Imaging (see here) as a way of raising awareness about heat loss - well below are some of the notes he has gained from experiences of five communities (not in Gloucestershire). Big thanks to him for sharing them here.

Photos: Pics from appendix A below of the report - see there for more details - apols for quality - I couldn't get them to reproduce in a jpeg so ended up photographing the photos on the screen - hence the terrible quality!!
Picture one is south elevation and front of a village hall - you can see radiators (red) have been heating the uninsulated wall. Picture two - north elevation shows insulated extension compared with poorly insulated main walls and roof - lower windows and doors double glazes but it was warmer inside there. Picture three - south elevation with heat escaping from open door - the white spot is a direct view of the hall radiator.

This Thermal Imaging Project is an exciting and very visual way to highlight heat loss - seeing the results are a clear way to motivate behaviour change - but it isn't easy as the report shows. Indeed behaviour change is tough stuff - there are those motivated to change - and projects like the energy monitors in libraries locally (see here) are great for that - but then how do we engage wider populations? This is the challenge.

A recent tenants energy group at the District Council couldn't get enough members to keep going and a local Transition Stroud Carbon Reduction Action Group (CRAG) folded due to not enough interest.....even free insulation often isn't enough to make people accept it - changing behaviours is hard - but clearly rising fuel prices will impact and encourage change - Ofgem say we can see 60% fuel price rises within next 5 years - some say they could be higher.

For me there are very real concerns re fuel poverty - and of course climate change - as noted before I am chairing a District Council inquiry into funding of this issue - we only just started but a report should be out by our February Scrutiny meeting - I completed the first draft earlier this week - yet without serious investment we cannot hope to tackle these issues. Anyhow I'll leave you for mo with this report....

Thermal Imaging Houses – Some Conclusions

Based on experiences of 5 communities using infra-red photos to highlight houses’ heat loss.

The Good News & the Bad News

The Bad News
- Thermal imaging is not so easy.
- Interpreting results needs training, care & experience.
- Normally it needs to be done in cold weather when neither the sun
nor rain has fallen on the house being imaged. This and the need for discussion with householders mean that it takes more time than one expects to image a number of properties.

The Good News

- It fulfils its main function in being absolutely intriguing, raising interest and awareness.
- It makes people think they should do something to save energy.
- Householders are pleased and enjoy having it done. They can recognize and confirm what they see in the images.

Gathering initial support & involvement

It was important to advertise the project beforehand and seek committed team members and individuals interested in having their properties imaged. This can be done via personal contact and suitable local publications.

It is necessary to made clear that no images will be taken of properties without the householders’ permission.

The Team

Team structure and the choice of committed individuals is important. Obviously the choice can be approached in different ways, but certain key characteristics are required:-

Someone to set out & coordinate the imaging program (i.e. Project Director / Leader).

Someone with good contacts & knowledge of the community is needed to facilitate communication & identification of individuals.

Imagers who have training / experience specifically in operating the infrared camera. Experience with normal digital photography is useful but not enough.

Those downloading the digital thermal image data onto computers, processing it and probably printing it will need suitable computer skills.

Someone, presumably one of those involved above, to keep track of the rather large amounts of data collected.

Camera Use

Thermal imaging is different to normal digital photography. Using the camera & putting in the appropriate settings is not straightforward. Training, practising & understanding beforehand is essential.

Imaging glass windows can be affected by reflection. Even the heat from the imager’s body can be reflected. So the angle and what might be reflected needs care in image taking & interpretation. For example, shiny surfaces and roofs imaged at an angle can give distorted temperature readings.

Other equipment

Although not essential, a tripod & thermometer can be useful. For image interpretation it helps to know the temperatures inside & outside the property being imaged. The camera itself does measure ambient temperature, but takes some time to respond. Some hand held thermometers are quicker.

Weather

A temperature differential between inside & outside of at least 10ºC is needed for good results.

Solar gain is another problem. Sun on one side of a building, even hours earlier, can seriously distort the thermal imaging results.

A wet surface, such a brick after rain, can also be a problem.

Thus winter evenings after overcast skies without rain give the best results.

A local weather forecasting website, such as www.metcheck.com, can help in organizing imaging dates.

Time needed

Imaging a number of properties takes longer than expected. This is largely due to weather uncertainties and the establishment of coincident availability dates for householders & imagers. Contacting householders & imagers and programming imaging dates is essential.

Good organisation is key! One community was assigned the camera for only a short time and yet thermally imaged 18 properties in only 4 evenings. This is the best time performance to date from any of our communities.

Having the camera allocated for an extended period seems good but a shorter period a say of ~2 weeks can concentrate the mind and give better use of time if well organised (& given suitable weather). Also imaging sessions seem better fitted in after evening meals rather than before.

Organisation

The team organisation needs to be set up beforehand with individual roles defined. Once the camera collection date is known, a date for training the team members needs to be established. Training needs adequate time, and more than one training session may be needed.

The most usual operating teams consist of 2 ‘imagers’ one of whom concentrates on operating the camera and the other on the essential note taking. A third, a director/‘imager’ may be added to help coordination.

Note taking

Image interpretation is not straightforward. One cannot stress enough the need for careful notes of the weather, building structures & any anomalies found.

Anomalies to keep an eye open for are unexpected colours / temperatures in the image. Then it’s best to try to establish & note the possible explanation. The householder’s explanation / opinion is likely to help. Knowing the weather conditions & building structure (e.g. insulation already installed etc.) helps with image interpretation.

Field Note Taking is helped by having pre prepared forms for the imagers to complete on site whilst out imaging.

Downloading, Processing Images & Producing Reports

This can take longer per property than the imaging itself. But for maximum impact the results should be fed back to the householder fairly quickly, say within a month.

Before starting report production it is necessary to decide the nature of the reports to be produced, the colour palette for the images, the software to use (this can be camera software alone or in combination with other software e.g. JPEG & MS Word), and how they will be conveyed to householders.

Some opt for reports of several pages using camera software, incorporating not only Red-Blue palette thermal images, but added normal digital images of the properties as well.

Some used the camera software to process the thermal images, but produced their 1 or 2 page reports with JPEG images using MS Word (see example Appendix A below).

One community opted to save paper by circulating images via email and only printing images for householders without computers.

All the communities managed to get example results in village & local publications & on display boards at local events, all of which helps to convey the message.

Reactions

Our community projects have been well received. Thermal imaging is fascinating. People were very interested to see the results and pleased to have the images and analyses. Sometimes it did not tell them much they did not suspect or know, but it emphasised their energy loss and added to motivation.

As with most motivational projects continued follow-up & varied approaches are needed.
Perhaps the most difficult aspect is getting people to act on the information received and to spend their hard earned cash on energy saving improvements.

One suggestion is for a suitable member of the team to return to the householder say about one or not more than two weeks after they have received the thermal image results to discuss possibilities. For this it is helpful to have details / publications on energy saving and its costs & returns produced by organisations such as the local Energy Centre and the Energy Saving Trust.

However, energy prices are going to rise further and people will start to see an even stronger need for making the necessary savings in the home.

Conclusion

Good - Planning, Organisation, Team Selection, Training, Communication & Commitment are the keys to success.


APPENDIX A: Thermal Imaging Study

Date: 8.3.08 Time: 10.00
Inside: 10 º C Temperatures: Outside: 7 º C
Build Date: c1871
Householder: The Village
Image Address: Village Hall
Wall Structures: Solid brick main building & cavity in extensions
Window Types: Upper single glazed & double glazed in extensions
Roof: Tile non insulated.

Photos: see above for a brief description of each of the pics.

Great insect towers

These wonderful insect towers are on the cover of The Garden's July issue which I read in the dentist recently - they formed part of the "Future Nature" garden by Adrian Hallam, Chris Arrowsmith and Nigel Dunnant at the Chelsea flower show - the photo on the cover was by Neil Hepworth - I love them as sculptures in the garden - maybe something to develop more with the local Global Bee Project?

See here some of the previous beehouses local folk have made - and here about how to make them.

Public transport e-campaigns

This pic is from local artist Russ and shows the new improved route across the Ruscombe valley! We are seeking a team of cyclists that can take on this new role that will link the BRead Street side of the valley with the Whiteshill folk.

Meanwhile the Campaign for Better Transport has several quick actions that you can take - it took me less than ten minutes and I think all three are worth the effort:

First up there are rumours that the Treasury wants to kill the Kickstart bus funding programme. Ask the Bus Minister not to let that happen! Click here to send a message to stop the bus cuts:
www.bettertransport.org.uk/take_action/bus-cuts

Second please support the campaign asking the Transport Secretary to review train fares. Send a message from here callingf for similar cheap fares on our line:
www.bettertransport.org.uk/take_action/east-coast-fares

Lastly the Highways Agency plan to squander £1.3 billion on one road. Is this madness? You’re not alone. This massive road in Cambridgeshire will not solve traffic problems. Please add your name to those who want to see transport budgets spent in better ways:
www.bettertransport.org.uk/take_action/A14

Copenhagen: petition to rescue deal

I can hardly bring myself to blog about Copenhagen - three days to go and it seems despite all the hope the summit is failing.

Photo: Rooks whirling in wind over Randwick

Today the world's leaders arrive for an unprecedented 60 hours of direct negotiations. Can a last tidal wave of public pressure for a deal rescue the summit?

Click below to sign the petition for a real deal in Copenhagen - the Avaaz campaign already has 11 million supporters!! Every single name is actually being read out at the summit - sign on at the link below and forward this to everyone!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_copenhagen

Here is what Prince Charles had to say: "As our planet's life-support system begins to fail and our very survival as a species is brought into question, remember that our children and grandchildren will ask not what our generation said, but what it did. Let us give an answer, then, of which we can be proud." Full speech here.

Stroud teenager Issy Ellis-Cockcroft is part of the UK delegation – see her blog plus films and how she is getting on at www.livingonsunshine.org.uk

I have also been moved to read the messages on the Copenhagen tree outside the Sub Rooms - mostly written on Saturday at the Stroud Climate event - here are dozens of the messages from the people of Stroud typed up by Emily and circulated to Transition Stroud:

No half measures, we need a fair, just deal on climate change – for all countries We can only do so much individually – help us do more together “Copenhagen, give us your answer do, we're all crazy, we're all dressed in blue. Unite and all start trying, to stop and all start trying for all it's worth, let's save the earth, reduce your CO2!” (sung) Look after the earth for my grandchildren Let's do what we can, while we can Think of the starving people around the world. Stop global warming!!! Think! Stop taking oil and coal. Think! Our planet needs our help. Don't give up the fight Wake up and love the earth We need to take responsibility Our children and grandchildren need action NOW! Walk, cycle, reduce, reuse Fair deal please for Africa “Politics is the art of the possible” show it to us Copenhagen Hurry Up – Dan age 11 Sow the seeds of light, visions for the future generations in the dark times. Reduce carbon emissions, be satisfied with less, live sustainably Om Chanti Cut CO2! Stop pissing our planet away for gain and greed take action for all our children and their children, now! Act now for social justice, equality and the planet Act now so our grandchildren can enjoy our beautiful world as we have been privileged to do Think differently, think of others Ntau ya shotta (time is running out!) Our planet needs to live Redistribution of wealth and power will end global conflict Please, please, please, we need strong, short term reductions now. It is almost too late! We ask that all governments do all they can now for our grandchildren. Not to act is criminal. We are the people we have been waiting for. Now is here. Examine your hearts not your bank accounts. Get real! There is only one earth. We are running out of time, oil and natural spaces. Stop putting your heads in the sand, act now! Our beautiful earth. How beautiful all you activists are out there – let's step into our power now for this great turning. Human change will only make climate change. Rich nation delegates – listen to the voices of developing countries! Climate is an economic issue! A lower standard of living – a higher higher standard of life. It's our generation that has made this mess, but it is our children, and our grandchildren who may not have a planet to share. Act now – every single one of us must take responsibility but our leaders have the real power to bring change. Make our day! Save our planet! We want the earth to last for many more decades, we love the earth and hope for a real, lasting deal! Tusino Tak! Freedom.We have it to change who we are and how we behave We need to believe it is happening! We do care, help us save our planet. Please grant the earth the same rights humans expect. Attraverso il azlone del figlio l'immenso dolore del padre sia placato per mezzo della liberazione di tutte de tue creature. (apologies if anything miss-spelled.) Go for it – you can do it! Wind, water, solar, we need to think how we can use our planet, not abuse it. Please take ambitious, binding and fair decision for the sake of your children. Clean energy, sustainable resources. I know change is not easy... be the change, the time is now we need to replace our rampant consumerism with respect for the planet, respect for future generations and respect for other species. Consider grandchildren urgently Just do it – don't be dumb! Think of the planet – not your egos!! Act now! For everyone. “We will not die quietly” It is not just about us, remember the other denizens of the world Please don't take my sunshine away

50 videos including Julia Butterfly Hill

I just came across this video collection - the Big Picture TV - it streams free video clips of leading experts, thinkers and activists in environmental and social sustainability. See here their most popular fifty clips: www.bigpicture.tv/videos/popular

Photo from here of Julia Butterfly Hill

Anyhow some great stuff - in particular I just watched "How can we make sustainability mainstream?"after it being recommended - it is by Julia Butterfly Hill - see it here. I love how she points out the obvious like how on earth did we come to a point when all that is good for the planet is considered 'alternative' and we talk about managing ancient woodlands as if somehow they haven't been able to 'manage' themselves!!!

Julia Butterfly Hill was the one who for 738 days lived 180 feet high in the canopy of a 1,000 year old redwood tree to help make the world aware of the plight of ancient forests. She then wrote the excellent book The Legacy of Luna - it is now set to be made into a film starring Rachel Weisz.

Anyway apols for recent blog posts but I have been tied up with two scrutiny inquiries that have taken lots of my time recently - indeed just spent half of yesterday and a large chunk of today on writing one - hopefully available for public consumption soon! Of course it is also Christmas so no doubt all you readres out there will have more interests so this blog maybe a little quieter over the coming weeks.

Cutting the cost this Christmas

I was just sent this image that I thought to share with you - not sure where it came from!