Here's the latest news that affects the planet – and the people on it. Spread the word!

 

                  

Londoners: make sure you vote tomorrow! It's easy to let these things slide, what with the cut and thrust of modern life – counting your pennies before another weekly shop, stifling your sobs at the petrol station, digging up your lawn to plant some veg –  but it's important to make your vote count. So who's getting your vote on Thursday? (and don't forget you get two choices this year...)

 

Friends of the Earth has already voted, naming Ken Livingstone the ‘greenest’ of the three main candidates. “As Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone has put environmental issues at the heart of his policy making," says Tony Juniper, Director of Friends of the Earth. "He is one of the few British politicians to have shown genuine leadership on green issues and put London at the forefront of efforts to tackle climate change. His manifesto is full of exciting plans to go even further." 

 

Look at FOE's analysis of the three main candidates’ election manifestos (PDF†)

In the current cash crunch, it's easy to think one might have to give up the green ideal in order to make ends meet. In fact in a supermarket today, I saw a pack of two organic free-range chicken breasts with a tag that said £119. I asked what that meant (presuming a typo) and the assistant said 'That's the price per kilo'. I hope that chicken had a fabulous life (with bells on), but let's just say chicken is not on tonight's menu.

Despite that, the truth is that going green can often save you money. From resisting that extra pair of shoes to growing your own veg, many green principles can also help you save cash, especially with all the newfangled energy- and water-saving products on the market to help reduce heating and electricity bills. "During the credit crunch, consumers can reduce their household bills by up to £367 if they use environmentally sound products," says Nigel Berman, MD of Nigel's Eco Store. He suggests energy-saving light bulbs, a Radiator BoosterTM , EcoballsTM (which can save you over £70 a year on washing powder) and an EcobuttonTM (shown, which powers down computers at a touch of a button and can save you around £50 a year). Take a closer look at Nigel's Eco Store.

 

 

 

If you're concerned about toxic chemicals in your beauty regime, give Pai a try. The name is Maori for 'goodness' and the skincare products are full of just that: organic, plant-based ingredients with no nasties such as artificial colouring, preservatives, petrochemicals, parabens or phthalates. Pai is the first skincare company to be SEE accredited (assuring social, environmental and ethical transparency). There's a new cleanser launching next month, a sure bet for clearing your skin of impurities (without slathering on another batch in the process).

 

 

...or emblazoned on your chest with a cute T-shirt from Love Eco made from sustainable bamboo and organic cotton. 

 

Finally you can be fashion-conscious with a clear conscience. Innovative fashion house From Somewhere has launched its sunny new Spring/Summer collection, all made from reclaimed material and clothing. Instead of heading for landfill, gorgeous fabric is re-styled into new clothing that's perfectly at home in any clued-up fashionista's wardrobe. The 'Alice in Wasteland' collection is "a fairy tale with a message: reclaim, re-use, remember". These delicate, pretty dresses are far from hippy-dippy and bridge the gap between sustainability and the urge to splurge on a fresh look for a new season. The 'Coop D'Ete' collection combines the brand's signature re-use ethos with fairtrade principles and an almost zero carbon footprint. All the fabric is from the cutting room floor at MILES ((Maglificio Italiano Lana E Seta) and assembled just around the corner at the Cooperativa Rinascita, a non-profit that helps young people with mental illness or addictions. Take a closer look at the From Somewhere shop at 83 Westbourne Park Road, London W2.

 

---

27 February, 2008: Porsche is best known not for blinging, babe-magnet sports cars or 'insanely powerful' SUVs, but for its commitment to the environment. What do you mean, check my facts, the Porsche website told me so: "Environmental protection is an integral part of everything we do."

 

So it's no surprise that Porsche has announced it may challenge the Mayor of London's plan to increase the congestion charge from £8 to £25 for the most polluting vehicles (Band G cars with CO2 emissions of 226 g/km or higher). Or is it?

 

Now I can understand how one might feel very cross if one has just purchased a gas guzzler and all of a sudden it's going to be one rule for low-emissions vehicles (the most eco-friendly cars will get a 100% discount) and another rule for one. But what about the rest of us? Or the planet? "Porsche's threatened legal action is a double attack on Londoners," says a spokesperson for the Mayor of London. "First Porsche are trying to deprive Londoners of their democratic right to decide in the Mayoral election on 1 May whether they want gas guzzling and polluting cars to drive in London when there is absolutely no need for them to do so. Second they are trying to impose on all Londoners unnecessary levels of pollution and greenhouse gases by a tiny minority. No one is allowed to throw their rubbish in the street and Porsche should not be allowed to impose gas guzzling polluting cars on Londoners who do not want them."

 

Tony Juniper, Director of Friends of the Earth agrees: "Porsche has founded its business on the promotion and supply of highly polluting vehicles," says Tony. "Instead of spending time and energy battling these popular initiatives, such as the congestion charge, it would be more appropriate for Porsche to put its effort into making a new generation of much less polluting vehicles."

Conservative mayoral candidate, Boris Johnson says he "[understands] where Porsche [is] coming from", but doesn't back the legal challenge. Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick says "Porsche have a point: this has become an emissions charge, not a congestion charge, and an ineffective one at that." But he does support a carbon tax on new cars, "using the tax disc to persuade people to buy more environmentally friendly vehicles and deterring long distance commuting by car.”

 

If you don't like what Porsche is doing, sign the Alliance Against Urban 4x4 petition to Charge Gas Guzzlers More.

 

 

 

---

25 February, 2008: During Fairtrade Fortnight, you can download Ruthie Culver's song 'The Perfect Dress' (from her album 'Refashioned') for free HERE.

Yes! I found it! I found the perfect dress.

Don’t I look fantastic? Bung it on the plastic. 

Best of all it’s cheap as chips...

22 February, 2008: Today Recycle for London has launched a plastic-bag-free day for London, asking Londoners to just say no to plastic bags. Recycle for London and thelondonpaper handed out 10,000 free cotton shopping bags in Oxford Street and Regent Street. "It is extremely worrying that over 37 million plastic bags are used by Londoners each week," says Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron. "Today’s campaign is a suitable reminder for Londoners to stand back and look at the amount of rubbish they create on a weekly basis."

 

"The 2.2 billion plastic shopping bags given out by retailers in the capital each year end up in landfill, incinerated, or floating in the sea as an environmental menace to wildlife," says Jenny Jones, Green Party Member of the London Assembly, who supports the campaign. "Government must act by introducing a national tax similar to the one in Ireland that resulted in a 90 per cent reduction in usage of throwaway plastic bags."

  

---

22 February, 2008:  You tell us (and win big money)! Everyone's desperate for big green ideas that can have a positive impact on our lives (and the planet). NESTA (The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) has extended the deadline for its Big Green Challenge until 11.59pm Monday the 3rd of March.

 

The Big Green Challenge is a £1 million prize fund created to encourage people to find new ideas for reducing CO₂ emissions in their community (local, regional, national or worldwife).

 

---

22 February, 2008: At the Natural Health Beauty Awards 2008, Green People won the award for Best Organic Range. The awards will be featured in the March issue of Natural Health magazine. Green People also won: ‘Best Natural Lipstick’ for the Certified Organic Red Shimmer Lipstick and seven 'Highly Commended' awards for their products. Have a look at GreenPeople.co.uk (Mother's Day is just around the corner).

22 February, 2008: The latest exhibition by contemporary artist Cornelia Parker (a self-described 'free radical') is at the Whitechapel in partnership with Friends of the Earth from 13 Feb-30 March. The exhibition features an interview with Noam Chomsky, where he discusses the failings of government, corporations and the media to take responsibility for climate change. Cornelia's work should inspire us all to reflect on our responsibility to the planet.

Friends of the Earth is encouraging people to pose questions about the state of the world at the gallery or online at Poison and Antidote. In an event at the Whitechapel on the 29th of March a host of artists, thinkers and activists will address some of the questions raised. Book tickets here.

 

---

14 February, 2008: Eco-Worrier Anna Shepard just let me know about her new regular feature What Should I Do With This?. Have a look and email Anna to contribute a conundrum. If everyone does, this will become a great resource for figuring out what to do with all the lingering bits and bobs you can't bring yourself to throw on the tip, but can't drop at your local recycling centre.

 

My own case is literally that: thousands of CD jewel cases that are superfluous since we bought giant media notebooks. I'm sure iPod addicts have the same problem. The cases are plastic, so should be recyclable, but the only company I found insisted I bring them to North London (on the Tube, forget it!) or mail them. When faced with the choice between a massive postage bill or cluttered cupboards, I have chosen indecision (and therefore cluttered cupboards). Off to ask for Anna's help. She'll probably suggest I start at Recycle This, which has clever tips for avoiding the tip.

 

---

14 February, 2008: More from London Fashion Week (see news on Estethica in my Website of the Week section). The catwalk is now an animal-friendly zone. Yesterday an RSPCA dress from Wildlife Works was centre stage. Wildlife Works's goal is 'Consumer Powered Conservation'. A proportion of sales goes to save endangered and threatened wildlife, by protecting wilderness habitats and by giving incentives (jobs, schools, etc) to local people to encourage them to value wildlife.

 

Part of the Autumn/Winter ’08 collection, this ethically made dress goes even further, with £40 from each £350 dress going to RSPCA campaigns such as ‘fur free’ and ‘welfare-friendly chicken’, and 3% of total sales helping to fund the Wildlife Works eco factory and wildlife sanctuary in Rukinga, Kenya.

 

With such heart-warming causes, you'd think the model would look a bit less glum. Cheer up, buttercup! (She's probably just hungry.) 

 

 

 

---

13 February, 2008: Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has announced a higher congestion charge for the most polluting cars. From 27 October cars with the highest greenhouse gas emissions (Band G vehicles) will pay £25 to drive in the Congestion Charge Zone. High-pollutin' cars owned by those living inside the zone will be stripped of their 90% discounts, meaning those who can afford to live in the centre of London don't get to use our capital as their private 4x4 racecourse.

 

High-five, my fellow pedestrians! (Not only do heavier cars emit more CO2, in a collision they're twice as likely to kill us.)

"Nobody needs to damage the environment by driving a gas guzzling Chelsea Tractor in central London," says Ken. "The CO2 charge will encourage people to switch to cleaner vehicles or public transport." If not, they'll have to follow the "polluter pays principle".

 

---

11 February, 2008: Leading textile testing laboratory, Shirley Technologies tells us that 10% of the textiles (towels, clothes, bedding, etc) it tests fail ecological tests. And the most harmful are from the US.
 

Surprise, surprise. Well it is a surprise if you've seen the US Cotton industry's 'Feel the Difference' campaign (right), complete with angelic young maidens and a 'Pure, Sensual and Sustainable' tagline.

 

 

The issue hasn't escaped the notice of UK textile designers. A group including Lisa Harland of  Harlands Organic Furnishings is starting to tackle greenwashing in the textile industry. Have a look at Lisa's blog entitled 'The Environmental Impact of the Furniture Industry'. It also includes a disturbing film from Peta on Merino wool. She also wants consumers to know that chemical flame retardants are now widespread, due to fire and safety regs, and that some of these chemicals may have harmful effects on humans and should be replaced with non-toxic or natural alternatives. These chemicals are also tested on animals, so should be avoided for any truly ethical furnishings. Anthony and Jesse at Q Collection also have a lot to say on the subject of ecological and ethical upholstery.

---