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Climate Change Denial |
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This week's website is Climate Change Denial (climatedenial.org), which claims to explore the psychology of climate change denial. It's an insightful read, as George Marshall, founder of the Climate Outreach Information Network (COIN) investigates why, despite all the evidence about the greatest problem mankind has perhaps ever faced, we are actually doing very little about climate change (though we're talking 'til we're green in the face).
Recent blogs highlight how world leaders are ignoring climate change in their rush to exploit every drop of oil they can get their drillbits on and the backlash against green ideals, including new ads for distinctly non-green products.
There's GE's Flashdance-inspired 'I'm too sexy for my coalminer's helmet' ad (above and right), with catwalk models pumping and grinding as they try to sex up  'cleaner' coal. Not a black lung in the bunch, just glistening biceps and abs of steel. And of course not a peep about the true carbon cost of coal.
Marshall also highlights a worrying new trend: car advertising that taps into eco fatigue. This ad for the  Indian Ford Endeavour shows a 4x4 cutting a swath through the melting Arctic. In the background two dejected polar bears are stranded on tiny ice floes.
Marshall also has a lot to say about people like me, those in 'the industry' and how we communicate about green issues, especially the inherent problems with too much green consumerism.
is a charitable trust that "aims to create a powerful and vocal community of people working together to move technology, government and business forward to reduce emissions and make real and lasting changes to the way we live." Take a closer look.
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Is January always this gruelling? What a winter of discontent, with downpours, the Dow (and FTSE), even a vomiting virus raging through the land. In such apocalyptic conditions, it's easy to get discouraged and decide to spoil yourself, giving up on those worthy New Years resolutions, especially the green ones.
I don't know about you, but I fancy some TLC, a bit of pampering, a wee splurge. For some that means snuggling up in front of the biggest and flattest energy-guzzling plasma screen money can buy whilst  gobbling a ready meal and a steamy pud doused in custard made from non-organic, factory-farmed milk. For others, a splurge might mean a flight to Necker Island (or at least Tenerife). Most of us simply sigh and try some DIY.
Spring cleaning often turns into spring redecorating, and sometimes a lick of fresh paint just isn't enough. It's easy to get completely carried away, meaning piles of unloved but perfectly good furniture dumped on the tip (over 1.5 million tones each year in Britain, according to DEFRA).
So if nothing but a little redecorating is going to turn your frown upside down, try to make it as green as possible. Instead of chucking out your tired-looking sofa and chairs, give them a second life with new covers. You could buy organic fabrics and whizz them up yourself on your handy sewing machine, but if like  me you have a philosophical aversion to sewing (I'll explain that in a future blog) you'll need a professional. Find a reputable seamstress (or seamstrer?) near you or click on to Bemz where you'll find stylish sofa covers that fit most IKEA sofas and chairs. Bemz also makes cushion slipcovers, so if your cat (or rug-rat) has made mincemeat of your cushions, Bemz can help.
If you really, truly must have something completely different, check out Freecycle, eBay or your Facebook Marketplace for 'pre-loved' furniture. (And don't forget to list yours while you're at it).
Saving the world one sofa at a time? Well it's not going to win you the Nobel Peace Prize, but it's a start.
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 If you're suffering from wormery fatigue (as I am), the Green Cone could be just the thing for you. Let's face it, picking up the spade to aerate the contents of your worm box isn't necessarily most people's idea of a fun way to spend a cold and drizzly Monday morning. I've seen tombola-style wormeries, where you can roll the contents around without getting your hands dirty, but the Green Cone is even easier. Just lift up the lid and dump your leftovers. No brainpower required, as The Green Cone can handle meat, fish and other items many composters and wormeries reject. Take a closer look at GreenCone.com. Sounds like a perfect solution, so long as you have a bit of space and sun in your garden. (The sun's heat helps the cone work properly.) Alas my garden is teeny and shady. Time to get those marigolds on...
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Defra has commissioned some research on New Year’s resolutions and the results show that Brits are more worried about shedding the muffin tops and beer bellies than saving the planet. Despite growing evidence about the consequences of climate change, just 15% of us have resolved to reduce our carbon footprint this year, compared to 38% vowing to lose weight and 20% striving to make more money (according to a YouGov poll.) [Just for the record, I have all three of these resolutions on my list!]
Calculate your carbon footprint – and learn how to shrink it – at the ActOnCO2 website. “Our Act on CO2 calculator enables people to work out their current carbon emissions and provides a personalised action plan with steps you can take to make a positive difference," says Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Don't waste time blaming big corporations: individuals are responsible for more than 40% of CO2 emissions in the UK – mainly from the home and travel. Defra offers these resolutions to kickstart your carbon diet for 2008:
1 Burn off the holiday love handles by cycling to work, or wrap the kids up warm and walk them to school rather than taking the car.
2 If your Christmas stocking was full of gadgets this year, make sure you unplug them when not in use, and don’t leave TVs, DVD players or stereos on stand-by.
3 Make use of the winter woollies and cosy socks your Nan gave you and turn the thermostat in your house down by 1°c.
4 Put winter coats on your hot water tank and pipes – a British standard lagging jacket and insulation will save you money and reduce your emissions.
5 Take down those Christmas lights and, while you are at it, replace your standard light bulbs with energy efficient ones.
6 Everyone loves charades and board games at Christmas – extend your low-carbon entertainment into the New Year and switch off the TV and Playstation for the night.
7 With all the entertaining out of the way, ensure you use the dishwasher or washing machine only when you have a full load.
That still leaves 8, 9 and 10 for your own selfish resolutions that won't necessarily help the planet, but might just help you live a happier, healthier life or just become a nicer person. Things like flossing regularly, not biting your nails, or even bringing your partner a cuppa in bed with no thought of compensation. Or maybe you feel 7 resolutions is more than enough this year!
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Bring A Phone |
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If you got a new mobile in your Christmas stocking, don't just throw the old one in a drawer to languish. There are plenty of charitable mobile phone recycling schemes, where you donate your old phone and a portion of the money collected goes  to a particular charity (see the Rainbow Trust campaign and The Body Shop's 'Donate a Phone Save a Life' scheme with Women's Aid; envelopes available in stores; donations go to Women's Aid).
Bring A Phone To Work Day is coming up on the 16th of January, so mobile-ise your colleagues now to collect their old phones and bring them in. All phones will be recycled and will generate funds for the charity of your choice. The scheme is designed by Recycling Appeal, a branch of Redeem plc, a leader in mobile phone and printer cartridge recycling.
I thought I'd be getting a new phone for Christmas after my very old and battered one went for a swim in the loo last week, but it made a miraculous recovery after three days (although with a few annoying new glitches!) I'm sure by next year I'll be making a donation of my own.
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George Monbiot |
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If you followed the climate talks in Bali, you may have felt a bit seasick afterwards from all the changes in direction. I felt annoyed, then sad, then frustrated, then elated, then as the elation bubble burst and the  reality of what had happened (and not happened) set in I was left discouraged, bitter and also hugely embarrassed by my home country.
In this age of spin, it's difficult to know where to look to find the truth in any story, but I think George Monbiot is a must-read. If you don't get the Guardian, follow his columns on his website, Monbiot.com. Mr Monbiot calls climate change "the moral question of the 21st century" and warns that we're running out of time for effective preventative measures. He doesn't mean the odd token gesture, but serious changes such as setting firm targets for greenhouse emissions, rationing emissions, building offshore wind farms, ensuring new builds conform to German passivhaus standards, banning wasteful products such as incandescent light bulbs and patio heaters, reducing airport capacity, significantly improving public transport, etc. On his site you can read his writings on climate change as well  as other topics such as genetic engineering, globalisation, education, farming and food and find out more about his books, such as HEAT: How to Stop the Planet from Burning (left). There's also info on upcoming talks and events.
Some call him a voice of reason, others a revolutionary extremist, but perhaps it's now time for a few more revolutionaries pressurising governments to take some real action. Some people feel George is a bit of a downer, grumbling about how green consumerism isn't enough to save the planet. But surely we all realise by now that we're not going to be able to shop our way out of climate chaos. Have a read and decide for yourself.
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Santa's workshop |
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I do hope Father Christmas has managed to avoid shopping in Far Eastern sweatshops this year. Big toy brands often outsource manufacturing, meaning they're not really in control of the process. When profit is  king, we get scandals such as child labour and the recent recall of over 21 million toxic toys. Lead paint is a leading culprit, but toxins such as phthalates (a main ingredient in plastic, linked to childhood asthma and other potential problems) are still allowed in toys and gadgets for over-threes. Not the ideal choice for good, healthy fun.
Speaking of fun, are today's toys really fun? Amusing for a moment, perhaps, but does the play ever progress beyond the surface? Will these toys be treasured? Last year the grandparents gave my daughter a remote-control pony whose owner is a notorious buxom blonde who can't stand up without her high heels on. The pony's got an impressive whinny and trot, not to mention a mane to rival Barb's (but thankfully, not a matching DD cup). It takes a turn round the room, everyone laughs, then it's put back on the toy shelf. Meanwhile the plain old cuddly puppies, kittens  and bunnies get strapped to the scooter for days out, ferreted into the school bag and tucked into a cosy bed each night. Powered by imagination, not batteries!
I am certain Father Christmas has almost finished packing his sleigh, but if he's still shopping, he should check out sites such as Elemental Toys. Who said eco or ethical toys are dull? This block pulley set (left) is the sort of thing my brother David would have loved as a child. It's  made from sustainably sourced wood by a company with award-winning environmental and social policies. If your child's a budding director, stoke their creative energy with a puppet theatre made from sustainably sourced wood by a social enterprise in the UK employing disadvantaged members of the community.
 If Santa's just shy of a few stocking stuffers, he could try the lacing beads (just £6.95) a great way to keep little hands busy and amused, or these finger puppets, (£10.50 for a set of five). Elemental Toys are chosen by an early years’ specialist and sourced from ethical producers, and 10% of profits go to educational and environmental charities.
And there's a great selection of eco and ethical wooden toys at Toys to You, like
this elaborate petrol station (left). Just don't be surprised if your older child decides to stage an eco-terrorist Action Man demo outside to protest against oil company policy !
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Campaign Against Climate Change |
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 As I've mentioned before conscientious consumerism is great, but let's face it, we're never going to shop our way out of climate chaos. We need governments and people in real power taking tough decisions to limit worldwide emissions if there's any hope of preventing the catastrophic destabilisation of global climate.
The Campaign against Climate Change is pushing for urgent and radical action, and insists that climate change must be at the top of the world's political agenda. Visit the site to learn more about the background issues and about how you can contribute to the movement.
The UN Climate Talks (MOP 3, COP 13) are in Bali from 3-14 December, and the Global Climate Campaign is organising worldwide demonstrations for Saturday the 8th of December, to convince politicians that we need absolute and binding emission-reduction agreements now. The Campaign Against Climate Change's National Climate March will be on Saturday in London, part of this global day of action. The main march will start at noon, with people assembling in Millbank near the House of Commons (Westminster Tube) to march past No 10 Downing Street. The march will continue to the US embassy for a rally at 2.30pm, with speakers including George Monbiot, Chris Huhne, Michael Meacher and Caroline Lucas. There's an after-party and fundraiser afterwards. Other events include a morning cycle protest starting at 10am at Lincoln's Inn Fields and an 11am service at St Matthews Church, 20 Great Peter Street.
I know, you're flat-out at this time of year (maybe they thought we'd all be too busy Christmas shopping to notice climate talks during December) but this demo is one not to miss. I've got plenty of excuses as well: my Saturday diary includes a morning ballet recital (my daughter, not me, to the relief of everyone attending), an afternoon birthday party for three of her friends and an evening Christmas do. Still, I'm going to do my best to make my voice heard at the demo on Saturday. Maybe I'll even ask my children to help me make a banner (I so need to source some eco-friendly glitter). I hope to see you there.
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Total Wardrobe Care |
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“I have to buy new jumpers every year – my old ones are always covered in moth holes,” a friend confessed last week. "What a waste," I thought, then discovered to my shame that my own gloves were riddled with telltale holes. Surely there's no excuse for allowing perfectly good clothes to be ruined. After all, in The Little Dictionary of Fashion (re-published for the V&A’s 'Golden Age of Couture' exhibition) Christian Dior wrote: "Care for your clothes. You cannot be well groomed if your clothes are not well cared for." Ahhh, but there is one valid excuse – not wanting your clothes (and your bedroom) to reek of mothballs.
That excuse no longer holds water, thanks to the organic anti-moth  range at Total Wardrobe Care. The sweetly packaged products are sweetly scented too, with lavender, cedarwood, patchouli, laurel, rosemary, clove and the lemongrass notes of May Chang to ward off wardrobe pests safely. Mild winters have allowed moths to be fruitful and multiply, but the  organic anti-moth hanging sachets, linen sprays, essential oil, potpourri, and candle will protect your clothes from vicious minibeasts. At Total Wardrobe Care, Julia Dee also offers repairs and alterations to help you get the most from the clothes you have, plus breathable garment bags for safe storage out of season.
From now on, if you want to treat yourself to a new jumper (or gloves), you'll need a new excuse. At least you can salve your green guilt by donating the old ones (in pristine condition) to the charity shop to keep someone else warm this winter. Total Wardrobe Care's online shop launches soon.
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Buy Nothing Day 2007 |
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This Saturday (24 November) is Buy Nothing Day (UK). It's a day for you to challenge yourself (and everyone you know) to find more fulfilling things to do with your life than shop. Heresy? Shopping is the new religion, the new black, the new hobby, the new timekiller, the new pick-me-up, the new heartbreak remedy, the new family day out, the new drug of choice. And with Christmas just around the corner, it's only going to get more frenzied until we collapse in a credit-riddled heap in the new year. But it doesn't have to be that way. I'm already thinking of creative Christmas gifts that don't involve plastic (in materials or payment method). Buy Nothing Day in the US is on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and one of the biggest shopping days of the year – and that's saying something in the consumerist capital of the world.
At least on this one day a year, you can look critically at your life, your values, your carbon cost to the planet and take a breather. While you detox from shopping, see if you can find something else to do with your time. Ask your child a few questions and really listen to their  answers, ring a friend you haven't spoken to for ages, take some jam to an elderly person in your neighbourhood or simply lounge around and read that book you never have time for. Just don't darken the door of a shop, if only to prove you can do it. I love the Buy Nothing Day motto: Shop Less, Live More!
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Website of the week 
