October 27, 2008
· Filed under Tips, activism, fair trade · Tagged Add new tag
In all the work I’ve been doing in green, I often hear the ‘man on the street’ say it’s up to business and government to make changes because individuals don’t add up to much. I know you guys aren’t the average man on the street so hence, I think you’ll really love this initiative by carrot mob.
Basically it’s one guy’s idea to organise consumers to make purchases that give financial rewards to businesses who agree to make socially beneficial choices.
It’s a great idea. So simple. We all can do it…
And it’s just cool to see how people are banding together and using their collective muscle to make social and environmental change – and then using the web to get the message out there and motivate others.
I’m sure you’ll find it inspiring – maybe it will encourage us to do something as a group???
http://www.carrotmob.org/make-it-rain.html
Juz xx
PS Thanks so so much to everyone who responded to my survey. Thanks for the encouragement and ideas and I will be catching up with some of you soon to share more ideas.
June 30, 2008
· Filed under Tips, recycling, waste · Tagged recycling
Some of you know I’m travelling at the moment which is why I’ve been a little silent on the tips. BUT ‘guest star’ tipsters have been recruited to keep the greenness going while i get on and do cool things like enjoy the world music festival in morocco. (If anyone is interested, let me know and I can give you a full run down!)
The following tip is thanks to the ever-so-wonderful Paul Justin who always amazes me with his ability to see stuff and make stuff differently. Below he shares some sources of inspiration.
over to you PJ….
We all have a bit of MacGuyver in us. You just never know when you will need to fix a broken rowing boat using a stick with a fork, a sleeping-bag cover, some ropes and a tarpaulin in order to get to a mysteriously abandoned ship.
Perhaps not, but making stuff from stuff is an amazing way to reduce both waste and consumption in one fell swoop. Add to that the ’self’ you invest in your newly created object and you have more reason to love it for longer.
There are some amazing Web 2.0 communities out there sharing their ideas and experiences of making things. So the next time you have an urge to purge or splurge, tap into the universal consciousness of the interweb and get creative.
INSTRUCTIBLES www.instructables.com
Instructables is a web-based documentation platform where passionate people share what they do and how they do it, and learn from and collaborate with others. Here is a direct link to all the ‘green’ posts:
http://www.instructables.com/tag/type:id/category:green/
READYMADE http://readymademag.com
ReadyMade is a bimonthly print magazine for people who like to make stuff, who see the flicker of invention in everyday objects — the perfectly round yolk in the mundane egg.
MAKEZINE http://makezine.com/
The first magazine devoted entirely to DIY technology projects, MAKE Magazine unites, inspires and informs a growing community of resourceful people who undertake amazing projects in their backyards, basements, and garages.
FOLDSCHOOL http://www.foldschool.com/
Swiss designer Nicola Enrico Stäubli’s new series of DIY cardboard furniture for kids takes cardboard furniture in a much more pointy direction—and the best part about it is that it’s free. Three different designs, a stool, chair and rocker, exist on his site as downloads that can be easily printed onto standard paper sizes. He includes hints and instructions on his site as well and nowhere are the Foodschool pieces available for sale; “the process of crafting your own piece of furniture is fundamental to the attitude of foldschool.” – text c/o www.coolhunting.com/
May 28, 2008
· Filed under Food, Organics, Tips · Tagged organic food
I just finished reading The Ethics of What We Eat’, a book that explores the environmental and social impact of food production. It’s eye opening, a little bit scary, extremely thought provoking. In short, it’s definitely worth a read.
I have to say that after reading it, while I’m not turning vegie, nor vegan it’s definitely made me super conscious of how and where my food comes from and the impact it has.
As a result, and more expensively so, I’m wholeheartedly committed to a shopping bill that reflects the true costs of food – anything less would most likely mean the earth, animals and people have been compromised and unfairly treated.
Have a read of this book and see what you think.
For a review: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/06/book_review_the.php
To buy it: http://www.amazon.com/Ethics-What-We-Eat-Choices/dp/1594866872
or you can borrow a copy from me!
May 9, 2008
· Filed under Art, Tips, waste · Tagged green art, recycling, waste
April 24, 2008
· Filed under Tips, transport · Tagged green cars, transport
I’m not so happy to admit the one thing I have been really crap at in my personal ‘greening quest’ is giving up the car.
Despite writing tips about bike riding and catching public transport, I have continued to revert to my fuel consuming and carbon emitting ways driving every day.
Not that this makes it any better but I suppose if I drove a more fuel efficient car, I might not be polluting as much. Considering around 34% of greenhouse emissions from households* comes from transport, I suppose anything I do will help.
So the lovely Ms Nat Power has kindly given me links to a sites that compares fuel efficient cars.
Enjoy…
www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au or www.greenwheels.com.au (Australia)
www.whatgreencar.com (UK)
http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/Index.do (USA)
