June 24th, 2010
Team Green Britain is the organisation that has been put together to bring awareness and education to everyone in Britain to inspire further moves towards doing everything possible to reduce Britain’s carbon footprint.
All of this week from Saturday 19th June to Sunday 27th June is Team Green Britain Bike Week. Team Green Britain Bike Week has been brought to the nation to provide awareness of how cycling can be a part of everyone’s lives and will benefit everyone physically for health benefits and environmentally by cutting down on the carbon footprint. Cycling is a healthy, practical and convenient lifestyle choice which can help to look after Britain and eveone individually.
Team Green Britain’s ongoing support has alreadybenefitted many across the nation by providing and funding 13 workshops and publishing cycling guides. You can visit www.bikeweek.org.uk
Team Green Britain have not only produced Bike Week and Green Britain Day but are constantly working towards combining a team that will work together to reduce the carbon footprint, use less energy, live healthier lives, save money and have fun doing it. Everyone has the opportunity to join the team and make a difference.
Join Team Green Britain now by clicking HERE!
Tags: bike week, carbon emissions, Carbon Footprint, cycling, healthy living, Team Green Britain, Team Green Britain Bike Week | Posted in Carbon Footprint, Events, Transport, carbon emissions
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May 31st, 2010
An enjoyable day out sightseeing with environmental and health benefits not to mention it was all free, what more could you ask for?
West Dorset district council (WDDC) are encouraging local people and visitors alike to explore the breath-taking scenery that is on offer by taking to your bicycle and hitting the trialways. The WDDC have created several FREE informative cycle guides availble to all. Some of the guides follow the National cycle networks (NCN) with one in particular covering the spectacular 30 mile ride between Lyme Regis and Dorchester.
Rural West Dorset has so much to offer with exciting exploration and the sightseeing possibilities are endless. But why do it trapped in a car behind glass windows using up fuel and adding to the carbon emmissions? Looking after the countryside is a key part of enjoying it and prolonging its beauty for others, and so the new initiative to promote cycling with these new cycle guides is well on its way to helping look after the environment and peoples health.
These cycle routes and guides are perfect for families, tourists and those wanting to get outdoors and get healthy. The guides are being promoted as a greener and healthier way to visit west Dorset and so there is no better way to experience the Jurassice Coast, picturesqe riverbanks, market towns and quaint villages that are all featured in the guides.
A list of Dorset’s information centres is availble on the Visit Dorset website and PDF files of the cycle guides are available to download by clicking HERE. Five shorter circular routes called the West Dorset Pedal are also availble to download.
So get on your bikes and ride!
Tags: carbon emissions, cycling, environment, Jurassic Coast, national cycle networks, west dorset district council | Posted in Local Councils, Self sufficiency, Transport
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May 10th, 2010
We all know that the Weymouth Relief Road which is currently tearing through the Dorset heaths, coastal areas of outstanding natural beauty, sites of special scientific interest and irreplaceable ancient woodland once owned by the Woodland Trust, is no relief at all and is in truth a terrible idea.
So is there any hope that when we finally get a new government in place, they will learn from this nasty mistake and remember party promises to slash road budgets?
The message coming from national campaigns such as Campaign for Better Transport is loud and clear: “ignore the pet projects and outdated road schemes, and spend what little money we have fixing the roads we’ve already got.”
Whilst the maintenance Verses expansion argument is a compelling one, it appears it doesn’t win elections. Especially when faced with the prospect of an effective lobbying backlash from motoring lobby groups like the AA and the freight industry together with business interests such as the CBI and Regional Development Authorities, it’s not surprising that most politicians turn and run for the hills on this issue.
Obviously with the prospect of the 2012 Olympics tipping the scale, Weymouth’s areas of outstanding natural beauty didn’t stand a chance, but given the fractious economic climate any new government will inherit, then surely it makes sense to spend money on jobs and manpower to fix existing roads rather than machines and faceless contractors to build new ones people don’t want?
Tags: 2012 Olympics, Campaign for Better Transport, government, Weymouth Relief Road | Posted in 2012, New Road Protests, Transport, carbon emissions
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May 3rd, 2010
Well the results are in from the Plane Stupid subvertise event held 22nd/23rd April and the national response to the event, especially given the volcano crisis only days before, was surprisingly reassuring. People all over the country got behind the event, from Brighton, Turo, London, Reading, Bristol, to name but a few. You can view all the brilliant entries on the Plane Stupid flicker site.
The overall winner went to Team Kamikaze, who dressed as workmen, took on the giant Cathay Pacific billboard opposite Algate East station. They stuck up their addition of Huge Emmissions In front of the traffic at the A11 traffic lights in the early hours of the morning before cycling away with a ladder under their arms – brilliant!
Plane Stupid have been very active and interesting campaigners recently and I have to applaud their imagination, humour and impressive dedication. However, the seriousness behind their campaigning cannot be ignored, this is very serious stuff and their new YouTube clip is a powerful reminder of this.
I would have loved to have posted it here, but it’s a very hard hitting message and I wouldn’t want to upset users. If you’re interested, visit the Polar Bear film page on the Plane Stupid website. I highly recommend it; it’s surprisingly powerful.
We have a problem. We’re flying too much, and it’s changing the earth’s climate. – Plane Stupid
Posted in Airport Protests, Climate Change, Events, Transport, carbon emissions, environment
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April 23rd, 2010
Is now really the right time for Plane Stupid to be continuing with their Subvertising Campaign planned for this weekend? Given the disruptive events of the last week to both the aviation industry and to ordinary people, my first instinct it is a resounding No. Far better to wait until the volcanic dust has settled so to speak, than risk attracting negative press to what would ordinarily be a very healthy expression of very strongly felt beliefs.
However, having taken a cursory look at the impact of the grounding of all European flights, I am now beginning to think that action is needed now more than ever and perhaps striking while the iron is hot is exactly the right thing to do – any press is good press, right?
Reasons for this include:
The grounding of 63,000 flights over four days saved 1.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. That’s more than the annual emissions of many developing countries.
The carbon dioxide released by the volcanic eruption itself is dwarfed by the carbon savings generated by the grounding of all European flights.
The Environmental Transport Association estimated that by April 20th the flight ban had prevented the emission of some 2.8m tonnes of carbon dioxide since the first flights were grounded.
The aviation industry is already asking for a bail out to compensate for lost revenue (around £100 million so far). Given that the industry that has never paid fuel tax, most environmental campaigners understandably think this is a bit rich!
There is the hope that good lessons have been learnt from Mother Nature’s outburst. Firstly and most obviously, that she cannot and will not be messed with. Secondly, the world did not stop revolving because we couldn’t fly and people can and did find alternatives to air travel.
And so, the Plane Stupid Subvertising Blitz continues as planned – kicking the aviation industry whilst it’s down, but not without good reason. I shall leave you with some words of Subvertising encouragement and strong sentiments from the artist Banksy;
“F**k that. Any advert in a public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours. It’s yours to take, re-arrange and re-use. You can do whatever you like with it. Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rock someone just threw at your head.” Banksy
Tags: aviation industry, Banksy, carbon emissions, plane stupid, Subvertising Campaign | Posted in Airport Protests, Climate Change, Transport, carbon emissions, environment
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April 12th, 2010
It has come time for sailors to stop saying that all ’stink pots’ aka motorboats pollute the seas with their fuel guzzling engines.
It is all about the environment and conserving the world’s seas and oceans for boat designing company J&J Design. Brothers Jernej and Japec Jakopin have designed over 250 boats both power and sail for manufacturers all over the world and have won over 30 Boat of the Year Awards in several different countries.
J&J Design have teamed up with VW Marine and renowed boat builders Seawayto bring their ideas for the future of motor boating into being in the form of the Greenline 33 (pic left)
The Greenline 33 is dedicated to efficiency producing four times less fossil fuels in a year than any other planing powerboat and is completely emission-free in the electric mode. These great features of the Greenline 33 means that for a boating family they are hugely reducing their carbon footprint by going green out at sea.
Not only for people out using the Greenline but for others enjoying the seas and boating areas there will be the added bonus of no smoke, no wake and no noise. The lithium batteries can have up to a 10 year life expectancy and the solar panelled roof will keep batteries charged and provide additional energy supply to the electric drives on board. This is all encompassed in a beautifully designed layout with comfortable and attractive features to appeal to any boating family, couple etc.
The mission is to preserve the world and its top boating areas for future generations. There is no reason why a motorboat cannot be enjoyed out on the water without it causing any damage to the environment or the water it is in. Already exceeding expectations, the Greenline 33 has gained J&J Design another Boat of the Year Award by winning the title at the HISWA (Dutch Boat Show) 2010. For all information and the design behind this new green creation go to www.greenlinehybrid.com
Tags: Economical, Energy Efficient, Greenline | Posted in Energy Efficient, News, Self sufficiency, Transport
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April 6th, 2010
Plane Stupid is inciting a ‘subvertising’ campaign on the weekend of April 22nd/23rd.
Designed to get activist’s voices heard above the noise of corporate advertising, the event encourages people to make their own stickers/slogans or download versions available on flicker: And then plaster them over advertisements for the aviation industry.
The event is also being run as a competition with prizes including spray cans, Culture Jam by Kalle Lasn, Do It Yourself, A handbook for changing our world by the Trapese Collective and Scribbleboy by Philip Ridley.
To win participants take photos of their stickers in situ and send them to info@planestupid.com using a temporary email address in an internet cafe and under a pseudonym. The group who stickers the most adverts in the 48 hour period wins.
The need for secrecy is explained in the Plane Stupid disclaimer: ‘Some officers of the law may be convinced that subvertising is borderline illegal, so take a friend as lookout, keep an eye open for CCTV and don’t get caught.’
I for one am going to be really interested to see the response to this event and whether it gets any positive or negative media coverage. An organized event of this nature could easily be termed as inciting vandalism and yet protesters are clearly being driven to take action because their views are not being heard, listened to or considered.
Clearly organizers intend the event a peaceful demonstration. The Plane Stupid disclaimer goes on to note: ‘Please be respectful about where you sticker. Corporate nasties are fine…..but the local old people’s homes may not appreciate your art on their walls! Use your head.’
In a world where we are bombarded with advertising from every quarter is this such a bad way to get your views across?
For more information visit the Plane Stupid Website
Tags: advertising, aviation industry, get your sticker on!, plane stupid, subverising | Posted in Airport Protests, Events, Transport, education
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March 24th, 2010
Did you know that according to The Campaign for Better Transport, airplane fuel is not taxed at all in the UK?
There is no VAT on air travel or even new aircraft when they are bought. Amazingly the Treasury estimates that this subsidises the UK airline industry by a staggering £10 billion every year! It’s incredible that despite all this help the airlines are still plagued by strikes and raising prices.
Headlines have been dominated this week by British Airways again cancelling flights. This is now becoming an old story with talks, strikes and flight disruptions having been head-line news for the last 5 months.
The strikes that occurred at Christmas last year clearly didn’t get them what they wanted and now the cabin crew are unhappy with pay and staffing levels on long-haul flights.This set of strikes is just another notch on the already marked line of disagreement s between BA officials and staff over changes to pay and working conditions. Even with Brendan Barber, head of TUC (Trades Union Congress) communicating with union officials from Unite and British Airways, it seems to be fruitless as the BA cabin crew are threatening to strike for yet another four days starting on Saturday 27th March. A total of 200 BA flights have been cancelled and more are expected over the following days in expectation of the next set of strikes. The striking and cancellations have meant a loss of £21m for BA, a total of £7m per day and these costs are not likely to end here.
BA’s chief executive Willie Walsh has so far shown no signs of backing down, but BA are coming to a point where they have nowhere else to turn and if they don’t find ways to cut their losses they are going to struggle to survive.
For BA passengers hoping to travel over the weekend, it is not looking too promising with London Heathrow having the most flights cancelled. However, BA has announced that there will be no severe disruption to passengers and the majority of the services will operate normally in the next coming days. For all flight and BA information find out here.
However, if you have no regard for your carbon footprint whatsoever, but would like to take full advantage of the loopholes in UK aviation taxation laws, then the best thing to do would be to charter your own plane. Last year more than 67,000 flights in private jets avoided paying any tax at all, despite emitting up to 30 times more carbon dioxide per passenger.
At least commercial passengers pay £11 for short haul and up to £110 for long haul flights in a shallow nod towards compensation for the carbon footprint of their journey, but it seems very small aircraft, used almost exclusively by the rich and famous are exempt! The Campaign for Better Transport have been spearheading the campaign to tax aviation fairly for years. Visit their website to find out more.
Tags: British Airways, Campaign for Better Transport, cancelled flights, carbon footprints, strikes, TUC, Unite | Posted in News, Transport
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January 31st, 2010
Chew Magna, the beautiful, traditional village in Somerset, has been labelled ‘Britain’s Greenest Village’.
Following a parish council survey, it became clear that the biggest concern of the community was the environment and as a result the Go-Zero project was initiated.
Villagers now strive towards zero-waste and buy local produce including; fruit, vegetables, venison, ice-cream, medicinal herbs and trout from Chew Valley Lake. Action groups are discussing and encouraging the inhabitants to recycle more, change their transport methods and reduce their home energy consumption. Local energy companies have even donated light bulbs which the villagers can pick up for free. Approximately 85 percent of the village now recycles, that is almost 4 times the national average.
Chew Magna have also set up a ‘carbon-offset fund’; when someone books a flight with the local travel agent, the distance travelled determines their donation to the fund, even their journey to the airport will be eco-friendly, as the village has plans to run it’s own bio-fuelled coach shuttle service.
This community have many other plans in the pipe-line including becoming a Fairtrade village, following their support for African charities. What is truly inspirational is that all this came about because the community consolidated and discussed their concerns for the environment and together they were motivated to make changes – perhaps this small idyllic rural village will be responsible for providing a template for other towns and villages in the country.
Tags: Britain’s Greenest Village, carbon off-setting, Chew Magna, environment, go-zero, Recycling | Posted in Life Change, Recycling, Sustainability, Transport, carbon emissions, environment
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November 27th, 2009
The major supplier of EV’s is a Danish company called Better Place, it is strategically located and now joined in partnership with the Danish government, just in time for the Worldwide Summit for Climate Change, which is to be held in Copenhagen, this December.
As EV’s are expected to be at the forefront of personal transportation within the next ten years, it’s not surprising that nearly every major car manufacturer has a program to develop these cars. Better Place is currently working with the Renault-Nissan Alliance and in talks with other car makers worldwide. They are en route to be a front runner in the introduction of EV’s as the future of global personal road transportation.
Electric Vehicles have instant torque and provide a smooth quiet drive. As they have half the moving parts of traditional cars there is less to go wrong, so cheaper maintenance costs are anticipated. Typically, the battery lasts for up to 100 miles and takes between 4 to 8 hours to recharge – so ideal for around town driving and to and from work (if you are not a travelling salesman, or the like, obviously), the car can then be recharged in the garage overnight. However, there will be charging posts at car parks and workplaces for those who tend to drive a little further afield, allowing them to top-up while the driver goes about their daily business. For journeys over 100 miles there will be easily accessible ‘switching stations’, which will enable the battery to be changed in less time and with less fuss than refuelling a normal car.
As these vehicles evolve, within a decade the majority of us could be driving EV’s! It really is an inspirational concept.
Tags: Better Place, Copenhagen, Electric Vehicles, EV's, World Summit on Climate Change | Posted in Climate Change, Events, Transport, carbon emissions
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