We love charity shops at Hippyshopper. Not only are they great for updating your wardrobe in an inexpensive and sustainable way (recycling unwanted clothes and items all around), uncovering some great vintage finds, and taking your unwanted clothes off your hands, they are also come with the added bonus of helping raise funds for different causes.

It was with interest that we watched the news piece on BBC Breakfast this morning on whether there are too many charity shops on Britain's high streets. This one particular city had 6 on its main shopping street. The current debate around charity shops on the high street began after retail queen Mary Portas suggested that the number of charity shops on the high street should be limited by tax laws earlier this month. The Charity Retail Association has slammed this suggestion and is writing to the Prime Minister to object to Portas' idea as it is concerned what it would do to charity shops should they been reflected negatively in the High Street Review. The review, which is led by Portas, was launched in May and is due to report back to the Prime Minister this autumn.

Too many charity shops? We think not!

Better that they are there offering an eco-minded, sustainable shopping experience than the properties that would otherwise be empty - or worse being occupied by shops selling cheaply made and short-lived crap for £1 to feed the nation's throwaway society.

Fair enough, the charity shops might pay less in rent but considering that they enable hobby eco-warriors to do their bit for charity and raise funds for much needed causes I don't see the issue.

Alternatively, the retail associations in charge of the British high streets should enable independent businesses to prosper by offering lower rates so that locally produced goods could be showcased in a store environment.

What do you think? Are there too many charity shops around and what do you suggest could be done to breathe new life into our high streets? Leave a comment below.

The time is nigh for me to move out of the parental abode and into university accommodation! With the independence will come the possibility of properly implementing a green way of living. Here at home, we don't have such displays of domestic eco-friendliness but uni will hopefully inspire more soon-to-be undergraduates, like myself, to go green.

Here are five pointers to help you, as a live-out student, towards a more sustainable lifestyle...

1. Buy second-hand textbooks
Whatever your subject, chances are the prices of your textbooks will chomp a sizeable bite out of your budget. Before you hit the book store, browse the net for ex-students flogging their used books for less. There's a slight chance your search will yield little as new edition replaces old edition rapidly but it's worth a shot. My graduate brother hoardes his Law tomes for no apparent reason - I think they remind him of richer times.

2. Recycle, recycle, recyle
Things'll most likely be a bit manic throughout the prime cut of your settling in at uni but when you get a moment, do locate your nearest recycling post. With studying being quite common among students, you will get through a lot more paper than you care to. Pot Noodles too. And beer cans. And coffee jars (okay now I'm just speaking for myself.) But really, try and get into the habit of separating and recycling, Also, try to use the back of rough paper instead of binning it - god knows how many times your tutor wants you to emend that thesis.

3. Leave your car keys/travel pass at home

Okay that's probably not too wise or commendable realistically as you might need a speedier travel alternative than foot should an emergency arise. The point, is walk to your lectures even if the bus stop is literally a stone's throw from your front door. I'm a 25 minute walk from my classes but the campus consists of luscious greenery, which I'm a sucker for, and whispers too of rabbits that scamper about merrily. So I'm not complaining. Plus it's money saved. (Also looking to tone the legs a little.)

4. Green societies and clubs
For the devout greengoers primarily, societies given to sustainable living are an essential. Join or, in the event that there isn't one, your shining moment as founder awaits you. The group can share ideas on greener living, fundraise and - here's a crowdpleaser - drink in the name of eco-living. A-free-shot-for-every-recycling-trip game? Recycling bins would be brimming!

5. Don't make plastic cups a long-term thing

Or plates and cutlery for that matter. Plastic cups may see you through your pre-carnage warm-up sessions amongst flatmates, particularly at the start, but don't continue to use them just because they mean less washing-up. They pile up on both the waste and your budget.

Photo credit

It seems to me that most individuals live in a state of denial on their impact on the world around them. The apocalyptic fears of what may happen due to our actions are brushed off in the knowledge that it may not happen in our life time. But it hits home when the natural inheritance passed down to our genetic successors becomes heavily depleted.

Given this, it seems unsurprising that the cyber dwelling point to a new 'fashion' for the celebrity eco-warrior mum. Those who scoff in disbelief that eco is understandable to the world of shiny, chanel wearing celebrities, obviously hasn't seen the photographic evidence of Angelina Jolie's frequent globe-trotting tours. This made me ask the question, what came first, the mother or the eco-warrior? Is the boredom of perfect life and too much money to spend that induced these celebs into full immersion in a new fashion fad? Or do we simply become more aware of what we are leaving behind, when there is someone really important to leave it behind to?

Until recently having children was a potentially very polluting activity in itself, given the disposable nature of nappies and buying everything plastic wrapped and sterilized. In addition to the fact that we are already over-populated. However, it seems for some that having children is the only way to make them think more about the way they live their lives, so although we might have more footprints on the earth, at least they'll be lighter ones. Check out below to see who tops the lists for eco-friendlies mums.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO START THE GALLERY

Really interesting story over at the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/sep/21/green-environment-consumers-ippr , which asks the question, is it cool to be Green. Well the answer isn't what you might think. The feature focuses on new research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) published in its Consumer Power report, which suggests that the 10:10 campaign may actually have passed a lot of mainstream consumers by.

The reason is that - among society trendsetters at least - it is no longer cool to be green. The report highlights that the young and cool know a lot about green issues but are simply bored with hearing about them. The Guardian reports that a person in one of the research workshops told them, "It's one of those things you think about for a few minutes, get depressed, and move on to the next thing."

The report also picked up on a trend among the young many of whom voiced the feeling 'if no one else is doing anything about climate change then why should I?'

Something odd has happened in the past few weeks. I've found myself being told all about this brand new concept of "thrifting, crafting and recycling" and it's all thanks to India Knight and her book, The Thrift Book: Live Well and Spend Less (as well as her column in the Times). People who had previously enjoyed a mental zoneout whenever I starting harping on about re-using and making do, are now telling me all about it as though it's a shiny new idea - a trend that's sweeping the nation. And thanks to the Credit Crunch, it may well be just that.

But, while many people are just waking up to this notion that our society is a little too throwaway, there are still many people who have a big mental shift ahead. And I'm not talking about people who habitually burn baby seals, I'm talking about people who already consider themselves fairly eco-conscious.

Duncan at our gadget-y neighbour site Tech Digest has taken a look at the claims made by the makers of Carbon Hero - a device intended to record a person's carbon usage by monitoring their mobile phone signal - and weighed them up. He's not too impressed:

Carbon footprints are difficult. They've received a lot of attention in the press, and they're firmly stamped (no pun intended) on the public psyche, but they're not actually very accurate. Given the complexity of power generation in modern life, it's something that's incredibly difficult to calculate, and very easy to underestimate.

This device, the Carbon Hero, was designed by an art graduate named Andreas Zachariah. It tracks your phone signal, and if you're moving at train-ish speed, on a train track, then it assumes you're on a train, works out the distance you travel, and gives you a number for your carbon footprint. Simple, right? Well, there's about a billion things wrong with the idea.

Emily Tan writes: In an effort to channel the burning energy that fueled the women's suffrage movement into saving the planet, Oxfam has launched the Sisters on the Planet. In a series of moving short films, Oxfam argues that while climate change is a problem shouldered by all, it's the women who are hit hardest by it.

The films show the tale of Martina, who with her sisters in Uganda must walk further each day to gather water, and of Sahena in Bangladesh who, along with the women in her village are responsible for the safety of the community during the annual floods. Oxfam's stance is that women should be the ones therefore to spearhead the movement to rescue our environment by lobbying, petitioning and leading the way to "living greener".

One of my biggest eco-sins has got to be my attachment to facial cleansing wipes. I've never been much of a cleanse, tone and moisturise kind of girl, and prefer to get the whole tiresome procedure over with in one wipe.

But it was pointed out to me recently that this isn't very green of me, and I should really consider other options. And I adimt that my first thought was of just how unlikly I was to start getting out bottles of organic cleanser and freshly laundered flannels after a big night out. Call me lazy (I am) but remembering to open the bag and rub the wipes across my face a couple of times after a few drinks already feels like enough of a struggle. Fortunately, I've found a solution! Read on to find out more.

Related: The greener alternative to cotton wool

Zara Rabinowicz Writes...

As a writer for tech site Shiny Shinyit seems like almost every day I have an email pop into my inbox with a header screaming ‘ECO FRIENDLY’ or ‘GREEN GADGET’ and if I’m really unlucky it will say both in Comic Sans. The thing is whilst I applaud this green save our planet initiative I have to wonder at whether half these gadgets actually help. I mean rechargeable batteries and wind up radios are all very well, but when you think about how much it costs to design, create, and mass produce, oh, and package too, you start to worry about just how eco you are being.

A recent press event recently lauded a new gadget as ‘the greatest alternative to paper ever!’ declaring that this sat nav like system would mean you could store all your holiday info and maps on one little device, getting rid of the need for piste maps forever. Sounds laudable- what’s the price of this creation? A whopping £1500.

As the world's favourite eco-bogeyman declares himself the saviour of the planet, Gareth Kane asks if we can take the new Green George Bush seriously.

In a speech last Friday that must have sent all green-thinking people into paroxysms of rage, US President George Bush gave the world an elementary explanation of the science of global warming. Speaking to the assembled representatives of the 16 biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, he refused mandatory limits and put his faith in technology to deliver targets.

Now it would be easy for me to launch into a withering critique of the POUSA, accusing him of rank hypocrisy and gall, but there are a few things to take into consider. When Bush speaks, he's never speaking to the global environmentally literate citizen, or to other world leaders. Rather he's talking to a particular section of the American electorate and he knows what they like to hear. They want him to keep it simple, sound as if he is in control, and reassure them it won't hit them in the pocket. Of course he also has to cover his backside after 15 years of US denial and make it sound as if the science of climate change has only just come to maturity, but I suspect this is a secondary consideration.

As cities, towns and islands across the UK phase out plastic bags, Gareth Kane asks if this is the start of something bigger.

Today is recycling day chez Kane, but when I went to the big box of carrier bags under the sink to protect the newspapers from the rain, the cupboard was bare. Cue mad dash around the house trying to prise bags from all their favourite illicit hidey-holes before the big blue truck arrived (there are few more depressing feelings than having to bring your recycling back in again). Maybe, I thought as I pounded the stairs for the fifth time, the plastic bag is truly an endangered species.

The refusal of the UK Government to put an Irish-style tax on single use carrier bags has long been a complaint of the environmental movement, but, according to the Guardian, citizens across the country are taking matters into their own hands. The Devonshire town of Modbury was famously the first to phase out carriers with a voluntary agreement among shopkeepers, followed by the 'bag ladies' of Hebden Bridge. Now everyone from London to the smallest hamlet seem to be getting in on the act. Mull, Arran and Guernsey are racing to be the first plastic bag-free island in the world.

We first mentioned it back in February, but the debate on whether a ban should be placed on imported organic food hit the headlines again yesterday with Trade Minister - Gareth Thomas - saying it would be "disastrous" for thousands of farmers. He was speaking at a London seminar organised to discuss the proposed removal of Soil Association certification on organic food which was been flown in. This follows growing concern from consumers about the impact it has on climate change. The options up for discussion are no action, labelling, or the phasing in of a ban. The idea of an outright ban has also been criticised by the International Trade Centre - a UN and WTO agency- as it would financially affect farmers and exporters in third world countries.

[via The Guardian]

Given that stand-by switches and plastic bags are responsible for a very small part of our carbon footprint, Gareth Kane considers whether eco-living hints are worth the paper they're written on.

There's been an interesting debate in the Guardian this week about all the little hints and tips the media gives out whenever climate change is discussed. George Marshall, director of projects at the Climate Outreach and Information Network, derides the hints and tips brigade for understating the scale of change required ("unplug your phone charger and save the planet"). The Grauniad's own Bibi van Der Zee reposts that "these actions don't acheive [sic - it is the Guardian after all] much themselves: isn't the effect of taking them what we should be after?"

With the Lib Dems and Tories publishing radical green policies, Gareth Kane wonders whether Gordon might pull something out of the bag.

If you're a political trainspotter, then September is your month with all three main political parties holding their annual jamborees around the country. This year has added frisson with continuing speculation on whether Gordon Brown will call a snap General Election this autumn, maybe even as Dave Cameron is addressing the Tory party faithful.

From an eco- point of view this year is going to be more interesting than most with the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives slugging it out for the green-ish vote. The Lib Dems will be debating their proposals to go carbon neutral by 2050 and the Tories publishing plans to ban standby switches and cutting stamp duty on energy efficient homes. This is do-or-die stuff - the Tories need beat the Lib Dems in the South to beat Labour across the country. The green agenda is a traditional Lib Dem fortress, so they'll be determined to beat off the blue/green threat.

With continuing debate over whether on-line shopping is good or bad for the environment, Gareth Kane tries to make some sense of conflicting evidence and opinions.

This month, the ENDS report is accusing the Interactive Media in Retail Group of 'dodgy green claims' for claiming that online buying reduces the environmental impact of shopping without being able to supply supporting evidence. It looks as if Internet shopping looks like another area where the "is it or isn't it good for the environment" debate will rage ad infinitum (cf carbon offsetting, biofuels, real nappies etc, etc).

In his book Heat, uber-green George Monbiot holds up internet shopping as a potential climate saviour, calculating from DTI data that every delivery van will take three private cars off the roads. But a recent Times article reckons this might not be happening in practice, with the increase in emissions from vans exceeding the reduction in emissions from cars.

The answer to this difference in opinion may come from internet marketing expert Graham Jones who was told unofficially that a whopping 80% of home deliveries fail. This leads to a constant flow of delivery vans trying to catch customers in, failing and taking the parcel back to the depot, taking it out again etc. I'm sure you have plenty anecdotal evidence of your own for this, so I won't bore you with my own tales of frustration (although getting my White Stripes tickets off Ticketmaster was a particular ordeal - they're tickets, post'em!).