Endurance swimmer Lewis Gordon Pugh has completed a 1km swim at the North Pole to highlight the effects of climate change. The 37 year old lawyer from London swam for 18 minutes and 50 seconds in temperatures of minus 1.8C, which is the coldest water any human has ever swam in, wearing only a pair of skimpy trunks. He completed the challenge at 2am BST yesterday, swimming along a crack in the ice towards the geographic North Pole. Pugh described the moment he dived into the icy black water "the pain was immediate and felt like my body was on fire. I was in excruciating pain from beginning to end and I nearly quit on a few occasions". The reason for the swim was to highlight how Arctic waters are now much warmer due to global warming.
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My Abodo is an interactive toy for children which allows you to build your own house and then see how the choices you've made affect the environment. It's been created by DEFRA, School Councils UK and several other environmental organisations in the hope that it will highlight how we can change the ways we live to save energy and produce less waste. There are useful projects which get the users involved in their own environmental changes, like growing your own veg, switching to energy saving light bulbs and riding bikes rather than driving cars. It's a fun way to educate kids about the environment, using a format they are familiar and comfortable with. One word of warning...it's slightly addictive and it's not just kids who will enjoy it!
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National Archaeology Week starts tomorrow, Saturday 14th July to Sunday 22nd July. Organised by the Council for British Archaeology, there are countless conservation activities to get involved in throughout the country, from archaeology-themed guided tours of Dundee’s museum collections to being a ‘history detective’ at Bath’s Postal museum.
The aim of the week is to interest more young people in conservation, our country’s heritage, and in learning from history – all vital if we are to preserve so many precious things from the past while learning how to deal with our future. The Young Archaeologists’ Club is taking a lead in many events, so if you have any budding Indiana Jones at home, there should be an event for you nearby next week.
It's always advisable to keep your expensive outdoor gear protected with some sort of waterproofing treatment, and to make sure it's cleaned and maintained properly to ensure it lives a long and healthy life. If you want to do this without the use of nasty chemicals then you should choose one of the many products in the Granger's range. Established in 1937 they were one of the first companies to use eco-friendly water based waterproofing, and none of their sprays use aerosols. They have a wide range of treatments to restore and protect your footwear, clothing and equipment, including soft shell waterproofer, leather conditioner, and odour eliminators. Prices start at around £5.
Related: Mountainsmith - Recycled PET lumbar pack | Fox River Mills Good Earth Collection - socks with a conscience
This Summer's Big Chill festival will feature a cycle powered cinema, courtesy of The Magnificent Revolutionary Cycling Cinema, who are (strangely enough) the only bike powered touring cinema in the UK! Their aim is to educate the public about the importance of not relying on fossil fuels, and instead having the ability to create your own electricity. The company show home made and indie films on their cycle powered generator, which requires around five sets of legs to get it going. The Big Chill runs from 3rd to 5th august, and the cycling cinema will be appearing at the Art Trail.
[via newconsumer.com]
Related: Charge of the bike brigade: the Pedal & Power phone charger | Volunteer Pedal-Powered Billboard
Playhouse Disney and The Woodland Trust have joined forces to create the UK's first environmental guide aimed at pre-school children. The guide, called 'Playing for the Planet' contains lots of fun games and activities, but also carries a valuable message about recycling, conservation and other important environmental concerns. According to statistics 85% of parents feel a responsibility to teach their offspring about these issues, but 58% feel they don't have enough knowledge to do it properly. You can download your free copy of the guide at Disney.co.uk
Related: Disney organic baby bedding and clothing | 101 Ways to Save the Earth by David Bellamy
Lumbar packs are great if you want to carry your bits and pieces on a hilly walk, without the hassles of a big heavy rucksack. This one by Mountainsmith has the added bonus of being made entirely from tough recycled PET (in this case plastic soda bottles). It has all the same great features of a regular top of the range lumbar pack, including several handy zip pockets, mesh bottle holders, load adjusting system, and even an optional shoulder strap to turn it into a nifty bag. It's available in black, cobalt and red, and if this 'Day pack' is too big for your requirements there's a smaller size too. US$79.95 from Reusable bags.com
Related: Fox River Mills Good Earth Collection - socks with a conscience | El Alto ethical outdoor gear
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