What can I do?
UK-based website A year of living generously is an online experiment based on a shared hunch that looking after this planet and its people is what we are all here for and that if many of us can make small changes in our everyday choices then over time we can make a big difference for everyone. To this end, readers are invited to change their actions for the good of the planet, and embark on a year of living generously.
The actions range from one-off pledges like becoming a blood donor to more regular lifestyle changes like not over-filling your kettle. And we at Shiny Media have decided to set our own goals, and chart our progress here to see how we get on. Here's what the Shiny staff have decided to do:
'Gadget Queen' Susi Weaser Editor of Shiny Shiny has set herself a huge challenge as a technology journalist: she's going to unplug all gadgets she's not using, avoid over-charging her phone and never leave it charging overnight.
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Fairtrade
It is something probably every environmentally-aware person has struggled with – exactly which ethical and green option should take priority? Food miles or fair trade? Carbon reduction or organic? Now the Co-operative supermarket group is to actually ask its members and shoppers what they think, as well as clarifying some options which, although at first sight seem to be ethically sound, may have unforeseen negative repercussions.
Paul Monaghan is the Co-op’s Head of Ethics and has designed the survey to be given to members and consumers. So strongly does he feel on this subject that he has actually directly criticised some rival firms for their ‘lazy thinking’. He is keen to clarify the Co-op’s stance: “The drive to reduce 'food miles' and reduce carbon dioxide could have real social impacts on third world growers as supply chains are redirected more locally. The carbon produced by Kenyan roses is a fifth of that used to grow Dutch roses because of the heating and lighting.”
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Carbon Neutral Living
Land Roots is an exciting venture aimed at creating a common ownership of land in a kind of ‘eco-timeshare’ whereby everyone who is part of the collective has rights and responsibilities towards the stewardship of the land. A community of people keen to live in environmentally-sound and sustainable ways would live on the land, producing as much as they could of their own and learning traditional ways of building and husbandry. Money would be earnt by offering workshops in these skills and in running Gatherings for music, art, crafts, healing and seasonal enjoyment.
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Fairtrade
Toxic run-off from ‘distressing’ and stonewashing denim jeans is poisoning the environment in Tehuacan, reports The Guardian today. Tehuacan in Central Mexico still hosts more than 700 clothes manufacturers, including some big name international and US labels as well as dozens of smaller, making copies of the larger brands’ fashions. A local subsistence farmer tries to irrigate his land with water from the local canal but the water has been contaminated by the jeans factories: “As well as being blue, it burns the seedlings and sterilises the earth,” he says.
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What can I do?
Where does your carpenter get his wood from? I went to see a carpenter yesterday and coincidentally received an e-mail from an employee of timber firm Jewson, who pointed out that his company only sources ‘chain of custody timber’, which means that the timber trail is checked and audited, so people buying it know where it’s come from and its impact on the environment.
According to Jewson’s environmental policy, the company will not source any timber species that is prohibited under appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES). That should be expected – although what is good to hear is that where they have to procure timber from areas of greater conservation risk, they promise to only work with suppliers who can demonstrate an improving program of sustainability and identifying wood from non- certified high conservation value forests and its elimination from the supply chain.
So it’s probably a good idea to ask where the wood comes from.
Related stories: Reclaimed timber specialists | Diftwood bespoke wooden baths
What can I do?
Many of us would happily ditch our travelcard and start cycling to work tomorrow if only we had a bike! But now, thanks to a little-known but very handy new scheme, it's never been easier (or cheaper) to get going on two wheels.
Cyclescheme is a new project that works with a network of independent bike shops to supply the nation with quality tax free bikes and equipment for work. The hardest part is convincing your employer that cycling to work is a good idea, but once you're over that hurdle, the scheme could halve the cost of a bike for you.
So how can you get your hands on a bike through Cyclescheme? As long as you're a UK taxpayer and making PAYE contributions, you're eligible. The full details on how to do this are here, but it's really very simple: the cost of the (tax free) bike comes out of your salary, and works out up to 50% cheaper than just walking into a shop and buying one. And you're not limited in the type of bike you choose either - if your boss is happy for you to roll in on a miniature BMX, it's entirely up to you!
What can I do?
What products should a green never buy? It can be confusing to keep track, so if you're baffled by the array of 'eco' products appearing on the shelves at the moment, it's a good idea to have some ground rules in the back of your mind so you can make informed decisions.
Lighter footstep have come up with a handy list of the fundamental principles that underlie ethical shopping: The Dirty Dozen. So keep this in your mind and you can't go far wrong. Some are obvious: don't by over-packaged goods, and make sure it's always the energy saving, CFL-type lightbulbs that go into your trolley. But others may not have crossed your mind - there are certain types of plastic (all of which are labeled if you know where to check) that we should really be cutting down on.
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