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Green Design

We were notified by Mark Batty Publishing that they have a new book out, called and all about Green Design. Here’s what they have to say about it:

Green Design colorfully documents the rising trend to create and market new
and innovative products that help consumers downsize and upgrade their
lives. Through a carefully chosen selection of green toys, objects, fabrics,
paper and alternative energy sources, the photographs and articles in Green
Design illustrate what happens when green-minded lifestyles meet
well-designed, high quality products. Many of the examples in this book show
how successful business plans can flourish when ecological and social
responsibility are core considerations.

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UK Schools Compete for Wind Power

Friends of the Earth have launched a competition for schools and youth groups to win a wind turbine worth over £1500. The “Shout About Climate Change Solutions 2006” competition is open to schools and youth groups taking part in the FOEs “Shout about climate change solutions” week from November 6 – 10 2006.

“Shout About Climate Change Solutions” week is an annual nationwide week of activity to raise awareness and encourage action on climate change. Pupils taking part in the competition will be asked to investigate what individuals or organisations in their communities are doing to tackle climate change. They will record the achievements of community climate heroes through film, photography, audio or the written word.

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Farmers Weekly Food Miles Campaign

On a recent visit to a local rare breeds farm I read about the Farmers Weekly Food Miles Campaign, aimed at consumers like you and me, educating us about how “bringing in food from all corners of the world is bad for the environment, bad for freshness, bad for food security and bad for traceability”.

Would you like to get involved in supporting local producers and cutting out food miles?

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Micropower in the UK

Britain planning laws may be revised to make it easier for micropower generation.

In an interview with The Observer, Planning Minister, Yvette Cooper said, “It is patently absurd that you should be able to put a satellite dish on your house, but have to wrestle with the planning process for small-scale micro-generation, which is no more obtrusive and can have a real impact on tackling climate change.”

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Alternative Social Networking Site Launched

People who consider themselves alternative, holistic or green may have found a new spiritual home – online with Holistic Local, the web’s latest social networking venue and established directory for over 4,000 alternative businesses.

The popularity of web-based social networking sites like MySpace and Friendster, where users make friends and contacts according to preferences declared via an online profiling system, has spread beyond the mainstream thanks to holistic lifestyle website Holistic Local.

According to Andy Metcalfe, Internet visionary and co-founder of the site, the convergence of social networking and public interest in alternative and natural living is a head-on meeting of two of the world’s fastest growing social phenomena.

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Making The Switch

Regular readers will know that I am against the idea of a new generation of nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom, or anywhere else on the planet for that matter. I much prefer the option of putting as much spending into renewables as the govenment has ploughed into nuclear to make it work for us, now, and for the future.

But that is subject to be debated in another post, today I want to talk about energy saving. There are a number of simple changes we can make that will reduce the need for as many power stations, wind farms, or other electricity generating devices as we are predicting we are going to need. And no change so simple as switching over to low-energy lightbulbs.

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Nuclear is a Bad Deal for the Taxpayers

Sir Menzies Campbell, Liberal Democrat leader, has branded the move by the UK government towards a new generation of nuclear power stations unaffordable, unecessary and a bad deal for taxpayers.

“Taxpayers are already liable to pay up to £90bn to clean up after the existing generation of nuclear power stations.

“The taxpayers are picking up the tab because when the last government privatised British Nuclear Fuels, investors refused to shoulder the risk.

“There is no indication that they are any more willing to take on that risk this time.

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Gusse.org

Check out Gusse.org, a website where everything having to do with urban sustainability is at your fingertips in an Amazon-like searchable form. According to the info sheet: “Gusse is an online place where the world can collectively discuss, review and… Read More »Gusse.org