Ethical fashion. So far I have resisted giving it a category, as I can't bring myself to validate it, or those who toy with the notions on a whim.
The green dream
If you are really serious, make do. And pass the balance on to those who can do the most with it to help those who really need it. Not some ditsy designer whose brain is so 'this week' and happens to think green is in for now.
Newsnight - Another angle, and I have revised a previous piece to respond to what I saw.
If cheap supermarket clothing is 'unethical', why is it legally available for sale in this country? Hence JP and Mistress76Uk's prosecution notion would have teeth.
If 'ethics' are simply a matter of labour conditions (which I don't think they are, as the actual definition seems a tad loose), would this not fall under the ethical foreign policies this government espouses?
If so, there should be rules, so those of us without the time (or the single track mindset to pursue pet issues and decide it is the only one there is - or a production company with yet another reality snapshot concept in the name of green flying (air miles is so last week) a bunch of whinging teens (selected how?) out to have their notions changed over a short period before getting back to 'normality' (and TV 'fame') as the media machine turns to the next 'issue'. Will every £2 T-shirt now come with a return flight to Mumbai?) can be confident that our consumer choices in this country are all they could and should be.
If that carries an extra cost to us here, that we are happy to sustain, so be it. Fair wages for all, and a Tata in every driveway.
And it can be a matter for our elected representatives to control, with oversight by media and activist groups to highlight, with the people's mandate.
Anything in excess of what the country decides upon can of course be voted upon with wallets and personal choice... 'every time one goes into a shop' (how often do the two teen fashionista typical 'shoppers' do this still?) to buy clothes.
I just hope the decision-making process is better informed than some on such as biofuels or food miles, which have worked so well on the liberal guilt ethics of Middle England, but perhaps not so well on the ground elsewhere.
As with food labelling, I am intrigued as to what form this consumer information suggested will take to be of any use: 'Made in a sweat shop by 5 year olds' seems unlikely, so what form is proposed?
ps: Caroline Flint - Gaffe... my a**e.
Government's secret fears over housing market exposed by minister gaffe
Too much to hope it was deliberate.
Or are we really being run by people this thick? Buy the silly b...abe a folder.
Next time it could be a matter of national security.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Here's a thought
Stumbled across this: Time to Waste: Tackling the landfill challenge
From an outfit called the New Local Government Network
I tend to avoid 'think-tanks' like the plague, but will monitor these guys.
From an outfit called the New Local Government Network
I tend to avoid 'think-tanks' like the plague, but will monitor these guys.
See no evil, hear no evil, s... ay whatever works
Green speak
Green (as a prefix to anything): a reason to be very dubious that there's any actual benefit to our kids' futures unless you can fully trust the coiner to not be motivated by political advantage, the lust for income, the desire to secure a nice little number, or drive up a rating.
Green (as a prefix to anything): a reason to be very dubious that there's any actual benefit to our kids' futures unless you can fully trust the coiner to not be motivated by political advantage, the lust for income, the desire to secure a nice little number, or drive up a rating.
Grid and bear it?
National Grid powers up for new energy
Is there something I don't know about the future that I get offered deals in the UK in $?
At the rate of exchange I am not sure I am keen.
Is there something I don't know about the future that I get offered deals in the UK in $?
At the rate of exchange I am not sure I am keen.
Sometimes it's too easy
You know how I have this thing for those who spout messages not always being the best messengers?
'Eco-warrior' Prince Philip attacks big families
He's essentially correct. Just... totally the wrong person to say, or be given airtime to say it, like most green advocates/converts who are immune from the consequences of their pronouncements.
And to all the veg. advocates: on a finite planet such a diet just buys the expanding population time.
'Eco-warrior' Prince Philip attacks big families
He's essentially correct. Just... totally the wrong person to say, or be given airtime to say it, like most green advocates/converts who are immune from the consequences of their pronouncements.
And to all the veg. advocates: on a finite planet such a diet just buys the expanding population time.
Join the clubs
I think I joined a while ago, but have done again, thanks to this reminder (I wonder if that gets counted twice, too).
Together we’ll succeed, but only if we tell the truth
I have no real problem with such efforts, so long as I don't have to pay for them, but (actually I do have a problem) not if they divert good money into yet more bl**dy awareness and luvvie-fests instead of tangibles:
Congrats all round. In fact, hardly a day goes by without me getting an email from one or other of the league of countless climate campaigns (of which this is, I am sure, 'a' noble member, if not perhaps the only only one). Getting a bit like food labelling schemes; tick a lot of boxes, lovely PR, oodles of meetings... but pretty much sailing past the consumer and sod all use or difference to making the planet future friendly (whoops, that's another campaign, isn't it? Same sponsors overlapping or competing I wonder?).
I'm just wondering if the pledges on this site get counted twice on all the other sites I pledge on? Is there a discount for quantity? Or maybe a multiplier to get the targets really up there so the bonuses kick in. I think I need one of those online jobbies you get to manage all the social networking sites you join and then ignore.
Speaking of figures and claims (elevated for 'emerging truths' or not), is there any indication as to how much money is going on a board, staff, admin. and PR (got to get your logos in there somehow to make those pledges worthwhile) and jollies and stuff, and how much goes on actual, 'making the planet better in any way... tangibly'?
I guess anyone lucky enough to be in London and gets invited to the big bash might ask when they are there. Or not. Shame to spoil a party. I'm guessing the whole thing will be offset and the canapes locally-sourced and such... which will then be PR'd for all the mere mortals to see how the other half in the VIP's-only Green rooms really 'do' the environment.
There is useful info, to be sure. But it seems an awful of of folk are now overlapping, and spending an awful lot of money to tell us about installing energy-saving lightbulbs and running the washing machine at 30 degrees. I mean, what about the cutting edge stuff... don't take baths, walk or cycle... and turn down the thermo and wear a woolly. There should be a 'drive your car more effectively' advisor (£35k plus pension) in every county, on top of all the driving instructors and testers and stuff, natch.
Anyway, I just had a PR* that says WRAP has signed up, so that's a sign that it must be in the super-quango league now, which must be nice.
Along, as suggested, with... well, if not truth... at least a bit of a gander in the mirror once in the while.
*WRAP joins 'Together' climate coalition
Together we’ll succeed, but only if we tell the truth
I have no real problem with such efforts, so long as I don't have to pay for them, but (actually I do have a problem) not if they divert good money into yet more bl**dy awareness and luvvie-fests instead of tangibles:
Congrats all round. In fact, hardly a day goes by without me getting an email from one or other of the league of countless climate campaigns (of which this is, I am sure, 'a' noble member, if not perhaps the only only one). Getting a bit like food labelling schemes; tick a lot of boxes, lovely PR, oodles of meetings... but pretty much sailing past the consumer and sod all use or difference to making the planet future friendly (whoops, that's another campaign, isn't it? Same sponsors overlapping or competing I wonder?).
I'm just wondering if the pledges on this site get counted twice on all the other sites I pledge on? Is there a discount for quantity? Or maybe a multiplier to get the targets really up there so the bonuses kick in. I think I need one of those online jobbies you get to manage all the social networking sites you join and then ignore.
Speaking of figures and claims (elevated for 'emerging truths' or not), is there any indication as to how much money is going on a board, staff, admin. and PR (got to get your logos in there somehow to make those pledges worthwhile) and jollies and stuff, and how much goes on actual, 'making the planet better in any way... tangibly'?
I guess anyone lucky enough to be in London and gets invited to the big bash might ask when they are there. Or not. Shame to spoil a party. I'm guessing the whole thing will be offset and the canapes locally-sourced and such... which will then be PR'd for all the mere mortals to see how the other half in the VIP's-only Green rooms really 'do' the environment.
There is useful info, to be sure. But it seems an awful of of folk are now overlapping, and spending an awful lot of money to tell us about installing energy-saving lightbulbs and running the washing machine at 30 degrees. I mean, what about the cutting edge stuff... don't take baths, walk or cycle... and turn down the thermo and wear a woolly. There should be a 'drive your car more effectively' advisor (£35k plus pension) in every county, on top of all the driving instructors and testers and stuff, natch.
Anyway, I just had a PR* that says WRAP has signed up, so that's a sign that it must be in the super-quango league now, which must be nice.
Along, as suggested, with... well, if not truth... at least a bit of a gander in the mirror once in the while.
*WRAP joins 'Together' climate coalition
Pocket battles
Really, who is not in someone else's pockets these days? I think I need to add a twitching nostril to my cranking eyebrow.
A bit too co-operative, Gordon
It seems to be getting worse and is only exceeded by the number of proponents who don't seem to think it matters at all.
Nice to know we have escaped the levels of sleaze of the previous administration, though. This is of an entirely new (Nu?) order.
Remind me... those TV commercial running at the mo'... about ethical investing. Who are they for again?
A bit too co-operative, Gordon
It seems to be getting worse and is only exceeded by the number of proponents who don't seem to think it matters at all.
Nice to know we have escaped the levels of sleaze of the previous administration, though. This is of an entirely new (Nu?) order.
Remind me... those TV commercial running at the mo'... about ethical investing. Who are they for again?
Pah ethics!
Good to have em, so long as you know all the issues and/orconsequences.
Is cheap supermarket clothing as ethical as it should be?
If cheap supermarket clothing is 'unethical', would it be legally available for sale in this country?
If 'ethics' are simply a matter of labour conditions (which I don't think they are), would this not fall under the ethical foreign policies this government espouses?
If so, there should be rules, so those of us without the time (or the single track mindset to pursue pet issues and decide it is the only one there is) can be confident that our consumer choices in this country are all they could and should be.
If that carries an extra cost to us here, that we are happy to sustain, so be it.
And it can be a matter for our elected representatives to control, with oversight by media and activist groups to highlight, with the people's mandate.
Anything in excess of what the country decides upon can of course be voted upon with wallets and personal choice.
I just hope the decision-making process is better informed than some on such as biofuels or food miles, which have worked so well on the liberal guilt ethics of Middle England, but perhaps not so well on the ground elsewhere.
Is cheap supermarket clothing as ethical as it should be?
If cheap supermarket clothing is 'unethical', would it be legally available for sale in this country?
If 'ethics' are simply a matter of labour conditions (which I don't think they are), would this not fall under the ethical foreign policies this government espouses?
If so, there should be rules, so those of us without the time (or the single track mindset to pursue pet issues and decide it is the only one there is) can be confident that our consumer choices in this country are all they could and should be.
If that carries an extra cost to us here, that we are happy to sustain, so be it.
And it can be a matter for our elected representatives to control, with oversight by media and activist groups to highlight, with the people's mandate.
Anything in excess of what the country decides upon can of course be voted upon with wallets and personal choice.
I just hope the decision-making process is better informed than some on such as biofuels or food miles, which have worked so well on the liberal guilt ethics of Middle England, but perhaps not so well on the ground elsewhere.
This is going to really hurt!
And that's ALL of us, according to this from the Daily Express reporting on a forecast released by USwitch that energy prices may rise by up to 46% (yep, that DOES say 46%) this year!
OK, the 46% is the worst case scenario, but coming on top of fuel, food, mortgage repayment and across the board tax increases, I reckon that many of us, myself included, are going to be struggling financially before long!
And here's the Telegraph's take on the same forecast report.
OK, the 46% is the worst case scenario, but coming on top of fuel, food, mortgage repayment and across the board tax increases, I reckon that many of us, myself included, are going to be struggling financially before long!
And here's the Telegraph's take on the same forecast report.
A letter worth sharing
Today's Indy has a letter that, with few caveats, I can only agree with: Green campaigners need to find a cheerful message
The one about weather and taxes was interesting, too
The one about weather and taxes was interesting, too
Too much of a good thing?
UK aims for a million green collar workers
I just hope the jobs being aimed at are mostly productive and not parasitic.
I just hope the jobs being aimed at are mostly productive and not parasitic.
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