Sticks, stones, pies and eco-fatwas

It may seem like I have something of an obsession with J. Clarkson, Esq. He certainly crops up in this blog a lot.

But there are some reasons for this, if not excuses. For a start he writes in the Sunday Times, which is a paper I read. And currently that exerience is then topped off with Top Gear in the evening.

Plus it's a pretty safe bet that some aspect of one or other of these will involve his relationship with the 'mentalists'. Them with kickers in twist; him mocking. And as I noted a while ago, if the other did not exist, each would have to invent him/them.

I also just plain find our Jezza an entertaining read/presenter, with a fine and funny turn of phrase, complemented by some pretty good journlaism if you strip away the ratings-required bull-baiting.

So it was with a meaure of sympathy I read his article this week:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1919845,00.html

(remember the link is only good for a week)

It started with a bit of joshing about his recent pie-inspired escapades. So far, so silly. He flames; they flambe.

But then, as he pointed out, things took a more sinister turn. To quote the piece: "a Labour MP called Colin Challen made a speech in which he said he wanted me to be killed. No more pies. No more early days motions. Executed. Maybe he was joking, maybe he wasn’t."

Um. No. Not even. If this is true (and I see no reason to suspect otherwise, despite JC's many flights of hyperbole) not from anyone is this valid. Especially from an elected member of parliament. With all the PC stuff we have flying about that is nonsense, this is... deadly... serious. 

JC goes on: "I believe in freedom of speech. Plainly the honourable member for Morley & Rothwell does not. And nor does Tom Brake from the Liberal Democrats, and nor does that girl with the big bum who pushed a pie in my face. In fact no one from the environmental bandwagon has even half an inkling about the concept of debate."

Which by the evidence of my eyes and ears is sadly all too true. A large proportion of the self-appointed guardians of the planet seem to view persuasion as not really worth bothering about in favour of coercion. And they seem to be tacitly supported by a bunch of folk who I'm sure would be horrified if they really got their heads around where this can lead... or indeed has arrived. And by not remaining silent, but tacitly condoning such excesses of expression, they are allowing things only to get worse.

I agree with much of JC's opinions, but on matters environmental disagree on many more. I still don't know if man is or isn't responsible for global warming, but I figure whatever we're doing sure isn't helping. And on balance I feel his hedonistic extremes, whilst great fun, should be tempered with some sort of caution (easier to require than define, of course) for the more impressionable to grasp the consequences and shape their lifestyles accordingly. But it's a free world, he's just doing his job and can say and do what he likes. 

For instance, as he says: "I believe that western governments are in the process of spending billions of pounds trying to stem something over which we have no control. I believe that this money could be used to make the world a fairer, more peaceful place. I would much rather bring clean drinking water to an impoverished village in Sudan than bring a wind farm to the shores of Scotland. You might not agree, but surely you can see it is a reasonable argument."

Yes, I can. But I do have other options I'd like to look at and raise. Only it's difficult when the side I'm pitching from seems to be dominated by  the Colin Challens of this world.

Which makes getting Junkk.com's brand of positive, proactive, choice-based, fun, money and time-saving persuasion all the more important to get out there.... and working.

Them and us

At Junkk.com we are still groping towards the best way to deliver a free service that all can enjoy contributing to as easily and enjoyably as anyone can in deriving worthy information or entertainment value.

I don't know if we were ahead of our time, had less faith in human nature or were just a little more eager to ensure our corporate sponsors felt secure, but from day one we have asked for a registration.

And it has caused us some negative feedback.

Well, we're not alone.. sadly:

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8425

In case the link above drops soon, it's about  popular reference site Wikipedia, which lets anyone create and edit entries. They have tightened the editorial rules in an effort to stamp out vandalism and the posting of deliberate misinformation. The site will now require visitors to register before creating new entries.

We feel for them in this as a lot of our site depends on allowing access to contributors to add to our base and keep it updated.

Two obstacles do not make a righteous consumer-friendly website policy, but there's really nothing we can do. 

And it's nice to know we're at lest in good company. And with Junkk.com, at least when you register we can tell you stuff about your area. With luck, we'll also be able to stay on top of those little tinkers who seem to want to spoil things for the majority.

The Mazda Kevorkian?

This one caught my eye:

Mazda Recommends Employees Walk to Office 

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2005/12/02/financial/f070416S28.DTL

 

In a nutshell, Mazda is recommending its employees walk to the office, rather than commute by car, as part of an effort to improve their health and protect the environment.

I have to say I admire the intention and courage of conviction being shown here.

Now, all we need to do is get everyone driver who was thinking of buying a Mazda to follow the same practice and we're tickedy-boo.

But as I doubt that was the reason for a consumer PR I'm flummoxed. But in a nice way. Hey, what ever floats their boat.

Self-inflicted damage?

As you know, I sometimes stray from the more obvious env-path here, but in most cases issues can in some way be linked if you try hard enough.

I was reading an interesting article prompted by the proposal that health treatment be predicated on lifestyle:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2005/12/10/do1004.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_10122005

It was a thoughtful discussion about the thinking behind this, and likelihood of its fair application, and if it is fair at all. Like so many things, for instance so many debates about issues on the environment (see, I knew I could get it in!), I couldn't argue with much of it, if at all, but really didn't see where to go from questioning such practices, which is easy and populist, but ultimately a route that avoids responsibility for dealing with some cold, hard facts.

I also thought of a small new wrinkle that could be fun (in a spanner to the works kind of way) to throw in the mix: what about workaholics?

If the smoker and the drinker are to be spleens-tested, with stress such an avowed killer then surely such souls who push themselves for family and country in pursuit of productivity (whether in terms of hours spent, of effectiveness per hour I would not care to debate here) should equally be penalised?

Yet another way to favour those who are able to work 9-5, take paid time off when they feel 'stressed' and retire at 60?

And another way of easing the pensions problem.

How the British plotted to defame all Americans?

In the wake of the accusations of misleading, 'selective' editing leveled, possibly with some justification, at the BBC over their recent 'Real Story' feature, I thought I'd tweak an eyebrow at this headline from a major national daily recently, that seems to me to fall into the 'stir it up for ratings no matter what' category:

How America plotted to stop Kyoto deal

It had the following intro: "A detailed and disturbing strategy document has revealed an extraordinary American plan to destroy Europe's support for the Kyoto treaty on climate change."

It seems the basis for this story is a 'plan'... "put together by a lobbyist who is a senior official at a group partly funded by ExxonMobil.."

Smoking gun-wise, we also have that "..one of his colleagues who describes himself as an adviser to President George Bush ­ was the subject of a censure motion by the Commons last year after he attacked the Government's chief scientist."

So what have we got here (allowing for selective editing on my part)? A draft plan, put together by an individual American, possibly on behalf of an American company, and his link to the American government is a colleague who 'describes himself' as an adviser to Dubya. Hmn.

I don't doubt the facts. And though I may not approve of this chap's actions, as the article conceded he's doing nothing that is illegal or really to be unexpected when the stakes are so high all round.

But as my subject title seeks to show (with a cowardly ? at the end to show it may or may not be accurate; another trick favoured by those with an eye to a lazy rating), the actions of a UK editor for a UK paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the rest of the UK media, its government or people.

Some of my best friends are Americans. And knowing their environmental views, I am pretty sure most, and a lot more like them,  do not really deserve to be tarred with such a broad brush in this way. I know in the democratic process the government and those it governs - from corporates to the average Joe - often are, and should be, seen as one. 

But in this case I don't think that headline did anyone any favours, especially those seeking balanced debate based on objective information.

Which is a pity, because this is a rare medium which seems to have grasped that something needs to change, along with our climate, and is throwing some worthy effort at doing something about it.

Tiger in a turkey hut, more like

Well, that didn't take long! And I think my 'Cat. Pigeons' allusion was a tad tame with regard to the recycling 'expose' earlier this week.

First up, we have the PR from the chief protagonist, who obviously should have right of reply, which I guess this is as good as it gets: 

http://www.grosvenorwaste.co.uk/pr.asp

But I do recall the report saying they had been at the time invited to reply more fully, and claiming to have documents proving their role to be more innocent, which were then not forthcoming? Who knows?

It will be interesting to see how this pans out (if it ever does... 'out of sight, out of mind..'), but a few observations based on what I saw:

 

"...categorically deny the allegations that recyclable material was or has been exported for disposal to landfill. We do not deal with ‘mixed household waste’ which the programme repeatedly confused with ‘recyclable material."

Containers with their name on the shipping docket full of what looked like household binbag contents, sitting in Amsterdam, destined for a dead letter address in Jakarta?

 

“No prosecution has been brought against the company by the regulatory authority"

Not sure, but the programme seemed to be showing the regulatory body was not exactly a paragon of effectiveness in such affairs, putting their lack of action in a less than defensible (or defence-worthy) light in this case.

 

“.. one would have expected the BBC to have at least considered what possible motive [we] would have to export material half way across the world for landfill?  Commercially, it is absurd to suggest that material would be exported for landfill”

Fair point. One I asked.

 

In considering the two sets of containers filmed at Rotterdam and Jakarta, Grosvenor noted:

 

“..containers of recyclable mixed papers filmed in Jakarta were not owned by Grosvenor, but originated from a German recycling company which could contain papers from throughout Europe, and we have evidence to support the fact that it was recycled.."

Woooo. Conspiracy. Odd that recycled paper from the UK originated from Germany and gets mixed with some household goo and then shipped to Indonesia. What we need is to follow the paper trail (groan)!! 

  

“We noted the programme deliberately omitted statements and input from other organisations and representatives who provided positive testimony to Grosvenor’s recycling.”

As media are wont to do, sadly. And it can really suck. Not quite sure how such character references counter the facts in this case though. And how did they know the BBC omitted these statements if they weren't shown the programme?

  

Next we have this from a concerned recycling group:

http://www.lcrn.org.uk/media/press_releases/2005_press_releases/audit_trails/

This was not really meant for the consumer, and boy does it read that way. They make a good point that the public needs to be reassured by audit trails. I just wonder how that will get into the average householder's mindset to grasp well enough and hence demand. Smoke. Mirrors. 

Meanwhile, Materials Recycling week reports:

 

"Green Party members of the London Assembly will be asking the London Mayor to take action over the allegations that Grosvenor Waste Management sent the rubbish to be landfilled in Indonesia. 

Green Party member of the London Assembly Darren Johnson said: “It is completely unacceptable to export household recycling halfway around the world. This scandal highlights the urgent need to get waste recycling plants up and running in London which would create jobs and help the environment.” 

Which is one way of reacting. No sense of self-interest here at all. I have my tar and feathers waiting.

And this from WRAP's CEO:

 “Recycling is one simple way in which we can all make a difference, and more and more people are doing it regularly. Local councils and the Environment Agency (EA) need to play their part by making sure that what is put out for recycling genuinely gets recycled. In this way, we can all use the growing number of recycling services available to us with confidence.” 

Which is a wonderful endorsement for saying... recycling is a good thing to do.

The Community Recycling Network (CRN) UK has apparently slammed (how very red-top... bet they just offered an opinion) private sector waste companies and suggesting that co-mingled wheelie bins are the “lazy way” to recycle. 

It also seems householders are able to ask for full audit trails to find out where their recyclables are going. No mention of how. Anyone know?

Apparently Grosvenor is now considering what legal action to take against the BBC for a "singular, unsubstantiated attack on the company.” 

We await the outcome of such considerations with interest. I'm taking bets now. Who's up for it being in the 'old news' bin before Christmas, and quietly shelved by all parties who have got what they needed out of it. Mainly their jobs' worth.

I think I'll revisit a few of them to check every so often. If I forget too... remind me.

No such thing as bad publicity?

With the rather less than spectacular results of my recent 'pitch' still smarting, I was pleased to read this very interesting article by Martin Webb in the Telegraph Online (of whom all hail for making it free and unlimited to access... I hope. If the link drops ask me and I can send a copy).

http://www.money.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2005/12/06/cbview06.xml&DCMP=EMC-msb_07122005

And as I cannot always presume to elicit a reply at all from such busy folk, let alone in print, I can at least turn to the trusty blog to preserve what I wrote just now here:

"I truly hope to have the good fortune of meeting Mr. Webb one day.

When some of such pitching concepts were first touted around, seeking participants, we applied and often got as far as a telephone interview.

I remember chatting with a BBC researcher, and amongst a few other concerns broached the subject of it not being intended as yet more car crash TV designed only to boost the channel's ratings at the expense of those featured. I was assured not; it being the BBC and hosted by a major money editor getting cited in reassurance.

Thank god we didn't get chosen! 

As non-business-trained folk with a creative idea based on a well-considered but still sincere and ethical plan, I can only imagine how we would have got savaged to the delight of the nation's viewers. 

Or if our main aim (nothing but publicity - who in their right mind gives over a massive %age of their precious baby just for an injection of cash that can be blown in a fortnight without highly structured mentoring? Not to mention taking time to ensure well scrutinised partner relationships in any deal) was too easily identified, we may have been just get edited out. We have talked to and met some actual 'victims' to know what really takes place. (see below for more).

I'd love to think that out there is a genuine effort on the part of all relevant parties (entrepreneurship grants/funds/mentoring, business chambers and other such groups (CBI, FSB, FPB, etc) and, yes, media companies) to try and put together what Martin describes. 

I for one am fed up with the spectacle of the coliseum being served up to appeal only to the masses, and would delight in getting a true sense of what it takes (warts and all) to innovate and build a business on a good idea, but with a genuine desire to make things work - from all parties involved - at the core of such a program/me."

Frankly, I'd really wish that we could score as slot with Mr. Webb. Santa... are you listening!???

More than coincidentally, this very topic was at the same time being discussed in the more than fine 'bricks' newsletter we subscribe to http://www.businessbricks.co.uk/writing (scroll down), which adds some real personal stories to the pot.

The fine art of telling someone they're wrong (and how to get right)

The other night I was watching Top of the Pops.

I think it was current because they mostly had a bunch of perfomers
I'd never heard of, introduced by gushing street cred presenters I
also didn't recognise, along with their with accents.

And then, all hail, they introduced Robbie Williams.

I have to say, whether the hype made the man or the man made the
hype, he had presence.

And not a little talent. I'm pretty sure that this was a song he (at
least co-) wrote, and was actually delivering it live.

It has been on the radio before, so I knew it slightly.

The studio audience knew it a lot. But unfortunately not enough to
avoid clapping along to a song other than the one actually being sung.

Which is when I observed another of Mr. William's remarkable skills.

Somehow, and I'm still not sure quite how he did it, without actually
stopping singing (and complemented by some hand gestures), he managed
to convey to the star-stuck eager-beavers - who were more interested
in him than his music - that they were in fact compeletely out of
time. This was done with skill, grace and humour enough that no one
missed the point... but neither were they offended by the critique.

And then - this being the important bit - he also managed, quickly
and easily, to get them in time.

That is something to be admired. And copied. Especially when it comes
to shaping consumer behaviour to get us back on track.

I don't think many of us have yet, but I sure intend for Junkk.com to
try.

Unaccustomed as I am...

When we first arrived several years ago, and hot on the heels of a top 40 album success in Asia, we were looking to establish the career of my very talented partner-in-oh-so-many-ways (check for yourself: http://www.phoenixj.com).

Obviously getting her heard by those who would be able to help was a pretty good way to start, so we embarked on a series of gigs around London at various venues who promised exposure in return for free performance. It didn't take us too long to figure out that we were pretty much taking it in turns between being on the stage and being in the audience with a merry bunch of guys in a similar situation. Great fun, but hard to see how it was going to get us anywhere.

So when I arrived at my Cardiff pitch, I felt a certain familiar dread. A quick calculation based on the composition and number of entrants, plus their retinues and those involved (judges, organisers, staff, etc) made it pretty clear I'd blown it before I started.

There were not that many. And those that were there all knew each other. And most were inevitably there to cheerlead the guy they had come with, or the guy they knew.

Which meant that my grand plan was not going to work. Because I'd pretty much decided to use this as an opportunity to share the vision of Junkk.com with the public in the audience.  Only there were none. Everyone was pretty much there to hear an investment pitch, even though it was not for real as there were no investors. And that was what the judges were tasked to do, not unreasonably. In fact not playing the game might have put them a bit offside, on reflection.

Memo to self: amongst the many other pitches Junkk.com needs to and will do, don't let Peter EVER again do one on finances.

Let's just say I didn't blow them away with our business model. Everything to do it is in the plan, but it wasn't 'out there'.

Yet, despite really having better things to look forward to on my birthday than a bit of humiliation followed by a long, cold dark drive back up from Cardiff to wallow in my shame, I think it was worth it.

We (Junkk.com) may one day end up in a lift with someone who will be able to help. With money. With a story on us. By simply signing up. And yet still, if presented with such an opportunity, 'we' would be hard-pressed to convince anyone in that iconic 30 second space and time.

I actually had 6 times that, and still didn't. Worse still, despite having rehearsed several times I was pretty much glued to my prompt notes (a big no-no... who has them in an elevator? And I know all this stuff backwards) and actually ran out of the alloted time well before my scheduled close.

But at least if you're going to die in front of an audience, do it in front of a small, friendly one. 

And if you make mistakes, learn from them... quick.

Thank the lord we didn't get intro Dragon's Den when we applied!

Cat. Pigeons... let the games begin!

I was going to write a headline similar to the one above, only using Fan, Hit and... well, maybe Blogger may find my son's choice of excrement-based pre-teen nouns unacceptable as well. So caution wins.

Anyway, check this baby out:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/real_story/default.stm

I'm going to assume you have broadband (in which case you'll be as gob-smacked at how totally awesome it, the BBC and the whole IT revolution is...  a 30 minute programme whenever you want it!!!) and/or saw it. Otherwise I'm not sure what to suggest, other than this quick precis:

BBC reporter tipped off to container loads of our rubbish intercepted en route to a landfill in Indonesia, only it was full of carefully homeowner-sorted goodies, all assumed to be destined for recycling. Er, not.

I predict fireworks. There will be many knickers in a twist. Certainly a few po-faced 'they must have gone to Specsavers' 30-something, going on 60 (weeeee, retirement) types will not have enjoyed their moment in the the full glare of the reporter's Q &... well, no A's, but a lot of 'will be looked intos'.

Note to BBC and doubtless well-smug editorial team: will anyone actually follow up, or will this be another in a long line of 'I've started, so I'll... er... move on to the next headline grabber'? I believe the phrase 'isolated incident' was used a bit, and will doubtless get trotted out a bit more. But it is odd that an isolated batch of 16 containers just happened to swing via Amsterdam on its way Jakarta and get nicked in favour of all those drugs and rogue nukes. 

Anyway, to the one possible prosecution for such breaches in the UK thus far, the man from the Environment Agency has told us to 'watch this space'. So that's all right then.

So what has happened, courtesy of the protagonists, the BBC and the various agencies interviewed?

Well, it seems the public's trust may have been dented a tad. That is, if we sympathise and/or agree with the ladies who got re-presented with their bin liner contents from last year were anything to go by. Or we engage fully with those empathetic Gov, Local Gov and NGO reps. So far, so down to performances of the players and the subsequent editing.

It's a tricky one. Don't do a story and abuses carry on. Do a story to its full ratings-garnerning potential, and you undo a ton (make that metric tonnes... in fact enough to fill the Albert Hall each day... don't they have a newer stat than that to trot out?) of no good to the vast majority of good stuff that is happening.

Public trust is a delicate and flighty thing. Like I say, watch for fireworks. But then, all the hoo-haa may well bring the debate and opportunities to the fore, so possibly there is no such thing as bad publicity.

I can't blame not having a review copy this time, but am just too plain lazy and time strapped to go over it again, at least for now. But a few niggles linger...

If the consumer 'victims' were faithfully separating things out, how did it all get remixed up again? Surely to heavens there is enough value to 'pure' paper to not even think of mixing it back with all the tat to then export? It's like paying extra to get caught!

Is the UK landfill tax the cheapest in the EU? I guess so. And that makes it uneconomic to export stuff? Er... is it? The bad guys.. that's Grosvenor Recycling (who had a lot of answers and proof that did not materialise, at least not in this country. Maybe it's in a container in Jakarta?)... came out with a lot that did not really get pursued. I'm sorry, catching them out in a whopper or two is not enough for laurels to be rested upon, any more than letting a grey suit stick with they will 'look into it'.

Meanwhile, a big up to Islington and Barnet for not doing the dirty (mind you, fining someone a grand for not recycling and then have this pop out would be enough to have you promoted sideways at the very least) and being held up up as shining examples of what can be done.

Final thoughts; having earlier today just fallen off our stools watching the investment of a helicopter to track David Cameron cycle to work (ok, ok, it's all about the entertainment value), in a much more overtly eco-aware piece such as this was it really necessary to have a flight for the top shot of a landfill? 

Maybe unnecessary consumptions of fuel in just trying doing your job is another topic? 

Or maybe... a BBC crew is as we speak doing an expose of a BBC crew... 

Just asking:)

Hot air and a mighty wind

Today is my Birthday, so I was woken up at 5.30am by my sons to be be given the Star Wars XBox game I've apparently always wanted. As it also seems my desire extended only to looking at the sleeve, and for about 30 seconds at that,  it got whisked away for testing on my behalf, so I thought I'd steal a march on preparing my 3 minute pitch for tonight.

A local(ish) networking initiative called @Wales, who has run a few interesting seminars I have attended in the past, has been running something like the [name your actual fierce and/or mythical creature here]'s Den TV programmes for several years now.

http://www.networksatwales.com/events/dec-05-elevator-pitch.htm

I had meant to enter, despite my proven misgivings about the broadcast efforts' true intentions, but actually didn't get around to it. But it seems Emma did,  slapped in a quick paragraph application... and 'we' won. Maybe it's a sign of how things should be. Others do the real work and I just turn up and mouth off.

But with 12 hours to go, it's all rather bearing down. (Probably mis-)quoting mark Twain, writing (or in this case saying) little takes a lot of work.

What do I share? The judges and audience are not really 'investors', so it's not that kind of pitch. So I have decided to play it more as a way to assess how well people 'get' what Junkk.com is trying to do.

Sure I can throw in a few facts and figures about the potential of the Green £ and making saving the planet a consequence of what we're doing but not the stated aim, but I mostly want folk to grasp that we are trying to offer a reliable, trustworthy and always entertaining path in what is becoming an increasingly more confusing and pressured life... on the ENV/RE: front at least (if not others). And in so doing doing get those precious visitor numbers followed, one trusts, by advertisers.

For instance, I just read a rather strident critique in the Telegraph to an equally 'we're all doomed' one in the Independent on Sunday. The former made some interesting points (a few factual), and did of course attempt to raise the often-ignored issue of economic practicalities. 

But like those in the other camp, there was little in the way of what can be done to try and maintain our lifestyles whilst simply cutting out the blatantly real waste and emission consequences of our consumerist global, growing population. 

It all seems a bit 'stop'... 'carry on', at each extreme, with most of us in the middle just muddling along.

With Junkk.com trying to help in doing just that.

So here is some good news, guys:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1903311,00.html (be quick, it's only good 'til Saturday). Highlights:

War on climate change targets flatulent cows

There are 1.4 billion cows worldwide, each producing 500 litres of methane a day and accounting for 14% of all emissions of the gas. 

In Scotland, where there is a greater concentration of agriculture than in other countries, cows produce 46% of all methane emissions. 

Now scientists at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen say they have developed a diet that has done the most to reduce the amount of methane produced by cows.... by 70%

I think I'll enjoy that birthday steak a bit more now. 

But.... how do I get to specify if it is of the low-emission variety? No, really, how? 

If a system is in place for me to do that I can surely effect some change whilst still enjoying my hugely eco-inefficient but genetically pre-conditioned omnivore diet. The business that responds to that desire will surely triumph. And will place an ad with us to reach those who we attract with our messages and style.

That's what Junkk.com about. Now, how can I fit that into my 3 minutes?

A Helping Hand

A few weeks ago, a very interesting email arrived via the Junkk.com site. It was from a charitable 'business' in India that have a simple proposition: essentially they turn discarded carrier bags into rather stylish bags of a rather more permanent variety, essentially by weaving them.

Much as with our relationship with local social enterprise EnviroAbility http://www.enviroability.org.uk/ , the premise looks sound. They have a workforce on tap who needs work, has the appropriate skillset and in conducting their business essentially take 'waste' materials and turn them into something that can be reused. How Junkk.com is that!

Their problem seems to be getting access to the raw materials (carrier bags) out from the UK to India, and of course getting the finished product (fashion bags) back for sale here.

It has so far proven an enlightening and enjoyable experience, and I am determined to do all I can to help make this work if at all possible. I see it as what Junkk.com was set up to do.

However the level of commitment required in doing the necessary level of research and making the possible connections is not something we can afford to commit at present, despite my belief that a success in making this happen will be a worthy vindication of our intentions and abilities.

Unfortunately this has all coincided with our site redesign and a bunch of other tasks we have been set by OLOV (Our Ladies of Vision) to basically focus our efforts to income generation as a matter of priority. It makes sense. No money means we can't help oursleves, much less anyone else.

So I have, with regret, had to tell them that while we will do our best as a little 'as 'n when' side project, they really shouldn't rely on us to be their only source of UK assistance. It wouldn't be fair to do this project less than the justice it deserves.

As we have no axe to grind other than helping, I here share a summary of what I have suggested to them to date. I'm thinking of making our ongoing efforts a sort of 'Project in Progress' that those who are interested can follow as we try our best, so that you can share in our successes and learn from our mistakes. I can also extend their exposure beyond this blog to the diRE:ctory, category pages (we have one on carrier bags!), editorial, etc.

They approached us for our possible connections to councils, and we do have some that we can and will for sure pursue.

However, it was my feeling that councils may not be the primary route, if only becuase I am not to sure if they actually collect carrier bags in any volume.

Obviously those who do are such supermarkets as operate a collection facility. Thing is, I don't know what happens to them, and hence am hoping to find out when I get time (or get told). My personal view is that the supermarkets who seem to have rated most highly in ENV/RE: initiatives we've read about lately would be most receptive. So I'm thinking Marks and Sparks, Waitrose and possibly Boots. We'll certainly give 'em a go. Wonder if they'll take our call?

Another avenue to consider is recyclers, but here I suspect we may run into that age old problem of targets. Anything we come up with that takes reuse chunks out of recycling volumes may not be greeted too well. But the %ages will not be significant, and the PR value of a charity aspect may serve to outweigh the downsides.

Speaking of charity, that is another route. I have often seen signs in charity shops seeking 'old' carriers for their re-use. That would suggest low volumes, but it is worth a thought if made part of a campaign. I fear a certain amount of turf-guarding may negate this route, as we have found some charity initiatives to have fallen foul of this reason before. A pity, as they would surely have the logistics of getting a container out and back to such areas sorted, surely?

And we have also started to be aware of certain cautions that various public and private organisations will apply to such ventures, perhaps highlighted by this email that arrived the other day:

We would like to draw your attention to an investigative documentary being screened by the BBC on Monday 5th of December. It concerns allegations that materials separated for recycling by facilities receiving waste from a number of local authorities, including London Boroughs, are being illegally dumped on third world countries. The programme is called Real Stories and is on BBC 1 at 7.30 pm.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcone/listings/index.shtml?service_id=4223&day=monday

Worth a gander, I'd say. But such issues don't make life easy, do they? Especially such as this one, where we are bascially just trying to see if we can make what seems like a great idea (our unwanted carrier bags get made into something that we take back and in so doing help empower poorer workers in another country, with everyone looking a bit better and making a little bit in the process - I guess that excludes us, but if we do make it happen it may serve to bring our efforts under some useful radars in big business, the media and even the public) come to pass.

It also shows how nothing is ever quite as simple as it may first seem.

We know no more about this venture than they have told us, and we can glean from their site. But it seems worthy.

Here's the URL:http://www.badlani.com



And if I'm up to the task I've attached a picture they sent of the process and the result. I'd buy 'em!

If you do have an idea or can offer a helping hand to move this along, with or without our input, get in touch: info@junkk.com. We do have some more info we'll try and post on site soon... when we have time.

Or I'm sure they would be happy to hear from you direct. Just tell them where you heard about it!

Ok, I've tried to be good. Now it's payback time!

This follows on from the last blog, which I maintain is about positives despite my also having a bit of a 'vent'.

This... is pure... eyebrow twitching.

On more than one occasion, we have been told that because we're 'commercial' (we take ads to fund our merry ways) we cannot be featured (we report, but we also like to be reported on) in various 'non-commercial' (which does seem to cover a multitude of si...tes) media outlets. 

The definitions can get a bit hard to grasp. In my 'Cross of Ross' guise I once took to task a major publically-funded - and highly precious of its responsibilities editorially - broadcaster. It was for a news item that seemed to consist of 15 minutes on the joys of plastic surgery vacations, devoted solely to one exotic 'venue', their pricelist & gushing testimonials included (plus some gory T&A), with no analysis of the competition or any pros and cons. I suspect they did not reply because I opined this was more a blatant funded jolly for the production team and ratings grabbing filler for the editorial, than any attempt at objective news.

And elsewhere we have already found ourselves denied coverage on more than one occasion despite being free to use, yet seen others gain coverage when their - admittedly ENV/RE: - products or services do actually involve the audience in costs.

Anyway, who said life was fair? 

So I could not help but be tickled by a piece, nutritionist-endorsed even, complete with price details, by a major online feed (slooow news day guys? Or a relative starting the business?) about a portable, temperature-controlled butter dish, called...[no way do I share this !!!], which keeps butter at... 'the optimal spreadable temperature of 18.5 C'.

Let me get this straight. A thing you plug in, 24/7, to keep the butter spreadable, when all you need do is take it out the fridge 5 minutes, and it gets national media coverage? Wish I could show the grab it took to you. But then that would be promoting this thing, now wouldn't it?

But you know the best bit? The banner ads around this were all for renewable energy, carbon footprints and such.  

Delicious. The irony, that is.

Positively frustrating

It's interesting that in sport it is the top performers and victories that get the headlines and the kudos. 

But in most other areas of news there seems more attention paid to the 'losers' or the bad stories. Negative trumps positive most of the time. Especially in the world of 'ENV/RE:' (Or environment/all-the-'re's'. I see potential in this play on the word envy, which is also associated with the colour green, though it is with negative connotations. Watch this space. You may be in at the birth of a catchword. Or not). 

At Junkk.com, we really think that it is possible to make for an interesting and valuable site experience by pushing the positives, perhaps with a few eye-twitches to spice the entertainment mix, mainly restricted to this blog, directed at those who may be straying from the path of righteousness.

However, it's not always easy championing the good. And a lot of folk do make it hard. 

Recently we discovered, after much excavating, a pretty neat line in products being brought out by a major high street retailer. So we got in touch, and ended up with a most helpful chap who shared what he knew. Trouble is, we'd learned about all this from the industry media, and as the contact given he was more on the technical side of things. Anyway, to make the piece more consumer-friendly he did suggest we get some pictures from the others involved, including a major govt-funded (that's your and my money, by the way) non-profit organisation, who we were told would also give us the skinny on a few other big brands doing neat stuff. 

We have yet to hear back. We have also yet to get a reply from this company's PR or marketing folk, despite asking to to be contacted so we could make the most of this and any other initiatives on our pages.

What little we did get IS on the site, because we wanted to SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS! 

Here is a range you can opt to buy not just because of the product, but the packs are also a plus, planet-saving wise. If you care about such things, it's your call to go that route. Or not. But at least you know about it. Only I'm prepared to bet that via most media avenues you don't. Yet here we were... are... ready, willing and able to bring it straight to the consumer. FREE.

Yes, putting on my editorial hat I admit that here I am being coy about naming names. Well, we are not in the business... yet... of making grumpy the folk we'd like, and to make life easier need, to work with. I very much doubt they read this blog, but if I did get specific they'd get told and get nasty. It's such a shame that we live in a culture so averse to constructive critiques.

But watch this space; if you get ignored too often then you just have to follow your own path.

And this is a blog, so I can at least vent a wee bit of frustration. And opine that if we can't do it with some folk, we will just have to do it despite them. Odd rationalising that last sentence with the fact that we're trying to help sell a brand's own products and assist in promoting officially-supported improvements to consumers' environmental purchasing.

Errors of Omission

I think we need, and hence have the facility, to edit out pretty much anything that goes on our pages, be it incorrect editorial, a dodgy diRE:ctory entry or unacceptable Forum post. 

However, and especially with the latter, it would need to be quite extreme. It must be accepted that in defining what 'extreme' is  means we are obviously applying our values, so we are of course casting our spin on everything. I guess you just accept that by coming here, and really it is fair enough that we have that right.

Just as it is for another publication not to choose to publish something they have been sent, though it can be frustrating when it is by invitation and, in the case of online, there can be no real excuses 'for lack of space'.

However, I have to take slight issue with the wording of the Daily Mail online section when it says 'No comments have so far been submitted. ' They are incorrect. On the matter of the PM's energy speech (as opposed to the disruption of it) I did reply. They just choose not to put it up. And that, in light of the wording above (and how you interpret the perceived lack of response)... is very different.

Meanwhile, back in the ;( corner

Well, that didn't take long. No sooner do I go to bed a little cheerier that Cat 5 hurricanes may not all be down to us, I open up my mail this morning to the following, from the New Scientist:

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8398

Failing ocean current raises fears of mini ice age

With this key bit of analysis/explanation:

"The slow-down, which has long been predicted as a possible consequence of global warming, will give renewed urgency to intergovernmental talks in Montreal, Canada, this week on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol."

If there is a reason not to contemplate substituting milk with Scotch on my Frosties , I guess it's here:

"Harry Bryden at the Southampton Oceanography Centre in the UK, whose group carried out the analysis, says he is not yet sure if the change is temporary or signals a long-term trend."

And here:

"Richard Wood, chief oceanographer at the UK Met Office’s Hadley Centre for climate research in Exeter, says the Southampton team's findings leave a lot unexplained."

But sadly it mostly shows to me that we are still very much in a phase of claim and counterclaim that can rather assault the senses, and our ability to figure out rationally what is happening and/or what we are doing to ourselves. Which of course makes  decisions on the best courses to take to rectify the situation hard.

I did however find this final series of facts quite interesting:

"The last shutdown, which prompted a temperature drop of 5°C to 10°C in western Europe, was probably at the end of the last ice age, 12,000 years ago. There may also have been a slowing of Atlantic circulation during the Little Ice Age, which lasted sporadically from 1300 to about 1850 and created temperatures low enough to freeze the River Thames in London."

It would be hard to pin the efforts of man on these. 

I am starting to weary of big ticket stories (up or downbeat) which tend to make good headlines and then go on to provide the ammo for competing advocates, but it would be silly not to try and stay on top of all that is available. Noting that even sticking with the science is not going to result in a shining bolt of light on the problem(s) and the solution(s), I'd suggest this is a pretty good link to stay on top of if you're interested:

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change

I remain resolute that whatever is happening is not being helped by wasteful or polluting practices, and so maintain my advocacy of any practical measures that can help improve the situation and steer people's behaviour in ever more cooperative directions.

And now, the goo... less bad news.

This, via USA Today, er, today:

http://usatoday.com/weather/stormcenter/2005-11-30-hurricane-cycle_x.htm

Excerpts: Natural climate conditions, not global warming, created the record-breaking 2005 tropical storm season, the nation's top hurricane experts said Tuesday. These included Gerry Bell, lead meteorologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center. 

William Gray, head of Colorado State University's Tropical Meteorology Project, also says on his website that there's no evidence that global warming has caused more hurricanes.

Despite a rise in ocean temperatures worldwide in recent decades, there has not been a worldwide increase in the number or intensity of tropical storms. Only the Atlantic Ocean has had an increase, which Gray attributes to natural cycles.

I guess these are just a bunch of experts who will be totally contradicted by another bunch of experts, leaving us all none the wiser, but for now I'll cheer myself up a bit with it. At least the fact that it may not be all our fault, though I guess anyone with a beachfront condo in Miami may still be less than thrilled.

So will the alarmists stop using this an excuse to rush us into over-reacting, pretty please? 

And will the other extreme (who are they? Government? Big business?) not even THINK of using it as an excuse to back slide.

We have seen some high-profile opportunities that have managed to capture the public's attention and inspire a desire to act. Doesn't matter why, but let's harness their interest and efforts honestly and direct them productively.

Waste is bad. Pollution is bad. Always was, is and will be. As it certainly can't be a good thing to pump vast amounts of man-made gunk up, down or sideways, so let's grab this chance to cut back... as far as we can, as soon as we can.

4x4xfarce

I just read a motoring piece about a new Mini 4x4 on the cards, which
these days inevitably ended up with a swipe (though on balance fair
enough) as to what the Mayor of London would make of it (it seems
he's talking of banning them as an eco-measure).

That's the problem with flip, narrow-minded, poorly thought-out,
agenda-driven , 'ist' campaigns; they almost always end up biting you
on the bum.

I'm not against a smart bit of well-considered, harmless, thought-
provoking, egalitarian protest to effect change, but when you take an
aggressively negative, and highly exclusive (but sloppily targeted)
stance such as the '4x4' efforts of some anti-dolts, you tend to
negate, or worse actively detract from any positives.

One obvious solution would be to move on to the more appropriate SUV
sector, but this would still consign all sorts of innocents to the
misery of censorious missionary zeal. There are many who, for sure,
it wouldn't hurt to inspire to drive more appropriate chariots based
on actual use, but is the collateral damage really worth it?

The final sentence here is not a defence of the unwarranted use of
such vehicles, simply a hint as to better avenues to explore in
trying to persuade people to change their purchase habits.

4x4s don't cause greenhouse gasses, burning lots of petroleum-based
fuels does. There's a difference.

Nuclear meltdown

And here it is. That is, the blog to follow the last one. Which it is in so many other ways.

I am trying to get to grips with the fallout (there may be a few unintentional nuclear-related puns here, so bear with me) from the PM's Energy Speech, which for various reasons pretty much got turned into 'How I Learned To Love The Atom'. Or, in the case of a few who took a pre-emptive opposing view, not.

So my time with the online versions of the major media was pretty extensive today. And frankly, it has done my head in.

What was interesting was how balanced they all were, with editorial, commentary and public opinion within organs of left and right, covering the full political spectrum, all pretty much disagreeing with each other internally, as much as with each other.

I actually found the 'letters to the editor' the most informative and useful, possibly becuase these were from folk who were not constrained by party lines, rigid dogma, commercial pressure or the need to stir up a rating or two.

But you know what? I'm still none the wiser.

And worse, my trust level is going down... further. All of a sudden I'm being sprung with stuff on little or no deadline, and it makes me suspicious: 'We've run out: this is the only way. Agree to it NOW!'. Prices have doubled and can only rise... but, conveniently, would you like to lock into the current rate for ten years?'. 'Donate to us or we'll die'. 'Give voice to our opinion or we'll throw our toys out of the pram, and then come and throw yours out to if you're not with us'.

As far as I can make out, the big problem is global warming. And this, at best guess, is not being helped to the greatest degree by greenhouse gasses. So we need to get these out of the atmosphere,  whilst reducing (to zero?) any more going back up form our activities. 

No one is going near the whole expanding, increasingly affluent (and hence not too likely too be tilling their fields for a lifetime with one visit a decade to the big city) global population.

So there are more of us, wanting more stuff (which takes energy to make) and needing more energy to run it all once we've got it.

So it's back to the numbers. What will it cost me financially, and the planet environmentally to a) survive (eat, drink, house, heat, etc) and b) consume (travel, entertain, etc)?

I can then get to what I'm am prepared to pay (money, inconvenience, etc) and what costs I am prepared to bear (reduced travel, less 'stuff', blemished potatoes, etc). 

But I don't feel close to those numbers. Look at the current nuclear debate. Just as one small example, it is admitted that while a nuclear power station does not produce greenhouse gasses (though I bet there's steam, which didn't I read was now a greenhouse gas?), its construction, operation and disposal has a 'carbon consequence'. Not to mention the glowy thingies that are left behind (anyone recall Space 1999? I personally blame The Simpsons for making this stuff seem harmless). 

However, I then see wind farms being deemed carbon neutral. Are they? It seems an omission on par with electric cars being called 'non-polluting'. There has to be a carbon consequence to making them, erecting them, running them and dismantling them at end of life, as with anything. It may be less operationally than nuclear, but it sure is not zero. And once the subsidy factor has been stripped away, how to they match up in terms of cost-effectiveness?  

Plus if you really want to get complex you can go on to break out the environmental costs per kWhr as well, surely? 

How is it so hard to derive a clear cost for the 'product' amortised over its life? Try this for a nuke and a wind farm:

Cost to build / Carbon consequence to build

Cost to operate / Carbon consequence to operate

Cost to decommission/ Carbon consequence to decommission

But that against what they crank out and... hence we get a £/KWh and CC/KWh for each. 

I am prepared to bet the wind farm will win in spades on all three (maybe close on building)

But....

We have to also look at what 'we' are expected to suck out of these things. No point going a route that can't deliver. 

That... is a whole new ball of wax.

Going ballistic with statistics

In an ideal world, everyone would would cooperate in doing what's
best for them. Glad I got that out of the way.

In the real world, everyone has a different view of what's best...
for them(selves & us). A pol with an eye on a few decades tenure with
a legacy to enjoy while he/she is still alive (I don't think they
worry too much about the afterlife). A manufacturer with an eye on
shareholder value. A lobby group with an office, ad budget and staff
pension to pay for. A family with a fixed income, uncertain pension
and the prospect of a cold winter ahead.

So I was looking last night at my utility bills. Gas, electric,
telecoms, insurance, water and rates. Can't do much about the last
two, so I was concentrating on the the first few.

Trouble is, I ended up pretty confused. And that is not a good way to
arrive at a valid decision. It should all be so simple. All I need is
a cost per unit. Even with some jiggery-pokery on standing charges
and payment plans, that's all I need to make my decision. BTUs,
kilowatts, you name it. It is but a consumable item I don't see, that
has to meet certain quality standards to get to me and do its job,
whoever it comes from. So if I can get to the number I seek, it's
simple. I'll buy the cheapest.

But.

What about the planet? So now it gets a wee bit more complicated. But
really it shouldn't, at least financially. If there is a loading, so
be it. Just so long as I know how much and can make that financial call.

But.

Where is this money going to? And where is this energy coming from?
Am I paying for green energy, or funding some alternative energy
subsidy to a system tasked to meet targets rather than best-case
solutions (whatever they may be), or to help fund some pressure group
I may not endorse who are lending their name to promoting a
commercial, competitive, enterprise?

I don't know.

And inasmuch as a lot of my day is reading waaaaaay to much on this
issue already, and am still none the wiser, I'm pretty sure not many
other members of the average working public are either.

So I think the best way to sort this out before we discuss our way
into oblivion is to try to get someone to give us a big, juicy (no
endorsement intended or implied) KISS. Please! Is it not possible to
strip away all the political and activist baggage and pare down the
big issues by Keeping It Simple & Stupid?

I'll offer my thoughts on developing that naive, idealistic plea in
another blog.

As for the end of the world, there is much thinking going on at high level, with a sense of urgency.

There was a bit of a hoo-haa today. A well-known group (who will remain nameless, as I seem to have been a bit down on them lately, despite admiring a lot of what they do) decided to hijack a certain speech. It seems it was because they a) didn't like what was going to be said, and b) were not allowed a demanded (with threats) 10 minutes to make their own speech at the same venue. Hmmn. Good job other liitle tinkers don't issue such 'or else' threats to get their way, or where would we be?

Anyway, this speech was by our PM, and was pretty important, being about the way our energy policy is shaping.

I was tracking it down when lo, it was delivered to me by the Daily Mail. I presumed in full transcript, but possibly not. Hard to say. Let me know if there is/was more than this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=370076&in_page_id=1770

So I read it, and decided to tell them what I thought.... about the speech, which no one seemed to care about, as opposed to the protest, about which a lot of folk did. I guess that says a lot in its own right. 

In case the DM doesn't fancy sharing what I had to say, here it is anyway:

"Short speech. Was that it? Interesting that so far we have about a dozen comments on the 'disruption' and few, until now, here.

 

There's a lot of passion flying about, and stances being defended, but it remains hard to judge on the numbers so far. There are a few in this speech, but nothing that helps move my opinion. 'Back on the agenda'. 'Re-thinking'. 'Sense of urgency'. 'A review of progress'. 'Publishing a policy statement'. Woo-hoo. A bit on what's stopping; not much on plain facts of what can work or how 'we' play our part.

 

All I can see is a growing population requiring ever more 'stuff', which will need ever more 'juice' to operate. Cars, planes, boilers... things with plugs on.

 

It needs a courageous politician, or one not so worried about being re-elected, to lay it out and tell folk they can't have it all, and/or they can't have it cheap.

 

Following the handling of civil service pensions issue recently, I'm not holding my breath - which I might soon be required to do :)"

I think we'll just keep on plugging away at our little bit of doing.

Taking your ball back

Junkk.com has two (there may be more, and I am sure we'll be told
what they are in due course. Rest assured, if valid we'll try and
address them) main obstacles to 'use' as an online resource.

Research after research in this field shows that high on users' pet
hate lists are asking for personal info and, sort of the same thing -
but not always - long forms.

Well, we're trying to address the fact that we have, to an extent, a
bit of both.

So soon there will be some stuff you can dip into on site pretty much
anonymously and unrecorded.

But the majority will still require agreeing to our terms &
conditions and/or registering.

We simply can't let folk read about ways to make things, much less
upload them, without accepting that some common sense needs to be
applied. And that means, in this litigious age, to provide a free
service with the cooperation of major brands' products requires some
protections for the good against the scamps we know exist out there.

Similarly, without knowing the postcode we can't very well tell you
what's happening in your neighbourhood, now can we?

Plus, of course, without a name and email we can't ensure you are who
you say you are and playing by the rules, few though they are.

Which brings me to a game called Runescape. It's an online, virtual
world that you can log on to and play, it seems, with all and sundry
out there in cyberspace. And from what I have seen of it, it is
pretty awesome, not least because it is free. And it also doesn't
seem too shabby on social development, maths and all sorts of other
stuff, with the possible exception of the killing and maiming. But
anyone with an X-box or PS2 knows that excess violence in games is a
lost cause anyway.

I just found out my 9 year-olds were playing it. And I was concerned
a bit because we had had a chat about online behaviour, and one of
our many rules is no real names, which they were using.

So I insisted they used noms de plum, which in the changing had some
deleterious consequences to the credits they'd built up. Oops. Bad
daddy.

Sadly, being about the same age of Bart Simpson (at least this year),
and Gawd knows why, one of them also chose as his new 'handle'
something like Ruinpoop.

Along with crud (previous blog), 'poop' is a word we don't deem too
awful. In fact it's part of a ship, far as I can recall, as much as a
device to carry when you walk the dog.

Which is why him getting banned from the game for using offensive
language was a bit of a shock. Actually, he was desolate, as all the
levels he had built up were lost and he is weeks behind his chums now.

I was just angry. My wife had tried to appeal to their 'customer
services', or whatever the correct title for their nanny brigade is,
to at least get his credits transferred to another name, but she got
slapped down by some petty jobsworth citing 'the rules'. And that,
dear reader, is the end of this chapter.

Yes, rules will always be required. But how they get applied is
equally important. And, obviously, by whom.

So Runescape, for messing up with no good reason a lovely little boy
who could have easily been guided to the path you favour, I hope what
goes around comes around.