Uh-oh

Now, bear in mind that for the last several years, or family (well, me) has not thrown anything away.

Well, that's not quite true. Between five of us we can still fill a bin liner in a week.

Don't quite know how, as there's an awful lot not in there that I think would be from most households. And of course a fair amount of paper and glass goes off with the RE-Box kerbside collection.

And so the collected bits and bobs that didn't make it are all around the house and grounds in one way or another.

I have this odd notion that I will one day find a use for it all.

However, with the recent flurry of activity from councils on bins, plus the downturn in interest in separated recylates, my wife asked me if we'd end up being lumbered with a stonking bill if we had to get rid of it all.

I assured her not, as those who collect such things appreciate clearly sorted, clean recylables, and other than a few days with a wheelbarrow to the various local skips, we'd be fine.

Or... perhaps not.

Rubbish hoarder ordered to pay £38,000 clean-up bill

Now, my first thought was... 'so this is how you get a feature in the major papers!'

Closely followed by ... 'Uh-oh'.

I was going to also query the cost involved, but now note that most of the sum in question was not for the actual clearing, but to my favourite profession to 'handle' it all.

Not rats here, but ~I might have to review the collection and storage policy soon.

Telegraph - The thin line between junk and treasure -

You have addressed a serious topic with sensitivity.

And I don't wish to hijack what is essentially a piece on mental health and the authorities' reaction to it, but the topic of 'hoarding' has come up and it is one I am both personally and professionally engaged with.

Like your mother, my clutter habit is still within manageable limits. And my marriage still firm, if tested on occasion by my acquisitive tendencies. This is, I suspect, due to the various end of garden composters and cones, a weekly kerbside collection system (soon to be 'improved' away from segregated items back to mixed waste wheelies!), but mostly thanks to a big garden, some sheds, a cellar and a few lofts.

Hence, with a few nasty exceptions, 'we' have thrown nothing away for several years (all washed, dried and stored). This is partly because I am interested in what a family can generate, and seeing scores of the same thing can be eye-opening, but also because I am fascinated by what may be done by way of money-making, planet-saving reuse.

Hence, I use this opportunity to suggest that 'dealing with' some hoarders might be worth redirecting, and for the benefit of the community.

Such as Messrs Cockerham and Stewart are unfortunate extremes, but could there be others - who might be erring on the compulsive - but also offer some value?

Wouldn't it be great to locate such folk and connect them with others?

Yes, most of what I collect is for own use, and I feel the odd tug when even a couple of things are whisked away, but equally I can't use all and space is an issue, so if the local Scouts ask and I can help then handing over a few score cardboard loo rolls or a couple of hundred red bottle caps, it is actually quite rewarding, emotionally for me and, for them, financially.

Hence may I commend sites such as Freecycle and Junkk.com to those who do see value in not throwing all away, as they can offer ways and means to redirect 'waste' into perhaps more productive areas than the bin or landfill. Plus possible valuable social interaction components, too.

Try googling 'Oops'

In so many mirror gazing ways it's hard to know where to start.

By not sharing this, for one, probably:(

Revealed: the environmental impact of Google searches

Kind of puts' do no harm' under the spotlight.

Frankly I figure we need to get back to priorities, and with luck this may make those a tad to quick to invoke a ban or point a finger look a bit closer to home before they get all selective of what 'they' want 'others' to not do.

I don't see googling being off most folks menus any time soon.

I wonder if there's any irony now in using the Google Carbon Calculator?

Indy - Giant plasma TVs face ban in battle to green Britain

Interesting, as I read this on my PC.

I must google further...

Oh, rats.

BBC - 'Carbon cost' of Google revealed

The Register - Forget Google rationing: Only lighting farts can save the planet

Addendum...

Guardian - Sunday Times clarifies figures in Google carbon emissions debate - The MSM. What's not to like? Or trust. Or respect? Or pay attention to...

One wonders how they'd organise a party in a brewery

It's not often I am on the side of authorities.

Bin taxes rejected by councils

Oh heck, why change now? Not impressed.

I merely mourn, in passing, aspects that did appeal, such as this.. 'Under the plans local authorities were being offered the chance to give rebates to households producing the least waste', that were lost thanks, IMHO, to the other punitive (especially fine revenue generating) ideas floated, and the way they were shared.

Telegraph - NEW - Bin taxes: councils, for once, seemed to listen

We do science, we do

As an ex-scientist/engineer I have a firm belief in the value of this country's support of same.

Hence I was attracted to this article in the Newsnight blog:

Restoring science to its rightful place

Sadly, as the comments in reply (the first is a doozy, especially the end piece. I speak as one trying to forge a commercial model new media entity dealing in the environment, and one day found myself competing with BBC Green) would suggest, it has been found rather wanting.

Science deals in fact, as does... should... reporting. It is hard not to feel this piece was more opinion dressed up. And I do wonder how appropriate it is for a 'reporter' for the BBC to be quite so definitive in her critiques on an outgoing administration when much is still unknown. The optimism for an agent of 'change', whatever that is, is perhaps understandable given the degree of uncritical analysis of the new President's plans to date, but surely should be couched in terms, dare I say science-based ones, that accept it's hard to predict based on what we don't yet know.

Shame the vast majority subjected to the broadcast are unlikely to be exposed to such worthy and relevant debate to appreciate the critical underpinnings of 'science', and not the fluffy, agenda-driven versions too often trotted out by our national broadcaster and its often less than qualified, or if so (Ms. Watts' resume is a lot more relevant than most), barely competent and/or objective cabal of 'analysts'.

I happen to think there is much worth considering seriously in the environmental arena, but as a fact-based environmentalist shudder at each grotesque, rushed-out bit of spin from the BBC that seems designed to push an 'ideal' (at least in their eyes), but when found wanting simply sets back the worthy, public-influencing, patient, test and confirm methodologies that can lead to genuine insights we can act on with confidence.

Harmless Sky - BBC Newsnight - Warming up President Obama’s inaugural speech? - Hmnn

The Newsnight editor has now responded:

Hello All,

Re the opening of Susan's piece. We did edit sections of the speech to reflect the elements in it that referred to Science. The aim was to give people an impression or montage of what Obama said about science in his inauguration speech. This was signposted to audiences with fades between each point. It in no way altered the meaning or misrepresented what the
President was saying. You can look for yourself above.

Apologies for not responding sooner. I thought I had. BBC Editors find this blogging software frustrating at times too.

Peter Rippon
Editor, Newsnight

I am afraid I found his reply wanting:

Hello back. Thank you for at last replying, on behalf of Ms. Watts and all involved in this. And the apology... if only for the delay in reply. I can see how, being the editor of a news programme caught in a sticky situation brought to one's attention in places, such as your own blog, one could forget doing so before now. I wonder what aspect of the blogging software let you down? It seems to have been working fine for quite a while now (or was your first effort 'moderated', which I agree can be 'frustrating'?).

It's a pity how often a BBC reply can often seem more like bringing in some Kimberly diamond miners when it comes to digging a deeper hole.

I don't propose to address the 'techniques' and what they were intended to facilitate, as others have clearly explained how well it went down. Nor do I intend to get into any discussion of climate, 'optimist' or 'pessimist', save to say as one environmentally concerned erring on caution, 'helping the cause along' by rigging things makes me groan as it makes my efforts at factual persuasion all the harder.

However, I do now unfortunately have yet more words and phrases to add to along, growing and rather ignoble list of 'journalistic'/reportage'/'editorial' doublespeak being used in weak post justification, that does the cause of conveying objective news little credit.

So to such as 'interpreting events' I can now, sadly, add...

'... reflect the elements...'

'... give people an impression or montage of what [was] said... about [topic]..]

' This was signposted...'

The first two seem barely more than excuses for changing things to suit. The third simply a weasel for very stealthily enabling/excusing very stealthy editing.

Sorry, not convinced, and it would seem I am not alone. Nil points.

Gaurdian - Newsnight in fakery row over Obama report - The quantity, and quality of the replies show a worrying inisght into the midsets at play.

Telegraph - BBC accused of fakery over Barack Obama inauguration speech

Telegraph - Obama can afford to lay off press officers now the BBC is working for him free of charge

A campaign to get behind (and then close)

I very much doubt I was the first to think of it. Or highlight it. But I was... am at least ahead of the Guardian: Open door policy

Anyway, as they have more readers (for now), I'll just say it's a good idea for a campaign. And one that is less ban and more save. So it's hard to see a downside.

Guardian - Shut that door!

Telegraph - NEW - Close the door and save energy - Another door opens?

Home is where the hearth is...

We need warmer homes

Passes on a link to these guys...

The Home Heat Helpline - 0800 33 66 99

Tony Hart, RIP

TV presenter Tony Hart dies

I don't think that headline does him, and the influence he had, justice.

He was a 'doer', not just a talker, and though very restrained in style, a more eloquent communicator and, as a consequence, inspiration to many than the current crop of talking heads we have today.

He was ahead of his time, AND I am still in envy of his getting a bunch of us to see the value of making things, and better yet making them often out of junk.

I consider him one of the influences that lead me to create Junkk.

http://www.tonyhart.co.uk/gallery/tony_hart_gallery_2005.htm

The age of oil is ending

When I saw that headline, I thought this article from the Vancouver Sun was going to be another of those sensational headline, eco-warrior, crazy rants ('we're all doomed') about the end of the world being nigh; but this is a largely considered and well structured comment, and is full of factual information, on the subject of Peak Oil.

The strange thing is, even though it is not written as a 'rant' story, it still leaves you feeling, well, rather concerned and worried about the future.

Hmmm .... perhaps time to clean up and re-grease my old bicycle?

President 'has four years to save Earth' - now that's what you call a 'sensational' headline. And from The Observer, no less.

I wonder if Obama will ask for Ol' Golden's help in saving the world?

Box tickers rule?

The Daily Mail has a bit if a reputation for the.. 'sensational'.

However, I believe that most are able to separate the wheat from the chaff and, at the end of the day, a fact is a fact.

Woman, 91, dies 'after becoming stressed over £16,000 council bill to make her home eco-friendly'

No one seems to be disputing what happened. Indeed why seems pretty clear.

How is another matter.

Presuming the reporting to be accurate, this story, and quote, suggests that we are in an era embodied by such as the notorious Baby P cases' Sharon Shoesmith, who has a fellow mindset that is hard to swallow:

Councillor Zita Wiltshire, the local housing chief, said leaseholders were consulted on charges in 2006 and made aware of how much they would have to pay.

Cllr Wiltshire said: 'We are sympathetic to the concerns of our leaseholders but the council does spell out the detail of the financial obligations imposed upon a lessee in the terms of each right-to-buy lease.'

I presume her index-linked will easily cover all such demands on her once in retirement.

This is not the way to save the planet, or indeed sell the wisdom of all necessary measures to help do so.

DDAIDDAIS

That's one of Peter's favourite acronyms - 'don't do as I do, do as I say'.

And it is highly applicable here as this from BusinessGreen.com highlights what appears to be yet another rather large ooooops! from our Gov.

The building that houses the Committee on Climate Change and the Department of Energy and Climate Control (hmmmm, I wasn't even aware we had a department for climate control?) has been graded with 'with the lowest possible energy score, which was described as "one of the worst ratings yet recorded"'

"For years, ministers have promised to ensure that all buildings under central government control are within the top quartile of energy performance. At present, qualifying could mean getting as low a rating as a C. Yet the building that houses the Committee on Climate Change has one of the very worst of the G ratings so far recorded."

And it gets worse - 15 Gov. departments are actually less energy efficient now than they were in 2000!

Twas ever thus.

Sometimes you just have to sit back and appreciate the show

This is indeed a class war, and the campaign against the Aga starts here

Actually, some pretty good points being made, but I rather suspect this may get all rather lost as some whipping up a lasagne en route to the next protest won't see it that way.

And, as I now notice the sidebar, it just has to get more... 'interesting'....

This is something worse than class war

One I think I will observe, discretely from a distance. Whilst many Fiesta-driving, tabloid-buying MoPs (Members of the Public Striving) might well know nothing about the battle raging aroun.. above them.

First Self Trumpet Blow of the New Year (sorry)

I know green blogs are a bit of a bore when they talk about themselves all the time.

But I like to think we're pretty well balanced, and when something complimentary happens it does make you proud and feel like sharing.

This was a welcome surprise, and spin-off from our little Voucher Tree initiative from late last year, which did pretty well locally.

Well, it has spun off and gone a bit further, which is nice, all thanks to my Vac:Sac catching the eye of the Hereford Journal photographer.

It was also worth noting that in chatting with the reporter when she was researching the story, the link we now have with Poundland piqued her interest mote than a little, and cropped up more than once in the piece.

I think a New Resolution might be to get back in touch and a) do something jointly to help their customers 'green up' even more with Junkk.com, and b) PR the heck out of it!

Scary!

That was my reaction to this piece on CO2 absorption by the world's oceans in yesterday's Telegraph.

Evidence suggests that our warming oceans are no longer absorbing Carbon at the rates they used to, which just might point to the fact that climate change could well accelerate.

Buy pass

Of all the activist groups, I have found Greenpeace to be the most erratic to follow and/or support consistently.

Protest is very much the bedrock of a free society, and they have dealt in this for decades, pretty much always effectively but not, IMHO, always wisely.

As a rule of thumb, I am not in favour of anything that creates risk, breaks laws, incites violence or, and especially, efforts that selectively target and inconvenience poor schmoes just trying to get on with their lives.

With this latter at least, I usually wonder how the perpetrators would feel if their chance and a holiday or somesuch was ruined by a bunch of others who are often a tad selective about what they do and what they aim to stop.

However, smart ways of raising profile that hit the pockets evenly by being more targeted at corporates and governments (it all ends up back in our wallets no matter what, let's not forget) are, when done well, to be admired.

Hence I think the purchase of a parcel of land in the way of the proposed 3rd runway, to be divided into mini-plots, to be very smart.

Not quite so sure on some of the justifications being used (the spokesperson was very inarticulate and hence less than persuasive in soliciting public support on SKY news just now), and again the choice of celebrity messengers (a few of the luvvies being against this seem quite well travelled, and indeed seem more concerned with what was going on over their West London homes than sea levels in the Maldives), but this is one worth following to see how the various protagonists handle it all (I see Mr. Brown in a dithering funk, the business community tying itself in contradictory 'good for the community' knots and the activists getting more radical and losing public sympathy pretty quickly... all per usual).

BBC - Protesters buy up Heathrow land

Irony Alert - A picture is worth a 1,000 words

Peter in Greenland

A silent prayer from the media scrum covered the religious group paying for climate action.

Check the picture captioned 'At the end of the trip, Peter flies home...'

I can't believe it wasn't staged. Very subtle if so. Or maybe he just got on the, er, plane first or off last.

21 today

20 big green ideas

Personally, I think reuse is a neat extra one to consider:)

It has emerged...

This is less about wind power than media reporting, though it is obviously the topic featured too...

A small complaint

I am still prepared to be convinced on the enviROI of the whole national endeavour, but when I don't trust government and can't reply on the MSM, I have to say that when the latter get nailed like this my scepticism level has to creep up a notch higher.

To 'er'...divine. Well, better than nothing.

CES 2009: Greenpeace says gadgets could be greener

Not exactly the best start to the year

Why waste authorities are a lot of rubbish

Sadly, the commenters so far are a wee bit more concerned about the misuse of mobiles, than our seeing yet more decision-making, and accountability, hived off to yet another quango.

Is this really what is taking place?

No point asking my MP as he's out to lunch having decided a year ago to quit next election, which has resulted in 'interesting' representation.

Fly me to the moon

I think it's one venue as yet unexplored.

UN Climate Conference: The countdown to Copenhagen

I'm sorry, I got as far as '15,000 officials from 200 countries (officials, advisers, diplomats, campaigners and media personnel)' to start losing faith.

When I saw the rallying cry is back to 'global warming' I pretty much gave up.

Value judgements

Regular readers know I often bang on about enviROI of projects.

Well, now there's another one in the mix:

Chance for social enterprise to be more enterprising

I wish them well.

But I can see it being a lot trickier than enviROI which, despite allowing for the option of a person to be content with losing money for an environmental benefit, still is pretty grounded in numbers plus and minus.

I don't envy trying to put a figure that means much on many possibly socially beneficial projects.

Beating the crunch

Sadly, not the credit crunch this time:(

However, in the spirit of 'it's good to share', and my last car-borne outing had a relatively happy outcome (our re-engined Golf doing sterling work as we speak... long may it continue to do so), let's try again.

Monday was, according to the Daily Telegraph, 'the most stressful day of the year.' Well, yes, I could get around to accepting that.

For this was the day my tropics-trained missus met black ice for the first time, and that's one postbox that won't be taking mail for a wee while.

Now it was an incredibly slow impact, as even the airbags didn't go off.

And, though it really... really looks worse in the picture, after a quick gander my hopes were raised.

Sure, all the crumple zones had done what they were meant to, but as far as I could gather, beyond the front, bonnet and a few important bits of engine that bore the brunt, it was all in one piece. And nothing major bent any further back.

Sadly, this seems not enough to be worth saving to the counters of beans at my insurers. I guess the cost of mending came in above the cost of slipping us the road value and, well, money talks.

So again I am presented with a series of dilemmas that span the whole gamut from enviro to eco.. nomic.

Take the money and get a replacement? If so, maybe an existing LPG? Or try and 'save' it. I am not sure what one can do, but assuming they give me the write-off value I can still 'buy' it from them and then try and fix it. But... is it worth it?

Another journey is embraked upon which I'll share....

UPDATE

The plot thick... well, goes further downhill.

It really is not worth trying to save. It can be fixed, but to do so would take something like £5k, and that's to end up with a car 'worth' £1300 (according to the nice man from Norwich Union - I then had to spend all day yesterday 'proving' it was worth more, and ended up in some bizarre Marrakesh-market haggle. Not what I expected from a top insurer).

I am now on the trail of some dual/bifuels, and they do seem to be like hen's teeth. Especially at the budget I have set. A further 'complication' is that having chatted with a few garages they seem to think getting a factory-fitted option is much safer to a retro-fitted kit version, and that reduces things a lot more. So far all I am seeing is a few Volvos.

The hunt continues....

ET, recycle that phone...

Wind turbine destroyed after 'octopus UFO' seen in sky

Interesting possible explanation from the media to this incident.

I wonder if advanced cultures have no knowledge of wind turbines; hence the unfamiliarity leading to the impact (though after a few billion miles dodgy asteroids I'd have thought a turbine blade might be easily dodged).

Maybe they looked at the enviROI? Not sure being unable to cope with ice is too encouraging, what with the climate change we're experiencing.

I wonder if the actual reason will be shared? If it is mundane I doubt it.

Gaurdian - UFOs crashing into wind farms: has the Guardian solved the mystery? - QED

Telegraph - 'UFO' turbine debris sent to German forensic scientists

Times - We just can’t get enough of those little green men - best explataion yet as 1st comment to this

One can but hope...

Will We Be Green in 2009?

Some interesting, and encouraging (I was about to shut up shop) signs for genuine green initiatives as far as the consumer is concerned.

Quite a lot bears out what we've been banging on about anyway.

Or... we could end up with a multimillion £ recycling campaign when they have nowhere to put what they've got already, and a bunch more 'our CEO drives a 7litre hydrogen-powered limo', like that has any end-benefit value or relevance to the poor consumer trudging the aisles.

What do you reckon?

There is a free report available.

enviROI is even more important now

Catching up on the last few weeks' papers' 'green' pages has not been fun.

Not just because the news is pretty dire, but more because of many authorities reactions to it.

There are too many to post here, but just as an example of situation and reaction...

Telegraph - First glimpse of rubbish mountains caused by recycling industry slump

Daily Mail - Recycling crisis: Taxpayers foot the bill for UK's growing waste paper mountain as market collapses

Telegraph - Waste Watch: waste, litter and wind turbines

Reduction and reuse anyone?

Numbers games

I am guided in the value of much that is 'green' by enviROI.

Whilst based on a rather less than thrilling hypothetical (I hope) concept, I found this, and the comments provoked... interesting:

The carbon footprint of nuclear war

First Irony Alert of the Year

And, bless, it goes to.... The Guardian...

Tell Obama what his inauguration means to you and win a ticket to the proceedings

Winners will be given airfare...

New Year recycling

While I was away I noticed something that I couldn't resist commenting on...

Next year on Newsnight ... possibly the return of Ethical Man.

If you are doing another 'Ethical Man', while I appreciate all the useful information that was/is/will be shared to help make informed environmental commitments, it would be useful if the options laid out are balanced and have the full enviROI consequences, pro and con, laid out. Try finding a reporter qualified to report and challenge the issues, and able to appreciate the irony of standing on ice floes to which they have flown, to decry the consequences of the rest of 'us' flying.

So.. no more 'analysts', please.

Plus, as purely personal opinion, when it comes to the gimmick, I do rather question the eventual message sent out that whatever a family does commit to can be picked up and then dropped once the show run is over. That rather errs on 'do as we say, and did for a wee while because it ticks a box'. A planet is for life, not just a special segment.

I think the facts, and objective consequences, being laid out will suffice.

And if a Newsnight twofer is still deemed necessary, might one hope for more moderate (or at least a change from the usual researcher's speed-dial suspects) debaters be invited to discuss any disputed issues?

A Plane Stupid or Greenpeace spokesperson vs. a big oil or airline lobbyist frankly leaves the likes of me stuck in a no man's land as the two extremes trade global warming absolutes at each other.

You can't appreciate the subtle hues of green if they are only presented in black or white. Much like most other topics.

Serve the interests of the public (those who can only afford small hatchbacks rather than Priuses), not market rate pay grades driven by ratings.

Carbon Negative Cement?

Sound a bit far fetched?

Given that cement, the backbone of almost all of mankind's basic building blocks, accounts for some 5% of global CO2 emissions (that's more than the entire aviation industry), any breakthrough in reducing the cement industry's emissions ought to be very welcome.

Well, step forward a new cement from Novacem that not only reduces CO2 emissions during production, it also absorbs CO2 as it hardens, arguably making it carbon negative. Full story from Aggregate Research.

"Novacems cement, based on magnesium silicates, not only requires much less heating, it also absorbs large amounts of CO2 as it hardens, making it carbon negative. "

It will be very interesting to see just what the EnviROI of this new product might be, but it sounds to me like it could be a BIG winner, not just for Novacem, but also for the environment.

The clue is in the headline

Rubbish answers

Looks like the box ticking and target meeting is going great already.

Shame about the enviROI.

I still think reduction and reuse might be better than mnay of the efforts devoted to recycling.

New year. Happy?

Sitting in my thermals having got bored staring at the ceiling since pre-dawn.

Jet lag is no fun. And switching off the central heating during a freeze maybe was not a smart move.

We arrived back on New Year's Eve having been t'other side of the planet for a few weeks.

The plan had been that we'd spend a family Xmas here that worked on all sorts of levels, eco and financial, as Mama & Kong Kong were meant to come here, representing a 50% reduction to planet and pocket.

Sadly Mama having a heart attack kind of threw a spanner in those plans, and new ones had to be made quick-smart.

Anyway, she is recovering well, we'd like to think in some measure to having her dearest nearer, so it was worth it. Sorry if things went very quiet.

But I'd like to take this opportunity to again thank Dave of Solarventi for keeping the blog ticking over so well while I was away. Much appreciated.

So... what have we come back to?

Looking at this, it may be a New Year (Happy's all round), but I can't say that the prognosis for much by way of new thinking to improve things seems much in evidence as yet...

Indy - Climate scientists: it's time for 'Plan B'

Read the piece, and then the comments. This is what the best of our governments, scientists and media can come up with to inspire the public in 2009 (OK, it's just a paper in a country, but I have seen little else of not so far)????!

My resolution... a lot less talk; a lot more doing. That may well mean less blogging, but it is hard to resist:)

Indy - What can we do to save our planet?

Gaurdian - Climate change policies failing, Nasa scientist warns Obama

Gaurdian - 95 months and counting

Poles apart.

That seems to be the situation between those who generally accept that any, or part of, observed climate change is man made (or man worsened), and those who categorically do not believe mankind is having any impact on our planet's climate.

As an example, here are two articles, both from today's Belfast Telegraph.

Scientists prove that climate change IS man-made. Now that's a BIG claim, and it is one of the few occasions that I've actually seen the term 'prove' used. The article refers to new computer models that look at Arctic and Antarctic (which is now actually warming, contrary to some reports from recent years) temperature variations. The conclusion? "In both polar regions the observed warming can only be reproduced in our models by including human influences – natural forcings [increases] alone are not enough." (I have to admit that I find it difficult to accept 'proof' from a computer model; a plausible projection, another small piece of the evidential jigsaw, or a supporting statistical conclusion, yes, by all means; but 'proof'?)

Yet in the same publication, an article by Sammy Wilson (no less than N. Ireland's environment minister) who believes that man-made climate change is a con. “I think in 20 years’ time we will look back at this whole climate change debate and ask ourselves how on earth were we ever conned into spending the billions of pounds which are going into this without any kind of rigorous examination of the background, the science, the implications of it all. Because there is now a degree of hysteria about it, fairly unformed hysteria I’ve got to say as well."

I'll leave you, the reader, to examine the evidence for yourselves, and to draw your own conclusions. My wish for the new year is that we can get back to reasoned debate and away from the hysteria and spin that has consumed this (potentially devastating to mankind) topic over the last couple of years.

For those who do not understand the consequences of increasing amounts of CO2 in our atmosphere, the Economist provides a simple to understand article 'The Curse of Carbon' which describes what may happen if ocean acidification continues unchecked. It also suggests what the implications of sea-level rises might be. Well worth a read.

Will the argument ever be concluded? Time alone will tell.

A happy new year to one and all.

A contender for headline of the year?

"Ice rinks cancel sessions because of ice" ??!!!***

Brilliant! I'm full of cold and flu and feeling miserable but that put a big smile on my face.

Seems the parking lots were too icy and dangerous - full story from the South Bend Tribune.

Seasonal Stories

There are always a few odd-ball and unusual news stories at this time of year, and this year has been no exception. So, just to raise an eyebrow or two, or even to provoke a little smile, here are a few from around our little planet.

Reuters - Virgin Mary gives birth to Jesus - well, it was Christmas!

Daily News Brooklyn - Santa Claus gets parking ticket - seems that traffic enforcement officers anywhere in the world have no sense of humour and not an iota of seasonal goodwill.

Telegraph - I've seem some strange sights in my life - but a purple squirrel?!!

WSBTV.com - Now this just about takes the biscuit - a shop-lifting dog caught on video!

Yahoo News - Now I don't think I've ever found anything really useful in a Christmas cracker; and I really felt quite jealous of this particular family at first! Nice ending to the story, however, as the 'windfall' was kindly returned to its rightful owner.

An Ink Saving Font

This is one of those ideas that it so simple it makes you wish you'd thought of it first.

Ecofont, as reported on the EcoGeek site, can save up to 20% of the ink when printing a page of text compared with a normal font. There is a link on the page to where you can download it for free.

Like all the best ideas, simple yet very effective.

Solar Powered Ship Launches In Japan

When I saw that headline, I thought to myself, wow, way to go; on opening the article from CBCNews, I have to admit that I felt a little crestfallen. Seems that the photovoltaics used to provide supplementary power to the vessel's 440V electrical system are capable of providing just 0.2% of the ship's energy consumption.

Ahhh so, grasshopper, remember that big trees from little acorns grow.

Impacts of the smoking ban

These seem to be rather open to debate and interpretation at the moment, as NHS spokespeople claim it has helped significantly, especially in helping people to quit (though if you look at the numbers, I find it difficult to figure out how they substantiate this claim), whilst other evidence suggests, well, exactly the opposite, especially amongst younger people.

And as our Gov ponders the banning of display advertising for all tobacco products, essentially making them a 'hidden behind the shelf commodity' ('anything for the weekend, sir?'), I will pass on this amusing (well, I found it amusing) little story from our local evening paper the other night. The correspondent wrote that he no longer ever visits any of his local pubs and bars because 'bad body odours' (yes, I know exactly what he means, someone with BO is now extremely noticeable) from other people make it insufferable for him to enjoy a beer any more. He makes the point that smoke at least obscured a lot of what he considers to be far worse smells. (To reinforce the point, when asked why she had stopped going to local nightclubs, my eldest surprisingly opined - 'they just stink of stale sweat, puke, and foul farts now, they're horrible places'. )

The thing is, as almost all teenagers are inately rebellious, putting a ban in place on anything seems almost always to encourage them to go against it anyway, doesn't it? But nanny state knows best. Ho hum.

A nail in the coffin of old king coal?

That's what some new scientific research reported by SoftPedia suggests; that coal is far more damaging in terms of CO2 emissions than is burning petroleum or gas.

"by burning fossil fuel, power plants emit 40 percent more deadly CO2 than facilities using natural gas or crude to generate electricity."

"by using oil and gas alone, humankind may be safe from the effects of global warming for a long time".

So we all have to give up burning coal. Hmmmm, I don't think it is going to be quite that simple, even though the evidence is slowly building up - see TreeHugger.

When targets achieve the opposite effect

Seems like the lack of thought behind setting targets has created yet another snafu where the exact opposite of what the target was required to do is happening.

In this particular case, as reported in the Telegraph, councils are rejecting more planning applications purely in order to guarantee that they win the maximum central government grants available.

"More local authorities were meeting the 13 week target set by Whitehall by simply rejecting an application or encouraging the developer to withdraw it. This meant that they qualified for the grant money."

At a time when the building development market has collapsed because of the recession, this is simply absolute madness!! And perhaps I now understand why a guy I know has had his application for a large wind turbine turned down, despite the fact that he lives high up in a remote spot, and none of his neighbours (a handful within a three mile radius) objected!

Just coincidence?

Well, I'll let you judge for yourselves ...... here are a few cards [Explanation later]:-

The Arctic is warming at a faster rate than the rest of the world - Telegraph.

Global coral reefs in seriously bad states - facing mass extinction - SoftPedia.

Global methane levels on the rise again - ABC Science.

More than 2 trillion tons of land ice in Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska have melted since 2003 - ABC News.

2008 has been the coolest year since 2000 (apparently due to La Nina), but the trend still shows warming and it was actually the 10th hottest year on record - Guardian.

I know we've had the coldest early winter for many years here in the UK, and they've had some horrendous ice storms in parts of the USA; but, to use an obtuse little analogy, if you were playing poker and these were your cards, wouldn't you begin to suspect that you'd got the makings of a pretty strong hand?

Telling it how it is?

This piece from Gwynne Dyer in Monday Morning is short, seemingly well and deeply researched, apparently factual (in as much as you have the right to believe what actually are, or maybe, facts; or not, as the case may be), and downright, well, to say the least, disturbing.

Read the "four harsh truths about climate change" and see if it depresses you as much as it did me.

Talking of targets ........

..... isn't it odd to note that our Gov is still failing to meet its own emissions reduction and renewables targets?

Reported on 24Dash.com.

A case of a classic own goal? Or yet another example of 'don't do as I do, do as I say'?

Here's the Telegraph's take on the same story.

Twenty Twenty Twenty (Deal or No Deal?)

With all the targets under discussion over in Poland, the number twenty does seem to appear with amazing regularity, as noted in this piece from the FT.

Talking about how to get the message across about global warming, especially now we are officially in a bad recession, the author makes a lot of good points, and there is little that one can disagree with.

Just love the concluding statement .... "The way to mobilise the masses is to recast the argument. Opportunity sells a lot better than do hair shirts."

And from the same publication, an interesting comment on the future of electric cars, or, perhaps the lack of one!

Update:
The deal in Poznan is finally agreed - see the Indy.

Looking through just what has been agreed, I can't really see anything much different to what was 'agreed' before. But it is interesting to note that Ireland has been offered 'concessions' in order to swing a second referendum vote on the Lisbon Treaty in its favour. Hmmm, the Irish get a second chance to vote on it and we still can't have even one?

And the EU deal is not enough, and too watered down, says OxFam.

Update - 15/12/08:
Hmmm. The Poznan 'deal' seems to have rather wound up Caroline Lucas! From today's Guardian letters.

And it looks like the 'deal' isn't going to do much to save the planet's remaining rain forests - reported in eGovMonitor.

Pick a pocket or two

DEFRA - The environment in your pocket

Looks fun... well if you're into that kind of thing. Hey, maybe there will be too many reapets on Tv to bear. Here's the blurb I got:

(DEFRA) The environment in your pocket 2008

The twelfth edition of The environment in your pocket is published today by Defra. This is an annual publication containing material on various environmental themes including climate change, air quality, waste and recycling, land, coastal and marine waters, radioactivity, wildlife and inland water. The main theme of this year's publication is climate change and a larger section has been devoted to topics relating to climate change.

It covers almost 60 key data series and focuses on providing trends over time, including performance against quantified targets and commitments set at the national and international level. It includes several environmental indicators of sustainable development.

Examples of facts and figures reported in the booklet include:

* 2007 was one of the warmest years on record with a mean Central England temperature 1.05degrees C above the1961-1990 average.

* In 2007 an average of 1,029 mm of rain fell across the UK, making it 12 per cent wetter than the 1961-1990 average.

* In 2007, 72 per cent of river lengths in England were of good biological quality and 76 per cent were of good chemical quality.

From those wonderful people who brought you...

Wrap defends bonuses for senior staff

Just wondering.

If public money is used for massive comms budgets that inevitably lead to increased public 'responses' (if this can be included in the term 'delivered the vast majority of its objectives' - is there a definition of what these were anywhere?) that in turn generate bonuses from the public purse for those who approved the expenditures in the first place, is there not a slight conflict of interest at work?

At the very least, the system would seem to 'encourage' anything the drives a bonus than what might actually serve our kids' futures on this planet a tad better.

Mind you, I simply can't comprehend any system that includes the concepts of 'bonuses' for public servants.

As it is seldom possible to 'make' anything, if it's based on financial performance the main way to effect 'savings' would seem to be through cuts, which is really not that tricky to do. And can prove less than satisfying to those public being 'served', as evidenced as here.

Targets, box-ticking and enviROIs

Kyoto is worthless (and you don't have to be a sceptic to believe that now)

I'm not a 'sceptic' (optimist). But I am not a total pessimist either.

Perhaps that's the problem. I still lack the conviction to get to the level of extremes that may be necessary.

However, those who would try to persuade the likes of me are a sorry bunch, as this piece suggests.

At least the activists are mostly sincere, if often frightening and, crucially, off putting in their self-belief.

But it is the highly paid pols and hangers on that really take the biscuit, and undermine any serious efforts to address the issue.

Kyoto was a rallying call, yet I read this: The EU has managed to claim success while increasing emissions by 13 per cent

Doesn't help, really.

Then we had Bali, when half the world flew to the other side of the world. That seemed to achieve little more than many of us noting how many went and how little they achieved.

Now we have Poznan.

And, as always these days, we seem to have a total belief in process over and above result.

NEWS/Commercial PR - Kids and the crunch. Figuratively, at least.

If there is one thing that is up there on the inevitability list along with death and taxes, it's the not so small fact that for a significant chunk of junior's early years you will be dealing with the consequences of the human alimentary process every day, 24/7, 365/365, Christmas and Boxing Day included.

Sorry for that thought. And on top of the sheer joy of all that is involved dealing with it, there is the mind-bending 'kerching!' every couple of hours on top.

Now we really can't do too much to mitigate this bonding moment except empathise (Junkk Male had twins and still bears the mental scars of being a trendy new age 90's daddy), but at least we might be able to pass on a little something to help those green-minded to also save a bit of green as they deal with it (sorry:).

PR as received, E&EO...

From birth to potty – The Pop-In has arrived! Close Parent – makers of The Pop-in Nappy and Close Baby Carrier – has launched a new website and to spread the word they are giving away 1000 Pop-In reusable nappies. There’s no catch – all you have to do is register your details and a nappy will be yours. But hurry, the offer is limited to the first 1000. One nappy per household.

This clever reusable nappy takes the best bits from all-in-one and two party nappy systems to create a unique nappy that is great value and so easy to use. The shaped nappy comes apart for easy washing and fast drying and simply poppers back together for speedy nappy changing. There’s no need for a waterproof wrap. It features double leg elastics, soft stretchy tabs and adjustable waistband for a snug fit and complete protection against leaks.

The Pop-In’s highly-absorbent and super slim inner soaker is made from naturally anti-bacterial and environmentally-friendly bamboo. That’s why it is so quick to dry. Also each nappy comes with an extra-absorbent nighttime booster pad for comfy, dry nights.

And the best bit about The Pop-In is that you only need to buy it once. The nappy has unique popper system that grows with your baby from birth to potty training, saving you time and money.

Available in five gorgeous colours – coconut, custard, pistachio, duck egg and pumpkin.

The Pop-In is priced at £15.00 for the starter pack of one Pop-In, one Dri-Night fitter booster and one liner. A multi-saver option costs £229.50 and consists of 20 nappies with six Dri-Night fitted boosters, two waterproof tote bags and 200 flushable liners.

Small tip to the wise.... very welcome to be sure, but best not make it an actual Xmas present. I speak from experience.

Hmmmn...

I usually these days avoid anything with the words 'climate change' or 'experts' in the headline,

Climate change experts 'lose faith' in renewable technology

...and this has both, but it also mentions renewables, so my interest was piqued.

On balance, I fear this rather makes my point that if one concedes the point that it is the public who at the end will make the difference (they decide on products and many vote, so that sorts out business and government), such lack of coherence and consistency from 'experts', especially those big upped and trashed daily within a very short period by the media and their activist story sources, is hardly likely to help much.

I read this piece.

However I couldn't be bothered to read, much less weigh in on the rest on the page... of a minority publication's blog, read and argued over by what I doubt is more than a few hundred.

However, the first might suggest some avenues of consideration..

Guardian - Nearly a billion people worldwide are starving, UN agency warns

Guardian - Cyberspace has buried its head in a cesspit of climate change gibberish

Guardian - Press the panic button

However, it does seem that some are making a good living out of their niche. I wonder what they spend it on? Well, other than flights to the USA 'while they can'.

Addendum

Gaurdian - It's official: China is the world's bigger polluter

Gaurdian - How to take action on climate change

RE:VIEW - Weather

Actually, another in a long list of 'pre'-reviews.

Just to acknowledge we got the thing and record a few first impressions before devoting a bit more serious time and effort to digesting it in totality

Title: Weather
By: The Met Office
Publisher: DK

pRE:view:

Actually, it looks like a nice little reference tome. Each page is a mix of text, photography and illustration, and the chapters suggest a nice read from history to the latest science.

RE:VIEW - The Environment Equation

Title: The Environment Equation
By: Alex Shimo-Barry
Publisher: New Holland Publishers

pRE:view: At first blush, it looks quite simple, which may be a good thing.

Split into categories, it's essentially a page per 'action', with a carbon number attached.

To what extent one really gets a handle on what one is doing, the consequences and how to effect any changes, remains to be seen.

But it looks an easy, light read.

Junkk Rating: tba

AWARD - Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneur Awards

WHEN: 23rd February 2009
WHAT: Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneur Awards
WHAT... MORE?: Check URL.
HOW MUCH: LOOKS FREE
URL: http://entrepreneurs.bankofscotland.co.uk/social/how_it_works.html
COMMENTS: Well, it seems worth a go. Lots to gain; little to lose.

Addendum - I did... plain forgot the deadline! Mind you, I was surprised they still had the money:)...;(

Plain foot in it?

Top anti-aviation activist secretly FLIES to airport protest in New York

A bit like the bowl of petunias in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, when this protest first broke, I thought: 'Oh no, here we go again'.

Frankly I think they achieve little more than giving the media a reason to get excited, those not involved breath a sigh of relief to have dodged a bullet, and those who very much are involved to err on being a tad miffed.

I was a little concerned when I heard this latest wheeze explained away by a senior activist (do they have 'ranks' like the military?) on the basis that they'd done a petition, had another protest and so it had become necessary to 'escalate'. Hmn. I wonder if there are any salaries, or at least donation-uses, that require a rather shorter timescale than in the past to satisfy the internal demands more than anything else?

So we come back to my eternal point about the right messengers for the message.

Not sure this has advanced the cause, really. A bit like causing vast disruption to a finely tuned system, which doubtless mainly resulted in many more emissions.

Hope she got some nice gifts in NY. It would have been a shame if the flight had been cancelled for such a critical trip.

Guardian - NEW - Lily savaged - The mouths of babes? A new media darling emerges. I just worry a tad about the allusions to taking things further if 'they' don't get 'their' way.

BBC - NEW - A distant climate - for a buffet of irony

From a blog (unconfirmed), to the news that the group is financed by the Lush founder: 'Yet, there is a Lush store at terminal 3, heathrow'.

Ancient technique helps with modern problem

It looks like our forebears knew a thing or two that we seem to have forgotten in modern times.

" Scientists have revealed that an ancient plowing technique can be successfully employed in the fight against global warming and climate change. Burying charred plants into the soil during plowing season virtually stores them indefinitely, while at the same time provides cultures with an abundant source of fertilizers that can maximize production."

The technique buries biochar into the ground, trapping carbon dioxide in the soil for potentially thousands of years; sort of an ancient form of carbon sequestration.

Full story from SoftPediaNews.

My one question is - how much CO2 is released as stuff is partly burnt to produce the biochar?

Support your local (second use) artists

Modern art, not rubbish

Whilst beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and 'awareness' always de rigueur, one can find it in art that also serves a function..

It also tends to send out a more second-useful message on reuse, too.

Built-in obsolescence - the irony years?

General Motors and Chrysler could save the industry with unreliable cars

My Volvo is ten years old and so long as I don't wrap it round a tree and keep up the regular maintenance see no reason for it not to do ten more.

The leather seats have coped with all twins (reason for buying) could throw at them, and aside from a few dings the bodywork has no sign (yet) of the first bubbles of rust that heralded the end of my previous cars.

The only issue is the mpg. So I'm looking at an LPG conversion.

So I'd like to thank the car industry for at last making them to last, though I am sorry how it seems to be working out for them now.

Here's hoping there is not a business lesson being learned (and not in a good way) that may come back to haunt the consumer... and planet... in time to come.

Messengers, messages and media

Green solutions to recession
The environment is more important than ever and its campaigners must ditch those fancy buzzwords

Couldn't agree more with most of the sentiments expressed (by author and posters).

But when dealing with a public whose plate is already quite full, and not that attractive, I'd also advocate (even though in many cases it may not be easy, if indeed possible) less bathing in guilt, scare, threat and nanny, especially from comfortably funded, well-travelled pedestals. Hence quoting the positive, proactive ideas such as the insulation aspect of the Green New Deal is more than welcome.

So long as it's appreciated that a wee bit of pragmatic honesty might also not go amiss, either.

Tough times can indeed require tough talk and maybe tougher solutions, but let's remember that not all that is green can or should be viewed only in black and white, and while much that is green is good, there are many areas where a degree of caution may still serve communications, establishment of trust with the public/consumer, and our kids' futures just as well as a more typical default 'ban this/build that' demand.

Very often the enviROI can be tricky one to assess. But when it's proven - without 'twiddly bits' (subsidies, idealised deliverables, impossible maintenance commitments, wistful international cooperations, etc) included or avoided to 'help' make things seem more attractive, but with clear advantages to planet and (hopefully, in time) pocket clearly spelled out - the sell to the individual facing everything from pay cuts to cost of living hikes might not be so tricky.

Or... keep on with what most have been doing 'til now. I'm sure it can be argued that it's all been good stuff, but I'm not sure that to date many are yet buying what's been tried so far. So maybe a change could indeed be in order. It might still take an impressive shift in mindset in some quarters, though.

"Any GM crops in this?"

"No sir, we don't use GM food sources at all in any of our products!"

Under breath, so as not to be heard - "we only use radiation modified crops".

Now I'd heard about radiation modification, but didn't realise just how widespread and what big business it had become. It seems that the use of mutagens can accelerate natural selection processes dramatically. And many of us have almost certainly being eating radiation modified foodstuffs for quite a while.

Some 30% of the Mekong Delta's one million hectares of rice-growing area is planted with VND95-20, a radiation modified species, which is resistant to saline conditions.

Despite some of the rather worrying terminology used (mutants, induced mutation, Gamma rays!) this technology has been around for donkey's years and yet seems to have eluded the radar of the world's NIMBYs.

Full story from IrinNews - very interesting stuff - looks like it could certainly help in a world with far too many mouths to feed.

CATEGORY - XMAS Fare

Christmas is coming, the geese (well everyone making a green buck) are going to get fat...

I have decided to kick off a festive thread with things that pass my way that can spread the cheer... and lighten the load:

General Tips

Gaurdian - A-Z of tips for a green Christmas

Cards

Send an e-card this Christmas with Envirowise - not reviewed as yet

Campaign aims to recycle 100m Christmas cards - still unsure what's wrong with the weekly kerbside recycle bin. But hey-ho, let's pop off to the supermarket then!

Gift tags - I'm doing/have done a separate blog on this to attempt to address the various other eco considerations. So this is just a home DIY link that does still use power, ink and paper.

Gifts

Guardian - Avoiding unsustainable Christmas gifts - nice in theory. Do they have kids? Kids who do not watch TV? Who do not have friends? But some nice ideas as you 'de-tune'. I must say the poster who suggested they don't use the same paper to flog coffee makers that use individual plastic pots has a point.

Guardian - Should I send a cow this Christmas?

Lights

Guardian - Low-carbon Christmas lights

Online

Recycling website offers free Christmas presents - No URL, but I'm sure it's track-downable

Trees

Recycle your Christmas tree - our falsie has done us 15 years and counting, mind

Guardian - NEW - Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree

As always, if you'd like to share, let me know and I'll add 'em here too.

Ho, ho, ho.

Cars of the future?

An interesting look at vehicles of the future, from CNN.

Hmmmm. I didn't realise that Toyota was losing money on each Prius sold.

Rain stopped play, ironically?

Will you join London's climate march?

Mixed feelings on this one. No, I won't be there, as it's in London. But if any readers are around... I have shared.

Also she rather raises a key point. Versus X-Factor, Strictly Come Dancing and the financial crisis, is calling all to a march, whilst very people power, democratic and all, really going to motivate the masses?

Maybe effort might be better spent emulating these despised icons of modern day life and finding something like them that does get more people to care and enough to join together in making a difference? I also have a slight 'thing' about being 'against' climate change, which really is a rather sloppy rallying call. The climate changes. What is a possible problem is the way 'we' are not helping it do so, in severity and frequency. Such muddled articulations can compromise a lot of goodwill and start pushing into agenda-driven activist territory.

Kinda cute that a poster needs to help a dedicated environmental beat journalist with making more of the whole where and when thing. Almost like she lives in her own little bubble with all her green mates, eh?

Considerations

Commercial schools

Small businesses do face very tough times (letters, 1 December). I am not the owner of a small business but a former teacher, and I strongly object to the large banners hanging on the walls or railings of innumerable junior schools, announcing that the school is collecting vouchers for one supermarket chain or another. Schools are demeaning themselves by allowing themselves to be used as advertising hoardings, and schools should not disadvantage parents who are the owners of small businesses, by giving the impression that supermarkets are the obvious place to shop.

Or, should I say... dilemmas.

Having just, with our Voucher Tree efforts, been complicit in such an effort, This has given me cause to ponder.

I must say that, when we were doing the publicity, we considered using just such a poster on a railing to highlight our collection efforts, and everyone agreed that they did not deserve the publicity. Interesting that such a 'poster site' would usually be subject to a lot of planning, and even more money if not 'in a good cause'. It seems I am not the only one who can be cynical.

Corked

A small piece on BBC Breakfast which typifies why I feel the whole sorry news, and especially science & tech.. er... environment* aspects are now less than worthless.

It was on.. corks.

In the (lightly nutty with a hint of spice) red corner we have a luvvie oenophile, for whom no bottle should cost less than £100 and be 'tainted'.

In the green corner, we have some bloke on about some bit of fauna being eradicated if the cork tree orchards are converted to other uses.

Now, I will leave out the majority of the 'debate', and my feelings on the matter, because my concern was with the conduct of the moderators.

Even when the two 'experts' were accusing each other of being plain wrong and/or being strangers to the truth, the response was 'oh, well, we're running out of time, you two sort it out later'.

No.... I was trying to arrive at a view and was left with an unresolved petty spat. This is supposed to be a news programme; not Jerry Springer.

* (there's been a name change, apparently. Why? While there are cross-overs they are distinct topics)

Greenhouse gas update

All this greenhouse gas argument; is it all a load of hot air?

Well, not according to this from NatureNews, which indicates that levels of greenhouse gases are continuing to rise, and are doing so in line with the IPCC's oft maligned forecasts.

And from the same source, an article on how Methane is released from areas of tundra even after the start of the winter re-freeze.

OK, we simply do not know what the future impacts might be, but does anyone else, like me, find such facts and figures rather disturbing?

Yet another species extinction....

....appears to have occurred. This time the Australian white lemuroid possum. Full story from the Telegraph.

Now (as I sit and freeze in my under-insulated office, with snow lying on the ground outside and a minimum of -4.5C last night) whether you believe in anthropogenic caused [or enhanced] global warming or not, it is clear that something is happening to our little lump of rock, and it don't seem to be too good.

Zero-carbon homes

These don't appear to be doing too well at the moment according to this from EDIE.

Just 15 new homes that meet the Gov's definition of zero-carbon have been built in the last 12 months, despite the backing of £15 Million of taxpayers money.

Hmmm, perhaps they need to think about redefining just what zero-carbon actually means?

Meanwhile, there are those (see this piece from AlterNet.org) who think that total decarbonisation is the only possible way forward. Sounds rather overtly radical to me, but what do I know?

Surprised?

At what?

That the EU has backed down on the CO2 emission targets for new vehicles.

Well, I, for one, am not at all. It just shows what power big automotive industries still have over our Pols, elected or otherwise.

• CO2 goals relaxed
• Car makers now have until 2015 to hit 130g/km
• Niche car makers such as Jaguar Land Rover exempt

Full story from What Car.

One man's myth...

Worth sharing... but I suggest with cranked eyebrows cocked if necessary.

The 10 big energy myths

Especially as there is a book available.

Some are well worth noting. But, as with all things, just becuase there are clear cases of a good enviROI, it does not mean one does not challenge all others to prove themselves first.

Fancy being one of the 3,000?

UK set to trial 'smart fridges' - 3,000 refrigerators, which adapt their power use to the ebb and flow of demand, are to be given away

Me too.

Thing is, there doesn't seem to be any mention of how 'we' apply.

Maybe it's 'in-house'... as in the houses of those sharing the burden along with 'us'?

We have a smart freezer already. It accumulates food way past safety dates, then frosts up and leaves the door ajar so it all spoils and we throw it away.

I can see tough. But why tougher than anyone else?

A first test for the other Miliband

Not sure that the rest of the piece's optimism is justified.

Logic Free?

Or, at least consistency.

As domestic sales are trying to be boosted, and with an in theory commitment to the environment, I am unsure as to why the government and BBC is promoting flying overseas to buy iPods and bring back 16 litres of extra weight, duty free, in a plane.

Indy - Duty-free allowances double, thanks to Brown

Newsnight -

I'm still getting to grips with the logic of trumpeting encouragement to fly overseas to bring back an extra 16 kilos as an assist to economy and environment....

"Bing bong! We will shortly be bringing around the Duty Free bowser. Please have your credit cards ready. An additional irony-free amount may be deducted for lugging all this extra on board to satisfy newly-created demand, and then pad a few carbon credit schemes concocted between Brussels, Westminster and the City. Thank yew! Bing bong"

It must all add up somewhere.

I was an engineer once. Then I became an ad man (sadly no qualifications that get you in or on TV news commenting on 'stuff' in any form).

But I do have an ability to be inspired by substance, and also sniff out when the smoke and mirrors are being deployed (and not to focus the power of illumination).

At the moment... erring on the latter.

My poor kids.

Gaurdian - End of the party
This a brave, bold step and Gordon Brown is to be congratulated for taking it

Well, some might still see it that way.

Much like this glowing report, from another Friend of Gordon:

Duty-free allowances double, thanks to Brown

Now, remind me. How does flying to another country, buying their stuff and lugging an extra 16 kilos back here help our economy and the planet?

Oh Lor, summit all up

Faiths in climate change summit

I guess they have to meet somewhere to discuss and ...er..act (They aim to set a manifesto to encourage..). But really, I'd love to know the carbon consequence of all these 'summits'.

I wonder if Aunty has sent a team, too?

Thinking of boxes... another way

It's been a dodgy week at the end of a dodgy month. Time for some levity.

'Thinking outside the box' is most despised business jargon

Of course, some us spend more time thinking about the box.

Pushing the envelope is evil