Greenbang: We’re all about news, not nonsense
And here's some other thoughts on that:
Gordon Kelly (via ShinyKatie) What pompous anti-PR self important journalist crap: "If it’s not news, we’re not interested" [thx genius]
As one who can see both sides of the coin, especially having been at and trying to promote a show, I tend to err on the notion of 'if you can't say anything good, shut the heck up', but will try and be more productive with : 'If it grabs you, great. If not, there is always the delete key'.
What I mostly witnessed last week by way of the great and good of the media world at 'work' was enough to reduce one to tears, and not just in frustration.
Our 4th estate is mainly just in a state, and for one to try and presume they have a higher ground above others, especially those simply trying to work with them in the cause of sharing a story with a potentially interested audience is... 'quaint'.
I can see Greenbang are trying to correct the fact that most 'news' is anything but, and most reporting is press releases rebranded or tat that will get ratings, and all with near zero thought from 'reporters' or 'editors', but I'd say they have chosen the wrong targets and in the wrong way.
And are now reaping the 'benefits'.
Addendum:
Didn't take long for the first example of our highly professional modern 'news' media at work to arrive:
Girls and Boys were not so alone in Channel 4 reality show
Monday, October 19, 2009
Junkk - ANSWERS
You may know that Junkk.com has a prominent 'Answers' section.
It occurs to me there may be value in listing as they come along (and I am reminded to upload from the archive) various sources of potential information...
Times - Green and Confused - via Environment - accessed via greenandconfused@thetimes.co.uk
Treehugger - Ask Pablo - Send your questions to Pablo(at)TreeHugger.com
It occurs to me there may be value in listing as they come along (and I am reminded to upload from the archive) various sources of potential information...
Times - Green and Confused - via Environment - accessed via greenandconfused@thetimes.co.uk
Treehugger - Ask Pablo - Send your questions to Pablo(at)TreeHugger.com
CATEGORY - POOH CORNER
There has been one waiting on the site since its genesis.
Can't believe I haven't added a blog complement to collate them 'til now.
Warning - Eat lunch afterwards.
Articles
Greenbang - Dung: It’s not waste, it’s fuel
Hepune - NEW - The Scoop on Poop
Suppliers
Ellie Pooh
Can't believe I haven't added a blog complement to collate them 'til now.
Warning - Eat lunch afterwards.
Articles
Greenbang - Dung: It’s not waste, it’s fuel
Hepune - NEW - The Scoop on Poop
Suppliers
Ellie Pooh
Talking the talk, walking the dog
A few decades back, a Unipart commercial scrolled up my TV screen and then, at the end, proudly exclaimed: 'The answer's yes... now what's the question?'.
Now I return to these shores after a career spanning the world, it would be 'The answer is no, as it might go wrong and I'll be blamed'.
And after waaaay too many sessions (funded by the taxpayer) with various quangos and their employees, despite their being in an ideal position to matchmake complementary talents, they all still give me 5 half days just to drop dosh on me so long as I tick a box, and totally fail to understand that what makes innovation pay is a team that takes creation to sale; and not every good idea is generated by a person capable of, much less skilled in drawing up 10 year projections that suggest targets that need to be set but never met once signed off.
Now I return to these shores after a career spanning the world, it would be 'The answer is no, as it might go wrong and I'll be blamed'.
And after waaaay too many sessions (funded by the taxpayer) with various quangos and their employees, despite their being in an ideal position to matchmake complementary talents, they all still give me 5 half days just to drop dosh on me so long as I tick a box, and totally fail to understand that what makes innovation pay is a team that takes creation to sale; and not every good idea is generated by a person capable of, much less skilled in drawing up 10 year projections that suggest targets that need to be set but never met once signed off.
RP - BOGOF (later)
SIR –
Tesco wants to help prevent food wastage by allowing customers to collect their “2 for 1” offers on separate days (report, October 17). Why not just reduce the price of one packet?
Marketing, my poor Ms. Lamb, marketing. It's all about selling, not saving. And if looking like you are saving sells more, then so be it.
That said, I grudgingly concede this 'BTN' (better than nothing) status.
Too many rotting apples at the bottom of our BOGOF barrel.
Tesco wants to help prevent food wastage by allowing customers to collect their “2 for 1” offers on separate days (report, October 17). Why not just reduce the price of one packet?
Marketing, my poor Ms. Lamb, marketing. It's all about selling, not saving. And if looking like you are saving sells more, then so be it.
That said, I grudgingly concede this 'BTN' (better than nothing) status.
Too many rotting apples at the bottom of our BOGOF barrel.
RP - Junkk Male reposts Junk Mail
SIR –
Ninety-four per cent (by weight) of the mail I receive is unsolicited junk. I am threatened with fines and a criminal record if I do not spend my time correctly sorting this rubbish, which adds enormously to landfill and recycling.
The Government could easily require all junk mail to bear a mark, so that those who do not want it could “opt out” from receiving it, while still receiving genuine mail. Of course, the Government won’t do this because the Royal Mail depends on junk mail for its survival. It is one vast, ecologically unfriendly rip-off.
Which is why what comes out of the mouths of most of our pols and WUVI media remoras in their thrall, is hardly worth the paper it's wasted on.
Ninety-four per cent (by weight) of the mail I receive is unsolicited junk. I am threatened with fines and a criminal record if I do not spend my time correctly sorting this rubbish, which adds enormously to landfill and recycling.
The Government could easily require all junk mail to bear a mark, so that those who do not want it could “opt out” from receiving it, while still receiving genuine mail. Of course, the Government won’t do this because the Royal Mail depends on junk mail for its survival. It is one vast, ecologically unfriendly rip-off.
Which is why what comes out of the mouths of most of our pols and WUVI media remoras in their thrall, is hardly worth the paper it's wasted on.
BLESS
Patrician Scotland
Truly, a 'Government Of All Talents'
I guess we get what we pay (though the nose) for.
Truly, a 'Government Of All Talents'
I guess we get what we pay (though the nose) for.
It... was... good to be back
Gordon Brown to warn of heatwaves and flooding if climate change deal fails
I already have a problem with this new reporting trend of telling us what folk 'will say'.
And hence, when I switched on a wee while ago to hear him saying it, I was even more crushed by the clunkiness of the message than its mere delivery managed.
The man is the kiss of death to any decent message on any worthy topic.
Telegraph - Forget Al Gore: Gordon Brown is the new Scaremonger in Chief - at least Al Gore has been concerned consistently for decades. As opposed to the last few sound bites.
Ch 4 - NEW - an email intro: CLIMATE CHANGE
Having saved the world from economic disaster, Gordon Brown has set forth to save the climate change summit in Copenhagen.
He has hijacked an economic forum of leaders gathered in London to deliver a speech in which he declares "there are 50 days to save the climate".
It comes at a time when the possibility that America might just manage to come up with some serious measures in time for Copenhagen, is becoming stronger.
Tonight, the chances that Copenhagen will either be scuppered or succeed. We will be talking live to Washington for an assessment of where the critical votes in the US senate now lie.
PM warns of 'catastrophic' climate future: http://bit.ly/1OZ0MB
Copenhagen: deal or no deal?: http://bit.ly/1nYnM8
I already have a problem with this new reporting trend of telling us what folk 'will say'.
And hence, when I switched on a wee while ago to hear him saying it, I was even more crushed by the clunkiness of the message than its mere delivery managed.
The man is the kiss of death to any decent message on any worthy topic.
Telegraph - Forget Al Gore: Gordon Brown is the new Scaremonger in Chief - at least Al Gore has been concerned consistently for decades. As opposed to the last few sound bites.
Ch 4 - NEW - an email intro: CLIMATE CHANGE
Having saved the world from economic disaster, Gordon Brown has set forth to save the climate change summit in Copenhagen.
He has hijacked an economic forum of leaders gathered in London to deliver a speech in which he declares "there are 50 days to save the climate".
It comes at a time when the possibility that America might just manage to come up with some serious measures in time for Copenhagen, is becoming stronger.
Tonight, the chances that Copenhagen will either be scuppered or succeed. We will be talking live to Washington for an assessment of where the critical votes in the US senate now lie.
PM warns of 'catastrophic' climate future: http://bit.ly/1OZ0MB
Copenhagen: deal or no deal?: http://bit.ly/1nYnM8
Sunday, October 18, 2009
QUOTE OF THE DAY - One man's...
"It's only funny if someone else laughs along"
Me (again... until suggested otherwise... again)
Me (again... until suggested otherwise... again)
QUOTE OF THE DAY - Last rights:0
"It's always good to have a laugh. Especially when it's the last one"
(Me... until suggested otherwise)
(Me... until suggested otherwise)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The things we do to get noticed
I'm learning lessons still.
Expensive ones.
The drive in to Ally Pally was smooth enough, thanks to the Sat Nav.
So I arrived at about 11am. But it took me to gone 2pm to set up.
Yet another Junkk stand high on reuse but low on ease of use.
I'll post a picture if I can get this lappy to find the drivers for my ancient mobile/camera.
Still, it could have been worse; come media time half the stands were still bare. Seems the visa guys had not smiled on most of the overseas exhibitors.
So you might imagine that would have given me a clear shot at the London media.
Not a bit of it. These guys do not arrive and find out. They arrive at expect to be guided.
Hence... next time hire a local savvy PR.
The number of times a promising opportunity got missed as a brisk, brusque lady in a black suit arrived with a clipboard and told the journos where to go next.
But I did my best. A BBC guy (I think) called Graham Satchel gave me a few minutes, but didn't 'get it'.
A reporter from The Sun took some samples and promised to come back with his photographer, but didn't. I really wanted a slot in a tabloid.
Next lesson of PR: don't let them escape!
My best shot is with GMTV. The upside is a possible understudy slot during tomorrow's Breakfast Show. The downside is being there at 5am... 'in case'. That has meant finding a local B&B (£65!) and a 4am alarm call.
Ah, well, it's certainly not 9 to 5 in the conventional sense I guess!
Play it forward
Hope I got that right.
Not sure if I will be able/have the time to blog over the next few days, so as I head out into the still dark morning (and a series of rush hour nightmares) I share this:
The best shop in London
Here's to those who do, and do so in the best of ways, with the best of intentions.
Next stop... Ally Pally, London!
Do come and visit.
Not sure if I will be able/have the time to blog over the next few days, so as I head out into the still dark morning (and a series of rush hour nightmares) I share this:
The best shop in London
Here's to those who do, and do so in the best of ways, with the best of intentions.
Next stop... Ally Pally, London!
Do come and visit.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Breathing space
Just about to set off, in glorious sun, to the BIS show, when I discover that today is the set up for the big boys.
Tomorrow morning, just before the media arrive, is when we minnows get to play.
M40... do not do your usual at 8am .... pleeeeease:)
The upside is I do get to kiss the missus Happy Birthday tomorrow morning.
The down side is... I am now meddling.
One, thanks to prodding from IT guru David at sound-i, is to create a competition to encourage sign-ups from visitors. Hence, if you come along, you stand a chance to win one of two awesome eco-prizes!
Well, some dryer balls or a bin thing that kinda looks like a huge RE:tie.
As to the rest.... well, with luck there will be some constructive critics in next-door stalls.
And with no 'leccy (too tight to spring for that), I am also wondering if I have enough time to get down the shed and knock of this awesome baby to run my PC:
Pedal-Powered OLPC Laptop for Kids in Afghanistan
Beats standing around all day:) Might even lose the paunch.
What goes up...
Junkk is not just about incentive/reward in matters green.
It is also about fun.
Hence, a big up to....
http://www.rolighetsteorin.se/?q=expriment/pianotrappan
Hat tip: Make it and Mend it
It is also about fun.
Hence, a big up to....
http://www.rolighetsteorin.se/?q=expriment/pianotrappan
Hat tip: Make it and Mend it
Monday, October 12, 2009
Junkk in Action!
Mad panics getting the stand designed.
Even more getting it assembled to check, and then disassembled to pack in the car.
And it's at this point I realise how brittle my precious RE:tie prototypes are.
Enter Junkk.com!
In a celebration of the concept, the perfect container is found.
QUOTE OF THE DAY - sticks and stones
Feeling a bit battered.
But have to get used to it. Being short and half-Scots means that if I don't agree with something, I am usually moved to say so.
I am just surprised at how many seem to see the only way to 'win' an argument is to take the most extreme position... and then stay there no matter what.
"The complete absence of doubt makes for reassuringly impressive armour in the cut and thrust of debate. That is, until an opponent exposes even the merest chink in it."
Perhaps the problem is more that such folk are more interesting in not just 'winning arguments' but totally dominating them over getting stuff done and/or moving on.
I would leave them to it, but these guys to seem to have a stranglehold on the narrative and seem to be proving a real barrier to progress.
If the public gets its head around positive, proactive green initiatives that do not pose significant impositions but do save planet and pocket, then the opportunity exists to move them on, through honest explanation and persuasion, to further measures as they become clear and present as 'dangers' if not addressed.
But using absolutist language to justify either not doing a thing or throwing everything including the kitchen sink down a enviROI-free green hole will not work for me from either 'side', and I will feel obliged to speak out when total commitment to one or other is demanded with no allowance for rational doubts.
But have to get used to it. Being short and half-Scots means that if I don't agree with something, I am usually moved to say so.
I am just surprised at how many seem to see the only way to 'win' an argument is to take the most extreme position... and then stay there no matter what.
"The complete absence of doubt makes for reassuringly impressive armour in the cut and thrust of debate. That is, until an opponent exposes even the merest chink in it."
Perhaps the problem is more that such folk are more interesting in not just 'winning arguments' but totally dominating them over getting stuff done and/or moving on.
I would leave them to it, but these guys to seem to have a stranglehold on the narrative and seem to be proving a real barrier to progress.
If the public gets its head around positive, proactive green initiatives that do not pose significant impositions but do save planet and pocket, then the opportunity exists to move them on, through honest explanation and persuasion, to further measures as they become clear and present as 'dangers' if not addressed.
But using absolutist language to justify either not doing a thing or throwing everything including the kitchen sink down a enviROI-free green hole will not work for me from either 'side', and I will feel obliged to speak out when total commitment to one or other is demanded with no allowance for rational doubts.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
One swallow does not a summer make
... and I have managed to become the anti-christ of two extremes of the 'climate' debate.
Simultaneously!
I could see where this was going...
The BBC’s amazing U-turn on climate change
...and decided to pitch in and make a case for the middle ground (whilst trying to point out to the extremes that the whole issue is highly complex and waaay above petty tribal tallies... such as trying to claim a single BBC report is a 'U-turn'*) but also firmly staking out how I think it is too important to be left any more to the various protagonists who have pitched in so far.
Of course it is but a small aspect of a very complex overall debate.
However, it comes at a point when public trust is being demanded from some quarters that have less than stellar records in this regard, in the run up to some fairly honking great decisions with some hefty, long term price tags attached.
I personally believe the climate is changing, and for the worse, and that ‘we’ sure as heck are not helping so it’s well worth proceeding with caution and mitigating sensibly wherever and whenever we can.
Just as the penned words of one media employee mean diddly squat to the totality, what I write here is NOT support for the ‘all is fine’ brigade to keep on as they have, but I fully concede that a few rather high profile, possibly well-meaning eco types have tried to have their cake and eat it, and it’s gone off.
We need new advocates. But seeing how comfortable most of the ‘green elite’ have become, I am not hopeful.
Because I believe, to date, the communication of the issues to the public (who are key) have been totally mismanaged by usually self-selected cabals in support of often unelected but usually totally inept / scientifically -ignorant / lobbyphilic / target-centric complementary boxtickocracies in the politico / activist / quango / media establishment who can come up with such as this:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6867046.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=1515793
‘Climate change sceptics are to be targeted in a hard-hitting [£6M - that would buy a lot of winter insulation, just as $35M from some other awareness-addicted clowns would buy a few water wells http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8300374.stm ] government advertising campaign that will be the first to state unequivocally that Man is causing global warming and endangering life on Earth.
If the Copenhagen missions from other countries are guided by equal groupings, then the planet is well and truly stuffed.
You persuade through the power of your argument and being honest, un-hypocritical and clear with your audience. The powers that be are now highly compromised in this regard, having been mostly addicted to policies of fine, frighten, guilt and threat too often in pursuit of power and control over legitimate issues of concern that do need addressing. And have been waaaay too cavalier in boosting anything that served their causes. Especially whilst conveniently ignoring a bunch of other stuff which was either too hard or didn’t involve a tariff or taxable offset.
http://www.panda.org/wwf_news/news/?uNewsID=176141
http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2009/10/11/how-much-rainforest-is-destroyed-each-day/
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/10/european-union-corrupt-african-governments-block-stronger-redd-scheme.php?dcitc=th_rss
And now it’s all coming back to bite ‘em on the tush they’ll be screaming ist/zi/inger like Milliband. D when he doesn’t get the pudding he wanted at his birthday party.
I want a better planet for my kids, but I am not prepared to consign them to living it in a small box eating Soylent Green and not going anywhere. Because all that mindset buys is a bit more time.
We need better, more creative minds on this.
All the current batch have managed to do is to make my job a ton more difficult, as I spend all my waking hours DOING stuff on ways to reduce waste and improve efficiencies.
It’s saving planet AND pocket. But even with those clear plusses the audience needs to feel the effort is worth it. Stuff like this either confuses them or puts them off, and gets the door slammed in my face, and those like me.
I can already feel the ‘traitor to the cause’ knives sharpening, but crushing other views has backfired at near every turn, and I think, for the sake of my kids, to save the tree we need to cut out the dead wood and start again.
Heaven knows how, but the alternative status quo under the current regimes is a dead-end creek that stinks.
It got noticed, but not always in a good way:( So I hope this comes across as suitably firm in rejection of partisan demands, but fair:
I have a a dream, and that is meeting the Marketing Director Kellogg’s to pitch my idea for making all their cereal packs reusable.
And I’ll kick off by saying ‘It would all just be junk but for that extra Special K’
That way everyone involved (brand, customer and me) can make money and help the future.
I prefer to go for incentive and reward. Seems to be more reliable.
If you’d like to debate any points I’m making I’m cool. But if it’s playing with names and my calling… not so much.
Just off a BBC post board where some climate change ‘enthusiasts’ (hard to get a snappy descriptor that is accurate and/or not a silly pejorative) reckon those who don’t follow their ‘way’ blindly need to be jailed.
It gets heated. And it seems like too many prefer that to illumination.
Not interested.
Ah well, off now to visit Mum in her home to tell her all we have done this week with Junkk and are going to DO next. Peace will reign. Briefly.
Nowt like being an equal opportunity offender.
*Telegraph
One swallow does not a summer make.
So I do wonder if it is fair, or accurate, to totally project the reporting of but one employee onto the ‘views’ of a corporation, not that ‘they’ should have ‘views’ one way or t’other in the first place. part of the problem, I suspect.
As one interested, I am not clear as to Mr. Hudson’s status, at least as ‘its’ climate change correspondent.
There are surely others in the ‘reporting/corresponding/editing mix (Harrabin, Black, etc), so do they enjoy other, semantically different and hence significant titles, and no specific brief on this odd, rather hard to pin-down entity… climate change?
There is however significance to be sure to be read into the fact that this solo chap’s piece has been seen to stray from… well… best not to get into that.
I sense others have the time and energy to square off on the consequences in days to come.
Addendum: Yet more form the funny farm. There really seems a need on the parst of soem that you offer total fealty to their respective religions. Spooky.
In this day and age, is having your own mind so scary to some?
Still with worrying about the who and less worried with the what of the discussion, eh?
Oddly, just like that other interesting bunch over at Richard Black's (another BBC green/eco climate/whatever reporter/correspendent/editor/whatever (I am sure the difference matters... to someone) who seem so emboldened with the... ahem.. 'success' of a certain Ms. Abbess with Roger Harrabin (another BBC, etc) they seem to figure they, and only they are 'the way', and any dissent is to be dealt with harshly.
I tend to follow a less certain, less dogmatic line. And in a sad era of a need to belong to a tribe, it's my own.
The extra feedback JustinXS and geofftheref on the main protagonist is appreciated and encouraging. I have long had more than a concern that events were being interpreted, narratives enhanced and represenations made fair by folk whose popular reach was not quite matched by their qualifications in matters of scientific investigation and explanation. Mr. Hudson seems a rare, and most welcome exception to the 'rule'. Still just 'a' bloke, mind.
Can't speak for t'other (seems very nice) fellow I seem to be associated with coincidentally on the basis of no more than names with two k's, but since you asked so nicely... oh.. you didn't.
So, sorry, cannot find it in me to oblige:)
It's kind of weird to find myself as an equal opportunity 'offender', as by my stance I seem to have incurred the attention, and ire, of both climate optimists AND pessimists (the best non-judgmental descriptor I can muster for the two bookend camps for whom 'you are either with us or against us' seem shared mantras) simultaneously.
Which is quite a feat, if one thinks about it.
Simultaneously!
I could see where this was going...
The BBC’s amazing U-turn on climate change
...and decided to pitch in and make a case for the middle ground (whilst trying to point out to the extremes that the whole issue is highly complex and waaay above petty tribal tallies... such as trying to claim a single BBC report is a 'U-turn'*) but also firmly staking out how I think it is too important to be left any more to the various protagonists who have pitched in so far.
Of course it is but a small aspect of a very complex overall debate.
However, it comes at a point when public trust is being demanded from some quarters that have less than stellar records in this regard, in the run up to some fairly honking great decisions with some hefty, long term price tags attached.
I personally believe the climate is changing, and for the worse, and that ‘we’ sure as heck are not helping so it’s well worth proceeding with caution and mitigating sensibly wherever and whenever we can.
Just as the penned words of one media employee mean diddly squat to the totality, what I write here is NOT support for the ‘all is fine’ brigade to keep on as they have, but I fully concede that a few rather high profile, possibly well-meaning eco types have tried to have their cake and eat it, and it’s gone off.
We need new advocates. But seeing how comfortable most of the ‘green elite’ have become, I am not hopeful.
Because I believe, to date, the communication of the issues to the public (who are key) have been totally mismanaged by usually self-selected cabals in support of often unelected but usually totally inept / scientifically -ignorant / lobbyphilic / target-centric complementary boxtickocracies in the politico / activist / quango / media establishment who can come up with such as this:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6867046.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=1515793
‘Climate change sceptics are to be targeted in a hard-hitting [£6M - that would buy a lot of winter insulation, just as $35M from some other awareness-addicted clowns would buy a few water wells http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8300374.stm ] government advertising campaign that will be the first to state unequivocally that Man is causing global warming and endangering life on Earth.
If the Copenhagen missions from other countries are guided by equal groupings, then the planet is well and truly stuffed.
You persuade through the power of your argument and being honest, un-hypocritical and clear with your audience. The powers that be are now highly compromised in this regard, having been mostly addicted to policies of fine, frighten, guilt and threat too often in pursuit of power and control over legitimate issues of concern that do need addressing. And have been waaaay too cavalier in boosting anything that served their causes. Especially whilst conveniently ignoring a bunch of other stuff which was either too hard or didn’t involve a tariff or taxable offset.
http://www.panda.org/wwf_news/news/?uNewsID=176141
http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2009/10/11/how-much-rainforest-is-destroyed-each-day/
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/10/european-union-corrupt-african-governments-block-stronger-redd-scheme.php?dcitc=th_rss
And now it’s all coming back to bite ‘em on the tush they’ll be screaming ist/zi/inger like Milliband. D when he doesn’t get the pudding he wanted at his birthday party.
I want a better planet for my kids, but I am not prepared to consign them to living it in a small box eating Soylent Green and not going anywhere. Because all that mindset buys is a bit more time.
We need better, more creative minds on this.
All the current batch have managed to do is to make my job a ton more difficult, as I spend all my waking hours DOING stuff on ways to reduce waste and improve efficiencies.
It’s saving planet AND pocket. But even with those clear plusses the audience needs to feel the effort is worth it. Stuff like this either confuses them or puts them off, and gets the door slammed in my face, and those like me.
I can already feel the ‘traitor to the cause’ knives sharpening, but crushing other views has backfired at near every turn, and I think, for the sake of my kids, to save the tree we need to cut out the dead wood and start again.
Heaven knows how, but the alternative status quo under the current regimes is a dead-end creek that stinks.
It got noticed, but not always in a good way:( So I hope this comes across as suitably firm in rejection of partisan demands, but fair:
I have a a dream, and that is meeting the Marketing Director Kellogg’s to pitch my idea for making all their cereal packs reusable.
And I’ll kick off by saying ‘It would all just be junk but for that extra Special K’
That way everyone involved (brand, customer and me) can make money and help the future.
I prefer to go for incentive and reward. Seems to be more reliable.
If you’d like to debate any points I’m making I’m cool. But if it’s playing with names and my calling… not so much.
Just off a BBC post board where some climate change ‘enthusiasts’ (hard to get a snappy descriptor that is accurate and/or not a silly pejorative) reckon those who don’t follow their ‘way’ blindly need to be jailed.
It gets heated. And it seems like too many prefer that to illumination.
Not interested.
Ah well, off now to visit Mum in her home to tell her all we have done this week with Junkk and are going to DO next. Peace will reign. Briefly.
Nowt like being an equal opportunity offender.
*Telegraph
One swallow does not a summer make.
So I do wonder if it is fair, or accurate, to totally project the reporting of but one employee onto the ‘views’ of a corporation, not that ‘they’ should have ‘views’ one way or t’other in the first place. part of the problem, I suspect.
As one interested, I am not clear as to Mr. Hudson’s status, at least as ‘its’ climate change correspondent.
There are surely others in the ‘reporting/corresponding/editing mix (Harrabin, Black, etc), so do they enjoy other, semantically different and hence significant titles, and no specific brief on this odd, rather hard to pin-down entity… climate change?
There is however significance to be sure to be read into the fact that this solo chap’s piece has been seen to stray from… well… best not to get into that.
I sense others have the time and energy to square off on the consequences in days to come.
Addendum: Yet more form the funny farm. There really seems a need on the parst of soem that you offer total fealty to their respective religions. Spooky.
In this day and age, is having your own mind so scary to some?
Still with worrying about the who and less worried with the what of the discussion, eh?
Oddly, just like that other interesting bunch over at Richard Black's (another BBC green/eco climate/whatever reporter/correspendent/editor/whatever (I am sure the difference matters... to someone) who seem so emboldened with the... ahem.. 'success' of a certain Ms. Abbess with Roger Harrabin (another BBC, etc) they seem to figure they, and only they are 'the way', and any dissent is to be dealt with harshly.
I tend to follow a less certain, less dogmatic line. And in a sad era of a need to belong to a tribe, it's my own.
The extra feedback JustinXS and geofftheref on the main protagonist is appreciated and encouraging. I have long had more than a concern that events were being interpreted, narratives enhanced and represenations made fair by folk whose popular reach was not quite matched by their qualifications in matters of scientific investigation and explanation. Mr. Hudson seems a rare, and most welcome exception to the 'rule'. Still just 'a' bloke, mind.
Can't speak for t'other (seems very nice) fellow I seem to be associated with coincidentally on the basis of no more than names with two k's, but since you asked so nicely... oh.. you didn't.
So, sorry, cannot find it in me to oblige:)
It's kind of weird to find myself as an equal opportunity 'offender', as by my stance I seem to have incurred the attention, and ire, of both climate optimists AND pessimists (the best non-judgmental descriptor I can muster for the two bookend camps for whom 'you are either with us or against us' seem shared mantras) simultaneously.
Which is quite a feat, if one thinks about it.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Inspiration is the worthiest form of flattery
30 Clever And Creative Package Designs
So much already done, so much more to do...
Dumbells
Characters
Christmas Decorations
...so little (if still too ahead of our) time.
Well, at least our message is spreading:)
So much already done, so much more to do...
Dumbells
Characters
Christmas Decorations
...so little (if still too ahead of our) time.
Well, at least our message is spreading:)
Compare and contrast
EU Sides with Corrupt African Governments to Block Stronger REDD Forest Protection Scheme
Saving forests five times better than carbon capture for climate action: WWF Sweden.
But some clown blows $35M (that's a lot of wells) on raising awareness atop a column of greenhouse gasses, and it's wall to wall on the media.
'Space clown' hosts show from ISS
Saving forests five times better than carbon capture for climate action: WWF Sweden.
But some clown blows $35M (that's a lot of wells) on raising awareness atop a column of greenhouse gasses, and it's wall to wall on the media.
'Space clown' hosts show from ISS
QUOTE OF THE DAY - If you're happy and you know it...
... you're an engineer! Does 'ex' count?
Or do I still qualify as I still design and make things?
Dyson answers the call to fill a vacuum in British life
“But only 16 per cent of engineers are unhappy in their careers, compared with 44 per cent of journalists and 25 per cent of medics. We need to show it’s respectable to make money out of making things, not just shuffling money around.”
Or do I still qualify as I still design and make things?
Dyson answers the call to fill a vacuum in British life
“But only 16 per cent of engineers are unhappy in their careers, compared with 44 per cent of journalists and 25 per cent of medics. We need to show it’s respectable to make money out of making things, not just shuffling money around.”
About that incentive thing...
As many will know, I am not big on nanny, fine, guilt, scare, etc.
Tories will lend every household £6,500 to save energy and make money
Slightly better than blowing £6M on 'awareness'?
But...
Then look at the comments. That's against 'finding' £1.65B to fund it. Hence, a bit hard to grasp on how it will work. Only another £1B to go.
Interesting how the feedback is almost unremittingly negative, in a Conservative-friendly paper.
But I think this one at least shows an interest in looking in more productive directions.
Tories will lend every household £6,500 to save energy and make money
Slightly better than blowing £6M on 'awareness'?
But...
Then look at the comments. That's against 'finding' £1.65B to fund it. Hence, a bit hard to grasp on how it will work. Only another £1B to go.
Interesting how the feedback is almost unremittingly negative, in a Conservative-friendly paper.
But I think this one at least shows an interest in looking in more productive directions.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Hmnnnn...
Ministers target climate change doubters in prime-time TV advert
This may not end well. No matter how well intentioned.
Climate change sceptics are to be targeted in a hard-hitting government advertising campaign that will be the first to state unequivocally that Man is causing global warming and endangering life on Earth.
The £6 million campaign, which begins tonight in the prime ITV1 slot during Coronation Street, is a direct response to government research showing that more than half the population think that climate change will have no effect on them.
Ministers sanctioned the campaign because of concern that scepticism about climate change was making it harder to introduce carbon-reducing policies such as higher energy bills.
My emphasis points.
That's quite a set of words, especially if from the PR.
As to the commercial... well... I'll reserve creative commentary. But there's a certain irony that I saw it preceded by a consumer-driven message that is, at the end of the da... world... 'buy more stuff'.
Addendum 1:
Just watching it being 'promoted' on BBC Breakfast News: the commercial that aims to scare us into taking climate change seriously. Yup, this 'un will do it. And scaring has worked great so far. But maybe doing it with kids might be a better line of attack.
Addendum 2:
Energy Minister Joan Ruddock on now explaining it helps people 'understand climate change' and 'makes it clearer'. In which case: #Major Fail! The woman is a classic poor messenger for this message. She has no clue. On science... or communications. And this is who we have steering our efforts to a greener Britain
Addendum 3:
Telegraph - Government's £6 million 'Bedtime Story' climate change ad: most pernicious waste of taxpayers' money ever?
Last time I was subjected to one of these 'awareness' fests (board bonuses seem to be measured on whether the box marked 'Yes I saw it' gets ticked by another quango's research team, which makes blowing money on comms budgets to drive up said bonuses a tad unethical, conflict of interest wise...IMHO) by some other eco-quango diverting money from DOING something useful (like helping poor and/or old folk with things like insulation), it was also rather directed at the audience you suggest.
Never got a reply to my question back then as to why the white, middle class family of four were off to buy their pack of four eco-bulbs in a stonking great big, black Porsche Cayenne Turbo S 4x4, when it looked like they were greening up the des res from Wandsworth B&Q to leafy Fulham. Possibly with a 'my other car is a Prius to beat the Congestion Charge' sticker in the back window, as electric cars are 'green'.... apparently, because the juice comes from... er... um...
I rather suspect that, to save a bit of dosh on house and car rental for the TVC, the producer/directors donated their pads and favoured modes of urban transport to 'help'. Nice bit of reuse, perhaps, but a smidge light on the irony front.
Still, speaking of clowns blowing money on targets, or looking good to your mates in the green elite section of the VIP lounge come the next 'concert' it could be worse... it could have been $35M blown to sit atop a column of Russian greenhouse gasses... well, well, well, well, well... not.
ps: while I think they have at last decided to look beyond reprinting press releases from agenda-comfortable sources (a bit late to be taken seriously or regain any trust, mind), I do think one 'non-solely anthro concessionary' article by one (albeit better qualified than most so far) science reporting employee is getting stretched a bit to become a "U-turn' by Aunty.
But, yes, almost Brownian in timing.
And you would think that about the bunnies, wouldn't you? Maybe they were eaten by all the alligators splashing around Gothenburg in the school project diorama Milibands D. & E. took with them to scare those easily scared types in the EU foreign ministries recently. I wonder if they got Gerry Anderson in on it all... at taxpayer's expense, natch.
green thing - NEW - Mad World - Another view. I am unsure if two wrongs justify anything. And when an ad states something as fact which is not, yet, much as some might find it helpful to be, it's not mad, it's reality, however unpalatable. And, yet again, I find myself expected to accept an analogy that is flawed. Also interesting to note the party affiliation, too.
Looking at the forces ranged around this latest icon, has it helped or merely added fuel to a distracting fire?
BBC - NEW - 'Scary' UK climate ad faces probe - a balanced piece IMHO
Treehugger - NEW - Climate Change TV Ad Under Investigation for Scaring Kids - Also balanced, though I think the responding readers took what they wanted from it. Not worth entering the lion's den by pondering the impact on sensible debate of it possibly being pulled for being factually challenged (if successful). Mr. Gore's last schoolkid outing did sooo well on that count.
Telegraph - NEW - Government TV climate ad is propaganda
Of course it is propaganda... pretty much by definition any advertising to us (ironically funded by us), by government to suit agendas, influence opinion, alter behaviours surely has to, doesn't it? By no stretch do most I see 'impartially provide information'.
And in the spirit of 'one person's terrorist is another's freedom fighter' I suspect most either agree, disagree, don't care or let it wash over.
I reckon having the odd 'Boo!' can be effective and tend to tolerate 'em. And suspect most others do to. Which is why it's kinda cute this is being made about being 'scary' after the watershed.
What does get interesting is the factual basis. In my day it was called 'legal, decent, honest and truthful'. Not quite so clear what the ASA works on nowadays, but it will be interesting to see how it stands up.
Because in the PR that went with its launch there was such as this...(above):
After a similar such outing, I think involving the courts, by such as Mr. Gore's school effort, and how that worked out, if the factual basis of this effort is found wanting, I dread to think the damage done, yet again, to sensible environmental advocacy.
If these are the calibre of folk who think they are best suited to make my kids' futures better, and how they see the mission best projected, god help the planet if they end up dealing with grown-ups in Copenhagen.
Teblog - NEW - Frighten the kids, or encourage the grown-ups? Insightful
This may not end well. No matter how well intentioned.
Climate change sceptics are to be targeted in a hard-hitting government advertising campaign that will be the first to state unequivocally that Man is causing global warming and endangering life on Earth.
The £6 million campaign, which begins tonight in the prime ITV1 slot during Coronation Street, is a direct response to government research showing that more than half the population think that climate change will have no effect on them.
Ministers sanctioned the campaign because of concern that scepticism about climate change was making it harder to introduce carbon-reducing policies such as higher energy bills.
My emphasis points.
That's quite a set of words, especially if from the PR.
As to the commercial... well... I'll reserve creative commentary. But there's a certain irony that I saw it preceded by a consumer-driven message that is, at the end of the da... world... 'buy more stuff'.
Addendum 1:
Just watching it being 'promoted' on BBC Breakfast News: the commercial that aims to scare us into taking climate change seriously. Yup, this 'un will do it. And scaring has worked great so far. But maybe doing it with kids might be a better line of attack.
Addendum 2:
Energy Minister Joan Ruddock on now explaining it helps people 'understand climate change' and 'makes it clearer'. In which case: #Major Fail! The woman is a classic poor messenger for this message. She has no clue. On science... or communications. And this is who we have steering our efforts to a greener Britain
Addendum 3:
Telegraph - Government's £6 million 'Bedtime Story' climate change ad: most pernicious waste of taxpayers' money ever?
Last time I was subjected to one of these 'awareness' fests (board bonuses seem to be measured on whether the box marked 'Yes I saw it' gets ticked by another quango's research team, which makes blowing money on comms budgets to drive up said bonuses a tad unethical, conflict of interest wise...IMHO) by some other eco-quango diverting money from DOING something useful (like helping poor and/or old folk with things like insulation), it was also rather directed at the audience you suggest.
Never got a reply to my question back then as to why the white, middle class family of four were off to buy their pack of four eco-bulbs in a stonking great big, black Porsche Cayenne Turbo S 4x4, when it looked like they were greening up the des res from Wandsworth B&Q to leafy Fulham. Possibly with a 'my other car is a Prius to beat the Congestion Charge' sticker in the back window, as electric cars are 'green'.... apparently, because the juice comes from... er... um...
I rather suspect that, to save a bit of dosh on house and car rental for the TVC, the producer/directors donated their pads and favoured modes of urban transport to 'help'. Nice bit of reuse, perhaps, but a smidge light on the irony front.
Still, speaking of clowns blowing money on targets, or looking good to your mates in the green elite section of the VIP lounge come the next 'concert' it could be worse... it could have been $35M blown to sit atop a column of Russian greenhouse gasses... well, well, well, well, well... not.
ps: while I think they have at last decided to look beyond reprinting press releases from agenda-comfortable sources (a bit late to be taken seriously or regain any trust, mind), I do think one 'non-solely anthro concessionary' article by one (albeit better qualified than most so far) science reporting employee is getting stretched a bit to become a "U-turn' by Aunty.
But, yes, almost Brownian in timing.
And you would think that about the bunnies, wouldn't you? Maybe they were eaten by all the alligators splashing around Gothenburg in the school project diorama Milibands D. & E. took with them to scare those easily scared types in the EU foreign ministries recently. I wonder if they got Gerry Anderson in on it all... at taxpayer's expense, natch.
green thing - NEW - Mad World - Another view. I am unsure if two wrongs justify anything. And when an ad states something as fact which is not, yet, much as some might find it helpful to be, it's not mad, it's reality, however unpalatable. And, yet again, I find myself expected to accept an analogy that is flawed. Also interesting to note the party affiliation, too.
Looking at the forces ranged around this latest icon, has it helped or merely added fuel to a distracting fire?
BBC - NEW - 'Scary' UK climate ad faces probe - a balanced piece IMHO
Treehugger - NEW - Climate Change TV Ad Under Investigation for Scaring Kids - Also balanced, though I think the responding readers took what they wanted from it. Not worth entering the lion's den by pondering the impact on sensible debate of it possibly being pulled for being factually challenged (if successful). Mr. Gore's last schoolkid outing did sooo well on that count.
Telegraph - NEW - Government TV climate ad is propaganda
Of course it is propaganda... pretty much by definition any advertising to us (ironically funded by us), by government to suit agendas, influence opinion, alter behaviours surely has to, doesn't it? By no stretch do most I see 'impartially provide information'.
And in the spirit of 'one person's terrorist is another's freedom fighter' I suspect most either agree, disagree, don't care or let it wash over.
I reckon having the odd 'Boo!' can be effective and tend to tolerate 'em. And suspect most others do to. Which is why it's kinda cute this is being made about being 'scary' after the watershed.
What does get interesting is the factual basis. In my day it was called 'legal, decent, honest and truthful'. Not quite so clear what the ASA works on nowadays, but it will be interesting to see how it stands up.
Because in the PR that went with its launch there was such as this...(above):
After a similar such outing, I think involving the courts, by such as Mr. Gore's school effort, and how that worked out, if the factual basis of this effort is found wanting, I dread to think the damage done, yet again, to sensible environmental advocacy.
If these are the calibre of folk who think they are best suited to make my kids' futures better, and how they see the mission best projected, god help the planet if they end up dealing with grown-ups in Copenhagen.
Teblog - NEW - Frighten the kids, or encourage the grown-ups? Insightful
The first jummy of autumn
Iiiii wwwwwwilll resist pppputting the hhhhheating on.
Iiiii wwwwwwilll resist pppputting the hhhhheating on.
Iiiii wwwwwwilll resist pppputting the hhhhheating on.
(plus get a shave, bathe, haircut and lose 20kg)
PR COVERAGE - Blooming great!
Just wish they'd spelled the name right!Many either use 'junk' or 'junnk'
To late to change now.
But welcome coverage.
With luck, more to come.
A headline to savour 2
And what... is not to like?
Move Over Recycling: Creative Reuse Is Dethroning You as the More Impactful 3R
Move Over Recycling: Creative Reuse Is Dethroning You as the More Impactful 3R
Mixed feelings
Junkk was set up with help from a variety of quarters.
Mostly grants. Though I was mainly looking for assistance in areas to complement those I had, and those I definitely lack.
I have lost count of the number of BusinessLinks, UNLtds and other assorted quangos my business model and plan went through.
Sometimes it worked, and I go some money... and a box got ticked. And then they moved on. Giving out money and ticking boxes seemed, and still seems the order of the day.
What I was, am and seek to DO always seemed to pass these geniuses by, with their P&Ls, forward forecasting and 'Widgets from Wigan' mentalities (it needs to be a 'thing' that you buy for 50p, sell for £1, and can turn around in a month, and you'll be on a subsidised trip to Taiwan before you can say match funding) is look at the future, and long term ways to make a difference... and make money too, if I can.
And one of the very first, and most fundamental aspects of the Junkk.com plan was, is and always will be to see rubbish as a resource.
And I set out from day one on this basis, with a view to harnessing the power of the internet, and the principles of incentive and reward via this medium, to motivate 'better' environmental practices by the consuming public.
That aspect was never appreciated by the money folk, nor the quangocrats, especially those with all this 'experience' in social enterprise.
So I look with envy, over the pond, at this:
Terracycle (no more space to add a label:(
They are getting there, because they, and others around them, have 'got it'.
I just hope after 10 years of plugging away here, I an make it happen in the UK too.
We have certain advantages. I think Junkk.com adds a sense of fun to it all, but we also have a built-in searchable database and postcode location sytem that can easily connect people looking and offering.
I have often been told I am 'ahead of my time'. To date, it has been a curse... I want, need to be of it. But I am determined that my vision will yet be fulfilled, and 'Rubbish need not be a dirty word'.
Mostly grants. Though I was mainly looking for assistance in areas to complement those I had, and those I definitely lack.
I have lost count of the number of BusinessLinks, UNLtds and other assorted quangos my business model and plan went through.
Sometimes it worked, and I go some money... and a box got ticked. And then they moved on. Giving out money and ticking boxes seemed, and still seems the order of the day.
What I was, am and seek to DO always seemed to pass these geniuses by, with their P&Ls, forward forecasting and 'Widgets from Wigan' mentalities (it needs to be a 'thing' that you buy for 50p, sell for £1, and can turn around in a month, and you'll be on a subsidised trip to Taiwan before you can say match funding) is look at the future, and long term ways to make a difference... and make money too, if I can.
And one of the very first, and most fundamental aspects of the Junkk.com plan was, is and always will be to see rubbish as a resource.
And I set out from day one on this basis, with a view to harnessing the power of the internet, and the principles of incentive and reward via this medium, to motivate 'better' environmental practices by the consuming public.
That aspect was never appreciated by the money folk, nor the quangocrats, especially those with all this 'experience' in social enterprise.
So I look with envy, over the pond, at this:
Terracycle (no more space to add a label:(
They are getting there, because they, and others around them, have 'got it'.
I just hope after 10 years of plugging away here, I an make it happen in the UK too.
We have certain advantages. I think Junkk.com adds a sense of fun to it all, but we also have a built-in searchable database and postcode location sytem that can easily connect people looking and offering.
I have often been told I am 'ahead of my time'. To date, it has been a curse... I want, need to be of it. But I am determined that my vision will yet be fulfilled, and 'Rubbish need not be a dirty word'.
POOH CORNER - If you think about it...
...which I would not blame you for not doing:
Nippon Airlines Asks You to Please "Lighten Your Load" Pre-Board
The composting toilet idea might be fun, except for the guys under the flight path.
Now, about not packing 500% more luggage than you actually need...
Nippon Airlines Asks You to Please "Lighten Your Load" Pre-Board
The composting toilet idea might be fun, except for the guys under the flight path.
Now, about not packing 500% more luggage than you actually need...
Thursday, October 08, 2009
PROF'S POSER - Long & slow or on, off and up?
First really nippy day of the year.
Well, this morning.
Now, with the sun... glorious.
Missus well happy at the 7am central heating kick-of and blissfully unaware that it goes off at 9am until 5pm, when it kicks in again until bedtime.
I noticed, at around 10am. Hence the jummy.
Thing is, am I doing the right thing?
As with the immerser, is it better to have it on all day, albeit 'ticking' over, or have two bursts to top and tail the day?
What is best for the overall thermal performance of a thick stone-walled building?
Well, this morning.
Now, with the sun... glorious.
Missus well happy at the 7am central heating kick-of and blissfully unaware that it goes off at 9am until 5pm, when it kicks in again until bedtime.
I noticed, at around 10am. Hence the jummy.
Thing is, am I doing the right thing?
As with the immerser, is it better to have it on all day, albeit 'ticking' over, or have two bursts to top and tail the day?
What is best for the overall thermal performance of a thick stone-walled building?
Not to mention....
...oh go on then.. reuse!
UK losing £650m a year by binning and burning waste
Even less impacting on the environment. doesn't require the public to work free for others/targets/bonusses, can save oodles of munny and... is well fun!
UK losing £650m a year by binning and burning waste
Even less impacting on the environment. doesn't require the public to work free for others/targets/bonusses, can save oodles of munny and... is well fun!
What goes up , might not be a downer
Well, not as much of one.
What, exactly, makes a rocket fuel environmentally friendly?
I think, as with many headlines, adding an 'er' might be more accurate.
But any step in the right direction must be welcome.
At least it seems a tad more credible than some of the claims made by such as Virgin Galactic (and which have attracted a few eyebrow cranks of mine).
Exploration is necessary, so mitigating the consequences is the best option.
What, exactly, makes a rocket fuel environmentally friendly?
I think, as with many headlines, adding an 'er' might be more accurate.
But any step in the right direction must be welcome.
At least it seems a tad more credible than some of the claims made by such as Virgin Galactic (and which have attracted a few eyebrow cranks of mine).
Exploration is necessary, so mitigating the consequences is the best option.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Getting there...
Yesterday started in the pits.
I was being stalked by a nutter on a BBC blog, the boiler didn't work, the washing machine repair was 2 weeks' off, it was raining... and I was staring at a potential 'efinsaftee disaster to my proposed stand to next week.
Fire regs on non-certificated plastics.
Notwithstanding that any Junkk stand is usually 95% plastic junk anyway, this was going to be a real issue.
Anyway, in the course of the day the nutter got modded (might be back mind), the boiler fixed (on insurance), the washing machine fixed (on insurance) thanks to me being a home worker and getting a cancellation, the sun shone again, and.... the lovely organisers of BIS said they had no problem with my stand proposal. Especially as it is made from two reused climbing frames the boys are two old for.
Now all I have to do is figure out what to put in it, on it and around it, and then get it all to London to set up in a few hours on the 13th.
Data Day
Postcodes: Adam Crozier letter
From MP Tom Watson.
From me:
I will follow this issue with interest: thank you for raising it. And for pursuing it further.
I think a nice balance between sympathetic commercial realism and community challenge on matters of 'public' data.
My website has a postcode location facility to help, amongst other things, people to locate each other to facilitate reuse swaps, etc.
I think I paid for that, a long while ago.
Now many folk, especially new registrants, are complaining that their postcodes 'don't work'. I'm guessing boundary changes or additions.
Now as a commercial business I can see how things that take money to create need to be compensated, but I do get interested when the ways such data are gleaned are less clearly defined.
And, as stated above, when there is a clear public benefit to having access to information about themselves.
I believe the Guardian has been on this case also for quite a while: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/free-our-data
Taking a tip from another poster, as Junkk.com also finds itself followed in, but (until now, for monetary reasons, poorly serving) the USA, this is pretty significant, and cheering:
Federal Register in XML
From MP Tom Watson.
From me:
I will follow this issue with interest: thank you for raising it. And for pursuing it further.
I think a nice balance between sympathetic commercial realism and community challenge on matters of 'public' data.
My website has a postcode location facility to help, amongst other things, people to locate each other to facilitate reuse swaps, etc.
I think I paid for that, a long while ago.
Now many folk, especially new registrants, are complaining that their postcodes 'don't work'. I'm guessing boundary changes or additions.
Now as a commercial business I can see how things that take money to create need to be compensated, but I do get interested when the ways such data are gleaned are less clearly defined.
And, as stated above, when there is a clear public benefit to having access to information about themselves.
I believe the Guardian has been on this case also for quite a while: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/free-our-data
Taking a tip from another poster, as Junkk.com also finds itself followed in, but (until now, for monetary reasons, poorly serving) the USA, this is pretty significant, and cheering:
Federal Register in XML
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Bang goes my audience?
Apparently the passwords of hotmail account holders have been compromised.
Now, which single grouping is the greatest sign-ups to Junkk.com?
And of which grouping who is least likely to inform us of a change of email addy?
Which I rather suspect they will do, along with a possibly compromised password.
And that... means we will be unable to get any future comms, such as newsletters, to them.
Brilliant:(
BBC - Top G-man in Phishing scam
Now, which single grouping is the greatest sign-ups to Junkk.com?
And of which grouping who is least likely to inform us of a change of email addy?
Which I rather suspect they will do, along with a possibly compromised password.
And that... means we will be unable to get any future comms, such as newsletters, to them.
Brilliant:(
BBC - Top G-man in Phishing scam
IRONY ALERT - Aunty says switch off. Not her, of course
Watching (on a PIP on my PC) Breakfast BBC News.
Just loved the way they intro'd a piece on an energy saving story about the Isles of Scilly.
'What one thing could you switch off now?'...pause... 'Er... not the TV of course'.
First image I see? A person switching off her TV.
Always a bit dubious about 'days', and this one seems no different. However, it did gain the community some PR to share notions like not running a power shower for 5 minutes before getting in it.
O....k.
Actually, all this energy awareness seems to be spinning on its own axis to me. Not that any that is shared is in any way not worth knowing, but there is a ton of money saying very few, blooming obvious things and... over and over. Good enviROI?
Just look at the latest EST ad that this would appear to be coinciding with.
If not having a bath and switching down your fridge is the best they can do after all this time, I think the money could really have been spent better elsewhere, on issues where folk may well be persuaded by pragmatic advice.
Addendum - the event site, sadly not shared by the national broadcaster. Interesting stuff, if a bit 'busy'
Just loved the way they intro'd a piece on an energy saving story about the Isles of Scilly.
'What one thing could you switch off now?'...pause... 'Er... not the TV of course'.
First image I see? A person switching off her TV.
Always a bit dubious about 'days', and this one seems no different. However, it did gain the community some PR to share notions like not running a power shower for 5 minutes before getting in it.
O....k.
Actually, all this energy awareness seems to be spinning on its own axis to me. Not that any that is shared is in any way not worth knowing, but there is a ton of money saying very few, blooming obvious things and... over and over. Good enviROI?
Just look at the latest EST ad that this would appear to be coinciding with.
If not having a bath and switching down your fridge is the best they can do after all this time, I think the money could really have been spent better elsewhere, on issues where folk may well be persuaded by pragmatic advice.
Addendum - the event site, sadly not shared by the national broadcaster. Interesting stuff, if a bit 'busy'
Monday, October 05, 2009
QUOTE OF THE DAY - And proud of it
Just heard on SKY News*
Guest commentator: "I'm afraid I don't get science"
Anchor: "Yes, well, I guess that is why we became journalists"
Ne'er a truer word. Sadly.
*Discussing 'elfinsaftee removing yet more experimentation opportunities to inspire students, this time in Chemistry.
Guest commentator: "I'm afraid I don't get science"
Anchor: "Yes, well, I guess that is why we became journalists"
Ne'er a truer word. Sadly.
*Discussing 'elfinsaftee removing yet more experimentation opportunities to inspire students, this time in Chemistry.
Knowledge is power
sourcemap.org
'Simply put: We believe that people have the right to know where things come from and what they are made of. '
Can't argue with that.
Hope it is accurate, mind.
'Simply put: We believe that people have the right to know where things come from and what they are made of. '
Can't argue with that.
Hope it is accurate, mind.
By example
British public refuse to fly less to reduce their carbon footprint
In many ways the headline is a perfect encapsulation of what I see as a significant issue.
'The British public...' is an odd bunch.
A 'them' that another 'us' seem to see as not cooperating despite near daily nags from those who somehow still don't find it ironic to be constantly climbing aboard (usually to wallow in the front) of aircraft to fly all about (usually to nice places) to either talk about climate, raise 'awareness' or, in the case of many media, stand in front of stuff to decry how flying is doing so much damage.
Even the Guardian is not immune, and of course is famously reluctant to drop lucrative ads suggesting its readers visit far flung places before the actions 'of others' ruin them.
And only yesterday I learn that Dame Ellen MacArthur is to give up sailing for climate change (sic) promotion. I doubt she will be do this exclusively using water-borne free air, which might lead to suggestions of hot air. 'Doing one's job' has consequences, and there is a certain arrogance in a reporter or campaigner (I can concede most pols, though Mr. Prescott took his commitments a tad far... and long) somehow figuring their 'job' is necessary and others are not.
I flew a lot in my Asia days, and I did not do it for fun. Crossing time zones in a stuffy metal tube will never be.
And when it comes to social travel I think we would need to change human nature first. The desire to go other places is ingrained. Which can only mean that the trend will be to making it unaffordable to any but... yes... a grouping I think all ready well represented above. Another social divide that cannot end well.
Just in my personal case, with half our family halfway around the world, it's already an ethical dilemma for those who care about such things, on top of a financial burden enough for those with no choice.
But when the government's latest climate quangocrat reckons he and his family might have to cut back on the long hauls...which they do for fun, annually... there is already a disconnect between the 'do as we says' and the rest. We're saving up to visit in the next few years.
So long as that is not appreciated by the nannies, I don't see much changing.
In many ways the headline is a perfect encapsulation of what I see as a significant issue.
'The British public...' is an odd bunch.
A 'them' that another 'us' seem to see as not cooperating despite near daily nags from those who somehow still don't find it ironic to be constantly climbing aboard (usually to wallow in the front) of aircraft to fly all about (usually to nice places) to either talk about climate, raise 'awareness' or, in the case of many media, stand in front of stuff to decry how flying is doing so much damage.
Even the Guardian is not immune, and of course is famously reluctant to drop lucrative ads suggesting its readers visit far flung places before the actions 'of others' ruin them.
And only yesterday I learn that Dame Ellen MacArthur is to give up sailing for climate change (sic) promotion. I doubt she will be do this exclusively using water-borne free air, which might lead to suggestions of hot air. 'Doing one's job' has consequences, and there is a certain arrogance in a reporter or campaigner (I can concede most pols, though Mr. Prescott took his commitments a tad far... and long) somehow figuring their 'job' is necessary and others are not.
I flew a lot in my Asia days, and I did not do it for fun. Crossing time zones in a stuffy metal tube will never be.
And when it comes to social travel I think we would need to change human nature first. The desire to go other places is ingrained. Which can only mean that the trend will be to making it unaffordable to any but... yes... a grouping I think all ready well represented above. Another social divide that cannot end well.
Just in my personal case, with half our family halfway around the world, it's already an ethical dilemma for those who care about such things, on top of a financial burden enough for those with no choice.
But when the government's latest climate quangocrat reckons he and his family might have to cut back on the long hauls...which they do for fun, annually... there is already a disconnect between the 'do as we says' and the rest. We're saving up to visit in the next few years.
So long as that is not appreciated by the nannies, I don't see much changing.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
RE:PAIR - Tip - Cleaning saws and sanders
Popped in to the local Tool Shop to get a new diamond cutter blade.
I was also asking the gurus there if it was OK to use my chop saw to cut plastic bottles (for my next Voucher Palm design) as I was worried about dulling the blade.
They said it was fine, and indeed mentioned that using plastic bottles actually can help clean both blades and even sanding discs.
I was also asking the gurus there if it was OK to use my chop saw to cut plastic bottles (for my next Voucher Palm design) as I was worried about dulling the blade.
They said it was fine, and indeed mentioned that using plastic bottles actually can help clean both blades and even sanding discs.
Buffer time!
As in... hitting 'em:(
That last post generated a new error.
Seems you can only have 2000 labels, and I have hit the limit.
How can I describe, and archive, an evolving world within this new restraint?
I guess a purge is in order... if I can figure out how.
That last post generated a new error.
Seems you can only have 2000 labels, and I have hit the limit.
How can I describe, and archive, an evolving world within this new restraint?
I guess a purge is in order... if I can figure out how.
The future's bright, the future's not looking too green
The latest Pentaward winners - Hat tip: Lovely Package
Friday, October 02, 2009
PR OPPORTUNITY - Another road trip, another possible chance to attract the media
Making and mending around Britain
Fresh from Ethical Man, it seems Newsnight is on the green trail again.
This one seems quite proactive and 'Doing-oriented', so worthy of waving at them in passing. Let's see if we can attract their attention before they hit London. Host Mary Jane Baxter is getting/generating a fair bit of coverage...
Here's our pitch:
Oh, it is not a passing trend. We have been advocating reuse as not only helping planet, but saving pocket, too: http://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/content/articles/2006/05/16/womble_man_feature.shtml And when such as the Guardian ask Junkk.com to help run a national reuse competition with them, then it can only be a good sign:
http://www.junkk.com/newsarticle.asp?slevel=0z608z609&parent_id=609&renleewtsapf=301 Already netted some notions from the sublime:
http://www.junkk.com/junkkdetail.asp?slevel=0z622&parent_id=622&renleewtsapf=1917 To the frankly so simple, why didn't anyone think of it before?...
http://junkk.blogspot.com/2009/06/idea-cup-stack-holder.html So when you're swinging through the West Midlands (though the route on the map seems a bit East-centric), do pop by, a lot can and does happen here...
http://junkk.blogspot.com/2009/09/voucher-palm-lives-again.html And, if you're quick, we have an entire cosy cottage you can use as a base (aged parent off to care home and being marketed to let as we speak). Always welcome a hand, along with a boost, here.
Oh, and if it is mainly about fashion... Vac:Sac anyone?
http://www.junkk.com/junkkdetail.asp?slevel=0z622z709&parent_id=709&renleewtsapf=1730 Or a repair.. http://www.junkk.com/junkkdetail.asp?slevel=0z622&parent_id=622&renleewtsapf=1330 ps: You might even find out how to save some money on fuel as well. http://junkk.blogspot.com/2009/01/journeys-with-veronique-now-our-life-is.html
Fired off a hello. Let's see what results. Let us know if you apply/get coverage, too. If you do, please 'gis a mention if you found it here. I was soooo tempted not to mention and keep it to ourselves.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
AWARD - Sustainable businesses - Queen’s Awards for Enterprise
AWARD
WHEN: Deadline - 2pm on 30 October 2009
WHAT: Sustainable businesses - Queen’s Awards for Enterprise
WHAT... MORE?: From the blurb: The Queen’s Award for Enterprise is the UK’s most prestigious Awards scheme for business success. There are four categories of Queen’s Awards – three for business success (International Trade, Innovation and... Sustainable Development) and one for individual achievement in encouraging UK entrepreneurship (The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion). Companies apply for the Business Awards but individuals must be nominated for the QAEP
HOW MUCH: Free! Just how we like it.
URL: Application forms can be completed online at www.queensawards.org.uk.
COMMENTS: It's a biggie and commands a lot of respect. Might even try ourselves:) Shame the trophy couldn't be commissioned from reused materials!
WHEN: Deadline - 2pm on 30 October 2009
WHAT: Sustainable businesses - Queen’s Awards for Enterprise
WHAT... MORE?: From the blurb: The Queen’s Award for Enterprise is the UK’s most prestigious Awards scheme for business success. There are four categories of Queen’s Awards – three for business success (International Trade, Innovation and... Sustainable Development) and one for individual achievement in encouraging UK entrepreneurship (The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion). Companies apply for the Business Awards but individuals must be nominated for the QAEP
HOW MUCH: Free! Just how we like it.
URL: Application forms can be completed online at www.queensawards.org.uk.
COMMENTS: It's a biggie and commands a lot of respect. Might even try ourselves:) Shame the trophy couldn't be commissioned from reused materials!
Freecycle - A cautionary tale?
What went wrong with Freecycle in the UK?
I have to say I never really had a problem with it, but must confess that, being at the junction of three counties, gave up paying much attention (and hence using) having joined the three groups that this geographical location necessitated (JunkkYard being radial and without limit).
The emails and posts first got side-directed... and then ignored.
Plus I also never quite 'got' the model, which seem to rely on volunteers to run it, but then, as suggested here, seemed to have a board running... meddling with... the show, and seemingly trying it figure out how to make money on top.
Anyway, I'll top up the Category next, though cranking an eyebrow at 'you can't keep taking without giving' on the, new 'musty' non-autocratic front.
Here, we kinda err on 'so long as it is genuinely helping the planet, and all sides are cool on the deal... knock yourselves out'. But that's just us.
I have to say I never really had a problem with it, but must confess that, being at the junction of three counties, gave up paying much attention (and hence using) having joined the three groups that this geographical location necessitated (JunkkYard being radial and without limit).
The emails and posts first got side-directed... and then ignored.
Plus I also never quite 'got' the model, which seem to rely on volunteers to run it, but then, as suggested here, seemed to have a board running... meddling with... the show, and seemingly trying it figure out how to make money on top.
Anyway, I'll top up the Category next, though cranking an eyebrow at 'you can't keep taking without giving' on the, new 'musty' non-autocratic front.
Here, we kinda err on 'so long as it is genuinely helping the planet, and all sides are cool on the deal... knock yourselves out'. But that's just us.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Ta twit, ta woo
I am a twit... erer. @JunkkMale:)
Jury's out still, but I can't fault the access I now have via those I follow to useful info, links and, on occasion, 140 characters or less of worthy philosophy.
And I also share. Not as often as some, but more than others. I hope those that read value what I post.
Also bearing in mind that, thanks to the aggregation software kindly loaded in here, this post will pop up on Twitter within 24hrs.
Anyhoo, as one still finding my feet, I value useful ways to improve, and even the odd critique to spot things to avoid:
RandyGage.com - The Twitter Manifesto Remix…
Jury's out still, but I can't fault the access I now have via those I follow to useful info, links and, on occasion, 140 characters or less of worthy philosophy.
And I also share. Not as often as some, but more than others. I hope those that read value what I post.
Also bearing in mind that, thanks to the aggregation software kindly loaded in here, this post will pop up on Twitter within 24hrs.
Anyhoo, as one still finding my feet, I value useful ways to improve, and even the odd critique to spot things to avoid:
RandyGage.com - The Twitter Manifesto Remix…
CATEGORY - Hydro
ARTICLES
Register - ‘NZ hydropower drought could see leccy rationing’ - Sorry to start on a negative, as I rather like Hydro, but the comments in support are worth reading.
Treehugger - NEW - Clever Floating Hydro-Electric Barrel Generator Works Almost Anywhere
INFORMATION
See the label links below for more/previous
Herefordshire Hydro - NEW
Register - ‘NZ hydropower drought could see leccy rationing’ - Sorry to start on a negative, as I rather like Hydro, but the comments in support are worth reading.
Treehugger - NEW - Clever Floating Hydro-Electric Barrel Generator Works Almost Anywhere
INFORMATION
See the label links below for more/previous
Herefordshire Hydro - NEW
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
PR OPPORTUNITY - When it comes to throwing stuff away, there's no such thing as "away"
How a rubbish idea could save the planet
I was intrigued by this as much for the the story (using pretty much every phrase I have used about Junkk & reuse) as the responses to it.
Shame the Telegraph (non blog) system doesn't hyperlink URLs.
Fortunately, we do:
But we are also offering 10 British residents the chance to tag their own property for an experiment over here. Nominations close tomorrow, so visit newscientist.com/projects/forms/trash to submit your ideas for what I reckon is the best rubbish experiment ever.
I was intrigued by this as much for the the story (using pretty much every phrase I have used about Junkk & reuse) as the responses to it.
Shame the Telegraph (non blog) system doesn't hyperlink URLs.
Fortunately, we do:
But we are also offering 10 British residents the chance to tag their own property for an experiment over here. Nominations close tomorrow, so visit newscientist.com/projects/forms/trash to submit your ideas for what I reckon is the best rubbish experiment ever.
The Voucher Palm lives!... again:)
Just had a call from my chums at EnviroAbility.
Seems they have had customers coming in all week asking why there is not another voucher tree in the place as the Morrisons Let's Grow promo is back.
Their wish... is my not really needed excuse to get back in the shed to make some more coconuts (as all the schools in the last one got their vouchers in theirs).
Nice to see a bit of reuse... reused:)
And to think I wasn't going to 'push it' by suggesting we do it again. Especially as, following the massive redemption success of the last one, Morrisons have again forgotten to mention it to me to see if we can put one in their foyer, where it would do most good:)
Curse this shy, retiring personality.
Seems they have had customers coming in all week asking why there is not another voucher tree in the place as the Morrisons Let's Grow promo is back.
Their wish... is my not really needed excuse to get back in the shed to make some more coconuts (as all the schools in the last one got their vouchers in theirs).
Nice to see a bit of reuse... reused:)
And to think I wasn't going to 'push it' by suggesting we do it again. Especially as, following the massive redemption success of the last one, Morrisons have again forgotten to mention it to me to see if we can put one in their foyer, where it would do most good:)
Curse this shy, retiring personality.
Peaks and troughs
I was going to label that 'pros' and cons', but that would not be accurate.
Or, maybe, two sides to the coin?
Actually it's an amalgamation of all.
Earlier today I spotted this:
Telegraph - Half of Paris rental bikes stolen
But decided against sharing, as it was, well, a bit negative.
However, having now seen this:
FoE - New cash for cycling facilities at stations
I have decided on a post, as the information is precautionary and worth bearing in mind. And does suggest an enviROI aspect.
If also being a bit depressing about the human condition, mind.
Or, maybe, two sides to the coin?
Actually it's an amalgamation of all.
Earlier today I spotted this:
Telegraph - Half of Paris rental bikes stolen
But decided against sharing, as it was, well, a bit negative.
However, having now seen this:
FoE - New cash for cycling facilities at stations
I have decided on a post, as the information is precautionary and worth bearing in mind. And does suggest an enviROI aspect.
If also being a bit depressing about the human condition, mind.
CATEGORY - LABELLING
Wow, I can't believe I'd missed giving this its own 'label' (sorry) 'til now!
There is a lot more already; just click 'LABELLING' in the label (whoops, again:) list at the end.
Articles
Food&DrinkEurope.com - Deal could make traffic lights mandatory, claims report - For now, let's kick off with this, which isn't actually about pack labelling at all, but puts the state of the industry and legislation in context.
Guardian - Tesco labels will show products' carbon footprints - I await, with interest, by what agreed standard these footprints are derived/assessed, and what, if anything, the bemused shopper will make of them... and then do.
Guardian - Why the Co-op is wary of 'food miles' labelling - Is it not all rather boiling down a bit to 'my science is better than your science', and when the science objectivity doesn't suit then ethics trump all? Meanwhile, what the heck is the poor consumer supposed to DO...assuming they care enough to try and figure it all out? I sure am having trouble, as it's not my day job (well, not to the exclusion of all else) and I have waaaaay better things to do as I stroll down the aisles once a week. We seem to be getting a heck of a lot served up in short order to 'help' with shunting the attention away to us...:
Greenbang - Tesco’s food labels to carry carbon confessions
'These carbon labels will mean customers can measure the eco-friendliness of their shopping'
And...?
I can just see my missus flouncing out of Hereford Tesco to Gloucester Waitrose because the pack of Walker's stoat and hemlock flavour demanded by 'they-who-must be fed-junk-food' might have 5g less CO2 in it than the current 75g... whatever that actually means or translates into. Versus what? And from where (who WILL have a different set of measures, trust me)? And doing the same with the 50-100 other items that she needs to get from shelf to trolley in 30 minutes of a Friday night. She's freaked out enough that in sorting out the polyfiller-unmentionables in their tuck boxes she has actually sent their salt and vinegar levels to a point where the NHS can opt out once they hit 30.
At the mo, all I can sense is the cringing screech of a box being ticked, soon to be followed by a generous ladle of a mighty ad campaign to tell us that said box is now ticked.
Wouldn't it be great if the guv'mint, manufacturers and retailers got together on a few more well-coordinated, high enviROI initiatives that the public could surely be encouraged to work with, but without dumping the whole sorry mess on the poor consumer to figure out and deal with (which they won't) whilst slapping mutual backs at the next target-for-tonight enviro-conference.
Treehugger - Should Food Labelling Show Water Footprint? -
Super. Pretty soon we'll need a DVD-R on a pack of Tik-Taks to contain all the information we are deemed... or maybe required to know before purchase.
So far, in just the last few months, I am up to health (at least 3 versions here in the UK), carbon footprint, airmiles, Fairtrade, Organics (I think they are now fighting it out) and now water.
And you know what? Even with 75g of C02 on my pack of crisps I have no clue what it means, what to compare it to or what I can do (drive to another shop?)
It will make the weekly shopping a fun event.
But at least a whole new raft of green saviours can score funding on the back of it.
Will the last guy actually doing something to help spare the future please stop pedalling before they leave.
The Telegraph - Tesco to put carbon scores on goods - They shoots... ?
Food&DrinkEurope - Green logos create brand tension - Maybe we need a 'no-go' logo area?
BBC - Supermarket trials carbon labels - In many ways it's better than nothing, but I'm just having trouble seeing how it works. And I doubt a visit to the store will make much difference, though I will keep my eye open next time. This BBC piece suggests 'Shoppers will be able to compare products' carbon footprints' But with what? And then...? We are talking 20 pretty diverse items out of how many in those 20+ aisles you have 30 minutes to zip up and down? One interesting aspect is the totality of the experience, highlighted by the way in which you cook a spud making a big difference.
Enviromental Leader - Carbon Trust Rolls Out Carbon Label Program - Though I do crank an eyebrow at this: 'A number of other carbon label programs are in the works from various organizations.'
Brand Channel - Coffee Brands: Wake Up and Smell the Morality - I need a drink
BBC - Foods 'should label up eco-costs'
Indy - Call for new 'universal' food labelling - well, we are so good at cross-national cooperation, so it's going to be a cinch
Guardian - Government urged to introduce 'omni-standards' for food - Guess the PR is doing the rounds then
FoodandDrinkEurope - Could consumers suffer from green logo overload? - Nice they ask, though I'd say it's more 'Are consumers already suffering...' with a consequent total lack of enviROI+.
Indy - Crackdown ordered on food label loopholes - Again, only related, but still a worthy caution on how any scheme can be manipulated.
Food&DrinkEurope - Half of all consumers ignore food labels - only half?
Food&DrinkEurope - What consumers make of food labels - it's about health, but most will apply to 'green'.
Greenbang - New barcode to provide products’ carbon footprint - interesting, mind you as it is noted recently that 50% consumers ignore health labels, there may be some way to go yet. I also wonder what 'measure' it is operating to, as there are several I have heard of. Maybe they have standardised?
Guardian - Shoppers need clear labels to put a stop to 'greenwash' - of course, there's 'should', and 'calling for', and 'actually happening'.
Packaging News - Valpak issues Green Dot guidance for UK brand owners - '..concerns that consumers believed a pack that displayed the Green Dot was recyclable.' There is no equivalent symbol in the UK that denotes whether a company had complied with its packaging waste obligations, although the information is available via the Environment Agency public register.
Packaging News - Why green logos are all Greek - With certain irony, I just visited a council roadshow where they were explaining why we were losing our - very effective - weekly double RE:box kerbside system for a fortnightly all-in-one, 'the MRF will sort it all out' wheelie.
And, in addition to pencils and stickers, I also ha a choice of multiple leaflets saying roughly the same thing... with choices also printed in Portuguese and Polish.
However, what I did notice, in very small print, was that the onus is still being lobbed on the consumer to try and find,and suss out various small, often embossed only, signs of what is 'acceptable'. I was met by a wall of fudge when asking what would happen should my kids do the wrong thing, or a passer-by 'contribute' to my new outdoor rubbish-practices proxy representative.
I agree that information is necessary to inform and get the public to engage, but only when it is in forms that the layperson can comprehend and work with, and only when the systems are configured to handle the cooperation demanded in a proper manner.
This is not yet the case. A bunch of box-ticking wonks and target-meeting bureaucrats living in a jargon-filled world of niche conferences and metrics are not the best folk to understand and deliver ways to motivate consumers or spare the planet. And neither in complement are marketers more interested in getting the former off their backs than doing anything with a decent enviROI. IMHO.
Times - Green labels to show foods’ eco-credentials - one also for the 'could' files
Marketing Week - Green labelling could overwhelm shoppers with data - Ya think?
Good Human - Greenwash Of The Week: Climate-Friendly Food Labels - Not a fan, I'd say
Treehugger - NEW - Via Junkk - Can 400 Green Labels Do Anything But Confuse The World's Consumers?
Information
Budget Ecoist - Plastics Numbering System Demystified: Go Green
BusinessGreen - Report urges firms to "edit" out non-green choices - worth a read if your life is that long and you have no mates
co2code.info - NIFTY!!!
Planet Green - Get to Know Your Recyclable Plastics by Number
environmentalleader.com - Green Labels Positively Impact Purchase Behavior
wrap-symbols - it's PR, but useful
WRAP - Recycling symbols explained
Logos (currently in development - ignore for now)
As the visual imagery behind all this goes hand in had with a plethora of logos, I have decided to start noting 'em down as I stumble across them.
Now, the blogger limit in images per post will preclude all that will be going up eventually, so until I can figure a better way I will post one by one as a 'Logo' and then link from here to that, with picture, if you see what I mean
carbon neutral - saw it in my SKY magazine. No idea what it means. And it is not the only one of its type, either.
ecolingo.com - a goodly spread of logos and definitions
recycle now -
valpak green dot -
Packaging News - Why green logos are all Greek
Courtesy of a blog exchange, I can kick off a sub-set list with an odd first attempt:
PRINTING INKS (first point of business is that, so far, no one seems to really know if there is a standard)
recycledproducts.com - 'Switching to soy inks'
soybiobased.org -
wgiprint.com -
There is a lot more already; just click 'LABELLING' in the label (whoops, again:) list at the end.
Articles
Food&DrinkEurope.com - Deal could make traffic lights mandatory, claims report - For now, let's kick off with this, which isn't actually about pack labelling at all, but puts the state of the industry and legislation in context.
Guardian - Tesco labels will show products' carbon footprints - I await, with interest, by what agreed standard these footprints are derived/assessed, and what, if anything, the bemused shopper will make of them... and then do.
Guardian - Why the Co-op is wary of 'food miles' labelling - Is it not all rather boiling down a bit to 'my science is better than your science', and when the science objectivity doesn't suit then ethics trump all? Meanwhile, what the heck is the poor consumer supposed to DO...assuming they care enough to try and figure it all out? I sure am having trouble, as it's not my day job (well, not to the exclusion of all else) and I have waaaaay better things to do as I stroll down the aisles once a week. We seem to be getting a heck of a lot served up in short order to 'help' with shunting the attention away to us...:
Greenbang - Tesco’s food labels to carry carbon confessions
'These carbon labels will mean customers can measure the eco-friendliness of their shopping'
And...?
I can just see my missus flouncing out of Hereford Tesco to Gloucester Waitrose because the pack of Walker's stoat and hemlock flavour demanded by 'they-who-must be fed-junk-food' might have 5g less CO2 in it than the current 75g... whatever that actually means or translates into. Versus what? And from where (who WILL have a different set of measures, trust me)? And doing the same with the 50-100 other items that she needs to get from shelf to trolley in 30 minutes of a Friday night. She's freaked out enough that in sorting out the polyfiller-unmentionables in their tuck boxes she has actually sent their salt and vinegar levels to a point where the NHS can opt out once they hit 30.
At the mo, all I can sense is the cringing screech of a box being ticked, soon to be followed by a generous ladle of a mighty ad campaign to tell us that said box is now ticked.
Wouldn't it be great if the guv'mint, manufacturers and retailers got together on a few more well-coordinated, high enviROI initiatives that the public could surely be encouraged to work with, but without dumping the whole sorry mess on the poor consumer to figure out and deal with (which they won't) whilst slapping mutual backs at the next target-for-tonight enviro-conference.
Treehugger - Should Food Labelling Show Water Footprint? -
Super. Pretty soon we'll need a DVD-R on a pack of Tik-Taks to contain all the information we are deemed... or maybe required to know before purchase.
So far, in just the last few months, I am up to health (at least 3 versions here in the UK), carbon footprint, airmiles, Fairtrade, Organics (I think they are now fighting it out) and now water.
And you know what? Even with 75g of C02 on my pack of crisps I have no clue what it means, what to compare it to or what I can do (drive to another shop?)
It will make the weekly shopping a fun event.
But at least a whole new raft of green saviours can score funding on the back of it.
Will the last guy actually doing something to help spare the future please stop pedalling before they leave.
The Telegraph - Tesco to put carbon scores on goods - They shoots... ?
Food&DrinkEurope - Green logos create brand tension - Maybe we need a 'no-go' logo area?
BBC - Supermarket trials carbon labels - In many ways it's better than nothing, but I'm just having trouble seeing how it works. And I doubt a visit to the store will make much difference, though I will keep my eye open next time. This BBC piece suggests 'Shoppers will be able to compare products' carbon footprints' But with what? And then...? We are talking 20 pretty diverse items out of how many in those 20+ aisles you have 30 minutes to zip up and down? One interesting aspect is the totality of the experience, highlighted by the way in which you cook a spud making a big difference.
Enviromental Leader - Carbon Trust Rolls Out Carbon Label Program - Though I do crank an eyebrow at this: 'A number of other carbon label programs are in the works from various organizations.'
Brand Channel - Coffee Brands: Wake Up and Smell the Morality - I need a drink
BBC - Foods 'should label up eco-costs'
Indy - Call for new 'universal' food labelling - well, we are so good at cross-national cooperation, so it's going to be a cinch
Guardian - Government urged to introduce 'omni-standards' for food - Guess the PR is doing the rounds then
FoodandDrinkEurope - Could consumers suffer from green logo overload? - Nice they ask, though I'd say it's more 'Are consumers already suffering...' with a consequent total lack of enviROI+.
Indy - Crackdown ordered on food label loopholes - Again, only related, but still a worthy caution on how any scheme can be manipulated.
Food&DrinkEurope - Half of all consumers ignore food labels - only half?
Food&DrinkEurope - What consumers make of food labels - it's about health, but most will apply to 'green'.
Greenbang - New barcode to provide products’ carbon footprint - interesting, mind you as it is noted recently that 50% consumers ignore health labels, there may be some way to go yet. I also wonder what 'measure' it is operating to, as there are several I have heard of. Maybe they have standardised?
Guardian - Shoppers need clear labels to put a stop to 'greenwash' - of course, there's 'should', and 'calling for', and 'actually happening'.
Packaging News - Valpak issues Green Dot guidance for UK brand owners - '..concerns that consumers believed a pack that displayed the Green Dot was recyclable.' There is no equivalent symbol in the UK that denotes whether a company had complied with its packaging waste obligations, although the information is available via the Environment Agency public register.
Packaging News - Why green logos are all Greek - With certain irony, I just visited a council roadshow where they were explaining why we were losing our - very effective - weekly double RE:box kerbside system for a fortnightly all-in-one, 'the MRF will sort it all out' wheelie.
And, in addition to pencils and stickers, I also ha a choice of multiple leaflets saying roughly the same thing... with choices also printed in Portuguese and Polish.
However, what I did notice, in very small print, was that the onus is still being lobbed on the consumer to try and find,and suss out various small, often embossed only, signs of what is 'acceptable'. I was met by a wall of fudge when asking what would happen should my kids do the wrong thing, or a passer-by 'contribute' to my new outdoor rubbish-practices proxy representative.
I agree that information is necessary to inform and get the public to engage, but only when it is in forms that the layperson can comprehend and work with, and only when the systems are configured to handle the cooperation demanded in a proper manner.
This is not yet the case. A bunch of box-ticking wonks and target-meeting bureaucrats living in a jargon-filled world of niche conferences and metrics are not the best folk to understand and deliver ways to motivate consumers or spare the planet. And neither in complement are marketers more interested in getting the former off their backs than doing anything with a decent enviROI. IMHO.
Times - Green labels to show foods’ eco-credentials - one also for the 'could' files
Marketing Week - Green labelling could overwhelm shoppers with data - Ya think?
Good Human - Greenwash Of The Week: Climate-Friendly Food Labels - Not a fan, I'd say
Treehugger - NEW - Via Junkk - Can 400 Green Labels Do Anything But Confuse The World's Consumers?
Information
Budget Ecoist - Plastics Numbering System Demystified: Go Green
BusinessGreen - Report urges firms to "edit" out non-green choices - worth a read if your life is that long and you have no mates
co2code.info - NIFTY!!!
Planet Green - Get to Know Your Recyclable Plastics by Number
environmentalleader.com - Green Labels Positively Impact Purchase Behavior
wrap-symbols - it's PR, but useful
WRAP - Recycling symbols explained
Logos (currently in development - ignore for now)
As the visual imagery behind all this goes hand in had with a plethora of logos, I have decided to start noting 'em down as I stumble across them.
Now, the blogger limit in images per post will preclude all that will be going up eventually, so until I can figure a better way I will post one by one as a 'Logo' and then link from here to that, with picture, if you see what I mean
carbon neutral - saw it in my SKY magazine. No idea what it means. And it is not the only one of its type, either.
ecolingo.com - a goodly spread of logos and definitions
recycle now -
valpak green dot -
Packaging News - Why green logos are all Greek
Courtesy of a blog exchange, I can kick off a sub-set list with an odd first attempt:
PRINTING INKS (first point of business is that, so far, no one seems to really know if there is a standard)
recycledproducts.com - 'Switching to soy inks'
soybiobased.org -
wgiprint.com -
Tricky question, I know
Can 400 Green Labels Do Anything But Confuse The World's Consumers?
Anyone would think these things were there to help informed choice, lead to better enviROI behaviours, etc.
And were nothing to do with box-ticking, target-meeting, jobsworth-creating, greenwashing, ace-tasting, motivating, lip-smacking...
Anyone would think these things were there to help informed choice, lead to better enviROI behaviours, etc.
And were nothing to do with box-ticking, target-meeting, jobsworth-creating, greenwashing, ace-tasting, motivating, lip-smacking...
Monday, September 28, 2009
CATEGORY - CAR SHARING
Inspired by a BBC Breakfast news item that was less than considered... or helpful, I have decided to note anything that actually helps those who are keen and might benefit from such a process.
I think it's a great idea in principle, but actually have doubts on many in terms of enviROI on top of simple matters of practicality. Most issues would be addressed by engaging public cooperation, but that is true of so much in the green arena.
I question an empty lane with few cars moving, creating a reduced number of others burning up fuel while stationary.
The secret seems to be to get people to share effectively. Not plonk idealistic initiatives in place and fine those who do not.
BBC - Car-sharing cameras to be tested
Addendum - It's odd, but I often find so-called 'petrolheads', invited to comment one presumes because they will offer a contrary view to any eco-initiatives, are often pretty well-informed and capable of quite objective feedback. One such is Quentin Willson, who I just saw on this issue, and frankly he was more balanced than the frothy govt.-babe or the AA-harrumpher.
And though it is not yet active, I have in mind a scheme of my own using Junkk.com's localisation capability, so I'll list other sites that might yet be of use, to be added to as found in my files, stumbled across... or told of. Yet another 'rainy day' project.
DFT - Ruth Kelly opens first motorway car share lane
BBC - Newer - Motorway car-sharing lane opens - But we beat 'em..hah! They have more links, mind:(
Guardian- Tread lightly: Share car journeys And again
Guardian - Vehicles of change
Guardian - Would you stick out your cyber thumb for a lift?
INFORMATION
Direct Gov - NEW - Car sharing and car clubs
DoT - Essential Guide to Travel Planning
SITES
Avego -
carclubs.org.uk -
carplus - NEW -
carshare - kind of makes any others I list redundant! However...
fellowtravellers.co.uk -
hitchwiki.org -
liftshare.org -
onegreenearth.com - another summary. Which makes this a suummary of summaries, I guess
pickuppal.com - Canada
rideshark.com -
School-run -
Streetcar -
Student carshare -
I think it's a great idea in principle, but actually have doubts on many in terms of enviROI on top of simple matters of practicality. Most issues would be addressed by engaging public cooperation, but that is true of so much in the green arena.
I question an empty lane with few cars moving, creating a reduced number of others burning up fuel while stationary.
The secret seems to be to get people to share effectively. Not plonk idealistic initiatives in place and fine those who do not.
BBC - Car-sharing cameras to be tested
Addendum - It's odd, but I often find so-called 'petrolheads', invited to comment one presumes because they will offer a contrary view to any eco-initiatives, are often pretty well-informed and capable of quite objective feedback. One such is Quentin Willson, who I just saw on this issue, and frankly he was more balanced than the frothy govt.-babe or the AA-harrumpher.
And though it is not yet active, I have in mind a scheme of my own using Junkk.com's localisation capability, so I'll list other sites that might yet be of use, to be added to as found in my files, stumbled across... or told of. Yet another 'rainy day' project.
DFT - Ruth Kelly opens first motorway car share lane
BBC - Newer - Motorway car-sharing lane opens - But we beat 'em..hah! They have more links, mind:(
Guardian- Tread lightly: Share car journeys And again
Guardian - Vehicles of change
Guardian - Would you stick out your cyber thumb for a lift?
INFORMATION
Direct Gov - NEW - Car sharing and car clubs
DoT - Essential Guide to Travel Planning
SITES
Avego -
carclubs.org.uk -
carplus - NEW -
carshare - kind of makes any others I list redundant! However...
fellowtravellers.co.uk -
hitchwiki.org -
liftshare.org -
onegreenearth.com - another summary. Which makes this a suummary of summaries, I guess
pickuppal.com - Canada
rideshark.com -
School-run -
Streetcar -
Student carshare -
Saturday, September 26, 2009
IRONY ALERT - The Jumbo-choppercade
You know I tend to worry about then right messengers for the message..?
ecopolitology - Jon Stewart Points out Irony of Jumbo-Choppercades at UN Climate Summit
Also, and allowing for the rather directional nature of the edit suite, I was rather struck by the fact that these guys were all talking.... er... talking... and talking.
And it's possible that one reason not as many folk are listening is... because they still seem to be saying nothing!
ecopolitology - Jon Stewart Points out Irony of Jumbo-Choppercades at UN Climate Summit
Also, and allowing for the rather directional nature of the edit suite, I was rather struck by the fact that these guys were all talking.... er... talking... and talking.
And it's possible that one reason not as many folk are listening is... because they still seem to be saying nothing!
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