RE:view - Wire reuse

I am not typing, and will also not upload this online from my usual desktop.

I am doing so from my laptop, downstairs in the conservatory, enjoying the morning sun.

No biggie, really.

In a fast-moving IT-world of consumer innovation, there are many who enjoy such opportunity, courtesy of a domestic WiFi system.

Indeed, we have one, brought in mainly to help with a video monitoring system for my dear old Mum next door, but certainly offering a welcome connection for the lappy too.

However, like the hapless chap on the BT commercial, it can be temperamental. And, despite assurances on security from all sorts of folk who know, there is that sneaking concern about who might be picking up that signal for nefarious reasons.

So it was not untimely that I was contacted and offered an alternative - the devolo 200 AVeasy - to try, that may not mean I can surf in the garden, but certainly opens up the rest of the house and office without such concerns.

And also does so in any easy to install and use manner. Trust me. As the family LCD (lowest common denominator) screener, I am noted for being poor at getting things IT up and running.

This was plug, plug and play. Especially reassuring was that it works with Mac OSX too.

Now, other than not having to go to the trouble and expense of running a ton of cables (it cunningly uses... reuses... the house mains) to get a high-security intranet, what eco-benefits might this confer? Well, I am happy to share that the system also claims a patented power-saving mode, which automatically reduces standby power consumption by up to 30%.

I should point out that this is not the only one on the market and cannot testify to relative value and features (weigh speeds, distances and such as encryption when comparing) , but as I was kindly sent this one for review it is the one that gets used, tested and, in this case, a glowing report.

There's talking the talk. But it will always be 'money rules' first.

A new day, a new opportunity. Though I might have forgone any pussy-footing.

When food packaging can reduce climate change gases

Reduction of any consumable will inevitably reduce GHGs.

However, in a consumer society there are pragmatic constraints and limits, and they need to be worked towards.

Other mitigations can include recycling, and it is clear there are many issues surrounding this that can be improved from all sides, though I'd say the public is the only one doing their darndest in the face of some epic finger-pointing distractions from bottom-line driven business and quango-ridden, target-obsessed authorities. About the only binding feature would seem to be bonus-structures.

I had not before heard of Morrisons' Keep It Fresh test and packaging laboratory, and will try and track it down. Some of the insights are already surprising: 'We have found, for example, that wrapping peppers in plastic has no impact on freshness or quality so we have stopped doing it. But wrapping cucumbers in recyclable plastic - a target for anti-packaging campaigners - means they last five times as long.'. My question would be more along the lines of 'why on earth had you then gone to the cost and expense of wrapping those peppers, for so long, until now???'. Ignoring history seems to be a feature of senior types in the news at the moment.

The 'Great Taste Less Waste' campaign is also to be lauded, though I hope the sticker labelling will be clear to an already confused public assaulted by various initiatives.

And for those who do still end up with packaging material, especially plastics, they'd prefer not to throw away, might I direct you to http://www.Junkk.com, which tries to help with reuse ideas. There's even a competition running currently which is trying to motivate through reward... a bit of a novelty in many quarters.

Morrisons may even be inspired to hook up with such a low cost-high benefit initiative.

Though the last time we tried, with them, they said their foyer need to be kept clear of distracting promotions such as sharing the joys of reuse, as customers 'didn't like it'. Ironically the day that rejection email came in was the same our local store felt a conservatory company was actually indeed worthy of the space in question.

There's talking the talk. But it will always be 'money rules' first.

I really hope a PR, and maybe even the author reads this.

..it's a wonderful town! The battery's flat and the generator's down

Again, I get interested in a bit of science reporting.

Losing sustainability in the urban canyons

I was simply intrigued by the back of envelope calculations, but my enquiry did provoke an interesting response, which at least allowed me the opportunity to expand and clarify (plus indulge in a little blogger teasing:)....

Just looking at the nice picture at the top, I merely wonder what the consequences might be as the sun moves and certain areas end up in the shade of various tall structures around and abounding. At least in the original piece there was a caveat on the wind contribution, though again I have to wonder to what extent there may be problems from the wind patterns around such urban canyons. I am sure if Mr. Cameron had a penthouse overlooking Central Park we may have some better idea. So no matter what people can and then decide to do, even en masse, I'd still be keen to know what the realistic generation capacities might be, bearing in mind the ambient climatic and architectural conditions, from someone who might know. I am still hoping in matters of renewable energy deliverables, historical data and professional experience and calculations can get pretty close to a reasonable estimate. Perhaps a tad closer than the current rough calculations? This indeed may be of value to the journalists from Bulgaria, India, Kenya and Peru, and the numerous interest groups represented at the meeting, who I am sure have flown in from far and wide to appreciate all the facts about what causes climate change... and possible high enviROI mitigations, of course. Though some terribly reasonable optimistic level lampooners may still prefer to stick a finger up in the air. To measure, of course.

After this, it kind of fell apart on the moderation, which seems to be almost inevitable.

So my questions on the science get buried under stupid finger pointing. Again. Nice one, Aunty.

Would you like ice with that?

Actually, it's more about the business model for Junkk's survival.

News pay walls? Consumer says no

But I did see an opening for some input on the calibre of science reporting.

As one with a blog that sifts a lot of 'good enough', if often wildly disparate 'free' in a niche area (green issues) to try and get to something approaching objective fact in matters scientific, and yet more reasonable commentary via subjective analysis that is clear of overt agendas, I'd say amen to most of that.

However, looking at this paper's own coverage on some plucky types' hike in the chilly wastes dipping rulers in the water, and comparing it with other reports, it is often not very easy.

BBC - Ice sheet melt threat reassessed

BBC - Relief as Arctic quest concludes - two aircraft landed on the floating Arctic ice to collect Pen Hadow, Ann Daniels and Martin Hartley.

Telegraph - Global warming explorers in Arctic get nasty shock: polar ice caps blooming freezing

BBC - The Catlin Arctic Survey: daring, yes, but is the science any good?

Indy - Melting ice could cause gravity shift - My favourite word, 'could', sets the tone

Gaurdian - NEW - Arctic explorers end mission to survey sea ice

Air powered vehicles?

Sound daft? Well, not so, as this from the Guardian reports; and we have mentioned compressed air vehicles on this very blog before. But this particular technology is currently undergoing genuine commercial testing and several manufacturers have already taken up licences to manufacture the technology.

I suspect that Guy Negre, the inventor/developer just might be onto a winner with his Airpod.

I hope that they make them look a little smarter than this particular prototype though!

Comparing Apples with Avocados?

A small snippet on the BBC news on food storage.

Can't locate a URL yet, but did note a few things down.

Apples - in fridge
Avocados next to banana - for those who can so indulge in such combos

Broccoli - keep fresh

Cheese - cool larder

Eggs - larder - point side down

Jam - scrape off mould

Mushroom - take off plastic

Potatoes - dark, cool

Tomatoes - larder

We're advised to take our lead from food shops, but honestly I have not seen much evidence of most of the above frankly!

Yes, it's a meter. But, is it smart?

It was all over the news. And now in my editorial in-box from HMG.

I'll share, E&EO, but have some thoughts I'll share afterwards, based on a bit of science, a bit of consumer insight, and a dash of personal experience.

UK Smart Meter roll out moves forward

* Hi tech meters will change our energy habits
* No more estimated bills or staying in for meter readings
* Easier switching between energy suppliers
* Suppliers will be able to offer cheaper off-peak energy

All homes in Britain will have smart meters installed by 2020 under plans published today. Great Britain will be the first country in the world to have an overhaul of this size for both electricity and gas meters.

Smart meters enable meter readings to be taken remotely and together with a display device give householders real time information on their energy use.

The new information smart meters provide will help consumers to see what energy they are using and how to save money on their bills.

Smart meters will mean the end of estimated bills, no more having to stay in for home readings, quicker and smoother switching between suppliers and cheaper, easier prepayment.

The Government has today set out the different options for rolling out the revolutionary kit across Great Britain and on what the smart meters should be capable of doing.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said:

"This is another part of our Great British refurb. The meters most of us have in our homes were designed for a different age, before climate change. Now we need to get smarter with our energy.

"Smart meters will empower all consumers to monitor their own energy use and make reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions as a result. Smart meters will also mean the end of inaccurate bills and estimated meter readings.

"This is a big project affecting 26 million homes, and several million businesses, so it's important we design a system that brings best value to everyone involved."

Smart meters signify the start of a change in our energy habits. They are a key step towards future smart grids which have the potential to help our shift to a low-carbon economy - making it easier for renewable generation to feed into the grid, including micro and community level generation and will support the decarbonisation of heat and transport through the greater use of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Suppliers will be able to offer more tariffs and services, such as 'time-of-use' tariffs, encouraging more efficient and economical energy use.

The preferred roll-out option is the central communications model - where energy suppliers are responsible for the installation and maintenance of the smart meter but the communication to and from the device is coordinated by a third party across the whole of Great Britain.

The other principal models considered are:

* Competitive model - where energy suppliers manage all aspects of smart metering, including installation and communication.

* Fully centralised - where regional franchises are set up to manage the installation and operation of smart meters with the communications to and from the meters managed centrally and on a national level.

Notes

1. The consultation is open to the public from today and will run to 24 July 2009. Further information on how to take part can be found here

2. Based on our Consultation Impact Assessment, rolling out smart meters to all households will deliver net benefits of between £2.5 billion and £3.6 billion over the next 20 years. These benefits fall to suppliers, to customers and to the country as a whole.

BBC - Smart meter plans to be outlined -

On balance, a why not? But I have two main concerns. One is the enviROI of this, but really this would require data that one could trust to assess.

This looks like an awful lot of kit, and an awful lot of man hours, and I remain unclear where the main benefits may lie.

The other is usage. Other than being a bit miffed that my ecometer purchase may have been a bad investment (and I think the Wattson makers will be livid), I have to confess that, after a flurry of attention when we first set it up, we ended up ignoring it. And frankly it was gobbling a ton of batteries on the remote so we stopped that too.

So, will folk use it? And if they do, will they really get the info they need in a way that makes them alter their lifestyles? Or is it just another gimmick, and expensive one at that, with a load of benefits that might not prioritise the consumer or the planet as much as they are being PR'd?

Gaurdian - NEW - Householders must not foot the bill

How to you manage beans if you don't understand how they grow?

The lack of science qualifications in Government and media continues to frustrate.

I am not alone.

Science in Whitehall

And what is PPE? Procrastinating, Pretension and Expenses? (though I do acknowledge the honourable member is relatively - a key distinction, and not counting the family property empire - 'clean' in comparison to others who see greening in perhaps a different way than some).

Couldn't agree more on the need for more science advice in government.

Just, please could we have it balanced and free of agenda? If the salary depends from the off on making the numbers fit the desired result, that is not science. That is simply politics packaged in a different way.

Kids' Stuff

Just watching the BBC ad breaks promoting their various offerings.

A very cute one for CBeebies, promoting their science series.

Half a dozen moppets experiment with fluid densities, dropping balls into layers of different household cooking oils and sauces, etc.

Interesting.

Thing is, from what I saw, the kitchens of the UK are soon going to be bare as the nation's toddlers pour litre upon litre of expensive and incompatible fluids into huge jars to if not mix (that's the point) but, I'd hazard, end up down the sink or toilet.

Not, I'd suggest, the best eco-suggestion ever.

Green..er by design?

Shame it only seems to have garnered two comments, but every little bit helps..

Can good design save newspapers? How about the environment?

Whilst tweaks in certain areas can always improve matters, I would suggest that form and function are essential complements and need to work together, especially when it comes to 'saving' anything. And certainly when it comes to the only thing the really matters: the substantive, end-benefit embracing, customer-pleasing product/content.

As certain events of late have proven, how things look, especially if it is at the expense of tangible delivery, can prove... retrograde in the longer term. Polishing a Terminally Unpopular/Unpleasant Rationale, Reprobate or Device springs to mind.

I am all for designers making the world greener, though.

And would encourage any and all initiatives to try and encourage this.

So long as it's more in the cause actually BEING it as opposed to just LOOKING it. That won't wash any more.

As you mention the genre, one area with great potential is packaging, and I am a great advocate of starting to look at designed-in initiatives from the outset.

However, you, your readers and even some designers might be interested in a little competition currently at Junkk.com called 'Here's One I RE:made Earlier'

A bit of fun, helping save a bit of money, time and, with luck... the planet:)

Now, despite it being online (I think that the impact of IT needs to be viewed vs. previous and even current alternatives before getting too excited about impacts, though efficiency/reduction improvements can always be made and are welcome - but I just squirted 10MB to London that before would have been on a courier or, worse, with a suit carrying a bag) who could argue with that little row of consumer crowd-pleasers as a positive, proactive design principle?

Especially when it can actually help with the marketing too.

AWARD - The West Midlands C+ Carbon Positive Awards

WHEN: Deadline 31 March 2009
WHAT: The West Midlands C+ Carbon Positive Awards
WHAT... MORE?: From the blurb: The Awards are open to any business, organisation, partnership or community group located in or operating in the West Midlands region, who are taking positive carbon action.

We’re looking for inspiring examples of low carbon initiatives which will encourage others to take action as we move towards a low carbon economy. We want to hear from businesses, organisations and schools who are:-

Successfully cutting carbon emissions and managing their carbon footprint

Developing new products or services which offer consumer low carbon solutions

Developing innovative products, services or prototypes which significantly reduce carbon emissions

An exemplary micro business undertaking low carbon work

Engaging with communities to cut carbon emissions and reduce their carbon footprint.

HOW MUCH: FREE
URL: http://www.bvsc.org/latest-news/west-midlands-c-carbon-positive-awards-2009.html
COMMENTS: Lots to gain; little to lose. Hate to share and get more competition but, well, karma will be our guide:) With luck, see you at the finals.

ADDENDUM -

Sadly, we did not prevail this time. To see who did, check here.

Not a nice feeling

As I sit here at my PC...

Web providers must limit internet's carbon footprint, say experts

I do however wonder if these scenarios at least allow for alternatives and their impacts in comparison.

I'm pretty certain that this blog and Junkk.com could not exist without a ton of IT this end and at reader end whirring away.

But then what might I being doing. Without the internet I doubt it would not involve a lot of carbon-based travel.

Guardian - NEW - Web providers must limit internet's carbon footprint, say experts - Some witty comments

Guardian - NEW - Don't take my internet away - And here. Bearing in mind the medium chosen, no real surprise. There is a good point on spam's contribution.

What's in a name?

Miliband seeks private plane hire

No, sillies, he's the other one. Who now doesn't 'do' the green bits his brother tells us we need to.

So it's all OK.

Actually, I accept fair and reasonable commitment of resources if they are necessary and produce results. So shunting at least one of these ineffective numpties around in the style to which they have become accustomed might be a good deal, but for the fact it just seems to get them places to screw up and make the UK look bad a lot quicker.

NoW - Plane stupid - Not perhaps my favourite paper, but the one with the highest UK readership by a major margin.

Indy - NEW - Private jet for David Miliband defended - speaking of relative circulations

CATEGORY - Batteries

In line with my new 'get it out first; play with it later' plan, here we go:

Articles

Telegraph - Manufacturers are fobbing us off with dreadful rechargeable batteries - Interesting follow-ups, too

Indy - New battery can be recharged in seconds - Looks like good news. Now, if we can just get the 'leccy without GHGs...

Times - NEW - Green and Confused: Where can I recycle computer batteries?

Recycling

batteryback.co.uk - Phew, a Brit one now

rbrc.org/call2recycle - Not the best start as it is from the USA, but more will follow soon now I've been inspired to create the category

savebatterywaste.com - via a new Twitter link

So wrong, but then, possibly, so right

Submit your climate-fighting ideas to the Manchester Report

A fellow poster got there just before me, but regular readers will probably understand why I rather stalled at that headline. How, precisely, does one fight a climate?

However, as it goes on to seek positive solutions, I'll cut them some slack.

I just hope the winners won't be the usual box-ticker pleasing, dubious enviROI suspects.

Good day for ducks, and punts:)

CRC will impact on consumer habits, says carbon expert

In addition to reduction and recycling, it would also be great if consumer good suppliers also considered reuse in complement.

What would be interesting is how a component (and, by association, it's material) designated as reused would be viewed under this commitment.

Just imagine the benefits to not just landfill and consumers' pockets, but also manufacturers' and retailers' allowances, if tonnages destined only for the bin found viable second uses through being designed in for this purpose.

Sticks and stones may break my bones...

... but words can certainly freak you out.

I am minded of this in relation to climate change as the latest media furore surrounds swine flu, ably helped by officialdom.

I was hard-pressed today to equate the WHO-boss lady's 'We're all doooomed' with other talking heads saying it's best not to panic.

How many healthy folk have died of this so far? And vs. what in a normal period? Yet there seem to be quite a few headless chickens in the politico-media infirmament blowing money, and cred, on rather fruitless endeavours, from comms to kit.

Swine flu and hype – a media illness

For example: "We need someone to say it's all been overhyped," said BBC Wales.

'..it's interesting: because not only have the public lost all faith in the media; not only do so many people assume, now, that they are being misled; but more than that, the media themselves have lost all confidence in their own ability to give us the facts.'

Indeed.

Addendum:

This has coincided with a timely PR of some relevance, which I post here, E&EO...

How we in Britain manage flies on our waste mountains.

Environmental consultancy ADAS has carried out a project in Scotland entitled 'NO FLIES ON US'

When the owners of a Scottish landfill site received an upsurge in complaints
from local residents who blamed the landfill for the flies that were creating a
nuisance inside their homes, ADAS scientists were asked to investigate. Their
task was to ascertain fly numbers around the landfill site, and if possible,
where the flies were coming from.

They sought to determine through monitoring, information gathering and the creation of a
reliable evidence database, whether the problem was actual or perceived, if the
flies really did originate from the landfill site, and if so to determine how
far the problem might stretch, and what could be done to solve it.

The team reared 50,000 common houseflies, all at the same stage of pupation in
their life cycle. These were moved to the landfill site and buried in trays
containing sand mixed with an oil-based blue dye. The flies in the trays would
pick up small amounts of dye during their emergence process, and could therefore
be readily identified. Traps were then set at locations of varying distances
from the site and the flies caught analysed to see if they were dye marked.

The results showed that flies from the site were to be found only in relatively
close proximity. The data was not only used to determine the extent of the
problem, but also to determine trends. It could therefore also be used as an
early warning device to ascertain if a problem was on the horizon and allow pre
emptive measures to be put in place at an early stage.

Cranmer - Swine flu – the pandemic of fear

Guardian - NEW - Swine flu pandemic? It feels like a phoney war -

Daily Mash - NEW - SURVIVORS TO ENJOY GLORIOUS SUMMER, SAYS MET OFFICE - Bit rude at end!

Energy Consumption

An worthy investment of 5 minutes..

Cambridge Ideas: How many light bulbs does it take to change a man?

One thing I came away with is that, no matter how many bang on with silly, possibly 'feel good' distractions, with the demands of even a stable population, simple logic (forget climate change or Mr. Putin for a moment) dictates that a reduction in consumption is the prime target we should be pursuing.

Personally, on a domestic level I think every penny of funding should be going into quick-fix efficiency areas such as insulation in homes first, then reduction technologies. I would have been interested in how low energy bulbs might have influenced his home experiments, and what the full ground to ground enviROI of their promotion and use is.

But it also seems that the individual may have to accept the notion of consuming less. Not easy in a free, capitalist, consumerist, growing economy-obsessed system.

withouthotair.com

Am I unethical?

I think I might be.

'Cos I had a few issues with the latest offering from BBC's Ethical Man, as alerted by some less than impressed comments on the main Newsnight blog...

Ethical Man goes down to the woods

Whoa, a lot to digest there, if you'll excuse the mental image, as much ground is covered and over various timelines.

I would also rather wish the intros were changed from 'saving the world from climate change'. This rather paints one into a corner from the off. The climate changes. What is bad is that it might be doing it negatively, and our puny race could yet be a mitigating factor if it is man (person?)-made or, my preference, worsened.

Anyhoo, first up there's the news from Washington and this conference that is dominating the world's headlines.

Not too encouraged that almost immediately we learn that there's no actual progress, as it's more a kind of discussion vs. any actual negotiations, and the key host player is 'hoping for a dialogue' and 'thinks that will happen'. O......k. Good intentions can pave many things.

Then we hit the fact that India and China say all sorts of fluffy things are fine, but the West 'goes' first. Hold that thought.

As I try and chew on our representative saying, in one sentence 'You can't get agreement based on science', and then in one later there's 'a commitment to science'. I have long been concerned about the competencies of our politico-media establishment in this arena, but maybe should be reassured: there now seem to be two sets of sciences. How very Star Trek/Gate.

I have to give Mr. Rowlatt credit for pressing certain points in this interview, especially to provoke the gem that our government’s cabinet ministers don't seem to think they have much influence over the police 'service' and its actions. Novel. Who, in the name of public service accountability, does then?

And then I got a bit lost on the timeline, but I think it was the near present that we headed from Detroit East. Traveling can indeed be difficult, but most journeys can be made anywhere still, though agreed often not so quickly. There's the rub. If you have stuff, or a schedule, compromises need to be made. From families of four with two weeks in Cancun booked, to struggling eco-types needing to get to London for a climate conference (at £500+VAT for the day), to BBC journalists and their crews with a programme to make. Or pols heading with entourages and Caddies in the hold. Tricky when the finger wagging starts if you are not careful... or being hypocritical.

But a full load of activists in a Prius has to be as good as it gets, on a motorway, on a long haul trip... I'm sure. At least once the urban bit kicked in... if they didn't get lost. I am sure a Sat Nav was deemed evil, even if the lofted waving mobiles at the subsequent love in were deemed 'different', somehow. Even those have directions now, surely?

Anyway, these 'agents of change' (a different one to the climate variety, I guess) were a joy to behold, especially to those who had them under their spell. Once 'hope for change' wears off, I am thinking 'You are right and they are wrong' will be a great substitute when dealing with others not as keen on the views held... in a democracy. Words like 'impose' and 'enforce' have a worrying ring as backstop rhetoric vs. popular public delivery, too. And, bearing in mind the theme of this 'journey' another I am not sure I am not keen the UK learning from the US. Ta very much.

Especially when backed by 'Obama's EPA' (the environment’s protection agency not good enough?) and its larger than life leader, Ms. Jackson. A vegetarian, I am sure.

I have to say I then got a bit confused again by who was in government, who was in the quango and who was an activist with time on their hands. And who was paying for who to teach whom to do what against who.

I'll have to check and see if my local tech has civil disobedience on the curriculum, and who is funding any nifty tactics being so shared, such as resisting arrest. Might be handy in Gordon and Barak's new world order that maybe I missed in the BBC's G20 coverage.

Again a good stab at getting yet another senior administration pop star to grapple with consequences, Mr. Rowlatt, but he really didn't seem to be too convincing on the link between higher energy costs and the economic consequences. Not part of the narrative that should be overplayed, I'm guessing. Change...! Hope...! You first...! I'm more equal than you...! So it's really OK I hitch a ride on Al's jet!!!

However it was interesting that, after all this, there is still the small matter of convincing Congress and the Senate. And, I might add, having held that thought from earlier for so long, those nice folk in India and China. But there's just a few billion each that I am sure 12,000 energised 'merican yoof can reach, though I'd say a Prius might struggle with the wet bits and some terrain 'soon2B banned' 4x4s could be more suitable for.

Then, finally, we scoot to the woods. And speaking of what's done naturally, why do slots like this have such terribly faked 'surprise' first meetings? It was set up.. in advance. At the due time a fleet arrived at a remote location in the middle of a forest, at night. I reckon they were alerted.

Actually here was one potentially truly inspiring aspect, though I do have my caveats, especially when pondering eating a curry to provide the raw materials, and washing it down with a beverage, beer, that uses vast litres of water to 'make' it, at least commercially. Not a totally coherent signal.

But then this is a person who has traveled the world to spread the word on his concept, minimizing the impacts of human waste. I am sure the benefits created have many times overcome the cost of such a journey.

I would have liked to learn more about this frankly, and will beaver off thus inspired.... virtually of course (if worrying about the humming servers).

I was especially intrigued that the pathogens are destroyed, what with all this swine flu lark at the moment.

It would be interesting to see how this stacks up against our crumbling Victorian sewage systems in a row of City centre terraces. Though the space required would seem to suggest that wider spaces might be required for it to be really practical. Maybe all those college grads could be prevailed upon to give it a stab in their multi-storey dorms.

I'm guessing interesting, but not too practical for most applications. Again.

Addendum -

I was sent this, related, email:

President Obama is hosting a round of international climate negotiations in Washington DC, gathering the biggest climate emitters to try to kick−start UN talks. But oil companies are flooding the airwaves with advertisements to stop the momentum.

Avaaz.org, the global campaigning group, has filmed an advert spoofing the slick Exxon ads. It's hilarious − you can see it at this link −− check it out:

But I still had/have to reply:

Negative advertising can be effective indeed. Certainly gets you noticed, and often awarded.

But I forged a pretty good ad business, on top of career, by being more concerned on behalf of my clients with the tangible end-benefit a good product could confer to the maximum number of potential consumers.

My clients are now my kids, and their futures. I tend to prefer any money to go into proactive solutions, but being realistic these can complemented by inspiration using a fair amount of creative, honest persuasion, in turn based on information and education rather than out-gunning the other side's messages or buying power. Especially when that latter seems unwinnable if you look at the war chests and resources being deployed.

Without seeing the oil companies' ads it's hard to know what their messages are, or the media schedules to guess the eyeball impact.

But if they are being crass and unsubtle and OTT with the kneejerks, I figure it's going to backfire.

However, leading by example with one right, sold well, can really develop into more rights, and soon overcome a lot of wrongs.

Anyway, they seem to have their $100k already. It will be interesting to see how many slots that gets, when, and how many negotiators are exposed to it at the right time in the best environment. And are then motivated to respond in the desired way to it.

Or just find it has cropped up in the awards in 10 months' time.

Saving money and reducing impact on climate change

Sound familiar?

Pretty much the Junkk.com mantra over the last decade, with the possible caveat that we don't mind climate changing or even impacts on it if they are moderate and normal. It's the excessive, negative bits, like inefficiency and waste, that we don't rate.

And, we like to try and do it for free.

Last time I had a rant on this I got a kind invite from a speaker. Don't think I'll be so blessed again.

But it is worth noting that the cost has pretty much halved since then. Ne economic realities, or an attempt at helping get some from less well funded areas in to contribute?

Sadly, at £500+ for a day, it's still a definition of saving money I cannot really justify.

In this weakened economy, businesses are challenged to reduce their costs and improve efficiency, without compromising their climate change commitments. At the Guardian Climate Change Summit on 15 June, delegates will have the opportunity to learn from real examples set by businesses that have successfully proven to be both carbon and cost efficient and they will be able to explore what these examples can teach their own business. As well as case studies, bespoke breakout sessions will provide advice and insight into saving costs and reducing impact. Jane Dennet-Thorpe, Department of Energy will explore how to finance the changes to your business that the Carbon Reduction Commitment will demand. And Stephen Reeson, Food & Drink Federation will discuss how to work with your suppliers to reduce emissions across your supply chain. This is an unmissable event for anyone in need of practical strategies to minimise costs and maximise carbon efficiency. Visit guardian.co.uk/climatesummit to register.

You even get another YouTube special (actually more of an 'I or me-Tube' from his modest efforts) from our PM, which is always good value.

Intriguing this was thought to help.

Addendum - this just 'in' from another 'summit-seller':

Just a quick one to let you know that the winners of the prize draw for the 2 free tickets to the Responsible Business Summit are xx and yy.

Sorry you didn’t win!

To compensate for not winning the free pass, I’m offering you a bronze pass for £795 + VAT (A saving of £500!!).

How, er, generous.

ps: when I saw 'RBS' as the URL I almost gave it a miss anyway.