Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
-
Should we go to Greenland for oil?
By Chris Perkiss
Greenland happy to be the new oil frontier!
OK, so this is my first blog but I saw this and couldn’t help but to get confused and want to express it! It’s no secret that as a race, indeed as a species, we have to change the way we live order to maintain this planet as we know it. If anything is important in our quest to change our ways, it’s the need to decrease our reliance on oil. Not only for its obvious uses in transport fuels and the like, but also its use in the production of plastics, especially in the unnecessary packaging of goods.
In this materialistic and consumerist society we find ourselves in, I see the benefit of new oil, but the fact that we are even still looking for it sends me into despair. With the threat of ‘peak oil’ growing, it has never been a better time to change our ways and for industry to look elsewhere for alternative means of meeting demand.
Going back to Greenland, are all the people there really happy about this? Fair enough it can change the reliance of their small economy but has it really come to tarnishing one of the last untouched havens in the world? The most ironic thing about this story is the location. Although the oil lies beneath, it is the surface that I worry about. Ultimately, the oil will be used in ways which will inevitable feed back to the ice on top which will melt into our oceans and cause all sorts of bother. I can’t help but to be disheartened by the discovery of new oil, I personally feel that we are stuck in a way that cant be changed. I really hope that by 2050, a shift in social consciousness had occurred and called upon industry to change and we avoid the dangerous 2 degrees barrier
-
Green Jobs
By Simon Howlett
I am one of those people that aims for a green job; a career that in whatever small way leads to being a savour of the world.
Reasons for this:-
- Climate change is happening, within my 24 years of life – I am able to give hundreds of examples of it destroying environments and peoples lives.
- I love the idea of working within a communication sector that is not all about profit, but aims to create great change individually, within a community, a nation, a continent, a whole planet!
- I have grown up with superhero’s on the brain and without coming into contact with radioactive material or wearing my pants on the outside, this is the nearest I get to saving the world
They is a slight issue with this career goal however.
The United Nations Environment Programme define Green Jobs as
Work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development (R&D), administrative, and service activities that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. Specifically, but not exclusively, this includes jobs that help to protect ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption through high efficiency strategies; de-carbonize the economy; and minimize or altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and pollution.*
which covers quite a lot of different varied jobs – so how come – there are so few about?
OK that’s a little white lie. Day-by-day in my search for the perfect full time job, they has been a general small increase in opportunities and roles that involve some sort of sustainable, environmental aspect.
Its just none seem applicable for graduates. you need ‘at least 2-3 years experience’ a ‘blah blah blah qualification’ and a ‘high level of something you never were taught at university’
Therefore the only way to get a job is to work hard get those years of experience behind you so that one day you will get that fantastic job and you will in turn push aside those recent and growing number of graduates aiming for a green job.
Will this continue?
Will the unbelievable happen and an army of green jobs appear that have been promised for the last couple of years by the government and others?
Will companies, organisations, groups charities etc realise that whilst these recent graduates do not have 2-3 years of labour behind them - they are keen, they want to save the planet and they can actually pick things up quite quickly.
This does not include clothes on the floorMaybe..We the graduates have to be the ones to push this to happen. If we can complain to friends and family about the job situation, why can’t we push this to those who could make the change.
After all we are now voters, We will be joined by 4/5 years of new voters. What can stop us?**
*http://www.unep.org/PDF/UNEPGreenjobs_report08.pdf
**The only answer I am accepting is global destruction.
-
2050 - Green and clean?
Climate Squad volunteer - Aisha Brown Colpani - discusses her vision of 2050 for our Greenprint to 2050 project
If you want to join the Greenprint, join us on the 25th August or 1st September. We’ll debate the lifestyles we want to live, the communities we want to live in and the best way to make it happen. Reserve a place by calling Heather on (0207) 420 4441 or e-mail climate.squad@globalactionplan.org.uk
Trying to imagine the world of the future takes a bit of thought; putting aside the image of a hover-car darting across the sky (for now), what can we really expect to see? How far will the world have moved from that to which we have become accustomed by the time the year 2050 rolls around?
It would be hard to make an even halfway plausible suggestion for a future reality without factoring in the major question of the state of the environment, or, more specifically, how much further we will push said environment before it furiously rebels. With more and more headline space being used to highlight the effects of Global Warming it seems that now is the time to pay attention if we want any kind of improvement today as well as in forty years time. Why not start at home?
The great thing about the boom in super-sophisticated technology is that we actually have the tools, we know where the problems lie; if we really want to transform the UK into a green and clean environment then we have to make the most of the means at our disposable in order to do our collective bit to reduce carbon emissions. By 2050 I’d like to see many major roads kept exclusively for bicycles. How many more people would be enticed to jump on their bikes knowing that they’d be able to ride calmly around town, in a space shared with other cyclists? And what number would ditch the car when they realised just how much more convenient pedalling down the main road would be? The fact that there is also a mini work-out to be had while inhaling the unpolluted air is not an unwelcome prospect either…the list of Pro’s is endless really. There’s no denying that the bicycle is having somewhat of a revival as the first choice of travel; who wants to wait for the bus or squeeze into the tube carriage when you could do your little bit just by pedalling down the street? Now, imagine the huge reduction in carbon emissions if the bicycles on the streets were to out-number the cars…I guess our fore-mothers and fathers had the right idea when it came to getting around.
But my vision of a clean-aired future does not rely solely on investing in two decent wheels; how can I even begin to imagine a carbon-free (or at least a greatly carbon-reduced!) environment without putting in a mention to those machines of unrivalled carbon-gulping power a.k.a. the oxygen givers, or, to use the more formal term, trees? Without trees there would be no world to fret over in the first place and I think it is time to give them a bit more appreciation; we need to make more space for these wonders of nature, especially in metropolitan areas where a glimpse of green can be something of a rarity. I do have to acknowledge that London does have some beautiful parks where the trees stand strong and the flowers are maintained with pride but I can think of another area that could benefit just as much from that consideration for plant-life; the school play-ground. I remember reading an opinion suggesting that the best way to get the younger generation interested in caring for the natural world would be with the introduction of a substantial garden area in schools, a place where the kids would learn how to interact considerately with plants - they will be the young adults taking responsibility for the future of the environment after all.
Care for the environment is an issue which we must all take to our hearts sooner if we want to build a healthier, cleaner, more considerate society later. And the rewards don’t stop with the green credentials. Don’t believe me? Picture the scene: you leave work mid-afternoon (as the current obsession with a career will have taken a backseat for enjoyment of all the other things we could be doing), the sun shining and gently warming your face, or, perhaps, a light spray of rain (well we are talking about the UK here) - but not so much to hinder any outdoor activity. You go to your local little park area and find it buzzing with activity as people congregate to tend to the plant life, weeding and watering, admiring the different colours; it’s a time of relaxation and socialising. You feel closer to the Earth and further from the every day issues which tend to dominate the day…Why dismiss this snapshot as too good to be true?
When I think of 2050 and of my ideal vision of the UK and the world by that time, I think of a place proud of its reputation as a home to plants and wildlife left as nature intended; I think of a base that complies to the top environmental standards and keeps our pollution levels in-check through passionately upheld rules regarding the environment and encouragement of individual pride in our green surroundings. I imagine a place where recycling as much waste as possible becomes a reflex in every household and where more emphasis is put on respecting and enjoying our natural surroundings above man-made products. In 2050 the UK could be a place for cyclists, for environmentally acceptable vehicles of public transport, for lots of trees, for recycle bins (exclusively), for less stress about money and more time to breathe the truly fresh air.
-
High speed rail links
Climate Squad intern, Sagal Ali
Every year we hear new proposals from the government. And surprisingly, the government wanting to make high speed rail links is still in place even after the new government have taken their seats in Parliament. Save the environment you said. Well it seems like the Conservative party are attempting this with them continuing the transport policy. They have recently divulged their plans to continue the labour party’s idea of the high speed rail link, HS2; which will cut out the time it took will take you to get around the UK.
These plans were announced by Lord Adonis in March and he had said that they will take place after the Crossrail is completed which is around 2017. The Tories have said that they will make the date closer and it will be by 2013. This means that there will be more people taking the train instead of the plane. This equals less carbon emissions in the air. Even for those who do not care about the environment it will save them more time with travel between Edinburgh and London being cut down to three hours.
Splendid you say but what is the catch. Well many have said that the Tories have not outlined the amount that they will spend. Unfortunately, they will be spending approximately (according to Adonis) £15.8bn and £17.4bn and that is just for the first 120 miles between London and the west Middlesex. This will obviously come out of our taxes; well at least it will help us all.
However, there are communities that are not impressed with the government’s proposals and see this transport policy as a farewell to their beautiful England. This is a side to the environment that it will affect in a negative way. Although it will decrease carbon emissions it seems like it will damage a lot of the green in Middlesex. For example, there is an outcry in Ladbroke where the plans to start the rail tracks have led to the communities house prices dropping due to people not wanting to live next to this rail complex. This rings true for the High Speed 1 which is between London Paddington to Kent where the prices of the house in the Kent area fell by 30%. So it does not look pretty for the housing market in Ladbroke. However, they will get compensation they just have to wait for 10 year which obviously will annoy some but at least they will get it back.
Campaigners have said that the governments excuse making these plans work is false, and that there are no commercial flights that go from Birmingham to London and that this will just destroy the English countryside. I think these campaigners did not consider even though there are no commercial flights, there are other small flights that go around from London to the Midlands. It seems that everything you do for the environment is a double edged sword such as wind mills. There will always be someone against brilliant ideas like the new HS2. Like the French government think it is too expensive to save the brown bears in the Pyrenees. Yes we do have to protect our pockets and not venture to save the world. I agree that it will damage some of the country side but on the whole it will be.
Unfortunately, the world’s biodiversity is dramatically changing and with the riches of the world we can surely put aside money from this argument. If you do not want your grandchildren to live in unstable environment then by all means protect your pockets but do not complain when you have nothing to look at and when it is too hot or cold.
Photographs courtesy of Google images and The Guardian.
How can technology lead us into a low carbon future? Have your say and join our discussion workshop on the 25th August or 1st September.
Reserve you place by calling Heather on 0207 420 4441 or e-mail climate.squad@globalactionplan.org.uk
-
You may know more than you think
By Climate Squad volunteer, Zoe Smithson
Climate Change is everywhere, on the news, on the internet, in politics, everyone is aware of it, talking and learning about the it consequences, and how to take action. More and more young people today attend University and live the student lifestyle; drinking, going out, eating rubbish food, and sometimes just being a bit careless. They may not realise but they are probably learning about the affects of climate change in their chosen subject, such as Politics and International Relations, Architecture and Design, Engineering, and science just to name a few.
I am an Intern for Climate Squad at Global Action Plan, and I came here knowing the basic information about climate change and how to act like recycling, turning off lights - all things to cut carbon emissions, which can be prevented in your everyday lifestyle. When I thought about my course at University where I study Interior Design, I came to realise that I have been learning how to design for the future, eco-friendly design, sustainability, renewable materials and Human Centred Design. It is design for the future; it is for you to be aware of, as it is happening. Architecture releases a huge amount of carbon emissions per year that to cut carbon emissions, everyone has to build in a more eco-friendly way.
Sustainable architecture is a term used to describe designing that seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings, by using renewable materials, solar panels, heating, cooling and ventilation in a way to save energy and costs, and for a greener way of life. Sustainability is also a large discussion in the pressing economic and political issues of the world today, so whatever profession you would like to be in, you will come across debate about climate change. In simpler terms, sustainable, ecological design is to ensure that our actions and decisions we make today do not inhibit the opportunities of future generations. The future is in our hands, build for a brighter future, learn, and life live in a greener positive way and be more conscious of your actions.
To sum up, to all University students like myself, be more aware of the goings on around you, because climate change is a huge issue, and you have to know about - take action to change the future as we are the future generation. There is always something you can do and somewhere you can help, teach and learn to cut the affects of climate change. Start by joining www.climatesquad.org.uk and volunteer your time to help and make a difference.
Help build your future at our “Create your future” workshops where we will seek your vision of a low carbon 2050 so we can create the climate for change.
17th, 19th, 25th August and 1st September! - To register call Heather on 0207 420 4441 or e-mail climate.squad@globalactionplan.org.uk.
-
Boris’s Bikes
The Barclays Cycle Hire, or as everyone else is calling it Boris’s Bike’s (Fitting into the view of him being a megalomaniac, who owns every single one of them, and will one day use them as some sort of tool to gain greater power – cue evil bumbling laugh) have rolled out across London.
Does my bum look big on this?By 2015 this splendour of sustainable travel will consist of :-
- 5000 Bikes
- 350 Docking Stations
- 12 Cycle Superhighways
Spread all over greater London and with more then 1200 people signed up, no one can knock it for being a bad idea ‘sustainable, low carbon travel’ is a big thing these days.
Be wary though, as soon as one person goes under a bus on one of these bikes; the tabloids will change their tune and call for the scheme to be scrapped and Boris to be hung from the Tower of London.
So what challenges do TFL, Boris and Barclays face in the future
Well all the people that want to cycle in London; most likely already own a bike
The price for some seems more pricy then the bus or tube :-
Free first 30mins, though this does not include the fact that you have to pay a £1 access fee, or get a membership key for £3. An hours use is £1, rising to £15 for four hours. If for what ever reason your are unable to return the bike after 24 hours its a £150 fine.
This is standard though – the Paris Vélib’ is exactly the same and has grown into the worlds largest cycle hire scheme.That someone has already figured out how, to make a fake membership key and thus steal a bike (Vélib’ since starting in 2007, has had over 3000 bikes stolen)
THEN they is ridiculous issue that whilst Boris plans to reduce carbon emissions and look sustainable using the scheme – He is actually cutting out a proportion of the Congestion Charge area, allowing roughly 30,000 cars back into central London – and thus increasing its air pollution, already stated as the worst in Europe..
But how about positives
Paris’s scheme has grown over the years due to better cycle routes, tourists seeing it as viable option to getting on one of those buses and transport strikes. (London is quite good at this) It will also benefit to the health of Londoners, who may end up dusting of their own bikes after riding one and help cut down on personal carbon emissions. We could even get to see drunk people falling off bikes more often, Fantastic!
I’m also sure, it isn’t long until other cycle schemes appear in UK major cities, as if the bicycle is a brand new invention that everyone must own, just like those fruit based technology pad things.
So watch out for those cyclist coming to a city near you soon.
-
Worlds oldest woman turns 130!
By Simon Howlett
Antisa Khvichava, a woman from a remote village in west Georgia, has turned 130, making her the oldest person in the world by 16 years, officials claimed.
Yes, this claim is suspect. Being born in 1880, losing her birth certificate and having a child at 60, who is now himself 70.
But what about the official oldest people in the world - Eugénie Blanchard (1896-) Walter Breuning (1896-) and the UK record holders Eunice Bowman (1898-) and Claude Choules(1901-)
What is the one thing they all have in common apart from being old, grey and wrinkly?
Whenever a journalist comes knocking on their door asking ‘why they have lived so long’ secretly hoping that they will state ‘oh, I’ve got the fountain of youth in my back garden’
The boring answer they actually receive is ‘I keep myself busy and working.’Now, I have lived through the lazy teenage years, eating sweets and playing the latest GTA consistently. However I now find myself being uber busy, undertaking more opportunities and roles then physically possible, whilst also being addicted to twitter and chocolate digestives. With the added bonus of believing I’m fitter and healthy then ever!
So when my friends say ‘I cannot be bothered to recycle because it takes too much energy’ or ‘doing community work is pointless as I know one day I will move somewhere else’
Due to the presented evidence I can say something along the lines of -
If you recycle, if you do community work, if you do all the environmental and sustainable stuff that is, as evidence suggests good for the planet – you will keep yourself consistently busy and working hard just like Antisa Khvichava the oldest woman in the world has been doing for the last 130 years!What is more persuasive then that? Living forever and annoying your great-great-great-great-great grandchildren. Due to helping save the planet,
So yes, this blog has just confirmed and given you further artillery in turning people and friends green.
Use it well.
-
Around the world in 12,000 solar panels
By Astrit Muzliukaj
Solar Impulse, the unmanned solar powered aircraft made its longest in air flight reaching a height of 28,000 feet and landing after 26-hours. The aircraft powered up the day before and set off during the night managing to surpass its expected air-time of 24 hours to an impressive 26 hours. It is powered by 12,000 solar cells and managed to reach a speed of 70 MPH. The makers’ aim is to circle the globe by 2013.
Ensuring that this technology improves, we could possibly see commercial airliners equipped with such technology. This symbolic flight is a first for humans and, besides the obvious benefits for the airline industry, could see the reduction in fossil fuel usage and possibly usher in a new way of aviation travel. However, some speculate that the solar panels may not be efficient enough to power such a huge aircraft or may need special servicing to keep the solar panels working. In addition to this there is the obvious fact that some flights are carried out during the night and need to be constantly replenished with sunlight to power them up.
(Image courtesy of BBC)
This type of technology is sure to have implications in our flying. Firstly, the low demand for fuel is good news not only for the environment and also a fantastic saving for companies such as Boeing and Airbus. This then has implications on customers as the savings are brought down to travellers in the form of lower fares. This would be a huge benefit for travellers as they could afford more holidays and see more places across the globe for a much lower price of what is spent today.
The possibilities that this experiment brings are endless. The use of solar panels on planes could have knock on effects for other events. An example is the world cup which could see a reduction in overall carbon emissions as a result of spectators flying in solar powered planes. Avid travellers also see it as a perfect way of reducing their individual carbon footprint and doing their bit for the planet. This surely is a great piece of technology and must be supported through to ensure that future generations of planes have solar panels fitted inside them.
In summary, there are three clear winners if this kind of technology really gets into gear. There’s the environment benefiting from low fossil fuel usage and less air pollution. Next, the airline companies such as Airbus and Boeing will benefit through savings because they no longer need to power up their planes using fuel - just simple sunlight. And finally there’s the public. All those great savings that airliners make will pass onto you in a neat little low fare package (in the long run)… hopefully if they are not too greedy.
-
Environmental Music
By Simon Howlett
A Few weeks ago I blogged about films with an environmental meaning. So it makes perfect sense to delve into the world of music.
the small choice here concerns songs that I like and are
A) not done by hippies, who get over a clear message – but have this hidden sense of being on drugs and believe love to be the only answer (I’m afraid this includes John Lennon - sorry)
B) not part of the world music genre. Its all good having some Peruvian music with in a film, TV etc when you are showing how a family or community cope in Peru. But not many of us would gladly listen to it unless we were hippies.
Manic Street Preachers – ‘If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next’
So its really about the Spanish Civil War, being a quote upon a poster to recruit idealistic volunteers.Isn’t that what most of us climate orientated youth are? Plus we are thinking of our future and the future our kids live in – therefore it fits perfectly.
Jamiroquai - ‘When You Gonna Learn?’
Within Jamiroquai’s Greatest hits CD pamphlet it stated that they were ahead of their time singing about fish stocks and its true – I don’t even think you can get away with it in 2010
Joni Mitchell - ‘Big Yellow Taxi’
Parking lots, tree museum, the use of synthetic pesticide. She covers it all and makes you realise you don’t know what your got until its gone.
Marvin Gaye - ‘Mercy Mercy Me’
If you don’t actual listen to the lyrics, you might think he is trying to swoon you into bed – that might be possible, but what he is really is stating is that we F*** the world.
Jack Johnson - ‘The 3 R’s’
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. made for the film Curious George. but it is very simple and very catchy.
The Kinks - ‘Apeman’
To me this song is about one of those posh people who believe they save the world just by being a vegetarian. But one day it hits them, that they are just the same as everyone else and should really do more about it – stand up and fight.
Bad Religion - ‘Kyoto Now’
A song that should get credit as its all about the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 & a USA ‘Kyoto Now’ student led movement to cut down CO2
Pixies - ‘Monkey Gone To Heaven’
This particular monkey is ‘killed by ten million pounds of sludge from New York and New Jersey’ simple connection really
Michael Jackson - ‘Earth Song’
WOW its the King of Pop saving the children of the world by written a song that sold millions of copies worldwide and had a video costing $3.5 million.
Being the King he could of made a video from REAL LIFE torment and destruction, instead of having pre-planned trees falling down on cue. Then gave the money to charities.
Though I guess that wouldn’t look as cool.
You can find all these songs on YouTube, Last Fm, MySpace, Spotify
-
The FIFA World Cup: Politics and Climate
By Astrit Muzliukaj
What with the world cup final near us and the hype nearly reaching an end, can it be that this year’s biggest sport tournament is a big climate polluter?
Is this even a big deal? Surely, countries can get along for the biggest sporting event of the year without worrying about politics; surely it cannot be ruined by some CO2 figures. It can be argued that the world cup is perhaps the only time when the whole country comes together in celebrations and excitement. Many people around England saw a great unification as they proudly hung up the St. George’s flag so why are we worrying about the environment on this special occasion. Well, get this:
The estimated amount of CO2 emitted in this year’s world cup is 2,753,251 tons. That’s roughly the same as the amount released by 1 million cars throughout the course of one year. And this year’s world cup is 6 times worse in terms of emissions than the last world cup because of the influx of international visitors flying in rather than using trains and cars like in Berlin 2006. Added to that, South Africa needed to build more stadiums and it did so at a cost to the environment because for every 1 ton of cement manufactured there was 1 ton of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere. As a way of trying to offset this heavy pollution, South Africa built an efficient rail network to transport visitors and planted many trees in suburban areas. The Guardian gave a visual idea of just how much CO2 has been emitted throughout this year’s world cup – the equivalent of 6000 space shuttle missions or the production of 1 billion cheeseburgers!
But out of all the factors to affect the amount of CO2 from this year’s world cup it was the spectators who caused the most amounts. Figures show that China is the world’s largest polluter and, even though their team did not attend the world cup games, may have contributed to vast amounts of air miles pollution. How, I hear you ask? Well, the North Korean fans waving about in the stadiums, it turns out, were Chinese actors assigned to cheer the country on. This political restraint on its own citizens means that hardly anyone from North Korea is able to obtain a visa to leave the country and it has raised questions on whether the world cup has taken on a political rather than global role. North Korea’s participation in the world cup is welcomed but are its citizens are being treated fairly and should North Korea leave the future world cup participations all together?
Recent comments: