Yesterday I got a magazine sent to me from the USA and I couldn’t quite work out why they had been sent to me. Then I was flicking through the magazine last night and saw an article about compost toilets. I took a look at the photo, looked again and realised it was a photo of the compost toilet on the croft I volunteering on in the summer. Quite chuffed by it. Nice to see a photograph in print and also nice of them to actually send the magazine. I’ve been published in a few things but nobody else has ever sent me any “evidence”. Thanks YES Magazine!
This plastic bag thing seems to be quite popular at the moment. I had a couple of positive comments about the previously posted essay. Chorlton seems to be going full steam ahead with it’s plastic bag free campaign although I still think this is more an aesthetic issue rather than a climate change issue maybe it will help people think about the “bigger picture”.
What else has been going on? I’ve been shuttling between Manchester and the Wirral to look after my parents cat who seems a bit confused about their prolonged absence.
Also been enjoying the Christmas market in Manchester. I would say it is just as good as going to Germany (and you are saving time and of course emissions!). The mulled wine is ace and there are lots of things to eat (although mainly for the carnivores amongst you).
We also went to our friend’s night called Civil Action in town which was really good fun.
We also had a Christmas dinner which was amazing and turned into a drunken fancy dress affair. We had amazing food (nice one Leanne), party games and lost of dancing on chairs, tables etc. Looking forward to the New Year’s eve party on the 4th January!
Finally for this pre-Christmas installment, I’d ask everyone who hasn’t to watch the Story of Stuff. It’s ace. Nuff said. (oh yeah and of course after watching that you’ll realise I don’t want any Christmas presents! ;-)… buy me something second-hand)
The single use plastic bag, the bête noire of environmentalists, has recently become an almost daily topic in the mainstream media. This follows the introduction of a plastic bag tax in Ireland in 2002, the failed legislation to tax their use in Scotland in 2005 and more recent voluntary agreements with major retailers in the UK to reduce plastic bag consumption. As the UK government is reluctant to tax plastic bag consumption (DEFRA 2006), towns across the UK are attempting to go ‘Plastic Bag Free’ themselves. Modbury in Devon was the first to achieve this status in May 2007 (Hosking 2007).
Critics say that plastic bags are the ultimate symbol of our throwaway society and are a blot on the landscape; littering both the countryside and coastlines. Proponents call them “a hygienic, odourless, waterproof, robust and convenient way of carrying goods” (British Plastics Federation 2002). They also say that the alternatives are much worse environmentally.
As discussed during the A1 module, global problems such as peak-oil, climate change and environmental pollution will affect us all. Plastic bags use oil, a non-renewable resource and are used in their millions daily, contributing to these problems. I am going to investigate their production and consumption and compare the alternatives. I will assess if eliminating their use completely is achievable or even desirable.
You can read the rest of Plastic Bag Free Britain here.
Posted in politics | | Edit
So I have made my first pilgrimage back to the mecca of UK environmentalist, the Centre of Alternative Technology, to carry on with my masters after a small pause of 13 months. It sort of feels like I haven’t been away - loads of interesting discussion, lectures and good veggie food and wine.
The only thing I wasn’t expecting was that the technology has moved on somewhat. I’m staying in the hostel in Corris and I can currently 13 people sat around the common room (complete with log file) using their laptops on the wireless network. There is wireless also within CAT, and the mobile phone signal seems quite strong too. I sort of miss being out of the loop but it’s also positive in that it shows communities like this have fast networks like we in the city are used to.
The walk this morning was beautiful; a lovely sunrise, mist rising off the hills and a chill in the air.
The WISE building seems to be coming along, although I’m not sure it’s gonna be finished before I finish the course next summer. I think the bad summer weather has hindered its progress
You can tell autumn is creeping along. I’ve never seen a sunflower looking so sad!
So tomorrow we are off to the sauna in Mac to investigate thermal insulation, the having lunch on the beach and a seminar in the pub. Then on Friday we’re off to look at a heliodom for our practical. Saturday I’ve gotta do a presentation. Eek! And then a party/ watching the rugby. Gonna be a good week!
So there will be a bit of a review of the trip to Germany soon, for now I’m getting on with writing an essay for the first module of my course (ok - apart from writing this I’m working, and apart from the fact I’ve had a couple of Friday lunchtime pints too. Oops)
Manchester central library seems to be a good place to work and get things done. Previously I’d not only been on the ground floor and not ventured upstairs. I was slightly surprising by the grandness of the main reading room. It’s not in my opinion as good as the central library in Liverpool but it’s still pretty impressive. I also like the colour of the lighting - reminds me of going to the library as a kid. The majority of the people on the free computers seem to be either surfing facebook or youtube. Scholarly types that they are.
Despite sometimes feeling that studying is a drag - I’m really enjoying the intensive research about one topic. I’m particularly enjoying some of the lobbying by the Carrier Bag Consortium and Plastics industry about Plastic bag taxes. Although they do have some good positive points - most of the spin is hilarious. I mean they say a good way to reuse your plastic bag is sitting on a wet bench. Granted you can’t do that with a paper bag but is this something that really needs to be written down!?
It’s been a while since I’ve put a sketch on here:
Have a good weekend!
So this is the last post for a while as I’m off on a “Study Tour” to the Rhine Valley for the next week. Staying in Freiberg and visiting various eco-projects and generally seeing how Germany does “environmental issues” much better than we do.
I’m gonna miss lazing around in Oswald Road though….
Adios
Posted in General | | Edit
