September 2008 Archives

I am not an economist or a businessman, and although many of my posts are partly about saving money, I'm certainly no expert on what's happening to the economy.  To me, it looks like some peoples' greed has caught up with them at the same time as peak oil has started to bite and our unpredictable and changing climate has caused a string of poor crop years.  And, although it's not 'our fault' as individuals, we do collectively share some of the responsibility for heavy resource use, high carbon emissions and purchasing homes with mortgages many times bigger than our income.  So we're all feeling the impact of this 'credit crunch' or economic slowdown.

This week, 16th to 22nd September, is European Mobility Week and on Monday 22nd, many areas will have a Car Free Day, aka 'In Town Without My Car' which is co-ordinated by the Department for Transport, funnily enough. But why do I think that's odd?  Thinking about it, this Government department is as aware as anyone is that we have too many cars on the road, emitting far too much pollution, killing and injuring too many people, and that these issues add up to a big problem.  So they are right to be in the forefront of trying to encourage us to use a different mode of transport. Car Free Day is not just about using a different mode of transport, it's asking the question, what we actually want to use our streets for?  Are they all just for the fastest throughput of traffic, or should at least some of them be spaces where we can socialise, enjoy art or street performance, shop or have some peace and quiet? Want to find your local Car Free Day? Try this funky website from the European Mobility Week.

You may remember seeing the Climate Camp in the media this year, where protestors and campaigners gathered near Kingsnorth Coal-Fired Power Station in Kent during the first week of August. One of the aims of the camp was to draw attention to the situation that faces humanity if we continue to burn coal unabated.. like E ON would like to do, by building another power station at the site to replace the old one.  The proposed new electricity generator would emit millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere, with no 'carbon capture and storage' technology installed.  To many of us, behaviour like this is just criminal and exceedingly foolish.

A greener life is not just about recycling, using public transport, buying fair-trade and having a pot of basil on the windowsill.  I place quite a lot of importance on creativity, health and a well-stimulated mind. Therefore I have a lot of time for art... I especially like looking at (and touching!) sculpture, and there are certain photographers I like too.

Last Sunday was the second York Green Festival, and I am pleased to say that all our hard work paid off and it went really well.  I may now have more time to get back to my regular weekly blog which has suffered slightly over the summer...  Now, one of the most popular  places at YGF08 was the clothes swapping tent.  One of the volunteer organisers, Sarah, had got some of her friends to donate some outfits, tops, blouses, leggings, hats, unidentifiable garments etc and create a 'bank' of clothes.  Festival goers brought their own unwanted but re-usable garments and added them to the ones hanging up... and took away something which appealed, something new to them..... all completely for free!  What a good idea!  If I was more into clothes, I'd say it was brilliant, but I'm a bloke so it remains just a good idea.