The Animals Save the Planet

The Animals Save the Planet are a series of humorous animated short films that feature tips from animals on how to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. You can watch it here

from: http://www.animalssavetheplanet.com/

Greenwich Car Free Day, Sunday 5 October 2008

photo by Kevin Steele , car free day Toronto


Last year Car Free Day at Greenwich was like this as publicised by us here. This year promises to be just as exciting - Greenwich Council has organised live street entertainment in the town centre to be enjoyed in a traffic-free environment.

Greenwich Car Free Day aims to encourage people to reduce car use, and promote alternative forms of transport. This year will have a strong focus on cycling with a range of cycling themed attractions and activities.

Did you know that Greenwich has a car club? You can find out more at http://www.mystreetcar.co.uk/

These photos illustrate how people enjoy car free day(s) around the world

impact of cloth nappies on the environment

Washing and drying cloth nappies does have an impact on the environment. For some useful tips on how to reduce the impact, the Environment Agency (UK) advises parents to:
- only flush liners containing stools
- use low temperature detergents
- buy more nappies initially and wash full loads
- not use fabric softener
- look at the label and try washing at a lower temperature
- air dry rather than tumble dry where possible
- purchase electricity on a green tariff

London Councils(.org.uk) is proposing to introduce a London-wide ban, or levy, on throw away shopping bags

photo: teddave

London Councils would like to consult with you on the options available to London for reducing the environmental impact caused by throw away shopping bags. They want to know what you think of their proposals – and are asking you to help them decide one of the key provisions to be contained in the 10th London Local Authorities Bill. This is a chance for Londoners to lead the country in a bold initiative More from London Councils website

8 Million disposable nappies used every day in the UK

Nappies are a major problem for developed countries. Such large numbers are used that the authorities are now faced with the huge problem of disposing of them. In the UK alone eight million disposable nappies are used every day.

At present the majority are being placed in landfill sites. However, they are being filled so quickly that they are running out of space, and sites for new ones are simply not available.

Understandably, no one wants to live near a landfill site and yet we don't mind sending our rubbish to where other people live. London, for example, sends 71% of its waste to the countryside.

Disposable nappies when soiled are so heavy that rubbish collectors know straight away which houses have babies and the ones that don't. In Kent, for example, nappy waste accounts for 4% of the total waste, when only 10% of families have babies. Kent County Council spends £2 million a year disposing of this waste in landfill sites. It is like burying £2 million that could be spent in education and health. And the problem doesn't end here. Disposable nappies biodegrade so slowly, they can stay in the landfill for the next 500 years.

With cloth nappies, faeces go where they are supposed to go, into the sewage system. Here the waste water will be treated to reduce the environmental impact before it is released back into the environment. Cloth nappies can be used again and again, so the energy used to make them (energy, water, etc) is completely justified.