» Green Living

UN COP17 Climate Negotiations kick off in Durban

Marta — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:26:05 +0000

The 17th UN negotiations to try and limit the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions and potentially catastrophic climate change began on 28th November, in Durban South Africa. Since the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered into force in 1995, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC have been meeting annually to assess progress in dealing with climate change.

With the slogan “Working Together; Saving Tomorrow Today”, it seems as though there is plenty of optimism and a will to achieve. However, recent COP meetings, in Copenhagen and Cancun, were felt by some to have failed to deliver lasting commitments from countries to decrease their greenhouse gas emissions.

Here’s an update from the UKYCC delegation in Durban on Monday 5 December:

“It’s the first day of the second week and the pressure’s started to build. This is the make or break week for the negotiations and I’ll be honest – I’m afraid it’s going to be break time. There are some really important issues on the table – the one a lot of people are talking
about is the Kyoto Protocol. It’s the only legally binding treaty we have to reduce carbon emissions but it runs out in 2012. If we want to have emissions reduction targets (which we do), then we need action now. The KP (as it’s called) only applies to developed countries. The US never signed up to it (they just don’t like playing fair or acknowledging that they’re part of the world) and now Canada is actively trying to kill it so it can sell highly polluting tar sand oil to every other country in the world for maximum profits. Japan and Russia are being lame too.

It’s not often I’m proud to be British but the EU, and the UK within it, are doing their best to keep it alive – I’m 100% of the way behind them. Say it loud and say it proud: ‘I heart KP!

Other important issues are having a broader mandate for a universal treaty that will cover both developed and developing countries come out of Durban. That, and money. Always with the money! But the UNFCCC want to create a Green Climate Fund to manage the money that will support mitigation and adaptation to climate change. The big question is, who’s going to take care of the money and where’s it going to come from?

For a more in-depth insight, check out the second UKYCC hand puppet video. If talking hands can’t explain what’s going on, nothing can!”

Websites to keep up to date with progress of the talks:

http://adoptanegotiator.org/ – A blogging platform which tracks the progress of the negotiations day by day
un.ukycc.org - the website of the UK Youth Climate Coalition, who have a delegation at the conference
http://www.cop17-cmp7durban.com/index.html – the main website of the conference; useful for full background information.

Time for Community Currencies – workshop at Arcola on 11 October

Feimatta — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:34:59 +0000

As the world’s economy enters a ‘dangerous phase’, with the IMF warning the US and Europe risk double-dip recession, experts fear a domino effect in Europe’s debt crisis.

But what of LETS and Timebanks, and the emergence of the UK Transition Currencies such as the Brixton and Lewes Pound? How can we organise currences for Dalston and other communities in Hackney and London?

There was an opportunity to find out with Michael Linton, leading world expert in community currencies, what the future looks like for the money we make ourselves.

This event was organised by Les Moore, of Common Resource

Arcola at the London Green Fair 2011

stephane — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:15:43 +0000

On 4th and 5th June, Arcola Energy took part in the London Green Fair in Regents Park, as part of the London Community Resources Network tent. The Energy Team presented sustainability projects at Arcola and held workshops on how to make mood lamps out of recycled phone chargers.

It was the first edition of the fair which builds on the 18 year history of the former Camden Green Fair. Several thousand people came to learn about living a a greener life in London.

On Sunday, the LCRN tent was packed with families sheltering from the rain. Our recycling workshop was a victim of its own success as we ran out of paper, LEDs and chargers, but we spent a great time chatting with children and parents eager to know more about sustainable theatre and clean energy. Our new intern Stéphane Verlet-Bottéro provided some drawings for how to construct the mood lamps, and we hope that many people were able to carry this out at home.

Arcola’s 10:10:10 Success!

Mani — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 11:59:47 +0000

Just yesterday was Arcola’s biggest Green Sunday yet and what a wonderful day it was to host it! The event was in celebration of the 10:10 campaign A Global Day of Doing and we had plenty of food, free workshops, performances, and people. Throughout the day we had approximately 400 people attend and participate. The workshops varied from planting seeds in newspaper pots, creating crafty draught excluders, learning how to be sustainable at home, a free bike maintenance check, and swapping plenty of items like furniture, books, and electronic goods. These workshops served as a great example as people were able to see the big picture of reduce, reuse, and recycle in its practicality. We got our message across well with an enthused crowd after our film screening of “No Impact Man” and other performances by various artists throughout the evening at ColourWorks. Thank you to all of those who attended and we hope you were inspired by the whole event and continue to show your future support and live sustainably.

Check out a blog post made on the 10:10 website about our event! Click here.

Give or Take Day

Mani — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:05:01 +0000

Give or Take (with Forest Recycling Project www.frponline.org.uk/)

Bring what you don’t want and take what you do!

What can you give? Baby equipment, books, toys, children’s bikes, kitchenware, paint (reusable), plants, garden tools and equipment and even small electrical goods and furniture (side tables, shelves, cots etc).

What can you take? Anything you need. And you don’t have to give to take but please do try!

Please do not give clothes, hazardous or toxic items or second hand child car seats.

Toronto to New York City Travel Options

Lisa — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:18:29 +0000

This journey actually involves going from London to Toronto to New York with a stop over in Washington in an attempt to make the most out of one transatlantic trip. The following represents one leg of the journey.

Distance: approximately 500 miles

Option 1: Train

Route: Toronto (Union Station) to NYC (Penn Station) direct

Time: 13 hours (approx.)

Cost: $97 US (Coach)/ $127 (Business) -one way

Carbon output: low (~45.1kg)

Info: http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak

Option 2: Bus

Route: Toronto to NYC (Port Authority Bus Terminal/Penn Station) direct

Time: 11.5 -12.5 hours (approx.)

Cost: $72 US -one way

Carbon output: low (~23.5kg)

Info: http://www.trailwaysny.com/index.asp

http://www.megabus.com/us/ (has free wi-fi)

http://www.greyhound.com/home/ (has free wi-fi and “eco-friendly” buses)

Option 3: Plane

Route: Toronto Pearson Airport to NYC La Guardia direct

Time: 1.5 hours

Cost: $203 CND one-way/$366 CND return

Carbon output: high (~111.7kg)

Info: www.expedia.ca

Option 4: Car share

Route: various – Toronto to NYC

Time: 9 hours (approx.)

Cost: various (gas money)

Carbon output: med to high (50-180kg depending)

Info: http://www.sharetheroad.com/categories.php?parent_id=259

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/rid/

To note: We’ve found an Amtrak train from New York to Washington. It’s only 3-4 hours and costs around $72 US.

London Leaders Programme

Ben Todd — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:09:48 +0000

“London Leaders brings together London’s leading lights in sustainability, to deliver real change, and inspire others to do the same“.

The London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC) launched London Leaders in October 2007 to inspire and catalyse positive change, demonstrate sustainability in action, and increase London’s capacity for sustainable development leadership.

By bringing together sustainability leaders from all walks of life across London, SDC’s intention is to demonstrate the power of cross-sector partnership and innovation for tackling London’s sustainability challenges and delivering improvements in quality of life. The goal is to motivate and empower individuals, organisations and communities to take responsibility and make the changes necessary to realise the vision of making London a global benchmark for sustainable development.

To find out more have a look at:
http://www.londonsdc.org/londonleaders/

Future Arcola was part of Ben’s London Leader pledge

Looking for Greener Festivals?

Fanny Deleris — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:18:47 +0000

Summer is coming and festivals are blooming all around the world.
But have you ask yourself how green is your festival?

Please find here some links to achieve more sustainable festival events!

The European Festival Association Yourope is dedicated to improving the European festival scene in terms of working conditions, health and safety issues, environmental awareness and in promoting the cross-border exchange of live music talent. Developed in 2006, the Green’n’Clean Internet tool contains detailed information on how to manage and implement an environmentally friendly festival. For more information www.yourope.org or please contact: yourope@yourope.org
Click here for ‘Green’n'Clean’ PDF download.

AGreenerFestival was set up in 2006 to champion the sustainable events and environmentally friendly music and arts festivals. The organisation “is not for profit” and it’s main activity is to facilitate the exchange of best practice through the website www.agreenerfestival.com. The Organisation also promote the annual awards scheme (The Greener Festival Awards) for green festivals in association with the UK Festival Awards. The first winners of the award in 2007 included The Glastonbury Festival, Lattitude, The Big Chill and the Sunrise Celebration. AGreenerFestival actively supports Julies Bicycle, the UK’s cross music initiative on climate change and YOUROPE’s Green n Clean initiative for European festivals.
Contact: A Greener Festival Ltd 8 Henley Prior Collier Street London N1 9JU
Ben Challis: benchallis@aol.com
Press: Sam Hinde sam@freemanpr.net

Green Futures Festivals aims to reveal the appropriate systems required to create a sustainable lifestyle and ecology, whilst also supporting personal and spiritual freedom. They aim to influence contemporary education systems. Based upon the premise that a safe, inspirational and self sustaining society will not just happen but will have to be built, Green Futures Festivals welcomes all who have an interest in this kind of future to work cohesively. By sharing information and providing a forum for interactive exploration we hope to move toward our goals.
Green Futures Festivals 28 Gibbon Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 6AB

http://greenfuturesfestivals.org.uk

Greening the Uk Music Industry

Fanny Deleris — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:54:56 +0000

Julie’s Bicycle is a not for profit company established to find ways to reduce the UK music industry’s greenhouse gas emissions. They are working with science and industry to find achievable and effective solutions for the music industry and beyond.

In July 2007 Julie’s Bicycle commissioned the Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University, to provide a scoping on the UK music industry’s carbon emissions.
The research findings were presented on April 18th at the Royal Geographic Society, London.

Julie’s Bicycle ‘First Step’ Executive Summary
Julie’s Bicycle ‘First Step’ Full Report
‘First Step’ Technical Note

Easy green initiatives for your company

lloyd — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:54:38 +0000

Bryan Raven from White Light has very kindly provided us with a presentation on how they, as a theatre-lighting supply company, are going about improving their operations and procurement. They also give a handy list of improvements that they either have, should, or wish to implement—great for ideas on how to green up your own business!

Here are a few to start off with:

Receive payments & invoices electronically
Use time switches to switch off printers & coffee machines when not in use
Operate a Ride2work scheme
Paper-free board meetings
Use only discharge lamps such as fluorescents for office & warehouse lighting
Turn off our PC & monitors every night
Considering the impact of purchases, using local suppliers, shipping rather than
flying, etc.
Installing showers to encourage more people to cycle
Investigating “greener” energy suppliers for gas & electricity
Collect used batteries/lamps from West-End theatres/venues & recycle

Link to presentation