October 2009
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Urban Repair Squad Donald tries to Trump Aberdeenshire
Britain’s got banking ethics
This month we’re challenging you to put your money where your mouth is. Get the ethiscore on your bank and if you don’t like it, pester them to change it or change your bank. Commercial banks have been known to invest in arms, oil pipelines, tar sands oil extraction and operate in tax havens. In 2006, the carbon dioxide emissions embedded in RBS's project finance was greater than the carbon dioxide emissions of Scotland itself- shocker!
But smile, there are other banking options out there, including Co-op (and their internet branch Smile,) and Triodos.
Statistically you’re more likely to get divorced than change your bank account, so we challenge you to prove statistics wrong. If you do feel wedded to your old bank, ask to see a copy of their ethical policy and tell them what they think about it. And if you are divorcing your bank, it’s always a good idea to tell them why you think their behaviour is so unreasonable.
Britain’s got green offices
Office bins filled with disposable coffee cups, stacks of one sided printing, blazing lights in empty rooms and computers humming all night. No more!
Cartridge World is searching high and low to track down the most environmentally friendly office in the UK. If you’re a dedicated unplugger of equipment left on overnight, a recycling revolutionary or an anti-packaging politician in your office, you could be the Greenest Office of 2009. The competition is open to all UK businesses, large or small, who can show that they have a dedicated policy to reduce their environmental footprint.
People don’t tend to apply the eco-habits they have at home to their workplace, but that’s clearly changing since 838 businesses signed up the the 10:10 campaign. The Low Carbon Innovation Network have put together an eight-point guide to getting your office greener.
Britain’s got solar power
Well, we will have soon with these instructions for building your own solar panel. Fed up with electricity bills, expensive solar panels and too few subsidies to help you generate your own electricity, this fella in Holland decided it was time to build his own. Admitting that “generating your own electricity is a small job if you say this sentence quick, but doing it is a complete other matter", he also put his instructions online. We’re guessing that Holland is about as sunny as the UK, so if it worked for him, it can work for us. Get building.
Planet’s got climate change
Last year James Hansen, a climatologist from NASA, produced a landmark series of studies. These studies showed that if we let the amount of carbon in the atmosphere stabilise at 350 parts per million, we can’t expect to have a planet “similar to the one on which civilization developed and to which life on earth is adapted.”
Scary stuff. Even scarier when you realise that we’re already past that number—we’re at 390 parts per million, which is why the Arctic is melting, why drought is spreading across the planet, why people are already dying from diseases like dengue fever and malaria occurring in places where they’ve never been seen before.
350.org, a group of people from around the planet—young and old, scientists and writers and activists – invite you to help build a movement and be part of the biggest day of grassroots action on global warming ever.
Here’s the plan. On October 24 people all over the world will take part in actions to make the number 350 visible to their friends, their neighbours, their politicians and the world (if you can organise a 350 action that’s visible from space we’ll send you a prize at least as good as a fairtrade chocolate bar). At the time of going to press 1582 actions were planned in 126 countries. School children in Bangladesh will plant 350 trees, the statues on Easter Island will be adorned with 350 banners and many many more. There are actions taking place up and down the UK from the coasts of Cornwall to the sea locks of Scotland. Find out what’s happening with you and join it, or create your own action and document it.
At each event, people will gather for a big group photo that somehow depicts 350 and add it to the 350 website. On October 24th, as actions take place around the world, 350.org will create a powerful visual petition to deliver to the media and world leaders.
Britain’s got cycle tours
This summer three Otesha cycle tours (total 40 volunteers) wandered their way around the UK parading the Otesha Morning Choices play, pedaling the workshops and generally inspiring loads of young people to green up. They went wild in Wales, one-minute discoed around Scotland and protested that East Anglia was not, as promised, ‘flat as a pancake’.
Cycle tour members were trained in consensus decision making, public speaking, theatre skills, health and nutrition, cycle safety, facilitation, community building, bike maintenance and the importance of games. Then they set off on their bikes, all their worldly belongings (for the next 6 weeks anyway) on their backs and trailers (containing food and a camping kitchen) trailing behind them. There were a few tiffs and tears, stormy weather and stolen bikes, but there were also friends and feasts, campfires and climbing hills, singing and schools visited, beaches and bicycles, learning and laughing. We’re very glad they all took 6 weeks out of their lives and came on tour. We hope they are too. The cycle tours visited many an amazing place and met loads of lovely people on their way. We hope you all stay in touch.
And finally
This month we’ll be at Powershift, participating in and giving workshops. See you there!
Jo, Hanna, Liz, Busayo & Tom
The Otesha Project UK
www.otesha.org.uk
P.s. Want to raise a bit of money for your favourite charity (ahem, that means us)? We’d love you to take on a sponsored run, cycle, hike, month without plastic or a sponsored anything else you can think of. If you're in need of a challenge email info@otesha.org.uk.
Double p.s. our favourite postcard this month came from Richard who told us he’s going to grow his own food and fuel.