Green (Living) Review

Cornish design company expands ECO range of products

2012-01-27T11:07:00.001-08:00

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

ashortwalk is expanding their multi award winning range of ECO products with a unique selection of garden products made from recycled plant pots.

The Cornish design company ashortwalk is proving that great products need not cost the earth, or the environment. Building on their success at the 2011 Green Business Awards, where they achieved a joint second place with Samsung for their best selling ECO range made from recycled coffee cups, they are now launching an outdoor garden range made from recycled plant pots.

Working with their 500 plus retail partners across the UK, customers will be able to drop off their unwanted plant pots in store and pick up new useful products made from the very same pots, such as the new triple faced Time/Thermometer/Moon Phase Clock, or the unique ‘recycle.... reuse’ bird feeder that enables you to offer unwanted food to the birds rather than throw it away.

Using around 2 bin liners full of pots to make one clock, the resulting finish closely resembles natural slate with a lovely solid, earthy look and feel. In fact, I am wondering as to whether this material could be used as an alternative to slate for roof covering.

Everything is sourced, recycled, designed and re-manufactured in the UK. “ashortwalk products offer a rare opportunity for people to participate in the full recycling loop’ says Dan, the founder of the company and an ex Dyson designer, ‘The recycling process is only truly complete once the same item is reused in the place of a product made from virgin materials. The plant pot scheme offers people the chance to close the recycling loop”.

Products range from ECO House Numbers and Signs to robust Plant Markers and Chalk Boards so there is something for everyone. At last, an answer to the question of what to do with all those old pots in the shed!

Products range from £1 to £29.95 and are available from forward thinking outlets across the UK.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

London Bike Show 2012 at ExCel – Visit Report

2012-01-27T10:59:00.001-08:00

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

How very exiting... NOT!

I am really beginning to be at a complete and utter loss as to why, despite the resurgence in serious cycling for commuting and shorter journey and for some the choice of personal transport, the only things that are on display at such shows are overpriced cycles, predominately street racers, BMX bikes and mountain trail bikes, and other kit, rather than “real” bikes.

With the exception of a very small number of companies the show was all but geared for those with lots of money who do extreme cycle sports.

Very few proper, affordable, commuter bicycles, and I do not class folding bikes here which are way too pricey anyways, could be found and let's not even talk about your ordinary general use bicycle.

While cycling is a sport too “Tour de France” kin d of bikes (and kit) hardly are any use to the ordinary punter, especially not the average person wanting to use a bicycle in order to get from A to B rather than a car.

The same goes also as regards to mountain and trail bikes. They are not, in the main, either, necessarily, what the ordinary user is going to be looking for.

Very much like the Cycle Show, which has moved from London to the NEC in Birmingham, the London Bike Show seems to, in my opinion, address the wrong target audience.

If the cycling industry really wants to get people onto bikes and out of their cars then it really has to get its finger out and get presence on such shows with real bikes, and that with bicycles that people can actually afford and which are, also reliable and what they need for day-to-day use.

Is it time for a “workhorse” bicycle show? Methinks that it could be...

Influenza is slowly progressing in Europe

2012-01-27T10:54:00.001-08:00

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

According to the Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview published on Friday, January 20, 2012, influenza is slowly progressing across Europe and is currently dominated by A(H3N2) viruses.

During week 1/2012 (2–8 January 2012), of 625 sentinel specimens collected and tested, 81 (13%) were positive for influenza viruses. While this influenza season is so far characterized by the dominance of A(H3N2) viruses, A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses are significant among the severe cases reported. Since week 40/2011, 157 severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases have been reported by six countries.

Two countries reported regional spread (Italy and Sweden), three countries (Netherlands, Norway and Spain) reported local spread, while sporadic activity was reported by thirteen countries (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia) and the UK (England and Northern Ireland).

Obviously, chances are that with rapid travels between our countries the virus may sooner or later be caused to arrive at the shores of the UK proper and, in the same way as elsewhere, could cause an epidemic.

However, I would suggest that, if and when it arrives, we do not give out Tamiflu again like candy as, aside from the rather serious side effects – been there and done it, the drug actually does not speed recovery by more than a day.

Considering that the drug “Tamiflu” was known to have – one – serious side effects, including the ability to cause psychosis, and – two – that it actually did not really work, one can but wonder why it was given out like sweets? Was there more to it than meets the eye?

In fact, we all know, including most of the medical profession, that nothing really stops influenza, once it has hit, and that it will have to be left to run its cause.

There are many ways to ease this passage but there is very little else that can be done and thus we should steer clear from anything that is unproven and untested. Or was it unproven and untested? Was the use another?

Lakeland Stainless Steel Universal Steamer – Product Review

2012-01-26T11:48:00.001-08:00

Review by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Turn any 18 or 20cm saucepan into a steamer, or use with the Pasta Pot to steam veg whilst cooking pasta below.

Lakeland Ref: 15182

Size: 28.5 x 21 x 17cm H. (11¼" x 8¼" x 6¾").

This is a well-made stainless steel steamer insert, with glass lid, that will fit onto an ordinary saucepan (18cm and 20cm) turning it into a two-tier steamer. Thus, this insert eliminates the need for a dedicated, multi-tiered steamer.

The Lakeland Universal Steamer is ideal for the single person household, and also for two, where a bigger multi-tier steamer would be a waste as far as capacity and size goes. It also will do a great service as an extra steamer that may be required if more things are to be cooked in that way for a meal.

This steamer insert is made of high-quality stainless steel, is well constructed, and equals in quality many much more expensive “pots”, for lack of a better word.

Steaming food, as we discussed in a previous article, is probably one of the best way of preparing food – aside from eating your vegetables all raw – and one that retains most of the flavors and, I am told, nutrients.

The suggestion of cooking pasta in the pot below while steaming vegetables, as was suggested on Lakeland's website, had not, as yet, entered my head but, hey, what a great idea. Let's get steaming...

Another great product from Lakeland.

LEGAL BID TO HALT NUCLEAR CONSTRUCTION

2012-01-26T11:43:00.001-08:00

Lawyers send complaint to European Commission about subsidies for nuclear power

“Like car drivers, the operators of nuclear plants should be properly insured”

A formal complaint about subsidies for nuclear power has been sent to the European Commission. If it is upheld, it unlikely that any new nuclear power stations will be built in the UK or elsewhere in the EU. The complaint may be followed by legal action in the courts or actions by politicians to reduce or remove subsidies for nuclear power.

The complaint has been prepared by lawyers for the Energy Fair group, with several other environmental groups and environmentalists.

One of the largest subsidies in the complaint is the cap on liabilities for nuclear accidents. “Like car drivers, the operators of nuclear plants should be properly insured” says Energy Fair. It has been calculated that, if nuclear operators were fully insured against the cost of nuclear disasters like those at Chernobyl and Fukushima, the price of nuclear electricity would rise by at least 14 Eurocents per kWh and perhaps as much as 2.36 Euros, depending on assumptions made. Even with the minimum increase, nuclear electricity would become quite uncompetitive.

Other subsidies in the complaint are: that uranium is exempted from a tax on fuels used to generate electricity, and that the UK government is proposing to provide support for the disposal of nuclear waste, and to provide a subsidy in the form of a “feed-in tariff with contracts for difference”. Research by Energy Fair shows that there are several other subsidies for nuclear power in the UK and that proposals by the government would introduce more.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion and leader of the Green party of England and Wales, said: “The Government’s planned Electricity Market Reform is set to rig the energy market in favour of nuclear -- with the introduction of a carbon price floor likely to result in huge windfall handouts of around £50m a year to existing nuclear generators. Despite persistent denials by Ministers, it’s clear that this is a subsidy by another name, which makes a mockery of the Coalition pledge not to gift public money to this already established industry. If these subsidies are found to be unlawful, I trust the European Commission will take action and prevent the UK’s nuclear plans from seriously undermining the shift towards new green energy.”

Dr Dörte Fouquet, the lawyer who has been leading the preparation of the complaint, said: “The European Union has opted for opening up the energy market and is vigilant about creating a level playing field. In this regard, the Commission over the last years repeatedly underlined that distortion of the market is to a large extent caused by subsidies to the incumbents in the energy sector. This complaint aims to shed some light on the recent shift in the energy policy of the United Kingdom where strong signals point to yet another set of subsidies to the nuclear power plant operators.”

“There is no justification of any kind for subsidising nuclear power” says Dr Gerry Wolff of Energy Fair. “It is a mature technology that should be commercially viable without support. Renewables have clear advantages in cost, speed of construction, security of energy supplies, and effectiveness in cutting emissions of CO2. There are more than enough to meet our needs now and for the foreseeable future, they provide diversity in energy supplies, and they have none of the headaches of nuclear power.”

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

Alertors: An interesting concept

2012-01-26T11:39:00.001-08:00

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

EXTON, PA – After one youth soccer player was killed and 29 were injured by a lightning strike on a nearby playing field in 1984, Eric Canfield, co-founder of nth Solutions, invented an extraordinary solution to an ordinary problem – he created the Storm Alert.

Fast-forward 27 years, and the more technologically-advanced 4th generation StormAlertor is now part of an entire product line being launched through Kickstarter by nth Solutions, a Pennsylvania electronics development and manufacturing startup.

Alertors detect common household problems before they become dangerous or costly. In an era where conservation is king, the LeakAlertor is a solution for the estimated 50 million leaking toilets silently wasting precious water.

For the 5 million people with dementia and 25.5 million children under age 6, the Open DoorAlertor is peace of mind – detecting when a door has been opened and has been left open.

FridgeAlertor lets you know when the temperature of your refrigerator has gone above 40 degrees or below 32 degrees, preventing foodborne illness and food waste.

And the StormAlertor detects lightning 30 miles away, allowing time for children to be brought indoors and electronics powered down and unplugged.

Started in 2009, Kickstarter is a funding website for new ideas and projects. Supporters “back” projects and receive rewards instead of financial incentives for fully-funded projects. For more information about nth Solutions’ Kickstarter project, visit http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1041463850/alertors-extraordinary-solutions-to-ordinary-probl.

From what I can see many of those alertors can also be seen as something that fits into the green and eco category, and the homesteading one, in a way.

However, they seem to be – though I have not had the chance to test any of them (as yet) – most useful for many and I would like to see them actually coming properly onto the market.

Could we, maybe, also get an alertor that tells us when a door has been left unlocked; I certainly could do with a reminder of that sort.

The “door left open alertor” or the “StormAlertor” certainly could be useful in many places and the “LeakAlertor” could be a very useful application to stop invisible water wastage.

It is my hope that they can get those devices into production and to market proper and that many people can be helped with them. Maybe I also could, in the end, get them reviewed as well.

Lakeland 2lb Oblong Silicone Cake Pan – Product Review

2012-01-25T11:11:00.001-08:00

Review by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Silicone as a cooking concept has been embraced by professional chefs and home bakers alike – an amazing material, it makes baking so much easier. Thanks to its amazing non-stick properties, the results simply pop out.

Conducting heat better than metal, your cakes will cook quicker, and they're so easy to store, squish 'em, squash 'em, roll 'em and fold 'em, they'll spring back into shape instantly.

Microwave and freezer safe.
Won't absorb flavours or odours.
Non-stick and easy to clean.
Won't crack or distort – heat resistant up to 240°C.

29 x 14 x 8cm H. (11½" x 5½" x 3")

Lakeland Catalog Ref #13294

The pan is made from what appears to be very high quality food grade silicone and performs well but one should use it for baking cakes only, as is intended.

I would – note to self – suggest not to use it for baking bread, as I tried, as the dough during the proving, when it is rising, will push out the sides of the pan, resulting in a misshapen loaf.

With cakes that do not – and most don't – require yeast things are a different story altogether here and the pan should perform well and as intended. I guess that it's why it says “cake pan” and not “bread pan” or “-tin”.

Removal of the trial loaf that I did bake in the silicone pan, however, was the easiest I have ever experienced without the use of parchment paper.

Using parchment paper in my heavy (duty) metal bread tin make also for a very clean and quick release and removal of the loaf without a problem.

As they say, it is “horses for courses”.

To recap: Great product for the intended purpose; don't use for bread.

Ashortwalk: Interesting products made from recycled vending cups

2012-01-25T10:56:00.001-08:00

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Ashortwalk Ltd. is a (small) product design and manufacturing company based near Truro in Cornwall, which is the country at the very south-western tip of Britain. Any further and you fall into the sea. In fact, Cornwall is actually a separate country attached to the UK.

It was started by Dan (the company, not the county/country) in 2003, who left his previous job as a product designer/inventor at Dyson and moved to Cornwall in order to realize a long-held desire: to set up a business, and live, “a short walk” from the sea. Hence that name “Ashortwalk” for the company.

The key to staying competitive in the global market from a shed in Cornwall has always been to design and make unique and functional products that fulfill a need.

While they no longer work from a shed the philosophy has remained the same, and most importantly, they have remained a short walk from the sea; well, just.

The difference in the operation compared to many other companies that do recycling and upcycling is that all products are collected, recycled, redesigned and re-manufactured in Britain. Nothing is “Made in China”.

Ashortwalk is a rare example of British-based design and -manufacture. Far too many companies may do the designing here and even the collecting as to recyclables, but everything is them shipped abroad to be made there, such as in China, and is then shipped all the way back here. Not so with Ashortwalk and long may it continue.

Their entire range is called “eco range” and there is an outdoor range, and indoor one, and a coastal one. In addition they also have eco house signs.

The material is also very much suited for chalkboards – once called blackboards – and I would love to see specialized ones in every pub and restaurant in Britain.

And while we are at it why don't we replace the blackboards in every school with an eco range one?

Overseas aid or help those in need at home?

2012-01-25T10:49:00.001-08:00

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Instead of sending money to Sudan because there is, yet again, a famine, or was it Ethiopia once again, we need to send money to the following country: Great Britain.

Many in this country (and the same is true for the USA) are forced to go without food, shelter and clean drinking water.

Service personnel, after coming home from the wars, are forced to live on the streets because there is no money to care for them and their needs.

Residents are going without heat for the winter and no air conditioning in the summer, not that the latter is used much in the UK. Very few air conditioning units. And then again,does one really need an AC unit? However, the point is that many go without heating, families with children and the elderly included, and thousands die each winter of the cold. And this in a country that is supposed to have a welfare system.

Millions are without jobs, we need good healthcare for the sick. It is time to stop sending our money overseas to countries that want to see Britain go under. And the same is true for the Unite States. We have people here that lack the basic human needs. Charity begins at home

The British government has ring-fenced overseas aid for foreign countries while we have to cut services. But, says our government, we need to spend money overseas to help others as it helps our country. I disagree.

Overseas aid, which includes, obviously, the emergency aid for earthquakes, famines and such and it is there where we interfere with Nature. On top of that does anyone believe that if Britain would be in a similar trouble anyone else would come and help us.

Foreign aid, including emergency aid, whether from government monies or monies collected by the likes of Oxfam, and others, is not helpful to the needy people at home nor those needy the aid is supposed to help.

Many “greens” talk about the need to reduce the world's population (by preaching people in the developed countries to have fewer children – or even none) while interfering in Mother Nature's own way of population control.

Charity begins at home!

Some years ago, during one of the Ethiopian emergencies (oh dear, there have been so many) and emergency operations, I was friendly with someone who was involved with the relief operations who told me of the case when they tried to encourage the people to return to their villages and start farming again. The agencies gave them grain, sorghum and millet by the bushel so that they could have a start to farm again. But, instead, the men brewed beer from the grains and after getting drunk everyone stayed in the camps waiting for the next handout.

And, before anyone complains, I know Africa and the Africans rather well, thank you very much.

However, the same attitude prevails everywhere where people are made dependent on aid, be it famine aid, or welfare, and the same attitude can be seen amongst the Roma Gypsies in Eastern Europe too.

The British foreign aid budget is in such a high range that, more than likely, no cuts to public services and therefore no job losses in the public sector would be necessary and, if we also got away from having troops in places where no one wants us – defence of the realm is not done in Afghanistan – we would need make not cuts anywhere and could pay back all debts as a nation. Britain, like American, was never meant to have a standing army but was supposed to be defended by militia regiments raised as and when needed. But, I digressed.

With needy people at home any money should go, initially, to help them and not some people abroad. When the needs of the citizens have been fulfilled then we can go and help others. Same as with food grown here. First supply the needs of the country, then think of export. Let's get some sense back into our world.

Bread makers and my own bread making

2012-01-24T11:33:00.001-08:00

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Some while back I bought a Bread Maker, aka Bread Machine, at Lidl, a German discount store in Britain, for less than £30 (I know, very cheap indeed even when translated into US$ reading about $45) and it has been in regular use ever since making about two loaves a week. And this is at least for a year now, if not longer even.

In fact, I had been so taken with that particular kind of bread machine that, when Lidl had them again a couple of months later, I actually bought another one, as a back-up, so to speak.

As I like to use rather heavy flours in the baking, such as wholemeal, multi-grain, and rye, the baking of bread in the machine, while having otherwise good results always led to caved-in tops of the loaves. This is due to the fact that in the machine there is no heat applied to the tops.

I was not all that keen on that – well, now, after all this time – and have now (no! Stop fretting! I have not stopped using the bread machine) changed my use of the bread machine.

Now I use the machine to do the heavy work of kneading, thus saving me time, and the proving, and when if has finished, after an hour and a half, with all the kneading a rising cycles, I transfer the dough into a heavy bread pan, let it sit for another 30 minutes or so to rise again, and then bake it in the oven for about an hour and a quarter

Result: No more caved-in tops; just great (tasting) bread.

The reason for the caved-in tops is that my bread maker has a long tin, horizontally, unlike many other machines that have their tins, sort of, vertically set into the machine. This means that in the case of my bread maker is that the bread does not get heat from the top, as said, and hence the tops fall in in the middle.

Well, problem solved. Though, I have to say, it is a little more work.

Gander Kids debut at the 2012 London Toy Fair

2012-01-24T11:29:00.001-08:00

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

London, UK, January 24, 2012 : Precocious new distributor Gander Kids make their debut at the 2012 London Toy Fair with an award winning range of products from the USA.

We have gone from zero to 100mph in the space of one year.

As exclusive distributors for the American company P’kolino, the UK-based toy and play furniture distributor have had an amazing first year, attracting stockists including John Lewis, Amazon and Firebox along the way. Product ranges have also featured on BBC1 and the Disney Junior Channel as well as a number of national parenting and interiors magazines.

Riding the wave of the ‘slow toy’ movement, the new kids on the block will be exhibiting the P’kolino range of award winning wooden puzzles and eco-friendly Arts and Crafts on stand G136 at the London Olympia Toy Fair. The range features;

Crayons and pencils which are coloured with food dye and angular shaped so
they won’t roll away;

A stylish wall mounted Safari elephant easel, which releases the valuable floor
space taken up by traditional easels; and

Silly Soft modular toddler seating that’s part furniture, part toy.

Also available will be the award-winning Multi Solution Puzzles, which were quickly snapped up by the London Design Museum and have proved popular with independent stores.

Gander Kids founder Maxine Lewis said: "We have gone from zero to 100mph in the space of one year." 2012 will see us launching a number of new products and the LondonToy Fair will be a great opportunity for us as a small business to reach a wider audience."

Those toys here fall under the Slow Toy category and slow toys have been defined as;
* ethically sourced
* fun to play with
* without batteries
* sold in independent toy shops
* durable
* without thousands of different functions

Products in the range have won two Practical Pre-School Awards, and a Practical Parenting & Pregnancy Magazine Award. The toy range also includes Art supplies, Easels, puzzles, rattles, tops, stackers and nesting birds.

The London Toy Fair takes place at the Grand Hall, Olympia from 24-26 January 2012 and is the UK's only trade event dedicated to toys, games and hobbies.

Gander Kids is a London based importer and wholesale distributor of quality toys and play furniture to the UK market and was listed in the 2011 O2 SMARTA 100 Business Awards. Maxine Lewis founded Gander in 2010 following a successful career in financial services and is the winner of the 2011 Best Start Up at the Mumpreneur UK Awards sponsored by Yell. www.ganderkids.co.uk

P’kolino (pee-ko-lee-no) was founded to improve play at home by two dads with a passion for creating great products. With the help of friends, family and a global network of designers, P’kolino has created play products that are beloved worldwide for their playful style and smart functionality. Their innovative line of toys, play furnishings, art supplies, décor and more offer children of all ages playfully smart solutions to improve play at home. P'kolino was founded in 2004 and is located in Florida, USA. www.pkolino.com

How to live (properly and well) in the 21st Century

2012-01-24T11:08:00.001-08:00

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Why do we get the urge to publicise our private emotions and relegate our family and friends to cameo roles while we worry over the ups and downs of reality show characters or celebrities to fill the void of emptiness and loneliness? Why do we try as much as we can to act out a role, convinced that what we consume defines how successful we are, how independent we are, how worthy we are of attention?

Because it’s what we respond to best. Because deep down, we prefer the conformism of running the rat race like a hamster on a spinning wheel and the standardised consumption of “keeping up with the Jones”. We prefer the quick fixes of consuming, because we fear freedom – the freedom to be what we want to be rather than what we think others want us to be – embracing our complexity and tolerating our contradictions, doing things for the pleasure of doing them without calculating how we appear to others.

Whether it is our libraries or our post offices closing, our parks or our open spaces and other things not being looked after anymore, what can help us recover through the recession in a way that builds collective spirit and social solidarity?

The Big Society should not come from above, directed and “ordered” from government and enforced, basically, in that they cut services and then say “if you want them kept open you have to provide the people to run them”.

In some of our towns and cities this is happening even as far as the repair of potholes in the roads is concerned and the cleaning of the sidewalks. People, council tax payers, when complaining to the council, were told that they could have brooms and such provided to do it for themselves. The council, they were told, did not have the money to do it.

Having said that, when you look at our continental European neighbors, such as and especially Germany it is the norm there for the people to sweep and keep clean the sidewalk in front of their homes, etc. In fact, it is a legal requirement and that also extends to keeping the path free of ice and snow in winter. No one complains about it; they just get on with it, and often in neighborly cooperation.

Parks and open spaces can, indeed, to some degree, be run with, though I hasten to add not (entirely) by, volunteers and it will actually be one great way to involve the entire community of users, maybe even the young people, often referred to as YOBs. Doing some volunteering in the parks and open spaces of their neighborhood may, actually, give them a sense of ownership, but also of belonging and self-worth.

I do believe that many of our young people who do cause problems suffer from despair and a serious lack of self-worth and self-confidence, even though they act as if they have all the self-confidence in the world.

It is, I think, to some extent our serious consumerist society that is causing our ills, including the YOB culture and such like. In fact, I think that it is more than just to some extent; I believe the majority of our society's ills can be laid at the door of consumerism. And it is not just us, as people, who are to blame for this consumerism. Nay, it is our very governments.

We are told to go and spend, spend, spend, our way our of the recession, despite the fact that that does not work and we are told that we need this or that new and then to recycle what we no longer want.

Goods, that is to say, products, are no longer made to be able to be repaired, with very few exceptions, and everything has an obsolescence of a year to three factored in. If things work on after that you are lucky, and then things break down, as said, they cannot be fixed; they are made thus.

Things need to change and I do not mean here only things in a physical sense, as in products and goods, but the way we live, the way we travel, where we work and live, and how we interact with one another, and how we take care of our community assets.

It is time that we got off the idea that government has to do everything for us. In fact, I do not even think that that is a good idea for government to do everything for us. There are many things that volunteers and we, personally, can do things as well, maybe even better, than can government.

The most worrying sentence in the English language, as far a myself and many other people are concerned is “I am from the government and I am here to help you.” It also makes us dependent on and slaves to and of the system.

While I am the first to want to keep the welfare state – in its basic and original form – that we have in Britain there are many things where government has no place in our lives and many places where we, as people, individuals or groups, should get things done ourselves which we demand at present that the government do.

Time for some real changes and those changes begin with us and must come from within us...

New Chinese lanterns developed to extinguish fire safety fears

2012-01-23T10:45:00.001-08:00

eco-friendly sky lanterns with a patented in-built fireguard

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

In response to safety fears over the fire risks posed by Chinese lanterns, Sky Orbs the firm behind the first wire-free, 100% biodegradable sky lanterns, has developed eco-friendly sky lanterns with a patented in-built fireguard.

Available from February, the innovative design is protected by global patent and also features a non-drip fuel cell and fireproof string and paper, making Sky Orbs Safety Sky Lanterns (from £2.99) the safest on the market.

The fireproof silica blanket sits underneath the fuel cell, creating a protective barrier to minimize fire risks in the event of the lantern returning to the earth whilst ignited. Completely non-combustible, the mechanism envelops and raises the fuel cell above the ground allowing the non-drip fuel cell to harmlessly burn out.

Wire free and constructed from flameproof, eco-friendly materials, Sky Orbs’ new generation of lanterns are wildlife friendly and feature an innovative non-drip fuel cell which has a controlled burn time to create a beautiful spectacle before burning out and floating gently back to the ground.

Says Sky Orbs’ founder, Chris Burton: “We wanted to enable the public to enjoy Chinese lanterns without any nagging safety fears. There has been a lot of negative publicity recently, and low quality, budget Chinese lanterns just don’t have the safety features that offer peace of mind. Although the risks of an ignited lantern returning to earth are small – for example in the event of windy conditions causing the balloon to collapse, our new Chinese lanterns address these issues, which combined with sensible deployment mean that Sky Orbs’ lanterns can be enjoyed safely."

Sky Orbs safety lanterns cost £2.99 each for plain white and coloured designs. Personalised, printed and novelty designs cost from £3.29. To buy online visit www.skyorbs.co.uk

However, while it is good to see that someone is taking the safety concerns as to the Chinese Lanterns being a fire hazard to heart it is not only the fire issues that are a concern to farmers, park staff, and countryside managers. It is also the framing, the fact that there are wires included, and such.

In addition to that those glowing orbs also confuse wildlife left, right and center and as far as many of us are concerned, myself included, Chinese Lanterns should be discontinued.

They are a rather new phenomenon and were never seen before the advent of the new millennium properly but have become a major nuisance by now, that relatively short space of time of a decade or so.

Chinese Lanterns cause serious environmental problems in that they little up the countryside, parks and elsewhere and often they end up hanging in trees where they are an unsightly spectacle for many days to weeks.

While I do not wish to spoil anyone's enjoyment and fun there are things that just should have put a stop to and those glowing orbs are one of them.

Research Shows Americans Still Prefer Print and Paper Communications

2012-01-23T10:41:00.001-08:00

Research Shows Americans Still Prefer Print and Paper Communications, but Misconceptions about Environmental Sustainability Remain

If you prefer to read from paper instead of an electronic screen, you’re not alone.

by Phil Riebel

CHICAGO, January 2012 – If you prefer to read from paper instead of an electronic screen, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey commissioned by Two Sides, the fast-growing non-profit organization created to promote the responsible production, use and sustainability of print and paper, 70 percent of Americans, including 69 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds, say they prefer to read print and paper communications than reading off a screen.

Most of those surveyed also believe that paper records are more sustainable than electronic record storage (68 percent) and that paper is more pleasant to handle and touch than other media (67 percent). But survey results also show that many Americans still have misconceptions about the environmental impacts of print and paper.

“Even though most Americans still prefer print over electronic communications, they also have misconceptions about the effects of paper-based communications on the environment,” says Two Sides President Phil Riebel. “In fact, print and paper have a great environmental story to tell, and Two Sides is committed to setting the record straight using factual information from well-known, credible sources.”

The Two Sides survey indicates a majority of respondents are concerned about the effect of print and paper production on forests and believe that there is a connection between the loss of tropical rainforests and the manufacture of paper, but data from a variety of sources show these beliefs to be unfounded.

“Authoritative sources like the U.S. Forest Service, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and others report that the amount of forestland in the United States has remained nearly the same over the last century at about 750 million acres, and the major cause of global deforestation is not papermaking, but the conversion of tropical rainforests to agricultural land,” Riebel says.

While 96 percent of survey respondents said they believe recyclability is a sign of environmentally responsible products, most significantly underestimated the amount of U.S. paper that’s actually recycled each year. “Most people think the U.S. paper recycling rate is between 20 and 40 percent,” Riebel explains, “but American Forest and Paper Association data show that more than 63 percent of all paper used in the United States in 2010 was recycled. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that’s more than any other commodity, including plastics, glass and metals. The industry has set a goal to exceed 70 percent of all paper recovered for recycling by 2020.”

The survey also found that more than half respondents believe that electronic communications are a more environmentally friendly way to read books, magazines and mail. “That’s another myth that has been perpetuated by financial institutions, utilities and other organizations that are trying to save money by encouraging consumers to go green by going paperless,” Riebel says. “The fact is that both electronic and paper-based communications have an environmental footprint, and making both smaller is the right environmental choice.”

Earlier this month, Two Sides launched its U.S. website,www.twosides.us, as a resource for consumers, the media and others who are looking for a trustworthy resource for factual information on the environmental sustainability of print and paper. The website offers a “myths and facts" section that dispels many of the common misconceptions about the medium’s environmental impacts, including citations from authoritative sources with links to original source documents.

About the survey:

Two Sides commissioned Ipsos, a global market research company, to conduct a multi-country survey in September 2011. U.S. results included 500 respondents classified by age and gender.

About Two Sides:

Two Sides is an independent, non-profit organization created to promote the responsible production, use and sustainability of print and paper. Started in Europe in 2008, Two Sides is now active in 12 countries, with links to similar projects in Australia and Japan. The organization has more than 1,000 members that span the entire print and paper supply chain, including pulp and paper producers, paper distributors, ink and chemical manufacturers, printers, equipment manufacturers and publishers.

Disclosure & Disclaimer Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

Do the British people “get” green?

2012-01-22T10:24:00.001-08:00

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

I sometimes must seriously wonder as to whether the majority of the British people actually “get” green and eco and the need to change.

For some reason, it would appear, that the Dutch, Danes, Germans and Swedes (no, not the vegetables) have a much more open attitude and understanding towards a change as far as “green” and “eco” is concerned. Most Brits just do not seem to “get” it, including many of our politicians and our “dear leaders”.

As far as our politicians and the “dear leaders” are concerned there is a lot of talk and an even greater amount of hot air; enough hot air to turn the world into a hot air balloon, but that is about it.

The High Speed Rail II project is just one perfect example of not getting green and eco as far as our “dear leaders” are concerned and the go-ahead that was given in 2011 for a great number of nuclear power stations is yet another.

But it is, unfortunately, not just the politicians and our “dear leaders” who either don't grasp it or just don't understand that whys and wherefores. Business and general public too do not seem to “get” it; compared to people and business in, say, Germany, Holland or Denmark, for example.

I must say that those who “get” green and eco in Britain (and those that case) seem to be very much in the minority and that must change. Incentives as to some things, e.g. reverse vending machines for bottles, plastic and glass, would be a start. Will the British government have the political will to do it though is a question.

The problem of the Brits not getting “green” is due, often, to ignorance and also the fact that they don't care, while to a great extent it may just be that people think that what they can do as individuals does not count and has no effect.

However, every little act of kindness towards Mother Earth has an effect, especially if we all would understand that.

If we bear that little thought in mind that every little act make a difference to our environment and the health of it even the majority of the British people might begin to get it. Bar, obviously, those that say “f*** the environment”, and there are some.

Ed Begley, Jr. Launches Begley’s Earth Responsible Products

2012-01-22T10:21:00.001-08:00

New Line of Plant-Based, Sustainable and Cruelty-Free Cleaning Products Performs Equal to or Better than Non-Green Counterparts

Los Alamitos, CA, January 2012 : Ed Begley, Jr., environmentalist, actor, and author, today launched Begley’s Earth Responsible Products, a line of eco-friendly household products with natural, non-toxic formulas, that are equal to, or more effective than, their non-green alternatives.

Many green cleaners simply can’t handle the grime and dirt of modern-day living. Now there is no excuse not to go green, because these plant-based products clean just as well or even better than their non-green counterparts," said Ed Begley, Jr.

“Most people would switch to greener products, but have justified concerns about the overall effectiveness of these products,” said Begley. “Many green cleaners simply can’t handle the grime and dirt of modern-day living. Now there is no excuse not to go green, because these plant-based products clean just as well or even better than their non-green counterparts.”

While many “green” products on the market claim to be natural, most fail to disclose their ingredient list, which has left many skeptical about their alleged wholesomeness. With Begley’s Earth Responsible Products, consumers know that they have the safest and most effective ingredients available on the market today. And for those still not convinced, each product lists 100 percent of its ingredients on the label. The full list of ingredients is also available on the Begley’s Earth Responsible Products website.

“It is a fact that non-green products can be harmful, and indeed toxic to our minds and bodies and the planet at large,” said Begley. “My priority is to ensure that quality products do not come at the expense of compromising our safety, health, or the environment.”

The full line of Begley’s Earth Responsible Products includes:

Dish Soap
Hand Soap
Multi Surface Cleaner
Glass Cleaner
Cooktop Cleaner
Stone Cleaner and Rejuvenator
Pet Stain and Odor Remover
Household Stain and Odor Remover
Produce Wash

Working with Lab Clean, LLC, all Begley’s Earth Responsible Products can be purchased online here, or at Gelson’s Markets. In the coming months, Begley’s Earth Responsible Products will be available for purchase through multiple locations online, as well as at leading natural groceries and retailers.

Actor, author, and pioneering environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr. has been a longstanding advocate for environmental issues. Ed has been a prominent figure in the Green Movement for many years, both as a personal example of living in an energy efficient manner, and a vocal spokesperson for non-toxic and sustainable practices. He believes that even the simplest changes in personal habits, multiplied by a growing populace of concerned humans, can create a lasting effect on the health of our planet and of all living things.

Begley’s Earth Responsible Products are formulated to the strict standards of pioneering environmentalist, actor, and author Ed Begley, Jr. Active ingredients are plant-based, sustainable, and rapidly biodegradable. In addition, the performance of each product must meet the expectations of today's demanding consumer. Each product is individually designed and tested to perform equal to or better than its corresponding non-green alternative. To purchase products, please visit http://begleysbest.com/.

This press release is presented without major editing for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Clif Bar Family Foundation’s Seed Matters Initiative Grants Nation’s First Organic Plant Breeding Fellowships

2012-01-22T10:17:00.001-08:00

Clif Bar Family Foundation has announced that it has awarded the first fellowships in organic plant breeding ever granted in the United States, through its Seed Matters initiative.

“Organic seed systems are the underlying foundation for healthy resilient farming and food systems,” said Matthew Dillon, cultivator of Seed Matters.

Emeryville, CA, January 2012 : Clif Bar Family Foundation announced today it has awarded the first fellowships in organic plant breeding ever granted in the United States. Funded through its organic seed initiative known as Seed Matters, the foundation issued $375,000 in grants to fund three Ph.D. fellowship students for five years in organic plant breeding at two public land grant universities.

Seed Matters selected land grant universities in recognition of their historical commitment to serving rural communities and the public good, and to support a Seed Matter’s goal of reinvigorating public seed research and education. In addition to providing organic farmers with new varieties of seed adapted to organic systems, these fellowships will cultivate the next generation of thought leadership in organic research, education and entrepreneurship.

“Organic seed systems are the underlying foundation for healthy resilient farming and food systems,” said Matthew Dillon, cultivator of Seed Matters. “Seed is a farmer’s first line of defense against pests and global climate disruption, and has a huge impact on the nutrition and overall quality of the food we eat.”

The first recipient of a Seed Matters Fellowship, Brook Brouwer, began his studies last month at the Washington State University Mount Vernon Campus. The other two recipients will begin in the fall semester at University of Wisconsin-Madison and Washington State University Pullman. Fellowship students will work under the guidance of some of the most well respected and early innovators of organic plant breeding.

Professors managing the fellowships include Dr. Stephen Jones at Washington State University, whose work with wheat engages farmers, millers and bakers in restoring their local grain economies; Dr. Kevin Murphy, also at Washington State University, who is breeding cover crops and heritage grain such as quinoa and spelt; and, Dr. William Tracy at University of Wisconsin-Madison, whose sweet corn breeding is improving the quality of genetics available to organic farmers in cooler northern climates.

“The true advances in agriculture continue to come from classical plant breeding. Peel back all the hype and it’s the breeders in the field working with farmers and plants that is moving us forward,” said Jones, director of the WSU Mount Vernon Research and Extension Center. “Doing this kind of work requires very bright graduate students trained in the classical and modern approaches to plant breeding. Funding this training requires forward looking organizations such as Clif Bar Family Foundation.”

In addition, Clif Bar Family Foundation announced Earthbound Farm Organic, Organically Grown Company, Organic Valley, Vitalis Seed and Whole Foods Market have joined Seed Matters as financial collaborators to help increase awareness about organic seed and fund future fellowships and research around the country. Together Seed Matters collaborators and nonprofit partners support organic farmers and public researchers developing seed that meets the need of the organic community – from farm to table.

“Seed Matters is the catalyst for a groundbreaking form of collaboration between companies, foundations, universities and nonprofits that has never before occurred in the organic community,” said Kit Crawford, president of the Foundation. “By working together we can more effectively improve organic seed systems that benefit people and the planet.”

Clif Bar Family Foundation created the Seed Matters initiative in 2009 with a $1 million commitment to the development of organic seed systems. Today, Seed Matters is a coalition of organizations and companies that advocate for the improvement and protection of organic seed to ensure productive crops for the health of people and the planet. To date, Seed Matters has funded more than a dozen organic seed research and education projects. Seed Matters directs its support toward projects that conserve crop diversity, protect farmers’ roles and rights as seed innovators and stewards, and reinvigorate public seed research and education. For more information, visit http://www.seedmatters.org.

Founded in 2006 by Clif Bar & Company co-CEOs Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, Clif Bar Family Foundation supports innovative small and mid-sized organizations working to strengthen the food system and communities, enhance public health and safeguard the environment and natural resources. For more information or to find out how to apply for a grant, visit http://www.clifbarfamilyfoundation.org.

This press article is for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

AROMA-TO-GO by koziol – Product Review

2012-01-21T11:42:00.001-08:00

Fashionable drinking cup for your coffee to go

Review by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

“AROMA TO GO” Insulated Coffee Cup with Lid

This fashionable drinking cup with lid for your coffee to go is a koziol in-house design and made from high-quality, insulating plastic material, keeping your hands cools but the coffee hot.

The AROMA TO GO is indestructible. Well, virtually, I would like to add, for I am sure that if anyone would wish to destroy it he or she could. But, why would anyone want to do that...

Yes, like the KeepCup the AROMA TO GO is made from plastic but unlike KeepCup it does not have a stopper, for lack of a better word, for the drinking opening. Thus, maybe, the KeepCup is superior here.

However, it is another offering on the market of reusable coffee cups that should keep some of the disposable cups out of circulation and I care not whether the disposable cup is made from plant-based plastic or not nor whether it is a totally compostable “paper” cup.

And, yes, I know that some folks would now say, as far as the plastic is concerned, with regards to both the AROMA TO GO and the Keep Cup alike, that plastic is not green – except maybe for some forms of bio-plastics, of which this is not one.

On the other hand, there is plastic and there is plastic and koziol prides itself to use a more sustainable form of plastic.

I met koziol for the first time face-to-face at the Home London 2012 Show held in January 2012 at Earls Court in London. They are, whoever, a rather old and established plastics manufacturer in Germany and all products are entirely “Made in Germany”.

The plastic material used for the AROMA TO GO is guaranteed to be melamine free and also BPA free and is one of the more recent addition to the koziol collection. Its capacity is 400ml or 0.40 liter, and is available in a range of colors.

While it may not have as many possible color combinations available as the KeepCup it is, nevertheless a very nice design and one that, I am sure, will make you smile, for the beaker will smile at you.

Parents are largely to blame for kids' sedentary lifestyle, new study finds

2012-01-21T11:37:00.001-08:00

Really? Who would have thought? And how much did this cost? It was rather obvious.

By Michael Smith (Veshengro)

About 75% of all American children are enrolled in daycare centers and, so a new study was published this week in the American Journal of Pediatrics finds, these daycare children are largely sedentary and are only spending 2-3% of their day doing vigorous physical activity.

This is way down from the recommended levels and it means that the vast majority of American children are starting out their lives way behind in gross motor skills and in social skills. Could this be the reason for the bullying epidemic and the obesity epidemic? The researchers found three reasons for the largely sedentary lifestyle in daycare:

Injury concerns (Daycare providers say that parents urge them not to let the children play vigorously, for fear of injury)
Financial (They don't have the money to buy safe equipment and also state that the equipment that is "safe" isn't interesting or fun for kids so they don't see any reason to waste the money. That's ironic, isn't it?)
Emphasis on academics (Apparently parents are demanding their kids know the letters and numbers at an early age and are far more concerned about this than about making sure their kids got plenty of physical activity.)

The problem is that these children spend most of the day in school and not at home, so by the time they get home, it's time for dinner and then bedtime, so they don't get the chance to play at home either.

Think back for a minute to when you were a kid. Do you remember sitting around learning numbers and letters? Of course not. You remember riding bikes to the pool, catching fireflies, or maybe climbing a tree with your best friend.

When I was a kid school was not a subject as I was “homeschooled”, so to speak, in that I learned reading and writing and the rest from friendly adults rather than attending a school. The rest of the time it was a case of being out and about, hunting, and making a living selling things and grinding knives.

Obviously children need to read, but people have been learning to read for hundreds and thousands of years, so why do we think we need to drill this into our children's head at age 3? Why do we think we need computer programs to teach our children to read? Yes, you read that right. They now use computer programs to teach children to read. Sorry, run this by me again very slowly so I can take notes; a computer program??? Whatever happened to real teaching?

Who in their right mind would send his child to Kindergarten just to sit in front of a computer and learn to read? They can do that at home if such a program is useful; which I doubt. Children learn by doing, by interacting, and by touching, experts agree, and not by computers.

Sure, computers are fine, and especially in moderation, but I find it extremely alarming that local public school are using a computer program as the primary teaching plan for children. Hello, where are the teachers, the humans? Doing paperwork?

This all illustrates so clearly how the emphasis on academics is stealing childhood from our children. It is high time that we all, but especially the parents of those children (I don't have kids) did protest against this.

Homework, too, is getting so totally out of control in many grade schools that kids don't even have time to play outside after school. Once they have done their homework it is time for bed and play may have to be relegated to the weekend. This is a tragedy and it is no wonder that many children today are suicidal. Getting a good score when they are ten years old doesn't guarantee success in life and the pressure needs to be taken off.

People grow up to be successful and happy in life when they are confident, self-reliant, and aren't lazy and are willing to work for success.

When we deprive our children the opportunity to play outside and play with other children, we rob them of chances to learn these valuable skills.

Let's give our children something to remember about their childhood, other than sitting in front of a computer while they learn numbers and letters. Let's make some memories with our kids and quit worrying so much about test scores.

Furthermore our ever increasing pressure on the children to become high achievers academically robs them of all creativity and if a child rather wants to do something with his or her hands, be it carpentry, metal smithing, or gardening, forestry and such, they are being discouraged.

No wonder so many kids drop out as well. Those that have no interest in the academic subjects and would rather starts and apprenticeship and learn a “trade”.

Let's bring some sense back into learning (note I did not say school or schooling but learning) for much more can be learned away from school than in school. I am proof of that and so are many others.

We also must get children off the digital stuff a little more. Does an 8-year-old really have to have an iPhone, a Facebook account (it is even, theoretically, illegal for anyone below 13 to have such an account), and such like? A cell phone, maybe, if they are out a lot and such and then one where they can call but home, their parent's cell and the police, say. So, as an emergency tool rather than anything else and it is irrelevant whether their peers have iPhones, and such.

I agree with access to a PC – with parental controls and parental control – but not for them to do their own thing on their own. Much better to be outside and do things, including useful stuff like having a garden.

Cool Stand – Product Review

2012-01-20T11:17:00.001-08:00

Review by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The Cool Stand strikes me as a very innovative design especially in its simplicity and which I find works fine but... and here come my caveats:

As not all Laptops and Netbooks have a flat surface at near the very edge of the back, the place, however, where the Cool Stand must be affixed so as not to overbalance the computer.

While the hook and loop fastener used for affixing the Cool Stand works fine but if the Cool Stand is being removed frequently, as will be the case if and when the computer does lots of travelling, it will wear out. Also the fastener surfaces could become clogged with dust and other materials, especially if the Cool Stand is removed and carried in a bag, as, as said, will be the case if the computer goes on travels.

Having said that, however, if it does wear out such strips as have been used can be bought at hardware stores, haberdashery stores and some supermarkets, at least in the UK. The only difference being that those available are predominately white in color.

I received this device as per my request from the makers and although my laptop (a Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo) is not the ideal candidate for it due to the way the stand affixes to the bottom of the laptop on the back, as said above, and considering the fact that the connectors for head phone and microphone – important in my job – are in the front, it nevertheless worked out by using an wrist rest intended for a keyboard under the front of the laptop as can be seen from the photo.

Having had to turn the laptop over to affix the Velcro strip – for the first time for a long while – I found the intake for the fan totally blocked by dust. This is already one way where the Cool Stand will do a great job, namely in preventing this happening again.

Keeping a Laptop that is in use a lot – especially if it is replacing the desktop PC, as is more and more the case today – off the flat of the desk or table will, and that is the very purpose of this device, keep it cooler. And, as I have found, will also prevent dust and fluff from getting sucked into the air intake.

It is reckoned that using your Laptop on your – well – lap also posed a risk to health, especially for men. The heat generated is believed by many doctors to possibly be a cause of male infertility and low sperm count. Thus, the Cool Stand also provides a very beneficial service here.

The Cool Stand also puts your Laptop keyboard at a much more improved angle for typing and thus eliminates wrist and finger fatigue and strain to a large extent.

In constant use, as the Laptop is with me, it is noticeable how much the heat buildup is reduced to an almost negligible level and the back area of the computer is all but lukewarm at best; or should I say, at worst.

I know that some readers may probably wonder as to why I am reviewing the Cool Stand and as to what is “green” and “eco” on it, seeing it is, after all, a product made of plastic.

However, the fact that the Cool Stand prevents your Laptop/Netbook from overheating and thus extending its lifespan, theoretically and, hopefully, also practically. It is also better for you when using it on your lap.

In addition, unlike other stands that have fans built in to add cooling and thus requiring power, often via a USB port, reducing battery life, the Cool Stand is a passive device and does it by simply adding lift and an air space. No batteries and that also makes it a very good point.

I really can recommend this little device...

Renewables rising – wind power passes the six gigawatt threshold

2012-01-20T11:07:00.001-08:00

6GW of installed capacity as wind industry makes great stride forward
UK now has enough installed capacity to supply over 3.3 million homes
Chief Secretary to the Treasury calls for further expansion of wind power

RenewableUK, the trade association representing the renewable energy industries, has announced that the country’s wind sector has reached a landmark 6 gigawatts of installed capacity – enough to supply electricity to 3,354,893 homes.

The 6GW threshold was reached by the Ormonde offshore wind farm, off the coast of Cumbria, which now has 120 megawatts (MW) operational – enough to power more than 67,000 homes.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive, Maria McCaffery said: “This is a landmark achievement. There’s a great feeling of pride throughout the industry that we’ve reached a record high of 6 gigawatts, and there’s a further 19.5GW of capacity under construction, consented, or in planning.

The Government’s Renewable Energy Roadmap is calling for 31GW of onshore and offshore wind combined by 2020, and we’re confident that we can deliver this if we continue to get the right level of Government support”.

The news was announced at RenewableUK’s Annual Parliamentary Reception on Wednesday night, where the keynote political speaker was the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP. The Chief Secretary said: “This is a significant milestone for the wind industry which demonstrates the increasingly important role that renewable energy is playing in the UK’s energy mix.

“Working together, we can reach even greater heights. We are eager to ensure that the UK becomes the natural home for the most innovative, ambitious and inspiring renewable energy companies in the world, and we will continue to work with the industry to drive down costs and encourage even stronger growth in the years to come”.

The Chairman of Scottish Renewables, Jeremy Sainsbury said: “We obviously join the renewables industry in celebrating reaching the 6GW mark and congratulate the Scottish sector in contributing almost 50 per cent towards this important milestone.

“It is clear that with Scotland’s 2020 target of generating the equivalent of 100 per cent of our electricity needs from renewables that we will continue to play a significant part in delivering capacity across the UK”.

The Scottish Government Energy Minister Fergus Ewing MSP said: “£750 million of new renewable electricity projects started generating in Scotland over past year, and Scottish wind energy is already making a significant contribution to UK and EU targets.

“We are working closely with the UK Government to ensure electricity market reforms continue to maximise opportunities to capitalise on Scotland’s unique natural resources.”

Vattenfall's UK Country Manager, Peter Wesslau said: “The UK's wind industry goes from strength to strength and Vattenfall, which sees wind power as important to its own investment strategy, is really pleased that it is its Ormonde Offshore Wind Farm, off Barrow-in-Furness, which takes the industry over the 6GW line. Ormonde is currently undergoing commissioning and has completed 24 of the 30 wind turbines deployed in the wind farm”.

This press release is presented without editing for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

Taming the Paper Tiger is Educational for All

2012-01-20T11:01:00.001-08:00

SmartPay has something new to offer the community. As a part of our commitment to the environment, education, and the community, we're offering a free download for educators at http://www.gosmartpay.com/teachers/

Fargo, ND January 2012 : Onsharp’s SmartPay has something exciting to share. As a part of their commitment to the environment, education and the community, SmartPay is offering a free download for parents and teachers.

“Taming the Paper Tiger” is an educational lesson plan about paper and the environment that can be found on the SmartPay website.

Teachers and parents can use the plan in school or at home to teach the importance of minimizing paper waste to younger generations. The fun and engaging unit meets North Dakota State Curriculum Content Standards in a number of areas including; English, language arts, math, health, library/technology literacy and science. The multi-level lesson plan is versatile for all elementary school students and has options for children in Kindergarten to sixth grade. The lesson plan contains many different activities including a reproducible folktale, hands-on activities and a coloring page.

Share this resource with your kids, teachers and others in your community. The more that our community knows about being environmentally responsible at school, home and work, the better it’ll be for everyone. To download the lesson plan, please visit http://www.gosmartpay.com/teachers/.

SmartPay is a powerful, flexible, enterprise-level online billing system designed to save your business time and money. SmartPay is a Cloud Based Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment Sass Solution suitable for medium to large businesses. It allows an increase in cash flow by sending large batches of invoices and statements electronically while increasing accuracy and customer satisfaction by allowing customers to pay online easily and securely. For more information about SmartPay, please visit http://www.gosmartpay.com

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Britain technically (back) in recession, says ITEM Club

2012-01-19T11:41:00.001-08:00

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The Ernst Young ITEM Club has announced that Britain is technically back in recession with two quarters of – and this term always makes me laugh – negative growth. Negative growth, let's face it, is not even zero growth; it is a downturn in output and sales in all but name. The term growth here is used to confuse, methinks.

All I can say that the “technical” bit here is a bit of a – and please pardon the pun – technicality and a play on words and terms.

The “back” also is a little – oh, and here comes a serious understatement from me – poetic license for, as far as most people are concerned Britain has not, actually, come out of recession ever since the financial crisis and the subsequent arrival of the Great Recession.

It has been obvious to anyone but most economists and politicians, who all seem to live the gods only know where, that the UK has remained in the Great Recession that began a couple of years ago.

While other countries in Europe, such as Germany, and the USA, may have fared a little better that the UK the crisis in the Euro-Zone which could, to all intents and purposes, lead to the break up of the Euro-Zone and lead to the very end of the Euro even, also could bring down and very low many of the EU economies, including Germany, in the end.

Despite all what we can see headed our way the economists and governments are hellbent to try and fix the broken economic system which, in fact, never was fit for the purpose and definitely not for the New Millennium.

It is broken and no amount of tinkering and duct tape and superglue will be able to stick it back together. Humpty Dumpty has fallen off the wall and that's it. Its irreparably broken.

Time for a serious change for we will have to change if we want to go on.

Can cell phones track your movements when turned off

2012-01-19T11:29:00.001-08:00

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The short and simple answer here is an emphatic NO, whatever conspiracy theorists and those wishing to sell you gadgets are trying to claim.

One caveat I would like to add there and that is if a cell phone would be fitted with a GPS tracker that is kept active without the phone being on tracking would be possible.

However, so far as I understand none of the phone around currently, even if they are fully GPS equipped, transmit a signal when they are turned off. Period.

However, there are always some people who want to scare the people such as Nick Rosen of Off-Grid, formerly, or is it a case of still, with the Ecologist, in a piece called “Cell phone black-out”

In this piece on Off-Grid Nick Rosen claims that...

“Even when your cell is switched off, it is still a mobile tracking device in your pocket. Now a new invention promises to give you back control over who can call you, or track you.”

And he then proceeds as follows:

“The MIAmobi SilentPocket is a simple bag, with a special lining, into which you drop your cell phone, router, pager or any other wireless device.

It blocks all comms signals — in or out. through its “99% Nano-Silver lining.” You could argue that it is cheaper to take out your batteries, but at $65, some will prefer the convenience of the blackout bag. Especially as it operates on other gadgets as well including the chip in your passport or credit cards through RFID Blocking~ which protects your Credit Cards, Passport, & SmartKeys. Other benefits include: Restricts Texting and Cell Phone use when Driving and allows you to pay full attention to Family and Friends.”

But then this is in reality an advertisement that Mr Rosen did, or you could call it a “sponsored review” and it has nothing to do with reality.

Reality is that when your cell phone, or mobile phone, as it is called in Britain, or Handy in Germany, is turned off it is NOT transmitting any signal and is NOT trackable. Unless, that is, as I said in the beginning, it is fitted with a device, often called a transponder, which transmits a location signal for some tracking purposes.

In general, however, your cell phone, as it comes from your supplier, new out of the box, will not have an such transponder fitted and thus, when the phone is switched off, it will not send any signals and therefore you cannot be tracked.

With the amount of cell phones that are in use, and especially the amount of pre-pay one that are not registered to anyone by name it would be rather tricky to track each and every one of them, whatever capacity the security services have to so this.

The other point also is to why should they bother. They are rather busy with many other things.

What Nick Rosen is doing, in the same way as many others, is scaremongering in order to sell books and products. It has been going on since well before Y2K and once the cold war ended, and then there was no Y2K meltdown, the merchants of doom had to find another avenue. They have found it, it would seem.

Please, people, use proper discernment when it comes to many such articles and messages... Not simply because you don't trust the government (I don't either) it does not mean that they are having a tag on each and every one of the cell phones, etc. out there.

Gardening for Wildlife with Green Roofs and Floral Meadows

2012-01-19T11:24:00.001-08:00

Q Lawns are showcasing their Enviromat sedum matting and their Meadowmat wild flower matting at the Garden Press Event in London on 2nd February 2012

London, 19 January 2012 : Enviromat Sedum Matting is a relatively lightweight solution to creating a living green roof on garden buildings and domestic roofs.

Enviromat Sedum Matting
Comprising seven species of drought tolerant sedums growing on to a patented matting system, Enviromat creates a wonderful habitat for invertebrates and with its long flowering period, helps support beneficial insects such as butterflies and bees.

Enviromat is easily installed by a competent DIY’er or, for those not confident of working at heights, Q Lawns offers a green roof installation service.

Meadowmat Wild Flower Matting
Meadowmat Wild Flower Matting takes the stress out of establishing a wild flower meadow in the garden. 34 species of native grasses and flowering plants are established on to a matting system that is simply unrolled onto prepared ground to create a dense sward of mixed plants. Depending on the time of year, Meadowmat may well be in flower just a few weeks after installation, providing a rich source of nectar for beneficial insects and a great hiding place for invertebrates, small mammals and amphibians.

Meadowmat maintenance is simple and cost effective. Once established, the plants need minimal attention for six months of the year and only the occasional trim between October and April for neatness.

Search on YouTube for our videos about Meadowmat and Enviromat or visit our websites and blog at:
www.meadowmat.com
www.meadowmat.blogspot.com
www.enviromat.co.uk

The Garden Press Event is for members of the media only and members of the Garden Media who whish to attend better book their places now. The event is only a short time off now.