the nef / Ecologist essay competition: What price carbon?

On hearing of the death while riding of one his more stubborn ideological opponents, the champion of evolutionary theory, T H Huxley, said that it was the first time that the man's head made contact with reality, and the experience had obviously proved fatal. Gordon Brown claims that the world needs "a new paradigm that moves the environmental challenge to the centre of policy", and yet, in spite of the fact that both the UK and the world as a whole are already in ecological debt due to overconsumption, he remains convinced that the global economy can double in size over the next twenty years.

A lot of faith is being put into carbon markets to tackle climate change. But the markets we do have, like the European Emissions Trading Scheme, are out-of-line with the carbon cuts that science tells us is necessary. In other words, without much more dramatic caps on emissions, we could end up trading ourselves over a global warming cliff. It's the paradox of environmental economics. Sometimes in well-intentioned attempts to put a price on natural resources, we can miss the bigger picture.

So, to connect our politicians with reality before it is too late, we've come up with a question. And, we'd like to know what you think. nef has teamed up with the Ecologist to run an essay competition. The question is:


"How do you price the extra tonne of carbon that, once burned, tips the balance
and triggers potentially catastrophic, irreversible global warming?"

All submissions must be under 1,000 words, submitted electronically to mark@theecologist.org and andrew.simms@neweconomics.org and be received by June 30th.

The winner will receive a copy of Andrew Simms' book, Ecological Debt: Global Warming and the Wealth of Nations, and will be considered for publication in the Ecologist.
... Read this ...

National liftshare Day is coming - how much could you save?

National liftshare Day is the biggest car-sharing event of the year - a time to give it a try and see how much you could save - so make sure you have a sharer or two lined up for Tuesday 9 June. Last year, 16,000 new members signed up in June alone, dramatically increasing your likelihood of finding someone to share with.

There are lots of ways to get involved and help spread the word:

* If you haven't already got a car-sharer or two, try running another search by logging onto your account at www.liftshare.com. Hundreds of people join the network every day, so there is every possibility that someone going your way has joined since you last logged on. And don't forget that you don't need a car to car-share; lots of drivers are happy to offer a lift in exchange for a contribution to fuel costs and some friendly company!
* Add an automated signature to your personal emails which encourages people to try car-sharing. We have created one you can download - just go to www.liftshare.com/sig.asp
* Encourage your friends, family and colleagues to give car-sharing a try on National liftshare Day by sending them an email telling them about the benefits;
* Suggest your employer does more to promote car-sharing in the work place. They can find out more about how we can help at www.liftshare.com/business.

According to the Drivers’ Alliance, the cost of using a car has risen in real terms by as much as 35% in the last six years. That’s on top of the financial pressures of the current recession and the rise in fuel duty of 2p per litre from September announced in the Chancellor's budget speech last week. Yet commuters who car-share every day often save many hundreds of pounds a year (such as these happy sharers!)
Keeping your profile up-to-date

You can update your profile with information such as whether you’re a smoker, whether you want to receive these occasional e-newsletters and whether you want email alerts - you can also change your contact details. You’ll find it all on your ‘My Settings’ page.

And don’t forget that you can personalise your profile by adding your photo.
Join us on Facebook and Twitter

Have you found us on Facebook yet? Keep in touch with events and news, and share your thoughts and photos, by becoming a fan of ‘liftshare - car-sharing network’!

And if you are Twittering... you can follow us at @liftshare_team.
Ever thought of walking or cycling to work?

If you do not live too far from work, you might have considered walking or cycling sometimes - but were maybe put off by the idea of doing it alone. Well now is the time to give it a try! This is Walk to Work Week (27 April-1 May) and Bike Week is from 13-21 June. You can use your liftshare account to do a search for a WalkBUDi or a BikeBUDi to keep you company.
You are invited to The Big Lunch!

The Big Lunch will involve millions of people sitting down to eat lunch at the same time - in their street, with their community, on Sunday 19 July.

Just as car-sharing is all about bringing individuals together, so is The Big Lunch. It's really easy to get involved; to find out how to organise a Big Lunch - and for tips, ideas and resources - just go to www.thebiglunch.com or call 020 7636 8152.
And finally... help us to help you to car-share!

The more members there are on the liftshare network, the more chances you have of finding more matches.

Stick a car sticker in your rear windscreen and you’ll be getting the message to countless people travelling the same way as you. Just send us a stamped addressed envelope to car-share stickers, liftshare, Butterfly Hall, Carvers Lane, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 1AB, and we’ll send you 3 stickers at no cost.

Best wishes and happy car-sharing!

Everyone at liftshare ... Read this ...

Veg bags?

Have you considered reducing your Carbon Foot Print with a nutritious, local, organic veg bag?

Tolhurst Organic Produce in South Oxfordshire, founded 30 years ago by Iain Tolhurst, a well known and inspiring figure within the organic movement, make a weekly delivery of freshly harvested, organic, seasonal vegetables (and fruit) to Central Abingdon. You cannot choose the precise contents of your bag (this keeps the price down) but you can add to it from the extras list of such items as potatoes, onions, carrots, and salad leaves when in season. You can have the bag on a regular or irregular basis. The prices are comparable to, or less than, super market non-organic / non-local veg. They come in 3 sizes.

They use a system of distribution that relies on dropping the produce to collection points* around the delivery area. Orders are placed with the reps, and produce collected from them. There are many reasons for doing this:

* It reduces the cost of delivery and gives better value for money.
* It reduces energy use and lowers their carbon footprint**.
* It allows for the efficient re-use of packaging. Customers are able to return their bags which are used over and over again
* It is a more friendly and informal way of buying veg than the supermarket
* It provides a local link to the farm and reduces their administration time

** A recent audit of Tolhurst Organic Produce by the University of Surrey found that they created just eight tonnes of carbon a year, 45% of which is from electricity to produce and distribute the veg to over 400 customers. This is the same annual carbon footprint as that of an average household which makes the business an amazing 90% more efficient than non-organic produce grown and delivered to the supermarket.

‘Tolly’ offers a fascinating, educational annual tour of the farm and crops to his customers.

*The collection point in Abingdon is in East Saint Helen Street. If you would like to try a bag please contact Susie Howard Tel: 533278 / email: susiehoward1@gmail.com

For more info please see their website: www.tolhurstorganic.co.uk ... Read this ...

Challenge Cameron's (green) Credentials.

If you don't plan to see "The Age of Stupid" next Friday evening, do you want to go and challenge Cameron's green credentials? See below for how to get a ticket.

Nicola Blackwood, Conservative Candidate for Oxford West & Abingdon, invites you to attend a free 'Question and Answer' session with David Cameron MP, Leader of the Conservative Party, in Abingdon on Friday 22nd May.

It's a return to the old-style town hall meetings, where David Cameron answers questions from local residents - there are no scripts or planted questions.

CAMERON DIRECT gives you the chance to discover David Cameron's thoughts on issues that concern you.

Time: 1815hrs
Venue: Larkmead School, Faringdon Road ,
Abingdon , OX14 1RF
Date: Friday 22nd May 2009

To register for your free ticket please email:
camerondirect@oxfordshireconservatives.com


Everyone welcome - refreshments provided. ... Read this ...

CAG Project - something for Churches?

The CAG project has been approached by Ruth Conway of SS Mary and John Church, in the Cowley Road, Oxford to see if church groups could be more active in the 3 Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle. We would like to explore how church congregations could work along side CAGs , borrowing their expertise and experience. Many churches are part of eco-congregation which aims to encourage churches to consider environmental issues within a Christian context and enable local churches to make a positive contribution. Many have churchyard projects, as does SS Mary and John to have a wildflower remembrance garden, and create habitat for wildlife.

Ruth wants to expand church members’ activities, and start ‘green groups’. Selly Oak in Birmingham have a green group that have been active for about ten years and involved in many projects including; car share/hire scheme, cycling, raising awareness of carbon reduction, and encouraging growing your own – all things that CAGs do! In their entrance to the Church they have a “Green Machine”. This is a collection point for recycling about 14 items, items that are not currently collected by their Council but things that could be useful to other people. This seems a great idea, if every church in Oxfordshire had a group of people responsible for dealing with the collected items, much more could be reused or recycle. CAGs are being asked to share their local knowledge and suggest items that could be collected, that have a use. For instance the Selly Oak group collect knitting wool to be distributed to housebound people who knit for Oxfam – is there such a group of people here in Oxford , knitting for Oxfam?

What do CAGs collect and what do they do with the items? Is there use for?:

· used stamps
· spectacle
· used envelopes
· foil
· printer cartridges
· mobile phones
· Other suggestions and outlets for disposal please………


Please send your ideas to me by the 26th May so that I can collate them all together when I get back from holiday and then take this further. We will share your ideas and what to do with such items with all the CAGs , possibly with a leaflet, but certainly on the website.


If you have not yet seen the new look CAG website, do have a look and sign up as a member. www.cagoxfordshire.org.uk


Frances Buckel | CAG Project Officer

resourcefutures

c/o Waste Management Group|Oxfordshire County Council | Speedwell House| Speedwell St|Oxford OX1 1NE
Mob 07903 037290|Tel +44 (0)1865 815871| Fax +44 (0)1865 815787| www.cagoxfordshire.org.uk ... Read this ...

GoingCarbonNeutral website

A colleague from Henley alerted me to this website at the Transitioners meeting. It looks very interesting with plenty of ideas for us to think about following the CarbonCutters meeting on May 20th.

http://www.goingcarbonneutral.co.uk/ ... Read this ...

Swapshop - 27th June - Larkmead School

SWAP SHOP
27th June 2009
10-11:30 am
Larkmead School ( Main Hall )
Faringdon Road
Abingdon
OX14 1RF

Admission, Bringing and Swapping is FREE
Refreshments, BBQ and Cakes for sale ( proceeds to go to Lark Rise )
We would appreciate no traders or dealers, please as this is a school and community event.

Organised by Lark Rise ( the Parent Teacher Association of Larkmead school ) with the aims of encouraging community links and of raising awareness
of Reuse/Recycling and saving items from going to landfill.

We have some details on our website and more to be completed soon. www.lark-rise.org.uk
... Read this ...