Credit where it’s due! Not for me or you but to the planet.
Well well, the financial systems are in melt down so lets forget about ice berg melt down and it’s impact on the credits that the planet has left! If it isn’t difficult enough trying to start up an ethical business in a profit orientated world why don’t the financial regulators screw up the economy as well as Earth just to make it that little bit harder. My congratulations to the greedy *ankers, corporate hooligans and their government backers around the globe for implementing a credit crunch to deflect attention away from a far more important cruch. That being the crunch the Planet feels every day because of their irresponsible environmental actions. The UK government were starting to wake up and address global warming issues a new minister for the Environment and policies to discourage the use of gas guzzling vehicles and endorsing green power schemes but whoops they seem to have quickly changed tack now that they have helped create an economic recession where finance is obviously too tight to carry through with their promises. On the 11th of November - “The Daily Telegraph disclosed on Tuesday that the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, is expected to announce in his pre-Budget Report that changes to Vehicle Excise Duty, which will see above-inflation rises for all cars on the road since 2001, will not be introduced for at least a year.” On the 3rd of November this headline appeared in the Guardian - “The planet is the big loser in Brown’s economic assault as Labour looks set to let airports expand in the name of fighting recession. And the new climate secretary is silent. As for our friends in the corporate world, - Fred Pearce in the Guardian on the 20th of November writes - “We can’t put all our energy in one barrel,” says the BPbillboard poster. The slogan is accompanied by fetching images of green plants, wind turbines and the sun. And BP’sown logo, with its green tagline: Beyond Petroleum. But this is confection. Until 2004, BP was called British Petroleum. And in the real world of business, the giant energy company continues to plunder most of its profits from - and sink the great bulk of its investment into - barrels of oil. Who is it kidding? Well us, it hopes” Well back to business - sales seem to be taking off little by little in large part thanks to James and his great All things green website, well worth a visit for all your environmentally friendly needs. The organic cotton Beanie Hats seem to flavour of the month, a month which is seeing temperatures take a sudden dip here in the UK, as supplied to Rebearth by my friend Eric at Green Boat Stuff another great site for nautical fans wanting to keep there impact minimal. Next Wednesday I am attending a Ladies night at Taunton’s College in Southampton to help them raise funds for their annual build a school project in Tanzania, coincidentally this also happens to be the date and venue for the college’s first Green Fair to try and raise awareness of global climate change and how young people can reduce their carbon footprint. Finally for those of you who fancy becoming more hands on in helping to “protect our playground” the next Marine Conservation Society, Friends of Lepe and Rebearth Beach Clean Litter pick will take place on Sunday 11th of January 2009 starting at the Beach Office at 10.00, come and join us to help preserve this beautiful place for all of our future adventures. (http://www.adoptabeach.org.uk/results.php?BeachRegion=South%20East)Peace, love and keep it green. P.S As a new member of the Southampton sustainable forum a quick plug for their Xmas get together on December the 4th contact matthew.amesbury@environmentcentre.com for more details.
