Fight Climate Change

Friends on the Earth have launched a spoof Tesco advert to highlight the plight of local shops. Using the voice of Alexei Sayle, the advert uses the Tesco phrase “Every Little Helps” and applies it to local shop owners, who could do with your business. Essentially FOE want you to “Shop Local First”. The advert, which is on Youtube, can be seen below and is part of a FOE campaign to make the grocery industry fairer for everyone.

Shopping local can possibly help the fight against climate change as the article at Wedge explains! Unfortunately, the big supermarkets are convenient and it’s going to take more than a few adverts to encourage shoppers to abandon the simplicity of Tesco and Asda for local traders – especially if the supermarkets continue embrace climate change themselves by offering more British produce, develop eco-friendly stores and encourage their customers to recycle.

Recycling is big business, and big businesses are seeing the green ticket as a way to encourage shoppers to spend money with them. More and more we’re seeing major retailers changing how they operate so as to demonstrate to consumers that they’re being green. The latest shop on the eco-bandwagon is Currys who have launched a promotion to encourage you to buy more energy efficient electricals like washing machines and fridge freezers.

The problem that most people have when buying a new appliance is what to do with the old one… but Currys have the solution! They will collect your old kitchen appliances or TV set when they deliver your new one – all you have to do is make sure it’s disconnected and defrosted (that’ll be the freezer, not your TV, unless you’d put the TV in the freezer!).

The isn’t just restricted to home delivery though! According to the Currys website “If we deliver your order by post or courier or our supplier delivers direct to your door, we can still recycle the electrical you’re replacing. Simply bring it into one of our stores and we’ll take it off your hands”. One thing missing from the information at Currys is “where do the old TVs and washing machines go?” – currently all they say is that they’re recycled!

This is actually a good offer from Currys and will mean old TVs, fridges, washing machines and other electricals do go and get recycled. You can also (usuall) get your local council to pick up appliances, although it wouldn’t surprise me to see other major electrical stores, like Comet, offering a similar service in the future.

Currys, being part of the DSG Group, do seem to be committed to the fight climate change cause and list some of the other things they’re doing including using 100% recycled plastic in their carrier bags and actively working with the Carbon Trust to cut carbon emissions!

One aspect of fighting climate change is recycling – and more and more we’re seeing recycling products becoming fashionable items. One such item is the recently launched Recycled Juice Bags and Purse. These fashion accessories are made from recycled juice cartons in The Philipines – however, by buying these products you’re helping impoverished communities – so you’re helping fight poverty and climate change.

Recycled Juice Bags Help fight climate change and poverty with these fashionable bags! Available in Shopper and Woven Bag style from Firebox.

The bags are available from Firebox. It will cost you £9.95 for the shopper style bag (shown above) and £14.95 for a woven style bag. The purse is on sale for under £3 at The Ethical Superstore, who also have other recycled juice products from The Philippines.

Staying with recycled bags – you might have noticed that Tesco have recently introduced biodegradeable bags (the free ones!). They’re a lot thinner than the previous bags, so may not be as re-useable as their predecessors. However, you should still try and recycle them or re-use them! One question though that bothers me about these bags – if a company like Tesco can offer their customers these bags now, in this eco-climate, why couldn’t they have done so before?

With the Glastonbury Festival (or Mudfest as it should be called) about to kick off this weekend, I Count is aiming to sign up 100,000 supporters. Michael Eavis, the festival’s legendary organiser, will be the first to sign up, and I Count coalition members, Greenpeace, Oxfam and WaterAid will be at the festival promoting the website.

I Count is the campaign of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition. You can register online and show that you count. Add you details to a Google Earth map and find out how you can get involved in your local area. There are also options for blogs and guides to help you do your bit to fight climate change.

If you’re heading to the festival look out for I Count and stop by to register your name. If, like me, you’ll be enjoying the proceedings from the mud free surroundings of the sofa then stop by at I Count and sign up today.

Live Earth London takes place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 7th July 2007 at 7.00pm and it’s part of a monumental music event that will bring together more than 2 billion people to raise awareness of the climate crisis. Would you like to be there? Haven’t got tickets? Then why not try and win tickets!

Three have got two pairs of tickets to give away in a free prize draw. All you have to do is send in your details to enter the prize draw. Follow the link is on the left hand side of the homepage. Closing date is 5pm on July 3rd and it’s only one person per entry.