As you are well aware, solar technology is triumphantly out from the dark corners of the science labs and is beginning to pop up in all manner of places, in all manner of forms. So much so, that, possibly, one of its first steps out into the big wide world of usability – the lamplight – has become almost archaic through its once thought modern innovation. Since the emergence of micro-paneling and PV cell film development, there has been an upsurgence in solar gadgetry and accessories: everything from solar rechargeable mobile phones, to summer tote bags that power all the gizmos you can carry inside the bag. But here at EcoSwitch, we don’t pick-and-choose one over the other; we’re a huge fan of all that is solar synchronizable, and we’re proud of where it started from. That’s why when Glowstar announced “A Revolution In Lighting”, we were over enamored to see that what stood in its wake was a rural lamplight.

But, wait! Let’s not do Glowstar‘s design injustice. This, after all, is not just your average lamplight. Practical action has been undertaken to ensure that this seemingly simplistic light can make the very most out of the energy it can harvest.

The brainchild of a British non-profit consultancy called Intermediate Technology Consultants (ITC); the product, after trials in Kenyan homes, was initially launched in 2000 with the hope of providing cheap, reliable, ecologically friendly lighting that can run without relying on mains power, batteries or kerosene fuel. Since teaming up with Sollatek, a UK based company who specialise in solar and electronics manufacture, ITC have made the Glowstar available in the UK and throughout the developing world.

Some of the applications and benefits you’ll get from purchasing a Glowstar include; an emergency light; garden and shed lighting; uses for camping and boating. The durable design has included an ‘emergency function’, so when a power cut strikes, the Glowstar automatically turns on and brightens the potentially dangerous situation.

The light also doubles up as a mobile phone charger and has been fitted with an output socket, sufficient to supply power to a small radio; so it could fit nicely into any kitchen, conservatory or outhouse.

The two modules – Glowstar GS5 and the Glowstar GS7 – are available in three power specifications: 5W (25W GLS), 7W (40W GLS), and 9W (60W GLS), with full-charge times varying. Its operating temperature is -10C to + 45C. So you can be safe in the knowledge that they’ll be no unexpected malfunctioning here in Britain. The units are reasonably lightweight – 2.4Kg for the GS5 unit and 3.3Kg for the GS7 – which makes them practically ideal for camping trips and the like. And their simple design lets you sit them on any shelf without turning feel of the room into a den or bunker.

Glowstar‘s low cost solar lantern has been specifically designed to make solar energy more accessible. ITC’s initiative projects also support good causes by giving away 10 units a month to worthy applicants.

The lamp can be found online, or you should visit the Glowstar website directly www.glowstar.net for further information.

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Climate change  and Environment chair at the Grantham Institute, the London School of Economics’ home of environmental research, Nicholas Stern should be qualified to make a few assertions about the upcoming Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

Interestingly, then, his comments in today’s Guardian are particularly encouraging; he argues that the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit is the perfect place for the world’s developing nations to summon a voice, and a voice that will be heard loud and – perhaps, some will argue for the first time – very clear.

Stern wrote that,

“This week’s summit on climate change at the United Nations in New York has given a strong boost to the negotiations over a major international treaty, but there remain a number of major obstacles that must be overcome before the crucial meeting in Copenhagen in December.

China, India and Japan, along with the private sector, all made positive and significant contributions at the summit.

Hu Jintao, the Chinese president, made specific commitments on curbing the growth in greenhouse gas emissions as China continues its extraordinary economic growth. While the president promised a reduction by a “notable margin” rather than a specific figure, there is no doubt that the cut will be significant. And the environment ministers of both China and India made important and constructive proposals for how their countries will reverse deforestation.

This was the kind of leadership I had hoped to see at the summit – organised by Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general – with developing and emerging countries showing that they can tackle climate change while continuing their efforts to reduce poverty. But we still have a long way to go before we can be sure that a strong agreement is in place for Copenhagen“.

Whilst Stern warns that an agreement might still be far away, his vision of a diplomatic community that truly represents the interests of the UN as a body – and not simply of the major, long-standing developed powers – is a promising one indeed, and is further weight to the idea that a new environmental framework will come alongside a new, more democratic diplomatic framework.

A welcome change indeed.

Source: The Guardian

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Okay, so you’ve read everything there is to know about microgeneration. You’ve seen the benefits for your home, environment, and not to mention those bills! Basically, you’re in: you are a part of the Green generation. But there’s one problem – you can’t find that wonderful piece of renewable kit you’ve been craving. Not to worry. If you are feeling cornered by those last little questions of What’s Out There, and What’s Right For Me then just think Wind Trap; they’ll be sure to stock a solution.

Wind Trap was established in 2005 and is run in partnership by childhood friends Matt and David, who launched the company from their very own barn turned warehouse. In 2006 the Wind Trap guys were invited to join Newsnight’s Ethical Man Programme, and with great success have been expanding their energy saving product range ever since.
Runners-up for the O2 Entrepreneurs of the Year in 2007, the Wind Trap Two have continued to expand and develop a long list of new product lines at cut prices to help people like you ‘generate and save energy’ today.

What sets Wind Trap aside from other eco-distributors is their get-up-and-go enthusiasm, their belief in microgenerational technology and the company’s rapid growth over the past few years. These clear signs of success are warranted not only by their fanatical approach to renewables but also to the wide stock ranges they hold available. Matt and David will be sure to keep their green-fingers on the pulse of this emergent market – so keep an eye open for more innovative and exciting eco-alternatives that these two will surely bring to their shelves this year.

Some of the Energy Saving Products available at Wind Trap include helpful household savers like the Owl Energy Monitor – a great way to keep an eye on energy consumption and help you see your home move towards its zero carbon success; Biobulbs, Eco Balls, Battery Regenerators and other domestic devices such as the Motion Sensor Switch (a ingenious light switch that turns on when you’re in the room and off when you’re out).
Other, more carbon crunching creations, like the Home Wind Turbine Kit and Solar Powered Lighting Kits, are also on-hand to reduce those bothersome bills, rising electrical usage, and needless energy waste.

They also stock a great and growing selection of microgenerational units to get you generating your own power! There is everything from The Mini Budget Kit, for temporary installation, to more sizeable, permanent solar solutions, such as the Solar Mate 3 Mains Free Lighting Kit.

The team at Wind Trap seems to have thought of it all. And with home delivery, and technical support, it couldn’t be easier to get going now that you want-in on something Green, sustainable and beneficial – not just for you and your home; but for your local environment, community and overall efforts to reduce and prevent Climate Change.

For a full list of products and prices, do not hesitate to contact Wind Trap directly on 0845 460 8000 or visit their online store www.windtrap.co.uk – you’ll soon see the difference you could make today.

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Last time we left Tamsin Omond and her band of eco-activists they were embarking on a ‘Pedal-Power’ protest through London with the goal of being a noticeable presence throughout the nation’s capital. The Climate Rush group certainly achieved that with hundreds of you guys and gals turning up on two wheels (and in other tri- and unicycle cases, near enough two) to coast through the capital in true eco style. And now we are at the other end of the summer season, it seems like a good time to catch up with what events the group has in store this September and beyond.

‘Come one, Come all’ is the caption that fronts the Climate Rush’s tour across the South West of England. Sixteen climate suffragettes will be accompanied by 3 horses, 2 caravans, climate scientists, entertainers (including comedians and musicians) as well as the all elusive special guests! And what’s all this commotion in aid of? Climate Change, of course.
Once again the Climate Rush suffragettes have found a way to wake Britain up, smell the coffee (organically grown and fair trade – no less!) and look at the facts. Climate change is as ominous as it is being ignored these days. It seems that the rapid headlines and sensationalist newspapers have done all they can to exhaust the topic of its urgency. However, the threats of climate change are just as applicable today as ever, despite their everyday day repetition and commonplace acceptance. And this is exactly what the Climate Rush group will be drawing a line under. Well, more of a ragged route through the South West, starting at Sipson and ending up in Totnes.

The aim of this new climate change expedition is twofold: highlight what we are doing right with regards to fighting climate change, and draw a circle around what it is we’re still getting wrong. The Climate Rush group set out on 4th September, making their way from Sipson through to Aylesbury, Oxford, Stroud, Bristol, Exeter and finishing their eco-tour in Totnes, on 30th September. These towns and villages have been chosen to run a thread of how Britain can live in a low carbon future and celebrate all that can be achieved today.

Heritage points, local environments, custodians and supporters of microgeneration, and even some of the new eco-homes on the UK map will, no doubt, join in with all the festivities ahead. But we should also expect the darker side of the movement to raise its hand and point out some of those guilty culprits who have been hiding in their own clouds of dirty smoke for too long.

But whatever your motives for joining in and climbing on board with this band of merry eco-warriors, make sure you visit their website for further details of the South West tour (www.climaterush.co.uk) and if you can, do your bit to give these guys the support they deserve, they’re involved for all the right reasons – and through September and beyond, they’re really going places!

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UK Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, has warned that 2020 is the watershed for global warming, and that carbon emissions policy must reflect a substantial enough cut by this time. With the carbon emissions rates rising higher now than they were decade ago, the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit – which will look to replace the soon defunct Kyoto Protocol, and of which Ed Miliband will be a member – could prove to be far more important than the United Nations Framework convention for the Prevention of Climate Change, signed in 1993 in Rio, or the Kyoto Protocol of 1997.

In discussing the concept of a carbon emissions peak, Miliband stated that it is necessary that the Copenhagen Climate Change summit must look to set a cap by which all nations may take their emissions policies, after which there is no return. Arguing for 2020, Miliband states that a ‘carbon peak’ policy could give nations a chance to prepare for the shift in policy, and make a genuine and significant difference to the way that emissions policies operate in the future.

Whilst the move has its supporters, others have criticised Miliband’s suggestions. Dr. Vicky Pope of the Hadley Centre, and the head of of climate change advice, was one who retaliated. She said that:

“Even if emissions peak in the next ten years and then decline rapidly, temperatures are still likely to rise to around two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. Every 10-year delay in starting reductions will result in a further 0.5 degree increase in the most likely temperature rise, so the need for action is urgent.”

In contributing to an ever increasing list of potential problems that must be discussed at the Copenhagen summit, Miliband has given further evidence of the fact that this climate change summit could prove to be the most important of its kind to date. On one thing, both the Hadley Centre and Ed Miliband agree: all countries must be more radical in their pursuit of a reduction in carbon emissions, and the creation of a transparent carbon emissions policy.

Source: The Independent

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[mygal=dalston-mill] As part of their ‘Radical Nature’ season, the Barbican centre, London, have collected and displayed a range of art works and architectural pieces which explore nature, the changing planet, and our actions as humans within the natural order. Pieces which explore the beauty and wonder of nature are placed alongside ones that discuss civilisation and utopia. Until late October, visitors to the Barbican’s in house gallery can view astonishing Land Art, photographs, plans and models of experimental architecture, and the concrete results of environmental activism.

As well as the monumental artworks on display, the Barbican have collaborated with the architectural collective EXYZT , to form one of the most interesting aspects of Radical Nature. EXYZT are a radical French architectural group whose speciality is taking over derelict spaces in the city and putting them to successful use- grappling with eye-sores, dark chunky spaces and swampy, oily land, they create environmental works that aim to reverse negative trends, putting defunct and neglected amenities to use for the community. Their renovation of the Southwark Lido brought to the empty pool complex a water deck, mobile sauna, paddling pool, beach huts and more.

With Radical Nature, the Barbican have ‘collaborated’ with EXYZT on the Dalston Mill- a fully functioning, sixteen metre high wind mill in East London’s Dalston. The site also contains a twenty metre long wheat field below the mill, presumably to be put to use under the grindstone. The field was conceived and created by the environmental artist Agnes Denes, after her 1982 original. The Dalston Mill is a bright, friendly and positive presence in Hackney.

The mill is reached from Dalston Junction, where it is a one minute walk from the bus stops. Directions can be found here . Walking down the gritty Dalston street, the mill is positioned off of the road; the tunnel-like entrance below a massive and ancient anti-nuclear mural, painted on the sheer face of a large grey building. The mill, complete with security guard/concierge, has wooden decking throughout, and large WCs. Stacks of leaflets sit on a table in the inner entrance. Two yellow deck chairs, stamped with the logo of the Southwark Lido project (recycled from the earlier EXYZT take-over), face the shivering and golden strip of wheat. After the wheat-field, the land drops slowly down to the amphitheatre, then grass, scrub, and brick. To the right lies industrial warehouses and yards, either used or unused. To the left, bricked-up spaces in a crumbling complex of wood and breeze block, gloss paint, handrails, teething windows. Graffiti on the neighbouring buildings. Point-making and political forms, painted by EXYZT (presumably), complete with Radiohead-style stick-men, sit beside the aggressive statements of the street-kid daubs- one particular piece, an angular line of lettering reading ‘Kids With Knives’, sits between the two camps, and could have been written by either tribe- the same handwriting as the EXYZT stuff, but the message and intent of the gang writing. Perhaps this is intentional, and the EXYZT crew are savvy in more arts than merely the architectural.

Whilst I am there, the windmill turns continuously. Sometimes speedily and forcefully. What looks like a coffee grinder sits at the bottom of the rotating axle. Volunteers/staff/activists man the bar and counters, with laptops and [East] African music on the ghetto blasters. Jars of ‘bread tokens’ (a local form of alternative currency, created at the mill), sign-up sheets for newsletters, information on local events. Tents erected on scaffolding, staggered halfway up the mill- for the volunteers to sleep, man the works overnight.

Utopian in ideals, the Dalston Mill site does however look odd (unsurprisingly), and whilst standing below it one gets the impression of post-apocalypse, Mad Max, or Waterworld. Perhaps this is part of the point? Again, EXYZT prove their insight and intelligence, raising questions even as they are trying to provide solutions.

A series of workshops, theatre performances, and artist talks have been scheduled throughout the summer. Some of the workshops so far have included designing cutlery and baking trays which were used for a dinner later that evening; ‘urban psychoanalysis’ sessions; and the ‘Feral Trade Tea Service’, featuring hand made tea from Bangladesh, and other delights, with a travel report tracking the products to their source. Talks with architects, discussing city space, were also a highlight.

The mill is well worth a visit, and a thin but steady stream came through during mine. As a break from the dust of Dalston, a community hub, or an all-London getaway, it seemed to work. With deck chairs, a bar, an amphitheatre and plenty of garden space, the mill is open daily from 2pm-10pm.

The nearest rail station is Dalston Kingsland; the buses 30, 38, 56, 67, 76, 149, 236, 242, 243, 277 all service the mill. Entrance is by the Peace Mural on Dalston Lane, between Ashwin Street and Hartwell Street, E8. Entrance is free.

I also recommend getting down to the Barbican Centre itself, for the truly spectacular architectural and artistic exhibits they have on show.

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Cut your consumption, cut CO2 emissions, save money, save energy and save our environment.

You can make your home or business more energy efficient by applying a number of simple energy efficiency tips. Not only will this cut your energy bill by up to 50%, but the planet will appreciate you reducing your CO2 emissions.

1. Turn down your Thermostat – save 10% on your energy bill.

Turning down your Thermostat by only 1 degree will shave approximately 10% off your energy bill. If it is too hot in the house, resist the temptation to open windows. Just turn the thermostat down and take some time to properly understand the settings on your heating system. When you go on holiday, turn the heating down to the minimum- enough so the pipes don’t freeze.

2. Switch off lights! As simple as that – save 10% on your energy bill.

Cut your consumption by switching off indoor and outdoor lights when not needed. It seems obvious, but the amount of energy wasted this way is colossal on a worldwide basis.

3. Replace your light bulbs – save 25% on your energy bill.

After Brussels declared back in March 2007 that old style incandescent filament bulbs would be phased out during 2009 (to help fight the battle against climate change), it would make sense to upgrade your lighting as soon as possible.

Incandescent old-style bulbs are inefficient because 95% of all energy used is converted into heat rather than light. They cost a bit more but last up to 15 times longer and will pay for themselves in about 6 months.

We recommend installing ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) or LED lighting. Phillips, Osram, Sylvania, General Electric or Greener Living energy efficient light bulbs are all good brands and switch on almost immediately (some new-style CFL bulbs can take a while to reach full brightness – annoying if you need light instantly so select carefully).

If you are a business, get rid of the outdated, inefficient T8 and T12 light tubes. These are costly in terms of energy usage and CO2 emissions. Replace them with high frequency T5 bulbs or LED bulbs. These don’t flicker when you first turn them on, save 70% on your energy bill (they use 4-6 Watts rather than 14 Watts) and have durability of up to 5,000 hours.

4. Switch off your appliances – save 5% off your energy bill.

It seems obvious, but flick the main cooker switch off when you are finished. Don’t leave Microwave ovens, Washing Machines and Dishwashers on standby. That will cut your energy bill by roughly 5% per year.

If you do buy new appliances, make sure you get A rated appliances which will save you money and the environment in the long run.

When you are using appliances such as your hob or oven, make sure you leave lids on pans as that cooks food faster and requires less energy. Microwaves also use less energy than ovens.

5. Switch off electronic equipment you’ve left on standby – save 10% on your energy bill.

Modern equipment, such as TV’s, DVD players, Digital TV Set Top Boxes, Internet modems, Personal Computers, Printers, Scanners and Phone Chargers amount to approximately 20% of an average household energy bill. About HALF (10%) of your energy bill comes from equipment left on stand-by or sleep mode losses – when the equipment is still connected to the grid but not in use.

6. Save energy and money using a Multi Plug Adapter.

Try plugging all of your multimedia equipment into a multi-plug adapter and then switching the whole adapter off at night with one switch. That will shut off all of that ‘standby’ power being consumed. Did you know that standby consumption of such equipment costs European citizens €15 billion yearly without really being aware of it? It currently takes 10 large 1GW power stations, producing 100 billion kWh per year to supply the ‘standby’ electricity needed.

7. Save energy and money correctly charging your mobile phone and laptop.

Mobile Phone – charge your mobile phone when you are awake so you can unplug it once it is full. Leaving it to charge overnight is wasteful as a phone typically only needs an hour to charge fully.

Laptop – to save energy and significantly prolong laptop battery life, make sure you plug it in as soon as the battery indicates it only has 5-10% remaining. When it is fully charged, unplug it straight away. This makes the battery work harder, thus preserving its life. A battery will last roughly half as long if you let it switch off due to running out of power and then leave it plugged in all the time when it is fully charged.

8. Invest in Cavity Wall Insulation and Roof Insulation.

You can buy Eco wool from many DIY stores which will insulate your roof and walls better. Up to 35% of your home’s heat escapes through the walls and up to 25% through the roof.  Alternatively contact your green energy supplier for advice and quotations where applicable.

9. Renewable Energy – Solar Thermal Panels and Wind Turbines.

Invest in Solar Thermal Panels on your roof as the hot water from these can be fed into your Boiler. This saves your boiler having to heat up cold water. The energy savings are substantial and Solar Panels will add to the energy efficiency rating of your home, as well as the value if you sell it. Fossil fuelled power is becoming increasingly expensive and Solar is now commercially viable.

Also consider looking into a domestic wind turbine although these work better in the country where they can be mounted in a position that gets a direct, uninterrupted wind flow – essential for efficiency and payback!

10. Energy Efficient Double Glazing.

It goes without saying that double glazing stops energy escaping from the house and makes a home quieter as well. If you haven’t had this installed, consider doing so as it will improve the energy efficiency of your home and will add value to it as well.

Make sure that you get lined curtains to cover your windows and draw them just before dusk to stop heat escaping. Try to keep curtains behind the radiators so that the radiators emit heat into the room. This stops the heat going behind the curtain towards the window.

Good luck with the above. If you need any advice or help, please contact at enquiries [at] ecoswitch [dot] com.

Please share your views and comments on how you save energy below. We’d love to hear from you and create a Top 20 or 30 energy efficiency tips to help others.

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When discussing the average ‘environmentalist’ the traditional caricature was something not unlike the eccentric middle class farmer; crazy, unkempt hair, tweed jackets, woollen scarves. As the general environmental movement has widened, so to has this conception, and that caricature has come to represent exactly that: an unrealistic – albeit humorous – representation.

Now, being into the environment is hip. Celebrities and politicians alike are all quick to add their support to environmental causes. These days, it pays to be green.

What Terra Madre Brings to the World of Green Fashion

Now, it’s not so hard to be into the environment and look like a sane and approachable member of society at the same time. Take Terra Madre as an example. With their distinctive butterfly logo, they provide clothing that is both stylish and ethical. Their website and mission statement reads:

“The Terra Madre collection is a unique selection of limited edition, organic and fairly traded Art T-Shirts by internationally renowned artists. Terra Madre means Mother earth. We have chosen the name ‘Mother Earth’ to reflect our philosophy behind our Organic T-Shirt Art. For us, the Butterfly symbolises the beauty and delicate nature of our world, which needs to be preserved with the utmost care.

British butterflies are individuals through and through; varied in so many ways, they are endlessly fascinating, poetical, gorgeous free spirits. Through the Terra Madre collection we aim to encourage others to care for the world and protect it, securing its future as a safe haven for the earth’s creatures“.

In combining interesting, creative designs with an ethical fair trade and environmental policy, Terra Madre are successfully showing that being interested in environmental issues does not have to mean wearing skirts made fromgrass and living in the isolated countryside. That caricature is coming firmly to an end.

Terra Madre in History

Born out of the Broomhill Art Hotel and Sculpture Gardens in North Devon, the Terra Madre t-shirt range first came on general sale in 2007.  Founded by Rinus Van de Sande as a way to showcase Broomhill Art Hotel associated artists, while providing clothing that meets ethical and environmental standards set out by the general environmental conciousness in place within the general cultural environmental movement.

With an emphasis on individuality of design, de Sande has created a range that marries the environment with the fashionista. The website stated that,

“Rinus and Aniet have selected the best quality T-shirts they could find to hand print these unique designs. This is essentially designer clothing for the socially conscious and culturally savvy individual. The fairly traded, organic T-shirts using SAF (Socially Accountable Fabrics) are available worldwide in limited editions only. In using organic cotton, farmers and communities benefit in many ways. The unique T-shirts are truly a pleasure to wear, especially considering the ethical and creative investment in each one. You can be a part of the art and catch the passion now.”

With more designs in the pipeline, Terra Madre looks set to become a tour de force in the environmentally conscious clothing industry.

For more information, visit Terra Madre T-Shirt Art.

Posted under Articles, Lifestyle & Fashion, Uncategorized

17-19 July 2009, the Eco Village, set up at the Kent County Show, will have the opportunity to entertain some 90,000 attendees. On display will be some of the best examples of green living and how to adopt elements of environmentalism within the commercial sector.

This year’s Eco Village doubles the size of the same event last year, and hopes to outstrip its success on numerous fronts. Arranged in streets with sustainable buildings, the 5000 square kilometre eco village should present its audience with a living, working example of the practical and ethical benefits in going green.

Eco Village 2009 – Improving on the Success of Eco Village 2008

Not only will the event increase in size, stature and audience; the experience garnered from last year’s exhibition will ensure that Eco Village 2009 is even more able to explore sustainability, green living and environmental issues, than the already successful Eco Village 2008.

Audiences at this year’s event, then, will have the benefits of a larger, more ambitious show, and the increased confidence of the organisers.

Sustainable Credentials – The Organisers

Reflecting the ethos and environmental and ethical commitments of the Eco Village and the Kent County Show, events organisers Sust, an events management consultancy who specialise in sustainable projects, propagate a mission statement that outlines clearly and directly their genuine passion for the Eco Village:

“We believe in helping organisations to grow and develop in a sustainable way whilst minimizing their impact on the environment. Sust developed the Eco Village to help organisations to promote green products, services and initiatives. The Eco Village is designed to sit within large scale mainstream events in order to promote greener living to the widest possible audience…We minimise our impact on the environment wherever possible so that as a business we are practicing what we preach. We’re pragmatic rather than evangelical and believe small steps are the way to persuade people that green is good.”

With the Eco Village in such capable and caring hands, the event is set to be a real success. In reflecting the ethos of the event both in the design of the Eco Village and in the aims of the organisers, Eco Village should prove to breathe eco-friendliness through and through.

For more information, visit the Eco Village 2009 website

Confirmed Eco Village 2009 Exhibitors

Alternate Style
Canterbury Eco-House
Charity Bank
Colour Cascade
Co-op Save the Bees Campaign
COM2U
Country style Group – Sponsors of our EcoVillage Messengers
Design Advantage (sponsoring Blean Heritage & Community Group)
EcoCamel
Ecologist Magazine
Ethical Investments
Energy Savings Trust
Eternal Energy Systems
Greased Lightening Cycles
I Am Natural
Invicta Clean Energy
Healthy Planet
K2 Supplies
Kent Beekeepers Association
Kent Insurance Services
Kent Profile Magazine
Kent on Sunday (KOS Media)
Kidz Organic
Mark Group
NNFCC
Orchard Priory
P3 Design
Plamil Foods
Playmais
Port Lympne & Howletts
Protect Kent
Ripple down
River ford Organic Vegetables
SEAT Ecomotive
Scientists for Global Responsibility
Soil Association
Solar Age UK
Solar Venti UK
Space Shuffle
Strakka Organic Oil
The Cleaning Clinic
TTI UK Ltd
Viridis Energie Consultants
Well Hung Meat
Wildthing Wildlife Consultants
Woodland Children
Woodstock Buildings

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As the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon is arguably one of the most powerful people in the world, and acts as a figurehead symbol of reliance of the United Nations on collective security, on cooperation, and on shared values and goals. That UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has spoken out on environmental issues, then, is a welcoming sign for the future course of action in United Nations aims and goals.

Urging people across the world to increase their fight for protecting life on earth, Ban Ki-moon, speaking on the International Day for Biodiversity, argued that the increasing introduction of non-native species to several of the world’s ecosystems is not only damaging habitats and native life, but is weakening economies and threatening jobs native to those ecosystems.

He reminded listeners that, in increasing environmental activism and awareness, we must not fall into the trap of reducing discussions and actions to fights on climate change, global warming, and carbon emissions reduction, and that other issues are pertinent and meaningful.

Discussing measures for lowering the number of non-native species entering ecosystems, Ban Ki-moon noted that a number of cases would be quelled simply by initial prevention, but he also stated that individuals must play their part, saying that,

“Abiding by local and international quarantine and customs regulations will prevent the spread of insect pests, weeds and diseases. A simple rule applies: leave living organisms in their natural habitats and bring home only memories.”

According to Ki-moon, the threat represented by this migration of non-native species should not be ignored, and the prevalence of such a phenomena in the current century makes the problem all the more pertinent.

U.N General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann echoed and supported Ban Ki-moon’s sentiments, stating that the world must work together on prevention of such issues. He stated that,

It is not too late to take individual and collective measures, to respond to biodiversity loss in order to protect and sustain our daily needs and maintain our livelihoods.”

That the U.N, which started out life as a glorified peace keeping force, is now making moves to develop environmental awareness across the world, is a sign of the growing importance of environmental issues on the agenda of policy makers and individuals alike.

Source: The ENN

Posted under Articles, Environmental News, Uncategorized