Green Balls – a ‘greener’ world cup?
Posted by mlamond in Clean up the World, FoE, Green News, UNEP, climate change, green media on 10. Jun, 2010 | 4 Comments
The 2006 World Cup was carbon-neutral with host nation Germany, FIFA and, Green.TV partner, UNEP working together – there’s an interesting article on the Friends of the Earth website, look at http://www.foe.co.uk/living/articles/world_cup.html.
This year tournament organisers seem to have been a little more reluctant to shout about their environmental commitment. According to The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2010/jun/10/carbon-footprint-world-cup) the carbon footprint for the 2010 World Cup will be a staggering 2.8 million tonnes CO2e. This does sound absolutely massive and the author, Mike Berners-Lee offers the perspective that this is the equivalent of 6,000 space shuttle fights or 1,400,000,000 cheeseburgers (all those zeros somehow make it even more frightening).
However, the intention of this piece is not to beat up the football authorities for their lack of environmental thought more its to highlight some interesting films on Green.TV that suggest ways football can be made more sustainable or used to promote positive activities. Have a look at the following and let me know what you think:
Homeless World Cup was set up to use football, street soccer, as a catalyst for social change – http://www.green.tv/homeless_world_cup.
Eco Football – ideas to make football greener including motion sensor lighting, ceedum roofs and clothing designed to mimic plants that repel mud and water.
http://www.green.tv/eco_football
Ocean’s World Cup – a Greenpeace film calling on Government’s to stop fouling the oceans.
http://www.green.tv/oceans_world_cup_whose_side_are_you_on
Nature and Sports Camp – a UNEP initiative offering children sport and environment training.
http://www.green.tv/nature_and_sports_camp
Where is the Eagle? – a film from WWF featuring Portugal’s top football team Benfica and their beloved mascot, Victory the Eagle, and the threats to endangered species.
http://www.green.tv/wwf_eagle
UK Election – first Green MP
Posted by mlamond in Clean up the World, Green News, Uncategorized, campaign, green media on 10. May, 2010 | 9 Comments
Well the UK election has officially been over for 4 days and we still don’t know exactly who is in charge (some might say no change there, then!).
One interesting possibility is that the UK’s first Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas, could hold the decisive vote – that is if Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, decides that he’d rather work with the Labour Party rather than the Conservatives.
Whatever happens, it’s right that we give Caroline Lucas due recognition for her remarkable achievement in getting elected – she engineered an 8.4% swing in her favour. While for many ‘minority’ parties this would be seen as a crowning achievement I suspect that for Ms Lucas and the UK Green Party this is just the start.
The Green Party has done well in local and European elections in the past and polled 1% of the total vote in the General Election. While this is slightly down on their share in the 2005 election if Nick Clegg negotiates the introduction of some form of proportional representation then the Greens could, in theory, have 6 seats at the next election.
UK Election
Posted by mlamond in Clean up the World, Green News, Uncategorized, green media, greentv news on 29. Apr, 2010 | 1 Comment
May 6th is the UK’s election day and the leaders of the country’s largest three political parties – Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg and David Cameron have released video statements about their commitment to taking action on the environment. You can watch all three statements on Green TV at the following:
Gordon Brown – http://www.green.tv/asktheclimatequestion_gordon_brown
Nick Clegg – http://www.green.tv/asktheclimatequestion_nick_clegg
David Cameron – http://www.green.tv/asktheclimatequestion_david_cameron
Green TV would also like to remind UK voters that other parties and candidates are available – and that the opinions expressed in these videos are not necessarily ours!
That’s our disclaimer over…..
I’d also like to draw your attention to a film produced by think tank The Green Alliance. Called The Last Parliament, it features the dulcet tones of Sir Trevor Macdonald and highlights what should be the top priorities for the UK’s next parliament.
Watch it at – http://www.green.tv/ga_last_parliament
We’ll await the results next Friday.
Greenpeace Mounts Westminster
Posted by annied in Green News on 12. Oct, 2009 | Comments Off
“Let them do their bit and they’ll come down when they’re ready. They’ll need something to eat or the toilet in a bit,” said one police man. Police presence is notable on the street, as is Greenpeace’s base camp behind St. Margaret’s Church. Not to dampen the London police’s optimism but Greenpeace’s activists are likely prepared for hunger and toilet eventualities.
Young British Green Bloggers (part 1): Niel of Climatico Analysis
Posted by annied in Green News, green media, greenblogs, young on 09. Oct, 2009 | 1 Comment
Part 1 of our series on young British green bloggers: Niel from ClimaticoAnalysis.com chats with the bloggess about how he got involved in environmental issues, his cycle, and green sins.
The Tories, EU bashing, and your food supply
Posted by annied in DEFRA, Environment Agency, Green News, climate change on 06. Oct, 2009 | Comments Off
As the Tory Conference continues in Manchester, and David Cameron trashes the EU, let’s take a minute to remember just what the EU has done for the UK. There is a common myth in food and drug regulation that just because a problem isn’t evident in a lab, there won’t be a problem in (uncontrolled environment) the real world.
5 Websites That Make Us Green-Geek-Out
Posted by annied in Green News, climate change, green media, greenblogs on 14. Sep, 2009 | 3 Comments
1. Strangemaps
Soon to be a book, Strangemaps has all kinds of (you guessed it) strange maps. Actually, they aren’t strange, so much as old.
Here are some high-lights:
“Homeland is where the Heartland is.” is particularly pertinent with the fuss in the British press a few weeks back: much ado about food shortages. DEFRA declared, “farmers [...]
Caroline Lucas opens the party conference season
Posted by annied in Green News on 04. Sep, 2009 | Comments Off
Resplendent and energetic as always, Caroline Lucas critiqued Labour’s social policies at the opening of the day’s Green Party conference activities in Hove. Most of her speech focused on social policies– particularly taking New Labour to task over the bailouts and increased income gap between rich and poor. Though she took a swipe at the Tories too, “it is simply a myth to suggest that we must slash public spending the reality is we need
long term investment not sort term cuts.”