Monthly Archives: August 2009

Around the world in less than 194 days and 17 hours by bicycle

If you need inspiration today look no further! Last year, Mark Beaumont cycled 18,297 miles around the world in just 194 days and 17 hours – an incredible record that many thought was unbreakable. Now, James Bowthorpe, a 32-year-old Londoner, … Continue reading

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The psychology of climate change: why we do nothing

Well-publicised simple steps like using energy-saving light bulbs may be making it more difficult to prepare people for the bigger changes needed to tackle climate change, argue psychologists. Upwards of 75 per cent of the general public, going by recent … Continue reading

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Refurbishing old bikes with precision craftsmanship

Of the millions of new bicycles sold each year, thousands end up neglected, abandoned or gathering dust in garages or sheds. British Specialbike has set out to change that by refurbishing old bikes with precision craftsmanship and high-end parts. The … Continue reading

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The green list: from bikes to patio heaters, what’s best – and worst – for the planet

They may be a simple way to keep you warm on an autumn evening in the back garden or offer the shortest travel time to a well-earned holiday, but patio heaters and short-haul flights are among the least ethical goods … Continue reading

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Help you garden to be blooming marvellous

If like me you love your soft boiled eggs and soldiers in the morning. Then next time you’ve just boiled an egg? Don’t chuck the water away: either use is as part of the dish water or simply wait for … Continue reading

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It always tastes better when its free

Summertime is filled with opportunities for brands to show they care, whether by helping consumers find a place to change at the beach or by giving them a little cooling refreshment during a heat wave. Targeting the latter option is … Continue reading

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Fed up with food waste?

Try to avoid shopping on an empty stomach. Studies have shown that hungry shoppers buy far more food products than they actually need. As a nation, the UK spends around £10.2 billion every year on food that spoils before it can … Continue reading

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From bone shaker to carbon fibre

Today we’re pedalling through the years, back in 1887 in an attempt to alleviate his son’s headaches caused by cycling, Scotsman John Boyd Dunlop invents the pneumatic tyre. Thanks to mass production, bicycles became popular among all classes, ushering in … Continue reading

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Join a library, save cash and the environment

Love books but hate waste? Why not join your local library? You’ll save money on pricy books that you might read only once if you bought them from a store and you’ll be supporting a free public resource that encourages … Continue reading

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American junk food imports hit poor hardest

Influx of high-fat and high-sugar foods into Central America has increased obesity levels. Central American countries are facing an obesity crisis because of the influx of North American junk food, say researchers. Writing in BioMed Central’s open access journal Globalization … Continue reading

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Get serious about climate change – pull a face!

Join the online movement of people calling for local action on climate change. Check out FoE’s brand new website for Get Serious About CO2 and take action by uploading a photo of your most serious face. www.getseriousaboutco2.com

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Cycling is good for the mind as well as the body

Cycle for health schemes offer riders a sense of community, confidence and wellbeing as well as providing physical benefits, writes David Bocking. It’s easy to forget the magic of cycling when you ride a bike every day. But as a … Continue reading

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Organic food: FSA study leaves bad taste in the mouth

The findings from the FSA’s organic food review have added little to our knowledge but left consumers short-changed on real benefits of organic food. What is the point of the findings of a review that says it could not find … Continue reading

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Environment secretary calls for ‘radical rethink’ of UK food production

A “radical rethink” of the way the UK produces and consumes food is needed, environment secretary Hilary Benn warned today as the government published an assessment outlining the threats to the security of what we eat. The assessment showed that … Continue reading

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The tongue of a blue whale is as long as an elephant

Here’s a bit of Friday trivia to help impress the kids when you get home. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth. The heart of a blue whale is as big as a car, and it’s tongue is … Continue reading

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New Yorkers water bottle refilling service

New York’s water-toting crowd has a convenient new way to be sustainable while staying hydrated, as a tap water refilling service officially launches in the city. TapIt is a community program that enables people to refill their water bottles at … Continue reading

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Eco friendly gift cards and bio hotel cards

Consumers spend some USD 65 billion on gift cards each year in the United States alone, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report; extrapolated globally, that adds up to a lot of plastic. While some retailers have begun recycling … Continue reading

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Used cooking oil made into candles

Tokyo candlemakers Filt don’t have to travel far to source their raw materials: they’re located directly above Chubby, a cafe that’s happy to hand over its used cooking oil to Filt, which carefully filters the oil to remove odors and … Continue reading

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Feeling a bit sluggish

The fight against slugs and snails in the garden doesn’t have to mean resorting to pellets, which can poison other wildlife. Encourage slug-munchers like birds, by leaving out bird boxes and seeds, or frogs, who’ll happily hang around if you … Continue reading

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Go Sew Fantastic Bring Back the Badge

  Keep mini sewing kits or invest in a few reels of cotton and a couple of needles. As well as being the most cost-effective way to make simple repairs to your clothes and make them last longer, sewing’s also … Continue reading

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