Eco Holidays

posted by Catherine on May 22

We all know that 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity – so what’s special about today?

International Year of Biodiversity is a time where huge projects can be started, or completed. Many projects across the world take years and years of planning and can take up to 15 years to start to become effective – and according to climate change experts: we don’t have much time left.

So the idea of this ‘year’ is to highlight the need for research into biodiversity and the beginnings of a change in the way that we deal with climate change, extinctions and the environment as a whole.

So Why The ‘Day’?
Well, the day of Biodiversity is a time where ordinary people like you and you family can become involved in something much bigger without having to devote months of your life to field research, and without cracking out the cheque book!

Events across the world have been organised for today that involve the very simplest of events such as pond dipping – to show you what actually lives there; through woodland creation – to help what is already there; right up to scientific meeting and lectures discussing everything on the world agenda.

So today you could be introducing your friends and family to the whole diverse world out there – and hopefully making a difference to their future.

And What About Tomorrow?
Well, the future isn’t looking like it’s going to be as good as it has been in terms of many weather related things, such as farming and soil fertility.

I mean many people think of ‘bio-diversity’ as being about all the amazing wild animals and plants that we love to see in parks and zoos – but diversity also means in terms of ‘boring’ plants and animals too.

Take for example the ability of wheat to grow in certain weather conditions, and we all know that rice needs water to grow – but the weather could change all that and make these crops very difficult to grow in the huge amount that we currently do. So we need a diverse range of crop plants to take their place when we start to get short. If it’s to dry to grow rice – we need to find something that we can grow instead!

Then think about all the thousands of different bugs and creepy crawlies that live in the earth and under rocks and even feeding on other dead animals – we need thousands of them to get the job done! If not then the soil loses it’s fertility and we will be surrounded by dead animals and plants, festering in the sun!

The more species that become extinct, the less chance we and the planet has of finding a solution to our problems – whenever the arise. For example, imagine you have a serious disagreement with one mobile phone company – you can currently just go and use another one; there are plenty to choose from today.

But what if there was only that one phone company? What if you had to put up with their charges or go without a phone?

This is the scenario that many of our animals face today – and more will so in the future. If they can’t find the food type or the habitat or the nesting site that the need to survive – they will have only 1 choice: Move on and hope to find it elsewhere – or die.

Your Actions:
However you can stop this – in both the example and in real life.

If you make sure that there is always a vast array of choices for both your family and the wildlife in the world – then there will always be a second, third, fourth or fifth choice. So when species are faced with the effects of climate change or the results of human encroachment, they can evolve a different way to deal with it – like eating berry B instead of the usual berry A.

And we all know that when something is the only thing left – it will be in demand (it’s scarcity value) – and then it becomes very expensive and very difficult to get your hands on.

So by keeping the world rich in choices and full of variety – there will always be a fair spread for everyone involved. This is what sustainability is all about – and it can make a huge difference to humans and the environment.

So think about that today: Biodiversity Day

posted by Catherine on Mar 19

Could your travel plans help to promote a new business agenda?

Yet another ‘day’ has been put into place to try to get companies and individuals to think more about their impact on the environment and how to change things for the better.

People sometimes get so used to certain procedures or suppliers or activities that they don’t even consider the alternatives.  And those people who looked into alternatives a few years ago and found that they were not viable may well now be quite surprised at the options now available to them.

In the same way that the thought of drilling for tiny amounts of hard-to-get oil in remote parts of the world was once written off as pointless (ie it would cost more money to get at the oil in the first place than they would make for selling it) business ideas may well also have been ‘out of reach’ of most small businesses and ‘not worth the time’ for larger firms. But times have changed!

Long Haul Travel:
Many businesses have certain staff that will travel to other countries as part of their everyday running.  And this has long been widely accepted – and even a perk – as part of a job.

However, with the added expense of flying (due to rising oil costs) and the added pressure from society (ie: their customers) it is now seen as somewhat ‘bad business practice’.

Why fly one person all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to talk to someone when they can call them up on the phone, talk to them over the internet or video conference them for an almost face-to-face meeting?

Action can be taken on laptops at either end these days, and we can communicate with virtually every person and place on earth if both people have a hand held device. 

Live news can be beamed from a cell phone in the middle of a desert in a war zone; safari guides in the middle of the Kalahari desert can send images to UK wildlife charities reporting poaching, and marine biologists can communicate with scientists around the world whilst sitting on the bottom of the ocean!

So why on earth businesses can’t decide which book to publish or which policy to agree on unless they are sitting in the same room?

What Can They Do?
Well, for a start they can take a look at the latest video conferencing equipment – either on their own or with the professional help of an expert in the field. 

By just thinking about alternative means of communication within their own business and between other businesses, it is possible that they could find a viable option that will not only save the planet – but also save themselves money and time, as well as increasing the productivity (and happiness levels) of their staff.

Planet: Less carbon emissions from travel
Money: Not paying for travel and accommodation
Time: Staff could be working rather than travelling
Productivity:  More time spent working – more targets reached
Happiness: Not leaving family for days on end – and being tired!

Also: Updating your business’ technology and reducing your climatic impact can also be seen by others as a positive attribute – and could therefore improve your customer base, ‘green-up’ your company image as well as letting other businesses know that you are a serious player in the future of your industry.

See for yourself at Climate Care Day.

posted by Catherine on Jan 11

Have you decided that this year is going to be the year that you make some changes to your eco life?

I mean, it can be hard to start something new when everyone else is talking about presents, eating and drinking all your favourite things and not working!

Well, now it’s all over, it’s a great time to think back over what we did last year and put together some great ideas for your new year ahead.

It doesn’t matter if you make a great list with loads of stuff on it – even some quite outrageous claims can be on it – as long as it inspires you to try something new and to get out there and challenge yourself to do things you may not ordinarily do.

Things that require a little extra effort from the norm – and aren’t across the other side of the world. 

Why can’t you spend an extra few hours a week training for a charity walk? Are you really to busy to put aside a few hours a week for teaching a skill to others at your local college, or a few hours a week volunteering for a local charity?

Just like saving money – if you plan far enough ahead, then you can find the time to do anything you want, and on my list this year there is a little bit of everything. 

Even I know that a year has only got 365 days in it – so there is a limit in that sense – but most people forget to use all the time off they have.  There is also a frightening number of people who don’t claim their full holiday entitlement from work!  Why would you want to be there any longer than you had to when there are so many other things you could put your hand to.

Any Ideas?

How about some of the following to get you started:

Little Effort:
1) Join a local charity that does work or has a centre near you, like a wildlife sanctuary or children’s hospital.  Maybe you could plan to visit every other month and learn about what they do.

2) Join a national charity that interests you, like the National Trust or the RSPB.  Take part in some of their surveys or activities, and maybe volunteer at a site close to home.

3) Subscribe to a new specialist magazine about something you have always liked but never excelled at, like digital photography or outdoor adventures – maybe find some courses that you could attend to get that ‘hands on’ experience too.

Medium Effort:
1) Put yourself out for others and get involved in more community activities.  Find out when the local wildlife groups are going to clear rubbish or scrub from a woodland or beach near you and join in.  Find clubs that help the elderly or disabled which need volunteers for coffee mornings or the like, or set one up if you are feeling brave!

2) Re-home a pet this year.  Why not see if you could help the numerous animals that are abandoned each year by taking one (or more) into your home.  And it doesn’t always need to be a dog – I once took in something as small as a hamster from a shelter and gave him a great home!

3) Teach your family (and yourself) something new this year by taking a short course.  Whether it’s a new language, a new skill like cooking or woodwork, taking on an allotment (or your own back yard) to grow veg, learning to identify wildlife, or many of the other courses that are always available at your local colleges and schools.

Huge Effort: (but worth it!)
1) Sign up to a charity trek somewhere challenging like crossing the Sahara or climbing in the Himalayas – and raise money to make a real difference to something you care about.  You can choose your charity – but you will need to work out how to raise the several thousand pound you will need to partake – and put some effort in to getting fit enough to complete it.  They are very rewarding though!

2) Start changing your home into a more energy efficient and green home by finally researching your eco friendly options for all things new.  Starting with your energy suppliers which you can switch to green without too much fuss, and working through your supermarket choices, cars and travel options, cleaning products, electronic products, home furniture and even clothing to replace the old with the new.  Now I’m not suggesting change things for the sake of change – I’m just suggesting that when something needs replacing – look for the greener alternative.

3) Change your job to one that is more satisfying!  Big old heave-ho here – but why spend day after day in a job just for the money when you are so miserable every day that you never feel like doing anything outside of work!  There are many jobs with eco friendly companies, charities, green energy and overseas that could really turn your life around.

Any of those take your fancy?