Low Carbon Show on July 10, 2007 | Make a Comment
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Low Carbon Show #8 [29:00m]:
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Stop doing. Stop consuming. Stop. Period.
Could doing nothing be an easier and more pleasurable way of saving the planet? We discuss this contention with author and editor of The Idler, Tom Hodgkinson.
Making the transition to a low carbon economy necessitates a fresh look at the skills we have and the jobs that we do. What activities are going to be most valuable in a world without fossil fuels? How will we organise ourselves in a world that is less wasteful, more local, and more about self-sufficiency and community resilience?
What interested me in talking to Tom Hodgkinson was the fact that the ideas he had been exploring about freedom and a life of leisure matched increasingly closely to some of the visions that are emerging of what our low carbon future will look like. In a sense, Tom has been beavering away on the development of a philosophical justification and historical precedents for environmentally-friendly lifestyles.
Check out Tom’s books – “How to be Idle” and especially “How to be Free”.
Low Carbon Show on June 19, 2007 | Make a Comment
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Low Carbon Show #7 [28:11m]:
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Growing Communities is a social enterprise based in Hackney, North London which has cut through the multitude of environmental and social costs incurred by our globalised, supermarket-led food system and set up community led models for a more sustainable future.
The project represents a model of best practice that is ripe for replication across the capital and across the country.
Their organic box scheme was the first in London and now supplies 300 households in Hackney with their weekly fruit and veg for as little as £6. Most of the salad leaves in the boxes are actually grown in Hackney in Growing Communities’ own urban market gardens – which is the only organically certified growing land in London. And their farmers market in Stoke Newington is the only weekly, fully-organic market in the UK.
They employ 13 part-time staff, a large team of volunteers and two
apprentice gardeners on a project that supports farmers who are producing food sustainably.
The Low Carbon Show met up with co-founder and director, Julie Brown. With the sun beating down on their Allens Gardens plot we talked about food swaps, seasonal feasts and edible orchards….
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Low Carbon Show on June 12, 2007 | Make a Comment
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Low Carbon Show #6 [29:36m]:
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A recent UN report reveals that livestock are responsible for 18% of global emissions – more than the entire transport sector. We visit the largest vegan fayre in the world to find out why eating less meat and dairy is likely to be the single most significant thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint.
We interview:
- Nigel Winter – Chief Executive, Vegan Society
- Dr Stephen Walsh – nutritional advisor to the Vegan Society
- Justin Kerswell of campaign group Viva!
- Tim Yaoh – the organiser of the Bristol Vegan Fayre
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Low Carbon Show on June 5, 2007 | Make a Comment
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Low Carbon Show #5 [28:37m]:
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The Transition Towns concept is a grassroots, action model for making the change to a low carbon future. It’s about designing the future and making it positive rather than just waiting for it to happen. All the signs are that it is a project that works and it’s spreading like a virus throughout the UK.
This programme features interviews with people involved in transition towns projects recorded at the Transition Network inaugural conference. It provides a snapshot of the many and diverse projects now underway.
- Naresh Giangrande – Totnes Energy group co-ordinator – pioneering community owned, large-scale renewable energy resources and bulk buying of domestic solar water heating
- Nick Weir – Transition Stroud food group member – pioneering community supported agriculture projects, communal allotments, food co-ops, and a new legal model – the Community Farm Land Trust
- Dr Pamela Gray – Transition Penwith Medicine group co-ordinator – asking how will we provide healthcare in a post-oil world?
- Jo Hamilton – from Oxford Climate Exchange – a dynamic project connecting all the climate change resources in Oxfordshire and aiming to engage all sections of the population
For more information see:
Low Carbon Show on May 29, 2007 | Make a Comment
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Low Carbon Show #4 [29:49m]:
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The UK is writing carbon dioxide targets into law. But is the draft Climate Change Bill strong enough to ensure the UK plays a fair role in avoiding dangerous climate change?
We interview Environment Secretary, David Miliband, and get informed comment from Dr Alice Bows (Tyndall Centre) and Martyn Williams (senior parliamentary campaigner, Friends of the Earth).
- Why is the government using a target that is based on outdated science?
- Why does the Bill allow the UK to meet 50% of its targets by buying up emissions credits from abroad?
- Why aren’t emissions from aviation and shipping included in the Bill?
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Low Carbon Show on May 22, 2007 | Make a Comment
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Low Carbon Show #3 [29:11m]:
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Today we catch up with Mukti Mitchell who is travelling around the coast of Britain in his self-built, low-emissions micro-yacht. Mukti is stopping at 40 ports en route to give talks about the benefits of low carbon living and to promote his new downloadable publication “The Guide to Low Carbon Lifestyles”. Mukti is also the creator of what is widely regarded as the best online calculator for measuring your carbon footprint.
PLUS: We manage to squeeze in some expert advice on carbon offsetting and green electricity from last week’s guest, Chris Goodall.
