Green Production

Hollywood's most prominent television and film studios revealed yesterday a guidebook with rules they plan to follow  to reduce carbon print and workplace waste. 

Tinseltown's not so glorious history regarding environmental conservation has been highly criticized, in late 2006 university research announced that the film industry was a major source of pollution in the highly populated city of Los Angeles, topped only by oil refineries. 

And, along comes "Best Practices Guide for Green Production", an ec0-friendly guide announced by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) which offers ideas for responsible approaches ranging from filming on sets, transport, post-production work to even hair and makeup.

MPAA Chief, Dan Glickman commented on the emerging concern for the conservation of the environment among Hollywood's production companies.

He said: "A new norm is emerging in which eco-friendly practices are best business practices and behind the scenes, every major studio is getting on the act."

Gary Petersen, member of the California Integrated Waste Management Board further supports Hollywood's ability of greatly contributing to sustainable development.

Mr Petersen said: Studios' waste reduction and recycling efforts are having areal impact on reducing greenhouse gasses and they have implemented many other responsible practices that showcase how the private business sector can contribute to sustainability."

Oh, if only there was a Best Improved Industry oscar....

Vote Blue, Go Green?

British politician and Conservative Party leader, David Cameron launched today the Conservative's 'Vote Blue, Go Green" local election campaign in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.  Dave the Chameleon ring a bell? 

Mr Cameron claimed that the environmental campaign's message is simple and represents the true essence of the Conservative's councils because being green "goes to the heart of what the conservatives believe". 

On 1 May  2008, voters in many parts of the country will be going to the polls to  decide who will run their council. According to the Party Leader: "This election is a chance to vote for change and to send a message to this failing labour Government."

The Tories Representative  stressed that the Conservative councils are greener as they are leading the way in the fight against climate change, giving examples of innovative projects such as installing high-efficiency fluorescent lighting in Bournemouth (a town in South West England) and making school building more  eco-friendly. 

Yes, all said very well, however, is it going-green  that really "lies in the heart" of Mr Cameron? Let's reflect a little:

Wind turbines, a proposed solution for renewable energy and hence an inseparable component of sustainable development. First, in 2005  Mr Cameron infamously refers to them as: "giant bird blenders". Then in 2007 to demonstrate his "true" environmental concerns  he puts one on the roof of his house but then a week later and it is vanished, such consistency... And of course, not to forget the Daily Mirror's exclusive back in 2006 on  Mr Cameron's touching habit of cycling to work. Only problem there was that his chauffeur-driven gas guzzler followed behind carrying his shoes and briefcase. Then moving on to February 2008 when the Tory Leader ditched plans for 'green taxes' due to fears of a backlash from voters unwilling to pay for climate change.  Actions do speak louder than charismatic speeches...

Bottom line is that you do not have to vote blue to be green. Reducing, reusing and recycling will do just fine. 

India's First

India's first English Monthly magazine dedicated towards the environment, which goes simply by the name: "Sustainable Environment", was launched today. 

The magazine was launched by Andhra Pradesh (a state in southern India) Chief Minister, Dr Rajasekhara Reddy. Dr Reddy believes that the protection of nature through the preservation of ecological balance and pollution free environment should be one of the primary concerns in his state.

Sustainable Environment will aim to target the issues of environmental degradation by providing environmental education and hence explaining the necessity to stop the depletion of natural resources. The magazine consists of 68 multicolor pages of glass news print, with articles targeting a vast range of issues, titled as:  Nature Conservation and Spirituality; Effects of pollution on new born babies; How to use energy efficiently; 100 ways to save the environment; Attitude of people towards our environment and many others. 

At a press conference today, Sustainable Environment's Publisher and Editor in Chief, Mr Mujahid Ali Khan spoke of the escalating greed and the sad lack of care or concern of our generation towards their home. 

He said: "The stars, the sun and the mood would have disappeared long back, if they would have been within easy reach of human hands. We will realise that we can't eat money, only when the last river is polluted, last tree is cut and last fish is caught."

Adding further he stated: "What I am trying to do is to stand out and do something which is much needed. We all gain a lot of education in our lives. But, I think environmental education is the one which relates to humanity, a noble cause, a social justice and something that has become essential for us and our future generations".

The magazine which was introduced in Andhra Pradesh will become gradually available in the South and the rest of India. It is sold at a reasonable price and is expected to be well received at the market place.

For more detail on Sustainable Environment click on the following link:

http://www.indianews.com/pressrelease/20080406/109324.htm

France & Britain Got Their Green On

Britain and France lead all things ethical with booming sales of ethical cosmetics and skin care products.

The ethical shopping trend has most definitely taken both of the UK and France's beauty industry by storm as it now accounts for 74 per cent of the market, according to the market research firm Mintel's GNPD database. 

Mintel analyst, Nica Lewis commented on the market dominance of this emerging trend: "Beauty manufacturers are innovating by making their products more compatible with the emerging lifestyle trends of ethical shopping and eco-consciousness. They are clearly looking at ways to cut down the amount of packaging they use and are trying to reduce the negative impact production can have on the environment." 

This is further supported by Mintel's recent statistics which claim that 25 per cent of French women and 20 per cent British women insist upon purchasing recyclable beauty packaging. 

Ms Lewis believes that product packaging is now becoming one of the key priorities of cosmetic firms everywhere: "Today manufacturers are focusing more and more on using recyclable packaging or packaging made of recycled materials. The next step will undoubtedly see a move towards products that need hardly any packaging at all." 

This eco-trend looks set to continue dominating and fears no future slump with more than 420 new ethical products already hitting the shelves of European beauty stores.  2008 is all about ethical consumption!

That Little Plastic Bag

The widespread international movement of eco-fashion has not escaped fashion designers from Israel, Irit Vilensky found her own way to incorporate eco-friendly principles into her fashion range. Her fabric choice? Plastic.

Irit is on a quest to prove that plastic can indeed be fantastic. Not to worry, she doesn't suggest you wrap yourself around with a cling film, but perhaps refresh your closet with innovative accessories that don't only look good but mean good. She recycles the ubiquitous  plastic bags that litter Israeli beaches and parks, transforming them into an uber-chic, colourful line of accessories called Satik. 

The fact that organic fibers are practically impossible to find in Israel and can only be imported at a high expense, does not stop young Israeli designers alike Irit. They do not look for ways to purchase  expensive materials from abroad, instead they create designs from materials that already exist at home.

Irit explained what pushed her to use plastic as her building block: "I wanted to create something beautiful out of something that everyone has at home, so I decided to use plastic."

Each piece she creates is one of a kind, and whether it is  a wallet, purse or a bracelet they are all handmade. Irit says that the concept of using noxious non-biodegradable plastic bags (already banned in numerous countries due to its environmental damages) serves two purposes: firstly it reuses waste and secondly  it discharges the world's landfills of a few more plastic bags. 

Other Israeli designers who can be appreciated for their innovative ways of design are: Gili Ben-Amir who makes bright, eye-catching necklaces by stringing together car fuses, Ayala Froindlich who recycles comic books and even encyclopedias to make her eco-friendly bags and Elanit Neutra who uses the inner tubes of black rubber tires to make her signature soft-leather like accessories. 

Yes, creativity goes a long way and the world is but a canvas to the imagination. 

World's First Climate Change Festival

The city of Birmingham, an industrial city in west central England will play host for the world's first climate change festival. It will make a direct link between the issues revolving around climate change and the design of the city, because: you can't create a sustainable city without getting the design right!

The festival which will take place this summer (from 31 May to 8 June) is organised by CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment)  together with the Birmingham city council. It aims to show how a successful response to climate change can completely transform and heighten the quality of life for the people who live and work in it. 

According to CABE, climate action is all about reinvention, the redesign of the way that out cities function. This of course does not mean that our ole' comfortable way of life will remain untouched; changes will be necessary. BUT, these will most definitely be worth making as the reward will be a completer transformation: a healthier, greener and more prosperous environment to live in.  

This new low carbon, sustainable city will consist of vast areas of beautiful public spaces which will make both walking and cycling safer and more enjoyable. Well designed homes, offices and community lots with clean air and more surrounding trees. Suburbs which will be more effectively integrated to the city centre. All of this will inevitably result in a less stressful and more efficient place to spend your life in. 

In order to reach the above long-term aspiration the upcoming Climate Change Festival week will consist from a number of well though of events. These will range from community-based projects to a hothouse event for professional working in the built environment sector and a green day for schools. Moreover, the festival will also include the launch on World Environment Day of Birmingham's first ever climate change strategy.

If all goes as green as planned, the  aim of making the festival an annual event involving at least eight cities in 2009 and going international in 2010 will be reached. Long live the Green Revolution! 

To read in more detail about  the upcoming Climate Change Festival click on the following link:

http://www.cabe.org.uk/default.aspx?contentutemid=2414

Arctic Paradox

Rising temperatures, melting ice caps, changing landscape and one emerging conflict. 

Ever since the 60's , the Winter sea ice around the Norwegian arctic island has thinned to less than one meter. It is this continuous melting that started to reveal a very different Greenland. 

The world's largest island has swiftly become the center of attention, a prosperous area of vast mineral wealth which is highly perspective for commercial shipping and  the exploration of both oil and gas. This sudden interest has given Greenland's small population a hope for independence from Denmark (even though the island has internal self-government, Denmark is still the one responsible for foreign policy and according to the BBC provides it with almost half of its domestic budget). 

Aleqa Hammond, the foreign minister in Greenland's home-rule government, like the majority of the 56,000 people living in Greenland hopes that the attraction of oil and mineral companies' will bring with it profits to the country and in turn help in making it economically self-sufficient. 

Yes, so it is what lies under the surface of Greenland that has triggered such a scramble, but putting economic dependence aside what about the fact that the once upon a time permanent ice sheets are rapidly disappearing? 

Global warming is affecting the Arctic more than anywhere on Earth as it continues to experience the fastest global temperature rise. A NASA high-tech aerial showed that: "more than 11 cubic miles of ice is melting along Greenland's coasts yearly, accounting for 7% of the annual global sea level rise." Additionally, measurement over the last century indicate that sea levels have risen 9 inches, enough to trigger floods in low lying areas.

Moreover, oil and gas companies' heavy industry will inevitably bring with them high levels of pollution. This will further contribute to the already existing problem of climate change and undoubtedly trigger further destruction...

So, can Greenland really gain independence by losing its country's identity and ignoring the well-know consequences of Global warming? 

Click on the following link for The Independent's feature on Greenland's debatable situation:

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/greenland-the-emerging-nation-402602.html