The Age of Stupid

Over the last month I have become increasingly frustrated at several press articles which have got me thinking as to the extent of the press in influencing our views and focussing on what they want, which is to sell papers, rather than to keep us informed of the really important issues which affect our lives. I say this from a viewpoint where I do not believe that we are doing enough to promote a more sustainable and environmental friendly lifestyle. OK yes I like my comforts, but equally I recognise the needs for change and have done much in the last few years to try and reduce my carbon footprint. Last years I was clocking up 10+ tonnes of CO2 . Today I rechecked this and I was delighted to find I and my wife Carole had managed to get out household footprint down to under a tonne of CO2. Check out yours today with the following Carbon Trust calculator.

Carbon calculator

So WOW, what has happened this week is fantastic. At last someone doing something to raise awareness and committment with us the people. The Director of the film The Age of Stupid is about to change all this. She has launched a campaign 10:10. Basically it is simple campaign to get everyone to cut their carbon emissions by 10% by 2010. Check out their website and sign up. It couldn't be easier. So well done Franny Armstrong , check out her video interview here. And well done the Guardian newspaper for the full support of this campaign.

I have now scrubbed the rest of what I was going to say on the press, but lets see what my next blog brings. And remember sign up to 10:10

FOOTNOTES:
If you would like to know how we slashed our carbon footprint contact me on enquiries@futuredirections.org.uk

For organisations and businesses I offer an environmental review service check out my website


So heres to the future and the ten simple steps for getting there!



Chris Gledhill

My First Blog

Well I have finally done it. After a a period of dithering, I have now set up my own blog. Why? Well I think that I have things that I can share with a range of friends and colleagues and customers. What I hope to do is share some of the things that I get up to and more importantly raise issues about sustainable development and tourism.

The day here has been awful, so much for a cracking barbecue summer. Is this really a very dramatic sign that the forecasts on climate change are true. Mainly warmer and wetter summers. Well to date, we have had soaring temperatures (but not too many) but we have been in the high 20's, equally we have had torrential downpours. When we went to scotland a 2 weeks ago, we were flooded in and had to drive through the flood waters to escape our valley here in Wales.

Yesterday was brilliant and I was working on my lap top in the garden, today it is pouring again. So for those people who decided to have a "staycation" in the UK, I feel sorry for them. At our holiday cottage Madogfechan, we had one couple who only saw two weeks of rain. However, when the sun shines, every is beautiful and green. My next blog will be far more structured.

Bye for now.

Chris