MAIL ME YOUR CARBON!

Hi. I’m Dave Hampton and I’m offering some free help. In schools I’m known as Carbon Dave, or, more professionally - “the carbon coach”.
Pssst. I'm a ‘carbon shrink’. You can tell me!
You speak your weight, and I'll hear you.

I am ‘trialing’ a 'Mail me your carbon' scheme, before I roll it out globally.. and beyond...!

I am offering this to Passion for the Planet listeners and blog readers. (I may have to ‘cap’ the offer, but I will take at least the first 30 to contact me.)

By participating, asking awkward questions or providing challenging feedback, you will be helping me to help others chip away at the carbon fat; leading the way for us all to ‘Cut The Carbon’

At the heart of all this is my conviction that to know our own personal carbon footprint is more important than we might think. Not knowing our number is potentially holding us back in all sorts of ways. Our carbon shadow (the CO2 emissions we are responsible for) without really knowing it - is ‘behind us’. It is much easier to face this shadow once we know it is always following us. Like in the panto!

I strongly recommend that you sign up for the 10:10 campaign as well - if you haven’t already! (10% footprint reduction by this time in 2010).

Mission Possible:

Email me your best estimate of your current overall carbon footprint and what you make of it. There are several carbon footprint 'calculators' but I recommend you use:

The Resurgence Quick Carbon Calculator

It is quick and simple to use – as well as educational and illuminating. It's also very friendly!

You can see the ‘working total’ (bottom line) start to add up, and you can see the carbon mount up - real time - as you enter your data.

Tell me how it worked for you, and which part you'd most like to tackle over the next 12 months.

I will reply. The heroes - in my book - are those who know their number. Confidentiality is assured.

If you find you are a 200 tonner (200 TCO2e per year) but you didn't realise it before, and you tell me, then you'll have made my day, by sharing this with me. Chances are you'll feel better too. After all, a footprint shared is a footprint halved - well almost! And you are nearly in the company of Prince Charles, who last year estimated his Estate at some 2800 tonnes! (And falling year on year impressively.) Don't be downhearted. I can help you find ways to reduce your carbon.

If you find you are a 20 tonner, that’s better, but you are above the UK national average of 13 tonnes.

If you are a 2 tonner, I salute you. We can learn from you.

Who me? Well, since you asked, I am coming in at around 5 tonnes on this estimator, which is around half the national average. And I’m working on further reductions.

Keep a copy of the email you send me - it will come in handy next year when you calculate whether or not you made your 10% reduction, and when you set yourself a new reduction target for next year.

One last thing! Happy Birthday Gandhi!!

On October 2nd it is Gandhi’s birthday and that day is also National Carbon Footprint Day!

Gandhi used to say “Be the Change that you would wish to see in the world” – and nowhere is this more true than with carbon leadership.

National Carbon Footprint Day was launched last year by Donnachadh McCarthy. The website is simple and functional. This time last year I entered my gas, elec, and water actual meter readings - on 2nd October 2008, along with my actual car milometer readings, and details of flight miles. Hey presto – the next year - it feeds all that info back to you - on Gandhi’s birthday, so you can keep track of the longer term trend in your carbon footprint.This is helpful, as you don’t need to keep the meter readings or do the working out.

So I warmly encourage you to make use of this NCFD site: use it to record where you were in 2009. Who knows, in 2012 we may look back with much pride at how much carbon weight we have lost!



For more ways to reduce your carbon, sign up to my newsletter, Co2mmunique.
Past issues can be viewed here.

Is fashion really rubbish?

It’s amazing what you can make out of rubbish!

I recently MC’d a fashion show that was all about clothes made from waste materials. It was a fascinating display of what can be done if you are willing to re-use and recycle.

The show was called Wear Not Waste and it was presented by Under Croydon as part of the Croydon Fashion Festival.

Some of the clothes were made from material off-cuts sewn together to make a complete item, others were crafted using plastic bags (the Umpalumpa Bin Dress designed by Lauren Adams and Keyya Attard) or old venetian blinds (the Zebra dress designed by Pamela Nyakato Musana and Raihana Campbell). One was even made from a dozen copies of The Financial Times (designed by Priscilla Enid Agoye).

Other dresses took their inspiration from the rain forests or our obsession with plastic surgery.

The head designer this year was Master Furse whose clever creations can be seen each weekend at Spitalfields market.

Even if you don’t think you have what it takes to create a dress out of plastic bags or venetian blinds, or perhaps even if you could you’re not brave enough to wear it, then take inspiration from some of the designers that updated old items to give them a fresh new fashion look; from gathering up a skirt and ballooning it (by Jessica Rotheram) to adding ribbons and bows (Clara Irving-Mayes) to dying your old faded linen dress and stitching on some sexy lace trim (by Gabriella Lamorella). Anything is possible!

Over a million tonnes of clothes end up in UK dustbins every year – most of these could be re-used by donating them to hostels or charity shops, or they could be revamped as was so beautifully demonstrated at the fashion show in Croydon or they could be recycled and turned into cleaning cloths and other items.

So, before you throw that old jacket out, take a moment to think if the dustbin really is the right place for it. Or better still – before you buy yet another new fashion piece, ask yourself if you might have something even better just waiting, in your wardrobe, for that second chance to shine.

Remember - “new” is just so yesterday – and yesterday with trimmings is just so “right now”.

AUDIOBLOG: Juliette Kellow explains why business needs you to eat more.

Every Monday we have an interview heard on PASSION for the PLANET.

What did you have for breakfast today? If it was nothing, more than your tummy will be grumbling. Brits missing breakfast costs the UK £8million a day. Nutritionist Juliette Kellow explains why breakfast really is the most important meal of the day.

You can hear more interviews on air and on demand at passionfortheplanet.com

Is your garden a wildlife heaven or hell?

Many gardens unintentionally contain items that can be hazardous to wildlife.

Every year thousands of birds and other creatures sustain injuries from hazards that could easily be prevented.

Typical problems reported to charities like the RSPB and RSPCA include birds crashing into windows, getting feet and beaks trapped and drowning in water butts, baby birds being abandoned because of hedge cutting and hedgehogs being injured when piles of leaves are swept away.

So what can you do to make your garden safer for wildlife?

Window strikes Thousands of birds fly into windows at this time of year with the sun lower in the sky and clumsy late youngsters around. Window strikes are often fatal. They can be prevented with window stickers that have a scarecrow effect. Garden mirrors can be equally hazardous so sticker them as well if you can.

Loose netting Loose fruit netting and mesh bags containing fat balls can easily trap bird’s feet and beaks and other wildlife like snakes could get caught in them too. Pull netting over fruit or ponds taught and remove fat balls from bags.

Hedge cutting Some late nesting birds stay in their nests long into September and hedge cutting and maintenance can disturb the adults so they abandon their chicks. Worse still, power tools can injure the birds or destroy the nest. Hedge cutting is best left until early October.

Leaf and log piles Many hedgehogs sustain horrific injuries when people clear log piles with rakes and power tools. Some have literally been sliced in half and others have lost legs and noses. So, always clear log piles, especially close to hibernation periods, with extra care and avoid using sharp tools.

Drowning Many birds drown in water butts and steep sided ponds at this time of year as they overstretch and fall in. Put a lid on butts if possible and if building a pond try to create gentle slopes so birds can drink easier and mammals like hedgehogs can get out. Putting in a secure sloping plank of wood can help animals get closer to the water and give them an easy, safe exit route.

Feeders Poor quality bird feeders are responsible for hundreds of birds getting trapped and being unable to escape, as well as squirrels. Feet get caught in cheap wire netting round the outside and some birds can even get their heads caught in the hole the food comes out. Make sure you check for any loose bits of wire and choose a feeder made from sturdy materials. Always opt for a feeder with a lid so birds don’t try and access food from the top and get stuck that way.

Slug pellets Some slug pellets can pose a threat to wildlife if used excessively. If birds or hedgehogs eat the slugs and snails that have been tempted by Metaldehyde pellets, this chemical can accumulate inside the unfortunate animal making them very poorly. It is best to use non-toxic control such as beer traps, barriers and hand picking.

These are just a few easy ways in which you can ensure your garden or allotment is a wildlife heaven, not a wildlife hell.

Two Very Different Gatherings

View from Brussels

Germany is under attack over its role in a deal between General Motors and Canadian-Russian consortium Magna-Sberbank, which is expected to cut jobs at plants in Spain, the UK and Belgium. Berlin is accused of unfairly intervening to prop up Opel, GM's European arm, by handing the car-maker a 4.5 billion euro state aid package to keep its plants in Germany open.

Magna is poised to cut up to 11,000 jobs, out of a workforce of 50,000- but only 4000 jobs are expected to go in Germany. Belgium has accused Germany of protectionism, and the European Commission says it will investigate the details of the restructuring plan. Officials insist any plant closure should be a commercial decision only.

German workers who arrived by the coach-load to protest outside Antwerp's Opel plant yesterday, told me their jobs were threatened too. They said Opel workers must stand united, and that no European factory should close. Belgian workers said, people need to understand that if the Antwerp plant shuts, it could be Germany's turn tomorrow.

When asked what the solution was, many shrugged their shoulders saying, it was true, there are too many cars on the market, and not enough customers- the only way to save jobs they said, was for the government to step in.

Nina-Maria Potts, EU correspondent.



View from the United Nations

You'll hear a lot about Barack Obama's speech to the United Nations General Assembly in the coming days - his calls for the international community to take more responsibility for global problems, his pledge that the US will do more to engage the UN and global partners, and his 4 pillars he sees as fundamental for the future (stopping the spread of nuclear weapons, the pursuit of peace, combating climate change, and strengthening the global economy).

But so far, the real theatre of this opening session of the GA has come from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who spoke directly after the US President. There was a considerable pause between their addresses, and a confusion in the Hall as he and his delegation took their time approaching the podium. He has also referred to "our son, Barack Obama," and has been perusing the UN charter point by point, saying the world body doesn't live up to the principles it was founded upon.

It was clear the Libyan leader was only speaking off of vague notes, ad-libbing throughout. It was certainly a more spontaneous speech than the scripted, coherent address we heard from the orator Obama.

This mix of characters, styles, and ideas is one of my favourite parts about the General Assembly - and what makes it an entertaining and interesting event to cover.

Kate Moody, UN, New York.

FSN is PASSION for the PLANET's award winning news partner, providing global news from bureaus worldwide.

You'll find more from world news stories, plus analysis from FSN at FSN REPORTERS BLOG.

Could being grateful make you weak?

“I guess I'm just lucky to have a job at the moment.”

This is the most common response that clients give me when I ask how things are going at work. With so many redundancies, people feel grateful to still be in gainful employment and relieved that it's their salary rather than savings that will feed the family and pay the school fees for another month.

The problem with feeling grateful, whether it’s towards an employer or the markets at large, is that it can leave you feeling trapped and powerless. Any plans you had to advance your career, change role, start a new business venture or move house have been put on hold, and when our power to make decisions for ourselves has been diminished, dissatisfaction and unhappiness are sure to follow..

And it's not just your work life that suffers; the reverberations can be felt in your relationships and your health. Even if you still enjoy the content of your work, the fear of loss of income or lack of flexibility tends to reduce your motivation levels. Professional insecurity leads to low personal morale which in turn does nothing to improve the atmosphere in the workplace or the faith of the people you manage. Whether you are aware of it or not, it's your own sense of vulnerability which will prevent you from progressing in these volatile times.

As with most situations that are out of your direct control, the best course of action is to change your attitude towards them. Adapting your mindset won't fix the situation but it will make you feel like choices, and thus power, are still yours.

Here are a few tips on how to regain control and feel the reins firmly in your hands again:

Act as if: Work as if you think this year will bring you the largest success of your career....after all, it may be a reality as soon as next year. There is a fine line separating constructive optimism and blind delusion. Use your common sense – you know the difference. Draw that fine line and decide to tread on the right side of it. You know the risks involved, you are happy to take them. Conviction is key.

Fight the fear: If you want to move job roles – ask if you can. It’s business as usual. The fear isn’t real – its just in your head. Still being engaged in your career progression will help you feel in control and show Management that you haven't tuned out and you won’t accept excuses. You’re displaying personal traits of confidence and resolve – the traits of a true leader. By taking action and leading you feel more in control, positive and powerful.

Know your market value: There may not be much movement in the job market but firms are still hiring, especially for more senior positions. Making some enquiries will at least let you know your current worth, help you gauge what your next move might be and identify the skill gaps that you should be working on now. It will help you and others reassert your conviction to the job at hand. Opportunity never disappears, it's form merely changes over time. Not everyone can see this. You can.

Have a life: Easier to say than do when you have picked up the workload of everyone who's departed over the last few months, but spending time with friends and family doing sport and relaxing will all help you cope better with the stress in the long run. Striking the right work/life balance should never become secondary. Your life engagements need to be prioritised correctly much like your work one's are. An unhappy personal life will ultimately reflect on the quality of your work.

Author
Jo Geraghty is managing Director of “Beyond the Ladder” and is one of the UK’s leading coaches for executives and entrepreneurs.

Nature through all your senses

Nature is without doubt beautiful, but if using your eyes is the only way you experience it, then you’re missing out on about 4/5th of it.

I decided to put my five senses to the test during a walk along the Meewasin River Valley in Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Canada.

This delightful walk is accessible from the centre of town and my starting point was the majestic Delta Bessborough Hotel just a few minutes walk from the river path...

My eyes soak up the beauty of the river, sunlight glinting off the water, surrounded by the golds and reds of the trees as they begin to turn to autumn. As I walk I’m accompanied by the honking symphony of Canada Geese. I can feel the warm sunshine on my skin and a slight breeze mussing with my hair. My lungs fill with air that smells fresh, not city stale.

As the trail continues I enter a wooded area and the light changes to a speckled dance along the path. A rustling in the undergrowth delivers my very first sighting of a wild chipmunk.

Something I would have missed if I hadn’t been using my ears as well as my eyes.

As I walk along I can feel the leaves brushing my arms and the subtle change in temperature as I move between patches of sunlight.

Further along the sounds of the geese are drowned out by the rushing water of the weir, where I stand soaking up the sunshine and admiring the grace of fishing cormorants. Pelicans can often be spotted here but I’m not lucky enough to see one.

The insistent cheep-cheep of small birds alerts me to their presence and as I stand motionless on the path they flitter around me - tantalisingly close. I have no idea what species they are, but that doesn’t diminish my enjoyment.

I start walking again breathing in the light scent of clean air, vegetation and slightly damp soil. And then I am stopped in my tracks by a glorious yellow furry caterpillar with large black fur “spines”.

He is soft and fuzzy to the touch (although I have been warned in the past that you shouldn’t touch them as they can cause allergic reactions – but it seems worth the risk to me).

As I emerge from the trees I am confronted by jewel-like berries hanging from the bushes; bright reds and oranges. The berries are firm but soft to the touch, the leaves cool and smooth and the nearby tree trunks rough and hard.

It’s time to cross the river by means of wooden bridge high above the rushing water and on the other side my senses are rewarded with a whole new set of experiences.

I am now in open fields surrounded by a sea of golden grass. The sun is strong and I can feel perspiration forming on my back. As I walk along I can hear the drone of grasshoppers and the swish of the breeze in the grass. Then a strange clicking sound rushing past my ears alerts me to a very large grasshopper-cum-moth. Over an inch long, as it sits on the ground it looks like a grasshopper with folded moth wings, but when it flies (not jumps) it looks more like a dark moth with white wing tips. Its wings beat very fast and its flight is quite short and erratic. As I move along the path dozens of them dance in front of me marking my way.

The scent here is drier and faintly tinged with grass. I then suddenly I am surrounded by a thousand gossamer winged fairies as the breeze releases the floating seeds of the field thistles.
As I head back along the eastern side of the river I dive deep into a densely wooded area with tiny streams crossing the path. I almost trip over a small polecat – who looks as surprised as I do to see him there!

Its quiet here – the odd rustle in the undergrowth, the call of small birds, the tinkle of water cascading down, the leaves moving in the breeze. I breathe deeply and feel my lungs filling with cool air. The sun is hot on my neck. I feel calm and full of life as I soak up the beauty of nature, in all its forms and am thankful that I have five senses with which to experience such a wonderful place.

However you may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned taste – well, I’ll be honest, the main taste I enjoyed on my walk was the memories of the delicious cinnamon, maple syrup and cranberry French toast I ate for breakfast.

AUDIOBLOG: Anora-Lia Collier and the Wendat people of Canada

Chantal is recording interviews in Canada this week. Here are two interviews with Anora-Lia Collier from the Huron Wendat Museum in Wendake, just outside Quebec.

History of the Wendat people.

The Wendat creation myth.

You can hear more interviews on air and on demand at passionfortheplanet.com

Networking can get you on TV

Appearing on a popular TV show is great bit of PR for any company - the trouble is it’s not always that easy to achieve, and when it does happen it can come from the most unexpected source.

One of our client’s Graham Hill the co-founder of Verbatim, was on “Trust Me I’m A Dealer” last night. The opportunity came about as a result of networking. Over lunch at an NRG event one guest mentions that a TV show is looking for a company to be involved by buying an antique for their reception area.

This could have been as far as it got, but Graham thought up a clever angle – he runs a very modern telephone answering company, so how about an antique phone for the reception area? This juxtaposition of the old and the new is perfect for a visual medium like TV.

But despite this clever angle it still may not have made it to air. This is because so often people sabotage their chance of PR, by unintentionally making it difficult for the progamme producers. They faff around, they demand, they don’t move fast enough and/or they let everyone know how terrified they are - enough to scare off anyone making a TV show. There is really only one rule; make it easy for them. They have plenty of choices of people to work with; if you’re difficult they will simply go elsewhere.

So the moral of the story is that networking can bring you more than business and referrals – it can get you on national TV! All you have to do is make the most of the opportunity and give the journalist what they need.

You can watch Graham in “Trust Me I’m A Dealer” by accessing the BBCiPlayer.

Want to know how to deal with journalists? See here for more details.

Excellent information packaging

Information is power. And it's even more powerful when well presented.

Below, some good videos from Copress, designed for college journalism students, but containing some good tips for journalists everywhere. Thanks to Betatales for the heads-up about these.

A Case for Innovation from CoPress on Vimeo.

The Web-centric newsroom from CoPress on Vimeo.

Investing in Your Staff from CoPress on Vimeo.

FSN is PASSION for the PLANET's award winning news partner, providing global news from bureaus worldwide.

You'll find world news stories, plus analysis from FSN at FSN REPORTERS BLOG .

Perspiring for the Planet

Writing my new book, ‘The High Heeled Guide to Enlightenment’ saw me undertake several remarkable spiritual adventures. All of these were performed in the pursuit of a higher wisdom and deeper spiritual enlightenment. Each experience aided my understanding, and in turn added amusement for my very modern readers. My personal favourite exploit was when I took part in a South American style Sweatlodge on the banks of Lake Windermere. It was an intriguing trip, for I am essentially a modern girl who ardently supports ‘Passion for the Planet’s’ (PFTP) love of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

I drove alone to an empty Scout camp in the middle of nowhere, where I met Matt. Matt was a total stranger to me and was carrying an axe. Matt directed me into the woods, and whilst I knew that wandering into the woods, with a stranger, carrying what amounted to a lethal weapon was foolhardy, off I trotted anyway! Matt, of course, was a gent, however he did make me clear a hole in the ground to put his Grandfathers in! Whilst I did this he gathered several twigs and amazingly fashioned a small tent that would house eight persons, plus a hole in the middle stuffed full of magnificently hot rocks aka ‘Grandfathers’. For those of you afraid of a two-minute stint in the sauna, look away now!

Native Americans have undertaken Sweatlodge rituals for centuries. They are a purifying and challenging example of traditional spiritual pursuits. Not only do they cleanse your soul and test your staying power, they also heighten the senses and bring about closeness to the natural world. For me the four-hour experience was physically and emotionally difficult. With a variety of symptoms ranging between the torturous, to absolute bliss. The hair on my body felt like it would sizzle and melt, whilst the air was thick and unbreathable. I felt I would melt into the ground and veered mentally between joy and panicked desperation. By the end I crawled out of the tent, flesh matted with mud as though I had spent a day in the trenches. However with sweat soaked eyes Lake Windermere sparkled like it were supporting the floatation of a million diamonds. I experienced a true sense of peace, and felt distinctly connected to the planet and all life upon it.

Shamanic people worldwide feel a deep affinity with Pachamama (Mother Earth). They saw nature to be our equal, and believed that humans are just one part of a greater ecosystem. They got it right really. Without being privy to our satellite systems or eco-knowledge, Shamans knew that the abuse of the planet would bring us naught but trouble. They knew it and they truly respected it. Nature to them was a stronger force than any number of intelligent human beings. They courted nature, living in it and loving it. Somewhere along the lines our society moved away from pagan earth-worshipping principles, and we all got greedy. Leading of course to our wasteful, ‘have it all’ consumer culture.

Shamans were the original environmentalists; their simple lives and naturalistic based beliefs could teach us modern humans a great deal. A Sweatlodge is a fabulous way to experience this connection to nature and to help forge a relationship with your natural self. It was good for my soul and in tandem I rediscovered the shamanic part of me that adores the world we live in and the creatures and flora that reside upon it. For anyone with a passion for the planet and a spiritual inclination, no matter how small, perspiring for Pachamama is something I highly recommend!

Sweatlodge undertaken with Continuum Self Development in The Lake District, UK . Read more about Shamanism, Sweatlodges and other alternative spiritualities in Alice Grist’s book, “The High Heeled Guide to Enlightenment”. Alice will be at Graceland’s Yard, Kensall Green on 1st October for her Little London Book Launch. From 18.30 onward.

European Court Puts End to Spring Hunting In Malta

Malta has finally been forced to comply with European bird protection laws.

This follows a landmark ruling last week by the European Court of Justice, which has declared that Malta has been breaching European law by allowing the spring hunting of quail and turtle dove passing through the islands on migration.

When Malta joined the European Union in 2004, it agreed to abide by European law, including those protecting birds.

But, despite this, Malta allowed the islands’ hunters to continue shooting quail and turtle dove during their spring migration – a time when they are most vulnerable as they migrate from Africa.

The Maltese islands are located on a key migration route across the Mediterranean. A recent study analysing bird ringing recoveries in Malta, showed that birds originating from over 36 European countries, including the UK, have a connection with Malta.

In many parts of Europe, including the UK, the turtle dove and quail are declining rapidly. Allowing these species to pass over Malta in spring, in safety, removes a significant threat from these birds – birds that are already struggling for survival for other reasons, including intensive agriculture in Europe.

Following the ruling the Maltese government must now make the spring hunting of quail and turtle dove permanently illegal. However, hunting in autumn can continue for these and a number of other species.

It was only due to the hard work of BirdLife and its UK partner the RSPB that the case was brought to the European Court of Justice. It’s great, among so much bad news for wildlife and biodiversity, to have a good news story.

Images: Denis Cachia and BLM (rspb-images.com)

AUDIOBLOG: Anthony Aurelius

Every Monday, an interview heard on PASSION for the PLANET.

This week, what's the point of exercise? Author and fitness expert

Anthony Aurelius gives his views to Chantal Cooke.

You can hear more interviews on air and on demand at passionfortheplanet.com

PASSION for the PLANET is 7 years old

We launched the radio station at 7pm on 10th September 2002.

Thanks to everyone who has helped, passed on feedback, and listened over the last 7 years. During that time we've broadcast more than 61,000 interviews, with more than 3500 guests, and played more than 2.5 million minutes of the planet's best music.

The first track was "Closer To Free" by the BoDeans. This song was chosen for a variety of reasons:

the up tempo guitar heavy sound

the "whoohoo" at the start

it's the theme from "Party of Five" a TV show probably familiar to our target audience [which featured Matthew Fox, Neve Campbell and Jennifer Love Hewitt]

and its lyrics ...

Everybody wants to live how they wanna live

And everybody wants to love like they wanna love

And everybody wants to be Closer to Free

Everybody wants respect, just a little bit

And everybody needs a chance, once in a while

Everybody wants to be Closer to Free

Everybody one, Everybody two, Everybody free

Everybody needs to touch, You know now and then

And everybody wants a good good friend

Everybody wants to be Closer to Free

Everybody wants to live how they want to live

And everybody wants to love who they want to love

And everybody wants to be Closer to Free

Since we started we've also launched ...

an on demand audio service

a TV station

an interactive WebPlayer

And still to come ...

Chantal's written a book, out in October

a revamped on demand service, with lots more content

additions to the WebPlayer, including links to more information

Plus a variety of new features on air. We'll tell you more soon.

News Blooper & White House Hockey

If you're ever involved in a debate about spelling and grammar, play the video below.

This is what the newsreader says: 'This is BBC World News. I'm Jonathan Charles, kept hidden for almost two decades, and forced to bear children...'

Whereas he meant to say: 'This is BBC World News. I'm Jonathan Charles. Kept hidden for almost two decades, and forced to bear children...'

Quite a difference. So next time someone tells you it doesn't matter if they've added an unnecessary comma, or left a hanging apostrophe, or confused 'its' and 'it's', show them this.

Washington DC is the home of the American political system, but that doesn't mean it's a stuffy, dull city. You can have a lot of sweaty fun in Washington DC while being just a few short feet from the President's doorstep. Check out Pricilla Huff's piece on the street hockey game played on the closed section of Pennsylvania Avenue, right by the White House.

FSN is PASSION for the PLANET's award winning news partner, providing global news from bureaus worldwide.

You'll find more from world news stories, plus analysis from FSN at FSN REPORTERS BLOG.

A sustainable London? We all need to be leaders.

As Londoners, London’s future is something we all have responsibility for and for our future to be sustainable, we all have to take a leadership role.

The London Sustainable Development Commission’s London Leaders programme tackles this head-on. Sustainability requires partnership, it requires innovation, and above all it requires the kind of solutions that cannot be delivered by one organisation alone.

The London Leaders programme brings together sustainability leaders from all walks of life, from chief executives of large organisations, to community workers and faith leaders, to business entrepreneurs and our very own Passion for the Planet founder, Chantal Cooke. Bringing together such diversity of experience is exciting and rewarding and demonstrates that action at every level is crucial if we are to deliver the changes deep enough, and quick enough, to secure a sustainable future.

London Leaders work to inspire and stimulate change, by leading by example and encouraging others to take positive action. Sustainability can be a difficult concept without a face or a project to its name, so over the last two years we have been working to deliver projects that demonstrate, not just talk about sustainability. These aren’t just environmental projects; these are projects that take a holistic, joined-up approach to sustainable development, looking to provide environmental, social and economic benefits.

So what have we achieved so far?

Dusty Gedge, founder of Living Roofs, retrofitted two green roofs in central London, providing a whole string of benefits for the building occupants and beyond – stimulating biodiversity, providing amenity space, and having a positive impact for climate change adaptation and reducing the urban heat island effect. Projects like this have helped to make green roofs an important part of London policy, and part of the city’s leadership role in tackling climate change.

Lutfun Hussain and the Coriander Club at Spitalfields City Farm published the Coriander Club Cookbook, full of tasty Bangladeshi recipes and healthy eating tips, the cookbook forms a vital part of the farm’s community outreach work. (I especially recommend Lutfun’s dahl!)

Earlier this summer, Wayne Hemingway and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, opened KiosKiosK, a creative kiosk outside City Hall designed to provide young entrepreneurs with the opportunity to get their foot on the business ladder. The idea has been a great success so expect to see KiosKiosK near you in the not too distant future.

And later in 2009 the London College of Fashion will be announcing the winners of Fashioning the Future, a student competition delivered in association with the London Leaders. The fashion industry has a massive impact on sustainable development across the supply chain and the life cycle of individual products, and the Centre for Sustainable Fashion is at the forefront of innovation, developing and showcasing new solutions for ethical fashion.

This gives you just a taster, but it does show how sustainability touches every industry and requires all London organisations and Londoners to get involved.

And now you can. The London Leaders programme is currently looking for its London Leaders for 2010.

Each year the London Sustainable Development Commission appoints a new group of Leaders. Whether it's a pan-London business initiative or a small-scale community project, inspirational and practical sustainability action that delivers tangible benefits is the key.

Are you doing something special to make London a better place to live and work now and for the future?

Do you think you could inspire others with your work?

Will stand up and be counted and make your commitment public?

If you are already making extraordinary things happen in London, in our eyes you are already a London Leader.

Join us by applying to be a London Leader and we can help make your sustainability aspirations a reality.

You can find out more on our website or email us.

Bryony MathieLondon Leaders Programme Manager

Why you should feel sorry for travellers that don’t get further than the beach.

“They don't really want to see the world, warts and all – just the beaches, surfers and youth hostels where they are kept safely away from the locals”. That is unfortunately what many people think of gap year students.

This stereotype is encapsulated in the story of two British gap year “travellers” that recently appeared in the media. Shanti Andrews and Rebecca Turner commited insurance fraud in Rio de Janiero, Brazil and were reported to have sobbed their hearts out when sentenced to serve 16 months community service; cleaning favelas, teaching English and reading to children in orphanages.

The horror displayed at having to mingle with the locals has been used by some to back up this stereotype of lazy, middle-class backpackers that set out claiming they’re off to “see the real world” but are actually just avoiding the real world - of work, that is. Rather than getting involved in other cultures it is said their priorities lie with meeting others their age, while drinking alcohol and improving their tans.

However, interactions with native societies are the most captivating and memorable experiences that most young people will have when traveling.

One particular experience which stood out for me was when I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to stay with a family in Armanti, off Lake Titicaca in Peru. The indigenous peoples that live on the island are descendants of the Incas. Before we even set out to the island we were given a basic lesson in the local language Quechua so we could greet the families in their native tongue. When we arrived we met our ‘Mama’ for the night who gave us traditional hats that they had knitted themselves so that they could tell us apart. In return we gave them gifts, mainly consisting of fresh produce from the mainland and colouring pencils for the children (no sweets as there is no access to dental care on the islands).

We were taken to our houses for the night to meet the rest of our families. Our family had two lovely little boys who were running around playing football and the sweetest little girl who was obviously very excited to meet the new guests. We then went to the only football pitch on the island to play a five-a-side match of football against the locals. Needless to say we lost - because of the altitude (obviously it had nothing to do with our lack of stamina). Lake Titicaca is 3,855 metres above sea level, the highest navigable lake in the world, and the opposition doing their best not to giggle at how out of breath we found ourselves!

As it got dark we went home for the dinner that our Mama had cooked for us; a traditional dish of Quinoa soup and rice. This was when we got the chance to talk to our families. Although the only common language was basic Spanish we managed to talk about everything from our lives at homes to our plans for the future. It’s surprising how much we could understand each other without the use of verbal communication. Although the little girl couldn’t follow as much of the conversation she still contributed by singing us a song she had learnt at school. Then our Mama took us outside to show us her garden, which she was obviously very proud of.

After dinner we were dressed in traditional costumes for dancing in the community hall. All the clothes were hand made and we put on a shirt embroidered with colourful flowers, two full skirts and a waistband (which was tied so tightly it felt like a corset), followed by a black shawl to show that we were unmarried. The little girl even plaited our hair so we matched her. We all struggled on our way up the hill to the hall with our tight bands and skirts while our Mama managed much more easily than us, despite being three times our age.

It was definitely worth the walk as the party was so much fun! We spent the whole night dancing with all the villagers while a group of the men played traditional music. We all enjoyed the chance to swirl around in our colourful skirts and learn some of the local dance moves!

The next morning our Mama woke us up with a bowl of hot water to wash with, as there is no running water on the island. We were served pancakes and jam for breakfast with cocoa tea (which is supposed to help with altitude sickness).

This opportunity to learn more about other societies and to actually live it, even if only for a short time is one that is unparalleled and a priveldge to have had. So in reply to the journalist who asked “Why should anyone feel sorry for these spoilt, stupid girls?” when writing about Shanti and Rebecca, I do as they clearly
have no idea what they missed out on.

AUDIOBLOG: Professor Sir David King

Every Monday, an interview heard on PASSION for the PLANET.

This week author & broadcaster Professor Sir David King gives his views on GM crops.

You can hear more interviews on air and on demand at http://www.passionfortheplanet.com/

I don’t just like my allotment – I love it.

40 years to wait for an allotment – that’s what the headlines shouted recently.

In fact, on closer inspection, it’s not entirely true but it is interesting that allotments are in more demand than they have been since the post war years of the late 1940s and 50s.

I am lucky enough to have an allotment at a very well run site called The Paddock. I’ll be honest, for the first couple of years, when I was trying to cope with it on my own, it was really too much. An allotment takes time and energy and the tiny bit of each that I was able to dedicate to my plot meant that come harvest time I was pulling weeds not vegetables.

So about a year ago I asked a friend if she’d like to share it with me –and the difference has been astounding.



I’d always enjoyed working on the plot, but now, with a friend to chat to and to be able to share the successes and failures, I don’t just like it, I love it.

And I am no longer harvesting weeds. Instead we’ve had (and are still having) punnets of raspberries, handfuls of giant courgettes, delicious French beans, onions, cabbages, sweet golden tomatoes, rhubarb and crunchy carrots, with the promise of corn on the cob, pumpkins, beetroot, spinach, and leeks still to come.

Have I saved money? Overall, probably not.

Does the food taste better than supermarket fare? Most definitely yes.

Do I feel I’ve spent my time well? Yes, I’ve loved every minute, even weeding in a downpour. And not much can match the joy of harvesting your own veg and then eating them that night, while they are still super fresh and full of flavour and goodness.

Have I made friends? Yes and by being part of an allotment group I feel part of a community; something that seems to be increasingly difficult in the modern age and especially in a big city like London.

Will I be keeping my allotment next year? A huge and resounding; yes, yes, yes.



So what advice do I have?

1) If you haven’t already got an allotment and it appeals to you – put your name down now, most places do have a waiting list, fortunately it’s not generally 40 years, but be prepared to wait a year to 18 months.

2) Be prepared to work hard. But also be prepared to enjoy fresh air, the sound of birds singing, a connection with the land and strange conversations about blight and pruning and “how come yours are huge and mine are tiny?”

3) Share it with a friend; it’s more fun, less work, the yields tend to be higher, the highs and lows are shared and it can be great planning what to grow together and trying out each other’s favourite fruit and veg.To find out about allotments in your area you’ll need to call your local council. A good book to get you started is “The Essential Allotment Guide”.