Adessi 10:10 - Tell Mexico not to make the same mistakes...

Yesterday, Monday 29th November, global climate talks started in Cancun, Mexico and Friends of the Earth are urging us to send a clear message to the leader of the talks not to repeat the mistakes made in Copenhagen.

The last round of talks in Copenhagen attracted over 100 world leaders to discuss global climate change, however, only 25 are expected to attened the talks over the next two weeks as it is being described as a 'stepping stone' to a global deal, and not a situation where heads of state must be present. This may not come as a surprise to anyone who remembers the disappointing end to the talks in Copenhagen, where many countries dismissed the agreed climate change deal. The talks in Cancun are expected to cover funds, approaches to preserve rainforests and formalise targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are being led by Patricia Espinosa, Mexico’s Foreign Minister.

Friends of the Earth are encouraging us to contact Minister Espinosa to express our concerns that Cancun should be productive, fair and open, and have offered a draft message on their website for us to send to the Minister.

This is something Jude has been encouraging us all to do here at Adessi as it is very important that these global climate change talks are successful. It's hard to think about global warming while it's snowing outside across most of the UK, but (as Jude taught us this morning) the warmer climate will actually work to cool the UK down as the polar ice caps will melt into gulf stream, and the gulf stream from the Caribbean keeps our isle warm.

So, if you're thinking about climate change and what should be done to combat it then maybe start by sending a message to Patricia Espinosa, and hopefully the Cancun climate talks will be a success.

Adessi 10:10 - The Fruits of Our Labours

The humble carrot: Bugs Bunny went crazy for them (I knew I should have turned left at Albuquerque), legend has it they're amazing for your eyesight, and they go brilliantly with a touch of coriander.

We all tried growing our own vegetables as part of our 10:10 launch, and, if we're honest, it didn't go particularly well - after an encouraging start, the fly infestation of summer 2010 felt like a plague of biblical proportions and it was either us or the plants.

Not all was lost, though: some plants were transferred to a cardboard box outside and, against all odds, continued growing. They even survived the attentions of a wascally wabbit I spotted one evening in the car park.

The weather ain't getting any better, so Alex D decided to dig through the foot of snow covering the plants - and found this little guy:













Ok, it may look feeble, but this baby carrot (ok, 'orange root' would be more accurate) has survived some of the heaviest snowfalls I've ever seen. Finding him felt like that bit in Wall-E when they realise Earth may be habitable after all.

A humble carrot indeed.

Steve Maybury

Adessi 10:10 - Lighter Later Update

I went to see my local MP (Stuart Andrew) last week to discuss the Lighter Later campaign and ask him to vote for the Daylight Savings Bill.  However, he wont be in Parliament on the day that the bill is being heard so wont be able to vote on it, unfortunately. 

In my opinion it seemed that his views on the subject were a little misguided to me but he said he agreed in principle for a trial if it gets to the next stage of voting.  I left him some additional information from the handy lobbying kit from 10:10 which can be downloaded here. I’d urge everyone to read the lobby kit, it only takes 2 minutes and is really interesting.  

Who else is going to go and see their MP?  

Give it a try - it will only take you ten minutes and you could be part of something really important.

Jude

That’s not my name

So the long wait is over and we finally have a regular visitor to our Newcastle office’s birdfeeder, in the form of a little blue tit who has already visited at least four times today, but we desperately need a name for him/her.

All name suggestions are welcome so please post them below.

Cheers,

Alex D

Actual photos of our visiting blue tit:

Adessi 10:10 - We have blue tits!

No, I'm not referring to the temperature in the Newcastle office as we continue to make sure the heating is on as little as possible...

In fact, we're finally getting visitors to our bird feeder, six months after I first attached it to our first floor window.

This isn't going to reduce our carbon footprint, I realise, but I was keen to help Adessi get back to nature slightly. Our office isn't just surrounded by a railway line, a cement works and a tyre pile - the area is also teeming with wildlife.

I've seen rabbits in our car park, and the snow last winter revealed fox tracks, while there is loads of birdlife - in the past few months I've seen blue tits, long-tailed tits, goldfinches, and this morning, a wren.

They're obviously growing desperate as the temperature drops and are now frequently visiting the feeder. It's a cute, feathery, close-to-home reminder of one of the many reasons we really ought to be doing our bit to help the planet.

Adessi 10:10 - Do you reuse your plastic bags?

Reusing plastic bags is one of the simplest ways to be 'greener' and now most supermarkets will make you ask for their normal disposable bags and encourage you to buy a 'bag for life'.

From http://www.packagingnews.co.uk

Now Sainsburys has gone one step further to illustrate how plastic bags can be reused with a marketing campaign led by a dress made completely out of recycled Sainsburys bags. The flamenco style dress designed by Adnan Bayyat is part of a campaign to encourage shoppers to reuse bags during the busy holiday season.

As well as the dress, Sainsburys have been offering free 'bags for life' and giving away double nectar points for those who reuse bags.Would these incentives encourage you to reuse bags if you don't already? Do you find it difficult to remember your bags like I do?

I think this is a great idea, and it's definitely encouraged people to talk about the use of plastic bags. Even though I'll admit I often forget to take recycled bags with me to the supermarket I completely agree that you should pay for them (like in WHSmiths) or have to ask for them (like in Asda), they should not just be there waiting to be used.

What do you think?

Laura

Adessi 10:10 - A solution to our bottled water dilemma!

I know it has been mentioned a few times on this blog before about the consumption of bottled water at Adessi opposed to good old tap water.

There are many reasons for people justifying buying bottled water rather than turning the tap: It’s convenient, it tastes better, it’s cleaner…

There is now a product called the ‘bobble’ sold at Harvey Nichols that removes all these excuses - http://www.harveynichols.com/food-wine/categories/homeware-store/lifestyle/s338232-water-bottle-red.html

Now I know it’s only a water bottle BUT it’s pretty and most importantly can help reduce your carbon footprint . The bobble is made from recycled plastic and has a specially designed filter to remove impurities and contaminants from tap water as you drink giving you that bottled water taste.

So no more excuses! 

Sally

Adessi 10:10 - Our September Readings

Well done Adessi Leeds and Newcastle! Excellent news that we are well on target in all areas! 

Leeds’ Gas readings for July and August were just estimations but the September reading is an actual reading and it shows that we’ve beaten the monthly target.

Our Average monthly targets are as follows:

Electricity (Total): 2441 KwH

Electricity (Newcastle): 1821 KwH

Electricity (Leeds): 0619 KwH

Gas (Leeds): 1172 KwH

And the figures from September are:

Electricity (Total): 

September 2010: 2286 KwH

Electricity (Newcastle)          
September 2010: 1716 KwH

         

Electricity (Leeds)                 
September 2010: 0570 KwH 

        

Gas (Leeds)                             
September 2010: 0880 KwH         

Well done Adessi!

Debs