BioZet washing powder...

A little while ago, I was sent a sample of BioZet washing powder to review (thanks, Karina!). It’s made to suit grey-water systems, since it’s low in sodium and phosphorus. Karina also sent me some info about grey-water, which was handy since I didn’t know much about it before. I gave the BioZet a go this weekend, doing two loads of laundry: one of mine, and one of Dave’s. Well, Dave did his own,...

National Vegetarian Week...

Starting next Monday, 29th September, it’s National Vegetarian Week. This is an event put on by the Australian Vegetarian Society to promote the benefits of plant-based diets and encourage Australians to lower their meat intake. NewsPoll shows that 7 out of 10 Australians already eat vegetarian meals sometimes, so this is a good chance to try a few new recipes and find out how eating less meat can help the environment. Eating...

Quick bit of news...

Just thought I’d mention another project I’m working on now: I’m blogging for G Magazine! Each month G Magazine has an eco-challenge for all their readers: things like not using takeaway coffee cups or bottled water. They’ve asked me to write about how I’m going with the challenge a couple of times a week. I’ll still be posting here twice a week, but if you want to join in the G Challenge,...

Wake Up, Freak Out - then Get a Grip...

I’ve just watched a really good short film (11 minutes) online, that explains the concept of tipping points in relation to climate change. It’s called Wake Up, Freak Out, Then Get a Grip - the site has the film, references to the science that backs it up, and a statement from the film-maker about his goals. It’s made by Leo Murray, with the support of the Royal College of Art in the UK. It first explains...

Aim higher, Australia...

Ok, so last week Professer Garnaut suggested that since the rest of the world wasn’t going to adopt tough emissions standards, neither should we. I’ve been pretty annoyed by this: I can’t stand apathy or the “can’t win, don’t try” attitude. So here’s a list of the different campaigns I’ve found about climate change. I haven’t found any that are specifically related...

Garnaut says “Can’t win, don’t t...

Prof. Ross Garnaut has finally announced his recommendations for the amount of emissions Australia should cut over the next decade - and it’s pretty depressing stuff. He has recommended a target of 10% cuts by 2020, with deeper cuts to come later. Given that the IPCC and respected climate scientist James Hanson argue that we’ve got less than a decade to prevent the worst of climate change, this looks pathetic....

Seems a bit fishy?...

Recently I bought a copy of Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide from the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Julian Lee mentioned it in his book How Good Are You (reviewed by me in March), going into details about the problems with fisheries in Australia and around the world. Over 75% of the world’s fisheries are overfished - that is, when there aren’t enough fish left to support a viable population,...

Wall-E...

Yesterday afternoon I went to a preview screening of Wall-E, the latest Pixar film. I really enjoyed it and think it’ll be a big hit here in Australia. Much has been made about it’s environmental message, but it’s also funny and sweet, a simple tale simply told. The story is about the last robot left on Earth, Wall-E. He was part of a crew of similar robots intended to clean up all the rubbish created...