People in central London and other major cities can now benefit from a new service that helps them map out ‘fresh-air routes’ that avoid pollution areas.

The online walking route planner, www.walkit.com, has worked with the City of London Corporation and seven London boroughs to gather information for their website to help people avoid the Capital’s more polluted streets.

The new service will benefit everyone, but will be particularly helpful to people who suffer from respiratory and cardiac conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.  read more »

It's Wednesday, my favourite day of the week - radio day.

I had lots of tongue in cheeky fun today with a phone-in about our worst eco-sins!

Listeners were invited to call me, anonymously of course, with their most awful eco-sin and at one point, it turned into a confession booth on the airwaves!

There were things like....

"Occasionally, I'll go for a McDonalds and when I'm feeling desperate, a KFC!"

and  read more »

It's official. 

The Co-Op have released a statement with a startling and well received claim following a Food Ethical Policy consultation, from which Ethical Trading was identified as the number one priority by 27% of members.

They say:-

In response, from February 2008 The Co-operative will become the first UK retailer to convert its entire own-brand hot beverage range (worth over £16m) to Fairtrade.

What absolutely fantastic and ground-breakingly optimistic news!  read more »

I had an email plop into my box a short time ago and despite the fact that I'm fighting an urge to get my chicken casserole on the hob for tonight's tea, I thought I'd let you know what it said first!

Ehem.

"This spring we (or rather 'they', as in the people at glossy read 'She Magazine') are launching the first-ever SHE Inspiring Women Awards 2008 and we would like you to nominate your own choices.

They could be selfless, unassuming mothers who bring so much to their
local communities or well-known entrepreneurs who've carved a firm
path to career success.  read more »

The average British family now spends £456 a week, according to the Annual Report on the Expenditure and Food Survey, reports the BBC today.

It is the 50th outing of this report and there is a special section dedicated to comparing weekly outlay from today, with 50 years ago.

It seems we are spending a greater proportion of our earnings on mortgages or rent and much less on food, than was the case in previous generations.  (No surprises there then!)

Based on the original FES expenditure classification, housing (including mortgage interest payments and rent) is now the single largest item accounting for 19 per cent of spending. In 1957, housing accounted for just 9 per cent.  read more »

I came across the 3'R's video on YouTube recently and just had to share it with you.

It's a track on Jack's album, 'Curious George' which was actually a soundtrack. 

Here's a little background for your reading pleasure.

* "Faced with the task of giving a voice to a central character that does not speak, Universal Pictures turned to Jack Johnson to craft songs that could provide a voice for Curious George. As a new father, it gave him the opportunity to make an album for both parents and children.  read more »

By David 25/01/08

Acquired from the rich resource of EcoTravelling but I've added links to the recommended places to make it easier :o)

Families lead the way on eco-holidays  read more »

What is an ethical, eco-celebrity?

Good question.

I'd say it's a person in the public eye who uses their position of influence to help spread the good, green word.

A few instantly spring to mind - Sting, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Colin Firth, across the pond, there's Julia Roberts, Robert Redford....the list goes on and on (thankfully)...

So I've decided to make it a mission this year to contact a few to find out what pearls of wisdom they have on ways we can be kind to our planet and also to probe them for 'realistic' tips to help us all slow down and green up.  read more »

If you find yourself at a loose end on Monday morning (20th Jan), and in need of a little inspiration, you might like to tune into a show I'm on at BBC Somerset.

It's the Jo Phillips Morning Show, on from 9.00am to 10.00am and I'll be there with a couple of other panelists, debating the news stories of the day. 

I always manage to turn the subject around to simple, green living and mention some of my favourite websites and people who are helping elevate green awareness and promote positive change.  read more »

For some time now, I have been encouraging downshifters from around to world to unite on my Frappr Map!

"What on earth is that?" I hear you cry - well, take a look at the map here or by clicking the picture on the right and you'll see!

(It's such an inspirational collective of faces and comments, from some of the most far flung corners of our beautiful planet, that it's being considered for an award.)
 read more »