Thinking back to when I first heard about the concept of carbon offsetting, I remember thinking that while it seemed like a lovely idea to absolve your eco sins by adding some scenic foliage to the world, it all seemed a bit too good to be true. I wanted to believe, but it wasn't long before the doubts started to be expressed by those with more of a grasp on the science, I knew it was only a matter of time before carbon offsetting began to sound at best quaint, and at worst, crazy.
A story in the Guardian's Ethical Living Blog gives even more reasons to be sceptical about carbon offsetting, and frankly, I'm sold. But am I being defeatist? Let me know your views on carbon offsetting in by voting in the poll below.
When we compiled our list of celebs with false claims to greenness, we may have forgotten one of the worst offenders: the blonde bombshell known as Barbie.
Like many image conscious figures, Barbie has tried to woo the green crowd by rebranding herself as an eco-warrior; in this case specially for Earth Day. Mattel created a 'biodegradable Barbie' to mark the occasion, but failed to address its epic scale use of plastic and non-recyclable packaging in all other products. Green bloggers were not impressed!
It's that time of year again! Wherever you go, the sound of knitting needles whipping up tiny little hats can be heard, as Innocent call upon the crafting public to help them keep elderly people warm this winter.
Last year, Innocent raised over £200,000 for Age Concern through sales of its '50p to charity' bottles sold in the run up to Christmas. And this year wants to do even better.
I wish I could rekindle my teenaged obsession with apples: I used to try and eat a different variety every week, chomping my way through Granny Smiths, Jonagolds, Coxes and the occasional Pink Lady. These days, I've a bit of a sweeter tooth and prefer to eat my fruit the unhealthy way, so I'm looking forward to apple season with an eye for interesting ways to eat this fabulous homegrown fruit. Discovery apples are the first to come into season this week, and are well worth a try.
Do you have any suggestions for interesting apple recipes? If so, please send me your tips.
I've recently got into the habit of sharing my own daily joys and mishaps over on Twitter, and decided it was time that hippyshopper got a look-in. There's always some new green activity or product I'm trying out that I'd love to share with you guys in a real-time basis, so from now on, Twitter will be the place to chart my progress to full eco-warrior status (dream on!)
Go here to sign up for my updates: first to add me wins a copy of Anna Shepard's How Green Are My Wellies?
I was really charmed to hear about the climate change activists who staged what could be the tiniest protest in history: at the replica of Kingsnorth's coal-fired power station at Legoland, Windsor. The one-inch tall protesters occupied the tower (which is confusingly placed between the park's models of Big Ben and Canary) earlier in the week, unveiling a 'Stop Climate Change' banner down the tower to protest the planned new coal plant at Kingsnorth in Kent.
Being made of Lego, none of the protesters were available for comment...
A lot of famous types seem to be embracing two-wheeled transport at the moment: first it was Tory MPs and now, Hollywood seems to be getting the bike bug.
Cycling is fun, it's good for the environment and it's great exercise, but best of all, there are as many ways to cycle as there are celebs: some go for a rough-and-ready BMX while others prefer a smart touring bike complete with designer panniers. Others still take the practical approach with a folding-bike, and don't even get me started on the helmet debate...
Click on Paris's pink dream machine to find out more about stars' cycling styles
Thinking back to when I first heard about the concept of carbon offsetting, I remember thinking that while it seemed like a lovely idea to absolve your eco sins by adding some scenic foliage to the world, it all seemed a bit too good to be true. I wanted to believe, but it wasn't long before the doubts started to be expressed by those with more of a grasp on the science, I knew it was only a matter of time before carbon offsetting began to sound at best quaint, and at worst, crazy.
digg this | del.icio.us this
| 
Stumble It!
