By all accounts, UK Aware 09 was a roaring success. Here’s what is being said in the press and in the blogosphere. And don’t forget, we want to hear from you. What did you think of the event? What were your favorite things? Got any suggestions for improvement? Are you planning on coming next year?
If you’re planning on attending UK Aware this weekend and leaving the kids at home, maybe you should reconsider and bring them along.
How do you plan to get to UK Aware this weekend? In the spirit of all that the show stands for, we suggest leaving the car at home and taking public transport. The venue, Olympia Two, is in West London, near the Olympia tube stop, so it will be much easier to get around via public transport anyway. Plus, showing up to UK Aware in a Chelsea tractor would go against everything the show stands for, no? Then again, if you choose to drive a big car, hopefully you will learn how to green other aspects of your life to help offset your car’s carbon emissions.
The symposiums for this year’s UK Aware have just been announced, and I have to say the topics are brilliant and quite relevant to our lives and the times we live in. There will be eight sessions in all, four on Friday and four on Saturday. Each symposium features a panel of some of the brightest lights in London’s green scene, but the discussions are designed to be understandable—you don’t have to know anything about global warming or carbon emissions to enjoy and gain something from these panel discussions.
For only the third time since WWII, the lights at Piccadilly Circus will be turned off on Saturday night, 28 March, at 8:30 p.m. for one hour.
Global economies may be shrinking, but there is still one thing growing during this recession: the UK Aware exhibitor list. Loads of new companies have been added to the ever-growing lot of participants over the last few weeks, including Onyabags, Eco-Camel, Cycle2job, NoMorePost.com, Zaytoun and Eco Hi Solar. If you have no clue what any of these businesses do, then that’s even more reason to come to UK Aware, April 17-18, and find out! It’s shaping up to be a brilliant show, so don’t miss it.
Daisy Green, our favorite online magazine for sustainable style and beauty, has all the latest information on the massive clothes swap taking place at UK Aware this April 17-18. They even have pictures of some of the items already collected for the swap, including the flouncy floral skirt pictured here. To learn more about the Swishing party at UK Aware, check out Daisy Green. And tell your friends!
difference in some way, whether the item is fairtrade, made with recycled materials or supporting a charity. It’s a reminder that where we shop and what companies we choose to support matters and has repercussions far beyond our comprehension. Buying power doesn’t just refer to the amount of sterling in your bank account -- it can also refer to the ability of your purchases to change the world.
Britain has seen a major uptick over the last few years in the number of people riding bicycles. In London, trips by bikes increased by 50 per cent from 2000 to 2005 to 450,000 per day. It’s easy to understand why: Two-wheels aren’t just better for the environment than four, they also help you get in shape, let you sail through traffic jams, and give you that wind-in-your-face feeling of freedom that walking or driving simply can’t muster. And riding a bike sure beats being packed like a canned sardine on the tube.
For anyone out there who still denies that the burning of fossil fuels is causing the earth to warm in dangerous ways, the meeting of scientific minds that took place in Copenhagen this week should convince them of the harsh reality.
The best things come for free, right? We think so. That’s why we’re now giving our blog readers the chance to score free tickets to UK Aware, which is taking place on April 17-18, at London Olympia, in the heart of West London.
You buy organic groceries and use eco-friendly cleaning supplies at home, but do you forget the environment when you’re busy at work? Many people do. A YouGov poll from December shows that three out of four office workers are leaving their eco-efforts at home.
Have you heard about the World Wildlife Fund’s “Earth Hour”? On Saturday 28 March 2009, at 8:30 p.m., people, businesses and iconic buildings around the world will switch off their lights for one hour – WWF’s Earth Hour. The campaign will kickstart WWF’s Global Deal campaign to convince governments to agree on effective action for fighting climate change, leading up to December’s UN climate summit in Copenhagen.
k to be even bigger and better than last year's!
An article in this week’s Economist talks about how electronic books are growing in popularity, and, well, we just have one thing to say about that: Finally! Newspapers and magazines are now widely read online, and have been for some time, but when it comes to books, could the digital revolution really be starting now?
s on the website Green Fairy Godmother. I love this bright, cheerful heart-shaped rag rug, which is made from recycled materials. You'll also find a recycled aluminum, handpainted bowl, which would be perfect as a candy dish or as a place to keep rings and jewelry, and a delightful nibble tray with three tiny spoons. Green Fairy Godmother is a great place online to shop for ethically sourced and environmentally sound gifts. You'll find organic baby clothes, fair trade Indian jewelry boxes, recycled glass tumblers and much, much more. The company will also have a booth set up at UK Aware this year, so stop by to check out their myriad offerings. And make sure to visit them here.
Just announced: This year’s UK Aware will feature a Green Machines Expo, which is on track to be the largest and most diverse collection of green vehicles ever seen under one roof in the U.K.!
Behind every good event, is a snazzy brochure, right? Well, given that UK Aware is an environmental show, the organizers have decided to print the brochure on recycled paper. They recruited the team at Ecologist magazine, who are also exhibiting this year, to oversee its production.
Many people think that being "green" means recycling your old newspapers, turning off the lights and taking public transport. But there are many other things you can do that are environmentally friendly, only when you are in the midst of doing them, the last thing you may be thinking of is how you are helping the environment.
If you're a city dweller like me, then you know living in a fast-paced metropolitan area can certainly be exciting. But you also understand that sometimes you need to get away from it all and breathe some fresh air, enjoy a little green space, have some peace and quiet. One of the exhibitors at UK AWARE this year will show you how you can escape from the city for a weekend or for a long while, but with a catch: You may have to get a little dirty.
Another sobering report on the projected effects of global warming was released this week by top climate researchers from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Switzerland and France. The scientists warn that if greenhouse gases continue rising at the current pace, it will lead to devastating long-term droughts and a sea-level rise that will persist for 1,000 years, no matter how well the world curbs future emissions of carbon dioxide.
If you knew of practical, affordable ways to live a greener lifestyle, would you not adopt them into your everyday life? For example, would you fill the kettle only with the exact amount of water you need and no more? Would you flip your lights off at the mains before you left for holiday? Would you leave the car at home and take the train? Many people may not realize how simple it really is to live a more sustainable lifestyle, or that doing so can even save you sterling. Indeed, it's a win-win situation for both consumers and for the environment!
This is the first post for the 2009 UK AWARE blog! UK AWARE's first show last May in the Barbican (pictured at left) was a huge success. It brought together 80 exhibitors, more than 50 world-class speakers and thousands of interested attendees. This year's event promises to be even bigger and more exciting than last year's. 
