Lights Out for Earth Hour

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.

What’s the occasion? Earth Hour! Organized by the Word Wildlife Federation (WWF), Earth Hour aims to get a billion people around the world to turn off their lights for 60 minutes to support the fight against global warming and send a message to world leaders that the environment should be a top priority.

Pledge to join the movement here, then head to Carluccio’s for a romantic dinner. The Italian café chain will be dimming the interior lights for Earth Hour and serving up its famous fare by the soft glow of candlelight.

Check out this link for more ideas of fun things to do in the dark during Earth Hour.

Greening the UK

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.

Give and Take - Clothes Swap Update

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!

Jewellery With a Heart of Gold

Spring officially starts today, so you know what that means! Mother’s Day is right around the corner. This year, I’m thinking about giving my mom some new jewellery. Perhaps some earrings such as the pair pictured below from my new favorite website: Avasarah.

Avasarah sells some of the most beautiful, unique and contemporary jewellery I’ve seen anywhere, and they do it all with a heart of gold. Every ring, earring, bracelet and necklace available on Avasarah.com will be making a 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.

Fittingly, Avasarah means opportunity in Sanskrit. Avasarah gives designers who are trying to make a difference in the world an opportunity to showcase their work. It creates the opportunity to talk about the bad and the good of the jewellery industry, and it gives us all an opportunity to contribute directly to the betterment of underprivileged communities. To see some of Avasarah’s pieces in person, come to UK Aware on April 17-18. They will be exhibiting there, along with loads of other cool companies.

Pedal Power

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.

But city cycling calls for a certain kind of bicycle – you need a BMX about as much as you need a noisy neighbor. Nope, you need a bike that is extremely practical and comfortable, made to hug city streets, haul your groceries, and stop on a dime.

Enter Really Useful Bikes. The name says it all. These blokes, Mark and Rob, created Really Useful Bikes (www.reallyusefulbikes.co.uk) to bring together the bikes that they think are especially relevant for today. As they note on their website, they make it easy for you to discover a bike that you may never have seen before, but that may be a useful addition to your daily life, whether it’s for carrying you, you and your stuff, your family or your business.

At Really Useful Bikes, you won’t find a bike that will let you do a back flip or ride up a mountain—only sensible, sexy solutions to practical cycling problems. In an urban environment, for instance, you have to make frequent stops. So Mike and Rob offer the Electra Townie, which has “Flat Foot Technology” that allows you to easily put both feet on the ground when you stop, but still allows you to extend your legs to pedal properly. You can also get what is called a “FreeRadicalised” Townie – it’s like a regular Townie but it has this contraption on the back that lets you carry loads of stuff (see pictures).

My favorite bike from Really Useful is the brand-new but über-retro Paper Bicycle (pictured above). A true hipster ride, it has an enclosed chain and mudguards to keep you clean and dry, as well as puncture proof tyres and internal gears, cables and brakes.

Let’s face it: Cars are, like, so 1990’s. Visit Really Useful Bikes here, and let me know your favorite. You can see some of them in person at UK Aware on April 17-18.

Inaction is Inexcusable

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 scientists at the Climate Crisis congress laid out recent observations confirming that the worst-case scenario trajectories (or even worse) are being realized and the climate is moving way beyond the natural patterns of variability in which we have thrived for so long. What’s more, recent observations have shown that societies are highly vulnerable to even slight levels of climate change, with poor nations at particular risk.

One of the key messages from the event is that inaction is inexcusable. Sure, governments everywhere need to step up, but don’t we all? Things are dire: We should each and everyone of us be doing our part to help stop global warming. Find out easy ways you can live a greener lifestyle at UK Aware this April 17-18 in central London. (See previous post for info on how to score free tickets!). You’re probably aware that taking the train, turning the lights off and recycling your rubbish are all ways to be green, but did you know that you can power your flat with wind, buy footballs that are fairtrade, or invest your money in green companies? Find out how at UK Aware!

The Best Things Come for Free

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 don’t want to miss this show – it’s truly the most exciting green lifestyle event for consumers in the U.K. Almost 80 exhibitors are confirmed and the number keeps getting growing! You'll discover all sorts of ways to green your life without putting yourself out, or emptying your pockets for that matter.

So, here’s how to get your free tickets (a £5 value). Just click here and type promo code UA09BLOG in the box. See you there! Oh, and check www.ukaware.com for a full list of exhibitors.