Welcome to the second Green Bath news digest. You may still find you're recieiving it more than once if you're subscribed to several groups, apologies for this - the way to stop it happening is to visit greenbath.org
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The Green Digest is written by Gideon Kibblewhite, let him know if you've seen a story you think we should cover.
BATH ECO DEBATE
A date for your diaries: Churches Together in Bath are organising what promises to be a lively "Bath – an Eco City?" debate at Bath Abbey at 7.30pm on Tuesday 29 April. Speaking about how Bath can follow the example of Transition Towns like Bristol, Totnes and many others will be Joan Ruddock MP, Government Minister on Climate Change, Biodioversity and Waste; Martin Palmer, Director of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation; Mary Colwell, BBC Natural History Producer, and ecological campaigner; Andrew Pendleton, Climate Change Adviser at Christian Aid; and Transition Bristol’s Sarah Pugh.
CHILLY NIGHTS
Only half-joking last week, but patio heaters could indeed now be banned from pubs. Which is a good thing, of course. Brrr!
GORE BLIMEY!
Following in the carbon footsteps of failed US presidential hopeful Al Gore, young movie buck Leonardo DiCaprio has produced a climate change movie. Mikhail Gorbachev and Stephen Hawking are among the many illustrious talking heads in **The 11th Hour**, on general release from 15 February. Judging from the trailer, it looks like a good old-fashioned tin rattler.
THIS IDEA'S GOT LEGS
First it was ships with kites, now it's ships with…
TALKING RUBBISH
Bath and North East Somerset Council has binned the idea of incineration as a way of reducing the amount of rubbish sent to landfill. The Conservative-led council must now find an alternative way of working towards Zero Waste. While we're waiting for that to happen, sit back and enjoy a splendid little spat between the Tories and Lib Dems over whether the announcement represents a "u-turn" or not.
COMPOST PLANS
Council chiefs are planning to bring in a collection system where waste that can be recycled and rubbish that needs to go to landfill is collected on the same day. This is great, of course – but the fact the food waste collections will also be introduced is even more welcome news. Mind you, (sniff!) what will the poor little gulls eat?
FAIR FARES
Sign the petition for an improved, subsidised school bus service here. The "subsidised" bit is unlikely to ever become council policy on grounds of expense, but surely it can be improved.
FAIR MATES
First there was "Fairtrade Man". Now there is…
GENERATION GREEN
Well done to a bunch of young environmentalists from Wiltshire who have netted £7,000 from the British Council to spread the word about climate change.
NO GREEN STOCK
Global warming ranks far down the concerns of the world's biggest companies, a 'startling' survey has revealed. This comes despite world politicians' hopes that the corporations will somehow pioneer us out of the mess. Next they'll be telling us that McDonalds don't have immediate plans to go vegetarian.
GREEN HUMOUR
Comedian Marcus Brigstock writes about the trials and joys of making his house eco friendly.
MEDIA FRIENDLY
Did you know that the wind-up radio bloke Trevor Baylis has now come up with an Eco Media Player? Here's a useful review…
JOLLY GOOD SHOW
It's good to see that the "Worst" Great Western protests got plenty of publicity on Monday. In fact TV comedian Dom Joly even filmed at the demo at Bath Spa for his new show.
SHADES OF GREEN
Bath has its own "green fuel" company (www.greenfuel.org.uk), but how green is this technology really? Check out the latest arguments.
BLAIR CLIMATE CASH
Saint Tony Blair has taken his post-prime ministerial earnings to more than £7m after landing a job
advising a Swiss financial firm on climate change. Perhaps his first bit of advice to them should be this: "Don't expect politicians to do anything about it."
The Bath Green Digest is published by greenbath.org and is supported by Faragher Jones, the local ethical publisher.
