http://www.civilizednation.com/news/ Environmentally Sustainable and Socially Responsible Practices en-us http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_40.shtml#2030 Being eco-friendly is such a big concern for consumers these days that almost all new supermarket initiatives seem to be environmentally based. In the last three weeks, for example, everything from coconuts to carrier bags has been given the green treatment. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/article_2033.shtml Gershow Recycling has become the first company to put to use a new, environmentally friendly auto scrap recycling machine that cuts emissions, and saves energy by recycling what would otherwise become waste. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_43.shtml#2021 Pope Benedict XVI is to become the first pontiff to harness solar power to provide energy for the Vatican, engineers say. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/article_2024.shtml The Swedish furnishing giant Ikea announced plans yesterday to give all of its 9,600 employees in the U.K. a six-pack of compact fluorescent light bulbs as part of its goal to green its workforce. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_40.shtml#2019 The French postal service, La Poste, plans to order 10,000 electric delivery vehicles, which it says are far more economical than normal cars or vans. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_40.shtml#2012 The historic English cathedral city of Canterbury has joined the revolution to better the lot of Third World peasants. The district and the city of Canterbury was designated in March of last year as a fair-trade district, making it one of 230 towns in Britain that have obtained the seal in the last seven years, with 2 500 fair-trade goods on the market. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_40.shtml#2007 Chris Goodwins art has won fans in the US capital, Washington DC. His art consists of encasing bits of trash in plastic spheres and selling them from gumball machines for 25 cents (13 pence) each. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/article_2003.shtml On March 26, Universal Music TV released Rhythms Del Mundo, a new album which fuses the hot Cuban sounds of Rhythms del Mundo featuring musicians from Buena Vista Social Club™ in collaboration with some of the most politically active bands around the world. To keep in line with the environmental stance of the project, the album packaging is 100% bio-degradable and recyclable. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_40.shtml#1995 Founders Kate Moore and Cat Pearson worked on the principle that people who do home decorating usually have spare paint lying around which never gets used and eventually has to be thrown away. They got the recycling idea while volunteers on a local regeneration project and approached Business Link West Yorkshire for help. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_40.shtml#1989 What links a pioneering organic farmer in Somerset, the Ethical Fashion Forum, Marks & Spencer, the UK Treasury, the International Labour Organisation and the European Academy for Business in Society? The answer is they are all members of the Roundtable in Sustainable Enterprise, which is meeting at the Houses of Parliament in London between January and June. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_39.shtml#1983 Somerset County Council has launched a new campaign - Somerset Schools Energy Action - to help cut energy waste and improve energy efficiency in schools across the county. The schools will receive training and information on how to obtain Government funding for renewable energy initiatives, such as solar or wind power. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_39.shtml#1979 Organised by the Community Recycling Network for Scotland (CRNS), the More than Recycling Awards winners will be announced on 14 March in Perth. The awards are in three categories - CRNS member of the year, innovation and partnership with a local authority. Finalists had to demonstrate financial sustainability and social benefits. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_39.shtml#1977 The Sustainable Learning website, which is funded by DfES and managed by BRE, helps schools to comply with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) which comes into force in during 2008. From that date on, all schools in England will have to measure the amount of energy they consume each year and rate themselves accordingly on a scale of A - G. They will also have to display a certificate showing this rating. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/article_1975.shtml Lack of incentive and leadership from bosses is causing UK employees to leave their environmental conscience at home, leading to higher energy bills and emissions by companies, according to independent research commissioned by Logicalis. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_40.shtml#1970 The laptop has been developed to be as low cost, durable and as simple to use as possible. The eventual aim is to sell the machine to developing countries for $100 but the current cost of the machine is about $150. The first countries to sign up to buying the machine, which is officially dubbed XO, include Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Nigeria, Libya, Pakistan and Thailand. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_43.shtml#1968 It is thought to be the single biggest commitment to installing solar panels by a UK housing group. The installation of the first 50 solar panels will take place in Summer 2007 at McCutcheon Court – a flagship regeneration scheme in Walker Riverside, Newcastle. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_40.shtml#1960 Fast food giant McDonalds announced on Monday that it would sell only eco-friendly coffee at its 1,200 restaurants in the United Kingdom and Ireland. http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_41.shtml#1964 The increasing popularity of microrenewables has been demonstrated in Birmingham with plans being unveiled this week to turn the Summerfield area in Edgbaston into an eco-village. Over 300 homes in the neighbourhood will be fitted with solar panels and wind turbines by Family Housing Association in partnership with the city council and helped by funding from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, the Green Building Press reports.
http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_41.shtml#1965 42 countries, 17 languages and over 200 departures and destinations mark the proud balance of the European wide carpooling website ride4cents.org, which has accomplished all of this within its first year of existence.
http://www.civilizednation.com/news/cat_index_39.shtml#1958 As part of a series on young environmentalists in the BBCs Generation Next season, Patrick Jackson in Almere, near Amsterdam, meets school kids making good on Kyoto by betting their government they can save more energy.