Green Resolutions for 2008 !

10:35pm Thursday 3rd January 2008

Wow-it's that time of year again! New Year! New beginnings and new resolutions to make - and keep? I have just heard that women make more resolutions than men but it's the men who are more likely to stick it out and succeed! I like a challenge so am happy to throw down the gauntlet, but what is it to be this year? Obviously something green!

Many environmental campaigners and scientists have seen the green movement grow during 2007 and most have tipped 2008 as being the beginning of the Ecological Age. What an exciting prospect -how amazing to potentially be involved in a completely new approach to the way we run our lives and our societies. I am thrilled to be part of this and feel that we have real potential here to think outside some boxes and challenge the current status quo -I can't wait and given the disappointing result to the Bali Conference perhaps we shouldn't!

Over the last few years as a family, we have introduced many changes that are now so embedded in routine we don't think about them. It has been easy because we deliberately made sure we took it at a pace that suited us -too much at once was a bit overwhelming and doesn't last!

The obvious changes made include -taking cloth bags to the shops -walking to school -cycling to town or taking the bus -no more flying (after our successful train trip to Luxembourg!) -composting all our peelings and kitchen waste -recycling as much as possible -sending e-cards -changing to a green energy provider (we use Good Energy but I hear Ecotricity is also good) -changing to green insurers -not having a dryer (admittedly more laziness than being proactive -it broke in April and I didn't bother to do anything about it!) -switching off my second freezer which is still in the shed -putting HIPPOs in the toilet cistern to save water- (if it's yellow let it mellow!) -fitting low energy light bulbs -using charity shops and EBay (ok so not exactly Camden chic but I still find some great stuff!) -planting edibles in the garden rather than only flowers -ditching sanitary products for the Mooncup (I could rave on about this amazing product -but another time!) -buying organic and fair trade -using a farmer's fruit and veg box scheme -having a milkman.

The list could go on and there are plenty of new things I would like to try this year including getting a wormery.

But the resolution we have agreed on is to sell my shiny black car! It sounds a bit drastic -and I am still enjoying the look of horror I get when I tell people, but I have hardly used it since September and it is just costing me money to have it outside the house -so with a deep breath I will be waving goodbye to Jezebel' when she returns to the VW garage on Saturday!

The Ecologist magazine surveyed people with the question "do you believe one person can make a difference?"

74% said YES!

So if those people all chose to do something green this year, and we applied the maths to Warrington's population, that's 148 000 people making a difference. Apply it to the UK and we're looking at 44 834 380! That's Power to the People!

So go on give it a go, however much you think you can do and best of luck!

Have a very happy and healthy 2008 and let's make this a year to remember!

PS) Does anybody want to buy a freezer?!