Proof, if it were still needed, that Global Warming does exist!
The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. ...

Mark Twain: 19th century US author and humourist.

3rd - 17th July: Oxfam Bookfest in Chiswick, West London.

Wednesday 14th July: Facilitation Training Day should give "anyone" the confidence to be a good facilitator, and leave them with the confidence to develop.

Man Made Climate Change. How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic: Responses to the most common skeptical arguments on global warming.

Here is a complete listing of the articles in "How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic," a series by Coby Beck containing responses to the most common skeptical arguments on global warming.

Non-Profit Making and Public Sector Organisations are offered a free listing for 6 months by the Press Release Service called 24dash.com .

(US) Campaign for a Commercially Free Childhood.

Seedballs, were recently "invented" in Japan!

St. Mary Le Bow Church in Cheapside, London EC2V 6AU

an attractive area of Central London, was one of the first Wren Churches built after the 1666 Great Fire of London. St. Mary's sister church is Trinity Wall Street, known as the mother church of the Episcopal Church in New York.

The church of St. Mary Le Bow is regularly used as a centre for community activities, including lunch time and evening concerts. e.mail matthewpower@stmarylebow.org.uk to be on the free mailing list.

Every year the church of St. Mary's is the host for lunchtime Public Debates on Fair Trade and 9 lunchtime Public Debates on the Environment.

"In everyone's life, at some time, his or her inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit". Albert Schweitzer, philosopher; medical doctor and pioneer.

Albert Schweitzer's friends have set up a website to keep his memory alive.

A contemporary of Albert Schweitzer's, Rudolf Steiner, is now best known for his Rudolf Steiner's achievements is being known 'father' of one of biodynamic farming, one of the fastest growing environmental movements.

Copenhagen, December 2009: Marly Winkler, President of The Vegetarian Society of Brazil in a video produced by The (UK) Guardian newspaper. Other video interviews include Dr. RK Pachauri and Dr. Vandana Shiva.

Dr R.K. Pachauri is head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, and a vegetarian.

Marine Stewardship Council, the MSC, is an independent, global, non-profit orgaqnisation that promotes sustainable fishing practices.

Campaign for the Abolition of Food Waste, supported by the UK government.

www.stopclimatechaos.org, like www.makepovertyhistory.org aims to increase political pressure on world leaders. Supporters include Friends of the Earth; Greenpeace; WWF; the Woodland Trust and the Wildlife Trusts; CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Tearfund and the (British) Women's Institute.

Water, and the politics of water, are discussed above.

The Lost Lakes of Bangalore is a video project to document Bangalore’s many lakes that have vanished as a result of unplanned urbanization and growth. As part of this project India Water Portal organised a contest to document this aspect of Bangalore's history. They received over 40 videos.

The winning entries are: General Category: "Err- bane" Truth - Dharmambudi Tank by Nishikant Ratnakar and Badekkila Pradeep.

Student Category:
Doddabommasandra Lake of Vidyaranyapura by C.M Ahamad Sha and G.N Ganesh Kathare from Kannada University.

Mathikere - The Resurrection by Mohan Krishna, S.S. Nandan, R.K. Nayana, Nishith Bolar and Nithin M Thomas.

The India Water Portal can be followed on Facebook, Twitter and other social media.

World Desertification and Drought Day.

Please support The Bushmen of the Kalahari.

The (US) Wilderness Society was founded in 1935.

The Wilderness Society (Australia).

Trees Capture Carbon - It's Official. The Great Carbon Lock Up. Follow this Woodland Trust campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

Trees for Streets charity calls for more tree-lined streets.

The Great British Refurb 2010 Campaign.

Lives of the Trees by Diana Wells, published 16th March 2010.

World Forestry Day.

World Forestry Day is celebrated around the world usually! on 21 March, the day of the autumn equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. It commemorates the contribution and value of forests and forestry to the community.

Batik designs from Batik Cards.net

Tree-orientated charities:

Tree Aid

is the UK's only forestry-focused development charity. It provides funds and on-the-ground training and support to local organisations in the Sahel. Tree Aid works where people need trees most., such as in the poorest villages in Burkina Faso where the desert is noticeably encroaching southwards year on year.

This is where we source our batiks sold on the Fair Trade page.

Tree Aid also helps in Ethiopia; in Northern Ghana, where we ask you to recycle any unwanted spectacles to (see below): and in Mali where 90% of the population depend on trees for their basic survival needs.

Tree Aid is part of the famous umbrella organisation "Make Poverty History".

The Woodland Trust Recycling Appeal encourages the re-use of printer cartridges to benefit the environemnt, and help stop the destruction of Ancient Woodlands within the British Isles.

Twentieth Annual E. F. Schumacher Lecture

was given by Marie Cirillo of the Woodland Community Land Trust, and friend of The Meeting Point. Contact her at
281 Roses Creek Road, Clairfield, TN, 37715, USA: tel + 1(423) 784-6832.
The pamphlet of this talk can be bought from the E. F. Schumacher Society, MA 01230, USA: tel + 1(413) 528-1737.

Oxfam at Brogdale, Kent is well worth a day out!

The Alphabet of the Trees

is edited by Christian McEwen and Mark Statman, and published by the Teachers and Writers Collaborative (TWC), 5, Union Square West, New York, NY 10003-3306, USA.
ISBN: 0-915924-63-3 (alkaline paper).

Teachers and Writers Collaborative (TWC) is affiliated to NAWE, the UK-based National Association of Writers in Education. The Teachers and Writers Collaborative was founded in 1967 by a group of writers and educators who believed that writers could make a unique contribution to the development of education.

Jacyntha Crawley is a member of NAWE.

On 26th April 2009 The Highlights Foundation for aspiring authors, organised a Workshop for Nature Writers. After 26th the helpful notes will remain linked.

Inspired Times, the quarterly 'Alternative and Positive Lifestyles' magazine publicises the many positive things "out there" and encourage people to become more community minded and thoughtful. Includes a holistic health and community projects section.

Scientists Turn Trees into Carbon Banks.

Batik designs from Batik Cards.net

The World Land Trust

This British based charity will sell you a genuine acre of rainforest. One acre might not sound much - but hundreds of thousands of acres soon make up a forest!

Become a Land Guardian locally, even in London!

Natural, Functional, and Restored Wetlands Conserve Precious Water.

One Review of American Rust, a contemporary novel by Philipp Meyer.
Have you considered raising your voice too?

Light Pollution and other Environmental News.

At night the inhabitants of ancient woodlands expected to see light from the stars. Now, if you live in a large town or a city you are almost unaware that the stars are there! We have just got used to light pollution, and this cuts us adrift from the 'natural world'. Light pollution is bad for health, and a waste of resources.

A friend of Jacyntha's is prominent in The Campaign for Dark Skies, so prominent in fact that without him the campaign might not have happened. Members of The Campaign for Dark Skies do not expect you to walk around in the dark, but they do try, through sensible planning and good design, to promote the concept that we should ONLY use the correct amount of light, and that it should be directed when and where it is needed! Suitable suggested products are listed on the The Campaign for Dark Skies's website.

Too much light when we are trying to sleep disturbs our sleep patterns, and adds to our stress levels: see the Research on Melatonin on Research Page of The London Biorhythm Company. Too much light at night effect the levels of melatonin in our body, and this is a bad thing! Some have even linked too much light at night to certain pre-cancerous states.

The Campaign for Dark Skies is supported by both the Campaign for Rural England, the CPRE, and the British Astronomical Society.

Numerous Links to Energy Efficient Projects within the US.

Podcasts on Energy Inputs in the Food System. Dr David Pimentel of Cornell University is interviewed by Louisa Dell'Amico on topics related to his paper: Reducing Energy Inputs in the US Food System.

November 2009: Charging points for electric cars piloted at Sainsburys
in Chiswick, West London.

16th February 2010: 1,200 bananas sold every minute leads Sainsburys to claims it is now the world's largest retailer of Fairtrade products. In the UK almost one in every four pounds spent on Fairtrade is spent at Sainsburys.

Celebs Get Behind Campaign to Save Bluefin Tuna from extinction.

Don't Eat the Planet" a 6 1/2 minute musical video from Hong Kong.

Eco Teams are a sociable way to lead a greener life. The idea started in Holland, and in the UK they are backed by the environmental charity Global Action Plan (GAP), tel: + 44 (0)20 7405 5633. Global Action Plan , which has government funding to set new groups, now has around 1,800 throughout the UK.

Floodbloxs are a proven easy-to-use solution for properties at risk of flooding. A Floodbloxs is a jute bag filled with a gel formula which, once immersed in water, swells up and can be used in exactly the same way as a traditional sandbag. The advantage is that it is light to carry and easy to store until required. They work in salt water and the bags (but not the content) are totally biodegradeable, being made from natural fibres. After use, the contents can be emptied out and used as a soil improver. Floodbloxs have been tested and purchased by numerous UK councils including Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Reading, Taunton Deane and Brent who have rated it better than other comparative products.

US Architect John Blackburn Launches Eco-Friendly Barn Designs for Equestrian and Agricultural Use.

False "Green Certificate" backfires. The Australian supermarket company Woolworths has withdrawn tissue products after being outed by an anonymous blogger for using a "Sustainable Forest Fibre" logo on products sourced from a notorious Indonesian forestry company. ...

Source: Australian Associated Press, August 27, 2007.

What is Freecycle?

The Freecycle Network has over 4,000 Freecycle groups in over 50 countries, and around 3.5 million members. It is entirely a non-profit movement of people who are giving (and getting) items for free in their own town or borough by "recycling" them. One person's trash can be another's treasure! Each group is moderated by a local volunteer and membership is free. Freecycle groups are open to all who want to recycle. Whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door, just list it!

The Tower Hamlets Recycle Group is absolutely brilliant. No wonder they produce champions.

West London: Chiswick Local Produce: Too many vegetables? Bumper crop of apples or pears? Sell or exchange your local produce locally.

The Family Kitchen Garden. Green fingered authors present fruits of their labours in this new book.

Chiswick House Kitchen Gardens.

Chiswick Recycling Action Group.

Magazines for the Recycler.

Founded in 1912, as "Materials Reclamation Weekly" Recycling and Waste Management News and Information is most sensibly bought on subscription. A friendly local newsagent might place a regular order ... but it would cost you a lot more!

Recycling World is currently the UK's leading magazine for those interested in recycling.

Recycler magazine.

Canadian Recycler magazine.

Recycler (Trade) manazine on Facebook.

Earth Talk US environmental magazine.

Recycling - for the Future.

Get around town on a bicycle made from bamboo!

Fair Trade Rugs made from Recycled Plastic Bottles. All-Weather Floral Pattern Teal Rug measuring 4 feet by 6 feet. These are handcrafted by Thai artisans who are paid fair trade wages. The rugs are made entirely from recycled (or spent) plastic bottles.

How can I recycle my water filter cartridges?

In London and the SE of England you can recycle your used water filter cartridges at the 105 branches of Robert Dyas found in many High Streets.

For further details on water filters see the Water page above.

Recycling by Item.

Caravans: Joe Longthorn N.W.C.B. is seeking old and unwanted caravans from which he can salvage spare parts.

Cartridges from printers or copiers:

52 charities have combined to form Environmental Business Products Limited. In addition to the environmental benefits, on average charities get around £1 PROFIT for EACH CARTRIDGE they receive for recyclings. FREEPOST envelopes available on request.

At the The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation they raise money by recycling unwanted printer cartridges and mobile phones. The Roy Castle Appeal (EL), 31-37, Etna Road, Falkirk, FK2 9EG. Order FREEPOST envelopes through the website, or seek a local drop-off point.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Recycling Appeal accept printer cartridges and mobile phones. RSPB Recycling, FREEPOST NAT 20538, Falkirk, KF2 9BR, Scotland, telephone 08712 505050. Large numbers of items are collected free.
The RSPB also sponsor Wildlife Friendly, award-winning, Cocoa, Coffee, Pasta, and Rice, see the Food and Drink page.

Computers, Furniture, Household:

Age Concern: some branches accept more modern machines to pass on.

Age Concern London, 54, Knatchbull Road, London SE5 9QY. tel: 0207 737 3456 (Monday to Friday 11am to noon and 3pm to 4pm).

Age Concern Lambeth, South London, 6, Electric Avenue, Brixton, London SW9 8JX. tel: 0207 733 0528 or look for your local branch of Age Concern in the phone book.Community Technology, 245a Coldharbour Lane, Shakespeare Business Centre, London SW9 8RR take in computers for recycling. tel. +44(0) 207 7733 3334.

Computer Aid are a registered charity (no 1069256) as well as a limited company. They have an office, run by Angela Anyiam at 159, Marlborough Road, London N19 4NF, tel: +44 (0)207 281 0091, and a workshop at Unit 114, Belgrqave Road, London N19 4NF. Their website is in French and Spanish as well as in English, and they take in most computers for refurbishment and later resale.

London-wide: The Peabody Trust is one of London's largest and oldest housing associations. It was founded in 1862 by George Peabody, an American philanthropist, and is now a registered charity and community regeneration agency that owns and runs the Peabody Tenants Support Scheme.

To recycle furniture, which must be in a good and safe condition, call the The Peabody Trust on 020 7928 7811.

Furniture Aid (South Thames), London SW4: tel: 020 7793 7787. Collections in South and South West London preferred. Furniture and electrical appliances in good order.

Green-Works is a national, award winning, leading social enterprise and registered charity " for recycling office furnite on an industrial scale. This is then sold on at low cost. Many high profile firms such as The Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, EDF Energy and BT have all donated their old furniture instead of sending it to landfill.

Emmaus: There are currently 19 Emmaus Communities open around the UK and 12 more in the pipeline. They are affiliated to Emmaus International. We have had personal experience of the Emmaus Recycling Superstore in Brighton which is presented as an old-fashioned Department Store. All items are located by room, e.g. the dining room room has tables and chairs laid with cutlery, crockery, napkins etc. All profits support the high grade hostel that is attached to the shop and restaurant. Residents from the hostel are helped to gain a skill, e.g. they work in the (excellent quality and excellent value) restaurantn or in the shop.

The Emmaus Communities were founded by the legendary Abbe Pierre a wonderful Roman Catholic visionary and priest who was France's leading champion of the destitute and homeless.

Quaker Social Action run 5 major projects in East London.

One of these is 'Homestore', Tower Hamlets, at Unit 2, Maryland Industrial Estate, 26, Maryland Road, Stratford, London E2. tel: 020 8519 6264.
Tower Hamlets Streetline Service

which collects unwanted household items such as furniture and electrical appliances has developed a pilot project with Quaker Social Action, assisted by the Women's Environment Network (WEN).
They prefer to collect in North and East London.

repairs and sells on electrical goods such as kettles and TVs.

London West: The Nottinghill Housing Trust Furniture Store, Barrier Block, Acklam Road, London W11. tel: 020 8960 3005.

The Nottinghill Housing Trust collect from most areas of London. The furniture must be in reasonable condition, and must comply to current fire safety standards. They also take electrical goods and gas cookers under 7 years old.

Spectacles and Lens

Ghana

The Shekhinah Clinic, P.O. Box TL 886, Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana, West Africa. tel: + 233 (0) 87 22622

They do so on a shoe-string budget, and 5 years ago Dr. Abdulai and others were prepared to go to jail when the government in Ghana tried to impose a tax on charitable donations which they just could not afford to pay. It took months of negociation before the threat was lifted.

When you send unwanted spectacles please try and send them in their spectacle case, unless you have a need for it. The spectacles should be well padded, a page of grumpled newspaper can be a useful shock absorber, and please mark the envelope CHARITABLE DONATION OF NO COMMERCIAL VALUE.

From the UK the spectacles can be posted surface mail, and, if they are marked as SMALL PACKET this reduces considerably the cost of sending them.

Other contacts in the immediate vicinity of the Shekhinah Clinic are:

The Sisters of St. Gildas, St. Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box BB25, Bimbilla, Northern Region, Ghana.