Environment

Grrrrgh!!!

I seem to replace my iron about every 4-5 years. I buy a middle of the range one - reasonably priced, not too cheap, but nothing with fancy gimicks either .. but they don't have a very long life span (and I don't iron that much - I can assure you!).

So what is it? Is my water too soft? or too hard? Or could it be... planned obsolescence? Where items are made to break -  surely not..? However, I have just been looking it up.

Planned Obsolescence is a phrase which describes designing at product with a limited useful life! A process by which energy and materials are used up, just to replace what you already have. There is some economic gain, but nothing for the environment. In fact it seems blantently detrimental - more raw materials are used up to make the new item, but also -  the old one also has to be disposed of too! 

It looks like Fashion is the most obvious industry that does this, but electrical items also have their part to play.

So, how can this type of designing be reversed? even bettered? with longer lasting models which are more energy efficient?

Well, nothing here yet, but it looks like in Japan - they have a TOP RUNNER Program - where by you can only bring out a new electrical device on the market, if it has a similar or better energy performance that the best in its class at the moment. This results in ever increasing performance, and will result in lower energy bills...  see more...

http://www.futurepolicy.org/2719.html

I went along to the FOE Bee Talk last night in Brockenhurst, to hear Jon Oakley (professional Entomologist) speak about bees. Jon is also passionate about photography, so his talk was accompanied by some amazing shots of bees in their natural habitats. Jon's talk was very informative and engaging. He spoke about wild bees, bumble bees, honey bees and solitary bees, and

One of the main issues at the moment, is why some bees are declining in numbers, sometimes very rapidly. There was lots of discussion about this, about new species arriving in the country, spraying crops with pesticide, the varroa mite and the availability of food for bees over the whole year.

Some of the above issues I cannot tackle, however, I did come away with the feeling that I could plant some different flowers in my garden, which would broaden the season for the bees to find food (and add colour throughout the year). So using Jon's list and some additions from the FOE bee booklet, here are some plants that will create a buzz throughout the flowering season:

Spring - Snowdrops, crocus, winter flowering heathers, forget-me-nots

March/April - bluebell, dead nettle, pussy willow, flowering currant, bugle

May/June - Aquilegia, campanula, raspberry, blackberry, dog roses, ballerina rose, foxglove, wallflowers, everlasting peas, laburnum, lupin, honeysuckle

July/August - marjorum, sunflower, buddleia, lavender, cornflower, hollyhock, dephinium, centaurea, heathers

and then extending the season into Autumn as well - ivy, oregano

Also, if you want to ask David Cameron to adopt a National Bee Action Plan in order to find out more about the decline of bees and how to protect our most threatened species, you can go on line to sign the FOE petition.. http://www.foe.co.uk/what_we_do/bee_cause_petition_35038.html

Local FOE group who attended the Transition Lymington Spring Fair got 55 of their postcards. They are addressed to David Cameron calling him to support FOE's Bee Cause and commit to a National Bee Action plan to save the bees.

Even the bag monster signed up!!...

To sign up on line go to...

http://www.foe.co.uk/what_we_do/bee_cause_petition_35038.html

If you need a quick reminder of the variety of different species that live in our oceans, here's a taster, from Fiji and Tonga.

Plastic debris on the increase in North Pacific

Recent research shows a big rise in the amount of plastic litter floating in Pacific waters - a 100 fold increase over the past 40 years.

Smaller pieces of plastic seem to be being used by the marine insect  ‘sea-skaters’  as surfaces to lay their eggs on, possibly helping the species spread in range. For other marine organisms, however, micro-plastics pose a significant threat as they can be easily ingested.

Read more from the Marine Conservation Society

POLLINATING DATING!!

The British Beekeepers Association are setting up a website/service matching landowners with local beekeepers.

The idea is that landowners provide the sites for the hives, which a local beekeeper will look after.

Benefits all rounds.

The landown gets lots of local pollinators, no hassle of the hives and a couple of jars of honey!

The beekeeper gets another site for keeping bees.

Sign up on line for more details about when the website comes live

http://www.pollinationdating.com/