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| Green New Year resolutions |
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Just three small changes to our busy life can result in great steps to help stop global warming. The first is not to use plastic carrier bags, and if you do make sure you use each one as many times as possible. Some of the large supermarkets offer bags for life at 10pence and will exchange for new every time you wear the bag out. These worn out bags go off to become new bags. Buy jute, cotton or even recycled rice bag bags. www.sativabags.com for hemp bags. We use over a billion plastic bags a year of which 90% find their way into landfill.
The second is to shower rather than have a soak. A shower taken for 10 minutes reduces water consumption by 40% and is refreshing. If you do have a soak then buy the drought buster siphon which can be put into your bath at one end and the other into a water butt or used directly onto the garden rather than emptying the water down the drain. www.greengardener.co.uk
The third is for everyone to go over to long life energy saving bulbs, which are advancing every day. Just before Christmas, it was announced that the filament light is soon to be discontinued with the development of a new diode light source that is as bright as present bulbs. Until then just changing one bulb over to the eco one, you will be making a difference. What ever you do, have a great 2009 |
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| Environment impact - make a difference in small steps |
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With the scare mongering in the world a feeling of impotence of individuals to make a change to the growing as a media fanned flame is sweeping like a tide across the planet. There are small ways of helping that will not cost a fortune yet will make a difference to the way we all live.
Change your bank account to one that does not support violence and arms purchase – try Triodos (www.triodos.co.uk) which owns windfarms such as the one at Caton Moor, Lancashire and supports the Fair Trade movement (www.fairtrade.org.uk) much as the Co-operative Bank does who have, since 1896, been working with communities to provide a fair price for crops and goods. They also invest in solar and renewable projects like the CIS solar tower in Manchester that is set to produce enough electricity to make nine million cups of tea a year (www.co-operativebank.co.uk)
What about getting on your cycle or walking to get the newspaper – and if that is not an option then make your own biodiesel at home using vegetable oil – new or used oil from the take away – this cuts down on emissions, is good for the environment (as long as you do not blow yourself up!) and smells sweet. Invest in solar panels to warm your water, help heat the home or photovoltaic panels to provide electricity. Even a wind-up radio will help make a difference, as you will be using your own energy to make the power for the radio. Some of the new models have short winding for long-term power – there is even the option of a solar panel to keep the radio working. What ever you choose to do, it will all help. If we all reduced our battery consumption by just one a year, then two then three – think what an impact that would make not only to your pocket but the environment, resources and the next generations. Not only are there solar radios there are mobile phone chargers, torches, televisions, car and boat battery chargers, calculators and cars. Have a look at the Ethical Superstore (www.ethicalsuperstore.com) for some unusual ideas and fun ways to do your bit for the environment and Nigel’s Eco store for more ways of making a difference and the horoscope by Alan is compelling too (www.nigelsecostore.com). What ever you do – have fun doing it. |
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| New Year traditions |
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Julius Caesar started the tradition of the New Year starting on 1 January when he and his senate passed a law that saw the previous year run for 445 days in order for the new, 365-day year to start on 1 January, 46 BC. The Roman people embraced the change as this meant they could party and do what Romans did when celebrating. Before the Roman change to the start of the New Year, the traditional date was when the first crops showed through the soil in harmony with the earth, sun and moon. India has one of the oldest New Year traditions where Nava Varsha is celebrated with the help of the god of life and death, Yama, who guards the entrance to the afterlife and awards people passing into the afterlife with wealth if good, or as a cockroach, if bad in this life. This happens in March or April when the spring gets underway and is in harmony with the earth cycles. In Europe, there is the Grim Reaper, in Rome Pluto and the Greeks have Charon. In many European countries, the tradition of ringing bells, sounding horns and blowing of whistles. The people of Romanian have a great tradition of facemasks based on animals, the sun, moon and earth that are brightly decorated, and highly prized through generations. The masked people walk around the towns, cities and villages calling on as many people as they can to offer good fortune for the New Year. In the UK, this is done by a dark haired male who would carry a piece of coal from the outside of the front door to the outside of the back door to bring good luck to the home and family. He would be given a glass of beer or wine and a pie to help keep the family in wealth and health. In Russia, Father Frost visits the people on New Years Eve to give gifts to the good and freeze those who have been bad. In the USA, they have the famous ball in Time Square, New York City that drops at midnight starting the celebration of New Year with tooting of car horns, ringing of bells, dancing and toasting in the New Year.
What ever you are up to have a Happy New Year in 2009 – the year of the Ox in the Chinese horoscope where hard work will bring rewards.
Arabic: Kul 'aam u antum salimoun
Brazilian: Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo
Chinese: Chu Shen Tan
Czechoslavakia: Scastny Novy Rok
Dutch: Gullukkig Niuw Jaar
Finnish: Onnellista Uutta Vuotta
French: Bonne Annee
German: Prosit Neujahr
Greek: Eftecheezmaenos o Kaenooryos hronos
Hebrew: L'Shannah Tovah Tikatevu
Hindi: Niya Saa Moobaarak/Nava varsha ki shubb kAmanayeN
Irish (Gaelic): Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian: Buon Capodanno
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo
Russian: S Novim Godom
Serbo-Croatian: Scecna nova godina
Spanish: Feliz Ano NeuvoProspero Ano Nuevo
Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Vietnamese: Cung-Chuc Tan-Xuan
We hope you will join us in the New Year and tell your friends about the site as well as the other strings that form the Copperstring network. Better still, why not join up and receive regular updates, join discussion groups and meet new friends. |
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