What's Green in Brum? » Friends of the Earth http://greeningbrum.org.uk Sustainability in Birmingham UK Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:54:14 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Be Santa, buy nothing – Sat 28 Nov http://greeningbrum.org.uk/be-santa-buy-nothing-sat-28-nov/2009/ http://greeningbrum.org.uk/be-santa-buy-nothing-sat-28-nov/2009/#comments Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:53:51 +0000 Chris Duggan http://greeningbrum.org.uk/?p=1068 On the 28th November Birmingham Friends of the Earth are celebrating their 8th annual Buy Nothing Day. Come dressed as a Santa (or not) and descend upon the streets on city centre with Birmingham Friends of the Earth and help remind us that Christmas does not have to be about consumerism.

Info from Facebook – no details about where and when to meet unfortunately. But the Santas will be joining Oxfam for their Guitar Wave outside St Philip’s Cathedral at 12, so you can catch up with them there.

Buy Nothing Day does exactly what it says on the metaphorical tin. It’s a day where we are all encouraged to buy nothing for 24 hours.

The reason for this event is that everything we buy has an environmental and ethical consequence. The current financial crisis should be an opportunity to re-examine what money is spent on and how resources are managed.

To spread the word and encourage friends, family and every stranger in Birmingham city centre to be part of this truly one of a kind day come dressed as a Santa and descend upon the streets on city centre with Birmingham Friends of the Earth and help remind us that Christmas does not have to be about consumerism. The Santas carry placards with slogans such as “Buy more, be happy” and “Spend, don’t think” while handing out leaflets to people about Buy Nothing Day.

So come down, be part of the cause, dressed up or not and help make a difference.

Buy Nothing Day is an international event. Its website suggests:

Ask yourself these simple questions:

  1. Do I need it?
  2. How many do I already have?
  3. How much will I use it?
  4. How long will it last?
  5. Could I borrow it from a friend or family member?
  6. Am I able to clean and/or maintain it myself?
  7. Will I be able to repair it?
  8. Am I willing to?
  9. Have I researched it to get the best quality for the best price?
  10. How will I dispose of it when I’m done using it?
  11. Are the resources that went into it renewable or nonrenewable?
  12. Is it made from recycled materials, and is it recyclable

Presumably when you’ve asked yourself all that, you’ll be too tired to do anything and will go home to have a nice cup of tea.

MoreCanalsThanVenice has some ideas about what to do for free in Birmingham on Saturday.

]]> http://greeningbrum.org.uk/be-santa-buy-nothing-sat-28-nov/2009/feed/ 0 Friends of the Earth updates http://greeningbrum.org.uk/friends-of-the-earth-and-green-party-updates/2009/ http://greeningbrum.org.uk/friends-of-the-earth-and-green-party-updates/2009/#comments Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:25:13 +0000 Chris Duggan http://greeningbrum.org.uk/?p=1028 Latest Twitter updates from Birmingham Friends of the Earth .

The content is the responsibility of Birmingham Friends of the Earth.

  1. Yesterday

    1. Really? RT @grist: .@TheRealRoseanne wants to be the Green Party nominee for president http://t.co/XRpkAzdI [bham_foe]

      6:54pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    2. Our weekly compilation of news relating to our campaigns: http://t.co/7D7SC3tW [bham_foe]

      6:52pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    3. Here's our latest volunteer in the spotlight, Kara Moses, from this month's newsletter: http://t.co/B03dATf0 [bham_foe]

      5:30pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    4. Good luck to all critical mass riders this evening. 16 miles of cycling is more than enough for me in this cold, I'm afraid, so off home. [bham_foe]

      5:18pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    5. Portas Review Looks To High Street Renaissance - Great article from one of our new volunteers, Raquel: http://t.co/LgYOa8mh [bham_foe]

      4:57pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    6. An update on how our waste campaign has been going: http://t.co/vVtP8oqT [bham_foe]

      4:56pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    7. RT @birminghampost: Alister Scott Blog: Will HS2 contribute to a West Midlands brain drain? http://t.co/y4fkUViW - good points [bham_foe]

      4:37pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    8. RT @digbeth: New DiG blog post, Goodbye Eastside Cafe! - http://t.co/zFG4KQfV [bham_foe]

      4:21pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    9. Please object to E.On’s mega-biomass plans at Ironbridge: http://t.co/QSNfIJdT [bham_foe]

      3:29pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    10. Gosh we have a hashtag for our regional gathering tomorrow - #foegath - look forward to seeing everyone there. [bham_foe]

      3:20pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    11. RT @MyBCU: Find out all about #bcugreenweek in this @tigertv video and learn some easy recipes with @BCUtomtom. http://t.co/Sx9jnj0U [bham_foe]

      3:18pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    12. Happy First Birthday to @SixEightKafe! one of our kind supporters for the Bike Trains last year. Sorry we can't make celebrations later. [bham_foe]

      3:17pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    13. New blog post on "New opportunities to do free cycling activities in Birmingham" http://t.co/i82bSoDY [bham_foe]

      2:55pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    14. Support small entrepreneurs, not retail giants - our letter in yesterday's @birminghampost: http://t.co/kZzODRUf [bham_foe]

      2:24pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    15. MT @AirportWatch: Bankwatch & FoE Europe: EU funds ‘environmentally harmful’ projects including 2 Polish airports. http://t.co/36f8WuUE [bham_foe]

      2:07pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    16. RT @birminghampost: Birmingham baker Loaf to raise money through 'bread bonds' http://t.co/sYqvBnWf - good one @loafonline [bham_foe]

      2:04pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    17. "Once, men abused slaves. Now we abuse fossil fuels" Jean Francois Mouhot former climate campaigner here in Guardian: http://t.co/HdeMV5uo [bham_foe]

      1:48pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    18. Are you on Twellow yet? I just registered my profile: http://t.co/9fmst0Z6 [bham_foe]

      1:41pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    19. Chris Huhne resignation - Friends of the Earth reaction: http://t.co/sg1RDHob [bham_foe]

      12:47pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    20. RT @poshbirdlikeyou: Eric Pickles banging on about chicken tikka masala again! http://t.co/HxBxx2u1 >waste of money. Invest in solutions. [bham_foe]

      12:25pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

  2. 2 Feb 12

    1. RT @LocaliseWM: Would you join a coalition for a better economy? A coalition for a great transition? http://t.co/eOEJ59Sr [bham_foe]

      3:08pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    2. The council is to raise Wholesale Market service charges by 50%: http://t.co/PlgOkU73 [bham_foe]

      2:10pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    3. RT @mydigbeth: New My Digbeth blog post, Eastside Cafe: End of the World‏ - http://t.co/smPVXX6i [bham_foe]

      1:34pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    4. RT @Modern_Greenery As FoE & others have long asserted: Ministers 'misled MPs over need for nuclear power stations' - http://t.co/08goSfTd [bham_foe]

      11:47am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    5. RT @wwwfoecouk Drop #biofuels targets & invest in transport solutions that save fuel AND cash, says Kenneth Richter: http://t.co/aFtD2mLF [bham_foe]

      11:34am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    6. RT @BCABS5: Very pleased that Birmingham has won £600,000 from the Transforming Local Infrastructure Fund: http://t.co/or8jwmoJ Great op ... [bham_foe]

      11:30am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

  3. 1 Feb 12

    1. RT @20splentyforus: The Times support 20mph speed limits for all residential areas where there are no cyle lanes. http://t.co/HE1JoR8f # ... [bham_foe]

      11:18pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    2. RT @PlatformLondon: thanks @moveyourmoneyuk for guest blogging @platformlondon today http://t.co/wYTdbncL [bham_foe]

      5:43pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    3. RT @AcocksGreenFG: Doing interview on Radio WM re #SaveIslandHouse in next few minutes [bham_foe]

      5:24pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    4. It looks like we actually have until 23.02.2012 to respond to section 106 consultation on #saveislandhouse http://t.co/ri8vC1yc [bham_foe]

      5:15pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    5. RT @charlesbarnwell: @KingsHeathRF anybody know why the Moseley Road is closed? [bham_foe]

      4:58pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    6. Oh dear! RT @OrtCafe: We're locked in! There's some police blockade outside, those in Ort are here for life. helicopters to the roof please! [bham_foe]

      4:42pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    7. RT @MDFOXY: Pleased with how today went. Good level of interest and concern from passing members of the public. #saveislandhouse [bham_foe]

      3:05pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    8. RT @neilelkes: #saveislandhouse protest http://t.co/Z6RXvLYc flattering as we were all blinded by the sun - still cold, though. [bham_foe]

      1:51pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    9. RT @Deantweets: Back home from #saveislandhouse demonstration, photos to follow later. Must get warm. >look forward to seeing them [bham_foe]

      1:50pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    10. Thanks to all those who turned up and froze their extremities off outside Island House for the cause: #saveislandhouse [bham_foe]

      1:49pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    11. MT @OuterCircleBus: #saveislandhouse For Crying Out Loud -there must be someone in our City that would buy/rent/save this wonderful building [bham_foe]

      1:47pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    12. Off to Island House now for the #saveislandhouse demo! [bham_foe]

      11:53am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

  4. 31 Jan 12

    1. RT @heatoreat: have u played heat or eat yet? http://t.co/Kv2WxsVB #fuelpoverty #climatechange [bham_foe]

      4:50pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    2. Here's our official statement on #saveislandhouse ahead of tomorrow's demonstration: http://t.co/IKe1fRjf (@BhamCommunities) [bham_foe]

      4:32pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    3. RT @NicTomTom: This week I want to #saveislandhouse Do you? Demo tmrw 12:00-1:30pm facebook.com/events/1793716… let everyone know! [bham_foe]

      3:58pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    4. RT @birminghampost: Birmingham historian Carl Chinn joins fight to save Island House from demolition http://t.co/apL3NKUH #saveislandhouse [bham_foe]

      3:57pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    5. RT @moveyourmoneyuk: Watch our campaign video see what Mary Poppins has to say about building a better banking system! http://t.co/qMdHk9XU [bham_foe]

      3:42pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    6. "Governments must bring sustainable development to the forefront of their agendas and budgets" bit.ly/wNjW7v - come on then Mr Cameron [bham_foe]

      2:41pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    7. RT @vickihird: Watch 131 Years of Global Warming in 26 Seconds | Climate Central http://t.co/htpCZdxA [bham_foe]

      1:40pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    8. RT @AirportWatch: poor environment, not lack of airport capacity, threatens London’s status as top city to do business: http://t.co/GOF9ZaCR [bham_foe]

      11:31am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    9. MT @brumcyclist: Road rage driver got £25 fine and 2 week driving ban for abusing cyclist: http://t.co/KgtXhp0M [bham_foe]

      11:18am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    10. Northern Ireland follows its neighbours with a plastic bag tax. When will it come to England? Could Brum lead? http://t.co/9q4QBsPU [bham_foe]

      11:02am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    11. RT @FandCC: talking poverty this morning in Walsall before heading to lozells to develop project Earth. [bham_foe]

      11:00am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    12. RT @wwwfoecouk: MPs warn over UK flood management: Flooding threatens millions of homes next to our coastlines http://t.co/HwqgOx9f [bham_foe]

      10:51am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    Upstream

    GreeninBrum receives no payment directly or indirectly for publishing these updates. Chris Duggan is a member of Birmingham Friends of the Earth.

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