What's Green in Brum? » Friends of the Earth http://greeningbrum.org.uk Sustainability in Birmingham UK Mon, 21 May 2012 17:20:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 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. It has been lacking: RT @James_BG: what do you think of my call for @Ed_Miliband to step up & deliver a green speech? http://t.co/cJS3OwNV [bham_foe]

      5:04pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    2. RT @MartynWilliams2: Aug solar cuts. On last weeks figs, time for less than 4k extra installs. For over 4k firms http://t.co/LSrxwHOx [bham_foe]

      4:59pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    3. Dedication to composting: MT @peteashton: I made a video of how I liquidise tea bags so they compost more efficiently: http://t.co/OXzK9HYT [bham_foe]

      2:45pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    4. RT @cycle4u: fantastic weather for cycling here in #birmingham, shorts and t-shirt all day :-) [bham_foe]

      2:42pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    5. Hope the new administration will look carefully at options for how best to improve Wholesale Markets where they are: http://t.co/615joEmx [bham_foe]

      2:36pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    6. Oh come on! "Does Organic Food Turn You into a Jerk?": http://t.co/2xDz0MEs - Let's bash anyone who tries to do right things? via @BBCRBlack [bham_foe]

      1:38pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    7. That @powellds grabbing headlines again: http://t.co/PwcidkJm "vague ideas and wishful thinking" all we get on green economy from govt. [bham_foe]

      8:30am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

  2. 18 May 12

    1. What an evening's entertainment! "Happy" film being shown by @justfilmcoop and then you could see Goldie's Wings of Desire in Victoria Sq. [bham_foe]

      2:36pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    2. BCC are seen as one of the councils actually showing ambition to cut CO2, but more help needed for all councils: http://t.co/nlxQ2G8H [bham_foe]

      2:21pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    3. RT @wwwfoecouk: Wet weather threat to our bees and butterflies: http://t.co/CVH2iR4E Join the #BeeCause: http://t.co/f4bFm3u7 [bham_foe]

      2:19pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    4. RT @MrJoeJenkins: Govt won't investigate Big6 energy co's so should @wwwfoecouk launch a People's Enquiry? http://t.co/G78yO1w6 [bham_foe]

      2:15pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    5. RT @tom_burke_47: 'UK climate policy can curb energy price shocks-report': http://t.co/EAUYJTti [bham_foe]

      2:13pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    6. RT @wwwfoecouk: Robin Hood Tax could raise billions to help poorest around the world. Find out what this could pay for http://t.co/dAC1vLTa [bham_foe]

      2:12pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    7. Two more wind turbines have been given the go ahead for Daventry - will be great to see more renewable energy production in Birmingham :) [bham_foe]

      10:21am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    8. RT @politicsinbrum: "@birminghamsnews: Birmingham Mail: Birmingham Wholesale markets plea to new council Labour leadership http://t.co/9 ... [bham_foe]

      9:06am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    9. RT @cybrum: Birmingham City Council are spending £1m to improve the Wholesale Markets, securing their short-term (3 year) future. [bham_foe]

      9:05am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    10. Collective switching isn't the answer but at least big switch winner the Co-Op Energy really supports renewables http://t.co/KRwo1XwA [bham_foe]

      9:02am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

  3. 17 May 12

    1. FREE planning masterclass in Birmingham - find out how you can influence what gets built in your area http://t.co/olsZP17n [bham_foe]

      4:53pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    2. How to make a bee hotel - provide habitat for declining solitary bees http://t.co/J68nJFV0 [bham_foe]

      3:14pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

  4. 16 May 12

    1. #greendeal under review. http://t.co/pjlGI4bo Prob a good thing - a deal unlikely to help those in greatest fuel poverty is surely flawed [bham_foe]

      11:58am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    2. Great @climate_caravan meeting last night, looking forward to working with others to deliver more green jobs in Brum. Thanks @campaigncc [bham_foe]

      11:55am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    3. RT @mark_lynas: Britain reached 'peak travel' well before the recession, in 2002-4. Why? http://t.co/XvXgQtpy via @TheEconomist #demater ... [bham_foe]

      10:38am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    4. RT @alicebell: What is science news and who gets to decide? - case for environmental NGOs (blogpost based on yesterday's ABSW debate) ht ... [bham_foe]

      10:35am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

  5. 14 May 12

    1. RT @vanishingbees: Honey bees can can top out at speeds of 20mph when flying. To compare, an average human runs 7-10mph. [bham_foe]

      5:56pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    2. RT @neilelkes: Labour naming new #bcc cabinet. Am hearing relative newcomers Brigid Jones and James McKay, 1 yr each, are among the 6. N ... [bham_foe]

      5:56pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    3. anyone know of a samba band in Brum other than oya batacuda? Or any samba drummers? Get in touch - we need you! [bham_foe]

      2:11pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

  6. 11 May 12

    1. We said no to a mayor, but we might still get one... http://t.co/6PBf1G76 [bham_foe]

      9:42am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

  7. 10 May 12

    1. RT @peopleandplanet: New blog up on Grassroots Bloggers about connecting the dots on tar sands... http://t.co/dN2pmzEe [bham_foe]

      11:01am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    2. RT @wwwfoecouk: wish our Big Green Bike Ride riders luck on their final 2day push to Edinburgh. Sponsor the tandem team on http://t.co/7 ... [bham_foe]

      11:01am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    3. RT @ZacGoldsmith: Plse sign & RT: Brazil has passed a bill giving loggers free rein in Amazon. President Dilma can stop it. http://t ... [bham_foe]

      11:00am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    4. Would be great to see something like this in Birmingham. Maybe something for @OrtCafe? http://t.co/WBRPRJYw [bham_foe]

      11:00am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    5. HS2 still going ahead apparently, despite lack of mention in Queen's speech http://t.co/haHKu7E6 [bham_foe]

      9:26am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    6. Climate change human rights litigation: is it so radical? http://t.co/3RGZe349 [bham_foe]

      9:22am via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

  8. 9 May 12

    1. Looking forward to seeing what the new green, safe and smart city cabinet member will do for Brum http://t.co/mmcowfCj [bham_foe]

      4:34pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    2. Good news for bees up north RT @guardianeco: Sheffield guarantees a wildflower meadow in bloom for the Olympic Games http://t.co/QzhrrVeJ [bham_foe]

      4:32pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    3. RT @Politics_co_uk: The Queen's Speech 2012 in full http://t.co/5s1bjUZg #QueensSpeech [bham_foe]

      4:31pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    4. RT @guardianeco: Whatever happened to carbon capture in the fight against climate change? http://t.co/w3lv7Bku [bham_foe]

      4:31pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    5. RT @realworldradio: Less Than Zero. Rio+20 “Zero Draft” document stalled in the UN: Social Movements Prepare to Mobilize: As a resul... ... [bham_foe]

      4:30pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    6. RT @MrJoeJenkins: Nice bee photos @guardian readers http://t.co/kn2bdZyZ Now help look after them by joining the Bee Cause!@wwwfoecouk ( ... [bham_foe]

      4:30pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    7. RT @Magpiemoth: Bee Prepared #beecause launch event in Northampton this Sat 12 May 1.00 open to all. At Northampton Quaker Meeting House ... [bham_foe]

      4:29pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    8. RT @neilkingsnorth: Quality telegraph ad on how to get a CBE on queen's speech day @wwwfoecouk http://t.co/uzkrBjcc #Getcbe #QueensSpeech [bham_foe]

      4:28pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    9. RT @wwwfoecouk: Will Queen's Speech lead us to cheaper, cleaner energy?: Queen announces new energy Bill http://t.co/R6JDDJsx [bham_foe]

      4:28pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    10. RT @foeint: Friends of the Earth Netherlands launched a campaign to hold Shell accountable for reckless pollution in Nigeria. http://t.c ... [bham_foe]

      4:28pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    11. RT @vickihird: some campaigns take 8 years! - & new Supermarket regulator will not solve all problems with big retail - but a good w ... [bham_foe]

      4:28pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    12. Next week is Walk to Work Week (say that 3times fast!) - see how many calories you can burn and emissions you can save http://t.co/lQ3xA7DD [bham_foe]

      1:25pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

  9. 8 May 12

    1. Join Oxfam's campaign to help small-scale farmers grow more food – add your voice http://t.co/QRn6KAm4 #Rio20 [bham_foe]

      3:33pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    2. RT @LocaliseWM: Exactly what we see in Eastside etc: http://t.co/t75rnorJ Ask occupiers not developers how to fill holes in cities #fair ... [bham_foe]

      3:26pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    3. RT @RenewableUK: Read our report with @DECCgovuk explaining the benefits onshore wind brings to communities and UK http://t.co/7jxrLpiW ^JW [bham_foe]

      3:25pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    4. RT @poshbirdlikeyou: Had to change #CBE hashtag for @wwwfoecouk Clean British Energy campaign cos Chris Brown Entertainment has already ... [bham_foe]

      3:25pm via Birmingham Friends of the Earth

    5. RT @wwwfoecouk: .@EnvAgency boss supports fracking - but we need clean British energy not unproven technologies http://t.co/ZZ5t4U68 #GetCBE [bham_foe]

      3:24pm 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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