Blog Action Day – Climate Change

Today (15^th October) is blog action day, a day when blogger’s across the world aim to spark discussion and awareness of serious and important issues.

This year the topic is climate change, and in the run up to December’s Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change, a whole range of government figures have joined in the blogging action, from a special post from the Prime Minster on the Number 10 website to the Foreign Offices Climate Conversations which is drawing together a number of climate change bloggers from the foreign office including the foreign secretary David Miliband.

Now whilst these are examples of high level involvement of trying to raise awareness of climate change issues, you can take small steps to get involved and take actions yourself.

The act on Copenhagen website asks you to sign up and support the British governments aims for a climate deal, to do so or find out more go to : http://www.actoncopenhagen.decc.gov.uk/en/subscribe

For more practical steps specifically around cutting your carbon emissions goto : http://www.1010uk.org

Going on holiday? Don’t forget to pack your CO alarm

CO-Awareness a charity that works to raise awareness of the dangers of Carbon monoxide, are currently working in partnership with the North West Health Protection Agency on a new campaign to remind people of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and a simple step they can take to reduce that danger.

They are urging people to take with them on holiday with them an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm.

CO Awareness President Lynn Griffiths said: “There have been a number of tragedies
and numerous near-misses in this country and abroad in recent years. No one should
assume that their hotel room, holiday home, caravan or canal boat is safe.

“Audible CO alarms can be purchased comparatively cheaply from most hardware and electrical stores and from the larger supermarket chains. They are small and unobtrusive and will easily pack into a suitcase. It is a small investment to make but it could pay a rich dividend.”

Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide causes more than 50 accidental deaths
every year in England and Wales and there have been some high profile tragedies
overseas in recent years.

Professor Qutub Syed, Director, HPA North West, said: “In small spaces such as hotel
rooms, caravans, boats and rented houses and cottages, levels of carbon monoxide
produced by faulty, poorly maintained or poorly ventilated fossil fuel appliances can build up very quickly to levels that can kill.

“It happens all too regularly and our appeal to people planning their holidays is; don’t let it happen to you.

“Even at lower levels, carbon monoxide can make you ill. It produces symptoms similar
to flu or food poisoning, including headaches, tiredness, difficulty in thinking clearly and feeling sick.

“Our advice to holiday-makers is that If you do not have an alarm, it is unlikely you will know that you are being poisoned by this lethal gas as carbon monoxide is colourless and has no taste or smell.”

If you can I urge you to take head of this advice and purchase an alarm if you can, they cost as little as £25, and details of your nearest supplier can be found by calling 0800 1694 457.

For further information on the campaign goto : http://www.co-awareness.org/ and for further information on Carbon monoxide poisoning go to : http://www.hpa.org.uk/carbonmonoxide

Marie Curie Shop

Despite possible opposition from some of the bosses above, there is now a petition in the Marie Curie Shop in Glossop, against it proposed closure. I understand the campaign will shortly be taking to the airwaves with one of the campaigners been interviewed on High Peak Radio.

Initial response on things the council may be able to do is not entirely positive but I would ask if you can take the time, please show your support and sign the petition.

Earth Hour

Saturday 28th March at 8.30pm sees this year’s earth hour, the initiative which started in Sydney Australia in 2007 aims to highlight climate change by encouraging people and businesses to turn off there lights for an hour.

This year the theme is on transferring it from an event into the world’s first global election by people making the simply decision of switching off your lights for an hour been a vote for the earth and leaving them on been a vote for global warming.

To sign up or get more information on the initiative click on the earth hour banner on the right hand side of the screen or goto : http://www.earthhour.org

The people's railway

Monday saw the launch by the Co-operative Party of it's new campaign, the
People's Rail.

The campaign aims to give the British public real power over the rail
network, through co-operative structures, ensuring that Long-suffering rail
users will get better than a network run for the convenience of managers,
with no one taking responsibility when things go wrong.

The campaign call's on Network Rail to change the way its run, to give real
control to passengers and the public.

For more information on the campaign go to www.peoplesrail.org.uk or join the campaigns facebook group at
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?src=fftb#/group.php?gid=25459946258

Black Gold Fairtrade Film

Last Thursday evening saw a showing of the ‘Black Gold’ film about fairtrade coffee take place at the Blue Box Theatre in Chorlton.

The showing which had been organised by the South Manchester Co-op Members Group and Withington Co-operative Party had around 100 people in attendance and included visitors from the Kuapa Kokoo cocoa co-operative in Ghana who were over in the UK to promote fairtrade.

Following on from the showing there is a exhibition in the cafe of the Whitworth Art Gallery, Wilmslow Road, Manchester containing a selection of photographs documenting the impact of Fairtrade on coffee farming communities. This runs throughout Fairtrade Fortnight, 25th February to 9th March 2008 further details available here.

Community Day

Spotted on the unofficial blog of the Co-operative Party ‘politics for people’ are details of the campaign for Community Day.

The campaign which is been run by the TUC and a number of leading voluntary sector organisations is aiming for an extra bank holiday during the October half term to promote volunteering and the role it plays in our society.

The reason for choosing a bank holiday is that compared to the rest of the EU, we have fewer bank / public holiday’s, with Romania been the only country in the EU to have less, which with these national days of celebration playing such a vital role in ensuring that we have a proper balance between our working lives and the rest of our lives, it’s about time we had more.

Particularly as no new bank holidays have been declared since the 1970’s. It’s about time that we had one more and what better reason for it than to celebrate the contribution made by volunteers to our communities.

For more information on the time go to www.communityday.org.uk or if you use facebook, there’s also a facebook group in support of the campaign that you can view or join by clicking here

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week

This week is the second annual carbon monoxide awareness week, which similar to last year’s event is starting with a launch at the House of Commons (this time on the lord’s side).

The ‘campaign’, which as with last years is being run by ‘Co-awareness’, is working to raise awareness of the dangers of Carbon monoxide, and will be continuing to call on the Government, regulators and industry to tighten procedures for inspection and maintenance of equipment.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning, is usually the result of poorly maintained boilers or other domestic appliances, with statistics from the HSE (Health and safety executive) showing that in the 2005/6 20 people died due to gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or that are poorly ventilated.

Deaths from Carbon Monoxide poisoning have also hit home locally with the deaths of two Glossopdale residents in January 2005 from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.

Many homes now have a Carbon Monoxide monitor which sounds an alarm if carbon monoxide is present.

However if you’re home isn’t currently covered please look at taking precautions to protect yourself and your family, by making sure that your domestic appliances are maintained and that Carbon Monoxide alarms are fitted in your homes. An information leaflet and guide to the different types of alarms is available from the Co-awareness website (www.co-awareness.co.uk)

More information is available at the Co-awareness campaign website www.co-awareness.co.uk and also at the carbon monoxide kills website www.carbonmonoxidekills.com.