Stern: relaxed

British academic Nicholas Stern shocked the world last year with his simple statement that we have to pay now for the pollution already done to the planet, or else we will pay a lot more soon. Since then, the bill has already doubled he says. And now he is back with a six point plan.

“The plan is not ambitious in relation to the problem,” he told Prospect Magazine. “It is ambitious in relation to world politics. It has been out for only a few weeks, but has already been picked up by people in ministries around the world.

The proposed deal has six basic elements. “First, we need to cut total world carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2050, compared to 1990 levels, with rich countries committing at Copenhagen to cut by 80 per cent by 2050. (more…)

We’re watching them watching us

Whether you’re a Civil libertarian or just want to be private, there’s little need to worry about the intrusive State with its Big Brother databases. The civil servants running the new systems are so incompetent (e.g. the Ministry of Defence stolen laptop) that the biggest fear is them losing your data. The UK government is burning �500m a year to build a national ID database that will duplicate the passport system and only cover those of us law abiding enough to register under our real names. Corporate databases will create their own parallel versions, or license government data for their own security checks.

But you can take a few steps to protect your privacy. Follow these simple tips, and Big Brother will be no bother: (more…)

Get a greener footprint

Carbon calculators are better than food(at reducing your carbon footprint), according to the Travelgood web site, which lists the best specialist carbon calculators for working out your travel footprint.

Back in the mundane world of living off-grid, we are, of course, automatically on a tiny footprint compared to most folks. In fact daily travel is probably our biggest single carbon luxury, or sin, depending on which way you look at it.

As well as the calculators mentioned over at Travelgood, here are a few more you might find useful to know about, and they vary widely - so checkout Climate Outreach and Information Network, for an appraisal of their accuracy.

California of course has some of the best Carbon Calculators around: (more…)

As world food and energy prices continue to increase, more than 8,000 American households are entering the foreclosure process every day.

Bank seizures have doubled in Nevada which emerged as the worst-hit state across the US, with one in every 146 households across the state filing for foreclosure last month.

CNN News yesterday followed our focus on people living in cars with a detailed report (see video): (more…)

Mrs Normal

It wasn’t the sight of Ben Law’s magic treehouse on Grand Designs that started my off-grid fantasies, but he certainly gave them a seductive visual form.

In common with most of my fellow fantasists, I’m not likely to be going off-grid any time soon. I’ve a husband and children addicted to London, we’re knitted in by family, work and commitments.

But, also like many others, I am predisposed; my children’s diet was the place I put all the anxieties of first parenthood (‘will he die if his bread isn’t stone ground?’) which became a more general concern with the politics of agriculture. (more…)

Green sash on red carpet

Cate Blanchett talks the talk. But she unfortunately flies the walk.

She may be Australia’s most admired woman, yet it turns out Blanchett has been indulging in a bit of greenwash to promote her beloved Sydney Theatre Group.

She gained worldwide coverage last year when she said the Sydney Theatre Group would be “the first major theatre anywhere in the world to go off grid.” But this week she told Marie Claire that she will do little more than install solar panels on the roof of the building, which will then become “the first eco-friendly building on Sydney Harbour.” (more…)

Barenakeds - talk to the butt

The first time Barenaked Ladies (BNL) ever played under that name, in 1988, it was at a benefit for Second Harvest, a food bank that turns unused fresh food from city restaurants and grocery stores into meals for the hungry. Its all down to their leader Steven Page, interviewed here. (more…)

Cambridge DJ duo

Cambridge radio show CUR Green carried a one hour interview with Off-Grid editor Nick Rosen. The award winning station CUR 1350 is hosting the show for the next month - so listen while you can.

Its the second half of the first hour of the show presented by Salman Chaudhry and Tobias Bown. And the first half of the second hour. (more…)

Missy Higgins - cooler than global cool

These artistes really walk the walk on Green issues reckons Billboard, and they are probably right.

MISSY HIGGINS

No stranger to keeping things eco-friendly while on tour, Australian singer/songwriter Missy Higgins is looking to further her green efforts on her current U.S. jaunt. Leading up to the Feb. 26 release of her latest album, “On a Clear Night,” Higgins spent two (more…)