Alan Rusbridger & G-Wiz With its short snout and sit-up-and-beg driving position, the G-Wiz electric car looks like it would be more at home in Toytown than on than on the boulevards of the world’s capital cities.

Even so it has rapidly established itself as the ever so slightly smug symbol of superior environmental consciousness among well-wheeled metropolitan liberals such as Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger and actress Kristin Scott Thomas.

But alas, we learn, the G-Wiz is to be no more.
>>Keep reading “And so farewell G-Wiz”

Why do we care that Leonardo di Caprio drives a Prius?  What is it about humans (especially men) that makes us want to flaunt our compassionate side in public?

Social psychologist   Mark van Vugt has the answer.
>>Keep reading “Eco giving”

The United States has for the first time accepted responsibility for its contribution to global warming, but her Indian hosts are unlikely to be impressed with the way US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton couched her statement.

In an attempt to encourage developing nations to cut their carbon emissions,  Clinton warned an audience in Mumbai last week not to make the same environmental mistakes the developing world has made.
>>Keep reading “Clinton:do as we say,not as we do”

We have started to build on our 10 acres in northwest michigan. So here is a story about the weekend and how everything went.

We decided our plan was to get to the property early Friday, and get as much built as quickly as possible. Char took the day off on Thursday to help ready us for the trip. She went …
>>Keep reading “Our 4th of July Weekend”

WARNING: A directory of UK cell phone numbers goes live shortly.

All existing cell phone numbers including those belonging to special needs and children will be available from next week to to unscrupulous marketing people for the purposes of cold calling and general abuse.

To remove your number go here (you need your mobile phone with you to do this, they text you a code).

http://www.118800.co.uk/ – more on next page
>>Keep reading “Anonymise your mobile phone”

Larch Maxey: can’t fly, won’t fly An off-grid academic has become a media hero in Britain after he refused to fly to an environmental conference in the United States.

Larch Maxey, Doctor of Sustainability at Swansea University lives in a self built chalet, and does everything he can to keep his carbon footprint low.  He had been offered the all expenses paid trip to attend the Smithsonian Festival in Washington last week to present a paper on global warming.

“If I had flown, it’s more than my share of carbon emissions for a couple of years,” said Dr Maxey. Instead he presented his paper, ‘The Future in Our Hands: Low Impact Development and Sustainability Transitions,’ by video link.
>>Keep reading “Why I won’t fly to America”

Mercedes, Porsche, Audi, BMW, VW. The auto lies at the heart of the German economy and culture. But one small corner has taken a stand against the tyranny of four wheels by creating an entire car-free community.

If you want a car in Vauban, you must buy a parking space in one of the municipal garages on the fringes of town. It’ll cost you close on $40,000, but you wont be able to drive your car anyway
>>Keep reading “A town with no cars”

…on a mission from God The best movie car chase for my money is not Bullitt, not Vanishing Point, not even The French Connection.  For a virtuoso display of evasive driving,  there is no equal to the fabulous Blues Brothers classic mall chase – and it has the best music as well.  The Brothers’ ex-cop car with “cop shocks and cop springs” was made for the job.

There’s a serious point to this – living off-grid, never rely on the cops to bail you out if there’s trouble – whether from local rednecks who just don’t like you all the way up to marauding gangs.  In the event of a major social collapse, they will come flooding out of the cities looking for your food and water, so better get ready with this eight point plan:
>>Keep reading “How to evade pursuit vehicles”

How they used to look Universal Digital radio (DAB) hasn’t reached the US yet, because of Sirius and other satellite services.  

In the UK,  the switchover has begun, and as well as getting all the BBC channels, listeners can receive obscure stations nationally such as Passion for the Planet or the Parliament channel. The benefit is perfect clarity, but the new generation of digital radios can be energy hogs.
>>Keep reading “Low energy radio”