Birmingham Friends of the Earth have announced a walk-run marathon along six regional canals called the Birmingham Canal Canter.

The fund-raiser, co-ran by Heart of England Long Distance Walkers Association, hopes to raise £10,000 on September 18th with up to 250 walkers on the day, passing the Worcester Canal amongst others.

“This is not just another “race for climate change”", the official press release reads. “It’s the official non-nuclear one!!!”

The money raised from the event will be put towards the salaries of campaign support workers who volunteer with BFoE.

The entry fee is £8 but sponsorships over £100 will have their fee refunded.

She said: ‘We’ve had an abundance of both men and women in, who all love the finished result. I was amazed by the difference the products make having trialed them myself first.’

She said: ‘Our products are tested on vegetable skins, but many leading brands still test them on animals. It’s a shame that hairdressing has been around so long and yet the products haven’t changed.’

Yvette said: ‘We couldn’t have an eco-friendly salon and not be conscious of it in our practises. In the first week we were here, I only chucked out one small carrier of rubbish. Everything else was composted and recycled.’

‘The best part of my job is when a customer looks in the mirror and says she couldnít believe she could look that good. When you’ve got good hair, you don’t need make-up or posh clothes.’

She said: ‘All my family are really brainy. My brother lives in Japan working for Honda, and so I wanted to do well with what I’m doing.’

She said: ‘I had some great support from The Princes Trust, who gave me all the information I needed and referred me to my local council, who provides money for green ventures.’

She said: ‘I can not even bring myself to buy anything that isn’t organic now. The other day my boyfriend brought some Tesco value chicken home for tea and I could not even look at it.’

She said: ‘I’m really happy with how it’s going at the moment. I didn’t expect for it to get as much interest as it has done. A lot of people just aren’t aware of the effect we’re having on our environment, and if I can have just a small impact on people’s lives than at least I can say I’ve done my bit.’

The experts at Envirowise realised that the best way to reach businesses was throught the Internet. They decided to create a Virtual Tour, which they named as ‘Green-street’. State-of-the art technology was used to build the website. The technology allows individuals to experience the virtual exteriors of some organisations who have used environmental methods to cut-down on their carbon foot-print and energy consumption rates. . The initiative is aimed at educating other businesses about what they can do to cut down on resources.

The state of art 3 dimensional animations will show the exterior of five buildings, these include: Cost Cutters Arms, the Verte Restaurant, the Green Leaves Hotel, the Water Tower office block and the Efficient Engineering Company People will be able to access publications and reports detailing the different ways that they can reduce water consumption and energy.

Tim Robins, Envirowise Regional Manager for the West Midlands, said:

‘Research by Envirowise1 has shown that businesses in our area believe that using fewer raw materials, generating less waste and placing a greater emphasis on energy efficiency are all likely legacies of the recent recession. By exploring Green Street firms can easily find out how to make positive changes and save money, with help on everything from minimising lighting and heating, to more detailed advice on developing a formal environmental management system.’

He added:

‘We know the internet is an integral part of the business working day so we have created this new animated tool in order to make this free advice as accessible to local firms as possible.’

Businesses can visit the ‘Green Street’ at: www.envirowise.gov.uk/greenstreet

The green restaurant awards will celebrate and highlight the commitment that restaurants have made to cutting energy consumption, reducing waste and protecting the environment.

The awards will comprise of four categories: Waste Management, Energy Reduction, Staff and Community and Purchasing. Restaurants who have adopted green credentials are encouraged to apply.

There will be five awards within each category and a final award that will crown one restaurant the Green Restaurant of the Year.

The judges on the panel will include; Birmingham Mail’s restaurant critic, Paul Fulford, and representatives of Birmingham City Council, Marketing Birmingham and Be Birmingham.

A Council spokesperson, said: ‘Applications are being welcomed from restaurants who feel they have made their business greener and more environmentally friendly.’

The closing date for applications is on Monday 5 July.  If you require firther information, please visit: http://www.bebirmingham.org.uk/environmental

Annual statistics published by the British Beekeeping Association (BBKA) show an increase in the number of current members this year – 17,500 compared to the 2008-09 period of 14,000. The average number of hives per beekeeper has also increased from 3.9 to 4.7.

It was reported last month that the UK’s honey bee population suffered further decline this winter due to the severe weather conditions across the country.

Results of the  BBKA survey - asking members how many of their colonies of honey bees survived over the period November 09 - March 2010 -  also estimates the national loss at 17.3 per cent. Northern England faired worst with highest losses of 26 per cent whilst the lowest losses were recorded in the south-west at 12.8 per cent.

Commenting on the survey, Martin Smith, BBKA President, said:

‘This year’s losses show a small and encouraging improvement on the 19.2 per cent losses of 2008-09 and are much better than the disastrous 30.1 per cent revealed by the 2007-08 survey.’

With the picture in the Midlands region unclear; Birmingham Recycled visited South Staffordshire Beekeepers Association to talk to apiary manager Neil Leadbetter and membership secretary Phil Healy about how members’ colonies had faired over the winter and find out what could be causing the decline in honey bee numbers.

Here’s our interview with Neil Leadbetter and Phil Healy

The four charging points are the first of 36, which will be spread across Birmingham and Coventry as part of the CABLED project, where 110 vehicles are being tested by users across two cities.

The free charging points are housed in a specially designed parking bay on level one of Bullring’s Moor Street car park offering easy access to the centre via the Selfridges bridge link.

Charles Bradshaw-Smith, Head of Innovation at E.ON – and himself a participant in the CABLED project – said:

“It’s great that we’ve navigated to the second stage of this project bringing low carbon motoring to the streets of Britain’s own Motor City.

“We’ve got charging points right in the centre of Birmingham where they’ll be of most use to drivers. Electric cars are perfect for short commutes to work and for shopping trips to town – and we’re proud that by being the energy behind these charging points we’re making eco-driving even easier.

“In the next few weeks we’ll be rolling out more charging points in Birmingham and Coventry that will become part of a developing national network.”

Tim Walley, General Manager at Bullring, commented:

 “As the first location in Birmingham to offer electric vehicle car charging points, Bullring is helping to make eco-driving much easier and accessible to the public. It’s good to be part of what will soon be a national network ensuring that the number of electric vehicle drivers continues to rise.”

Cllr Timothy Huxtable, Cabinet Member for Transportation and Regeneration at Birmingham City Council, said:

 “This is a major landmark moment in the development of electric vehicle technologies in the city, it shows that the CABLED consortium means business and is the first step to a greater expansion throughout the city.”

 During the trial, a total of 340 vehicles will be tested across the UK, with 110 of those based in Birmingham and Coventry. The aim of the project is to find out how the cars are used – and when they need charging – to get a better idea of the driver’s experience of electrical cars.

The ‘Our Perry Barr’ campaign will be focused around the opinions and requests of those dwelling in the constituency, with the aim of making the area a better place to live.

Environmental concerns

The MP’s relationship with environmental issues is a difficult one to call. Various online voting records give evidence that the MP voted against laws to stop climate change in particular.

Mr Mahmood dispelled these claims however, insisting that he has backed the laws in the past. He also gave insight into his stance on other environmental matters. He said,

‘I supported the Climate Change Bill and I was delighted that we were able to pass such a groundbreaking law, I am also a strong supporter of the hunting ban and will fight against any moves to repeal the act. I am, however, a supporter of nuclear power and I make no apology for this. It is the only realistic way of delivering clean fuel.’

Local work

The MP maintained that he has already done much to improve the environment in his constituency and wants to continue his work for the community. He stated,

‘In terms of local campaigning I have fought on environmental issues, often these are based on getting local problems resolved rather than on national topics.I have been greatly heartened by some of the progress over the last decade.’

‘Regeneration, especially in Lozells/Handsworth, has enhanced the environment of the area, in particular Handsworth Park has been transformed, Sandwell Valley has been opened up to greater access for local people and allotments in the area have gone from strength to strength. There is noticeably less graffiti and littering in the area and this has been partly as a result of the priorities set by local people for the police and council.

‘Our Perry Barr’

The ‘Our Perry Barr’ campaign revealed by the MP looks set to build on the work already started with the help of the local communities.

Mr Mahmood divulged that the campaign will be ‘officially launched’ in a few weeks’ time. He said,

‘the project is based on public input so it will be interesting to see what environmental concerns are raised by local people.’

He also urged residents of the Perry Barr constituency to put forward their views,

‘I am always keen to hear what ideas local residents have so just let me know and I will see what can be done to support them.’

Following a few stories on the music industry’s need to cut-down carbon emissions as a result of these festivals we thought we’d offer our readers some tips on how to help out and make your own festival trips more eco-friendly.

The Green Tent Company offers tents which can be easily recycled. Most tents are made from lots of different materials and it is therefore not economically viable to split them up and recycle them. The Green Tent Company make sure that all their tents are made in such a way that they can be easily recycled when they can no longer be used. The Green Tent Company is available for festivals across the country, including V Festival, Weston Park, West Midlands.

Getting there can be greener too with the Big Green Coach. Festival goers’ travel emissions account for a massive 45% of a music event’s carbon footprint, meaning that sharing a ride or getting on the Big Green Coach will make a huge difference.

The Big Green Coach also promises that for every full coach a donation will be made to Trees for Cities and a new tree will be built, helping to counter-act the pollution of larger cities and bringing a taste of the countryside into some urban settings.

For all your festival attire try Ascension and their range of fairtrade, organic and recycled clothing and accessories. They can provide it all from dresses and raincoats to summer hats and funky scarves. Ascension help to improve the lives of workers in poorer countries by sourcing fairtrade products but they also make use of designers and craftspeople in the UK so as to avoid shipping and flying products from further afield every time. They avoid using chemically treated materials which are harmful to the environment and make use of natural and sustainable alternative fibres that don’t require chemicals, such as silk, linen, hemp, nettle and even bamboo.

There are many things that festival-goers can do to help the music industry decrease its carbon footprint and if you don’t want to take any of the options mentioned here, simply clearing up your rubbish and taking your tent with you instead of leaving it in the field can make a big difference this summer.

McBride, is an international road-race star and is one of the UK’s most experienced racers, having taken part in the North West 200, Ulster GP, Macau GP and numerous classes in the Isle of Man TT races.

This latest race, however, puts McBride in lesser know territory. As a rider of a traditional 1000cc motorbike, which weighs around 165 kilos and produces up to 200 brake horsepower, McBride must now get used to an electric motorbike for the clean-emission TT Zero race. McBride comments:

“On my 1000cc bike we’ve been speed-trapped at 185-190mph down Sulby Straight – the fastest part of the TT course. With the electric bike in comparison, we have around 40 brake horsepower and a top speed of around 112mph. Riding it is very different as we only have one gear.

“It’s also different for the spectators, who are used to the sound of an engine at high-revs and with a loud exhaust to give maximum performance. Instead, there’s a quiet, laid-back ‘whizz’ of just the chain and the noise from the tyres!”

So it seems that the electric motorbikes don’t just cut down on carbon emissions, but also noise pollution. The one-lap TT Zero race will take place on Wednesday 9 June at 4:30pm.

Tony Way, Managing Director of The Green Insurance Company says:

“The link-up between James, the team, TT Zero and The Green Insurance Company is a marriage made in heaven. The Green Insurance Company is for motorcyclists and drivers who want more than just low-cost insurance and we’re committed to supporting eco-friendly racing in every way we can.”

The Green Insurance Company is available to customers directly or through Birmingham based broker Express Insurance Services Limited.

Canadian Tar Sands and forests are being dug up in the search for oil, and its not very ‘green’.

As well as containing tar, sand and other residue that require a massive amount of processing; the massive amount of deforestation that is taking place is creating a huge carbon footprint.

But before you think this is just an American issue, Greenpeace  announced three weeks ago, that this Dirty Oil is now being used in British, and Brummies, cars.

Phil Burrows from Birmingham Friends of the Earth is concerned about this of this second low-blow to the oil market:

“Not only is it having a massive negative impact on the environment, the natives that live on these Tar Sands are being forced out of their homes by this deforestation.”

Phil, a member of The Birmingham Co-Operative Film Society, thinks the best way to get people to see just what is happening over in Canada, is to show them.

On Thursday June 10th, at The Co-Op’s Member Centre by BCU’s Conservatoire campus, the film Dirty Oil is being played.

“This is the only place in Birmingham to see the film and I urge everyone to go and see it. Something needs to be done about this oil and people need to know what they are putting in their cars.”

Birmingham Friends of the Earth want to see a switch back to conventional and renewable sources of oil, despite these tar sands being the second biggest reserve of oil.

So, apart from seeing the film, what else can you do to combat this Dirty Oil?

Phil suggests writing to MP’s and MEP’s, using your vote to say no to tar sands and joining ethical pension schemes.

Dirty Oil is being shown on Thursday 10th June at 7pm.

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