Blog

Eco Hero: Julia Hailes

Anna Guyer | 08.03.10

If working for sustainability of our planet was an Olympic sport, Julia Hailes would be on the podium with a green medal. A tireless advocate for an eco-friendly lifestyle, she dedicated herself to environmental issues long before anyone ever knew it was important, or that we would need to think about it, or it became the fashionable status symbol that some consider it to be today.

The list of her contributions on social, environmental and ethical issues is too long to list here, but you might know her as the author/co-author of nine books on green living, including the best-selling Green Consumer Guide published in 1988, which sold over a million copies.

That book and it's 2007 sibling, The New Green Consumer Guide, serve as veritable bibles of how to live your life in a responsible and green way. Julia highlighted green issues and wrote about solutions before sustainability was a word on the public or boardroom agenda.

As a modern day Robin Hood, Julia leverages the grown-up salary she makes as a green consultant for some of the biggest companies in the country, so she can work for the smaller, less wealth-laden causes about which she is passionate. Currently, she's particularly fired up about supermarket refrigeration and resomation (an alternative form of cremation using water and with less impact on the environment).

I am work-shadowing her at the moment to learn more about sustainability - and on how to be superwoman. I've seen her turn up in comfy clothes, disappear into a public loo at a station, and emerge in smart clothes and quirky boots ready to take on the world. I sit, listen and learn while she tells clients or the minister or the councillor or whomever exactly what she thinks, how it is and what they need to do about it.

She connects people. She is pragmatic. She makes me laugh. She is an inspiration and she shows that you can stay true to your beliefs. She's my Eco Hero, and here are her answers to our Eco Hero questionnaire.

1. How would you describe yourself?

I describe myself as a campaigning consultant. Also, because I do lots of different things I summarise it by saying that "I wear many hats but they're all green.'

2. What is your mission?

Making a difference. When I co-founded SustainAbility with John Elkington, in 1987, we decided that the values of the organisation were like a three pronged stool, with all the prongs being equally important. They were to make money, make a difference and enjoy ourselves while we were doing it. I think that's still a pretty good approach to my work.

3. What do you care passionately about?

Saving the rainforests. It tears my heart out when I see chainsaws ripping through the forests, orangutans clinging to wrecked trees or swathes of tree stumps stretching into the distance. It was my concern for the rainforests that got me into the environmental field. Now I work on a huge range of issues and I'm passionate about many of them. For example, it might be strange to feel passionate about waste but I do. We've become such a disposable society where products and resources are consumed like there's no tomorrow. This has to change.

4. Why is green/eco so important?

Because it's all about the world we're living in. I don't want to live in a brown and dead landscape or in a society like the TV programme Survivors where everyone is at war with each other. Actually, I thought the film Avatar illustrated the contrast between an industrial and consumerist society vs. a green community that values nature. Most of us would prefer to be in the Avatar camp.

5. What is the next big challenge?

Read more

Eco Heroes | Share +
green, environment, eco, new green consumer guide, julia hailes

Who wears the green trousers in your house?

Anna Guyer | 26.03.10

Men may be from Mars and women from Venus, but whatever truth there is in that divide between the sexes may be biodegradable when it comes to who drives green living in a household - my own house being a case in point.

There seems to be a prevalent belief that women are the green advocates at home, from recycling to saving water to canceling EDF in favor of a green electricity supplier. That is so not the situation in our relationship, which leads me to wonder: is it just a myth that women are usually the domestic eco leaders, or are we an anomaly?

I have the feeling it's the former, though I'd be interested to know your experience.

Matthew, my smart and wonderful husband, is an my Eco Guardian, there are no two ways about it. He is the one who ensures that our family lives as environmentally-friendly as possible and he walks the walk, from raising the chickens to growing our veggies to teaching our children about the importance of protecting our planet.

His role brings enormous benefits and interesting challenges. I was not a natural. As much as I believe in green, I have to work at living it. Matthew would be happy with a wooden hut for a home. I would not. He doesn't enjoy or crave expensive consumer luxury items, taxis, dinners out, new clothes, hairdryers. And I, well, sometimes I struggle.

My biggest challenge in living with Mr. Green Jeans is that he suggested that we make a commitment not to fly. A single airline flight would so drastically reverse any progress we make to keep our carbon footprint low, that air travel is out of the question and off the agenda.

I understand it, but oh, is it difficult sometimes. I do still find myself yearning for a mini break in the sun or daydreaming of a luxurious holiday somewhere tropical with white sand and turqoise sea. But I know it is not to be.

I've built my career around advocating eco issues, and I feel it's vital that everyone do their part to protect the planet. I guess reversing years of non-eco conditioning from childhood has just taken me longer than others. Maybe that's one of the reasons I was led to meet and marry Matthew.

Rachel Halliwell wrote in the daily mail a couple of weeks ago that her husband is an "eco bore," which is what got me thinking about the green men I know. I wouldn't call Matthew an eco bore. I say he's a sort of eco guardian, and really, he's my eco conscience. He can rattle off facts and figures about the environmental impact of things, which in actual fact is a big help to me at home and at work. It helps me, and it is good for the children to grow up aware of the impact that we have on the planet.

His commitment to green living is monumental, highly ethical, admirable, and sometimes challenging... and I love him for it.

What's the story in your house? Who wears the green trousers? Would love to know.

Green Living | Share +
green living, eco, sustainable, air travel, rachel halliwell, the sexes

10 Green Christmas Gift Ideas They’ll Love

Sally Hill | 07.12.10

As you get ready for one of the happiest and most relaxing times of the year, we hope you'll spend a little time Christmas shopping, but as much as possible among family and friends.

This list provides some gift ideas which are easy to get hold of and won't cost the earth. There's no compromise on quality with these earth-friendly (and people-friendly) treasures.

We figure, if you must celebrate with presents, they may as well be ecological and respectful to the planet - and they're all the more lovely for it.

Merry Christmas!

Read more

Green Living | Share +
green, eco, rapanui, green people, christmas, chicken coop, to dry for, hu2 design, folksy, nogg

Eco Hero: Thomas Ball

Matilda Lee | 03.08.11

Thomas Ball is a campaigner through the eye of a camera lens. He ventures to places where extraordinary things are happening and where the planet is under threat - and records the story through the most amazing photography. Thomas funds his campaigning documentary work through providing photography for ethical and sustainable corporates. If you are looking for an inspiring photographer - check out his site.
 

What inspires you?

My greatest inspiration comes from my late mother and the strength she showed whilst fighting cancer. She showed me that even during the darkest and toughest times one must be thankful for what they have and to cherish family and friends. When I’m caught up in the stresses and strains of work, I think of how she squeezed everything she could out of life and how much she gave to others. Her example has been a continued inspiration to me.

What makes you angry?

The perceived need for perpetual growth. I understand the economic principle behind why we’re supposed to sell more, grow more and buy more, but I am angered that we can’t seem to break the cycle. Why is a seemingly successful company deemed to be failing if they haven’t sold more than they did the year before? It’s not that I want the world to stagnate, but it maddens me that we’re on this treadmill of consumption with very few options to get off it.

If you were Prime Minister, what would be the first thing you'd change?

I would hate to be Prime Minister! I think even the most well meaning individual would find they are fighting against a wall of bureaucracy and the power of vested interests.

In saying that, if I did take up the job I would set up a large innovators fund for renewable energies. There are lots of existing funding structures for companies already, but they are complicated and can be very difficult to access. I’d want to help those with a more radical approach to have the support they need to try out their ideas, and if they work, to get their company off the ground.

I would also bring in a plastic bag levy. It’s a simple piece of legislation that can have big impact. I grew up in Ireland and I remember when the law was introduced there in 2002. It quickly cut their use by over 90%. The revenue raised by the tax could be used to fund research into more biodegradable plastics or other environmental programs.

Can individuals really make a difference?

Yes of course they can!

It obviously helps to be connected and have powerful friends who can change laws, but our actions, no matter how small, can make a difference. Simple things like recycling more, installing a water butt, composting at home and insulating your house; when millions of individuals take these small actions, they add up to make a big difference.

On top of this, we now have a plethora of social media platforms at our fingertips, that we can use to shout about what we’re doing and get others involved. Through blogs, Twitter and Facebook, we can get our viewpoints across, garner support and communicate with like minded individuals faster and easier than at any time in the past. It starts with the individual and grows from there.

What’s more urgent: changing things from the inside or starting a revolution on the outside?

I think it should be a combination of both. We need organised and vocal outside pressure groups combined with strong and inspirational leaders from within. For instance, groups like UK Uncut are doing great work at getting out on the streets to vocalise their discontent at corporate tax evasion, but ultimately their cause needs help from MP’s within government who have the strength and courage to bring about legislation to actually stop it.

What is the best meal you’ve had in your life? Cooked by whom? Eaten with whom?

I’ve been fortunate to eat at some very nice restaurants and have sampled many culinary delights over the years. However, the meal that sticks out in my mind the most is the one my partner cooked for us recently. It was a simple but very tasty quiche and salad. It was one of our first meals where the majority of the ingredients were produced at home. The eggs were kindly supplied by our lovely new chickens Lucy and Ella and all the vegetables came from our garden. It’s hard to beat the taste of food that you know has only traveled a few feet to your plate.

Can you describe a typical work day?

What I love about being freelance is that I rarely have a typical day at work. I thrive on the variety of my work and not knowing exactly what lies around the corner.

One day I can be doing a shoot for a magazine or newspaper, while the next I’m away producing work for one of my own documentaries. When I’m not out with my camera, I generally work from my office at home in North London where I can be found spending hours editing images, applying for funding or doing research for my next personal project.

How do you define success?

When I was younger I would probably have defined success by how much money I earned and the job I had. However, my perspectives have changed since then.

I think a sense of one’s own success should come from being comfortable in your own skin and feeling pride in how you live your life and the work you do. Without meaning to sound trite, I think managing to stay true to yourself and achieving your personal goals are much more important than worrying about how much you earn, the house you live in and the car you drive.

What’s the best advice anyone’s ever given you?

When I was indecisive about moving to London in 2006 to focus my career on photography, my boss at the time told me that “the best decisions are often the hardest to make”. It wasn’t specific advice exactly, but it’s a motto that’s stayed with me and helps me to push myself when I have an option between the easy or the difficult route.

What’s your favourite book or film of late?

My favourite book that I’ve bought recently is The Ruins of Detroit by Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre. It’s a disturbingly beautiful set of photographs documenting the decaying urban fabric of this famous American city.

I also recently saw a documentary film at the photo festival Les Rencontres d’Arles by British filmmaker Trisha Ziff called The Mexican Suitcase. It’s about the loss (and eventual rediscovery) of a set of negatives shot by photographers Robert Capa, Gerda Taro and David Seymour during the Spanish civil war. I’d highly recommend anyone with an interest in history or photography to go check it out when it comes to the UK.

More information:

Thomas Ball Photographer website

Eco Heroes | Share +
eco

What can you learn from the Guardian Open Weekend?

Richard Lemmer | 26.03.12

photo: Felix Clay

What was learnt from the Guardian Open Weekend:

1) That sandal wearing and lentil eating has been greatly over exaggerated.

2) Don’t be afraid to let other people do the hard work. Most of the weekend’s talks allowed for at least a third of their allotted time to be spent on questions from the audience. This led to interesting results. Decca Aitkenhead has admitted that using reader's questions to interview artist Grayson Perry proved to be more effective than her own ideas: “At the very beginning Perry had expressly asked not to be questioned about future projects – and yet (one) reader's hypothetical scenario got him talking about it, and produced the one news story of the session. Truthfully, I would never have asked that question. It is a sobering and rather confronting thought.”

3) Learn to love new technology. The humble written essay alone can’t compete with the hyperlinked, video-streaming web 2.0. Through the magic of the Twitter, we found out that @finbarjameson would have liked more entertainment between talks, and @RhiannonWilkins wanted more sessions with the Guardian journalists talking about their jobs. We also pitched in with our opinion to deputy editor @Iankatz1000, who said our wish for more panel debates at next year’s event will be noted. Time will tell if he was just being trying to embrace the Open ethos.

4) Even if you don’t get the results you want, sometimes the process can be fun and feel worthwhile. Greenhouse PR had its fair share of fun asking key decision makers direct questions. Zac Goldsmith told us he thought that the green movement needed to be united on some issues, such as ocean pollution, but there could be wide disagreement about other issues, such as the use of incinerators. In terms of answering our question (How can the green movement stop itself from fragmenting into an incoherent set of local organisations - is this just mixed messages rebranded as organic debate?), Goldsmith’s answer was as deep as a foot bath. But it left us feeling like we had engaged with the issue.

5) Every organisation should be doing something like this. The Guardian made it look relatively easy - a lot of hard work would have gone into a largely mishap free festival - but why can’t the same idea be applied more widely? Aside from the fact it produced useful content and ticket sales will have paid editor Alan Rusbridger’s salary for the year, the festival was fantastic PR for the Guardian as a brand. And as much as any loyal Guardian reader would hate to admit they are in love with a brand (no brands! down with capitalism!), the Guardian has a design aesthetic, an ethos, and a marketing strategy - ie. a brand. So why can’t other brands follow suit? The technology is available to allow any organisation to engage its users so that they are involved in the process. An open day, a Google+ hangout event, a mass-Skype chat - an event that blurs the distinction being user and producer is a simple way of crystallising this abstract idea of Open-ness into a genuine feeling of goodwill and positive activity.

In a world where anyone can be a few clicks away from the deputy editor of a website with over two million unique users per day, what organisation wants to be seen as Closed?

Social Media | Share +
green, eco, zac goldsmith, guardian open weekend, grayson perry, #gdnopenweekend

The Greenest Or Most Arrogant Government Ever?

Richard Lemmer | 30.04.12

Last week saw David Cameron make a few “remarks” on the environment at the CEM3 (Clean Energy Ministerial conference). For a man who clearly understands the power of PR, his choice of words were somewhat poor; the green movement was waiting for a key note speech, not a mode of address you would associate with cocktail party chit-chat. Somehow, Cameron thought he could explain that his government is the greenest in the entirety of British history - in less than ten minutes.

By making the claim, Cameron has set himself a huge task. Understanding the power of the green movement and the pressing need to deal with climate change, the prime minister understood he could save several birds with one bird feeder: detoxifying the nasty party by hugging a husky and urging voters to Go Green, Vote Blue. See below for Channel Four's entertaining Tom Clark showing us what huskies are really meant for. But for sheer sticking power, Cameron’s rhetoric and spin on green issues has been good, with his choice of words and images being reiterated by the media over and over. Unfortunately for him, his words seem to haunt him like ghosts with no substance, as Cameron struggles to live up to the expectation he has created. Last year, a Friends of the Earth report marked the progress of Cameron’s green policies: most of them were rated as moribund or showing limited progress. Also, if Cameron wants his green rhetoric to be taken seriously, he needs to stop jumping on the debt and deficit band wagon every time he mentions renewable energy. We have enough austerity vs green thinking rhetoric from George Osborne. As the ever discerning Damian Carrington has pointed out, the green economy now employs more people than teaching. There's no need for Cameron to hedge his green ambitions with worries about the deficit; the green economy is working.

But Cameron’s remarks regarding the environment expose a potentially greater PR misstep. A recent Guardian comment piece suggested that the prime minister’s problem is that he is creating the image of himself as an "arrogant posh boy." Cameron’s green government claim fits this image perfectly: he’s part of, like, the totally greenest government ever, yah?  And, of course, he sees it as "a very simple ambition." Forget the previous government making commitments to uphold Kyoto Protocol targets - Cameron's government is going to best that, and make it look simple. Cameron’s belief in his statement and the public‘s disbelief in the very same statement compound the public‘s feeling that the prime minister is out of touch.

People want a strong and confident leader. No one likes a naive and arrogant young man.

.

Eco Media | Share +
green, eco, david cameron, prime minister, cem3, greenest government ever, hug a husky, go green, vote blue