carbon reduction mandatory in the UK

A new scheme, Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme , will require businesses which use more than 6,000MWh/yr (roughly £500k per year) of electricity to reduce their carbon consumption.

Starting in April 2010, businesses which reduce their carbon consumption will be able to sell the excess allowances to those wishing to consume more.

This is the first ‘demand side’ carbon trading scheme in the world to effectively put a price on the consumption of carbon

This piece of legislation is groundbreaking. I think that growing concerns for the environment and becoming more sustainable have slowed down many companies trying to recovery from the recession. But investing in carbon reducing practices can save an organization a ton of money.

Matt Colebrook, chief executive of first direct said, "It makes good business sense to reduce our carbon emissions as we are achieving energy cost savings of around £200,000 each year. These savings have meant that we can become even more sustainable by reinvesting in further carbon reduction initiatives."

While I know that we all need to pull ourselves out of this economy, legislation like this is needed. Coming out of a recession, if done correctly, can be time of rebirth. If companies rise again with better practices financially, ethically and environmentally will be a major positive in the long run. If all countries would impose a mandatory carbon reduction legislation such as this scheme, it would change the world.

The Carbon Trust Standard Company, alongside first direct, Adam Woodall of People, Profit, Planet and green business expert Chris Goodall will be holding a webcast on 7th Dec at 12:30 pm for businesses wanting to find out more. Here’s the link to the webcast: www.cutcarbon.biz

How much do you know about the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme? Click here to take a poll for a chance to win a Wattson home energy meter. To be eligible to win, you have to fill out where you heard about the poll from and enter your email address.

my tweet cloud for the year

my top three words were: LOVE, HAHA, and COOL

hey, hey, hey…

…it’s FAT ALBERT!! Does anybody remember this show?? It was one of my favorites when I was little, along with the Cosby Show. I was even named after Phylicia Rashad.  Two great shows from one great guy. I’m a huge fan of Bill Cosby and while I’d love to reminisce about the past and when television was actually decent I really just wanted to share with everyone Bill Cosby’s plunge into social media.

I read on the NYTimes today about how Cosby has 8 ways to connect with himself on his new Web site www.billcosby.com. I think my favorite thing Bill’s people have created is his crazy sweater facebook app. You can upload a picture of yourself and put on one of his off-the-wall sweaters.

I say good for him, although I’m sure he’s completely overwhelmed and has about 10 people telling him how to work it all out. According to NYT, all this social media “who-ha” was started to promote his socially conscious hip-hop album. I agree with the concept, Mr. Cosby, but these days, sadly, “hip-hop” and “socially conscious” rarely go hand in hand.  Maybe you will be more successful than DMX…didn’t he try to do that?

I’m off to see how I look in one of these 80’s sweaters.

desperate to be a housewife

Every Wednesday when I leave the train station, I get handed a free weekly magazine: Stylist. Today’s front cover said, “Are you desperate to be a housewife” and I was thinking YESSS!! Well, maybe not really a housewife, but I think that working all the time is way overrated.

I know that I’m an intelligent woman and I don’t feel I need to work my ass off to prove it. I have a burning desire to experience life, to travel, help those who are less fortunate and be with my family- all these things are what life is really about. Unfortunately, this world no longer turns without money, money and more money. Hence, the need to work.

I know that a lot of woman 30 years ago put up some pretty tough fights so that woman may all be seen as equals and I salute them. Without them and the many women still breaking away the glass ceilings and such today, women wouldn’t have the opportunities we have.

I know that if I didn’t work at all, I would be bored.  I enjoy working and putting my gifts to use, but I wish there was more balance. I don’t think that working from 8 in the morning until 5-7 at night is a good work/life balance. That leaves me time to feed myself dinner, brush my teeth and head to bed. That’s a pretty unfair balance if you ask me.

Then the weekend comes. Most of Saturday is spent cleaning up crusty dishes I didn’t have time to do during the week (not mention didn’t WANT to do during the precious moments of time I had to myself) and doing all the shopping it was impossible to do.

I know that this dinky post isn’t going to the change the world, I only wish it did. I wish everyone wouldn’t see housewives as spoiled women who can afford the luxury of staying at home. I don’t even think being home should be seen as a luxury, it should be seen essential. I wish that it was possible to have a lucrative and successful career working only part-time, but this world demands more of you.

I just don’t want to work away my days like I watched my parents do (and still continue to d0) my entire life. I want to be able to have a garden and grow my own fruits and vegetables. I want to be able to go to the Friday markets in town. I want to be able to experience daylight aside from the 1 hour lunch breaks. I want to be able to enjoy the view from my home, because I only see it when it’s dark (in the morning when I leave and at night when I come back).

I don’t think that children should be the reason for women returning to part-time work, or should I say the society’s only “acceptable” reason. I want to experience this life BEFORE I have kids. I don’t want to have to wait until I have the huge responsibility of another human being.

I’m not saying that I don’t want to work. I love my job and what I do. I’m just saying I want to live life too, and to me life is so much more than 9-5.

I’d love to have my own business one day. Just a little shop of something, in a nice little town. No hurries, no rushing. Making just enough to get me by. Hmm, that sounds so peaceful…

What do other woman out there think? If you had the opportunity, would you work part-time? Or do you think you would be miserable and working is what makes you happy?

americanism

I just thought I’d comment quickly on this phrase that I seem to keep coming across. Of course, living in the U.S. you never hear the term, but now that I’m across the pond I hear it quite often. “It’s too American” or “Too much Americanism in this conference”, etc. Let me interpret: “It’s too peppy” “It’s too positive”…basically  ”I hate my life and all things that make me smile”. Well, maybe not the last one.

When I’ve asked people to explain, they say it means too positive, too upbeat, to fake, too cheesy… So I just want to get one thing straight. My love for life is real. My positive outlook on life is real. My love for humanity and always finding the good in people are real.

I refuse to take part in “Englishisms” (if I may borrow the crappy use of stereotypes). I will not complain about the weather. I will not talk bad about other people and I refuse to find the need to point out the negative of EVERY situation.

Now, some people may say that it’s the fake happiness they come across in America that they don’t like. I can explain that. You’ve probably encountered it in a restaurant. Apart from the fact that servers in restaurants do not accurately represent the rest of the country, in these situations, being nice pays the bills. The people serving you depend on  your tip. They make zero dollars an hour after taxes. When your survival is crucial on how well you please a fatty at your table, trust me, you’d be putting on a big cheesy smile too.

Anyway, I don’t think being optimistic is a problem, trust me, there are a lot of negative nancies in the U.S. too, it’s a personal choice. So to all you debbie downers who can’t stand “americanism” I leave you with one of my favorite quotes by Maya Angelou: “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

Hmm, now wasn’t that a cheery little post?

don’t hate, participate!

I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation that made me smile the other day when I was getting on the train in Leeds. Two people were discussing facebook and twitter. The man was saying something to the effect of mocking someone who was mentioning Twitter and woman was saying “FACEBOOK??” in a high-pitched condenscending tone. Then she said, “If you want to keep in touch with someone just call them up and go out for a drink.”.

While I agree with her in the sense that personal interaction, face-to-face is important, I think she’s missing out on the whole point. Social networks helps to keep in touch with people all over the world, whether it be friends or family. Interacting with people all over is like traveling thousands of miles in the seconds it takes you to sign-in. You can learn from all types, from all different backgroudns, from all over the world. The other thing about social networking that people like this woman don’t understand, is that relationships can be created, built and maintained through the online world. Many people have created friendships and business partnerships without ever having shaking hands (or hugging as I prefer). That’s the beauty of it all!

I wish I could urge these like-minded people to just give it a try, but they probably will never read my blog post and hence I’m preaching to the choir. Oh well. They will continue to live their lives through phone calls and pubs and  never make new relationships beyond their cul-de-sac.

social media works for polar politicians

The best thing, I believe, about social media (if done right) is that it’s raw. It can be pure and honest. That’s what a politician who’s been attacked by the press needs; a politician like Sarah Palin. I read an article that she’s become a facebook “phenom” and she is only second to Obama on friends and twitter followers (that is until she deleted her twitter after resigning).

Could Palin be the first really successful politician to use alternative means of communication to bypass the press? Is she only successful because she’s extremely polar? She doesn’t ride the fence, she’s a hard-core conservative. Palin certainly stirs up the water and a lot of people are interested in what she has to say- whether because they love her, hate or just want a laugh. I think that’s what it takes for social media to actually work for her or anybody for that matter. People have to WANT to read your facebook status or notes and WANT to see what you are twittering. She has more than enough interest in her that she can successfully get her message out without the media, especially the liberal media, twisting and skewing her message.  It’s also helped her go in depth on several different issues which may not have been possible through traditional media outlets who tend to interrupt, steer and manipulate.

Social media has allowed politicians,like Palin, to steer clear of the press, go about their lives, and still get there message out- how and when they want. It especially works for extremist politicians who are “demonized” by the press, those who know they have to bypass mainstream media to get their message out. It also allows the politician to guage people’s views and opinions. They can then use that feedback to address relevant issues or answer pressing questions.

One may or may not agree with Palin as person or a politician, but it can be said that she’s found a way to stay out of the limelight without being silent. She’s sent her message out, it’s her truth.

Ahhh, the joys of social media.

Atlantic Islander.

In the past two and half months I’ve moved to England, searched for a place to live, planned a wedding, got married and started working full-time. I’ve been quite a busy girl (hence the lack of blog updates). Hopefully, now, I’ll be able to keep up with all my blogging/twittering (especially since I’ve started work with Wolfstar, a public relations and social media consultancy).

It’s been a very interesting ride so far and since I always get the same question of how the two countries compare, I thought I’d make a short list of  my likes, dislikes, observations, etc so far.

Observations I like:

• Most people recycle
• I can go pretty much anywhere without a car
• People who drive massive SUVs aren’t “cool”. Well, they may think they are. The use of the term “Chelsea tractor” makes me smile.
• I don’t have to tip and if I do 10% is sufficient.
• I can drink water directly from the tap and it doesn’t taste like chlorine.
• Even though I work in a fairly large city, a 10 minute drive takes me to beautiful countryside.
• Senior Citizens are everywhere! I love that they are very active and society doesn’t shut them off like we do in the U.S.
• Even though I haven’t used it yet, I love the NHS

Observations I don’t like:

• There is a serious lack of good food. Even restaurants that people rave about seem mediocre when compared to food I’m used to in the U.S.
• People don’t seem to stick to one side of the sidewalk. If you drive on the left, you should walk on the left! I definitely end up walking in zig-zags all over the place and get some pretty evil stares. Oh well.
• On the surface, the population seems cold. (some have claimed that it’s just because English are more “reserved”) Maybe I’m just used to that good ol’ southern hospitality.
• Religion is almost non-existent for those 30 and under.
• WTF ENGLISH APPLIANCES!!!??? Stoves/ovens, washing machines, microwaves…etc.  They are so confusing!! Full of symbols and numbers and codes which all stand for something else. Half the time the symbols aren’t even recognizable, so you just end up in a lost stare hoping the machine can read your mind.

Neutral Observations:

• I find that there is a conflict of opinion in that many people have a general “anti-american” view (the one Obama mentioned in his euro-speech a while back), but when I tell people I’m from the U.S., they think I’m crazy for moving here and almost always say they’d love to live in the U.S. hmm. Here’s a secret: it’s not all beaches and sunshine, don’t take what you have for granted.
• Most seem to be very stylish and by stylish I mean wearing what’s “fashionable” now, but also very creative in what they wear, especially women. They are very bold and daring. I never saw that much in the U.S. unless they were on TV or in NY.

I’ve only been here a couple of months, so my observations may be ignorant. I’m sure my observation list will continue to grow as well as change.  As with everywhere, you take the good with the bad. Right now, I’m loving it here in the UK. I find that almost everyone I’ve got to know is nice and welcoming. I’m delighted about the chance to leave my bubble in the U.S., live in another country and learn about the world from another view.

Not So Happy Birthday

Today is Roxana Saberi’s 32nd birthday and she will be experiencing it in Tehran’s Evin Prison. A journalist whose love for the country and desire to break down stereotypes has led her into wrongful imprisonment.

On the news the other day, I saw an Iranian leader say that he would not release her even though President Obama promises she is not an American spy. He said that if Obama really wanted better relations with the country, he should respect his country’s legal processes and allow her to go through the system like everyone else.

Where is the line? It’s their country and she’s living in it. Though we know that the treatment is wrong and unjust, is it our place to demand action? I know many people that would should go in their fully armed and force them to give her up- but I live in the south where conservatism rules. If it was my daughter, or mother or sister that’s certainly what I’d want our country to do, but I’m not president. So I respect President Obama for his tough decision and have faith that he has the strength and intellect and integrity to do the right thing for our country.

Anyway, my prayers go out to her and her family and every other free speech believer that has been imprisoned there for not-so-popular opinions or even imprisoned there for no reason.

The good thing is that she is still alive and can see another birthday! The bad thing is that of her 6 years of work, I wonder, after this event, if her life has really broken down the stereotype?

I Feel How I Wanna Feel Forever

I am absolutely head over heels in love with the one God made for me and am so so excited that we are engaged and plan to get married later this year. My prince charming lives in England and our two different passports have been quite an obstacle. But love knows no borders and hopefully we’ll be together soon.

I have created a wedding website so that all of our friends and family can stay up-to-date with the latest happenings, especially the most important: the approval of my fiancee visa!!

So check out our cool site I put together: Edward and Phylecia’s Wedding Website.