Thursday 9 February 2012

The climate: still crazy

It is of course ridiculous that we still have to point this out, but despite the ongoing decline in global media coverage, climate change is still, you know, happening. In a really bad way. However, there is still some cause for hope, thanks to the general amount of uprising going on around the world at the moment - one of the most important things that needs to happen to solve the problem is a shift in power away from big, profit-driven corporations and financial institutions, and back towards ordinary people.

I've written a short article to this effect for the Global Herald, and you may well see me popping up in various other places over the next few months to say similar things. It's really important - if we're going to make 2012 another much-needed year of climate activism - that we both understand the mess we're in but also understand the potential for change that is unfolding all around us.

Other things I'm up to at the moment:

* The No-Nonsense Guide to Climate Change is about to be released as an e-book, so I'm doing various talks and workshops around the country to promote it (see my other blog for a full list of upcoming appearances and gigs). I'm also keen to get mentions and reviews in blogs and other publications out there - if anyone has any suggestions, they'd be very welcome!

* I'm doing carbon footprinting work for Oxfam and Christian Aid. I'm thinking about taking on more work in this area (particularly relating to the carbon footprints of charities and NGOs) so please do drop me a line if this is relevant to you.

* I've got a few new poems in the works (check my other blog for upcoming gigs). In the meantime, videos of some old classics can still be seen here, here, here and here.

* I have a few schools appearances coming up, but not too many at the moment - if you'd like me to come and run interactive eco-poetry workshops at your school, please do get in touch (and see this page for more info).

* I'm doing some work for the UK Tar Sands Network on the future of fuel - what are the alternatives to burning fossil oil, and what would an oil-free future look like? Watch this space for developments!

* We're starting to line up some possible festival dates for our cycle and solar powered performance stage "Cyc du Soleil" - again, more information to follow.

That's probably enough of an update for now - keep warm everyone (in a low-carbon fashion) and I hope to see you (and the Spring) soon!