Back to the green lifestyle index

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EDUCATION:

Too many people feel trapped in employment which is wearing them out, creating stress or even making them ill. One common route out of this situation is to use distance learning to acquire different skills or qualifications. Do internet searches to find out what distance learning options are available in Further and Higher Education.

Studying whilst working may help you to avoid the huge debts students tend to accumulate at present. The Green Party supports a return to a system of student grants as part of attacking the personal debt crisis in this country.

ELECTRIC BICYCLES AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

http://www.electroauto.com  http://www.tidalforce.com  http://www.evt-scooter.de  http://www.solarsailor.nl  http://www.myebike.com  http://www.electrictransport.net  http://www.ebikesnw.com  http://www.etraction.com  http://www.velomobile.de  http://www.ecospeed.net  http://www.dahon.com  http://www.bionx.ca  http://www.bicycle-power.com  http://www.solarmobil.net  http://www.solarwaterworld.de  http://www.feelgoodcars.com  http://www.rqriley.com  http://www.solomontechnologies.com  http://www.shortcircuit.com.au/EVCA/HOMEPAGE.HTM  http://www.granturismomobility.com  http://www.zapworld.com  http://www.powabyke.com  http://www.sunswift.com  http://www.sunversy.de  http://www.eddos.com/solarcycling  http://www.electrichorse.co.uk  http://www.elbil.no  http://www.heliev.gr  http://www.apve.pt  http://www.evthai.com  http://www.egovehicles.com  http://www.e2v.co.uk  http://www.itiselectric.com  http://www.biketec.ch  http://www.ihpva.org  http://www.elweb.info 

http://www.a-e.ch  http://www.kta-ev.com  http://www.electroportal.com  http://www.nedra.com  http://www.revaindia.com  http://www.avere.org  http://www.acev.fi  http://www.twike.ch  http://www.greenspeed.com.au/special.htm  http://www.elcat.fi  http://www.evparts.com  http://www.eveez.com  http://www.idbike.com  http://www.ecopowertechnology.com  http://www.aae.it  http://www.alel.biz  http://www.solarcycle.net  http://www.seiko.net.tw  http://www.kewet.com  http://www.haveblue.com  http://www.wildernessenergy.com  http://www.velomobiel.nl  http://www.velomobiles.net  http://www.danskelbilkomite.dk  http://www.evf-electric.fi  http://www.avere.org  http://www.citelec.org  http://www.greenmobil.de  http://www.megawattmotorworks.com  http://www.elektromobil.com http://www.sourceguides.com/energy http://www.aeva.asn.au 

~~}Convert your vehicle to an electric vehicle- classes, books, videos and consulting-  http://www.electroauto.com ..

~~}Women's classes on electric autos-  http://www.electroauto.com ..

EMIGRATION:

It is a sad fact that many people working in Britain would be better paid and have better conditions working elsewhere in Europe, or in other parts of the world. Emigration has long been a 'lifestyle' option - with people leaving Europe for many other parts of the world. Given the poor pay, poor working conditions and poor rights of employed people, it is a form of lifestyle choice people in the construction industry, teaching, lecturering, medical professions etc may well wish to consider.

The Green Party wants all forms of movement of people between countries to be legal, fair and safe. Decades of misrule by Conservative and Labour governments have not achieved this.

ENERGY SAVING:

Tips to save energy that will not cost you a penny:

1/ turn off the lights when you leave a room

2/ turn down the central heating by about 2 degrees and wear a pullover

3/ turn off the TV, Video, DVD and CD player manually -  don't leave them on standby.

4/ Dry your washing on the line and in the airing cupboard  - don't use a tumble dryer. They use a lot of electricity and are expensive to run.

5/ draw the curtains in the evening in cold weather to keep the house warm

Tips to save energy that will cost money but will pay their way in savings on your electricity and gas bills. Many of these attract subsidies

a)      Insulate your loft

b)      Install double glazing

c)      Consider cavity wall insulation  - most heat loss if through the walls of the house

d)      Consider installing solar panels or solar tiles on your roof

e)      Consider installing a mini wind turbine on your roof  - be careful they sometimes need planning permission

f)      When you get a new boiler make sure it is either a condensing boiler (much more efficient) or a CHP  - Combined Heat and Power boiler which will generate electricity as it heats your water and living space.

g)      As you replace your light bulbs get long life energy efficient bulbs. Not only do they use less electricity but the last longer as well 10 years and more - about six times longer than conventional light bulbs.

h)      Get a special energy saving plug for your fridge

i)      When buying white goods pay attention to the energy rating. A fridge with an A or B energy rating will cost more than one with a C or D rating but it will save you money on your electricity bill.

For further advice on energy saving and the availability of grants contact the Kent Energy Centre www.kentenergycentre.org.uk

Storing Renewable Energy for later use:

http://rpm2.8k.com  http://www.uptenergy.com/eng  http://www.activepower.com  http://www.piller.co.uk/energy.php  http://www.pentadyne.com  http://www.beaconpower.com/products/SolarInverterSystems/M5.htm  http://www.activepower.com  http://www.urenco.co.uk/flycylinder  http://www.afstrinitypower.com/apps/app_fut.html  http://www.tribologysystems.com  http://www.satcon.com/applications/estorage.html  http://www.magma.ca/~fesi/  http://www.amsuper.com/products/applications/windEnergy/index.cfm  http://www.mechron.com/hybrid.asp  http://ecmweb.com/mag/electric_cure_battery_blues/index.html  ..

Solar Heat Storage

http://www.iea-eces.org  http://www.orange-energy.de

Water Battery - economical energy storage for developing countries and for remote sites:

Use a Ram Pump to pump water to an elevated storage tank.  Then use the gravity of the water in the storage tank to generate electricity by using a Micro-Hydro generator.

http://www.gpe-waterpumps.com  http://www.microhydropower.com  http://www.watermotor.net  http://www.windmills.biz  http://www.sunpumps.co  http://www.greenandcarter.com  http://www.hi-ram.co.uk  http://www.riferam.com 

ELECTRICITY:

No one has to pay for electricity from non-renewable sources: choose from Good Energy, Ecotricity or Juice as renewable sources of electricity.

EXERCISE:

Exercise will keep you fitter and feeling more able to do the things you want to do. Evidence suggests that those who cycle regularly each week may live up to ten years longer than those who don't. Kent Green Party is happy to hear from more people to deliver our leaflets too. Ring 07747 036192 to offer assistance.

EXTENSIONS:

Many people buy a bigger house rather than extending their existing one. But an extension can be a tremendous loss of heat for your home if you are not careful. Check with the Kent Energy Centre for advice on how to make your conservatory or extension energy efficient: www.kentenergycentre.org.uk One way to extend your property is by returning to the practices of the past: does your home offer the opportunity of creating a cellar?

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FAIR TRADE:

Do buy fair trade goods to help producers in poorer countries, especially tea and coffee and other items not obtainable in Europe. Do buy locally-produced foods and goods whenever possible.

FICTION:

Some green fiction books worth reading:

Ernest Callenbach - Ectopia Emerging

Ernest Callenbach - Ectopia

FILMS WORTH SEEING:

Brassed Off [a black comedy about the Miners' Strike of 1984-85]

A Breed Apart [an eco-thriller, about hunting and conservation in the American south]

The Emerald Forest [about the destruction of the Amazon rain forest, made with the assistance of indigenous people who live there]

Thunderheart [a harsh tale of the lives of native Americans in the contemporary US]

FLOODING:

Flooding is increasingly becoming a problem in the South East. We can all help in various ways to minimise the danger of flooding. We should not concrete over the front garden in order to park the car. If you really feel you have to sacrifice the garden to a car parking space then it can be made with hollow paviers so that the rainwater can still be absorbed to some extent by the sand/ gravel mix between the paviers.

If you think you live in an area prone to flooding then make sure you are on the Environment Agency flood warning list. You may also be entitled to free sandbags from your local council in times of particular risk.

When building extensions or outbuildings make proper provision for rainwater drainage. If at all possible install a rain water butt and make good use of your harvested rain water on the garden or your indoor plants In a large garden, install more rain water butts according to your needs.

It is becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to get insurance for homes which are in the designated flood plain. It is a good idea to check the web site of the Environment Agency when buying a new home to make sure it is not in the floodplain.

Useful websites

Environment Agency www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Kent County Council www.kcc.gov.uk

FOOD:

We all need food: no one actually needs a supermarket. Obviously, it is sometimes difficult to find alternatives. We recommend: using your nearest farmers' market to buy good quality local foods; finding and joining your local organic vegetable box scheme which will cut your annual spending on vegetables significantly as they are really good value for money; going to major good food outlets such as the Goods Shed or Canterbury Wholefoods in Canterbury, periodically. When you are going out, try to support independent restaurants or take aways.

FREEDOM:

Both the Conservative and Labour parties, when in Government since 1945, have undertaken many steps which reduce our freedoms and centralise Government. Even the recent creation of the Scottish Parliament, and the assemblies in London and Wales, offer very little power to these areas. The Green Party supports more powers for local government with a larger share of the public spending 'cake' and regional governments throughout England with real powers. We oppose ID cards, internment without trial and undemocratic electoral systems like the voting system we use for general elections. We believe that the House of Lords and the House of Commons should both have elections using proportional representation. Both the Conservative and Labour parties use 'whipping' systems which means their elected representatives in Parliament and elsewhere are compelled to vote for things they do not believe in, or face attacks or even de-selection by their own party. This is not democracy, and no one should ever vote for these parties.

FUEL SAVING:

Cut the fuel use and emissions of your car significantly. See www.powerplus.be for details.

ORGANIC VEGETABLE DIESEL FUEL:

http://www.plantdrive.com  http://www.biodieselwarehouse.com  http://www.ebb-eu.org  http://www.agropower.biz  http://www.oilpress.com  http://www.biofueloasis.com  http://www.rerorust.de  http://www.biodrive.ch  http://www.ufop.de  http://www.greasecar.com  http://www.dieselveg.com  http://www.vegetableoildiesel.co.uk  http://www.utahbiodieselsupply.com  http://www.biodiesel-intl.com  http://www.pflanzenoel-motor.de  http://www.solaroilsystems.com  http://www.vegoilconversions.netfirms.com  http://www.greaseworks.org  http://www.biodiesel.org.au  http://www.vegburner.co.uk  http://www.biodieselnow.com  http://www.fmso.de  http://www.aldabiodiesel.co.uk  http://www.boulderbiodiesel.com  http://www.solaroilsystems.com  http://www.elsbett.com  http://www.biofuels-sa.com  http://www.mrfunnel.com  http://www.ybiofuels.org  http://www.gobluesun.com  http://www.veggiepower.org.uk  http://www.greasel.com  http://www.svo-system.com  http://www.biodiesel-intl.com 

http://people.freenet.de/sthl  http://www.petrotec.de  http://www.oregonbiodieselworkshop.com  http://www.localb100.com http://www.grownfuel.com http://biodiesel.infopop.cc http://www.mauirecycles.com  ..

book: "From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank"  author: Joshua Tickell  http://www.abebooks.com

~~}Run your diesel on used cooking oil. Fill your gas tank at fast food restaurants.

~~}heating buildings with organic Vegetable Diesel Fuel -  http://www.homepower.com ..

/==}Convert your vehicle to use organic vegetable oil as a fuel -  http://www.plantdrive.com  http://www.biodieselwarehouse.com ..

FUNERALS:

There are over 130 green burial sites in the UK. A more personal occasion and a contribution to the environment including new trees is possible with a green funeral.

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GARDENING:

See also ALLOTMENTS & COMPOSTING above

GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD:

Salad sprouts: Fresh sprouts are rich in minerals and vitamins and can be grown quite easily on a kitchen windowsill.

Sprouts can be grown from a wide range of seeds. Alfalfa and mung beans (Chinese bean sprouts) are the most popular, but most beans, lentils and many seeds can be sprouted. However, the larger beans do not sprout so well. Chick peas will sprout but soya beans are difficult. Red and green lentils will sprout.

The best way to grow your own salad sprouts is to buy one of the many sprouters on the market which will come with full instructions. Sprouts can be grown in sunlight or shade  - the ones grown in the sun will be crispier. All that is needed is regular watering.

You can have fresh sprouts within as little as four days in the summer when temperature and sunlight is at its best. The beans or lentils need to be soaked for twenty four hours to give them a good start. After that they are spread into the sprouter and watered twice daily until large enough to eat. Simple and nutritious.

Organic gardening: Modern gardening uses far too many chemicals. Not only are they bad for wildlife, but also for human health. Organic gardening works with nature not against it, it is based on the cycle of life -  using waste products from the garden itself to boost fertility and creating a natural balance.

Major components of organic gardening are composting (see separate section on composting above) and rotation. Composting ensures that gardening reuses its own waste material to boost fertility so that almost nothing is lost, everything is re-cycled. This conserves precious minerals which the garden needs to feed on.

Rotation is mainly concerned with growing vegetables - no shop bought carrot ever tastes as good as a carrot pulled fresh from your own garden! By using crop rotation, the organic vegetable gardener minimises the incidence of natural pests such as club root in brassicas and eel worm in potatoes. This makes it unlikely you will need to use expensive chemicals to combat pests and diseases. Companion planting has a long tradition and can be effective at controlling pests. Books on companion planting are available.

However, should you have problems with pests in an organic garden there are natural methods of pest control. Defenders at Wye in Kent specialise in breeding the natural predators which feed on such pests as greenfly, slugs, red spider mite and others.

It is important to site plants where they will be happy and thrive. A plant which grows in a sunny climate is not going to thrive in a wet shady part of your garden. Plants which grow in the margins of ponds are going to be happy where it is shady or wet but not in an exposed sunny position.

Above all a garden should be there for your enjoyment.

A good source of information on organic gardening is the Henry Doubleday Research Association or you can visit their gardens in Kent at Yalding near Maidstone.
See: www.gardenorganic.org.uk  and www.hdra.org.uk/research

Another source of information is the Green Guide published by Swale Friends of the Earth.

Also worth investigating are:
www.seedypeople.co.uk is a seed swapping site
www.plant-traders.co.uk is a site for buying, selling and swapping seeds and plants

GREEN PARTY:

The only party worth belonging to, the only one with a real long-term vision for future generations and for our planet. See how to join elsewhere on this website.

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HEALTH:

The Green Party believe health promotion is the top priority for our health services. This also means that we take responsibility for our own health as much as possible, and get advice from our GP and health professionals when we need it. Long life and good quality of life with limited serious illnesses are strongly associated with good exercise. Cycling is a common factor in explaining why some people live a lot longer than others.

HUNTING:

No one in the UK need depend on hunting for their survival. Hunting is not part of any form of green lifestyle. The permanent eradication of all forms of hunting is a green value and Green Party policy. If it is wrong to torture or kill your neighbour's cat or dog, it cannot be right to do the same to foxes or other animals.