12 Days toward a carbon-free Christmas

From press release

On 11/12/06 Climate Action Network Nottinghamshire (CANN) [1], an alliance of local groups working together to achieve more effective action on climate change, released its twelve days of Christmas: a guide to a climate friendly Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas Pedals' [2] message to you is:
If you can, use a bike or walk for local trips this Christmas. This will make you feel healthier and cut down on transport emissions which are a major cause of climate change.

On the second day of Christmas East Midlands Friends of the Earth's [3] message to you is:
Try flea markets, antique jewellery and vintage clothing shops for gifts - you'll be giving a unique present, as well as recycling. Re-using items is a good way to cut down on the amount of waste we produce, which in turn can cut climate change emissions.

On the third day of Christmas Tearfund's [4] message to you is:
Take a strong bag with you when you're out buying presents - and use and re-use 'bags for life' whilst doing your food shopping.  Less plastic bags means less energy is used to produce them, and less waste ends up in landfill sites.
 
On the fourth day of Christmas OXFAM's [5] message to you is:
Buy that special someone a gift for Christmas that will help reduce carbon emissions, such as planting 25 trees in a developing community in countries like Kenya and Ethiopia - places particularly vulnerable to climate change. These trees also prevent soil erosion, provide shelter, and help some of the world's poorest communities become more self-sufficient. Choose from a huge variety of gifts at www.oxfamunwrapped.com.

On the fifth day of the Christmas Food Initiatives Group's [6] message to you is:
If you can, opt for locally produced food and drink. A traditional Christmas dinner using local and seasonal produce and bought from a local market or farm shop will help the local economy and cut down significantly on the "food miles", which contribute to climate change.

On the sixth day of Christmas Nottingham Friends of the Earth's message to you is:
Choose cards and wrapping which contain recycled paper. Send a Friends of the Earth Christmas Ecard instead of an expensive paper one, recycle any cards you receive and check that your council recycle real trees. Less waste means less energy consumption which will help combat climate change.

On the seventh day of Christmas Hockerton Housing Project's [7] message to you is:
The best ways to save energy are often simple. Make a habit of turning everything off at the switch before you go to bed, including the xmas lights. And for a New Years' resolution why not check the insulation in your loft & around your hot water tank and add some more. You will save energy & money, reduce pollution and keep warmer over the coming winter.

On the eighth day of Christmas Christian Aid's [8] message to you is:
This Christmas, why not buy someone a gift from Christian Aid's Present Aid catalogue and help people in the developing world cope with the effects of climate change. [9] You could buy tree saplings to help stop erosion, or a solar panel to help medical clinics save thousands of lives. Go to www.presentaid.org or call 01530 417522 for a catalogue.

On the ninth day of Christmas World Development Movement's [10] message to you is:
This Christmas, give someone that special train ticket. Don't fly if you don't have to.One person taking a return flight from London to New York emits 6 times more carbon than the average Zambian produces in a year. [11]

On the tenth day of Christmas Reverend David Fudger's (Diocese of Southwell) message to you is:
That as we celebrate the coming to earth of God to live alongside humanity in his fullness this Christmas we may take on the full responsibility of caring for the Earth that God stewards us to love, may it start within our churches and faith communities this Christmas and New Year.

On the eleventh day of Christmas Health In Your Environment's (HIYE) [12] message to you is:
HIYE wishes you a happy Christmas and a healthy new year. Perhaps your New Year resolution could include a commitment to improve your health and environment in 2007? Come along to one of the forthcoming HIYE/CANN Climate Change lectures to better understand the issues - look out for notice on our website.

On the twelfth day of Christmas Global Action Plan's [13] message to you is:
Thinking about a New Year's resolution why not: Join Nottingham's growing EcoTeam community! Meet other EcoTeamers  in your area.  Do your own EcoAudit. Share ideas with your EcoTeam .Take the steps that are easiest for you. Reduce your own carbon footprint. Have fun!

FIVE FESTIVE FACTS AND FIGURES

• In 2004 we sent around 744 million Christmas cards. If all these were recycled instead of thrown away, it would help to save the equivalent of 248,000 trees.
• More than 8,000 tonnes of wrapping paper will be used on Christmas presents, using the equivalent of approximately 50,000 trees. Last Christmas, DEFRA estimated that 83 square km of wrapping paper ended up in UK rubbish bins.
• A typical Christmas dinner made from imported ingredients travels over 24,000 miles. A similar dinner made from a UK farmers market typically travels 376 miles (Source: Environment Agency)
• The main source of the extra rubbish at Christmas are packaging and cards, glass bottles, drink cans and Christmas trees, all of which can be recycled (Source: Environment Agency).
• Households will produce approximately 160,00 tonnes of food waste this Christmas - that's the equivalent of an extra bin bag of leftovers and peelings for every UK home (Environment Agency).