• Intro
• Global solutions
• Helping as an individual
• Green resources & ventures
• ECO friendly businesses

Since the 1980s O'WONDER has permanently kept environmental topics in the public eye, not just when it is fashionable to do so. On this page we do our part to raise awareness and suggest solutions to ecological issues so that you may remain informed and act accordingly.

Angry? So do something

The evolution of life, whether originating here on Earth or delivered by a passing comet, took place when environmental change occurred over milliona. Today, we are forcing change at a rate the natural world can not adapt to. This is having widespread consequences that are now obvious to people of all political pursusations around the world. There was no evil conspiracy, we just didn't know we were doing harm until recently. It is a matter of 'just in time!' thanks to technology (mainly developed by NASA) that allows us to monitor the environment from afar providing an ideal opportunity to make amends before it is too late.

NASA satellite photos taken 30 years apart and published by the United Nations Program for the Environment show the destruction of the rain forest in the national park of Iguazu on the Brazilian-Paraguayan border. (AFP/HO)

Political special interests are now using very crafty techniques to damage the reputation of educated individuals and groups who devote time to highlighting or dealing with matters ecological. Always question the motives of such people whose influence is at this time increasing due to a global political swing to the right. Those who are most responsible for damage to our environment often have the resources to climb a little higher up the hill away from the 'rising flood waters'. However, the threat cannot be swept under the carpet forever. Why become wealthy if in retirement there is nothing left to enjoy or the world becomes too unpleasant and polluted to provide a comfortable environment to live in? Imagine a world with limited incredible species to view and study - not to mention the right of such species to coexist with us.

The big blue ball is now in your court...

• Reduction and eventual ellimination of farmed fishing
• Reject biofuels by refusing to purchase or promote them. Beyond the threat to our food supply, here are the other reasons.
• Emergency plan to fast track alternative energy sources, in particular, solar power
• Food industry switch to reusable stainless steel containers for produce as an alternative to wasteful packaging that is quickly discarded by the consumer
• Introduction of wildlife corridors between areas of habitat so animals can migrate and breed safely
• Tax incentives for people to live within walking, skating or cycling distance of their place of work
• In areas of outstanding natural beauty or environmental sensitivity, encourage the local population (such as tribes in the Brazilian Rainforests) to profit from eco-friendly tourism or sustainable farming
• Discourage special interests from holding up environmentally friendly improvements to products
• Reduce the use of certain plastics and chemicals in products, in particular PCBs
• Improve the efficiency of public transport so that it becomes a pleasure to use, rather than a hindrance (adding rear exists on buses will make a big difference)
• Create an official global tree planting day
• Restrict outdoor advertising. At the owner's discretion, beam location based advertising into handheld and vehicle based wireless devices

1. Support this individual. © The New York Times 2007.
2. Support this family. It is interesting and worring that people who shun reliance on commodity power sources are being 'shut down'. Is most of the political talk of reducing our carbon footprint pure hot air? © The Times 2007.
3. Support this man, who is a pioneer being challenged by the oil industry hiding behind overreacting neighbors and attorneys. © CNN 2007
4. Drink tap water rather than bottled.
   • The contents of a bottle are often shipped a vast distance.
   • The container becomes garbage the moment you have sipped the last drop. If you are forced to buy a bottle of water, re-use the bottle, perhaps keeping it with you and re-filling it with tap water before setting out on a journey.
5. Wash your clothes at 30 degrees or less. Tough stains can often be removed by dealing with them quickly.
6. Build yourself an Earthship home. Not only will you feel proud of living in a home you designed and built, but you'll do your part to live a sustainable yet remarkably comfortable lifestyle.
   
   
   
   An Earthship home in Taos, New Mexico
   
   
7. Walk, skate or bicycle to work.
   1. Do you really need to drive?
   2. Do you really need to drive to the local shop?
   3. Do you really need to take public transport? Free it up for the elderly and those noisy kids.
8. Buy re-usable cloth shopping bag(s) for use at supermarkets, rather than plastic or paper alternatives. If supermarket staff offer you a plastic bag - even a recycleable one, give them that "do you really want me to suffocate a seabird?" scowl and hand them your cloth re-usable alternative.
9. Plant a tree...

Live in the USA? The trees you plant in the American Forests Global ReLeaf project make water clean and safe for drinking, boating, fish and wildlife. Every dollar plants a tree. Call (in USA) 1-800-545-TREE now. Plant 25 trees for $25 and receive a personalized certificate for you or your gift recipient. Call now or plant trees online at americanforests.org.

Live in London, England? Visit TreesForLondon.org.uk and make a donation to plant a tree in London.

10. Sign up for clean power, such as Green Mountain Energy (USA)
11. Reduce or eliminate the use of chemical cleaners around your home and bathroom. Using a sponge and hot soapy water will do the job and nature will deal with the rest. People didn't contract nasty illnesses years ago because their bathrooms were dirty -- the problem was they didn't have bathrooms!
12. Consider a hybrid or ultra compact car.
13. Reward those companies that care and make an effort. Avoid those that do not.

• Carbon Account, The
• Conservation International Foundation
• Council for the Protection of Rural England (UK)
• Celsias
• Ecologist (Magazine), The (UK)
• Environmental Defense
• Environmental News Network (ENN)
• Environment News Service (ENS)
• Fauna & Flora International
• Forest Trends Sustainable Forestry
• Future Forests (Calculate your CO2 production!)
• Get Green
• Grist Magazine (Eco News & Humor)
• International Solar Energy Society
• LEAF - Linking Environment and Farming (UK)
• Makemesustainable.com
• Masdar Initiative, The (Dubai) - NEW!
• Millennium Debate
• National Association of Farmers Markets (UK)
• National Recycling Coalition
• No Impact Man
• Save The Elephants
• Silent Air Initiative
• Solar Sailor solar powered ferry (Australia)
• The National Trust (UK)
• TreesForLondon.org.uk (Go donate now!)
• Weizmann Institute of Science - (Proponents of solar energy)
• What You Can Do
• Worldwatch Institute
• WWF
• ZapTrees (US)

• Club4Climate - NEW!
  • Dance to save the world!
• Co-op (UK)
• Chelsfield Solar (UK)
• DRI LUMETA Power-Ply 'stick on' solar panels - NEW!
• Green Mountain Energy (USA)
• Honda (Japan)
• Le Pain Quotidien (Cafés, UK)
• Nanosolar (USA)
• Nucor (USA)
• Paperfoam (Holland) - NEW!
• Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass
• Project Better Place
• Pyron Solar Efficient Solar Generators
• Quiet Revolution
• SolFocus ultra efficient solar collectors (California, USA)
• Solio solar power chargers
• Sunlight Direct Hybrid Solar Lighting
• Tesla Motors 100% Electric cars (California, USA)
• Toyota (Japan)
• Watergas

If you have some suggestions or wish us to mention or add a link or your Eco friendly product or service, touch base.