National Downshifting Week:Saturday 21st to Friday 27th April 2007

Oops. Looks like I almost missed National Downshifting Week.

I came across this initiative this time last year just as we were looking for a house to move away from London to and I was keen to find resources and information about stepping towards a new way of living.

National Downshifting Week

Saturday 21st to Friday 27th April 2007

7 days –7 ways –to Slow Down and Green Up !

http://www.downshiftingweek.com/

I applaud Tracey Smith,Creator of National Downshifting Week,and her message:

“Making small and simple changes to your spending habits can have a positive impact on your purse,your health and well-being and it can also help the environment!

Companies and schools can benefit too by adopting these moneysaving principles and in doing so,they’ll help participants get on the right, green track.”

Activities for an Individual

• Cook a meal from scratch,using locally sourced,seasonal ingredients, preferably organic

• Cut up a credit card

• Donate a bag of clothes,toys or useful items to a local charity shop, refuge or recycling centre

• Hand-make a simple card for the next birthday or event on your calendar

• Eliminate 3 non-essential purchases this week

• Plant something in the garden you can cultivate and eat and start a compost heap

• Consider reputable work at home parents and small local businesses,for services you need

• Tonight, turn off the television,switch on the radio,play a few games and talk

• Volunteer an hour of your time to a local charity shop,animal shelter,hospice etc

• Book a half-day off work to spend entirely with someone you love,no DIY allowed

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“Excuse Me Mr Prime Minister…”

We are petitioning the Prime Minister to introduce a comprehensive Environmental/Sustainable Living lesson into the national curriculum,throughout nursery,infant,primary and secondary education.

[Ackers says:As someone who was trained to teach a Environmental Sustainable Living biased Education by a group of very dedicated and passionate lecturers at Warwick University I think this a fantastic petition to start and really hope that we can get loads more signatures so furture generations are equipped to manage the planet they reside on]

Please visit the No 10 Petition here and lend your support with a signature.

Children are the leaders of the future –let’s help them get on the right,green track,long before they step into adulthood.

Submitted by Tracey Smith of National Downshifting Week UK – Deadline to sign up by:17 April 2008 – Signatures:165

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Introduce ‘Sustainable Living &Environmental Awareness’lessons to our national curriculum for all pre-school,primary and secondary schools in the UK.

A nationally supported educational structure that raises environmental and sustainable awareness,would get all of our children on the right,green track before they step into adult life.

Elements should include:- how to compost,seasonal cooking from fresh (which should never have left the curriculum),basic fruit and vegetable cultivation,what’s in our hedgerows,better interaction via a revival of non-electric games,natural cleaning without chemicals,balancing your cheque book/living within your means,simple renewable energy and promotion of volunteering in our communities,amongst others.

Children are the leaders of the future and would benefit from proper ‘life-lessons’offering real guidance –let’s take the ‘freaky out of eco’by normalising and encouraging sustainable behaviour and lifestyles.

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