thegreenguy

The verdict on Blood Diamond: actually pretty good

Saw Blood Diamond last night - y'know, the one with diamonds being smuggled from a violent Sierra Leone into Liberia for export as conflict-free diamonds, Leonardo DiCaprio and the introduction of the Kimberley process. It transpires Zwick's flick is a good film. Sure, Leo's Sarf Afrikan accent is as occasionally as dubious as Van Dyke's cockney, the violence slips between brutal and Hollywood Rambo and the ending's schmaltzy, but... it's pacy, engaging, carries a simple ethical message, some electrifying action moments and beautiful backdrops. Co-star Djimon Hounsou and Leo both put in good performances too. For info on buying a blood-free diamond, click here; for a Newconsumer.com interview with Leo, head here.

The inevitable first-hand wormery post: Blackwall v Wiggly Wigglers

Having just moved house, I've been enjoying such mundane eco pleasures as switching to a green electricity tariff, swapping out IKEA halogens for LED ones and getting a water meter installed. It's been a riot. Adding to the fun, our new Can-o-Worms womery turned up at the weekend. As well as being very popular with our cat Boo - see pic, top right - and made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, the thing that struck me is how superior it is to Blackwall's one.

Sky offers journos tips for a 'low carbon 07'

I got to meet some of the green world's great and good last night at a London bash by Sky to teach journos why green's so hot right now. And, of course, what Sky's doing on that front. The night's eco experts were the Beeb's Penney Poyzer, The Ecologist's Pat Thomas and Matilda Lee, UCL's Mark Maslin and - in a flattering gesture - myself as the 'technology energy-saving man' AKA 'the lad with the bike panniers and solar bags.' I've included some info on the tips/gadgets I mentioned after the click-through.

Reviewed: ecoigo, London's newest green taxi service

I'm feeling a tad worse for wear this morning, largely due to consuming a lot of organic wine at last night's Newconsumer.com launch party. I don't usually drink, partly because I cycle religiously everywhere in London, but last night I bucked my habits because of the offer of a free ride from ecoigo, the latest Prius-packing, emission-offsetting taxi - or 'environmentally conscious executive car service' in its words - to hit the capital.

Soil Association to set London 2012 gold medal goals

I've just got back from a pretty dry Triodos-arranged event about the greening of the London 2012 Olympics. It was torpedoed because this very morning the Olympic Delivery Authority chap decided he wouldn't attend. However, Peter Melchett of Soil Assoication fame let out one interesting news tit-bit: the Association folk are working on an imminent report about what targets 2012 needs to hit to be considered 'sustainable'. The focus'll be on food and whether it's local, seasonal, organic, unprocessed. Sustain and NEF are helping out.

New year, new New Consumer website

It's here! Yes, after two months of hard work by my friends at New Consumer, development by Erskine Design and paintwork by Pixelsurgeon, Newconsumer.com is now live. The current main attraction is the daily news feed (RSS here), but there are some great longer pieces, too, including 'January escapes without the 10 hour plane' and a profile on Kresse Wesling, a maverick designer who makes furniture out of old firefighter hose. Incidentally, there's a new issue of New Consumer's print incarnation - AKA 'the mag' - out later this week.