Ok, so I did not write as promised. I know you will know why... I did not keep my resolutions!

Posted on 17 Apr 08, by Louise Butcher

I did run the Paris Marathon this weekend and I did go on the train rather than flying! I don't feel too stiff or sore at all so I am pretty pleased with myself overall.Well I was until I remembered about this Carbon Challenge and the long overdue blog. I was made to feel particularly bad today when one of my pupils asked me where my Easter blog was. I didn't like to admit my dismal failure. Oh and I HAVE returned packaging to various shops when I thought it was just too bulky - very politely of course - by just asking if they would mind putting it in their bin as I couldn't fit it in my shopping bag and I really didn't want to have a plastic bag.

So that's what I DID do, (not much admittedly - what's the marathon got to do with Carbon Footprint ? - not much I just wanted to tell you all).

What didn't I do?

I haven't persuaded the family to sell the car!

I haven't offered anything for recycling to the "Freecycle" group.

I haven't stuck to my New Year resolution not to buy anything new - although I must say that I haven't bought nearly as much as I would have done - I have often had something in my hands to buy, asked myself if I REALLY needed it and then put it back on the shelf! That has to be considered progress doesn't it?

BUT - I do feel "fired up" to do better! And I have been educating the next generation to do things ( ... and they have been educating me!). An ex- student came in today to talk to my Sixth form students about Global Warming - she is an expert!! Oh that was frightening! She reiterated the words of Al Gore in "An Inconvenient Truth" and told us how her research, and that of almost every other scientist (apart from the few financed by the oil companies), backed up Mr Gore's words. When she told us that the ice sheet over Greenland would likely disappear in her lifetime I got REALLY worried. I felt re-motivated! I am also doing Global Warming, recycling and other environment related issues with my year 11 class too. I know they think I am an eccentric nutcase but they are really keen to talk about these issues and succeed in making me feel quite guilty at times. It is good to know that they really do care - I hope they took on board the discussion we had about recycling clothes by using charity shops and "bring and buy" shops. They had really good ideas about the use of the internet to recycle clothes! The PEST group (Pupil Environmental Sustainability Team) at school is running the "Switch Off" campaign next week. Several of us, teachers and pupils, will stay after hours one night to prepare the school for the campaign launch. Hopefully, as a result, there will be fewer lights and computers left on around school and our energy bill will drop!

SO - although in my personal and family life I am probably only making little (very little) moves forward I do feel that I am playing a part in helping us all to do better. Now I just have to live by example in a more proactive way!

The bike is back out (It's easy in the spring and summer isn't it?)

The purse is put away.

Reusable shopping bags have been put into the cars so that there is no excuse to use plastic bags AT ALL!

Back again in the summer!