Eleanor Roosevelt and the Declaration in 1948

Wednesday 10th December 2008 – 60 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was formed.

It’s an important anniversary, not least because more than half a century later, we’re not much closer to seeing the articles a reality.

Here’s some stuff worth looking at:

The Declaration itself

An excellent documentary: Taking Liberties

I started a petition to get the Human Rights declaration a compulsory part of the British curriculum. SIGN IT!

And ask yourself: how many of the articles can you name?

If we don’t even know what our human rights are, how can we protect them?

Human Rights is something I care a lot about. I’ve written about it here and also started a petition to get it on school curriculums in the UK. Well, on 10th December, it will be the 60th anniversary since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was formed. And I just received this from the Every Human Has Rights Campaign:

Every Human Has Rights partner organizations have worked over 2008 to encouraged millions of people to make commitments to the goals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through schools, trade unions, community organizations and other groups. Now, the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration is just weeks away – on December 10th. You’ve already made your personal commitment to human rights and the Universal Declaration. Now we’re asking for your help to gain more individual signatures to the Every Human Has Rights pledge. Commit to encouraging 20 people to sign the pledge. Whether it’s by, email, or even Facebook, we need you to ask 20 people to visit www.everyhumanhasrights.org, to read the Universal Declaration, and to make a personal pledge to stand up for the rights and freedoms enshrined in it. To make it easier for you, send an e-postcard through our website. Over 30,000 of you have signed the online Every Human Has Rights pledge. The Elders, human rights defenders, journalists supporting human rights and others will join together this December to mark the Universal Declaration’s 60th and call on governments around the world to make human rights count in legislation, education and in practice. You can help make the message more powerful by getting 20 friends, classmates or colleagues to go online to sign the pledge. We need to gather as many assenting voices as we can in a short time. We’re asking you to reach out to 20 others in your circle of contacts. Please help us spread the word. The world has made great strides in the past 60 years – but it’s not enough. Right now genocide is still taking place. Billions are trapped in lives of poverty and despair. If we are going to meet global challenges like financial and food crises, climate change, the Millennium Development Goals, the rights of women, health rights and the rights of children, we need to work together, and demand our leaders adhere to the fundamental rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration.

I’ll be doing this, how about you?

Spot the difference

OK yes, in one picture only 2 lights are on, and there’s definitely a different hue. But the real point is I’ve just put in energy efficient lightbulbs.

Really it should be step one on any green-minded person’s to-do list. But some how this one slipped down the list; and I really only have British Gas to thank for sending four free ones in the post.

They reckon it could shave 15% off my bills.

I have to say though the difference in colours much more pleasant too!

Wednesday it bucketed it down, and I got soaked before I’d even reached my office. Is that a nice start to a long day?

Well, I’m going to fight the urge to become a fairweather cyclist.

Meanwhile, the other challenge is negotiating Hull’s busy streets. Lots of cycle lanes but there are still some busy lanes to cross. Then I was sent something from the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

It’s advice for both drivers and cyclists – maybe it’ll help us all get along better:

Motorists and cyclists: share the road

With motoring costs ever increasing, there has been a tremendous growth in the number of cyclists.

Getting back on to a bike after ten years or so can be a nerve racking experience. The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) offers these handy ‘Dos and Don’ts’ for anyone dusting off their old bike and also for motorists, who must share the road with the growing number of cyclists of all abilities.

Car drivers….

DO overtake with care, not too close and not too fast.  Whizzing past cyclists within a foot of their handlebars may feel perfectly safe, but it doesn’t for the cyclist

DON’T drive into the ‘advanced stop area’ for cyclists at lights: it is against the Highway Code

Cyclists….

DO establish eye contact (in a non-aggressive way) with drivers emerging from junctions, particularly if they are turning right

DON’T abuse the zebra crossing.  When riding along the nearside of the carriageway, do not swing onto the zebra to cross the road: drivers won’t be expecting that, and the risk of being hit is greater

]]> http://apathysucks.wordpress.com/2008/10/19/bikes-v-cars-literally/feed/ 0 adamwestbrook http://apathysucks.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/check-out-my-box/ http://apathysucks.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/check-out-my-box/#comments Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:59:59 +0000 Adam Westbrook http://apathysucks.wordpress.com/?p=36 ]]>

Fruit n veg

That’s right, it’s one of those organic fruit and veg boxes no-less; the ones that get delivered straight to your door.

After all, one of the points on the manifesto was to eat locally produced food and organic where possible. So this solves two of those problems. They were delivered to my door by the Arthur Street Trading Company who cover the Hull and East Yorkshire area.

I can pay by direct debit each week, and cut out the hassle of going to the shops.

I was inspired to find one while reading an excellent “chapter” on green food, on the Otesha Project‘s website, part of a book they’re writing on ethical living.

Organic box schemes run all over the UK – find your local one here.

There is a catch though: £12 for the above box: is the price sustainable?

Well, now it’s time to use it. The delay? I needed to get hold of new lights, a helmet and chain to make it road worthy, but I’ve now tested it out, and from tomorrow, I will be a commuting cyclist!

It’s going to cut my carbon emissions down significantly as my car does many miles a week.

But, unlike what I wrote last month, it doesn’t look like it’ll save me much money. I’m keeping the car for the occassional long journey to see family and friends. That means it needs to be taxed (£66 for 6 months) and insured (£42 a month).

Can’t win ‘em all eh, but at least it keeps me green!

So the plan is to get rid of it soon and buy a new bigger better faster one.

But here’s something I’m now determined not to do – to see it head into the system which allows stuff like this to happen:

I used to live in Ghana and it’s a beautiful country – things like this shouldn’t be allowed.

I’ve lived in a few different parts of Britain over the last few years. Each council treats recycling differently.

In Warwick, it was – after a shambolic introduction – somewhat of a Nazi affair: up to six different bins for each item. Grey bins couldn’t be overfilled, each red box had to have different contents they had to be sorted neatly or they would be left by the side of the road.

In Stratford, also in Warwickshire, it was very similar; they had a bit more of a user friendly system in place.

Now I’m in Hull, and there’s not nearly as much faffing around. Two boxes…one for paper, one for everything else. Quite easy. But the council are doing other things to make sure we keep up the good work – like texting people to remind them to put their boxes out:

This week I’m saying goodbye to this….

My beautiful (but polluting and expensive) Nissan Micra

…and hello to this!

My new "duel suspension" mountain bike!

Yes, it was one of my first aims on my “Green Manifesto” last week, and I’ve wasted no time in getting this one sorted.

In his inspiring book “365 Ways to Change the World” the author Michael Norton talks about all the benefits of taking to the saddle, including saving petrol, not giving your hard earned cash to evil oil companies…and flying through rush hour traffic.

Instead of driving the 1.5 miles to walk, from next week I’m going to cycle it instead, reducing one of my major carbon emissions down to zero.

And environmental benefits aside, this is a massive money saver. My car currently costs £40 a month, just in tax and insurance and another £60 a month on petrol.

I acquired the bike off the website Freecycle – a phenomenon I discovered about 2 years ago, which is steadily becoming more popular. It’s management system – through Yahoo Groups – is cumbersome though, and I think it would benefit from a Gumtree type design.

But still, it got the job done. I posted a message a week ago saying “WANTED: men’s bicycle”. And within days someone contacted me. I didn’t pay a penny for this bike and it’s in excellent condition.

Now to buy a helmet and revise my Highway Code……..

But first I need to limit the impact my own existence has on the planet. So here it is, my green manifesto to cut my carbon footprint and the damage I do to the environment. I hope to have achieved all thest things by the end of 2008, so I can start the new year with a clean slate.

My Green Manifesto

1. Replace my old lightbulbs with energy efficient ones
2. Recycle everything: glass bottles, plastic bottles, every scrap of paper and metal
3. Unplug anything I’m not using
4. Eat less meat (see my previous post)
5. Drink only fairtrade coffee
6. Buy in season food from local, independent suppliers
7. Keep the thermostat down 2 degrees
8. Buy organic food where I can
9. Drive much, much less
10. Get a bike, and cycle to work!
11. Never use another plastic bag – reusable’s all the way
12. Consume less water
13. …and by the end of the year, I’m want to have planted at least one tree!

So there it is. 13 things I have come up with. This blog is supposed to be about me making these changes, talking through how I’m going to make it happen, and (fingers crossed) showing off the results.

If I’ve missed any off then post them on the comments below and I’ll add them! Here’s to making a difference.

Here's to making a difference