July 13, 2009 by amucklow
Since the CSF launched the Student Competition we’ve been thinking a lot about water. All the sunshine and talk of beach holidays has contributed too.
We know how thirsty t-shirts are, or indeed that cotton is the world’s thirstiest crop but we forget that much of our clothes water footprint can come after production and once they are snuggled into our bludging wardrobes. So the way to help is through greening our laundry practices.
We will try to:
- Turn the temperature down on our washing machines.
- Use a green detergent.
- Get a new, more efficient machine.
- Wash full loads
Don’t forget to enter the competition and highlight how important water is to us and the fashion industry.
July 1, 2009 by amucklow
These hot summer days have got me thinking about water. I’m craving a drink of it, desperate for a swim in it and am grateful for a wash in it. When you start thinking about it water is so precious, more so than gold and even oil.
But as a precious resource it often worryingly slips under the discussion radar when environmental issues are being debated. Water is a resource that causes international disputes – just look at the Middle East. The Government’s chief scientist Prof. John Beddington warned earlier this year about the dangers of insufficient energy, food shortages and water scarcity, calling this combination of problmes the ‘perfect storm’. Yet, we are still taking water for granted.
The thing about water is that no matter what your interests are it matters to you. How you look after your clothes, what you eat and drink and how you function each day is related to water. CSF’s student competition has a category dedicated to it this year too (make sure you enter soon!). Just to make your t-shirt took about 4100 litres of water though finding the exact stat is difficult with some estimates at about 2000. The basic minimum quantity of safe water needed for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene in any household is at least 15 litres per person per day, according to the internationally recognised Sphere Project.
To measure your water footprint click here – you’ll be suprised how much water you use.
June 30, 2009 by amucklow
So, this debate will not take place ’til the long winter nights are back but it is definitely worth thinking about some of the issues surrounding water. Drought is predicted to become an global problem and could bring neighbouring states into conflict.
Four enterprising speakers will outline their solutions to this crisis before being interrogated by a panel of experts. The audience will then have the final vote, with the winner receiving a fititious $1 000 000 000 cheque to put their ideas into practice.
The event starts about 6pm and is not until the 19th NOVEMBER 2009 but put it in your diaries. Click here for more information.
