On A&R Newsletter: I got books!

Dear friends, an update. I'm' back in the UK as was in London's Waterstones bookshop yesterday (that's the biggest one in Europe I think!) - I got a few books, some to help with my climate change dissertation, but two specifically to use in the A&R Newsletter here! The yare called “Rescue Our World: 52 brilliant LITTLE ideas for becoming an eco-hero” By Natalia Marshall, and “365 Ways to Change the World” by Michael Norton. Their ideas are absolutely fascinating! (Of course I won't be just copying stuff from books and only concentrating on one issue like climate change.)

Thus, in a couple of weeks I'll start making the newsletters! I really need feedback on how frequent would you want them to be - once a week for starters, or more often? Also, I'd really appreciate some help from a fellow moderator if anyone is interested.

Best wishes to all!
Zet

Re: On A&R Newsletter: I got books!

Hi Zet,

I think once a week sounds like a good start and then adjust from there. I do miss the UK! It's been way too long.

Do you need me to help you mod here? Or how can I support you?

Love and light,

Nicole

Re: On A&R Newsletter: I got books!

I'm not sure actually, too much in my head to say for sure. Can you send newsletters as a mod?

Re: On A&R Newsletter: I got books!

Yup! I just have to go into admin and click send email to all members.

Hugs,

Nicole

Re: On A&R Newsletter: I got books!

Zet, I didn't realise you are in UK, How lonfg for? Waterstones is a great bookshop, one of  the must go places to see in London. Hope you are having a good tiime. Once a week would be cool for a newsletter

Re: On A&R Newsletter: I got books!

Zephyr, I wouldn't say I'm having a great time - I'm stugying, my Climate Change dissertation deadline coming soon, thus flooded by some of the most depressing information in the world. My table is all occupied by science on how we are all almost doomed and how to prevent it all. I'm in Cornwall by the way, right near the Eden Project.

Nicole, you're a mod. :) I don't know how exactly you can help actually for now, except for maybe invite some activists you know here on Gaia?

Warm regards!
Zet

Re: On A&R Newsletter: I got books!

Hi Zet, I think all the activists I know are already here! But when I have time tomorrow (have to leave for work shortly, this day is flying by) I will have a closer look and see whom I can invite, ok?

Love

Nicole

Re: On A&R Newsletter: I got books!

The books are actually very good. Too much ideas to hold together in my head at once though. I can't get myself together on this. With this pod… Well maybe more time will do.

I just wanted to share one of the ideas I keep going through in my head. The plan is simple: a business-orientated leaflet suggesting energy-use reduction. As I walk down the street at night I see shops with lights on inside, nobody there, lights basically useless. So I keep thinking of a leaflet, a simple A4, that would be a polite, informed request to keep the lights off at night, for example. A leaflet that can be just put through the mailbox or given directly to the manager, anything. The question is - what should such a leaflet say?

Of course at some point it's good to find a nearby environmentally friendly printers/publishers, and ask them if they can make a few dozens of copies of such a leaflet on recycled paper… But that's later. First - what to put on it?

Just “thinking out loud” here. I'd put a few quotes from respected magazines that suggest power cuts for businesses. I have Times and Entrepreneur for starters. After the quotes, a polite “…Dear Sirs,…” and something about a scientific consensus on climate change. (or not?) A few death figures from Kartina and Burma perhaps? I dunno. Basically some motivation. Then, a list of suggestions, including turning off the night lights, the A/C or heater when they're not needed, the front-door blowers and the plazma TVs that are often on in shops even when nobody's there to watch them, etc. It may be possible to include carbon and energy bill savings, but those calculations are so debatable I'd rather not try it… I'll keep working on this so that eventually the leaflet is downloadable here, so any Gaian can just print as many out as s/he wants and keep giving them out as a little good daily action perhaps. I'd appreciate some ideas and feedback on this of course!

Re: On A&R Newsletter: I got books!

Great idea, Zet! I'd suggest also, knowing why people leave their lights on at night [safety? regulations? following the herd? promoting their shops even when shut?] so that you can suggest ways in which your ideas would actually help, rather than hinder, their goals.

Re: On A&R Newsletter: I got books!

That's a good point, Meenakshi. I wonder how this is possible though… Everything companies do can be justified as self/product promotion. I guess the leaflet could suggest that visible energy-saving practices can actually promote a good customer image? I think the point of this is to actually try to get businesses to consider actually having minor losses. They may or may not be offset by energy-saving, but it's probably better for each business to decide. The aim is to actually bring the problem, an extra time perhaps, to the management's attention. If the message is well-articulated it may inspire that little extra attention, like the one we have when we turn the lights off when we leave the room..

Re: On A&R Newsletter: I got books!

Zet, when trying to bring change about; I find that it helps to really know the behavior very well that I am trying to change; my motives for doing so and also some need within the one/entity that will be satisfied by the change in behavior.

Unless this can be found, change cannot be brought about; and gives rise to fear, apprehension instead of that inspirtational a-ha! That is exactly what I was looking for! I feel that your idea is do-able, actionable, and something within those businesses will find how it helps them.

That is the difference between actions that are of the light/spirit/new energy and those of the old energy: in the old energy, to get ahead, one has to show superiority over another; in the new energy, to get ahead, we find connections with each other, and bring change about in that way. Not as 'I know more than you' or 'Listen to me or you'll suffer'; but 'I have something you've been looking for, as you have something I am looking for. Together we will achieve something that makes our world a better place.”

Do you feel you're on the verge of something great? I do!

Re: On A&R Newsletter: I got books!

Exciting, Meenakshi and Zet!

Light and peace,

Nicole

Re: On A&R Newsletter: I got books!

Yes! Yes Mennakshi! The new ways, cooperation..