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    Why are there thousands of empty flights polluting our skies?

    18,000 empty planes will fly across Europe in early 2022. These flights will release 422,280 tonnes of greenhouse gases. Neither the EU nor Lufthansa seems likely to back down. Read more

    Mutual Credit Services – keeping communities alive after COVID: Local authorities & anchor institutions

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 06-Mar-2022 | 2

    This is the fourth in a series of articles looking at the development of Mutual Credit Services (MCS), whose mission is to help build local mutual credit ‘clubs’ in the UK and overseas, and to link them together to form a global moneyless trading network – the ‘Credit Commons’. Here we’re looking at local authorities and anchor institutions Read more

    How to make good apple juice

    Apple juice is in some ways more difficult to make than cider, and indeed it can scarcely be regarded as a traditional product at all. Until the recognition late in the 19th century that fermentation was caused by yeast converting sugar into alcohol, the difference between juice and cider was somewhat obscure and of little practical importance in any case. Read more

    Mutual Credit Services – keeping communities alive after COVID: Trade Credit Clubs and credit clearing

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 27-Feb-2022 | 0

    Third in a series of articles looking at the development of Mutual Credit Services (MCS), whose mission is to help build local mutual credit ‘clubs’ in the UK and overseas, and to link them together to form a global moneyless trading network – the ‘Credit Commons’. Read more

    Things to think about when considering an air source heat pump

    John Cantor of Heatpumps.co.uk | 23-Feb-2022 | 2

    We cover ground-source heat pumps more than air-source heat pumps in our topic introduction, so here’s some additional information about air-source heat pumps from our advisor John Cantor: Read more

    Mutual Credit Services – keeping communities alive after COVID: explaining the Credit Commons Protocol

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 20-Feb-2022 | 0

    of Mutual Credit Services (MCS), whose mission is to help build local mutual credit ‘clubs’ in the UK and overseas, and to link them together in a global trading network. Here we provide a basic explanation of the Credit Commons Protocol. Read more

    Voting with my fork: plant foods I’m not buying any more

    Sally Morgan of Empire Farm | 16-Feb-2022 | 6

    Sometimes, I wish I didn’t know the backstory to some foods, so I could happily buy them at the local shops and not think twice. But I do and here is my list of foods I won’t be buying again plus others that will require careful buying choices. Read more

    Mutual Credit Services – keeping communities alive after COVID: introduction

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 13-Feb-2022 | 4

    Members of the Lowimpact.org co-op are involved with Mutual Credit Services (MCS), whose mission is to help build local mutual credit ‘clubs’ in the UK and overseas, and to link them together in a global trading network. We’re often asked about the current state of play, and so we’ve put together a series of 6 articles to explain what progress we’ve made. Read more

    Toward co-operative commonwealth: transition in a perilous century

    A while ago, we interviewed Pat Conaty, author, academic and stalwart of system change activism. We talked about how to grow the ‘co-operative commonwealth’ and about what constitutes the ‘commons’ in the 21st century. Pat is now part of the Synergia Institute, who have put together a MOOC for those of you involved with social and environmental change, and frustrated at the lack of real change we can see around us. Read more

    Review of ‘Going to Seed’, new book by Simon Fairlie

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 06-Feb-2022 | 1

    This is a review of Simon Fairlie’s new book, Going to Seed, out on Feb 10th – his ‘counterculture memoir’ – although at times I’ll unapologetically veer into (hopefully relevant) political rambling. Read more

    Please help the Ecological Land Co-op with their latest OPD application

    The Ecological Land Cooperative would like to ask you for some support. As you may be aware, in 2020 we submitted a One Planet Development application to create 2 new small farms on our site at Furzehill on Gower. Due to one of the potential farmers having to pull out we have withdrawn that initial application and have just resubmitted an OPD application for 1 farm with the other original farmers. Read more

    Help build the co-operative sector via the Co-op Data Club

    Leo Sammallahti explains the Co-op Data Club – a new venture to promote the co-operative sector. At the moment, the Co-op Data Club is about building a solid network of co-ops, and later, individuals will be able to join in. If you’re part of a co-op, please consider joining. Read more

    Switch to reusable menstrual pads and help women in period poverty

    Harry Gardiner of Trade to Aid | 26-Jan-2022 | 0

    Disposable pads are in the past; this is a transition away from sanitary products that keep you in the pockets of global corporations month after month. Do good with your period. For every pack of Trade To Aid pads you buy, we donate a pack to someone in need of a better period. Read more

    New website and new plans for 2022 – your involvement welcome

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 23-Jan-2022 | 2

    We launched our new website in early January. It’s faster, more robust and (hopefully) easier to navigate. Please let us know if you find any broken links or any other problems. Since 2001, we’ve been developing a huge range of topics covering low-impact technologies, facilities and activities. But with the current economy and money system,… Continue reading New website and new plans for 2022 – your involvement welcome Read more

    How to support anaerobic digestion for biogas and compost in communities

    Rokiah Yaman of LEAP Micro AD | 19-Jan-2022 | 0

    SOURCE turns food waste into energy, fertiliser and compost to grow healthy crops and create local jobs – in the heart of our cities! Read more

    Is money the root of all evil? Shaun Chamberlin Part 2

    This is Part 2 of a conversation with Shaun Chamberlin (Part 1 is here). Shaun left the board of the Ecological Land Co-op as I joined. He’s been involved with the Transition Network – he wrote the Transition Timeline. His website is Dark Optimism. He took on the work of David Fleming after his death,… Continue reading Is money the root of all evil? Shaun Chamberlin Part 2 Read more

    The return of local, natural fabrics and low-impact clothing

    A recent surge in small ethical brands marks a new wave of a textile economy with a lower impact on the earth. Below are ten places you can find UK-made low impact goods.   Read more

    Where are we headed? (‘physics doesn’t negotiate’): Shaun Chamberlin

    At Lowimpact we’re interviewing people who are working to build a new kind of world. We want to promote what they’re doing, and find ways to work together. Today I’m talking with Shaun Chamberlin. Read more

    The benefits of sprouts – living superfoods

    First let’s be clear. I’m not talking about Brussels sprouts! I’m referring to different types of sprouts. I’m referring to the tiny white shoot (primary root) that emerges when a seed, bean or grain begins to germinate and begins to grow into a vegetable. Read more

    Happy new economy in 2022

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 02-Jan-2022 | 2

    This is a 2022 New Year’s message to everyone I know, or who uses this website, reads our blog and/or watches our videos. I’m an optimist. Eventually, I think we can turn things around. And even if we can’t, if we help the people in our network to do what they do, at the very… Continue reading Happy new economy in 2022 Read more

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    There’s a crash coming – a slap from Mother Nature. This isn’t pessimistic; it’s realistic.

    The human impact on nature and on each other is accelerating and needs systemic change to reverse.

    We’re not advocating poverty, or a hair-shirt existence. We advocate changes that will mean better lives for almost everyone.

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