Nick Young

Oh the myth of french nuclear success lives on — but the facts tell a different story.

While financial woes may hold back some green initiatives, the future has never looked greener. Mainly because creating a more sustainable economy is not an option, but a necessity. And we all know that necessity is the mother of invention. Which is why this month, amidst crumbling banks, G20 meetings and stimulus plans, we highlight 12 eco sub-trends that any marketer or entrepreneur can act on today.

trendwatching.com’s March 2009 Trend Briefing covering ECO-BOUNTY

I’ve been an avid watcher of the Tumeke blogosphere rankings and today I ran across this alternate ranking, so what a happy coincidence to find yet another a very similar ranking from Hitwise in my inbox this evening!

Lifestyle - Politics » All sites » Weekly rankings for the week ending 07/02/2009 » Ranks by ‘Visits’

The three rankings use different methodologies but all put Kiwiblog at the top.

My job this year is to haul the Greenpeace NZ blog up the rankings from  66 / 38 and into the top 10 of all three.

Great to see Greenpeace India rolling out a site using Google’s new open social tools.

Tata can save the turtles - The story so far

It’s hard to say when the story began, but it was certainly long before any one around today was even born… sea turtles have been nesting at Gahirmatha on the Orissa coast for hundreds, possibly thousands of years. But if we don’t act now, we could see this change within a decade – an eye blink in geological timescales. The Dhamra port near Gahirmatha will push the endangered olive ridley sea turtle closer to the slippery edge of extinction.

A few years ago (2004 to be precise), the TATAs, together with L&T, decided this part of the coast could not be left in its pristine state but would be ‘benefited’ by building one of India’s largest ports at Dhamra. This is less than 15 km. from the turtle mass nesting beaches at Gahirmatha, and just five kilometres from the Bhitarkanika National Park, India’s second largest mangrove forest and home to the saltwater crocodile, aside from other lesser known natural wonders.

Red more about the campaign against the Tata’s new port here

Stoked to find this today …

From early next year, Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market will offer Auckland’s freshest regional produce in a style that represents NZ’s most colourful suburb. Catalysed by sustainability group, Grey Lynn 2030, several community members identified the demand to create a community owned and operated Farmers’ Market. We are currently looking at possible venues and are seeking support and assistance from local bodies such as Auckland City Council and Farmers Markets NZ Inc.

When?

We are working to open Grey Lynn Farmers’ Markets in 2009. As you might imagine, there is a lot of preliminary work involved to adequately serve the needs of the community and function as a legal and sustainable market. The markets will run every Sunday morning.

Grey Lynn Farmers Market. All power to them - I’ll be there with bells on.

The music video for ‘Duet (Lonely I Be)’ by Steve Abel featuring Kirsten Morrell of Goldenhorse fame.

Two games have popped up following the now infamous shoe throwing incident.

Help (or hinder) Bush dodge the shoes or if you prefer, fire your own shoes at Bush.

Google have launched Friend Connect and it’s pretty cool. It’s basic but it’s really easy to set up. I’ve set up a beta version for Greenpeace and it took a matter of minutes.

There’s a few key elements missing though. It’d be good if you could set topics for comments and group them in some way, and it’d be REALLY good if yo ucoudl message all your members some how.

Early days though. It’ll be interesting to see how it evolves.

Google Friend Connect: Add social features to your site

There’s a new e-shop on the block and it’s all shiny, clean and green. No rampant Christmas consumerism here - just fancy pants planet-saving virtual gifts. “Gifts to Save the World“.

I know where I’m doing my Christmas shopping.

Check out www.greenpeacegiving.org.nz

Along with his dopey sidekick Dr. Anthracite, Coalfinger plans to cover the world in coal-fired power stations and destroy the climate in Operation Browncloud. Can Green stop them with the help of his glamorous assistant Katrina Hurkane? Is a top secret hideout involved? Are there plenty of double entendres?

With a soundtrack by composer David Arnold (Quantum of Solace, Casino Royal), the animated Bond spoof features David Mitchell (C4s Peep Show) as secret agent Gaverson Green fighting to stop the evil plans of Coalfinger, voiced by Brian Blessed.