Recycling Issues: Packaging

If you have bought by mail order from us recently, look hard at the address label. We now state at the bottom that to reduce our contribution to the rubbish going to landfill sites, the package your book comes in may have been reused by us. This is no new thing for us as regards boxes and their attendant packaging - we have never bought them, they have always been recycled from what publishers send us. However, we have done a wholesale review of the waste we generate from the shop, and modified a few things. Hence instead of always using new bubble wrap or jiffy bags, we will recycle ones to hand if they are useable. The appearance may not be as it was, but we feel the issue of image projection is secondary to that of being environmentally responsible. Of course we will continue to wrap and pack the books well, the last thing I want is for anyone to feel that their order has been sent shoddily.
If you want the ultimate in recycling from our bookshop order a copy of 'Planetwise' by Dave Bookless. The cover as well as the paper in this book has been made from recycled material. I have mentioned the book in a previous post. It is challenging and worth a read. I can't agree with him on his interpretation of John 3:16 or on the use he makes of the concept of redemption - but see if you agree with me or him by buying it!
One final matter. Don't you think that Local Councils ought to be funded to provide recycling bins for small businesses? At the moment they charge for the privilege. Hardly encouraging. Please write to them about it - or email if possible to save paper.
Jeremy

Get Planetwise!

Get Planetwise! No, that's not me telling you to buy the new book on caring for this beautiful planet we all share - although I wouldn't discourage that! It is actually the clarion call of Dave (inappropriately named) Bookless, National Director of A Rocha UK http://www.arocha.org/, probably the leading organisation promoting biblical thinking on the environment. It is a message encapsulated in his book published by IVP at £7.99. It is also personalised by him as a leading light in the line up of the 'Hope for Planet Earth' tour. This is a national tour, see http://www.hopeforplanetearth.moonfruit.com/ for dates. It came as close as 2 miles away from us at Horbury High School, Wakefield last night, so encouraged by a certain Tim from IVP, we ventured forth not knowing quite what to expect.
Well, how was it? Mixed I'd say. Good presentation, but poor venue. Some interesting science, although unverifiable to a layman like me. Some moving human experience of suffering due to climate change. A dubious evangelist. Then Dave Bookless, who bossed the show in the best possible way. Sober, sincere, unaffected, but an effective communicator. I respect him, although I don't feel he is justifiable in all his interpretations of scripture passages. It all ended with a challenge for change - even a single act to reduce carbon emissions, like turning the thermostat in the home down a degree or two. The turn out wasn't spectacular, and I didn't recognise hardly anyone, which rather surprised and saddened me.
What I just want to do now is to dig deeper into 'Planetwise' and see how well I get on. It certainly seems as though it will set the standard on the subject in evangelical circles. I'll keep you posted.
Jeremy

China and the Climate

I was quite struck by a customer's account of his recent holiday in China. He said that in all the time he was there, visiting the usual tourist resorts across that vast country, the sun was never seen, except in Hong Kong (and that was unusual apparently). It was hot weather all the time. The reason quite simply was air pollution. The constant murky conditions were referred to only this week in the news, with it being one year away from the Olympic Games in Beijing. Despite radical Chinese plans to shut down industry altogether for the period of the Games, the IOC are saying even now that some events may be affected by poor air quality. China is probably the world's largest polluter now - see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6769743.stm . However, as this article points out, the West cannot take any moral high ground on the subject because they have gradually moved their manufacturing base to China and the far east because of cheap labour costs. Hence less emissions here and more there. This movement is also noticeable in the book publishing market. I am reliably informed that all children's colour board books are now printed in the far east - things are so far gone that there is no Printer with the kit to do the job in this country now! Generally speaking the Christian publishers have already turned to follow the trend. 'We have to,' is the cry. 'People expect Christian books to be in the same price league with mainstream stuff... Printing costs in the UK are the highest in the world...' etc. I wonder if Christians would be more inclined to pay a little extra for a Christian book that they knew had been produced with the highest ethical and environmental standards. Or in a "World Village" is everyone satisfied to preach 'love thy neighbour', but at the same time flytip in his back garden?
IVP have produced (I trust cleanly!) some interesting books on the subject of Christians and the environment. I don't think I have found one which thinks the subject right through from a Reformed perspective yet, but there are gleanings here and there. Examples are 'When Enough is Enough' and 'The Care of Creation' both edited by R J Berry. Also 'L is for Lifestyle' by Ruth Valerio, although this is a bit wacky in places. However I'm sure we'll find an odd copy from under the counter for you if you ask.
Jeremy