In this blog, we always talk about the problems of the environment, and why it's worth saving. This time we decided to blog about the power of nature, and how awesome and incredible it really is. So we decided to talk about the power of tornadoes, and found some really incredible stories. Look, there's Dorethy Tornadoes are certainly not commonplace in the United Kingdom but we often see quite amazing footage of these spectacular wind swirls. However, while they are amazing to look at, they can cause untold damage and devastation. So what exactly ... Full Story

Wind turbines. Those big white fans in the field, often spotted on motorways, like something out of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Whump whump whump go the blades in their serene whiteness. A little bluebird flutters by, perhaps whistling a happy tune to himself. Whump whump thwack go the blades. Bye bye Mr. Bluebird. Accidental animal death is one of a number of reasons why there is still so much controversy surrounding wind turbines and wind farms. If you think the bird has ... Full Story

We are all being advised to be aware of the energy that we use within our household. When we are searching for our household appliances we are given their energy efficiency rating so that we can be sure that this issue is on our agenda. Also when we are buying a house, we are given a report that tells us how energy efficient the house is. But what really constitutes a reduction in energy consumption? Surely we must first know how much power an average house uses up, although this in itself is a complicated question.... Full Story

Jewellery has a long history, from ancient Greece to modern times and from Africa to Europe, humans have always had the desire to adorn their bodies. Jewellery can express many things about a person. It can be a symbol of power, a symbol of wealth, a symbol of love or an expression of individuality. It can be discreet and understated or it can be bold and outrageous. It can arouse feelings of envy, shock or even disgust. Full Story

I really hate doing the dishes. This is a bone of contention in my household as my husband believes that dishes should be washed as soon as they are used. I am more of the opinion that they only need to be done once the sink is full – usually about twice a day. As you can tell, I do not have a dishwasher but I I often wish that I did. However, considering that we are all more conscious of our energy consumption these days I wonder whether it would be wrong to get a dishwasher. Is it greener ... Full Story

Vinyl was developed in the 1920s and since then it has gone on to play a vital role in everyday life. Two simple building blocks make up vinyl, ethylene from natural gas and chlorine from common salt. Despite the simplicity of its constituents vinyl is the world’s most versatile plastic. Simple chemical processes can create a product that is rigid, flexible or semi-liquid, thick or thin, clear or coloured. Vinyl - it's almost mystical to some people The first gramophone records were made of a variety of materials including ... Full Story

Today it seems that we are constantly being urged to use less energy, recycle all we can, give up the car and eat local produce. Maybe sometimes we feel that no matter what we do it is not going to make much of a difference. The problems are just too big, it’s too difficult to make the changes or maybe we feel that there is no point in doing something if others are carrying on as before. We may also feel that it is up to manufacturers and retailers, such as the supermarkets to either reduce the amount of packaging ... Full Story

Jewellery is something that most people own. It is often given as a gift or a token of affection and is handed down from generation to generation. However, how many of us actually think about how our jewellery is produced? The sad fact is that the precious metals and stones that make up our jewellery are often associated with exploitation, wars and environmental degradation. It looks nice - but what is it doing to the environment? You may have heard the term ‘dirty gold’ and wondered what it referred ... Full Story

Humans have been keeping animals for centuries. Archaeological remains from as far back as the Stone Age have shown signs of domesticated animals. These animals were kept either for food or as working animals. For example dogs were kept to help with the tasks of hunting, guarding livestock or herding livestock. Today animals are still used to perform certain tasks, some of them highly specialised. Sheep dogs, police dogs, guard dogs, dray horses all still play a part in our society, but also many more animals are kept simply as pets. Studies have shown that having an animal around, even ... Full Story

The 2009 Isle of Man TT featured a new event this year.  TTXGP stands for Time Trial Xtreme Grand Prix.  This particular race consists of just a single lap but there is a slight twist.  All entrants to the race must ride motorcycles which are powered by fuels that are carbon free.  This means that the machines do not produce damaging greenhouse emissions. Notice anything different about the sound? The motorcycles are capable of about half the speed of the bikes ... Full Story