The Greening of Gavin

Archives for July 2012

Consumerism Calamity

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Dear readers. 

You would not believe some of the emails that I receive in my inbox.  People ask me to promote all sorts of things, from chemical fertilizers to free trips to car shows in Sydney, to eco television sets, all with the offer of a free sample or perks.

To put your mind at ease, I have never been tempted to take up any of these offers, because I hold true to my values, and besides, I would be a total hypocrite if I did.

Most recently, I received this offer, which will make you either cringe or chuckle.

Hi blogger,

Thanks for taking some time to read this email. I am Antonio, the leader of xxxxx blog team and I am looking for partnership among bloggers. I found that your blog was really active, popular and contended, so here I wonder if there’s any possibility that you cooperate with us.

Here’s the general plan of the cooperation:

First, xxxxxx will send you a FREE pair of high quality and fashionable glasses or sunglasses (you don’t need to pay any fee). After getting the eyewear, you just need to write an objective and real review for it and post the review to your blog. Plus, xxxxxx launched a program offering free eyewear for first-time buyers. Therefore, you can also invite your readers to try our products for free. They just need to pay the shipping. Perhaps your lovely readers will love this program, especially for those who need eyewear.

xxxxxxx is the world’s most popular online eyeglasses store. We have always been committed ourselves to offering customers the best quality products at the most affordable prices. For this reason, we have gained a solid reputation and trust from almost 500,000 fans on facebook.

Please reply to xxxxxxxxxx if you are interested in the cooperation. We are looking forward to your response.
Best regards 

Antonio 

Here is my reply. I might have been a little harsh, yet realistic.


Dear Antonio,

If you had taken the time to actually read my blog, you would have found that one of my values is anti-consumerism. I believe that blatant and excessive consumerism as you are promoting in your email is one of the problems of our time.

Have you never thought of where the materials to make those sunglasses that you are so fond of come from? It comes from oil, which is something that will be in short supply in the very near future.

So enjoy your sunglass business while you can, because in a few years you will wonder why you even sent me an email.

So thanks, but no thanks.

Gavin 

P.S. If you want to learn about sustainable living, and growing your own food, it is not to late to start!

I had to laugh as I was relying, because the other day, a fellow blogger friend, The Frugal Queen, aka Froogs to her mates, posted a page telling prospective advertisers of tat not to even consider approaching her for this very type of offer.  You can read her page here, as it is a great message.  So to back her up and many other ad free blogs, I too have decided to go advert free to be true to my convictions.  I do, however leave a sponsor space for my podcast, which I do need to start up again because I know lots of you like them.  Oh, and I left the promotion for my book(s).


Anyway dear reader, do you receive endless spam in your email inbox?  What does it tell you about the state of our civilization?

National Tree Day – Winner

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The winner of the competition is Brooke Gray from Seymour, Victoria.  Congratulations.  Please send through your details ASAP, so that we can send through your $100 Bunnings Warehouse voucher express post, kindly donated by Toyota Australia.

SO… 
Catch! calls the Once-ler. 
He lets something fall. 
It’s a Truffula Seed. 
It’s the last one of all! 
You’re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds. 
And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs. 
Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. 
Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. 
Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. 
Then the Lorax 
and all of his friends 
may come back.

Happy planting where ever you may be over the weekend on this beautiful planet we call home!

National Tree Day Competition

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“I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.
I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.
And I’m asking you, sir, at the top of my lungs–“

… to join in and plant some native trees and shrubs on National Tree Day, because National Tree Day (Sunday, 29 July) and Schools Tree Day (Friday, 27 July) is fast approaching.  

Ben and I will be out lending a hand in our local community and helping The Friends of Toolern Creek to plant this Sunday.  We want to help preserve our local environment, and will be planting local native trees and shrubs.  Details about local plantings events can be found at the Planet Ark find-a-site page.


More than 17 million native trees and shrubs have been planted by approximately 2.5 million volunteers over the years participating in this event.

Did you know that National Tree Day was co-founded by Olivia Newton-John and Jon Dee in 1996?  Well it certainly has come a long way since the late 90’s, as the media release I received explains;

“This year, National Tree Day is organised by Planet Ark in partnership with Toyota and its extensive Dealer network and encourages all Australians to come together with their local community, sporting group or local school to plant trees and give back to the environment.

In what has become Australia’s largest community tree planting and nature care event, sports stars, environmentalists, media personalities and country music greats each year team up with local communities to get their hands dirty in support of Toyota’s involvement in National Tree Day.

2012 marks Toyota’s 13th year of support for the nationwide campaign which encourages communities to help preserve the environment for future generations.”

I like the way that Planet Ark and Toyota both support the event.  It shows what an NGO and a Corporation can do working hand in hand for the good of our environment.

Fortunately, for Australian residents, Toyota Australia has also sent me a $100 Bunnings Warehouse gift voucher to give-away to one of my readers with which to purchase and plant native trees, shrubs and grasses in their local area.

I apologise to my international readers,and I am sorry there is no voucher available for you. However, I do urge you to go plant a tree anyway, and get the kids involved.

So you Aussie readers, all you have to do is leave me a comment of 50 words or less, describing the place that you would plant your native trees and shrubs and why you would plant there if you won the voucher.  Oh, and a small plug about this post and the National Tree Day event via any form of social media (via the Facebook, Twitter, email etc. icons at the bottom of this post) would be greatly appreciated.

The best entry will be judged by Kim, Ben and I, and will be drawn on Thursday evening at 7.30pm AEST.  The winner can then contact me via email and the voucher will be sent to you post haste, hopefully getting there in time for the event.  The judges decision will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into.  


Thanks to Planet Ark and Toyota Australia for their sponsorship/support of this great event.

So get those creative juices flowing, and don’t forget to check if there is a local event in your area and register your interest.

Oh, and good luck with your entry in the contest!

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” ~ Greek proverb