We’ve just got wind of a great research project being undertaken by Ryan Cunningham, an MSc media researcher at the LSE. It was posted on the New Consumer website; he’s looking into how people receive and respond to information about energy efficiency and their views on terms such as ‘ethical’, ‘green’, and ‘sustainability’. 

I’ve taken the survey myself and it really makes you think of how and where you find out about green issues and the researcher gives you a chance to receive a final copy of the report.

Take it yourself at http://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=988583and let us know what you think.

Hypermiling - the latest buzz word on the green motoring circuit - is not, as you might think, some crazy Star Trek inspired commuting technique, but it is, in fact a way to ensure that drivers get maximum fuel efficiency whilst driving, thereby lessening the effect on the wallet of rampant oil price increases, and helping save the planet at the same time.

The slighty controversial techniques are already gaining a huge following in the USA, and are now starting to creep into Europe, with many followers boasting of meeting and even exceeding the usually unattainable advertised miles per gallon of their vehicle of choice. Serious proponents of the art have gained almost unbelievable results, as is the case with Bill Kinney, who at Hybridfest 2007 gained an average of 168mpg from his Honda Insight Hybrid, which has an advertised fuel economy of 84mpg.

Find out how after the jump

There’s always a lot of controversy around the topic of reusable nappies. After all, having a baby is a sure fire way to increase your carbon footprint. There’s all the extra energy that a washing machine needs to heat the water etc.

Introducing Gary Lamont, the Real Nappy Guy from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

Gary’s job is to promote the use of real nappies, so here are all the answers about using cloth nappies and how they’re better for babies.

Find out more about using cloth nappies »

What do you think? Should we be encouraging the use of reusable, washable nappies? Or should we be using something like Moltex - the eco-friendly disposable nappy. Or, in these times of economic uncertainty, should we all be jumping in our Hummers and heading down to Tesco to buy the biggest economy pack of <insert popular brand name here> we can find?

      Fig 1:Humpback Tail, photographed by Tom Kieckhefer via

 

Yesterday How Ethical! asked you to get involved and sign Peta’s petition to stop the Japanese persecution of dolphins.

Today, my activist friends, our 2 minute protest is about Japanese Whaling!

On Sunday 18th November the Japanese Antarctic fleet set sail to hunt an increased number of whales this coming winter. Targeting up to 935 minke whales, and for the first time 50 humpback and 50 fin whales, Japan will kill more whales, from a wider range of species than it has ever killed before.

Send a protest e-mail to Japan’s Prime Minister Yasuo.

Take action, fellow pesky kids, otherwise they’ll get away with it!

Discover more and find resources at Wiki’s excellent Cetaceans portal.

Did you know…

Thousands of siskins, a small seed eating finch, are visiting our shores this winter from eastern Europe - the first time this has happened since 1993. We do have a healthy population of resident birds, but their arrival in such numbers could signal a cold winter to come.

Snippit of information I discovered via the RSPB’s e-mail newsletter.

With ski resorts opening early all over the alps perhaps we’ll all be in for a white Christmas for a change?

If there is a cold snap then make sure you’re ready to put some food out for the birds. Ethical Superstore recommends this bird feeder, complete with 1kg of Organic Peanuts.