December 29, 2005
Praise from Lester Brown is praise indeed!
"The Armchair Environmentalist is filled with wisdom for those who want to live an environmentally responsible life. For example, simply saying no to bottled water will save energy and measurably reduce carbon emissions. Karen Christensen has incorporated more environmental advice in this crisp, tightly written volume than in anything I've seen to date."--Lester R. Brown, President, Earth Policy Institute and author of Plan B: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble.
I met Les Brown, founder of the Worldwatch Institute in Washington DC and one of the most influential environmentalists of our time, in London in 1990. We became friends, and he's always encouraged my work, especially in those early days on the connection between consumer culture and environmental problems. He's a person who does not offer praise lightly, and these remarks from him are as gratifying as any I could receive, and welcome encouragement now that I am starting work on a new, bigger environmental handbook, the Cool Planet Guide.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 10:59 AM | Comments (0)
November 1, 2005
Organic Style is dead, long live organic gardening
Who would have thought? I certainly thought Organic Style was healthy enough (though a little garish, like a slightly over-the-top potted plant). But Rodale's cancelled it, and if you click to subscribe you got straight to the old-time standard bearer, Organic Gardening. People ask me about magazines quite often, because they want something frequent and fresh to supplement The Armchair Environmentalist. I have toyed with the idea of a magazine or newsletter, especially something that could be developed internationally. But that's an expensive business, and risky it would seem. So I'm thinking instead of how to make this website and blog function more like an online magazine.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 6:43 AM | Comments (0)
February 23, 2005
Green books
Publishing does a lot of good: promoting global understanding, sharing knowledge, providing low-impact entertainment, supporting education and lifelong learning. But it also requires a lot of paper, much of which is sourced from unsustainably managed forest. Greenpeace has launched a campaign to promote sustainable publishing practices, and as a result The Armchair Environmentalist is one of the first books in the UK to be printed on 100% recycled paper, and I'm delighted of course.
"Greenpeace is urging UK publishers to follow the example of Canadian publishers, 35 of whom, including Random House Canada and Penguin Canada, have made formal commitments to phase out ancient forest fibre from their books. As a result five new 'ancient forest friendly' book papers have been created and three million Canadian books have been printed on 'ancient forest friendly' paper.
"This includes the Canadian edition of JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix which is the only edition in the world printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper.
"By printing the Canadian edition of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on 100% post-consumer, processed chlorine-free paper, significant ecological savings were made, including:
* 39,320 trees.
* 63,435,801 litres of water (water to fill 42 Olympic sized swimming pools).
* 854,988 kgs of solid waste.
* electricity to power the average home for 262 years.
* greenhouse gases equivalent to driving a car 5.3 million kilometres."
Please do look at the Greenpeace Save or Delete campaign. In the United States, Green Press Initiative.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 7:56 PM | Comments (0)
October 23, 2004
Armchair Environmentalist features on BBC News
On Saturday 23 October, 2004, MQP's new book The Armchair Environmentalist was the focus of a three-minute video on BBC Breakfast news. The item, by reporter Phillipa Young, was also shown on the hour throughout the day on the BBC 24 digital news channel.
If you have windows media player or real player you should be able to watch the BBC news item on the armchair environmentalist by clicking on the link at
Watch clip
The link is on the right hand side of the page. (only available to UK viewers)
The intro says: People are being encouraged to think more about the energy they use in their homes, with small acts going a long way. A new book 'The Armchair Environmentalist' has tips to allow even the laziest people to do their bit.
Phillipa Young reports.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 9:30 AM | Comments (0)
October 17, 2004
The Observer: "Have more sex" says The Armchair Environmentalist
Save the world in three minutes a day
Juliette Jowit, environment editor
Sunday October 17, 2004
The Observer
Read article
It will come as a relief to the millions of Britons who worry about the environment but aren't quite sure what to do about it - it is time take off the hair shirt and stop fretting that it's all a little overwhelming.
A new book offers a hopeful 'three minute-a-day action plan to save the world'. Aimed at busy people, or the simply lazy, The Armchair Environmentalist is based on the theory 'if we all do a little, it adds up to a lot'.
As a mother who runs her own publishing company in America, the author, Karen Christensen, admits even she is not virtuous all the time. But she wants to encourage more people to realise they don't have to live in wigwams and eat organic mung beans to make a difference.
Christensen's approach is more about changing light bulbs, buying in bulk and swapping the oven for a microwave to save energy.
A few statistics back up the cumulative effect theory. If every home in the UK put in two low-energy light bulbs the electricity saved would power all the street lights in the country. And if everyone pumped up their car tyres properly it would save bil lions of litres of fuel and millions of tyres from the scrap heap every year.
'Everybody knows that there are changes we can make at home to help protect the earth, but many of them seem too complicated or daunting - or plain trivial,' writes Christensen. 'Like you, I want maximum impact for the time I put in and wanted to be able to do a little here and there.'
The idea is backed by Jonathon Porritt, the government's chief environmental adviser. He argues that as dire warnings about the future appear every week - last week there were warnings of another 'unprecedented and unexplained' rise in carbon dioxide - a 'can do' attitude is becoming more important.
'The necessary has to be made desirable before any kind of transformation becomes possible,' he says in a forward to the report.
The book, published on 28 October, offers ideas from the minuscule - put down doormats to reduce the need to clean your house - to the more sacrificial - set the thermostat at no more than 16C.
Some claim to save money, such as low-energy bulbs which last eight times longer than standard bulbs, and greener cars, which save fuel. Others are more expensive, such as buying certified organic produce, including corn, bananas and apples.
Even the most entrenched couch potatoes will find something to celebrate here: smoothing out washed clothes or buying fabrics that don't crease saves electricity ironing, while washing-up uses more water than a fully loaded dishwasher on an economy cycle.
And the book itself? Well, it is one of the first in Britain printed on 100 per cent recycled paper.
Some environmentalists believe the 'sackcloth and ashes' asceticism of the early 1990s turned off a lot of potential supporters and diverted attention from more effective ways of helping the planet.
'The green movement was delayed by politicians dumping responsibility on individuals, that distracted people from collective political action,' said Spencer Fitz-Gibbon, the Green party spokesman on climate change.
In the late Nineties the debate changed to one which majored on the financial benefits of using less energy and making less waste. Now the idea has been repackaged more completely for a fast-moving consumer society.
It is an evolution applauded by Kathy Sykes, professor of public engagement in science at Bristol University. 'There isn't much evidence that if people just understand the issue and know about the issue then they'll change their behaviour,' said Sykes. 'Actually getting people to do the actions and change behaviour: that makes people care a bit more.'
There are some who fear that 'environmentalism-lite' risks creating complacency by underplaying the severity of climate change, toxic pollution and waste mountains.
To this end the book does contain suggestions far beyond the three-minute comfort zone, including turning your garden organic or moving to a smaller house. 'There is a time to get out of our armchairs,' said Christensen.
And if none of the above appeals, number seven in Christensen's top 10 from the book is: 'Have more sex. It's a natural, free, low-tech form of recreation and a good form of exercise.'
A word of warning though: 'If you use a condom make sure you put it in the dustbin, not down the loo.'
How to do your bit
· Put in low-energy bulbs. Two in every home will save enough power for all Britain's street lights
· Keep vehicle tyres inflated. If all were at the correct pressure, it would save 35m litres of fuel daily
· Put down doormats. Keeping out dirt will reduce the need for chemical cleaners
· Use a low-dose contraceptive pill. Build-up of oestrogen in water is blamed for sex changes in fish
· Bulk buy. It saves both on shopping trips and packaging that is expensive to dispose of
· Save water in the garden by using porous soaker hoses, not sprinklers, at dawn or dusk
Posted by Karen Christensen at 9:23 AM | Comments (0)