Comments for Personal Blog of Ellen MacArthur http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com This is the personal Blog of me, Ellen MacArthur. I will be posting regular updates and news on my life and passions... Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:08:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 Comment on Amsterdam! by Victor http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2007/09/16/amsterdam/#comment-20408 Victor Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:56:59 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2007/09/16/amsterdam/#comment-20408 We travelled there with our three daughters. We found all informations on <a href="http://www.amstetdam.info" rel="nofollow">amsterdam.info</a>. Amsterdam it is a very beautiful town and the museums are great. But with the exchange rate as it is, we found it very expensive. Some museums were closed for refurbishment, but the views of the canals and hi-lights such as the Anne Frank House and the Artis Zoo (an old-fashioned place with a great array of animals kept in somewhat cramped conditions) are very memorable. The food is awful unless you want to spend a great deal of money and there is a cynical attitude to tourists that is very out of date (e.g. tapas marinaded pork was one slice of fried bacon on 1/2 a bread roll). We stayed in the serviceable but expensive Singel Hotel which was okay but its close proximity to a red light area made going out with the children awkward and there really was nothing charming or liberated about hurrying past the ladies in the windows. The same is true of the legal dope selling 'coffee houses'. The whole bicycle thing is interesting. It is almost, but not quite, the eco-city of the future. Some cyclists are quite anarchic and we spent a fair bit of time dodging pavement mounted bad-tempered riders. Overall verdict was we were glad we'd been but wouldn't go again as it feels over priced, out of date and sleazy - not the cutting edge hip family friendly town it's sold as. We travelled there with our three daughters. We found all informations on amsterdam.info. Amsterdam it is a very beautiful town and the museums are great. But with the exchange rate as it is, we found it very expensive. Some museums were closed for refurbishment, but the views of the canals and hi-lights such as the Anne Frank House and the Artis Zoo (an old-fashioned place with a great array of animals kept in somewhat cramped conditions) are very memorable. The food is awful unless you want to spend a great deal of money and there is a cynical attitude to tourists that is very out of date (e.g. tapas marinaded pork was one slice of fried bacon on 1/2 a bread roll). We stayed in the serviceable but expensive Singel Hotel which was okay but its close proximity to a red light area made going out with the children awkward and there really was nothing charming or liberated about hurrying past the ladies in the windows. The same is true of the legal dope selling ‘coffee houses’. The whole bicycle thing is interesting. It is almost, but not quite, the eco-city of the future. Some cyclists are quite anarchic and we spent a fair bit of time dodging pavement mounted bad-tempered riders. Overall verdict was we were glad we’d been but wouldn’t go again as it feels over priced, out of date and sleazy - not the cutting edge hip family friendly town it’s sold as.

]]> Comment on Christmas Cheer by joe borez http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2009/12/23/christmas-cheer/#comment-19301 joe borez Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:20:21 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/?p=147#comment-19301 dear Ellen I'm a resident of Portland Dorset, base for the 2012 sailing olympics as I'm sure you are aware. However there are plans to construct a palm oil power plant on the island. My research into this proposal has flagged up many reasons whilst this should not go ahead. The main reason is the environmental and social damage it will cause in areas producing the palm oil and secondly the palm oil is being subsidised by the taxpayer as a renewable resource (it's not really), would you have any opiniion on this proposal thanks Joe Borez dear Ellen I’m a resident of Portland Dorset, base for the 2012 sailing olympics as I’m sure you are aware. However there are plans to construct a palm oil power plant on the island. My research into this proposal has flagged up many reasons whilst this should not go ahead. The main reason is the environmental and social damage it will cause in areas producing the palm oil and secondly the palm oil is being subsidised by the taxpayer as a renewable resource (it’s not really), would you have any opiniion on this proposal thanks Joe Borez

]]> Comment on Desert Island Discs by Laurence http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2009/10/03/desert-island-discs/#comment-18215 Laurence Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:14:57 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/?p=142#comment-18215 Fear will not change the world (or usage of kitchen towel :D), only understanding. Fear will not change the world (or usage of kitchen towel :D), only understanding.

]]> Comment on Back to school… by Evelina http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2009/04/24/back-to-school/#comment-18168 Evelina Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:15:20 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/?p=120#comment-18168 Dear Ellen, Last year I attended the Sustainability Annual Conference organised by UK Green Building Council. I was moved by your speech and I was wondering how we can get in contact with you to discuss whether you would be able to support my project in delivering the message accross to the employees. Dear Ellen,

Last year I attended the Sustainability Annual Conference organised by UK Green Building Council.
I was moved by your speech and I was wondering how we can get in contact with you to discuss whether you would be able to support my project in delivering the message accross to the employees.

]]> Comment on Christmas Cheer by caitlin butcher http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2009/12/23/christmas-cheer/#comment-18167 caitlin butcher Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:55:45 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/?p=147#comment-18167 you are an anazing person to do sumthing like that and i hope that you will reply back to my question. when did you first sail? you are an anazing person to do sumthing like that and i hope that you will reply back to my question.

when did you first sail?

]]> Comment on Christmas Cheer by Jordi http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2009/12/23/christmas-cheer/#comment-18148 Jordi Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:21:41 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/?p=147#comment-18148 Hi Ellen, if one day you come to barcelona, please say anithing in your blog or if it's possible send me a message, becouse my girl is your fand and his dream is meet you. Thanks for all!!!! and happynew year! Jordi Hi Ellen, if one day you come to barcelona, please say anithing in your blog or if it’s possible send me a message, becouse my girl is your fand and his dream is meet you. Thanks for all!!!! and happynew year!
Jordi

]]> Comment on Desert Island Discs by Todd http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2009/10/03/desert-island-discs/#comment-17782 Todd Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:36:16 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/?p=142#comment-17782 Hi Ellen, Great interview on desert island discs, which I still think about now over 3 months later. Like other's I've lots of views on global warming etc, and used to work in the UKs Nuclear Power Stations and the training simulators so know a fair bit about that side of things. But the point of my comment is to say this - if all the above comments convey one message it's that I feel you could make a difference by completely sidestepping the whole global warming/global dimming/climate change debate and just focus on the efficient use of resources. Your analogy of using only as much tissue paper as you needed "not a whole sheet just because someone's chosen to put the perforation there" (not a direct quote!) was insightful and inspirational. Yes, it's made me use "less than a sheet". Using more resources than we need - the dreaded tissue sheet, leaving the tap running whilst we brush our teeth etc is just so undeniably wrong that you wouldn't get into these tortuous debates like those posted by Bob aka Ross McKitrick in the comments above. It doesn't have quite the fear factor, but the beaury is that without the arguments MORE not less might actually get done, and if we reduce the use of resources - particularly oil - we deal with CO2 emissions as well. Viola! Anyway all the very best in your efforts, I wait with baited breath for any new announcements this year and would be keen to help with your project in any way I can. Hi Ellen,

Great interview on desert island discs, which I still think about now over 3 months later.

Like other’s I’ve lots of views on global warming etc, and used to work in the UKs Nuclear Power Stations and the training simulators so know a fair bit about that side of things.

But the point of my comment is to say this - if all the above comments convey one message it’s that I feel you could make a difference by completely sidestepping the whole global warming/global dimming/climate change debate and just focus on the efficient use of resources.

Your analogy of using only as much tissue paper as you needed “not a whole sheet just because someone’s chosen to put the perforation there” (not a direct quote!) was insightful and inspirational. Yes, it’s made me use “less than a sheet”.

Using more resources than we need - the dreaded tissue sheet, leaving the tap running whilst we brush our teeth etc is just so undeniably wrong that you wouldn’t get into these tortuous debates like those posted by Bob aka Ross McKitrick in the comments above.

It doesn’t have quite the fear factor, but the beaury is that without the arguments MORE not less might actually get done, and if we reduce the use of resources - particularly oil - we deal with CO2 emissions as well. Viola!

Anyway all the very best in your efforts, I wait with baited breath for any new announcements this year and would be keen to help with your project in any way I can.

]]> Comment on Christmas Cheer by tony shaw http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2009/12/23/christmas-cheer/#comment-17369 tony shaw Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:54:07 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/?p=147#comment-17369 what i ment to say all the best happy new year. xxx what i ment to say all the best happy new year. xxx

]]> Comment on Christmas Cheer by Laurence http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2009/12/23/christmas-cheer/#comment-17172 Laurence Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:21:15 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/?p=147#comment-17172 Seasonal salutations of which ever Parthenon you choose to worship or raise a bottle of pop to ;) . And to everyone else as well :D Seasonal salutations of which ever Parthenon you choose to worship or raise a bottle of pop to ;) .

And to everyone else as well :D

]]> Comment on Christmas Cheer by tony shaw http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2009/12/23/christmas-cheer/#comment-17051 tony shaw Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:37:39 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/?p=147#comment-17051 and you too and all the team .xxx and you too and all the team .xxx

]]> Comment on Plastic bottles - re-fill by o http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2007/11/02/plastic-bottles-re-fill/#comment-15782 o Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:39:48 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2007/11/02/plastic-bottles-re-fill/#comment-15782 amazing we are studing you at school amazing we are studing you at school

]]> Comment on Desert Island Discs by John Lilley http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2009/10/03/desert-island-discs/#comment-15447 John Lilley Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:53:40 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/?p=142#comment-15447 Extinction event now imminent: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8364926.stm What esle is there to talk about? Extinction event now imminent: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8364926.stm What esle is there to talk about?

]]> Comment on Back to school… by Jade http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2009/04/24/back-to-school/#comment-15426 Jade Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:46:47 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/?p=120#comment-15426 Hi Ellen, Remember me? I am a pupil at Herbert Strutt Primary...I was in year 5 when you can with dark blonde hair...Now im in year 6 with short hair! It was really good meeting you! Thanks for putting our school on your blog! I'm going to show this website to my school! Bye now x Jade x Hi Ellen,
Remember me?
I am a pupil at Herbert Strutt Primary…I was in year 5 when you can with dark blonde hair…Now im in year 6 with short hair! It was really good meeting you! Thanks for putting our school on your blog! I’m going to show this website to my school! Bye now x Jade x

]]> Comment on Thanks for your support! by Emma Hames http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2009/10/06/thanks-for-your-support/#comment-15311 Emma Hames Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:49:38 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/?p=144#comment-15311 Dear Ellen, I'm 21 and a recent graduate in BSc Environmental Science from the University of Plymouth. I also sail, travel and am developing environmental communication strategies. I would love to discuss with you these ideas as your concerns and ambitions resonate with my own. Please visit my website if you have time for some more info about me and my work, Best wishes, Emma Dear Ellen,

I’m 21 and a recent graduate in BSc Environmental Science from the University of Plymouth. I also sail, travel and am developing environmental communication strategies. I would love to discuss with you these ideas as your concerns and ambitions resonate with my own. Please visit my website if you have time for some more info about me and my work,

Best wishes,

Emma

]]> Comment on Thanks for your support! by tony shaw http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/2009/10/06/thanks-for-your-support/#comment-15222 tony shaw Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:20:29 +0000 http://blog.ellenmacarthur.com/?p=144#comment-15222 hi ellen was just reading how you went to household waste site and the recycling , well i live in huddersfield and work for the council but the plant jointly owned by a french company called sita and there aim is to make money , yes they like you to recycle but alot just gets burnt ,the tin can makes most money they ship them to china. i see alot more than people just visting. xxx hi ellen was just reading how you went to household waste site and the recycling , well i live in huddersfield and work for the council but the plant jointly owned by a french company called sita and there aim is to make money , yes they like you to recycle but alot just gets burnt ,the tin can makes most money they ship them to china. i see alot more than people just visting. xxx

]]>