Diaries Of A Trophy Wife

Racing News; Darfur; Global Warming

Trav, Dad, and I went to ATV Dirtdrag's last night where Travis raced in the 0-350 class. He won first place!!! I'll be posting the video on my myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/trishaigibson , for anyone who would like to see his win. I very proud of him!

You'll notice I've posted a banner and added the Save Darfur blog to my list. Tonight there was a story on 60 Minutes about the genocide in the Darfur region and I was blown away. I would like to inform my readers about it. And as a woman, I would like to help those women who are being brutally rapped as their villages are taken over. No one should have to live like that. You can find ways to help by going to http://www.savedarfur.org/.

Also I wanted to post this list of things we can all do to help reduce global warming according to the new Yahoo Green site at http://green.yahoo.com/. I know some things may be hard to do, and I'm not perfect either, but maybe we can all try to do at least one thing. I have been recycling our cans, plastic, and cardboard, and I've unplugged the appliances that I don't use all the time, like my washer, and an air conditioner.

The following is a list of simple things you can do immediately, which will start to reduce your contribution to global warming. The items in this list will cost you no money at all and will in fact save you money.

1.Sign up to a green energy supplier, who will supply electricity from renewable sources (e.g. wind and hydroelectric power) - this will reduce your carbon footprint contribution from electricity to zero

2.Turn it off when not in use (lights, television, DVD player, Hi Fi, computer etc. etc. ...)

3.Turn down the central heating slightly ( just 1 to 2 degrees C)

4.Turn down the water heating setting (just 2 degrees will make a significant saving)

5.Check the central heating timer setting - remember there is no point heating the house after you have left for work

6.Fill your dish washer and washing machine with a full load - this will save you water, electricity, and washing powder .

7.Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need

8.Unplug your mobile phone as soon as it has finished charging

9.Defrost your fridge/freezer regularly

10.Do your weekly shopping in a single trip

11.Hang out the washing to dry rather than tumble drying it

12.Go for a run rather than drive to the gym

The following is a list of items that may take an initial investment, but should pay for themselves over the course of 1-4 years through savings on your energy bills.

1.Fit energy saving light bulbs

2.Install thermostatic valves on your radiators

3.Insulate your hot water tank, your loft and your walls

4. 35% of heat generated in the house is lost through the walls Installing cavity wall installation to a medium size house should reduce your heating bills. By installing 180mm thick loft insulation you could stop about 25% of your heating escaping through the roof

5.Recycle your grey water

6.Replace your old fridge / freezer (if it is over 15 years old), with a new one with energy efficiency rating of "A"

7.Replace your old boiler with a new energy efficient condensing boiler

Travel less and travel more carbon footprint friendly.

1.Car share to work, or for the kids school run

2.Use the bus or a train rather than your car

3.Don't use domestic flights (e.g. from London to Edinburgh), use a train or a coach.

4.Take the ferry or channel tunnel instead of flying to France

5.See if your employer will allow you to work from home one day a week

6.Next time you replace your car - check out diesel engines. With one of these you can even make your own Biodiesel fuel

7.When on holiday - hire a bicycle to explore locally rather than a car

8.When staying in a hotel turn the lights and air-conditioning off when you leave your hotel room

9.Ask for you room towels to be washed every other day, rather than every day As well as your primary carbon footprint, there is also a secondary footprint that you cause through your buying habits.

If you buy foods out of season at the super market, then these will have either been flown or shipped in from far away - all adding to your carbon footprint.

1.Buy local wine i.e. if you live in the UK then buy from European countries rather than Australia, South Africa, and America

2.Buy local fruit and vegetables, or even try growing your own

3.Try to buy clothes and products from closer to home (look out and avoid items that are made in the distant lands such as China and India)

In addition there is your footprint at work. Do you leave your computer and monitor on when you are away from your desk? Do you leave the lights on when you leave the office? Do you print documents unnecessarily - and could you print two pages to a side and double sided?

Have a great week!