Making a pledge for 10:10

Making a pledge for 10:10

10:10 is an exciting new movement, begun in Britain, which aims to cut carbon emissions by 10% during the year 2010. This movement is for everyone, from local authorities and big businesses to small corner shops, community organisations and individuals concerned about the environment. Anyone can join 10:10 by taking a simple pledge to cut carbon emissions by 10% during the
coming year.

The National Assembly for Wales has taken this pledge. Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council has signed up, as have numerous other local authorities in the UK. Synagogues, churches, libraries, architectural firms, artisans, universities, newspapers, research companies and industrial plants are among the many and varied organisations and businesses joining in. More than 48,000 people have pledged as individuals.

Arts Factory CEO Elwyn James signed us up as an organisation last week. Elwyn first heard about 10:10 on Radio 4. "Arts Factory has joined 10:10 because we are a responsible company and take our duty to tackle climate change seriously," says Elwyn. "By taking small, sensible measures--building on the work we have done to achieve and retain the Green Dragon Standard, we will implement our 10:10 pledge." Elwyn assures readers that Arts Factory will periodically update the public on the progress of this pledge on Arts Factory's new website, launched at the beginning of November.

Volunteers at Arts Factory will become involved in the 10:10 pledge by learning to work in a more energy-conscious way. Turning off lights, conserving water and heat, careful sorting of recyclable materials and
avoiding all types of waste are measures already in place at Arts Factory, activities which soon become second nature to staff and volunteers who work with us for any length of time. But there is always a little bit more that
can be done, a little extra effort that each of us can make to achieve our new pledge to further reduce Arts Factory's carbon footprint.

Arts Factory wishes to encourage members of our surrounding communities to sign up as individuals. Even if you are a climate change sceptic, cutting back on waste and pollution by a mere 10% makes good sense. Reducing waste saves you money and avoiding pollution improves your health. So why not take the pledge?

10:10's website gives detailed advice to individuals, companies and community organisations on how to fulfil
the 10% carbon reduction pledge. A fun incentive involves a metal 10:10 tag which can be worn as jewellery, a zipper pull or lapel pin. These tags, currently available to those who sign up, are made from a melted-down commercial 747 Boeing jumbo jet, an aeroplane of many years’ service once nicknamed "City of Edinburgh".
This meltdown, carried out at a forge in Lincolnshire, has produced enough material for 150,000 10:10 tags.
According to the 10:10uk website, these tags are "the best (and most stylish) way to show the world you’re cutting your 10% in 2010."

Visit the 10:10uk website at www.1010uk.org and read about what you, your friends and neighbours, local organisations and employers can do to help cut carbon emissions in Britain by 10% during the twelve months of 2010. If you take the 10:10 pledge and come up with your own creative ways to cut your carbon footprint, visit the Arts Factory website and tell us about it. Let’s get Welsh individuals and communities working together to improve our own little patch of the earth’s environment. The alternative of inaction doesn’t bear thinking about.