Surrey, UK - Kew Gardens hosts a big 'Start' event this weekend (running 25th - 29th August 2011) with all kinds of exhibitions, events and celebrations of sustainable living. Lassco will have a presence promoting our 'High Voltage Bar Stool' as a prime innovative example of upcycling or reuse of architectural salvage.
During the lull on Sunday lunchtime I might venture on stage and say a few words.
See previous posts about our contributions to the Start event at Lancaster House and Clarence House. Start is an initiative from the Prince of Wales. He explained all in an article he wrote last year.
HRH The Prince of Wales wrote [Daily Telegraph 31 July 2010]:
'I have always believed that great challenges present great opportunities. Becoming more sustainable is possibly the greatest challenge humanity has faced and I am convinced that it is, therefore, the most remarkable chance to secure a prosperous future for everyone.
'Unfortunately, far too many of us see the journey towards a sustainable future as only a burden, a threat to our quality of life or a danger to our economy. We only ever seem to hear about how much it will cost to lighten our footprint on the planet, how difficult it will be to travel or how hard it will be to provide enough food. The predictable result of this is that we do nothing, despite ever more serious warnings of catastrophe from those most qualified to make such calls.
'I can understand why it is so tempting to walk away from these huge problems. Given that people are often led to believe that the only choice is between catastrophic climate change and giving up all that makes life worthwhile, it is no surprise that most would rather bury their heads in the sand. This is why I have launched an initiative, called Start, and why I will be hosting what we are calling a Garden Party to Make a Difference at Clarence House in September.
'The idea behind Start came from a realisation that simply warning of rising tides, melting ice caps and collapsing fish stocks was irrelevant to ordinary, hard-pressed people. They are concerned - quite understandably - with other things, such as the economy, their health or the education of their children. They have scant time to think about the future, especially when the consequences of doing nothing seem a long way away. After all, the worst effects won't be felt for years, and those who will be hardest hit live far from here. Why should we do anything about it?
'Yet all the evidence shows that, in general, these same people want to do the right thing. For example, there are very few who are happy to eat unsustainably harvested fish if they know it will kill off stocks for future generations. There are few who wish to buy certain goods if they are told their production directly contributes to the destruction of the world's rainforests and the extinction of tens of thousands of animal and plant species.'
(Editor's note - Some of the comments about this article were amusing. For example 'paulienash' alleged 'Hmmm, showing his concern for the environment bit rich for someone that not only drives a Bentley Turbo but has it flown to Cloisters for his winter holiday.' Ex Friends of the Earth boss, Tony Juniper, defended Prince Charles' houshold's carbon footprint, which he said is reducing, and his lifestyle on a BBC Hardtalk interview - see link below - after the Daily Telegraph article was written.)
LASSCO House & Garden Ltd
Daily Telegraph: Readers comments on Start
BBC Hardtalk: Tony Juniper: Prince Charles committed to reducing carbon footprint
Story Type: News
ID: 61337
