I find myself reverting in to my childhood self as I watch a UK TV show, concerning the Miniature Wonderland, replete with tiny toy trains circling a long course with an audience of hundreds of people milling about at the Fremington Quay, UK district.  All well known doco. makers are involved with this documentary, but I was so engrossed, I didn't get around to finding out the name of the programme. But what really matters is that the 'plucky bullet train' is certainly outdoing the rest. 

What this programme does is remind us of the power of toys to inspire wonder in people, and that also includes children! When we are around toys we are removed from our day to day lives and transported to another place. Toys take us back to a time where we were an empty slate, waiting to be filled up with new ideas, inspirations and feelings. Toys inspire not just wonder but also, I think, a great deal of love and loyalty in those engaging with them. To see the adults staying up all night to see a tiny little train surging past, and getting emotional at Instow (7 miles in to the course) about their trains not getting past this point, is pretty good evidence of this. 

Because of this empty slate aspect, both emotionally and intellectually, I think that toys might be used a lot more in inspiring devotion amongst the masses when it comes to climate change and the behaviour required to mitigate against it. Aside from engendering a sense of loyalty towards the toy (which can represent all manner of environmental personalities and themes)  and inspiring wonder in the subject matter, too, the toy actually makes sustainability fun! 

We were discussing other reasons why toys are potentially so inspirational where our ecology and climate change is concerned.  First of all, the toy brings out in the audience a caring spirit. Therefore toys are excellent at drawing out empathy within the audience.  This paternal instinct and empathic response stirs up sub-consciousness feelings and responses, which we might not have had, but for our engagement with the toy.  This in turn makes us more susceptible for having a change of heart, where behaviour change is concerned.  A change of heart can then in turn bring about a change in habits. 

Think of mermaid toys with 'accessories/story books' representing the wonder of reefs and the fish and the actions the merpeople are taking to protect them.  Think of how inspiring characterslike Wall E and Mo are. The use of toys, environmental heroes and childhood themes in the context of behaviour change - knows no bounds.  

See also separate tagged topic - 'eco screen dream' on RHS blog labels and also this is discussed under the tag Green Humor - left hand menu. 

 I have been noticing women walking around with these stunning silky looking bags slung over their shoulders, and was quite impressed to find out that not only are they strong enough to carry your shopping (or other quite weighty items) but they also look aesthetically pleasing, come in a range of shapes and sizes, and colours, and are a great alternative to those ghastly shopping bags which take 100s of years to break down. 

I went on to their website and discovered all these celebrities looking quite smart with their envirosax bags.  One sees a lot of celebrity endorsement where shopping bags are concerned. 

All I know is that they are available at odd shops around town or on the envirosax website.  They will make great gifts at around 12 dollars a piece, and also they convey the green message in the best way possible - everyday changes people are making without suffering a whopping detriment.  This is because the bags fold up in to a tiny neat shape and have a press stud for tidy closure. 

So unlike the ones that are sold for reuse at supermarkets, these bags are ideal, as they aren't drab-looking, and indeed quite the contrary, a joy to behold.  Also, you won't leave them in the car, or at home, as they fit in to your handbag.  There won't be that old excuse, any longer, 'oops I forgot to bring a bag'. Very clever idea, Envirosax! 

I discuss the distinction between green marketing and social marketing in my book Green Spin (or) Promoting the Green Message which is available at this link. 

A piece of super star art (which is short for superlative starfish work of art). 

Photo and sculpture courtesy of artist, Laine Hogarty, who also was the designer of my book cover.  

SEASTAR
The artwork used 30 Kilos of aluminium drink cans in the formation of a star fish, it was 5 metres across. Commissioned by Barwon Coast as part of art based responses for the “Too lovely to Litter campaign”. Keep Australia Beautiful waste research indicates that the largest proportion of coastal litter is due to plastic bottles and aluminium drink cans. The star shape was selected as an easily identifiable shape that the public can connect with especially children. 

Superb. 

On Blooming and Bold blogspot, there is a post I wrote today about hurricanes, floods and the role played by gardens. Now, anyone who reads that blog will see I have a strange fascination for dingey, arcane drains and love to be loquacious about landscapes and the way that our gardens link up with the wider landscape. 

However, the trick is to write about the topic in a way that will engage the reader (with the use of humour or light-heartedness which infuses the topic with greater hope), and avoids putting the reader to sleep.  So I hope I achieve that, adequately. 

Speaking of rainwater, here is a link to another educational video for children viewed on the Groundwater Foundation site, concerning groundwater and keeping acquifers clean.  In Australia, most of our water comes from dams or reservoirs, but similar principles apply in terms of groundwater pollution, and taking care with what we tip in to our sewerage and stormwater pipes and drains,  organics in the garden, sediment and erosion control etc.  

This video for children is another example of making sustainability education fun.  

So great news with the help of some professional e book formatting, the book is now available on Smashwords in their 'premium catalogue' which really just means that it's available for everyone to find under the key search categories. 

When I get around to having a print version I am intending the paperback version of the book to be printed on sustainably sourced paper pulp, so I guess this is a 'Win for Wood' and the Wait will be Worth it! (And I hope the reader gets to see Mr Popper's Penguins for its amazing array of alliteration!) For now, it's been taken down from Amazon, as I'm yet to determine whether Amazon offers the sustainable (paper) supply chain option.  And I have to say Smashwords insist on a higher standard of e book format.