
Eco Tips
Each month we will be sharing ideas of things you can do to shrink your carbon footprint and combat climate change. They will range from easy and cheap challenges to really life-changing ones.
We hope you’re up for the challenge, but please do what you can as it all helps. If there’s anything you’d like to know more about, or a topic you’d like us to cover in future, do let us know.
Liz Francis

This Month's Eco Tips: Local Actions
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Appreciate good civil servants and public officials
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Encourage them. Recognize their good work, their vocation of service to the common good. Write a thank you note online or in your local media to those who work every day, honestly in their jobs, to those people who take care of what belongs to all of us.
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Contact your MP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wgoDYzvZ8I -
Buy from local shops. It will avoid the extra packaging of online shopping
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Enjoy nature and develop an appreciation of our beautiful countryside. Take a small bag with you when out and about to pick up litter on paths and in the countryside or on the beach.
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Borrow, rent or buy second-hand equipment like tents and camping stoves - check out the ‘Borrow’ and ‘Wanted’ sections on the OLIO app, or ask at church!
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Join a Community Action Group
https://www.cagoxfordshire.org.uk/groups -
Organise a local litter pick. If there’s a local group already, join them https://www.thamewombles.co.uk/
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Talk to your family & friends about what you do to help and what they could do too
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Use your local Library of Things: https://www.libraryofthings.co.uk/
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Sign up for local newsletters to find out what’s going on and how you can get involved: e.g. https://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/news/newsletter-sign-up/
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Check out these local websites:
https://thamegreenliving.org.uk/
https://www.climateactionoxfordshire.org.uk/
https://www.oxonair.uk/local-initiatives
https://groups.friendsoftheearth.uk/groups/chinnor-and-thame-friends-of-the-earth
https://www.facebook.com/groups/plasticfreethame/
https://thamecop.co.uk/
https://21stcenturythame.co.uk/
https://theconversation.southandvale.gov.uk/
https://small99.co.uk/people-planet-pint-meetup/
https://www.lowcarbonhub.org/
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This Month's Eco Tips: Money
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Make sure your bank and pension invest ethically:
https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/money-finance
https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/ethical-money/how-to-make-your-money-greener-from-carbon-negative-phone-networks-to-eco-friendly-mortgages-1772335
bank.green
https://justmoney.org.uk/
https://good-with-money.com/
https://naturesave.co.uk/
https://thepath.co.uk/ -
Look for labels such as Fairtrade, Living Wage employer or the Fair Tax Mark, and opt for ethical businesses, co-operatives and B Corps
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Buy less & cherish more
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Check out ethical shopping guides at https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/
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Furniture: buy second-hand, repair or upcycle, or make it yourself using reclaimed or recycled wood (https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/home-garden/how-buy-secondhand-furniture-recycle-old-furniture)
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Boycott Amazon:
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethicalcampaigns/boycott-amazon
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethical-campaigns-boycotts/amazon-greenwashing
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/technology/amazon-web-services-avoid/
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethicalcampaigns/amazon-vouchers
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Give your feedback on Eco Tips!
We’d love your feedback on how you’ve got on with Eco Tips.
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The survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.
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