With 2 billion pairs of eyes expected to be firmly clamped on the Live Earth concerts tomorrow, the word about climate change will be spread far and wide. Although, as George Marshall argues, perhaps enough people already know and they're just waiting to be forced into doing something about it through new laws introduced by their government.
We don't have to wait, though - in fact, we can't wait. Even the most optimistic predictions about the effects of climate change say that we need to take immediate action. So if watching Madonna cavorting around has spurred you on, what can you do here and now? Funny you should ask...
- Change your light bulbs. It's a small thing but if everyone in the UK did it, we could get rid of two medium-sized power stations. The old complaints that energy efficient bulbs aren't as good as traditional ones just don't hold water anymore, so why are power crazy bulbs still being sold?
- That's another thing you can do - write to your supermarket or DIY shop, asking them to commit to removing inefficient light bulbs from their shelves. Not in five years time like the government wants, but now.
- We should also ask why proposals are being made for new coal-fired power stations. One is being considered right now by Medway Council in Kent - write to them and explain why it really wouldn't be a good idea to build the first one for 30 years.
- But it's not just about saying no to bad energy, it's about shouting hooray for good energy. Find out how we can bridge the energy gap, not with coal or nuclear power, but with renewables and decentralised energy - look, we made a video about it.
- Sign up for our ebulletin. We'll keep you posted on new ideas about how we can all work together and lick this climate change business.
