Green mapping across Europe: Four Bees in a Hive
“Think global, map local!” – map makers concerned with green maps in Berlin, Bistrita, Bristol and Budapest launched an international project in August 2009, which is supported financially by the Grundtvig programme of the European Union. The participants promote green mapping as a medium of adult learning and sustainable community development. Similarly to busy bees in their hives, the four B-cities exchange ideas and try to “cross pollinate” each other’s projects. We asked the group leaders to talk about their experiences after their first workshop with adult learners in Bristol.

Innocents Abroad
"Even if you don’t consider your journey as a shopping experience, travel agents and package tours are set to send you along commercial paths that would bring them profits."

Energy Vampires and Glowing Insects - Household Energy Consumption
"This heavenly choir of light doesn't last too long. Just before you realise you've suspended breathing the lights start fading."

Transport, accessibility and consumption – Some thoughts from current work in the UK
Infrastructure – changes to the way in which we travel. This is perhaps the area where most action has happened in the UK. It is now widely accepted that building new roads, especially in urban areas is pointless: they immediately fill up with traffic as more motorists make more journeys.

Homo Mobilis
To a large part, the failure of traffic in cities is due to the irresponsibility of municipal authorities to implement policies that take into account long term consequences. The four-year election term is too scary for politicians to dare look beyond the next election campaign. Or is it?

Auto-centricity and the Tyranny of Image – Part III
Policy-wise and at individual level, we’ve tried all the quick fixes by the book – new technology for cars, medication for new illnesses, insurance, lawsuits, new roads prior to elections - but only as far as it circumvents our illusion of comfort. Nothing to touch our car-use or fuel prices. But sometimes we need to give - a little now, or much more in future.