Global Warming, Climate Change, Acid Rain and the Volunteers Who Fight Back

Global warming, climate change, the erosion of the ozone layer, acid rain – we only ever seem to hear apocalyptic things about the environment. And it is certainly true that we are putting the Earth under huge strain.

But every cloud – even a polluting one – has a silver lining. The threat to the planet has brought out the very best in many of us. People have become passionate about trying to prevent and reverse damage.

All over the world, organisations have been formed to combat the threat. They range from small church and community groups to global charities, all working in various areas of environmental control and improvement. Without them, we would all be a lot worse off.

Each and every one of us can get involved. Perhaps you’d like to join in? If so, you could try logging on to do-it.org.uk - a web site which is there to help people get involved with local volunteering opportunities in their area.

There’s a particular reason to join the campaigns run by environmental charities right now. Honda, the car giant, has teamed up with do-it.org.uk in order to step up the battle to save the planet. Honda is passionate about doing what it can to help causes supporting the environment.

It has recently launched a new model, the Insight hybrid, which uses a combination of a petrol engine and a battery to dramatically improve fuel consumption and cut CO2 emissions.

If you want to try the new Insight, then you’ll be helping the planet in more ways than one. Firstly, you’ll be taking a ride in a car which is at the very leading edge of environmental technology. And secondly, each Honda dealership has nominated a charity, and for every person who takes a test drive in the Insight, they’ll donate £5 to that nominated charity.

Dealers across the UK have picked a wide range of environmental causes to back. But the biggest beneficiary has been BTCV, the UK’s leading green volunteering charity. It has the world’s largest team of green volunteers operating throughout Britain and in 26 countries, and has inspired 300,000 people to look after more than 50,000 places.

A vice president of the charity – celebrating its 50th anniversary this year – is Sir David Attenborough. He says: "Volunteering with BTCV brings together people from all walks of life and gives them a common purpose – to learn about, to understand and to become part of the natural world.

"They volunteer not just because they want to bring about change to their local environment, but because it’s fun – it gets you outdoors, it makes you fit and you’re learning something new all the time."

And Janet Ford, BTCV’s senior corporate partnerships manager, says: "Every donation BTCV receives via Honda dealerships will provide the vital funds that enable us to work with volunteers in giving them the opportunity to make a difference to their local environment."

Other environmental organisations around the country which are being supported by Honda dealers include the Marine Conservation Society’s Adopt A Beach campaign; Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust; CPRE Leicestershire; and Botanic Gardens Conservation International.

Richard Harrington, communications manager for the Marine Conservation Society, says: "It’s great news that Honda is becoming involved, and it’s proof of how well respected we are. We’re a UK national charity and we’re very happy to know that we’ll receive extra money to do our work.

"We have a lot of volunteers who freely give their time - it’s a pat on the back for them and shows we’re making a difference."

As part of the campaign, the Portsmouth News has launched a dedicated microsite within its web site so you can see just how easy it is to sign up and do something for the community.

Why don’t you become involved? Visit the Portsmouth News' microsite at http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/custompages/custompage.aspx?pageid=79862 for volunteering opportunities in your area. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk

Contact:
George Hopkin
The News
The News Centre
London Road, Hilsea
Portsmouth PO2 9SX UK
023-9266-4488
seo@jpress.co.uk
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/custompages/custompage.aspx?pageid=79862