Browsing: travel

At Ethical Superstore we just love things which challenge convention and offer a fresh twist. So we couldn’t resist sharing this post about just such a car rally, not only does it snatch rallying from the exclusive grasp of petrol-heads but it also flips the route of the iconic Veteran Car Run on its head, driving from Brighton’s seafront to the waterfront at London’s City Hall

The 2009 Revolve Eco Rally (http://www.eco-rally.org) ‘convoy of cool’ alternative energy vehicles promanade from Brighton right into the heart of London, culminating in a display of all the vehicles outside London’s City Hall.  We could not resist the chance to check out the present and future of sustainable motoring and we were not disappointed.

Sadly we missed many of the ‘stars in cars’ who had actually driven in the rally itself but the fact that so many celebrities were willing to get involved tells you how seriously this event was taken.

We did manage to meet up with the delightful Tracey Smith (author of the Book of Rubbish Ideas), Tom Lawton (inventor of innovative wind-powered outdoor light the Firewinder) & Nick Aster/Jen Boynton from TriplePundit.com not to mention James Cleverly, Conservative London Assembly Member for Bexley & Bromley & the Mayor of London’s Ambassador for Youth

Whilst the gorgeous Eco Elise from Lotus is not likely to end up on that many drive-ways one gets the feeling that innovations like its hemp shell could easily end up in other more affordable mainstream vehicles. It is a work of art to behold really.

The Tesla again is just an incredible machine although quite unaffordable for most of course but one has to again applaud the inventiveness and sheer style. Without these pioneers change would surely be slower to come. Rumour has it that a more family-oriented vehicle is on the way although the cost may still be quite high for most. All positive steps in the right direction though.

The electric car may have been killed off once before but you can’t keep a good idea down clearly and the future of personal travel certainly looks unavoidably to be a mix of hybrid and electric.

What was really interesting to see was just how cool and normal sustainable cars have become. Mostly thanks to the stylish Toyota Prius which broke first mainstream ground and has got us all much more open-minded to the idea of course. When you realise that the Prius now has admirable competition from other manufacturers like Honda & VW you can see just how seriously the car industry is taking alternative fuels.

People were milling around oohing and aahing at the sporty numbers of course but they were genuinely curious, surprised and impressed at the more mainstream affordable vehicles from well-known brands including Toyota, Honda, Citroen, VW, Mitsubishi and so on, not to mention the smaller innovative manufacturers who were there pushing boundaries even further.

Before we all pat ourselves on the back too much though we have a long road ahead, pardon the pun. The car industry has taken a battering thanks to the economic climate and there is clearly greater risk for them in anything other than mainstream vehicles now more than ever. On the other hand this is also a time when one suspects the future of the car industry is being forged by those with the passion and guts to go for it. We can’t wait.

So, there we have it, the Revolve Eco Rally may be over for this year, but the greening up of some our most guilty pleasures in life is only just gaining some momentum in the mainstream.

We at Ethical Superstore can’t help but wonder what the next eco-twist might be?

If you have any thoughts on the matter or if you were lucky enough to see some of the ‘alternative energy vehicles’ drop us a comment below and let us know. . . .

Thanks to our friends over at www.ooffoo.com for sharing this blog post with us.

Image: mrhayata - Flickr

I know I’m a little premature with this one, but with the festive season over yet winter still upon us, my mind is turning to holidays. You must have noticed the travel agents’ New Year advertising campaigns trying to tempt us all with the promise of the exotic, and year on year increasing numbers of Brits are taking the pundits up on their offers, and fleeing the country searching for weather, activities and the holiday atmosphere that you just don’t get in the UK.

I’m feeling like one of the lucky ones at the moment. Rather than still having several months to wait, I shall be jetting off to foreign lands sooner than most – in only a few weeks time I shall be exploring all that India has to offer. It’s a trip I’ve been looking forward to for a while now, and although I’m sure the country has many challenges to offer, I don’t think India will fail to disappoint in terms of beauty and wonder, cultural diversity and tasty food.

In the face of such excitement in anticipation of a holiday, there is nevertheless a big issue looming… It’s all very well looking on at SkiDubai’s desert snow dome in judgement when I myself am indulging in totally unnecessary long-haul flying. Ok, so one trip to India versus 3 football-pitches of snow frozen exclusively for Dubai’s affluent skiers may not be an entirely equal comparison, but where exactly do you set your boundaries for what is, and what isn’t acceptable as a luxurious indulgence. It is possible to indulge in chocolate ethically with brands such as Green & Black’s and Divine, but is there such a thing as ethical long-haul flying? Offsetting the carbon emissions of your flight is a good place to start when journeying abroad (you can offset the carbon emissions of your shopping here at EthicalSuperstore too) but I’m not convinced that even that can entirely assuage the negative impact of aeroplane travel.

Read the rest of Ethical Adventuring and Green Getaways »

When I heard of SkiDubai, the world’s largest indoor ski centre, I felt convinced to the core that the world had indeed gone completely mad. An area of 22 500 sq m (the size of three football pitches) covered in real snow all year round – in the middle of a desert. The biggest and best – this is Dubai, after all – the centre boasts the world’s first indoor black run and the world’s largest interactive Snow Park. With the temperature maintained at -1 – -2 C, you can hire an overcoat if you have not packed your suitcase with snow in mind.

As I perused the website, I was silently screaming – “This is utterly mad. Instant gratification at what cost? The world is running out of energy and we are allowing this?” It reminds me of when I found out about the artificial beach on the banks of the Seine brought into Paris by the lorry load every summer. It just doesn’t seem right, just so unnecessary….

Read the rest of Have it all – at what cost? »

Well, it’s supposedly summer time which means that the majority of people are off on their holidays sometime soon! And we all know that style and convenience can’t afford to play second fiddle to cumbersome and unsightly ‘travel gadgets’ these days. Luckily, MSN have compiled a Top 8 of 2008’s Coolest Travel Gadgets to take the stress out of choosing the right piece of kit to make your holiday run smoothly.

From camera tripods to motorized luggage cases; there really is something for everyone. Two products in particular caught my eye, though. Yes, Ethical Superstore stocks 2 of the 8 products featured; the Indigo LED Wind Up Lantern, and the Powermonkey eXplorer Portable Solar Charger (pictured) grace both the Cool List and the pages of your favourite one stop ethical shop!

Not only does that mean that Ethical Superstore makes it easier for you to shop by ethics, but also maintains a sense of style, of cool, and of sophistication. Check out the range of travel gadgets available that didn’t quite make the Top 8 this time around . . . . There’s always next year!