Greenvoice

About Giles Robertson

My Environmental Objectives: To make people think about what they are doing to our amazing planet.

People I admire: My wife. Lance Armstrong.

Things I would like to change: Reusing, recycling - not wasting. Knowing the knock on effects of our consumption. Respecting nature - not paving it over.

About me: As a father of two young children - Isobel and Barney, I have seen the world's problems through new eyes. Which is a good thing! I am passionate about protecting the world around me and feel very strongly that we all have an important role in nurturing and protecting our beautiful home in everything we do.

Activities: I worked in advertising for about half my career, making the move to the not for profit sector in '98. I like to feel that my work now really does make a difference. I am also a member (and former Head of Marketing) of WWF-UK, Friends Of The Earth, National Trust, RSPB, Amnesty International, Dulwich Picture Gallery and Tate. Just over two years ago I founded and Chair the Marketing Society Not For Profit Marketing Forum.

Interests: I am fascinated by contemporary culture and particularly enjoy looking at most modern art. As a family, we spend much of our time trying to be aware and sensitive of the things around us – reusing what we can, recycling most things, avoiding highly toxic products, composting, minimising our water usage, where possible cycling and walking and only using green energy. This week my three year old daughter began (of sorts) growing organic tomatoes. Playing with my children without having any other plans seems to fill many glorious days - I try and spend as much time as I can with them in this way. I often dream of long summer’s evenings at a restaurant with my wife enjoying a chilled bottle of white wine as the last rays of the sunshine go down behind the trees. And then one of the kids wakes up – and I’m back in the kitchen (but fortunately, the wife and the wine are still very much there!). I play squash once a week and fortunately have gone beyond the stage of still aching three days later. For my sins, as a half Scouse I support Liverpool FC.

Favorite Music: The Smiths, Coldplay, Keane, Radiohead, Turin Brakes, The Stranglers, Starsailor

Favorite Films: The Big Blue is still one of my favourites. But up there is another modern classic, L.A Confidentail a fine film. But for an older, golden age of film, It's A Wonderful Life is a real classic. For the funniest film of all times - a must see is The Revenge of The Nerds part 1.

Favorite TV shows: Desperate Housewives. Wednesday's will never be the same without it.

Favorite Books: The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

Favorite Quotes: "Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans".John Lennon "We shan't save all we should like to, but we shall save a great deal more than if we had never tried". Sir Peter Scott (1909-89), WWF founder 1961 "The optimism of the action is better than the pessimism of the thought". Harald Zindler. A philosophy that still guides much of Greenpeace's work. "A good plan violently executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week". General George S Patton

Political Views: Now that would be telling - but I do think the environment has moved more centre stage. A few years back it didn't even register on constituent's radars and now people are putting pressure on corporates, schools and MPs.

Campaigns

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Promises

• Stop using plastic bags
• Write to local counsellors (I believe there are other ways to address transport growth rather than paving over more of the UK. We need some clever thinking from he government and that's why I have written to my MP Tessa Jowell. It's not all about getting to a sales meeting on time.)
• Click here to support The Forest Now Declaration. (I'm the creator so obviously I promise this!)
• Click here to Demand action from Brussels! (This is wrong we should not be illegal taking fish to support our lifestyles at the expense of some of the most vunerable communities in the world.)
• Take a photograph of your favourite spot (I'm the creator so obviously I promise this!)
• Picnic in the Green Belt (I'm the creator so obviously I promise this!)
• No Green Belt near you — then create it! (I'm the creator so obviously I promise this!)
• Write a letter (I'm the creator so obviously I promise this!)
• Ask MP to sign the Early Day Motion (I have written to my local Tessa Jowell to ask her to support the Early day Motion and will up date when she replies. Giles)
• Write to Government now (I don't want GM foods for my family withut proper consultation.)
• Learn how to change the world. (Good new skills to have.)
• Only buy FSC wood products - look for the logo (I'm the creator so obviously I promise this!)
• Letter to Secretary of State for Transport (I have sent the letter to The Secretary of State for Transport Opposing the expansion of Heathrow Airport. )
• Use public transport at least once a week (Because trains are fast and don't get stuck in traffic.)

Appeals

• Stop using plastic bags -

  One way we could all help the leatherback turle would be to stop using supermarket plastic bags. These end up in the sea and confuse Turtles who think they are jellyfish, its favourite meal, and they end up choking and drowning.

• Click here to support The Forest Now Declaration. -

  Demand urgent action on deforestation in the tropics and sub-tropics.

  support declaration now

• Take a photograph of your favourite spot -

  CPRE have set up a photo gallery of people's favourite Green Belt spots. Please send us a photograph of Green Belt that's important to you and tell us why you chose that particular spot – email: campaigns@cpre.org.uk

• Picnic in the Green Belt -

  Make the most of your Green Belt on the next sunny day by exploring its nature and beauty using existing rights of way and public open space. You can find maps on the Ordnance Survey website.

• No Green Belt near you — then create it! -

  If you live in a town or city that could benefit from having sprawl curtailed, why not begin a campaign to create a new Green Belt? Actions from local people are what created many of our existing Green Belts.

  CPRE has a new guide on how to create new Green Belt. Use it to take you step by step through the process

• Write a letter -

  Write to your MP and your local newspaper, explaining why you want Green Belts to remain protected open land.
  You can find the name of your MP and email him or her using the web form on

• Only buy FSC wood products - look for the logo -

  Where ever you see the FSC logo you know that your wood /paper products are coming from a sustainable, good source and not virgin rainforest (Boots, B&Q, Homebase all stock FSC products).

Groups

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Friends

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Photos