Cute song about Sparta

A cat and deer are best friends.

Key players in the housing and construction sector have joined together to outline a plan of action for upgrading the UK’s woefully outdated housing stock. The Existing Homes Alliance (ExHA) 2010 Manifesto seeks commitment from the Government to deliver a national retrofit programme, essential for moving the UK towards a low carbon economy. The need for action is pressing. Emissions from UK households are not falling, and are 5 per cent higher than ten years ago.

Key demands in the manifesto include:
• All homes to have a whole house retrofit by 2030
• £6bn a year should be invested in retrofitting the UK’s existing stock
• A 2010 to 2030 roadmap to set out minimum regulatory standards and voluntary aspirational standards for the energy performance of homes
• Energy Performance Certificates to gain greater prominence in the marketing of homes, to ensure that energy efficiency standards are reflected in house prices
• A range of financing mechanisms are made available to homeowners to cover the upfront costs of retrofitting
• Greater investment in a support and advice programme that will engage homeowners to use less energy in their homes and seek higher EPC rated properties

The Existing Homes Alliance assert that such a programme of updating the housing stock will benefit the economy by creating new jobs and reducing levels of fuel poverty. It will also provide certainty for businesses investing in low carbon measures for homes.

Colin Butfield, Chair of the Existing Homes Alliance, said:
“It is a sad fact that in the UK the majority of our homes are underperforming leaving many of us out of pocket, out in the cold and wastefully emitting carbon emissions. This manifesto outlines what we see as the solutions to our housing crisis. It is now essential that the Government establishes a national retrofit programme with some urgency so that we can meet the UK’s carbon budget targets.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

ExHA is comprised of expert organisations working with all sectors including financial institutions, builders and installers, energy utilities, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, social housing managers, homeowners, landlords, local authorities and with government, to develop a programme of radical low carbon refurbishment. For further information visit www.existinghomesalliance.org.uk

Animal rescue organizations or teams offer you a nice place to urge your next family pet. These teams are all totally different, however they are doing have common goals. These teams work onerous to locate a permanent loving home for unwanted or misplaced cats and dogs.  Many of these rescue teams rely on volunteers and [...]

This week, West Hollywood may become the first city in the country to ban the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores, potentially dealing a major blow to puppy mills, where constant confinement and a lack of adequate veterinary care and socialization often lead animals to become unhealthy and difficult to socialize. In a world in which U.S. animal shelters must put 3 to 4 million dogs and cats to death every year because of the overpopulation crisis, this ordinance would remind residents that adoption is the only responsible choice for people who are looking to welcome companion animals into their homes.

blogs.catster / CC

With its history of pioneering animal rights legislation and its influential role as a cultural and political trendsetter, West Hollywood is poised to lead the movement against pet stores and puppy mills. But you don’t have to wait for WeHo to make its move. Urge your local legislators to end the exploitation of cats and dogs in your own community immediately.

Posted by Logan Scherer

activeoutdoorsconcierge / CC

Believe me, if anyone can appreciate the thrill of the hunt, c’est moi. Seriously, I can spend hours in a Goodwill store, tracking rare vintage vinyl and bagging unique treasures.

But if you want a surefire way to ruffle my feathers, show me a man with a gun setting out with his canine buddy to maim and kill ducks. Now tell me that said dog shot the hunter in his back, sending him to the hospital—which is what happened to one California man this weekend—and I can’t help but hope that the hunter, once he recovers, will have a change of heart and find a more constructive way to spend his weekends.

Posted by Karin Bennett

Today, PETA and Zoocheck Canada are officially initiating a lawsuit against the city of Edmonton, Alberta, over the cruel and apparently unlawful conditions under which Lucy, a solitary elephant at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, is forced to live.

kidssavelucy / CC

Lucy’s health issues—which include upper respiratory problems, arthritis, obesity, and chronic foot ailments—are the result of the substandard conditions at Edmonton Valley Zoo and are further aggravated by the region’s frigid climate, which is inappropriate for an Asian elephant. Lucy has also been alone for the past two years, spends most of her time in a small barn, and exhibits behavior that indicates severe psychological distress. Even Dr. James Oosterhuis, the Valley Zoo’s own consultant, acknowledged that the zoo’s indoor facilities fail to meet the industry’s minimum standards.

Consultations with experts prove that Lucy’s life is at risk in Edmonton. Dr. William Keith Lindsay—a Canadian ecologist who has been actively involved in research on the ecology of elephants with the Amboseli Elephant Research Project in Kenya since 1977—is one of several experts who confirm that Lucy’s living conditions are unacceptable. Dr. Lindsay states, “It is abundantly clear that Lucy would benefit greatly from the company of other elephants.” Elephants live in close-knit families, and the females spend their entire lives in herds that include all their female relatives. The solitary life that Lucy lives prevents her from taking part in any of the social behaviors that are necessary for maintaining an elephant’s health.

Dr. Joyce Poole, an elephant biologist and ethologist who has spent more than 30 years studying elephant social behavior and communication states, “Lucy has spent much of her life standing on concrete in a small barn and doing very little of what an elephant needs [to] do to maintain good physical health and mental well being. The consequence is that she is a young elephant in an old body. This causes her real privation and suffering.”

We won’t rest until we see Lucy moved to a sanctuary. As we take the city to court, we urge you to take action to help Lucy find the freedom she deserves and to share this information with everyone you know. Keep checking back here for more updates.

Posted by Logan Scherer

ILAR – Regenerative Medicine: From Mice to Men. http://dels.nas.edu/ilar_n/ilarjournal/51_1/html/

View full size
View more pictures
View cat profiles

View full size
View more pictures
View cat profiles