the(new)mediaslut

Recycling is all the rage in today’s eco-conscious world. One of the easiest ways to recycle and save the environment is to print on both sides of the paper and re-use old print for internal documents.

Because of this, Smartbrain has just been reading the whys and wherefores of bio-fuel compatibility with various Volvo engines.

Did you know that Volvo has sold over 20,000 cars that are capable of running on E85 (85% Ethanol, 15% petrol)?

It has three engines that can run on E85: a 1.8 for its C30, S40 and V50, and a pair of 2.0 and 2.5 engines for its V70 and S80 cars.

Its plants in Sweden and Belgium also use 100% electricity from hydro electric power plants rather than fossil fuels.

Volvo S80: Crash & burn but totally recyclable
(Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:2007_Volvo_S80.jpg)

The new Volvo S80 is 85% recyclable. Smartbrain thinks that is a nice feeling to have when the driver smashes it into a pickup truck. Yes, I may have wrecked my car but at least I’m not damaging the environment.

Most interesting. Now, if only Smartbrain can concentrate on finding the details of the notebook on the other side of the paper.

(A big thank you to Starfishjoejoe for highlighting this video to me from his blog!)

April 22 was Earth Day and Rocketboom’s message says it all.

Singapore’s most popular blogger, Mr Brown, celebrated Earth hour by switching off his home light’s on Saturday 29 March between 8pm - 9pm (+8 GMT).

F1 Singapore, on the other hand, was reported to have tested its 3000 lux lighting system for the upcoming grand prix in September at roughly the same time.

Wrote F1 Underground,

Singapore Grand Prix organizers mock Earth Hour

It is often said that perception is more important than reality in F1. What irony then, that at a time when Formula 1 is struggling to reinvent itself as an environmentally responsible sport that the organizers of the Singapore Grand Prix have chosen Earth Hour to debut megawatt using streetlights that will be used to illuminate F1’s first night race later this year.

The lights (300 times more powerful than normal street lights) are being tested today when much of the world is turning their lights off for one hour to symbolically bring attention to the growing environmental crisis. The lights (only a fraction of the 1500 that will be used in the race) will be left in place and turned on each evening at 7 PM along with the regular street lights in Singapore for a week.

Wrote Channel NewsAsia,

Singapore has tested a small section of the lights that will be used for the country’s first ever Formula One race in September.

On Saturday evening, a part of St Andrew’s Road was lit up to simulate daylight.

It took about 8 to 10 minutes for the lights - which measure about 3000 Lux - to charge up.

No lights no race!

The Seacil reef planted by the Singapore Polytechnic was meant to create an artificial coral reef but bloggers are now posting the project is a disaster with evidence of photos and live videos.

The biggest problem highlighted by one blogger, who was also a volunteer for the project, was the way Singapore Polytechnic chose to ignore queries from the bloggers and public which lead to them creating their own conclusions on the reef.

“During the briefing, I asked them why they did not reply to all those -ve remarks and questions?…” wrote Steven Wong of wongsifu.blogspot.com.

“Well,according to the researchers and the emails(a few hundreds) she received, it seems some folks out there just want to pick a fight, find trouble and are just too narrow, too protective in their views…

“SO…..With such one-sided view, I guess the people behind the project just ignore these group of ‘protestors’ and would rather spend more productive time doing their works…… ”

Ignoring email complaints is a very risky thing to do in the field of communications these days.

Ignorance begets ignorance. In this case, ignoring the people who took the time to craft out the email creates a public perception that the people behind the project has something to hide.

Without a proper explanations on questions, these email senders will craft their own conclusion which may be misguided or just based on hearsay.

Replying every single email can be time consuming, but the researchers still have to take time to explain its Seacil reef experiment.

The researchers should create a blog to put a depositary of all questions and answers.

In fact, why not use a wiki that only allow the researchers to post their answers to questions emailed to them.

One always have to remember that activities of Public Relations are often done to ensure the overall company has a strong public image and this also include helping the public to understand the company and its products.

Addressing a blogger’s concern can help the public to further understand what the Seacil reef is all about.

Even if the researchers are wrong, admit it and credit it to the blogger.

In the end of the day, the blogger will feel part of the research, rather an incident bystander fighting a lone war against the powers at hand.

Everybody loves an underdog.