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they have plotted, planned, researched, recruited, skied, sailed, cycled, walked and withstood temperatures from -50 degrees to +50 degrees to spread the word...

8 January 2008

Degrees of resolution

by Jacqueline Alexander

Congratulations to all of you who, in this second week of January, are still displaying determination, commitment and resolve during the season of new beginnings. Whilst there are a few who will be sticking to their guns, the reality is that most of you will have already broken your New Year resolutions. I haven't, but before you think I am being smug and self-congratulatory, I am not. Nor am I sporting a natty little halo. I haven't broken any because I didn't make any.

The theory was that this would be a very easy way of preventing the inevitable guilt that sets up home in your mind, body and soul when the promises, albeit only to yourself, are not honoured.

Of all the negative emotions we experience in life, guilt has to be the worst. It eats you up from the inside out, makes you cringe as you relive the source of your shame, and is generally a very well designed emotion to make sure you don't do it again. I thought my plan was sound in avoiding this outcome. It was not.

I was doing fine until I came across a web site that tells the tale of two young lads so determined to make a difference that they have plotted, planned, researched, recruited, skied, sailed, cycled, walked and withstood temperatures from -50 degrees to +50 degrees to spread the word and make a point. It's a fascinating story and I was more than a little impressed but I now feel the exact emotion I was trying to avoid. Guilt. Doh.

You may have heard of Rob Hooper and James Gauntlett. They are the two youngest Britons ever to scale the heights of Everest. They did this back in 2006 at the tender age of 19. On their return, instead of basking in the glory of their achievement, they sought a bigger challenge. There was no way of making it bigger in terms of height because, as we all know, challenges don't come any bigger than Everest, so the two lads applied a little lateral thinking. They decided to stop thinking altitude and start thinking longitude. Their plan evolved until they settled on travelling from the magnetic North Pole to the South Pole. Seemingly that wasn't quite difficult enough and not really spreading the right message so they decided to complete the monumental journey with only manpower as their friend.

Why did they decide to do this? Apparently, Rob and James are acutely aware that the world is in a spot of trouble. Climate change is having a dramatic effect on our environment and whilst we moan and groan about recycling, carbon footprints and what some perceive to be scare tactics, Rob and James decided to make a point. They wanted to make a seemingly impossible journey possible. They wanted to spread the word about global warming. But, rather than just spout and shout, they decided to show that self belief, determination and commitment really are the ingredients to making a difference.

You can keep up to date with their progress at 180degrees.com. And their progress is considerable. After setting out in April 2007 from the magnetic North Pole, the pair have managed to navigate their way down to Santiago, Chile, leaving in their wake a carbon neutral footprint and a guilty feeling me. Guilty for trying to avoid the issue, guilty of being a wuss and guilty for not even having the resolve to make, never mind live up to, a simple New Year's resolution.

After reading about the boys exploits I went in search of a conscience clearer and, although I haven't yet put the finishing touches on my plan to make the world a better place, I have found a site that will nag me into practicing what I preach.

Thenag.net is an honestly titled site that will help you (and me) to find your grit and determination when it comes to making a difference. Whether it's carbon footprints, fair trade, ethical banking, organic products or extreme poverty that keeps you awake at night, thenag.net will take on board your worries and tell you how you can help.

Once you have registered with the site and shared your concerns, you will be sent an email each month prompting you into action. The site promises not to preach but instead to playfully nag you to visit a web site that gives you step by step instructions on 'low effort, high impact' ways of doing your bit.

For the truly dedicated there are links to resources where you can learn more about the problem and understand the implications of these phrases we now hear more and more every day but don't necessarily understand more and more every day.

The site buys into the premise that one person can make little difference but many people can make a big difference by doing a little. And if doing a little seems too much, pop back to 180degrees.com and see how much the two lads are doing. The answer is a lot and suddenly it seems a lot easier to do a little, doesn't it?

If your conscience is still not pricked then maybe I can entice you with a prize. When you register with thenag.net you become eligible to win a wonderful prize. Actually, it's a 'crap prize' - their words not mine so please forward any complaints to them - but it's fun and you really could win it. This week's prize is a ceramic kitty clock. I won't explain what it is as I am not quite sure where to start, just go along to the site and see for yourself, but you have been warned that the prize is less than great unless, of course, you have a penchant for kitty kitsch.

I am off to get nagged and I am quite looking forward to it. It's my 'second week of January' resolution. Better late than never, eh?

http://www.180degrees.com
http://www.thenag.net

Jacqueline Alexander presents Web Watch every Tuesday at 5.45pm on BBC Radio Berkshire on 104.1FM, 104.4FM, 95.4FM, 94.6FM and DAB Digital Radio. To listen in, just visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire.

What is Web Watch?

Web Watch is broadcast on BBC Radio Berkshire, published in the Henley and South Oxon Standard and published online right here at web-watch.info.

As a cross-media project, Web Watch is designed to help you find the best sites here on the Internet.

You can catch Web Watch on air every Tuesday at 5.45pm when Jacqueline Alexander sits down with Phil Kennedy during the Drivetime show on BBC Radio Berkshire to chew the virtual fat.