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London's green 15
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard15 Oct 2007
A band of eco pioneers has been tasked with making London one of the greenest capitals in the world.
The 15 campaigners will become the driving force in making offices, homes, restaurants, bars and clubs more environmentally friendly.
Plans range from developing the world's first sustainable entertainment venue and hosting carbon neutral concerts, to reducing everyday rubbish such as plastic bags from sandwich shops.
The year-long London Leaders initiative, launched today, is backed by Mayor Ken Livingstone and the London-Sustainable Development Commission, which was set up to promote green strategies. The group includes a vicar, a B&Q manager and the chief executive of a housing association.
Another member is Joe Oliver, the director of Bash Creations, an ecoentertainment business specialising in events and art shows.
He set up the company after a series of carbon neutral student gigs at London School of Economics, King's College and University College London.
Mr Oliver said: "Engaging young people in sustainable development is fundamentally important and the entertainment industry is an ideal avenue through which to target them.
"I want to prove top-quality entertainment can be sustainable and so my commitment is to champion the development of the world's first sustainable entertainment venue."
Michaela Crimmin will be using her new role to promote sustainability through her position as head of arts at the Royal Society of Arts. She said: "As a London Leader, my aim is to engage more of the cultural community in sustainability. This could take the form of an artists' day or giving an increased profile to artists working on issues related to sustainability.
"I really look forward to doing everything I can to inspire Londoners through the involvement of artists."
A project group will help each leader. Mr Livingstone said: "A sustainable future requires people at all levels, from government to local business, to lead by example. By supporting these London Leaders, I am confident they can inspire communities."
As well as Mr Oliver and Ms Crimmin, the London leaders are: Stephen Howlett (chief executive, Peabody Trust); Andrew Morrison (regional director, B&Q); Elliot Lipton, (chief executive, First Base); restaurateur Philippe Castaing; Monica Saini of Christian Aid; entrepreneur Ife Piankhi; Professor Rick Trainor, principal of King's College London; community worker the RevRoger Gayler; Solitaire Townsend (director of Futerra Sustainability Communications); refugee activist Tzeggai Yohannes Deres; Mark Johnson, manager of London Warm Zone; horticulturalist Lutfun Hussain and urban ecologist Dusty Gedge.
