Here are two words for you: Personal. Responsibility.

As an advocate for the environment, I also harp on about personal responsibility when it comes to these things. If you’re not going to do something positive, then those around you won’t bother either. But if you do take positive action, then others around you may be inspired to do the same (think how wide your social circle reaches). On a larger scale, if people take action on an issue, the trend will gain momentum until it’s a fully-fledged social movement.

Now Hubbards (yes, the friendly face of breakfast cereal) has launched the Carbon Crusade, with lofty ambitions to battle climate change. Er, I mean Climate Change. Yes, it’s big, but they’re doing it one step at a time with the philosophy that every step counts.

The Carbon Crusade is a series of off-road running and walking events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Each participant will walk or run a 13-15km course, stopping halfway to plant four native trees. Climate change is caused by rising levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, which are attributed to (among other things) the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, petrol, gas and coal. Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) is the most predominant greenhouse gas - trees absorb and store CO₂, so they’re the perfect antidote. By taking part, you’ll also get the chance to admire stunning views from usually inaccessible parts of our be-oot-iful country.

Get into it; you know you want to.

Who do you go tramping with?

People you can get along with, and who are reliable, and have good judgement.

You will be spending most of the time on your tramp in the company of your tramping partners. Sometimes, tramping can be pretty miserable - you can be tired, wet, hungry, frustrated, and worried, all at the same time. Such situations tend to bring out the best and worst in people. You will also have times on a tramp where you are witness to breathtaking natural beauty. These times seem better when shared with a friend you trust.

A good selection of people with the right qualities for tramping partners can be found, unsurprisingly, in a tramping club. Often, you will be able to learn much from more experienced members of tramping clubs. Mind you, there often seem to be one or two people who rub you the wrong way.

I’ve found tramping with family a good way of enriching family relationships. I started taking my kids on overnight tramps when they were about 5 or 6 years old and they have, by and large, enjoyed it. The key to tramping with children is light packs and good snacks. Half-hour chocolate stops keep their energy and spirits up, especially on the hills.

Where in New Zealand can you go tramping? There are many, many places available for tramping in New Zealand to suit all experience levels. From low-land coastal walks to high mountain passes. From popular “Great Walks” with well-provisioned huts, to seldom-visited valleys that are two days or more of difficult tramping from any semblance of track.

The most comprehensive information on where to go can be found on the excellent Department of Conservation website. There, you can find out a great deal of information on many of the most popular tracks in New Zealand. Relevent information includes how to get to the track, a description of the route (time estimates and difficulty), information about any huts on the route, what particular skills may required for that tramp (such as river-crossing skills or ice axes), and what maps are needed.

Another popular resource is the New Zealand Tramper site, with many user-added descriptions of tramps. This website has a number if tramps not mentioned in the DoC website. After a doing a tramp, why not write it up and add it to the site?

Don’t forget guide books. One exists for most regions, and the books may well be available at your local library. Be sure to check in with DoC before you go to get any updates on track and hut conditions. Sometimes guide books have a companion website on which updates are posted, for example Sven Brabyn’s site.

Finally, for the adventurer looking for somewhere remote, check out Remote Huts. You have to be physically fit, experienced, and prepared for often very rugged and difficult travel to get to some of these locations.

To balance a life of technology and business, I go to the other extreme and like to wander around in the back country of New Zealand, tramping (hiking for those non-New Zealanders). No power (except batteries for the head-torch). No transport (except our feet). No running water (except for the streams and rivers). Carrying all naturally unavailable necessities, including shelter, clothes and food.

Why do what seems like hard work? Well, it’s often peaceful, but sometimes ragingly wild. It reminds you that there are more things than just what people have created. Scenery is often spectacular. It’s healthy, both physically and psychologically. It encourages resourcefulness. It builds perseverance and resistance to discomfort. It helps us not to take for granted the easy life we have. It makes for some great photos.

Future blog entries will cover the how’s, what’s, where’s, who’s, and when’s of tramping (not necessarily in that order).

For some great walks in the wilderness, check out our New Zealand walking tracks category.

Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m a greenie at heart, so I was happy to hear about a move by Gull Petroleum to introduce New Zealand’s first commercially available biofuel. Derived directly from living matter, biofuel is a more eco-friendly alternative to petrol.

Gull Force 10 is a 98 octane fuel containing a 10% ethanol blend made from whey (a by-product from the processing of milk). The new eco-fuel is now available from three Gull petrol stations in Auckland - Albany, Kingsland and Wiri - with hopes that it will gradually be introduced to Gull’s 27 other New Zealand sites.

A word of warning, though: only use biofuel if it’s compatible with your car!

The Automobile Association has warned drivers that use of biofuel in some cars could cause fuel leaks, fuel line deterioration and invalidation of the vehicle’s mechanical warranty. Drivers should contact their vehicle’s manufacturer if they’re unsure of their car’s compatibility.

And while the new fuel may be cleaner burning and lower in emission levels, it’s no excuse for fuel guzzlers to consume more! Why not think about reducing your fuel consumption by car pooling, taking the bus or whipping out your walking shoes?

The government is also keen to see us reducing our mileage; the Fuelsaver site provides information on fuel consumption and how Kiwis can save on petrol costs. Along with fuel saving tips and myths, they also give the latest safety test results for makes and models of car in New Zealand.

Are you a news addict like me? For me, it’s essential to know what’s been happening in New Zealand and in every corner of the world, every single day. And yet I don’t read a newspaper (aside from the occasional Sunday news with tea and toast).

So what’s the story? Well, I read the news online. It’s updated almost instantly, is archived from previous days, shows links to related news stories, and best of all, it’s free! See my earlier post for proof that I love a free lunch.

While it’s good news that Kiwis are a media savvy bunch (with 80% reading a newspaper at least once a week), the bad news is that the 750,000 daily newspapers we read are gobbling up over 640 trees every day. While newspapers are fully recyclable, many end up in our landfills. So, not only is online news up to date and full of features, it’s good for the earth.

For a daily news fix online, my choice is Stuff, where you can read a collection of top national, world, sport, business and entertainment stories. Stuff also allows you to view the day’s stories from your own local paper and is quick to update the site with breaking news stories. For more independent news and indepth political analysis, try Scoop, a self-professed “fiercely independent” online news resource.

Around the world, papers are struggling to retain readers as more and more people head online to read the news. While that’s not-so-good news for media organisations and print advertisers, newspapers going online has been great news for readers and for the environment.

I decided my first blog post just had to be on podcasts. They’re brilliant. If you haven’t caught the pod-bug yet, beware - it can quickly become addictive. For those who aren’t in the know, the word ‘podcast’ is a blend of ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast.’ The new word has even made it into the Oxford dictionary:

podcast n. a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar programme, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player.

The thing is, there are blogs on just about anything. Whether you’re into music, reading, cars, travel, comedy or computers, there’s a podcast for you. There are heaps of podcasts from around the world, all available on the world wide web, but there are also places to go for podcasts with a Kiwi flavour. If you don’t believe me, go to our New Zealand podcast category or check out my latest find - the audio download section on the Radio New Zealand site. Go there for intelligent audio programmes, interviews and news that you’ve missed during your working day.

My pick of the moment: their Advancing Environmental Sustainability series. In these discussions, hosted by Kathryn Ryan, experts examine the state of the environment 20 years on from the creation of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. But it’s not all doom and gloom for the world: contributors put forward suggestions for a sustainable future. It’s well worth a listen for anyone who cares about the environment!