Green Wash

Greenwash
From reading the Greenwash Guide, I have found that Greenwash means false advertising and the promotion of 'so called' environmentally friendly policies or products. Many companies promote environmentally friendly products to consumers however, there is no truth in their words unless it has been proved. They use scientific words without actually having any meaning in them (the guide calls this 'fluff,') fooling the buyers into believing the company know what they are talking about. A basic censorship over the truth of the product. It was taken from the term 'Whitewash.' To whitewash is a metaphor meaning to gloss over or cover something up. It is especially used in the context of corporations, governments or other organisations.

Research into Coastal Erosion

Coastal change is part of a natural process created by waves.

• Waves bring with them particles of rocks and sand that grind the cliff down.
• The constant force of water against the shore wears it away.
• The action of powerful waves causes rocks and pebbles from the shore to smash into each other and break up.
• Acids in the sea also slowly dissolve certain types of rocks.

Erosion of coasts with hard rocks tends to be slower, and can form dramatic rock formations over time, including tunnels, bridges, columns or pillars. Coastal erosion and coastal flooding are often linked, one may lead to another.

JRF impacts of Climate Change - This website states that there is a direct link of coastal erosion to climate change. They state that local communities in the area of the coast will be greatly affected as changes a progressively becoming faster. 'Coastal areas are likely to be highly vulnerable to climate change because, in addition to changes in temperature and precipitation and more frequent flooding, they will be affected by rises in sea level and wave heights and accelerated coastal erosion.' This may mean that soon, the people who live here will have to move before the problem gets worse and they are put in danger. Erosion rates vary significantly from area to area, some parts of the coast are eroding faster than others.

There is also a fear for the habitats of the animals that live on the coast. Mostly, the feeding ground for birds are in danger and the birds themselves. They feed from salt marsh, mudflats and beaches and these are gradually dissapearing with the rising of the tides and the coast eroding away with it. There are habitat creation programmes that have been set up to protect them by relocating them elsewhere through the Enviroment Agency. If these changes are not made, there is a risk of damaging the eco-system as birds of the coast will die out from a lack of food, also if they cannot find food anywhere else other than where they usually feed. The Enviroment Agency has already taken action in attempts to try and save the coast and wildlife. Nine offshore breakwaters have been constructed to protect the coast around Sea Palling. The purpose of the breakwaters is to prevent storm waves from reaching the beach and to alter the natural processes so that a wider beach is able to develop behind them. In addition to the defences preventing waves from eroding the cliffs, there are also numerous structures that help prevent groundwater from causing erosion.


People who are not living near the coast and live inland, may not be affected by the erosion of the coast however wildlife may be. There could be disruptions in the food chain if the birds begin to die out from starving, therefore other species of animals will be affected. This will eventually lead to humans being affected, as there will be mass amounts of species beginning to die out. 


One of the main campaigns to help save the coast is the NVCC. They were 'set up to meet the growing need for a combined resource for all the various groups around our shores campaigning to get Government to commit to defend our coastlines, and to ensure social justice for coastal communities.' Their policies consist of supporting the preservation of the coasts and keeping the welfare of local people and wildlife in mind. It is also a website to link other communities together so they can update and keep in touch. This way they can talk about what is happening in their area and if there is any support needed in campaigning for their local coast.


There are five generic strategies for coastal defense:

• Do nothing, no protection, leading to eventual abandonment
• Managed retreat or realignment, which plans for retreat and adopts engineering solutions that recognise natural processes of adjustment, and identifying a new line of defence where to construct new defences
• Hold the line, shoreline protection, whereby seawalls are constructed around the coastlines
• Move seawards, by constructing new defenses seaward the original ones
• Limited intervention, accommodation, by which adjustments are made to be able to cope with inundation, raising coastal land and buildings vertically

The decision to choose a strategy is site-specific, depending on pattern of relative sea-level change, geomorphological setting (how the land looks), sediment availability and erosion, as well a series of social, economic and political factors. A conclusion was made that the best defence against erosion is a natural wide flat beach topped off at the inshore end with either high deep sand dunes or a shingle bank. These natural structures absorb the wave energy and offers protection be it for flood plain or erodable cliff. Rock could also be used as a defense strategy as it protects the base of seawalls and prevents direct attack and damage of the wall from fierce waves. Another advantage of using rock is that if the rocks are moved during heavy storms it is a simple procedure to replace them in the correct position. The use of rock armour in certain areas may look out of place and is not suitable for use in all locations and other ideas may have to be taken into consideration.