Welcome to The Compact (subgroup for Europe). Main group is here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thecompact/ We are a group of Europeans (and other interested parties) committed to a 12-month flight from the consumer grid calendar year 2007). You don't have to be European to post here, and this is not intended to supplant the main group. However, some of the American-based tips don't apply to our local laws or lifestyles, so we can share more Europe-appropriate tips here. Feel free to post in the language of your choice. We'll do our best to accomodate everyone as much as possible. The Compact has several aims (more or less prioritised below):

• To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc.
• To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in waste Compact-er).
• To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact)

We've agreed to follow two principles (see exceptions etc. on the original Compact blog). #1 Don't buy new products of any kind (from shops, web sites, etc.) #2 Borrow, barter, or buy used.