With all the dodgy dealings and financial problems over the past year it’s difficult to know who you can trust with your money. The global banks are not your only option, why not switch your account to an ethical bank?

What is an ethical bank?
Ethical banks – including Triodos Bank, the Charity Bank and the Co-operative Bank – are breaking the financial mould, with a more progressive approach that values people and planet as well as profit. Ethical savers benefit from a ‘dual return’. As well as the interest they earn from their savings, they know that they’ve made an investment for good, and their money’s working in a way that they’re proud of.

The Break The Bank Campaign is an opportunity for you to do something to make a difference. it’s very simple.

1. Select an ethical bank (yes, they do exist) either by searching online or following this link to Ethical Junction’s ethical finance directory > > >

2. Close your existing bank account and open one with your chosen ethical bank.
    
3. Send an email to info@ethical-junction.org with the following words in the Subject line:

I broke the bank at [name of your old bank] and joined [name of your new bank]

We will then add up all the banks that have been left and all the banks joined and publish the results on 1 May 2009.

Enjoy making a difference today!

Join the campaign and spread the word. Break The Bank is on facebook >>> 

Major announcement for Fairtrade Fortnight from UK Company

A pioneering British company is marking Fairtrade Fortnight (23 Feb – 8 March) with the launch of the first ever Fairtrade-certified Olive Oil and Olives, direct from Palestinian farms.

UK business Zaytoun CIC (www.zaytoun.org), a Community Interest Company, created a market for Palestinian olive oil in 2004 importing the products direct from farming communities.

The oils and olives, which are also Soil Association certified, are now available nationally from a wide range of health food shops, delicatessens, and online stores including Whole Foods Market and ethicalsuperstore.com. For stockists, visit www.zaytoun.org/sellers/

• Zaytoun Organic Fairtrade Olive Oil retails at £4.29 for 250ml; £7.99 for 500ml; £10.78 for 750ml, and £60.69 for 5 litres
• Zaytoun Organic Tree-Ripened Black Olives cost £5.39 for 300g
• Zaytoun Organic Nabali Green Olives cost £2.81 for 200g

Zaytoun Olive Oil is described by wine and food writer Malcolm Gluck as: “One of the least aggressive yet pungently attractive olive oils I have tasted. It is in the rich nourishing class of the best of the fruity Sicilian, Cretan, and northern Spanish oils and its beautiful green cloudiness bespeaks of care and judicious handling.”

Founders of Zaytoun, Heather Masoud and Cathi Pawson, join the farmers in Palestine every year to help them bring home the olive harvest. All of Zaytoun’s Fairtrade olive oil is made from organically grown fruit, extra virgin and first cold pressed. The name ‘Zaytoun’ is taken from the Arabic word for olive.

Palestine, the land where olive oil cultivation began, is the first and only country to be exporting olive oil and olives carrying the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO) mark. The olive tree and its produce are of key cultural and economic importance to Palestinian people, and the soil and climate produce some of the world’s highest quality olive oil.

Zaytoun CIC is offering small-scale farmers, often working under extremely difficult conditions, not only a fair price and a chance to expand and improve their production, but also the opportunity to sustain a livelihood with dignity and security. Zaytoun is committed to making a tangible difference, maintaining close links with producers, working to organise volunteer teams to help out with the harvest every year and ensuring that proceeds from sales here in the UK are directed where they are needed most.

Four members of the Zaytoun farming community will be travelling from Palestine to Britain during Fairtrade Fortnight to speak at a number of events and tastings across the UK, talking about their lives and the importance of Zaytoun olive oil to their livelihoods.

Heather Masoud, co-founder of Zaytoun CIC says the company expects the UK market to welcome such a high quality, ethically produced product: “The oil in many ways speaks for itself. As well as being green and peppery, many of those who taste it describe it as ‘warm’ – a word that can also be used to describe the people who grow this unique product. We’re very proud to be bringing the first ever Fairtrade Olive Oil to the UK, as we know that the UK consumer is now well aware of the importance of buying Fairtrade products, knowing that not only have they been ethically produced without exploitation, but they’ll also be top quality products that exceed the all important taste test.”

Abu Suleiman, one of the Zaytoun Palestinian farmers producing the oil says he and his colleagues are delighted that their oil will be available in the UK: “The olive trees root and anchor us in our land, provide a sense of belonging, home and hope, investing in olive oil is investing in our future.”

Do you know the best ways of implementing the Code for Sustainable Homes?

Code Consultancy Services will be presenting at this year’s Ecobuild on Wednesday 4th March at 3.30pm in the Hampton Room at the Ecobuild exhibition, Earls Court, London, in a seminar entitled: “How do the Code’s levels translate in practice?”

The free seminar is to help housing firms understand some of the
biggest challenges and quick wins when implementing the Code for
Sustainable Homes. Steven Knight, Managing Director of Code Consultancy
Services, Manchester, will be speaking alongside representatives from
Communities and Local Government (LCG), Bramall Construction, Barratt
Homes and London & Quadrant Group.

The Code for Sustainable Homes is set to be a much-discussed topic at
this year’s Ecobuild. As all new social housing requires at least a
Code Level 3 certification under the Code and by 2011 this will be Code
Level 4, it is more critical than ever that all companies in this
sector gear up with the knowledge they need to fill in PQQ’s
(pre-qualification questionnaires), tender for work and keep a
competitive edge through these recessionary times.

As there are now only seven years before all new homes have to be zero
carbon (reaching level 6 of the Code), it is urgent that firms who
haven’t yet mastered the best way to Level 3 start to gear up fast. The
seminar will report on the experience of hundreds of Code projects to
draw out the key issues and help firms climb their learning curve.

The seminar on Wed 4th March will also reference the critical Surface
Water Run-off section of the Code for Sustainable Homes which has been
completely revised since Ecobuild last year. Many contractors are
finding it hard to comply because projects in the pipeline which were
designed to meet the criteria of the earlier versions of the Code now
don’t meet the mandatory requirements for Surface Water Run-off. “We
urge developers to check very carefully ongoing projects that were
designed more than a year ago to check they still comply with the
latest version,” says Steven Knight.

Steven Knight’s background is as a civil engineer, sustainability specialist and BRE-licensed Code for Sustainable Homes Assessor. He was one of the technical authors on
the Code Technical Guide as an associate for the BRE and worked on the
first BRE Code training courses. His broad experience of the
construction industry comes from working in the UK and abroad in roles
spanning structural engineering, to drainage, site agent, to project
management and new product development in the water industry.

The seminar will also cover areas where greater harmonisation of
standards and requirements of different agencies is necessary to smooth
the process of compliance with the Code. Advice will be on hand to make
it clearer for developers about how to balance the requirements of
various agencies. This is an area which will be of increasing
importance for local authority planning departments in the near future.

Steven Knight says: “We are delighted to be invited to speak at this
high-profile event and are looking forward to sharing our knowledge and
views on the Code for those visiting Ecobuild this year.” Steven Knight
and associates will be on hand to speak to individuals after the event
about their specific queries about the Code.

www.codeconsultancy.co.uk

During fair trade fortnight (23rd Feb – 8th March) the Fairwind Trading Company will be giving away free gifts on their fair trade gift website www.fairwindonline.com.

For every £10 you spend (excluding delivery) they will send you a free butterfly fridge magnet or window decoration.

The more you spend the more butterflies you get!

Click on the image to see what’s happening!

Credit Card fraudsters recently cheated an ethical business out of nearly £2000

It will probably surprise many of us (it did me anyway) that despite being an ethical business selling fair trade, FSC and Soil Association type products this does not make it immune from crooks. Here is a link to a page of advice that is worth reading – www.newbroomsoftware.com

APACS, the UK trade association for payments and for those institutions that deliver payment services to customers, also publish guidelines concerning fraud – www.apacs.org.uk

 
Image courtesy of woodsy > > >

Click here to enter a prize draw for a £169 Samson 6-in-1 Juicer from Energise Your Life > > >

The Samson Juicer was recently voted “Best Buy”
Masticating Juicer by Which? magazine. It now also comes with an upgraded augur and strengthened juicing screen.

Energise Your Life supply quality products that help you live a healthier life. Visit their website to find our more > > > 

Fou Furnishings’ Organic Cotton Boutis

Traditional Boutis is a unique, quilted fabric, usually cotton, which was worked on both sides by expert fingers embroidering carefully chosen symbolic motifs such as hearts, animals and flowers to carry a message of happiness, luck and prosperity; initially for clothing then for bedspreads and cushion covers. Boutis takes its name from the special needle which was originally used for the delicate embroidery work, in which a layer of filling is inserted between two layers of cotton sewn together. This decorative technique gives a ‘relief’ effect to Boutis pieces and adds substance, literally and metaphorically, as well as rich texture.

Heritage
The decorative art which is Boutis originated in Sicily in the Middle Ages and travelled to France, where it became a popular decorative art. The heritage of Boutis is now strongly anchored in the customs and fashion of the women of the Provence region. Boutis pieces were considered precious and not intended for every day use, but reserved for wedding trousseaus, births or baptisms and are now considered almost as Provencal artistic heirlooms.

Today
The artistic needlework of this traditional technique has been revived and is alive today through classes, exhibitions and books as well as through the result of refining and blending this historical craftsmanship with modern technology.

Fou Furnishings’ Boutis
Our Boutis are beautifully crafted timeless pieces, a richly textured bedspread with matching cushion covers, in a soft cream, edged with ribbon. Made with 100% organic cotton, from long staple Egyptian yarn, woven, dyed and finished in Italy, echoing its original roots and today certified by the UK Soil Association. The dye used to colour the fabric is of vegetable origin and all treatments used in the finishing process are biodegradable.

Our organic cotton Zafferano Boutis is the result of refining this technique that today blends historical craftsmanship with modern technology to create rich, substantial texture and contemporary design which could grace any room.

The bedspread measures a generous 260cm by 260cm and the cushion cover 40cm by 40cm.

Visit Fou Furnishings online > > >

Naturally safer and stronger eco-friendly anti-insect camouflage products from incognito selling at record levels

People are defying the recession and the cold weather by planning holidays abroad, and with the euro so high, tropical holidays are on the increase. incognito, creators of 100% natural, ethically produced anti-insect products have noticed a surprising surge in sales of their most popular items, many selling out before Christmas last year.

Selling both in the UK and abroad, including recently in Hawaii and
the Caribbean, the fresh, pleasant smelling incognito products use a
secret blend of 100% natural ingredients, all containing an organically
certified citronella only found on the volcanic island of Java, which
is much more effective against insects than ordinary citronella found
elsewhere.

So how does incognito work?  Says Patricia Carter,
Director: “A female mosquito can detect human kairomones (similar to
pheromones) up to one kilometre away!  Our products mask these
kairomones, camouflaging the wearer so they remain incognito –
unrecognisable – to the blood thirsty mosquito!  They also do not have
the unwanted negative side effects and health risks associated with
chemical repellents such as DEET.”

As well as smelling much
better than pungent chemical-based repellents, incognito camouflage
products are ideal for people, especially babies and young children,
who do not wish to expose themselves to the potential hazards of
chemically manufactured toxins.  They prefer to invest in an infinitely
safer product.  Those with sensitive skins or skin conditions will also
benefit from the gentler, natural formulations, without compromising on
efficacy. 

Rigorously tested by the London School of Hygiene and
Tropical Medicine, incognito works on all insects, not just
mosquitoes.  The range includes a 100ml camouflage spray, citronella
incense sticks, after-sun moisturiser, and a 3-in-1 shampoo,
conditioner and camouflage, as well as soaps: jasmine rice, ginger and
citronella; lemongrass and citronella; and luxury loofah soap, which
contains skin conditioning loofah for exfoliation as well as cleansing,
and therefore the perfect minimalistic product for light travelling -
you can even recycle the loofah as a gentle pan scourer when all the
soap is gone!

All soap packaging is made from biodegradable Saa paper, made from
sustainable mulberry bark harvested in fair trade conditions by
impoverished Thai women.

incognito products are transported ethically, fashionably and
practically in their roll-up travel bags which can be hung on a wall or
door, or unrolled flat.

Sold direct through their website or through
Wholefoods in Kensington, Fresh n Wild, Planet Organic, John Bell &
Croydon and most chemists, sales have been steadily rising since winter
began.  All products except the luxury loofah soap (which contains
honey) are certified by the Vegan Society.

 From April 29th, Wholefoods and Fresh n Wild will be selling the
exfoliating scrub at half price for only £3.62.  These two outlets
along with John Bell & Croydon in Wigmore Street also stock the
entire incognito range.

Article 13 Report
12th February 2009

Sustainable Development, Climate Change, Environmental protection – just a few of the terms currently being linked to global droughts, floods, fires and other climate related natural disasters occurring more and more across the globe.

With an increase in world population and urban development, heightened environmental risks and vulnerabilities are demanding long-term, sustainable management of natural resources. Natural Resource Management (NRM) involves managing complex and intertwined systems such as biodiversity, desertification, just to name a couple.

This month Article 13 is focussing on two of the issues surrounding
Natural Resource Management (NRM) and briefly explores the
technological and organisational responses from business to help combat
environmental degradation.

Water management
Water management refers to the sustainable management, governance and
utilisation of water resources, including rivers, lakes and estuaries,
coastal and marine waters; sewage treatment; and reservoir safety.
Water management is an issue of the global commons, which means it’s
outside national jurisdiction and there is an ever increasing battle
for access to fresh water resources. Initiatives must cross borders and
boundaries to make any real difference. The United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), partners with over 150 businesses and concentrates on
the potential risks associated with water scarcity and the strategic
importance for businesses to act responsibly. Businesses and
Institutions need to start acknowledging the interconnectedness of
water resources with many of the world’s major issues, including
climate change, energy, economic development, environmental health, and
social justice. For businesses to tackle the challenges surrounding the
depletion of water resources, there needs to be the following:

• Financial investment into a water supportive infrastructure.
• Partnerships with water management coalitions. 
• Integrate water management systems into the business, in order to minimise environmental risks

So how are businesses managing water resources? Some examples include:

BAA: A water management scheme at Terminal 5 reduces BAA’s reliance on
mains water and economically harvests water from rainfall on campus and
boreholes on its own land
(http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1364).

AWG: “RiverCare” programme a community approach to involving
communities in cleaning up watercourses
(http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1314).

United Utilities: Establishment of a multi-partner sustainable water
catchment management programme to deliver improved water quantity and
quality. (http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1360)

Land management
Land management refers to the sustainable management and development of
land resources. Land management practices often include, conserving and
enhancing the natural environment, ensuring that industrial processes
do not exploit land resources and foster social and economic well
being. It is in a business’s and individual’s best interest to act
responsibly with land resources and manage them effectively. Poor land
management practices can lead to heightened environmental risks with a
rise in CO2 emissions and the destruction of ecosystems, biodiversity
and plant diversity. Also businesses can be affected greatly through
poor land management, with high cleanup costs, consumer boycotts and
increased pressure from environmentalists and NGOs. Alternatively,
sustainable land management can have beneficial factors in terms of
climate change impacts, wildlife, biodiversity, social well-being,
social equity and help the bottom line; for example:
Wangari Maathai: “Promoting ecologically viable social, economic and
cultural development”
(http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1091).

For more information please contact Fiona Banyard on
fionab@article13.com or call 020 8840 4450. Please also see Article
13’s website www.article13.com