Dear Ethical Junction readers,

I’d love to introduce you to my hand-made, organic Lavender moisturiser. Made with 100% natural ingredients – each one certified organic, it’s been a hit with customers and celebrities worldwide.

No water is added to the moisturiser at any stage, so its rich and concentrated active ingredients get right to work on your skin from the moment you apply it.

MuLondon Organic Lavender Moisturiser was a favourite on the set of the 2010 Hollywood blockbuster “Clash of The Titans“, used to replenish moisture that hours of make-up, harsh lights and heavy prosthetics deplete.

This is a rich, creamy balm that is packed full of certified organic oils and herbal extracts, with the classical relaxing and balancing fragrance of organic Lavender oil.

Ingredients:

Vitellaria Paradoxa (Shea Butter)*,
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Butter)*,
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil)*,
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary Extract)*,
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender Essential Oil)*

*Denotes Certified Organic Ingredients.

Great for everyday, all-over face, hands and body use. Ideal for dry and sensitive skin. All the ingredients in this moisturiser are certified organic.

Contains no mineral oils, parabens, silicones, emulsifiers or other man-made chemicals.

This moisturiser is hand-made in London, UK.

EWG SkinDeep database hazard rating: 0 (best possible)

CONCENTRATED – MuLondon creams are never diluted with water. A little bit goes a long way. Natural, Organic, Vegan and Vegetarian.

About my ingredients:

► Shea Butter: Research has shown that Shea is effective in treating and alleviating the symptoms of dry and sensitive skin, eczema and psoriasis. It is naturally moisturising and readily absorbed by the skin.

► Jojoba Oil: Increases the overall health of the skin, particularly its elasticity and strengthens the epidermis.

► Coconut Butter: When absorbed into the skin and connective tissues, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by helping to keep connective tissues strong and supple.

Here is what my customers are saying about the Organic Lavender Moisturiser:

-”Utterly glorious!”
-”I just love the pure smell of your products”
-”MuLondon creams have such intense moisture my skin has never looked so well, especially in such a short space of time”

Read more customer reviews for my Organic Lavender moisturiser here »

Video reviews of MuLondon organic moisturisers are here and here.

MuLondon Organic Lavender Moisturiser, and other unique varieties, are available in 60ml glass jars, and a smaller 30ml trial size from the MuLondon website here:

http://www.MuLondon.com

Ethical Junction members can get 10% off their entire order until the 31st of May 2011, by using the coupon code ETHICALMAY in the shopping cart.

MuLondon – Natural Organic Skincare is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Our family inn offers a unique alpine experience, well suited for alpine and cultural exploration. As former chefs, we lovingly prepare most everything we serve, using quality local ingredients, organic and traditional products. Here, the way of life still emphasizes working with nature with minimal interference. Passionate for this to continue we created Turismo Ecosostenibile Montano, an association that supports organic farmers and food vendors. You can enjoy these wonderful artisan foods in our cookery courses and home style meals. Our water arrives direct from the mountains and a natural spring, and is heated ‘on demand’. We recycle, have a wormery for food waste, use energy efficient lights and heat with wood. Our most popular cooking classes take place on Pinerolo market days, Wednesdays and Saturday. We have a smaller market in Perosa Argentina on Sunday and it is possible to offer a variation on the market day session also. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2959.htm

Organic Holidays is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

The opportunity for teachers to inspire the learning process in children can last them a lifetime, and in turn, influence the commercial direction of the UK. But at the moment teachers are hounded towards test results that are reducing the learning content for children and causing concern amongst teachers. A solution could be found in fulfilling the growing need to grant teachers a realistic level of recognition of their standing in society, salary and performance parameters needed to attract the very best teachers.

The influence of a teachers work in the classroom has strategic consequences for generations of schoolchildren as subsequent fledged adults. But if we want the best teachers to support this strategic objective we cannot afford to pay peanuts.

Anyone compiling a job evaluation analysis of the teaching resources needed in our schools would reveal a conundrum. Although we could argue teachers are paid a reasonable salary they are certainly not paid the King’s ransom enjoyed by the likes of investment bankers and hedge fund managers. Yet both professions are taking equal risks with the national economy. Teachers are in part responsible for initiating the skill base in children necessary to ultimately build and support the national economy.

For many years there has been a downbeat impression of our teaching standards. The national curriculum aimed at injecting renewed pace and structural learning has fallen well short of this intention. Overall standards are down; teachers are blamed, tens of thousands of children fail at primary school to be processed regardless into secondary school where they are doomed to understandably fail to thrive. These same children probably go on to drag down the performance of the classes they attend whilst they divert the teacher, who unable to spend the extraordinary time to address any deficiency, leaves the child to do the best they can. No sensible commercial operation would release sub-standard components to pass onto the next stage in production with the obvious outcome of substandard finished products. Built in faults rarely have the capacity to correct themselves.

And so we see an alarming percentage of children complete secondary education with insufficient credentials to enter meaningful employment. But can we really blame teachers? Their job is perhaps one of the few that can constructively make or break the enthusiasm in the children they teach. The constant pressure to hit targets convinces a staggering number of new teachers to leave the profession within a few years. The chance of children being groomed by good experienced teachers is perhaps lost forever. Most of those who remain accept the stuffing has been knocked out of the job. They knuckle down to hit targets, adopt the latest in a long line of initiatives and generally spend most of their time fighting the system.

And in the meantime we slip further down the international league table for the quality of our education. We lie in around 25th position , way behind many far eastern countries who have moved to dominate the schooling standards in line with the demands emerging with the commercial polarisation to the east. Our role in the world order is destined to change over the next few years. We need our children’s education to match the flexibility that will be demanded of them in the modern job market. And we desperately need great teachers with the social standing and ability to achieve this objective. Such a strategy must have full government support that can really only be addressed by an Education Secretary that can remain in the post for five years, and a prime minister that addresses the long term needs of education rather than overseas invasions.

Keen 2 Learn is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

As summer living approaches the Bambienti sale begins.

So if you are seeking out unique gifts, or starting to look for new interiors for home or are an interior designer seeking out interior design ideas for a current project we offer a golden opportunity for you to source some unusual pieces at bargain prices.

Enjoy up to half price on selected items from our range of Bamboo furniture, home accessories and interiors. Including towel ladders, storage items, coffee tables, armchairs, deckchairs, clothes rails and kitchen accessories, to name but a few.

Sale ends 27th April 2011

www.Bambienti.com

Bambienti is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

It’s now possible to rank dishwashers, washer driers and washing machines by water usage as well as energy usage thanks to Sust-it. With nearly 40 per cent of homes now having a water meter, saving money by saving water is an important issue.

We’ve taken OFWAT’s average price for a cubic metre of water, and fed this into our calculations to give an overall running cost. For dishwashers there is very little difference in water consumption between models, they use on average 10 litres per wash, or cost about £3 per year. The real baddies are the washer dryers, some can use over 130 litres per wash – double the water consumption of a washing machine and can cost as much as £45 per year.

Sust-it is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

In a quiet location, but within fifteen minutes stroll of Cockermouth town centre, we offer a warm welcome and a spacious modern ground floor room. It is available either as a double or a twin with a private bathroom. Our highly praised breakfasts are generous and imaginative – organic Cumbrian raised meats, our own home grown fruit, delicious homemade bread, preserves from the WI. Your hospitality tray includes homemade cake or biscuits and all beverages are fairtrade. Tasty two course organic evening meals [£10] and packed lunches [£6] are also available by arrangement. With the added benefit of a delightful small wildlife garden we are the ideal choice for an affordable and organic stay in Cockermouth. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2957.htm

Organic Holidays is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Our farmhouse lies between the hills surrounding the old hamlet of Vinci in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, not far from Florence, Pisa, Siena and Lucca. It is surrounded by our vineyards and olive groves, which are cultivated using organic and biodynamic methods. In the living room of each apartment you will find a display of our own products as well as other organic or biodynamic products such as pasta, sauces, pates, jams, honey etc, which are carefully selected for you to experience the genuine tastes of our region. We offer guests the opportunity to rediscover the old flavours of the products of the earth with visits around the wine cellar and the farm itself, and a taste of our own organic and biodynamic products. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2956.htm

Organic Holidays is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Over countless millennia, nature has developed some of the most inspiring and sustainable solutions to a multitude of different problems. Bio-design is a compelling and inspiring method of both seeing and doing for problem-solvers of every discipline, and can be a powerful tool for promoting sustainability.

More and more often science and the private sector are turning to design inspired nature. Possibly one of the most obvious architectural examples are the Eden Projects ‘biomes’ which were inspired by soap bubbles consequently an incredibly efficient structural form that has one hundredth of the weight of a glass solution. The result is one of the lightest structures ever created and a building that is largely self-heating using passive solar design principles.

Participants on these dynamic course will be presented with a fresh design lens by looking at the natural world. They will be offered dynamic examples of successful applications of biomimetic innovation from a surprising range of professions, including: architecture, product design and medicine. Participants will practice techniques for discovery, analysis, ideation and implementation of creative solutions using experimental, problem solving and team based learning.

How Would Nature Do That? Bio-Inspired Design, taught by Tom McKeag runs from June 13 – 17, 2011 followed by

Biomimicry and Buildings: Innovation and Sustainability in Architecture taught by Michael Pawlyn and Robert Somerville runs from June 20 – 24, 2011

To find out more about these course:

Email: admin@schumachercollege.org.uk

Tel:+44 (0)1803 865934

Schumacher College, Dartington is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Nu-Heat was delighted to achieve a win at the inaugural Exeter Business Awards at Sandy Park, home to the Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club. There were eight categories, including Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Innovation of the Year. Nu-Heat was entered for the Small Business of the Year (for businesses with up to 200 employees that have increased their potential over the last financial year, taking into account innovative products, services and processes as well as expansion into new markets and looking at the ‘personality’ of the business).

Dragon’s Den personality Deborah Meaden was Guest of Honour, and spoke about how businesses in the South West have to work harder to be successful as customers are not always on the doorstep as they are in London.. Deborah also asked for support for the South West Child’s Voice Appeal, for which she is currently Chairperson.

There were 11 shortlisted in our category, including Otter Brewery (who did win the Environmental Award) and the South West Children’s Hospice. We were thrilled to receive the award, and to learn that the judges had been unanimous in their choice. Director Adrian Troop said it was great to receive such an acknowledgement.

We shared a table with the Jack in the Green who won Best Tourism/Hospitality Business Award and Flybe, who won Business of the Year. A victorious evening for Table 10!

Nu-Heat is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

In general, the response to the recent announcement about the Renewable Heat Incentive has been positive. The fact that the Government has ratified the scheme is a major boost to the renewables sector. Although there are more details to be released, Nu-Heat believes that an opportunity now exists in real terms for homeowners installing ground source heat pumps, solar thermal and biomass products, both through the Premium Payment and, in the longer term, the domestic tariff to be announced in 2012. 

It’s great that ground source and solar thermal have been included and although air source heat pumps are not currently on the qualifying list for the tariff payments, due to the government feeling that more work is needed ‘to better understand the costs associated with the technology’, the fact that the Premium Payment includes a grant of £850 for air source means that there is recognition of the importance of this product to the sector. Nu-Heat maintains that air source has enormous potential for different installations, including both new-build and retrofit with particular relevance to off gas locations. ‘We believe that it is up to suppliers to demonstrate that, with good design, air source heat pumps will achieve and exceed the required EU standard CoP of 2.9,’ says Nu-Heat Director Adrian Troop.   

The announcement highlights once again the need for the correct design, sizing and installation of renewable systems. ‘We are satisfied that Nu-Heat’s core values more than meet any queries that linger over the performance of renewable installations,’ continues Adrian. ‘Our continual investment into ensuring that only the most efficient systems are specified has been wholly endorsed.’ This includes the development of Nu-Heat’s Predictor software that allows the correct sizing of a heat pump using local weather data, and research into the supply of highly efficient cylinders for improved heat storage.

Equally, as installers must be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for the homeowner to claim the Premium Payment and the tariff payment, Nu-Heat’s provision of NICEIC accredited courses at its National Renewables Training Centre along with the company’s own MCS Umbrella Scheme has been validated. Nu-Heat’s renewable products are all MCS approved.

Nu-Heat is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more