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Introducing the newest member of the Ethical Junction team. Lola, the office woofer.
Our colleague Tom, rescued Lola 2 weeks ago and provided her with a loving new home. She’s been coming into the office every day since and we’re thrilled to have her here!
ItsEco Print are giving you
the chance to stay a step ahead and get those all important Christmas
Cards ordered to send out to all of your loyal
customers/contacts/suppliers.
The earlier you order the
less expensive they are.
We
have designs all set up and ready but if you want to personalise
yours then send us the artwork and the text and we will do this free
of charge* All the cards are
printed on 100% recycled card using biodegradable inks and
come with 100% recycled white envelopes.
The cards can be ordered in different quantities with up to three
different designs if you wish.
See our
website http://www.ecoprintuk.com/christmas.php for prices, images
and delivery options.
Contact
Eco Print on 01722 340 350 for further information
*Images
and text to be supplied, to be printed on one of two standard sizes.
Further design work may be charged from £10.
All we want to say today to all of you is a great big massive thankThere are some very exciting changes
just around the corner and we’re preparing for a relaunch of the
website in the next few weeks as part of our celebrations. There will
be a lot of new features (not to mention login and profile
management!) – we’re starting simple and will add new features as we
go. The marketplace is also getting a makeover and Pulse is evolving
too – well, what more could you expect from a ten year old!
Over
the years we’ve definitely made waves with Ethical Junction – millions
of visitors have used the site and thousands of businesses, campaigns
and charities have furthered their cause. EJ prides itself as a
pioneer of the ethical market – we hope to continue for another ten
years (at least!!!) and make an even bigger impact.
EJ has
forged a long term partnership which has also launched today – with
“ooffoo”. Ooffoo is the product of a virtual marriage between EJ and
the people behind Natural Collection. Today, EJ’s anniversary was
announced via email from ooffoo to over 60,000 people! This is the
start of big things… watch this space.
Peace, love and harmony to all of you.
The EJ team
That’s right Eco Print are proud to be ‘crap’ printers! We can now print all of your business stationary on Rhino Poo paper and card. Sourced from UK Safari Parks these papers are 100% recycled, so they’re good for the environment and lucky for us the Rhinos can’t stop providing the core ingredient! If you are looking for a great way for your printed materials to stand out, create a talking point, or just want people to sniff your stationery* then this is the paper for you! If you’d like a sample of our ‘crap printing’ give us a call.
Our Eco Policy is Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and this should not mean compromising on quality, or for that matter costing the earth! Eco Print handles all jobs, digital and litho, specializing in short and medium size print runs. We even have an experienced graphic designer on board if extra creative help is needed.
Like our printing process, every member of the Eco Print team is free from artificial colours and preservatives and happy to offer friendly helpful advice. We are an approachable, locally based company, big enough to cope but small enough to care.
For more information on us and our range of papers and cards, check out our stunning website http://www.ecoprintUK.com or call us on 01722 340350
* Rest assured Rhino Poo paper and card is odourless
A 24ct-gold folding bike launched on 12th June is aimed at cyclists who would like a healthy and green means of transport to stow in their luxury sports car, power boat or helicopter.
The golden bike costs £2,500 and folds down into a discreet bag the size of a small suitcase. It is on sale during Bike Week (13-21 June 2009).
Director at ilovemybike.co.uk, Andrew Davis, said: “When folded this bike fits as easily in a helicopter as it does on a number 37
bus – it’s a luxurious and healthy way to travel for the price of a scooter.”
With regards to the plating of the gold bike, we employed a company that buys gold from small-scale, artisanal mines and has a
commitment to fair trade and environmental sustainability.
More details on the gold bike at www.ilovemybike.co.uk
GreenUnion
is absolutely delighted to have partnered with CRED, the original
Fair
Trade Jewellers.
With a passion for beauty fashioned from fair trade and
environmentally responsible materials, we would say that CRED’s
jewellery is simply the purest in the world.
Buying
jewellery is the most personal purchase one ever makes. What you wear
speaks to the world of what is intimately valuable to you. It is a
timeless purchase that should reflect the values you aspire to;
personal expression, freedom of choice, social and environmental
well-being and exquisite beauty.
From
the mountains of Bolivia, lush jungles of Colombia,
the Brazilian wilds, and savannas of Tanzania,
CRED’s rich diversity of sourcing partners ensures that highest
standards are delivered to the purest jewellery in the world. All the
gold & platinum CRED uses is cyanide and mercury free and comes
from their partners Oro
Verde,
their silver is 100% recycled and their conflict
free diamonds
and traceable coloured gemstones all come with the CRED
quality assurance certificate.
To
celebrate our partnership, during June and July we’re giving everyone
a chance to win
an elegant and contemporary recycled silver, satin finished CRED
ring, designed by Laura Strand, worth £70.00.
Visit
http://www.greenunion.co.uk
for more information.
Giving someone a lift – whats the worst that could happen?At the risk of boring you to tears with my first sentence, I’d like to tell you about my second favourite economic concept (conversely I’ll keep you on the edge of your seat for a bit before I tell you my first) which is the “opportunity cost” of things. That is to say the thing that could have happened or one could have had if one hadn’t done what they did. Why? Because, this week I was asked to help raise awareness of National Liftshare Day (which is on the 9th of June) by Liftshare and the first thing that sprang to my mind was the opportunity cost of giving someone a lift. On my own in a car I can listen to the music I want, get on the road without having to wait for someone, be silent without feeling awkward, sing as loud as I like – so the opportunity cost to me of giving a lift is exactly that I can’t do these things (or, at least, not without some embarrassment). They would seem to be rather flimsy penalties suffered in return for giving a lift. And looking at it from other side of the fence – i.e. the cost of not giving someone a lift – we have one more (or several if it’s a multi-person lift) car on the road, greater carbon emissions, more traffic… maybe even the loss of some profit in the form of a greater-than-the-actual-cost contribution towards the fuel! Giving the lift, it seems, has by far the lower opportunity cost. Much more recently than my economics lessons at school (last week in fact) I learnt another economic term – something called “positive externalities”. A positive externality is when a transaction takes place and other profitable or good things happen as a result. An example could be that a bee keeper keeps bees to produce honey – the positive externality is that they pollinate through their activity all the flowers and crops in the surrounding area. The beekeeper’s reason (reason is the important bit to distinguish) is to profit from the honey, as a result, it seems, everyone around him gets a favour too. Applied to whether one does or doesn’t give someone else a lift – there are many externalities that feel pretty positive to me. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that my reason for giving someone a lift is in pursuit of a contribution towards my fuel costs. One of the positive by-products is that I will keep another car off the road. This in turn will reduce carbon emissions and reduce traffic. This in turn will have a slightly less negative effect on the environment and hopefully the stress levels of some of my fellow drivers. All of which sound pretty positive to me. I think we can safely assume two things – one, that the cost of not giving someone a lift produces the opposite effects – i.e. negative externalities – and two, the concept of positive externalities has risen to third place (at least for now) in my personal chart of favourite economic theories. Which brings me neatly on to my favourite economic theory – that we live in a state of “imperfect information”. Since we do not know everything all of the time there is a kind of drag placed on the efficiency of all exchange – and that drag means that the plight of all people trying to do “business” is simply to “add value” which is nearly always done by simply improving or directing the flow of information. So how does that relate to lift-sharing? Well, if we all knew who wanted to go where all of the time it would be very easy to match up who should be giving lifts to whom. But we don’t know – and very often we don’t even know what our closest neighbours are doing and when the opportunities to double up on a trip might be possible. It would be fair to conclude that all we have to do then to create lift share opportunities is improve our flow of information and act on the back of it. Between now and the 9th of June, if you are interested in taking part in National Liftshare Day, find out to whom you could offer a useful lift. And then actually do it! I may be wrong, but I suspect we may all surprise ourselves with the opportunities that are closer to hand than we think. What’s the worst that could happen? Schmeditor PS – Here comes my weekly roundup…
PICKS FROM THE MARKETThis Fair Earth – an Ostrich Shell Bangle and a Fuschia Chain Bracelet Naturalhome Products – Summer Duvets and Organic Pillows The Africa House – Dark Red Silk Shange Necklace and a Fairly Traded Elephant Tea Cosy Well Cultivated – Eco Shopping Bag and Bamboo TShirts EcOutlet – fantastic Outdoor Solar Fairy Lights Energise Your Life – a juicer for these hot days! PeopleTree – a beautiful Poplin cotton skirt
PICKS FROM THE PULSEThe South Woodford Business Partnership London are looking to hold a Green Market in the town centre on Saturday 18th July 2009. If this Green Market is successful further markets will take place. Places for the market are limited and will be issued on a first come first served basis. If you are a green/ethical trader and are interested in having a stall/gazebo please contact James Fry at info@organicalife.co.uk Eco-friendly Sun Loungers from Bambienti See you next week…
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Experts are warning hay
fever sufferers that this summer will see an unusually high pollen
count likely to last for months. While most people welcome the news
that this year the English summer will be blessed with hot and sunny
days, the 12 million people in the UK who suffer from hay fever will
no doubt be less than happy with the prospect of long months of
sneezing, itchy eyes, runny noses and sleepless nights.
Beverley
Adams-Groom, of the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit at
Worcester University, said: “Most hay fever seasons are pretty bad
these days because the grass and the trees tend to get the optimum
conditions for growth and pollen production. We have certainly
noticed that over the last 13 to 14 years there has been a steady
increase in the severity of the seasons. We assume it is down to
climate change. The hay fever season is also definitely longer. If we
have a hot dry summer, the season will be over by early or mid-July,
but these days it can go on until mid-August.” Unfortunately
anyone can develop hay fever at any stage of their life, regardless
of a previous proclivity to the allergy. There are of course many
over-the-counter hay fever remedies which some sufferers find helpful
in easing their symptoms, but an increasing number of sufferers are
turning to all natural and organic treatments. One such natural
remedy is the herb butterbur which is thought to work in a similar
way to allergy medications in blocking the action of histamine in
allergic reactions. Another natural strategy for easing the symptoms
of hay fever is through dietary adaptation. Quercetin is an
antioxidant that belongs to a class of water-soluble plant substances
called flavonoids and is thought to prevent the release of histamine.
Although you can buy Quercetin in supplement form, it is found
naturally in foods such as apples (with the skin on), berries, red
grapes, red onions and capers. Carotenoids (found in apricots,
carrots, pumpkin and kale) help to decrease inflammation in the
airways and Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to reduce the
production of inflammatory chemicals, both of which could help ease
hay fever symptomsSo hay fever sufferers take heart, there are ways
to cope with your allergy this summer without having to turn to
chemical products. Once you’ve bought your Quercetin supplements
from your local natural food supplement shop and increased the
carotenoids and Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, make sure you
consider how allergenic-resistant your home is. Extend a natural,
chemical-free approach to your home and you could find all sorts of
allergies are eased. You’ll also be able to have a restorative
night’s sleep in a natural environment, helping you to enjoy the
long hot summer days and nights rather than dread them. Find out more
about how our chemical-free products can help allergy sufferers by
taking a browse through our online store at
www.naturalhome-products.com
and read more about natural hay fever remedies at
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsatod/a/allergies.htm.
A new report, out today, shows that discriminating customers now insist on more evidence of the integrity of so-called ethical companies touting for their business.
I’d say this is entirely reasonable – I certainly would like to know that my hard-earned folding stuff is being well spent – especially in these days of cash constraint.
Also, if we can’t expect high standards of integrity in the ethical marketplace, where can we expect them?
The report shows that one feature now held in high esteem is validation of a trader’s credentials by a transparent, non-profit, professional organisation that is well-establised and trusted in the marketplace. I swear I heard about just such an outfit only the other day…
You can read about the report here: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/05/05/lohas-consumers-want-proof-and-third-party-verification/
Enjoy 
Rob Weston
Schmeditor
