We’ve recently launched an affiliate scheme, where you can earn some cash for referring sales through to our website www.elementsforlife.co.uk

It’s free to join and each time you refer a sale to us, we’ll give you 10% of the value of the sale to say thanks. The more people you refer and the more purchases they make, the more you can earn.

You can find out more about the benefits of Raw Chocolate on our blog

More details and sign up at http://www.elementsforlife.co.uk/affiliates

Lightbeing Creations is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

This article explains how using market/financial incentives to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases from deforestation and forest degradation is fundamentally flawed. It argues that we need to address the underlying factors driving deforestation if we are to protect the world’s forests and prevent further climate change.

Given the importance of deforestation to
climate change it would be perfectly reasonable to ask why we don’t just
protect the world’s forests. But reducing deforestation is no simple effort.
Forests are being destroyed as a consequence of global economic forces (e.g.
demand for timber, beef, soybeans, palm oil, etc). Slowing or eliminating
deforestation means addressing these underlying drivers by making forests
valuable as living entities, rather than solely for what can be produced when
they’re cut.

One solution, known as Reduced Emissions
from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD), is being pushed as a key element for
a new global agreement to fight climate change after the Kyoto Protocol expires
in 2012. The logic underpinning REDD is fairly simple. At present, the
short-term economic gains from deforestation outweigh the long-term good of
forest conservation. By investing up to £7.5 billion globally per year into
saving forests, the economic balance is believed to change in favour of the
latter. This money would be paid in the form of carbon credits, worked out in
relation to national deforestation rates – the more a country saves, the more
it earns.

This might seem like a good idea but such a
scheme is fraught with problems. REDD simplifies the function of forest
ecosystems to that of a carbon store. This undervalues them as water catchment
areas, habitats for biodiversity and as the basis of indigenous and local
peoples’ livelihoods. Indigenous groups and forest communities are concerned
they will not see benefits from REDD. Worse, some believe the mechanism could
trigger a new wave of land grabs and evictions by parties seeking to capitalize
on carbon payments. Indigenous groups and forest communities have long
struggled against development interests seeking to exploit their traditional
lands and resources. More than a billion people worldwide depend of forests for
their livelihoods, so schemes such as REDD pose a huge threat to them if not
managed properly. Another danger is that schemes to ‘avoid deforestation’
become a further means for rich countries to avoid responsibility for
over-consumption and evade emissions cuts (e.g. they continue spewing emissions
offset by ‘avoided deforestation’ carbon credits). There are also fears that a
market-based mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions would crash carbon
prices by swamping the market with cheap credits (e.g. making it cheaper for
polluters to avoid genuine emissions cuts). This would reduce investment in
low-carbon and renewable technologies, and cause developing countries to lose
out on a massive investment in low carbon technologies. In essence, low carbon
prices could derail global efforts to tackle global warming.

It seems quite clear that an unrestricted
carbon market won’t save the forests or stop runaway climate change. Forest
conservation can be done much easier by a fund (e.g. Cool Earth) than by market
cowboys racing around the world looking for cheap offsets.

What we need to examine are the factors
driving deforestation, including the international trade in beef, soy and
paper. We should first address those drivers rather than throwing money at
companies cutting down trees, when we continue to give them incentives to do
so. Financial incentives could also play a role, insofar as they support the
recognition of land rights for indigenous communities or education projects.
Such measures, which would cost far less than the proposed financing for REDD,
could be of genuine worth in avoiding deforestation. But they are unlikely to
show up on the balance books of a forest carbon-trading scheme whose main
purpose seems to be providing Western countries with yet another escape from
their responsibility to reduce emissions at home.

We must pressure our governments to
drastically cut carbon emissions at home rather than buy offsets from abroad.
We must encourage them to introduce stricter environmental policies that reduce
the consumption of imported forest products (e.g. waste management strategies
that reduce the consumption of timber and paper, setting higher
targets and timetables for paper and cardboard recycling from the domestic
sector). The UK is currently one of the world’s
largest consumers of timber and paper products.

We must hold businesses accountable.
Corporations need to know that the public will hold them accountable for
business practices that are socially or environmentally destructive. If you
feel that a company’s business practices are environmentally irresponsible,
send the company a letter expressing your concern, or organize a boycott of the
company.

We need better education across all levels
of society. At the moment, many people are alienated from the knowledge of the
consequences of their demands, and how their carbon heavy lifestyles contribute
to deforestation and climate change (e.g. the excessive consumption of beef,
paper and timber).

We need to look at the role of ecotourism
and volunteerism. Although this results in more people trampling in beautiful
places, it is a very forceful mechanism for conservation and also brings
revenue to local people without selling their land for timber, cattle farming
and soy production.

There are many things we can all do to help
protect the world’s forests and reduce carbon emissions and we cannot afford to
be distracted by measures that provide no real solutions. The carbon market is
not a ‘magic bullet’ to prevent further climate change, the growth in emissions
or deforestation. The answer lies in changing our lifestyles and political systems
and convincing others (individuals, businesses and politicians) to do the same.

Stephen Knight is the webmaster of Volunteer Latin America

Don’t let the Nicaraguan Solidarity Campaign suffer too much from the credit crunch!!

Please support us by buying things from our new sales list. We have so many different things including bird feeders, magic mugs, t-shirts for cyclists, children’s clothes, DVDs of new Latin American films and lots more. Go to www.nicaraguasc.org.uk/shop

Would you, or anyone else you know, like to run in the London Marathon for NSC? If so please get in touch for more details.

Thank you and Happy Christmas
Stella Embliss
nsc@nicaraguasc.org.uk

Green Trading (http://www.greentrading.co.uk) has now exclusively launched its affiliate marketing program on the AffiliateEco Marketing Network (http://www.affiliateeco.com).
The Green Trading program pays out 7% commission on all sales made by via it affiliate links.

At Green Trading, they believe that you do not have to sacrifice style
or luxury when you switch to a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle.
You can still enjoy the finer things in life if you live responsibly.

They
offer fine organic and ethical goods. These include stylish clothing
for men, women, and children as well as luxury beauty and household
products. They source only products of the highest quality, products
that we would be happy to use ourselves.

They offer
competitively-priced, quality brands that are fairly traded and/or
ethically made. They are fully committed to sourcing products made from
organic or environmentally-friendly materials. As part of their
business ethos they;
• Only environmentally-friendly packaging where possible
• Do their best to keep their delivery charges competitive.
• Take customer service very seriously.
• Do care that you are happy with your shopping experience and the goods that you buy from them.
• Hope you will enjoy shopping with them as much as they have enjoyed selecting these products for you.

Web
sites or companies who are interested in joining the Green
TradingAffiliate Program should go to www.affiliateeco.com and join as
an Affiliate Partner.
Join the Green Trading program today and earn 7% commission.

London Olympia – 17th and 18th April 2009

Following the success of its May 2008 inaugural show LONDON AWARE 08, UK AWARE will take over Olympia Two on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April 2009 and expects in excess of 10,000 visitors.

It is the UK’s only public facing green lifestyle show with a proven track record. Zac goldsmith of the Ecologist magazine said; “The sheer diversity of activities on show at UK AWARE is testament to how much we can all do to make a difference. It’s inspiring.”

UK AWARE has chosen Olympia because it was imperative to use a venue which aligned itself ethically. EC&O have recently won an AEO award in recognition of their sustainability initiatives, so it was a natural choice. In an industry which traditionally has a large carbon footprint it is great to be able to work with a venue which is setting the industry standard, not just as a venue, but as a sustainable venue.

Danny Carnegie, Founder of UK AWARE said; “We’ve got an interactive, mainstream show which is going to blow the socks off the UK Consumers. Expect lively debate, amazing exhibitors and an opportunity to experience the future of consumerism for the benefit of this planet.

Exhibitors and speakers include Oxfam, Trevor Baylis OBE, Fairtrade foundation, Method, Green Homes Concierge Service, Greenpeace, G Wiz and many exciting consumer products and services. Live music and entertainment plus other unique exhibitors will be announced in due course.

For further information about exhibiting please contact Jodie Carnegie at UK AWARE on 020 8842 7500 or Jodie@ukaware.com

Introduction to affiliate marketing programs
By Lloyd Apter of eee.coop 

Following on from the previous introduction to affiliate marketing where I looked at affiliate relationships, the foundation of this type of marketing, this next workshop is concerned with explaining what an affiliate programme is.

Firstly have a read of this short article about affiliate programmes.

Secondly, take a look at this a basic guide explaining how to setup your own affiliate programme, which includes:

• Formulating your affiliate program marketing strategy

• Defining the systems to operate your affiliate programme

• Launching your affiliate programme

If you ave any questions or wish to share any of your own thoughts you can do so by visiting the forum for this workshop.

If this is your first encounter with this course you might like to read the first workshop on affiliate marketing relationships.

All the best
Lloyd 

Eco My Party is a finalist in the ITV “This Morning” Mumpreneur Award

Newly joined Ethical Junction member eco my party will be needing your votes on Wednesday 22nd October so that an eco idea wins This Morning’s award for entrepreneurial mothers.

Helen Thomson of eco my party is through to the finals of the Mumpreneur competition and needs your support for her growing brand of 100% compostable party supplies. And who doesn’t love a party? Well, now you can eco your parties with eco my party’s totally eco party supplies!

Did you know that the average plastic party cup is never going to truly disappear? And the UK chucks 4 billion of these into landfill every year. That’s giving the world one massive hangover.

But eco my party’s party supplies will make the world feel a whole lot better. Everything from their tableware to their decorations is 100% compostable, and it all naturally breaks down in only a few weeks. So the waste from one party can be used to grow the flowers and food for the next. Why be green on your own when you can get your friends together and party like there IS a tomorrow?

Helen’s eco party brand has got her through to the semi-finals, but she needs you to show your support for her mission to get people partying more and wasting less by phoning in and voting for her to go through to the show’s final on Friday 24th October which will help her to revolutionise the disposable party ware market and put a stop to pointless plastic cups!

A series of 9 free interactive online workshops on affiliate marketing
Presented by Lloyd Apter of eee.coop

Affiliate marketing – what is it about? Is it unique to the Internet? How does it compare to online media? What are the key success facts? How do I setup a successful affiliate program? How do I become a successful affiliate?

This weekly, nine-part, interactive series (please see the list below) will provide you with focused articles covering the major subjects surrounding affiliate marketing, together with weekly interactive discussions of each series under a dedicated section on the EJ Forum.

1. Understanding affiliate marketing relationships
2. Introduction to affiliate marketing programs
3. Affiliate marketing verses online media
4. Key success factors in affiliate marketing
5. Setting up an effective affiliate program
6. Becoming a super affiliate
7. Affiliate marketing strategies
8. Affiliate marketing program management
9. Affiliate marketing’s role in the big picture

Workshop 1: Understanding affiliate marketing relationships
Please read this article Affiliate Relationships and then visit the forum where you can  ask Lloyd questions or offer your own thoughts and experiences.

Total Coverage has made it through to the finals of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Awards 2008.

Total Coverage plus other shortlisted businesses will be judged at the end of October by an eminent judging panel including representatives from the Environment Agency, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hampshire County Council and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

The winners of the awards will be announced on 21 November at the awards ceremony to be held at the De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton.

What is at the very core of what we all strive for? Do we actually have a shared strategy?
Lloyd Apter of eee.coop champions co-operation over competition

In a world where the strongest and richest rule, where focus and planning make things happen, what is our plan? Without a shared plan we are all pushing too little (some notably more than others but on global and even national terms still too little) in too many directions towards making our planet a friendly home. And that are we really trying to achieve? Greener and healthier living? Ethics? Equality? There is no way we can change the existing backward systems without a common focus. Is there a common thread that connects us all?

Logically we all know that there is a common thread connecting us all to a single core what we are all working so hard to reach. And it is very hard work indeed.

So, why are we all competing so much, not just between ourselves but with the wonderful and harmless domestic animals and the amazing wild animals as well?

It’s because we view our planet as having limited resources. But slowly we are starting realize that if we are smart and considerate enough we start discovering that there are, in fact, unlimited resources around us, at everyones disposal.

So, why continue to compete when there is plenty to share?

This is an attitude that requires a leap of faith. We need to share with an open hart. Give totally equal opportunity to those who are less fortunate than us. We don’t want power we want peace. We yearn to feel one with everything and to achieve this we need to physically connect with everything around us.

Our very ability to change and adapt has enabled us to evolve to who we are today. In fact, the core of our strength is our ability to adapt.  Let’s evolve together towards sharing and cooperation. We all know that there is nothing more powerful than this and once we can achieve this, the change we all want so much will happen.

About the author:

Lloyd Apter, is founder and network manager of eee.coop, an ethical, ecological and economical co-operative that is the first green affiliate marketing network online.

About eee.coop:

eee.coop is totally free for merchants and affiliates – no setup or on going fees at all, just pure performance based. It is established as a co-operative in order to attract partners as part of the strategy and philosophy of the network.

Founding clients include:

Natural-Friends.com, the first ethical dating community in Britain
AISO.net, the first self-powered solar powered web host in the world
Allthingsgreen.net, a U.K. marketplace for small green produces and traders

Click here to join the movement for co-operation or click here to find out more.