Somerset based fair trade furniture and homewares retailer Myakka demonstrates that an ethical approach to business benefits everyone. Despite the recession, the directors have increased the amount of support they are giving, both to Myakka’s suppliers in India and now local communities in Somerset.

“Supporting our suppliers and their local communities is very important to us,” commented Georgie Hopkins, director of Myakka. “When we visited our main furniture suppliers in northern India at the beginning of the year we set a number of community projects in motion.  Providing new desks for the children at SKSN school is the second project to be completed so far and represents a collaboration between Myakka and our main supplier.”

Myakka has donated £2,000 towards the cost of materials with their
supplier covering the cost of production, enabling SKSN school to
receive 70 new desks and benches for students who previously studied
sitting on the floor.

As a member of the BAFTS (British
Association for Fair Trade Shops) the focus is on supporting suppliers
and their local communities. Myakka has chosen to go one step further
and join the Somerset Guardian Scheme operated by The Somerset
Community Foundation. This allows the directors to support their local
communities in Somerset, as well as Myakka’s supplier’s and their
communities in India.

The Somerset Community Foundation
supports local children, youth groups and older people, those with
special needs or disabilities, sports groups, art and drama projects;
aiming to build stronger communities for the benefit of everyone in
Somerset. As a Guardian, all monies pledged are invested as part of the
foundation’s endowment fund. The income from the fund is then used to
provide a long term sustainable source of grants to address local
needs. Currently the Somerset Community Foundation is the only
charitable body in Somerset administering the government ‘Grassroots
Grants Scheme’ whereby the government will top up funds by 100%.
Therefore Myakka’s financial support is worth much more to the
Foundation and those it supports in the locality.

Simon
Whitehead, director of Myakka commented. “We are proving that operating
a business ethically is more profitable for everyone, even in this time
of recession. It’s important to us that we support our local community
as well as those of our suppliers. The Somerset Community Foundation
offers the most accessible method for us to support small-scale, local
projects.”

Myakka specialises in solid wood furniture and
tailors the designs of each piece for the British market.  The
furniture is made in northern India by skilled craftsman using the
latest German computer controlled machinery ensuring the quality is
second to none. With a sophisticated ecommerce website, a Warehouse
Outlet in Wincanton, Somerset and a comprehensive mail order catalogue,
Myakka has a large database of loyal customers across the UK.

This summer Myakka is celebrating a decade of business with a huge 10th Birthday Summer Sale.

For more information about one of Somerset’s leading ethical businesses visit the Myakka news blog at www.furniture-home.myakka.co.uk or the online shop at www.myakka.co.uk. Select this link for further details on The Somerset Community Foundation: www.somersetcf.org.uk.

Application deadline 30 September

From the 9-16 December 2009, a Christian Aid team of 50 cyclists will take to the road and ride 140 miles from London to Copenhagen to highlight the start of the UN climate change summit and raise vital funds for Christian Aid projects in the developing world.

With three days cycling between 25 and 65 miles a day, the bike ride is open to all levels of cycling fitness. The group will leave London on the morning of 9 December, cycling through the English countryside to Harwich and, after the ferry ride, through the Danish islands to Copenhagen. Participants will cycle for no more than six hours a day and there will be two free days in the Danish capital before the group returns to the UK.

In Copenhagen, the cyclists will have the chance to make their ‘green’
presence count by joining thousands of climate change campaigners from
all over the world at a mass rally calling for a fair and effective
deal to combat climate change and to help the millions in the poorest
countries already suffering the effects of climate change.

“Cyclists have always been at the forefront of the green movement.
This an amazing opportunity to make a real difference by making your
voice heard at the crucial climate change talks in Copenhagen and at
the same time raising money to help some the world’s poorest people,”
said Alison Gregory of Christian Aid.

The cost of the trip is
£875 per person which you can either pay yourself or raise in
sponsorship as part of a commitment to raise £1,900 for Christian Aid.
There is also an initial £99 registration fee. The price includes all
accommodation, the ferry, transport back from Copenhagen and most meals.

Participants will get full support from Christian Aid’s
dedicated events team with lots of training, preparation and
fundraising advice and a free Christian Aid T-shirt.

For a
brochure, the full itinerary, route profile, registration form and
fundraising tips log on to www.christianaid.org.uk/events call 020 7523
2248 or email events@christian-aid.org.

Appearing
this month on the shelves in WH Smith and Borders nationwide, new eco-living
directory BOOK OF GREEN is the most comprehensive guide for everybody to
genuinely and easily green their lifestyles.

With
the general public currently becoming more receptive to living a more
eco-friendly life, this completely free guide points the consumer in the right
direction – it includes hundreds of approved ethical providers in a wide range
of sectors including business services, health and beauty, home and garden,
green energy, travel, parenting and food & drink.  All the companies
in the directory are in some way mostly or completely environmentally friendly,
sustainable, fair trade, organic,  ethical and socially responsible.

Book
of Green is intended to show everybody how to easily reduce their carbon
footprint, live a healthy lifestyle and make  a personal positive 
impact on the environment by integrating truly ethical products and services
into their daily home and family lives.

With
an initial print run of 30,000, the guide comes in a handy A5 format and is
printed in vegetable inks on 100% recycled paper.  An online flip magazine
version is also available at www.bookofgreen.com 
 Book of Green will be available in WH Smiths this July, attached to the
front of Permaculture Magazine as well as distributed across the UK in high
street eco stores, online eco stores, and at events during the summer as well
as at the Eden Project and the Kent Eco Village, the Kent Show by The
Ecologist, July 17-19.

Book
of Green is co-founded by Sue Jueno (founder of Allthingseco) and Katie Keegan
(founder of One Green Earth),
 whose combined experience of 6 years in the eco/ethical business arena
has given them the experience, knowledge and contacts to create a guide for
green living which everybody can trust.

“Being
green is more than reducing the threat of climate change, it’s also about
ethical trading and personal health.  The companies found within Book of
Green provide solutions across all sectors through their products &
services to help build a positive foundation for your family’s future
generations,”  says Katie Keegan.

“With
credit crunch in mind and a passion for promoting green shoot businesses we
have made Book of Green extremely affordable to advertisers and free to the
public to show off exceptional companies that are solving environmental
problems and that will be leading us into the future,” says Sue Jueno.

Green
and ethical businesses are defying the grey economic climate and
booking up for the EcoVillage at the Kent County Show this year. The
EcoVillage is in its second year and is going from strength to
strength having expanded its space to over 5000sq m, showcasing over
80 exhibitors.

Visitors
to the Kent County Show can come and find ideas and inspiration for
greener living at The EcoVillage from a wide range of exhibitors -
we have everything from cars to insurance, clothes to garden
features, bikes to timber buildings – everything you need for
greener living!

If
gardening is your interest, Co-op will be giving away free wildflower
seeds as part of their Save the Bees Campaign, learn about growing
your own with the Soil Association, or get inspiration from English
Oak.

If
transport is your thing, come and see the Seat Ecomotive range -
three of the most eco-friendly cars on the market, or look at the
latest in electric bikes with Greased Lightening Cycles.

Paperpod
and Playmais will have plenty to keep children occupied and they’ll
love making their own smoothies with Move ‘n’ Smooth! Mums and
Dads will find it hard to resist treating them to clothes from Kidz
Organic or toys and games from Woodland Children.

The
Mark Group will be on hand for advice on making your home energy
efficient, while Invicta Clean Energy, Eternal Energy Systems, Solar
Age and Viridus Energie will be available to discuss how you can help
to power your home with renewable energy.

At
The EcoVillage 2009 visitors will discover exhibitors of all shapes
and sizes, arranged in village streets such as Energy Avenue and
Protect Kent Path, EcoVillage Hall and the Market Marquee. They can
also relax in the EcoVillage Green Picnic Area where Well Hung Meats
will be providing delicious organic food all day, or visit Goji Wah
Wah, a converted London Routemaster bus serving gourmet vegetarian
food.

We
are also please to be collaborating with sponsors Protect Kent and
Countrystyle Group this year, John Suffolk of Countrystyle Group
comments:

“Countrystyle
Group is pleased to be sponsoring the EcoVillage at this year’s
Kent Show.

The
EcoVillage is a great initiative for green business in the South East
and totally in keeping with the business philosophy of Countrystyle
Group. We hope that by supporting the event this year that we can
help to highlight the importance of protecting the environment.”

There
will be plenty to see and do at The EcoVillage, so come and find us
at this years’ Kent County Show to find out how easy it really is
to be green!

Notes
to editors:

The
EcoVillage will be at The Kent County Show at Detling 17th, 18th &
19th July 2009

The
EcoVillage is an event which promotes sustainable products, services
and organisations. Our aim is that a visit to an EcoVillage will
help people to live a greener life and help them save money!

The
EcoVillage will also be present at Construction Expo 2009. Held at
Chatham Maritime on 30^th
September, this event is a key event for construction professionals
in the South East.

The
EcoVillage was also present at the Kent 2020 Exhibition in April of
this year, a great event for

The
EcoVillage

For
more information about The EcoVillage please contact Vicky Whitlock
on 01227 271261, vicky@theecovillage.co.uk or visit
www.theecovillage.co.uk,
which we’ll be regularly updating.

Media
enquiries, high resolution photography and requests for interviews
for the EcoVillage should be forwarded to Vicky Whitlock.

A REGIONAL EVENT WITH INTERNATIONAL REACH
As ministers abandon plans to publish a community empowerment bill, Smart City Futures will give those communities a voice! It will bring together Global leaders from business, policy and research for a desperately needed, honest and open conversation about connectivity, collaboration and community empowerment.

WHO WILL BE THERE?

 High Level International Speakers Include:

Melissa Sterry                 CEO, Societás, UK
Prof Takeda Shuzaburo    Exec Director, Business Universities Forum, Tokyo
Veli-Pekka Niitamo          Research Director, NOKIA IT Living Labs, Netherlands
Prof Paul James              Director Global Cities, RMIT, Melbourne
Lesley Gavin                  BT’s first female futurologist, UK
Prof Carolyn Kagan         Psychology and Social Change, MMU, UK

WHAT and WHY?
A lack of transparency and a silo mentality is resulting in a global political, environmental and economic meltdown
Open,
honest debate and knowledge sharing will help global communities to
climb out of these economically and environmentally challenged times
Smart
City Futures will provide an honest, open forum that will break down
the walls between policy makers, industry leaders, Universities and the
communities they serve. Together they will explore open innovation and
talk about how to build the foundations for a more sustainable future
Day
3 of Smart City Futures, designed by Just-b. Productions, will bring
b.TWEEN magic into the mix to pull crucial conversations into the 21st
century at this landmark forum
Using web 2.0 technologies, this
innovative event will show how Universities can walk the walk and act
as catalysts for change. Smart City Futures will give communities a
voice and a chance to interact in real time with global leaders

All speakers will be able to answer unmoderated questions in this rare chance to talk directly and honestly about our future

NEW CHALLENGES CALL FOR NEW SOLUTIONS: What makes SCF different?

This
event will be packed with installations, conversations, workshops,
brainstorms and one to ones. Moving away from traditional formats,
technologies will invite participation and interaction throughout.
Sessions will look at a range of thought provoking topics and themes
such as:

Professional Futures: Innovation and Collaboration in the Professional realms;
Policy Futures: Towards a Framework for Sustainable Economies;
Community Futures: Empowering Communities

As part of Article 13’s United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) commitments (http://www.article13.com/csr/ungc_iip_values.asp) for 2009 to ‘work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery’, we have written the first of a series of  five best practice cases studies on Transparency and Anti-Corruption (T & AC).  The aim of the case studies are to disseminate T & AC best practice and to advocate take up, to our network of partners, clients, associates and the Article 13 visitors through the use of a well recognised organisation/ brand.

This case study focuses on the Ford Motor Company’s (Ford)  T & AC
policies. To conduct this case study, there was an interview with David
Berdish, Manager of Sustainable Business Development for Ford Motor
Company who also manages Ford’s Human Rights Code of Basic Working
Conditions.

Ford is the fourth largest manufacturer and
distributor of automobiles based on worldwide vehicle sales and remains
one of the world’s ten largest corporations by revenue (www.ford.com).
The case study identifies in great depth, the following:

1.The company
2.The key drivers for change integrating T & AC
a.US legal framework
b.Globalisation
3.Transparency and Anti-corruption
a.Policies and initiatives
b.Reporting
4.Challenges to Transparency and Anti-corruption
a.Globalisation
5.Conclusion

For full case study see:
URL: http://www.article13.com/UNGC/Ford%20anti-corruption%20case%20study.pdf

Commuter cyclists with no washing facilities at their place of work are coming up with increasingly imaginative ways of getting clean after their morning ride, the most extreme of which being a shower they build themselves, according to the Environmental Transport Association.

The DIY shower uses items that are readily available on the high street, costs around £50, and once assembled transforms a standard loo into a fully-functioning hot water shower. Once finished with, the shower can be packed away in less than a minute.

Photographs and further details on how the shower is built are posted at www.ilovemybike.co.uk

Director at ilovemybike.co.uk, Andrew Davis said: “The lack of workplace showers is one reason why more people don’t commute by bike – employers should spend Bike Week thinking about what they can do to help.”

No shower at work – how do cyclists manage?

Baby wipes: Many cyclists shower before they set off for work and
then when they arrive, wipe themselves down with disposable baby wipes.

Ride slower: Cyclists in continental Europe tend to ride their bikes
slower when they commute to work – it doesn’t add much to the journey
time and you don’t sweat

Use a local gym: The easiest way to get access to a shower if there are
no washing facilities at your place of work is to join the local gym

Keep a supply of shirts at work: This doesn’t solve the problem of
getting clean, but bringing five clean and ironed shirts to work on a
Monday ensures the commuter cyclist looks smart

A poll conducted on behalf of ilovemybike.co.uk for Bike Week found that over 4 million British motorists would be prepared to cycle
more to cut their motoring costs.

Rich countries
risk wrecking vitally important international talks on a climate agreement,
Christian Aid warns today at the close of the latest UN negotiations in Bonn.

They
have failed to commit to dramatic curbs in their greenhouse emissions, or
recognise the scale of funding poor countries urgently need to cope with the
impacts of global warming.

There
are now just six months to go until the critical UN summit in Copenhagen, at which a new climate deal must
be agreed to come into force when the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol ends.

During
the Bonn talks,
it was clear that rich countries plan to continue polluting at levels that will
make dangerous climate change inevitable.

This was
highlighted by Japan’s
announcement of a target to cut its emissions from 1990 levels by only 8 per
cent by 2020. That is a mere 2 per cent more than Japan’s
existing target under the Kyoto
protocol and is entirely inadequate.

‘Developed
countries have been unable to agree on any overall target for their cuts, let
alone one which will hold the global temperature rise below 2^oC
- the point at which scientists predict climate catastrophe,’ says
Nelson Muffuh, Christian Aid’s senior climate
advocate. ‘They are
wrecking the negotiations that are supposed to secure a deal by December.’

Mithika
Mwenda from Kenya,
Coordinator of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, says rich
countries’ proposed emissions cuts are even weaker than those required by
the existing Kyoto Protocol.

‘I’d
rather see my country refuse an agreement with such low ambition,’ says
Mr Mwenda,  ‘Rich countries’ political will to make up for
their historic responsibility and to safeguard poor people’s lives,
dignity and development is just not there. Things have to change dramatically.’

The lack
of trust has worsened as rich countries drag their feet and demand more action
from the developing world.

Developing
countries are rightly worried about efforts to change the terms of the
negotiations and shift the burden of dealing with climate change onto them.
Their concerns are deepened by rich countries’ failure to deliver on
previous emissions and finance commitments.

Developing
countries are demanding that rich nations admit their responsibility for
causing climate change, through a century and a half of industrialisation.

Pollution
from rich countries is already having devastating effects in developing
countries, through droughts, floods and tropical storms. But during the
negotiations, rich countries including the European Union have refused to
accept their responsibility for such damage.

Mr
Muffuh adds: ‘Without real progress on commitments by the rich world, the
negotiations will collapse. Developed countries should prevent further delays
by immediately committing to urgent, deep emissions cuts.

‘They
must come back to the next round of talks willing to act and to agree to
ambitious, quantified financial support for adaptation and mitigation in
developing countries, as well as technology transfer.

‘Such
action is neither an act of charity nor a punishment against rich countries.
Rather, it is compensation for the damage they have done.’

Climate
change is a very high profile topic with everybody trying to jump on
the
bandwagon, and financial institutions are no exception. Ethical
investment is a
great opportunity for conscientious investors to help with the future
of our
planet, but are all the funds that claim to be ethical really committed
or are
we just seeing a token burst of green wash?

www.investing-ethically.co.uk

You
might think climate change is the single biggest issue facing us, and
perhaps
you agree that it needs a huge financial input to even scratch the
surface of
the problem. If you are thinking about doing your bit by investing in a
climate
change fund, you may be surprised if you look below the surface and
discover
just how ‘green’ some of these funds really are.

‘Climate
change’ is a broad term that is applied to any fund that claims to be
investing in companies that have something to do with tackling climate
change
issues. They range from very general funds that invest in almost
anything
(including arms and tobacco) as long as it has a suitably strong
recycling
policy, to very specific funds that invest only in one specific part of
one
specific sector such as renewable energy.

They
are different from traditional ethically screened funds because they
are not
concerned with negative screening or engagement. They positively
screen, some
very specifically whilst others are very vague.

To
throw a little light on this subject, we have reviewed 12 climate
change funds
and revealed some interesting facts:

8
out of these 12 funds invest in the nuclear industry – claiming that
its
better the world doesn’t fry, even if it means risking another
Chernobyl!

One
invests in BAE Systems, presumably on the basis that they are
developing less
environmentally harmful bombs.

One
fund even has the following negative comment:

• “Extremely
  inclusive fund with exposure to arms, tobacco, mining as well as
  nuclear – 10% of fund goes into companies that could be deemed to be
  connected to climate change in any meaningful sense.
• Short
  track record.

• Very high (and
  unreasonable!) ongoing costs with the performance related fee

The
best performing fund was the Schroder’s Global Climate Change fund
- the worst the Guinness Alternative Energy Fund with a 44%+ difference
in the returns.

So
are climate change funds “ethical funds” in the traditional sense?
Not really, but perhaps they fall into the “Socially Responsible
Investment” camp. The jury’s out on this one so we suggest you
judge for yourself.  We’ve made the report available on our web site
(www.investing-ethically.co.uk)
and I’d be very interested in your comments.

Busting
the myths about sun protection – from Lucy Rose of www.lucyrose.biz

With a bit of luck Summer might be just
around the corner, and as we are collectively so passionate about a
natural and organic approach to our lifestyles, it’s a good job
that we can rely on some of the top organic beauty brands to provide
us with safe and effective SPF protection so that we can make the
most of the sun’s rays.

But understanding the array of sun
products that are available can be a tall order, even within the
organic sector. Especially when you take into account recent
recommended changes to labelling and to the ratio of UVA versus UVB
protection.

This is designed to be a
straightforward guide to unravelling some of the common myths,
misconceptions and complex science relating to sun care in the hope
that you will be able to relax safe in the knowledge that you are
slapping on the best protection for you and your family.

Read on to find out the facts!

• UVA or UVB?

UVA protection is more important in
preventing long term skin damage than UVB protection

UVA radiation penetrates deep under the
skin’s surface and is responsible for long-term cell damage
including premature ageing and skin cancer. UVB radiation causes sun
burn and therefore warns the body that it has been in the sun for too
long. It is really important to ensure that your sun lotion has
adequate UVA protection as well as UVB. New recommendations suggest
that the ratio of UVA to UVB protection should be 1:3.

• How effective are SPFs?

SPF 30 does not offer double the
protection of SPF 15

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor
and only measures the amount of UVB protection provided by a sun
screen (not UVA). So for example, an SPF 15 will protect you against
roughly 93% of UVB rays while an SPF 30 protects you against
approximately 97% UVB – you are therefore only achieving a marginal
increase in UVB protection with the higher SPFs. It is more
important to reapply the sun screen every 2-3 hours, or after
swimming or wiping with a towel, to provide effective protection from
the sun’s rays.

• Should I worry about nano
  particles?

Nano particles in 100% natural
mineral sunscreens are completely safe to use

Yes, organic sun lotions do contain
nano-particles which in synthetic products cause concern for two
reasons: they can penetrate the skin and enter the body and they can
cause the formation of free-radicals when exposed to UV light.
However, the good news is that for 100% natural mineral sunscreens,
the nano-particles are covered in a film which prevents them from
being exposed to UV light and once combined with the cream base, they
will also be unable to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin.

• Will I be safe in the shade or
  when it’s cloudy?

The sun’s rays can still be
damaging regardless of cloudy or shady conditions

Make sure you are protected from the
sun even if it’s cloudy or you are in the shade – up to 40% of
the sun’s rays can still break through even in shady conditions -
and the rays are just as strong through the cloud.

• What’s good for you

The right protection for you will
depend on your skin type, the strength of the sun, your age e.g.
adult, child or baby, the climate, the location e.g. in the sea, in
the desert or up mountains, the season and the time of day.

To be on the safe side, if in doubt,
wear protective clothing, avoid the sun or sun bathing at the hottest
times of the day and remember to keep applying a 100% natural sun
screen.

• Five good reasons to go natural

Natural mineral sunscreens work well
because

1. They act as a natural filter using
   mineral ingredients such as titanium dioxide

2. They begin to work immediately
   after application

3. The UVA and UVB rays are reflected
   rather than absorbed

4. They won’t cause any skin
   irritation

5. And last, but not least, they are
   waterproof.

If you’ve any further questions about
organic sun care, you can email/speak to the experts at Lucy Rose
(www.lucyrose.biz)
who provide an extensive selection of organic sun care products,
including Lavera and Green People, hand-picked because of their
authenticity, safety and effectiveness.

We hope that your overall enjoyment of
the sun will be enhanced by the comfort of knowing you are fully
protected by totally natural, organic and beautiful sun products. So
here’s to happy times in the sunshine and a long hot summer!