Get a great 10% discount at The Natural Store NOW on over 3500 high-quality ethical, organic and vegan products.

The Natural Store – home to the world’s finest ethical brands – offers a wonderful selection of over 3500 organic and ethical products from unique artisans, designers and well-known brands.

All its departments are brimming with gorgeous goodies. So whether you’re after individually made organic chocolates endorsed by the Soil Association, sensual underwear in organic cotton and hemp/silk or a wind-up radio so you can tune to your favourite station, we’re the natural choice.

The Natural Store wishes to help you buy better and consume more consciously by providing high quality products that place a lesser burden on the environment.

Pulse readers can enjoy a 10% discount off all the great products at The Natural Store.  To claim your discount, go to www.thenaturalstore.co.uk and type PULSEGREATOFFER in the discount box at the checkout, then click submit.

You will see your discount automatically applied against the items in your order. Alternatively, telephone the order line on 01273 746781 and quote ‘PULSE’.

FRANK Water Projects require Charity Trustees.

Join this young grassroots International Development charity run by a small and enthusiastic team based in Bristol. Our aim is to provide sustainable clean water projects for communities in India and Africa. Previous charity experience preferred.  Expertise in either finance, public relations, marketing, water technology/provision overseas development or law required. Attendance at quarterly Trustee meetings and some other input expected (Max approx.4 hours a month) For more information please visit www.frankwaterprojects.org or ring 0117 3700999 .

Please send CV and letter explaining your interest by email to hello[at]frankwaterprojects.org by the Monday 8th September.

Fairtrade is a subject that has been extensively discussed and this article will examine some of the wider issues of ethics and organic cotton. Twenty years ago Organic cotton pioneers built their own supply chains from scratch and created a new model which was based on a concept of partnership. Farmers made a commitment to supply organically certified cotton and retailers bought at a reasonable price, because the crop had to have organic field certification to qualify for the final label on the garment a link between the farmer and consumer is established.

Farmers who have converted to organic cotton are seeing benefits in terms of their health and the environment and for the first time enjoying a closer relationship with retailers. But this relationship is now facing challenges as mainstream retailers are placing huge orders, whilst this can bring opportunities to expand and benefit farmers, it will depend upon whether the major companies continue to use the ethical and equitable trading practices set up by the pioneers who are mainly relatively small businesses.

Sometimes it pays to look behind the advertising. For example a well known high street retailer was recently having a huge marketing campaign based on their tee shirts being made from Fairtrade cotton but this did not extend to the garment manufacturing. So it is very easy to put a ‘spin’ on things with clever marketing and things are not always what they seem.

Production of cotton is a crucial part of the economy of many third world countries with millions of people dependent on it for their livelihood. Fifty years ago ‘white gold’ was seen as the great hope for developing countries but these dreams have faltered with cotton farmers barely able to make a living and in debt to pesticide suppliers. Chemically intensive cotton production and mono culture has contaminated soil and water resources and reduced fertility of the soil. Effects on the environment and workers health has been devastating. There is very little known about the chronic effects of being continually exposed to pesticides. It has been suggested that deaths as a result are underestimated as few workers have access to medical diagnosis and treatment.

Only over about the last twenty years have the social, environmental and health impacts of cotton begun to be considered. This is due to the complexities of the supply chain for conventionally grown cotton which makes it difficult for consumers to be aware of the beginnings of the chain. We have now been made aware of the issues faced by traders who buy from spinning mills who deal with traders worldwide. Fibres are blended and are not traceable to their point of origin. In the case of organic cotton the fibre needs to be separate from conventional cotton fibre and cannot therefore enter the same supply chain. With conventional cotton there is such a long chain of buyers and manufacturers clothing retailers shop around for the cheapest fabric and the growers at the end of the chain are squeezed to the maximum so that the price of their product falls. They see the only way forward as increasing their yield with increased use of chemicals; eventually pests begin to develop resistance and the yield decreases. American and European subsidies push the price down even further and this way third world countries are kept poor and in debt to the Agrochemical giants who maintain a healthy profit.

Benefits of organic cotton to the environment and growers are well documented but what is not so often recognized is the fairer supply chain due to the work done by the organic cotton pioneers. Pioneering cotton companies have also undertaken to share the risks which are daunting. Agriculture is subject to forces which we are not able to control in terms of adverse weather and climate. There is no safety net for third world cotton farmers and banks that see them as high risk charge exorbitant interest rates for loans and overdrafts. Pre financing by arranging input advances during the growing is a central aspect of a Fair trading model.

Now that the high street giants have seen the marketing potential of organic cotton there are new challenges to be faced. Will these giants continue with the trading standards set up by the organic cotton pioneers or will they expect to continue with the practices they have always imposed on their suppliers such as making them wait 90 days for payment? It is imperative that they set up new ways of working and do not rely on their size and power to impose unfair conditions. It is also important that they continue to uphold the pre finance support, listen to what farmers say and understand and develop the principles of the organic agricultural model. It is critical to fair and ethical practice that we continue to have clarity throughout the supply chain.

By Linda Sones, Sones UK

Britain’s coffee and tea drinkers have been alerted today their cuppas could be under threat. The warning from the UK’s leading Fairtrade company, Cafédirect, comes after G8 leaders ignored the plight of smallholder farmers in developing countries this week.

"Climate change is threatening the livelihoods of these farmers now, but, instead of making sure there is funding and support available for them, the G8 leaders passed the buck," said Wolfgang Weinmann, the head of Cafédirect’s Producer Partnership Programme, which invests 60% of the company’s profits directly into the businesses and communities of its farmers.

The G8’s final communiqué failed to deliver real, much needed help for smallholder farmers to adapt to climate change. Instead the leaders called on the private sector, governments in developing countries, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, multi-lateral development banks, and development agencies to act.

"Unless the world’s richest countries take more responsibility for people who are being effected by climate change today, the British cuppa may be a thing of the past", Mr Weinmann said. "Erratic weather conditions are causing serious problems for our farmers across Africa and Latin America."

To date G8 members have pledged just US$6 billion to adaptation, yet the United Nations Development Programme said rich countries needed to transfer

$US86 billion to poor countries to help adapt to climate change and "prevent post-2015 reversals in human development".

Willington Wamayeye, Managing Director of Cafédirect’s coffee partner Gumutindo Coffee Co-operative in Uganda, said: "The coffee plants are badly affected – flowering is stopping. Last year alone we lost about 40% of our coffee production because of climate change. As a result our people struggle for everything ? food is getting more expensive and key food crops, like bananas, are being threatened as well. I have seen some crops completely wiped out."

"Fighting climate change and poverty go hand-in-hand, and it was good to see the G8 leaders acknowledged this publically, but urgent action is needed now and that is why Cafédirect is pioneering work to help smallholder farmers adapt to their already rapidly changing climate," Mr Weinmann said.

"We’ve teamed up with the German Technical Cooperation and several of our grower partners to develop farmers’ capabilities for coping with the impacts and risks of climate change and improve their access to financial and technical support. Farmers have ideas about how to cope with climate change, and many are working to protect their environment and adapt. But overall there remains a lack of financial and technical support to put these ideas into practice – a situation the world’s richest countries have the power to change.

The UK wind industry gave an enthusiastic welcome to today’s publication of the Renewable Energy Strategy (RES) by Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. The ambitious target of generating 15% of all the UK’s energy from renewables by 2020 means that 35-40% of electricity will have to come from green sources.  The lion’s share of those renewables will have to be wind, some 33GW of capacity, delivering over £60billion of investment and creating 160,000 green collar jobs.

Maria McCaffery, BWEA Chief Executive said "The measures outlined today could transform the UK’s energy supply, with wind leading the way. This could be a routemap for a green energy revolution" However, she added "Time is running out to take real action on climate change and to plug the UK’s looming energy gap – only swift action to unblock the planning regime and fix the grid will allow us to reach the targets on time."

BWEA welcomes the series of measures in the RES designed to tackle the issues that are currently threatening to prevent the needed expansion of large scale wind energy generation. Specifically the RES proposes to:

Introduce new binding regional targets for the delivery of local renewable energy schemes.

• Initiate action to upgrade the ageing national grid network to allow for the speedy connection of new wind farms.
• Extend the life of the Renewables Obligation, the support system that guarantees a long term market for renewable energy.
• Support measures to resolve a range of aviation issues currently holding up determinations of wind farm applications in the planning system.

The strategy will provide fresh impetus to the industry’s investment plans, with 19GW worth of schemes already in the system at one stage or another of development, including nearly 7GW either already approved or actually under construction. Industry analysis of wind schemes already within the system shows that by 2013 installed wind capacity should overtake installed nuclear capacity in the UK with over 8.5GW operational. By 2015 there will be 6GW of wind operational offshore alone. From 2015 onwards the next generation of offshore wind farms will start to become operational delivering up to 20GW of offshore wind schemes by 2020.

The strategy also highlighted the economic potential of expanded wind power, with a new Government study accompanying the strategy indicating that 160,000 new green collar manufacturing jobs would be created by having 33GW of offshore wind.

McCaffery commented "Government and industry now need to work together to ensure that the majority of these new jobs are based in the UK."

She added "getting this strategy has been a hard won victory for the wind industry but at last the Government has woken up to the potential represented by renewables. This is a big step forward -" she further commented "The Government is saying ‘Yes to wind’ and we give the strategy a thumbs-up, however words will not be enough – now we have to deliver this strategy with decisive action.

THE COMBICURE SOAP THAT WAS ON SPECIAL OFFER HAS ALL GONE!

 I AM AWAITING FRESH SUPPLIES SO IN THE MEANTIME, THE CLEOMILK BATH SOAP HAS NOW BEEN PLACED ON SPECIAL OFFER BUY IT FOR £3.75 INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL £4.50 BUT THIS OFFER FINISHES AT THE END OF APRIL SO BE QUICK!

A wonderful soap, containing Goats milk, rich in Protein and Vitamin A, this soap is suitable for dry skin or those with sensitive skin. Combined with oils of Olive, coconut, Palm, Rosewood, and Patchouli, this soap is fit for a king or Queen……..A real aid for better skin and beauty. Available until end April

UNSCENTED BODY LOTION:250ML  ALL GONE!

 ONLY THE 100ml SIZE REMAINS: Buy 100ml for just £4.00 SAVE £1.50

LIPSALVE KITS: Make your own lipsalves. Kit allows you to make 6 unscented lipsalves with easy to follow instructions. Perfect for creative adults or children bored over the holidays.

Normally costs £17.99.

For April only you can purchase it for just £14.99. SAVE £3.00

 This is not an item found on the website as yet and needs to be ordered by phone, email or fax please SOOTHING BALM For Psoriasis)

A unique blend of herbs, Vitamin E and A, Evening Primrose oil, cleaver, pokeroot and birch and Aloe Vera, formulated to help Psoriasis sufferers.

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Buy 1 for £16.00 instead of £19.00 SAVE £ 3.00

APRIL SPECIAL OFFER. TUESDAY 29TH IS A POSTAGE AND PACKING FREE DAY.

ORDER ON LINE, BY PHONE, BY FAX, BY LETTER OR EMAIL

PAY NOTHING FOR DELIVERY.

All items will be sent by 2nd class post and will be with you within 10 days of ordering

 Please feel free to order by phone 0845 2579078  or email enquiries@anousta.co.uk    website: www.anousta.co.uk

Special offers for MAY 2008

MAY 2008

LIME AND VERBENA SHOWER GEL: Buy 1 x 250ml and get 100ml size for just £3.00. SAVE £2.50:

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WHITE ROSE SOAP: A  hard soap that makes creamy bubbles with essential oils of Bergamot, Geranium and Patchouli. This soap can be used by all skins but is particularly good for oily skin.  Buy 1 for £3.75 instead of £4.50 SAVE 75P

Please tell me you did not just say a ‘plastic grocery bag’. Before you go running off to hang your head in shame, take a look at the new Lite Lunch Tote from HomeMattersMost. It is made of 100% Fairtrade certified organic cotton.

This fantastic little lunch tote is great not only for carrying your lunch to work but also for your child for school. At 9" inches tall by 7" inches wide, the Lite Lunch Tote can carry approximately a sandwich, 3 pieces of fruit and a sweet. If you’re trying to eat healthily, there is no better way to carry your lunch then in a chemical free organic tote.

Tough and versatile. eco-friendly, hardwearing and attractive, this tote is a great addition to the HomeMattersMost collection.

The tote is unbleached, natural cream ecru in colour.

The Lite Lunch Tote currently sells at only £3.97 and can be purchased from the HomeMattersMost website, http://www.homemattersmost.co.uk/. Buy one and watch your work colleagues go ‘green’ with envy.

If larger lunch totes are required, consider the large fairtrade organic cotton tote at HomeMattersMost for £7.97.

More people then ever need to wake up to the fact that they are directly contributing to climate change and with Earth Day, celebrated on 22nd April, rapidly approaching, the time couldn’t be better to start cleaning up their act, says Nigel’s Eco Store.

The online retailer of environmentally friendly products has handpicked five products that will send people on their way to greener living, lower household bills and helping the planet this Earth Day and beyond.

Wind up to wind down with a Battery Free Remote Control

According to DEFRA, some 700 million batteries pollute UK landfills a year when disposed of incorrectly, causing a real threat to the environment and with the number of TVs alone in the UK predicted to reach 74 million in 2020 (BBC, 2008), it’s time to switch from battery operated remotes to wind up alternatives to make TV watching a lot more eco friendly. After just 30 winds of the Jog Shuttle, the EZPower Universal Remote that controls up to six devices, will be fully charged for 7 days. After that all it takes after that is another 30 winds….

Click yourself to lower electricity bills and greener planet

According to a recent study, about 1.8 million computers in the UK are regularly left on overnight or all weekend, wasting around £115million per year in energy bills. But a computer left on which then goes into a standby mode can still be using 50 per cent of normal PC power. Made from recycled plastic, the Ecobutton^TM is a great USB device that at the touch of a button, sends desktop computers into a deeper standby mode than normal (one that uses about the same energy as when shut down) – saving the user money and electricity, all the while they are helping to reduce their carbon footprint.

Save money and paper on your daily fix with ‘I’m Not a Paper Cup’

Just over a third of what the UK chucks away is paper and cardboard – we need a forest the size of Wales every year to sustain this paper throwing habit. And thousands of commuters with their mid morning takeaway caffeine fix are contributing to this paper rubbish mountain. The ‘I am Not a Paper Cup’ ceramic mug with a re-sealable silicon lid is perfect for breaking the habit of using paper cups – commuters can take it to their favourite coffee shop, have it refilled or make their own drinks at home, saving on a pile of thrown away paper cups and plastic lids alike.

Never run out of staples again – stapless EcoStapler saves tonnes of metal and money

According to Wasteonline, Britain could save 72 tonnes of metal a year if everyone in UK offices used one less staple a day. Luckily this is possible with the innovative EcoStapler^TM that works by a clever cutting and folding action. This means no one should ever run out of staples again! This great gadget is perfect for home, office, a handbag or a briefcase.

Refuse plastic and use your own bag

With 13 billion plastic carrier bags used in the UK each year (Defra, 2008), it’s about time that everyone got into the habit of refusing them and bringing their own. And with the planned plastic bag tax introduced by the Chancellor in his recent budget, taking a plastic bag from a shop will become a costly mistake from September 2009. Carrying a big shopping bag around all the time is not always convenient, but now Nigel’s Eco Store has groovy eco chic bags that are durable, waterproof and best of all roll up in a jiffy to fit easily in a handbag, briefcase or a glove compartment.

General enquiries

For more information about the products go to http://www.nigelsecostore.com/ or call free on 0800 288 8970

Ecotopia.co.uk, the UK’s leading ethical retailer is delighted to announce the launch of its new food and drink department. Now in its 6th year of operation from its Eco offices and warehouse in Gloucestershire, Ecotopia.co.uk will now supply organic, natural, ethical and fairly traded food and drink to the wholesale, retail and consumer markets.

The new range includes a wide selection of products from snacks & confectionery, groceries, world foods and non alcoholic drinks. Brands include Suma who specialise in vegetarian, fairly traded, organic, ethical and natural products alongside Divine, Geo Organics and The Real Organic Food Company

Steve Jones, Director of Ecotopia.co.uk, says: "I am very proud to be able to offer our extensive range of ethical groceries to the market. Ecotopia.co.uk has been at the forefront of ethical living for over 6 years and this move underlines the commitment from the business to produce products for our customer’s specific requirements and needs"

Complimenting the new stock of organic food and drink, Ecotopia will be expanding its natural paints to include a full complement of colours and sizes plus a new range in natural wood treatments. Both the body care and parent and child sections will grow dramatically as well. All this will coincide with a completely updated website that will be designed for ease of use and navigation, making the online purchasing experience a blissfully simple one.

HomeMattersMost, the online retailer, is announcing their new range of organic cotton textiles for the home.  New products include organic cotton canvas napkins and matching organic cotton canvas placements.

"I’m very concerned now with toxins inside the home.  When studies are now coming out stating the inside of a typical home is more polluted than outside, there is a problem," says HomeMattersMost owner, Jennifer Ovington.

"It’s not just about eating organic foods anymore and trying to detoxify our bodies from chemicals. It’s now a battle to try to remove as much toxins as we can from the home, not only for our own health but also for that of our children." Ovington continues, "If people knew the amount of pesticides that have been sprayed on normal cotton fabrics and other textiles, they’d be horrified."

"The reason I choose organic heavy cotton canvas is so they could stand up to the rigours of washing and ironing and still remain substantial," says Ovington. "These textiles definitely wouldn’t wrinkle up like normal cotton."

Over the Spring, HomeMattersMost will unveil more organic cotton textiles for the home including tablecloths and other textiles around the home.

Sets of 4 organic cotton canvas napkins start at £6.97 and sets of 4 organic cotton canvas placemats start at £7.97 and can be purchased from http://www.homemattersmost.co.uk/