The Eco Chic Wedding & Home Show is coming to town
Sunday 8 March 2009
Birmingham

Couples in search of inspiration for forthcoming nuptials can plan a wedding that makes a difference at the 2009 Eco Chic Wedding & Home Show.

The beautiful Birmingham Botanical Gardens in leafy Edgbaston will provide the setting for the Show organised by Ethical Weddings, GreenFinder, and Just the Thing Gift Registry, with support from Our Green Wedding List and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

The show will invite carefully selected suppliers across the ethical wedding & home spectrum to exhibit their products and services, from green gift lists to recycled stationery, fair trade favours to seasonal flowers.Katie Fewings, Director of Ethical Weddings says:

“In these credit crunching times, couples may just think ‘ethical’ means ‘expensive’ without investigating further. In fact, many of the tips to plan an eco chic wedding – from finding a dress you can wear again to sending e-vites – can actually save you money, while ethical wedding suppliers offer services and products at prices comparable to the mainstream, of excellent quality and that come with a conscience!

“We hope couples will come along to the show to discover for themselves how they can get eco chic and still have a wallet-friendly wedding.” Just the Thing’s Michelle Bernhardi-Toner added: “As a company that caters to soon-to-be-wed couples across the board, we have definitely seen an increase in demand for our green services, so we’re excited to be joined at the show by other suppliers who access the mainstream wedding market but are also proud of their blooming green credentials.”

The organisers have chosen to include the ‘home’ element to show that going green isn’t just about one day. As Kate Haines, Founder of GreenFinder says:

“Whether couples are living together already or setting up home for the first time, most see their wedding as marking a new beginning, the chance to make some changes. Visiting the home exhibitors at the show means they can think beyond ‘the big day’ to how they can make a more eco-friendly married life together – and save money in the process with all those energy-saving gadgets!”

As well as a wide range of exhibitors, experts will be on hand to share their top tips, and a bridalwear catwalk show is sure to entertain the ethical fashionistas.

Main contact (including to request an Exhibitor Pack):
Kate Haines – 01926 832939
Kate@GreenFinder.co.uk

Green driving techniques help you find love

Green driving advice given to motorists works as well in the planning of the ideal Valentine’s Day date as it does in helping to reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions, according to ethical breakdown company the Environmental Transport Association (ETA).

The ETA advice to motorists (and those in search of love) is:

1. Keep it smooth
Avoiding harsh acceleration and braking saves fuel and reduces wear and
tear (Wining and dining should never be rushed – start the day as you
mean to go on with breakfast in bed)

2. Anticipate
By looking as far as possible up the road it’s possible to reduce
stop/start driving, thereby reducing fuel consumption (Book your
restaurant table early to avoid disappointment)

3. Shed weight
Remove unnecessary clutter from your car and you will use less fuel
(Being a weight you are comfortable with will boost your confidence)

Director of the ETA, Andrew Davis said: “Green driving can help save
the planet and your relationship – a year of following our tips can
save enough money to pay for a meal and night’s stay at a top hotel on
Valentine’s Day.”

21 February from 11 am – 5pm
Birmingham’s Custard Factory Gallery

Featuring more than a dozen of Britain’s best Remade Fashion brands, shoppers will be able to mingle with the producer-makers who specialise in making clothing and accessories from waste materials.

On show will be jewellery, underwear, tops, children’s clothing and more. The event is sure to be an eyeopener for anyone who wants to buy the ultimate in sustainable clothing – remade in the UK from waste materials.

More information is at www.remadefashionfair.info

The Remade Fashion Fair Birmingham is organised by Freedom Clothing Project

Luxury Chocolate Pamper Hamper Gift Set

This Love Lula Luxury Chocolate Pamper Hamper Gift Set contains Champagne Truffles, Natural Magic Organic Candle, John Masters Organic Blood Orange & Vanila Body milk,  and John Masters Organic Lip Calm. This make a perfect gift all round gift. more > > >

Price £62.50
MoreEco Points Earned 434

Sun And Moon Jar – Free Sunlight Forever
When the jar is placed in sunlight the solar cell creates an electrical
current that charges the battery over a few hours. This energy is then
used at night to power the three LED lamps inside the jar. more > > >

Price £19.95
MoreEco Points Earnerd 119

Hole In The Heart Necklace: Pink
We just adore these enchanting Hole in the Heart necklaces. Not only
are they eco, ethical and fair they are surely the ‘must have’
accessory for 2009. more > > >

Price £25.00
MoreEco Points Earnerd 173

Fairtrade Roses
The FAIRTRADE Mark is an independent consumer label that appears on
products as an independent guarantee that disadvantaged producers in
the developing world are getting a better deal. So why don’t you do the
right thing and buy her some flowers and show your support to fairtrade
producers. more > > >

Price £19.50
MoreEco Points Earnerd 200

Green & Black’s Chocolate Valentine Gift Set
This Chocolate Valentine gift pack contains a collection of beautifully
crafted bespoke chocolates using the finest organically-grown
ingredients. more > > >

Price £20.00
MoreEco Points Earnerd 80

Green People Limited Edition Gift Pack
For the guy on the go, it includes three organic products: Wash & Shave, Moisturise & Go and Shampoo & Shower. more > > >
For the Girl the stylish gift pack contains three luxurious organic
products: a Rejuvenating Body Lotion, an Exfoliating Shower Wash and a
Day/Night Cream.

Price £20.00
MoreEco Points Earnerd 139

Was your New Year’s Resolution to organise your children’s playroom or nursery better?

Come on down to the Kids.Modern exhibition on Sunday 15th February where you can view a fantastic new product designed by Spinifex, the SPLAT Child’s Chair. The chair has just been launched exclusively on Mimimyne, the designer eco shop for families.

It’s a fully biodegradable chair made from reclaimed cardboard that
doubles as a storage unit for art materials, games and small toys. It
can also be customised. Compartments in the back
hold art materials while paper is stored under the seat. It is made
from laminated cardboard sheets threaded on postal tubes. The chair is
recommended for children from aged 3-6 years old.

The SPLAT Child’s Chair and other Mimimyne products will be shown at
the Kids.Modern exhibition, an exciting
and innovative show bringing together the slickest furniture, fashion
and collectables for children under one roof. Kids.Modern is about fun,
thought-provoking design adults appreciate and kids remember for life.

Appreciating that children not only deserve modern design but also
understand it, Kids.Modern sources the UK, as well as Europe and
Scandinavia to bring together the coolest products from 50 clever
designers and producers. Kids will love playing with some of the
incredible pieces for sale and enjoy some of the creative make and do
stands. Outside, expect a kid-friendly bbq, free puppet show and free
parking.

KIDS.MODERN
West Dulwich BR
Sunday 15th February 2009
Dulwich College, SE21 7LD
10am–4pm
Entrance £6
Children £2
Early entry for trade 9am

SPLAT CHAIR COLOURS: Brown with natural, white, red, blue, green, yellow or pink seat colour.
SPLAT CHAIR DIMENSIONS: 500 X 500 X 300 mm
SPLAT CHAIR PRICE: £69 plus £15 delivery from Mimimyne

For more information and details contact Tabitha Potts

Email tabitha@mimimyne.com
Skype tabithapotts
Phone 0208 133 0961

Seven addresses key issues from the seven continents

It is a magazine for politically conscious men and women with an interest in the international arts

Continue reading for a taste of articles from their recent issue or to receive the magazine yourself for free email sevenmail@sevenglobal.org

Glacier Hiking are the US super band made up of former members of The
Eels, Ross Golan and Molehead, and the Abandoned Pools. Freda Gordon
talks to the alternative rock outfit about their music career and
decision to finally release an EP after touring together for almost
three years: >>>

Alexa van Sickle was among the lucky two million people who got to see
Barack Obama inaugurated in Washington D.C.. She reports on her
experience in the US capital and how the election of the first
African-American president is helping the country to rediscover the
ideals it preached in the past: >>>

Young African filmmaker, Kwame Mante, speaks to Rachelle Hull about his
career so far and the short movie he created, I Am African: >>>

Seven’s Twitter was the first one in the whole wide world to bring you
the Oscar nominations in full. FACT. Join now, before it’s too late: >>>

Cheryl Gallagher writes about one man’s attempts to bring closure to
families who were victims of General Franco’s dictatorship in Spain: >>>

Is the rebirth of Kings of Leon a natural one? Or has it been conceived
as part of plans to reach a wider market? Heidi Vella muses on the
possible reasons behind the dramatic change in the sound and style of
one of the world’s biggest bands: >>>

Carl Packman looks at the impact Obama’s presidency will have on race relations in the US: >>>

Have social networking websites led to a decrease in our need to
socialise? Sarah Hellegren reports on the impact sites such as Bebo,
MySpace, Facebook and Twitter are having on our need to interact with
others: >>>

Lucy Portsmouth explores the perception of the female role in
speculative fiction, and asks how much feminism has had an impact on
gender representation in genre fiction: >>>

In case you haven’t seen them yet (where have you been?), check out this year’s Oscar nominations: >>>

If you would like to link swap with us, please contact: linkswap@sevenglobal.org
If you want to get involved, you can reach us at the following e-mail addresses:
Article commissions: sevendirect@sevenglobal.org
Joining the Seven mailing list: sevenmail@sevenglobal.org

Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 is being launched Sunday 22 February

Supreme Creations launched the UK’s first Fairtrade cotton supermarket carrier bag with the Co-operative stores and now have the widest rage of Fairtrade, Organic and natural cotton and jute bags for exhibitions, give-aways, packaging and retail.

As the largest ethical manufacturer with over 2,000 employees, when we drop our prices, we don’t drop our standards. It’s a tough climate and economic realities are daunting. And yet, some
businesses will respond proactively and effectively, while others are
left behind. Call 0845 230 5996 or email Kiran@supreme-london.com quoting ‘Special 14′.

Orders must be confirmed by 06 Feb for delivery to you for Fairtrade
Fortnight. (subject to acceptable artwork and approval by the Fairtrade
Foundation). This offer is not valid in combination with any other
offers, discounts or promotions. Click here to see the range.

January Update from UK AWARE

1) We’re going to attempt to stage the biggest green car show the UK has ever seen.
What’s it going to be? The biggest green car show the UK has ever seen with over 20 companies invited to exhibit up to 50 green forms of transport. From funky to conventional, from single person to family size and from cutting edge to retro-fit – we will have it all.

Who’s coming? Invited companies include: The Battery Vehicle Society, Lotus, Green Motor Sport, Twike, G-Wiz, Toyota, Honda, Saab, Lightning, River Simple, Zipee, Peugot, Citroen, Vectrix, Ecotricity Wind Car, Ashwood, Formula Zero, Volvo, VW, Ford, Chrysler, Chevrolet, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Tesla.

2) We’re going to stage a Swishing party. FYI see www.swishing.org/home

It is going to be organised by Daisy Green Magazine and Flame. They are also going to try and create a fashion show for us…but this is still ‘in the pipeline’…

Our latest additions to the exhibitor list include:

ERS Europe Ltd
Worldeka
World Wildlife Fund
Sustained Magazine
Junkyard Chic
21st Century Health
Eco-eye

Show you love your Valentine – and the planet – with ethical gifts from Boutiko!

Though Christmas is barely over, the tree packed away and the cards (hopefully!) recycled, buying gifts and presents is back on the agenda!! With Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and even Easter fast approaching, not to mention birthdays and weddings galore – it’s now time to look for special gifts which are not only beautiful and express your emotions, but also come lovingly hand-made, ethically and environmentally produced and packaged, and even gift-wrapped for free!

Specialist on-line ethical gift store Boutiko – www.boutiko.co.uk – has a range of stunning gifts perfect for up-coming special days for Valentine’s and Mother’s Day – all made to the highest possible environmental standards. Boutiko offers free giftwrapping and next day delivery.

Great for new mothers on Mother’s Day – as well as loved ones for Valentine’ Day:
Chiming Heart Earrings (£20 – £18 till end January) – ideal for a First Mother’s Day – as these enchanting balls create a particularly soothing sound for babies. These handmade silver-plated earrings on sterling silver hooks resemble Mayan music balls following a tradition of several centuries. They are used for relaxation and in meditation or simply carried for their enchanting sounds! Each music ball is made by hand and no two will sound the same.

Perfect for lover, mother – or even a wedding gift!
Handmade Wooden Signs (£25) – four designs, saying Dream, Home, Love or Mr & Mrs
New to Boutiko – these gorgeous, unique signs are handmade using reclaimed wood and water-based paints, and distressed for an age-old vintage look.

Women of any age will love these:
Daisy / Dragonfly Jewellery Roll (£11.99)
Gorgeous hand-embroidered silk and satin jewellery rolls made in Vietnam under fair trade conditions, small enough to squeeze into a corner of a suitcase or overnight bag, they contain three internal zipped compartments and a ring holder. Boutiko also stocks matching Coin Purses (£6.99) and Bags (£29.99).

The perfect gift for weddings or Valentines:
“Love” Porcelain Tealight Holders (£25)
Handmade by a British artist using offcuts of porcelain from other projects, these exquisite tealight holders spelling out the word L O V E in tiny holes to give a magical flickering glow, are a beautiful present for the one you love.

A practical, ethical gift for EVERYONE….
You’ll never want to use hemp or jute bags again – Boutiko’s ingenious One Less Plastic Bags are handmade from Indian saris with every single bag unique in its design! These bags fold away to a tiny pocket size but can carry up to 2kg – plus are machine washable, £10 – £8.99 until end January.

For these, and other unusual ethical gifts, please look at www.boutiko.co.uk

UK has unique opportunity to develop world class marine legislation

BWEA, UK’s wind, wave and tidal association, today welcomed the inclusion of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill into the Queen’s Speech, but cautioned that renewable energy interests must be protected in final legislation.

The Bill promises greater confidence and economic benefits for marine developers through simplification of the legislative framework. It should help balance the interest of all the users of the marine environment, from conservation to renewable energy by promoting sustainable development.

Maria McCaffery MBE, Chief Executive of the BWEA: “The Marine and Coastal Access Bill is a pioneering piece of legislation, but we must ensure that it allows for the expansion of marine renewable energy, including offshore wind, wave and tidal.”

While BWEA recognises the scope and ambition of the Government’s long awaited Marine Bill, it has also raised 4 issues:
the timetable of the Bill must be complementary with the Round 3 offshore wind energy delivery process; the Marine Management Organisation must be fit for the purpose: well resourced and with sustainable development clearly defined within its remit; Marine Policy Statements must explicitly include renewable energy targets.

The new network of Marine Conservation Zones should be designated by the new MMO, as is proposed in the legislation being considered in Scotland. The designation process must consider the impact on all future use in terms of renewable energy developments.

“The Marine and Coastal Access Bill has been long time coming. We will be the first country in the world to have such legislation. We must get it right,” added McCaffery. “It would be a pyrrhic victory if short term conservation undermined long term sustainability and our ability to tackle climate change”.

Also of interest to the renewables sector was the Education and Skills Bill, particularly the provisions to create a new National Apprenticeships Service and secure a demand-led adult skills system, driven by learners and employers. The industry hopes the Bill will help alleviate skills shortages in the renewable energy sector.