A huge, high profile venue overlooking Brighton beach will host the first Brighton Vegan Fayre on Saturday 21st March 2009

Following on from six successful vegan events in Bristol, organisers Yaoh are thrilled to announce the first ever Brighton Vegan Fayre, to be held at The Brighton Centre on Saturday March 21st from 11am to 7pm.

Tim Barford, founder of Yaoh, is very excited. “The show will be flamboyant, exciting, entertaining, educational, inspirational and of course completely vegan, and will see a massive gathering from the four corners of the vegan empire. With a huge high profile venue – The Brighton Centre – situated overlooking Brighton Beach, right in the centre of the vegan capital of the universe, the energy will be red hot, just what the vegan community ordered!”

Spread over three floors, the show will combine a huge array of vegan people, products, information, talent, education and inspiration, together with loads of fun!

The show will have space for almost 200 stalls, including a designated campaigns room, talks and demo rooms, plus a stage, large children’s area, juice bars, snack bars, cafes, bars, restaurant and an acoustic stage with celebrity appearances.

World famous escapologist David Straitjacket and Contortionist Rubber Ritchie have both confirmed two live shows each at the Brighton Vegan Fayre. “Both vegan, and both completely amazing, we are thrilled to welcome these two extraordinary entertainers to our first ever Brighton Bash!”, says Tim.

Sponsors of the Fayre include The Vegan Society, Bute Island Foods and Plamil.

For more information about The Fayre, contact www.veganfayre.co.uk or contact the Yaoh office on 0117 923 9053 or at info@yaoh.co.uk.

Passion for the Planet has received a Special Commendation in the “Green Business” category at this year’s Merton Green Guardian Awards.

The awards are designed to recognise businesses, individuals, schools and projects that are making a positive difference to their local environment.

Listener Teresa Wingfield was so impressed with Passion, both on and off air, that she decided to nominate the company for the award.

“I’ve learnt so much listening to the radio station, I definitely recycle more now that I understand what happens to these materials and how they are recycled. I’ve started composting, reduced my car use (haven’t quite got round to swapping the car for a bike… yet!), use less water, less detergent and less energy. I know I have a way to go, but without what I’ve learnt on Passion for the Planet I am not sure I’d have started.” said Teresa as part of her nomination.

Founders Chantal Cooke and Kenny Stevens have ensured that the company is as passionate about the planet as they are; the studios are sound-proofed with Scottish grown hemp, they use low energy light bulbs, the office furniture is reclaimed, there are recycling bins for paper, cans, glass, plastic, CDs etc. All office PC equipment is switched off completely at night (no stand-by lights left on). Passion produces only one small carrier bag of non-recyclable waste each week. And they are carbon neutral by off-setting their CO2 emissions through “Pure the clean planet trust”.

Passion for the Planet has also encouraged the owners of the building in which they are based to be greener too. They arranged for them to have an environmental audit, have put “hippos” in the toilet tanks and organised a weekly collection of paper for recycling.

“Awards like this are an important way to encourage people to make green choices and to recognise those that are already making a difference. Green is sometimes portrayed as a bit dull and worthy, it’s our mission to make it fun, easy and acceptable, and winning an award is certainly fun!” said Passion for the Planet’s Managing Director Chantal Cooke.

Final Greener Festival Awards announced- twelve more festivals pick up the eco-award

Seven English festivals including The Big Chill, Bestival, Summer Sundae Weekender, Shambala, Reading, Leeds and End of the Road along with Scotland’s Hydro Connect, Ireland’s Electric Picnic, Portugal’s Boom, Southbound in Australia and the Rothbury Festival in the USA have joined the illustrious list of winners for the 2008 Greener Festival Award.

All of the award winners were praised by organisers www.agreenerfestival.com for thier efforts to promote environmentally friendly music festivals.

The independent award is based on a seven part questionnaire which covers event management, travel and transport plans, CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, fair trade, waste management and recycling, water management and noise pollution. Points are awarded for festivals which can show an active plan to promote public transport, reduce on-site waste, recycle and compost wherever possible, re-use water and use sustainable power.

Festivals are expected to have a coherent environmental policy and the organisers have environmental auditors who visit as many festival sites as possible to assess how festivals implement their plans. In total twenty three UK festivals and eight international festivals have won the award. Six festivals gained the ultimate accolade of the ‘outstanding’ award from the organisers including the Waveform and Shambala festivals in the UK and Bonnaroo in the USA.

A Greener Festival co-founder Claire O’Neill said “this year applications for our awards more than doubled and this is fantastic news. More and more festivals are making the effort go green and adopt environmentally friendly practices. Some festivals are still improving and going through a steep learning curve, others are old hands now who keep improving their green credentials year on year. The UK and international festival scene is now making a concerted effort to be leaders in changing behaviour to protect the environment”.

The organisers also congratulated the eighteen festivals who had won the Green ‘n’ Clean award from Yourope, the European festivals organisation. A Greener Festival’s Luke Westbury added ‘We fully endorse and support Yourope’s award and the progress they are making. Across both Europe and the UK we can see significant and positive change. Green n Clean have some fantastic festivals taking part including Denmark’s Roskilde, St Gallen Open Air in Swtitzerland, Rheinkultur in Germany, Pinkpop in the Nederlands and Finland’s Provinssirock. We salute them!

The Full list of 2008 winners is below:

THE GREEN FESTIVAL AWARD
Bestival
Big Chill
Big Session Festival
Camden Green Fair (outstanding award)
The Cambridge Folk Festival
City Blues Festival (Leicester)
Download
End of the Road
The Glade Festival
The Glastonbury Festival
Hard Rock Calling
Hydro Connect
Latitude
Leeds Festival
Leicester City Blues Festival
Lounge on the Farm
02 Wireless Festival
Reading Festival
Shambala (outstanding award)
Summer Sundae Weekender
T-in-the-Park
Waveform (outstanding award)
Workhouse Festival
2000 Tree

The Green Awards^TM announces its keynote speaker for its 3rd annual awards ceremony

Kaveh Zahedi of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for directing climate change strategy and programmes at the agency. His address to the 600 guests is expected to combine encouragement with a call for urgency to face environmental problems holistically and head on.

In the run up to the event, Zahedi says’, confronting environmental problems – especially those caused by climate change – are among the most vital challenges of our time. Communicating the link between human activity and environmental problems and promoting change in our society is a fundamental part of the battle. With only 14 months left until the vital 2009 climate talks in Copenhagen, raising awareness of climate and environmental issues is more critical than ever.’

Mr. Zahedi is also responsible for the Collaborative Partnership for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation bringing together UNEP, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). His involvement in the event demonstrates efforts by organisers to ensure that the integrity of the environmental issues is maintained.

Iain Patton, MD of Satellite – the green agency explains,’ The Green Awards^TM would be meaningless if we watered down environmental messages and avoided rigourous judging. We are proud of the fact that greenwash is not being rewarded, and companies are doing more – and doing it better – every year.’

The Green Awards^TM will take place at The Brewery in London on November 12, 2008. For tickets or more information please visit www.greenawards.co.uk or contact the Green Awards^TM team on 0207 608 5220.

A strong presence in the background of this year’s Organic Fortnight is you, us, Ethical Junction.

As individuals it’s easy to forget when you’re part of something bigger and the impact you can have as a group so we thought we’d remind you . . .

The inspiration and organisation for Organic Fortnight is the Soil Association, Ethical Junction Member 271

Ethical Junction members supporting the event include:

Adili- Ethical Junction Member 6227
    Ethical Fashion: Organic / Fairly traded clothing
   
Balm Balm Ltd- Ethical Junction Member 5002
    Balm Balm, 100% organically grown ingredients that are SA certified.
  
Bella Natura- Ethical Junction Member 7647
    Organic and Fair Trade Not for Profit Clothing

Beyond Organic Skincare- Ethical Junction Member 7704
    Manufacturers of 100% natural and organic skin products
   
Biodynamic Agricultural Association BDAA- Ethical Junction Member 150
    Promotes holistic & ethical agriculture
   
Bishopston Trading Company- Ethical Junction Member 153
    Fairtrade certified clothing company
   
Calonwen Organic Milk- Ethical Junction Member 7624
    Organic Milk Served Fresh by Farmers
   
Ecotricity- Ethical Junction Member 6163
    The most dedicated renewable energy supplier in UK.
  
Fish4Ever- Ethical Junction Member 7788
    Sustainable fish in a can, high quality, healthy, ethical
   
Graig Farm Organics- Ethical Junction Member 808
    Organic meats & food from mid-Wales
   
Green People Company- Ethical Junction Member 832
    Organically grown heath/beauty products
   
Greenfibres- Ethical Junction Member 851
    Greenfibres sells organic cotton clothes
   
Greenpeace- Ethical Junction Member 854
    Environmental campaign organisation

HUG- Ethical Junction Member 858
    luxury organic cotton tops    

Low and Behold Limited- Ethical Junction Member 6339
    Low impact clothing
   
LUMA- Ethical Junction Member 6212
    Organic fabrics & textiles for around the home.
   
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)- Ethical Junction Member 6050
    Best environmental choice for seafood
 
Montezuma’s- Ethical Junction Member 7823
    Award Winning British Chocolate
   
Natracare – Bodywise (UK) Ltd- Ethical Junction Member 7843
    Offering organic and natural solutions for personal health care
   
The Natural Nursery- Ethical Junction Member 2119
    Organic and fairly traded products for families
   
Organico Real Foods Ltd- Ethical Junction Member 7787
    Organico Mediterranean specialities – pastas,sauces, olives etc
   
Ragman’s Lane Farm- Ethical Junction Member 764
    Permaculture farm running courses
   
Rathbone Greenbank Investments- Ethical Junction Member 7507
    Ethical investment for individuals, trusts and charities.
   
Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard- Ethical Junction Member 251
    Organic English wines, juices & ciders
   
Simply Organic Food Company Ltd- Ethical Junction Member 262
    Organic food & essentials nationwide   

Smith Bros. – Enviro Materials- Ethical Junction Member 7555
    Sustainable materials supplier
   
Solarsense UK Ltd- Ethical Junction Member 276
    Solar heating suppliers & installers
   
Suma Wholefoods- Ethical Junction Member 291
    National supplier of ethical and wholefood products

Sustained Magazine- Ethical Junction Member 1030
    Small Change Big Difference
   
The Ecologist- Ethical Junction Member 440
    Monthly environmental journal
   
Village Bakery Melmerby Ltd- Ethical Junction Member 397
    Mail-order organic breads & cakes
   
Triodos Bank- Ethical Junction Member 6225
    Ethical Banking Services
   
Tropical Wholefoods- Ethical Junction Member 554
    Importers of fair traded tropical fruits
   
Vincermos Wines and Spirits Ltd- Ethical Junction Member 398
    Organic wines and more by mail order
   
Viva!- Ethical Junction Member 6320
    Vegetarian and vegan campaigning organisation
   
Ethical Junction – Changing the world one new member at a time!

Sustained magazine’s BE Close editor, founder of InterNational Downshifting Week and author of The Book of Rubbish Ideas, Tracey Smith, is licking her lips in anticipation of this year’s Organic Food Festival in Bristol on 6-7 September.

Set in Bristol’s famous harbourside it’s Europe’s largest celebration
of all things organic, incorporating bustling food markets, the very
best organic food, drink, fashion, skincare and homeware products, the
green planet pavilion, a talks programme, demonstration kitchen, food
cruises around the harbour, and an arts and entertainment fringe!

If you’re heading there with the family there’s loads more planned for kids this year, with Organix sponsoring the Children’s Zone and such delights as the Food For Life Cookery Bus and the Whole Earth Food Trail, whilst the Demo Kitchen returns with a serious programme of culinary arts.

Wander into the Fashion and Textile Marquee and see how a sheep’s fleece is turned into a garment. Cornish Organic Wool is supplying organic fleece from Bosigran Farm, Zennor (recent winners at The Royal Cornwall Show in the fleece competition), which will be carded, spun and knitted by Spinning Weal from Clevedon, Somerset. Visitors are very welcome to come and have a go at carding, spinning and knitting.

Neal’s Yard Remedies have their own dedicated skincare marquee with an area set aside to offer visitors a mini vitality MOT. Customers will find out their plant vitality profile – a driven and ambitious shoot, a creative flower, a nurturing seed or a contemplative root. From this, a specialist will examine skin vitality and provide tips on how to improve skin and life vitality.

This year Neal’s Yard Remedies will be hosting a special talks and workshop
area on their stand, where there will be practical talks on anti-aging through to the natural approach for mothers and babies, with celebrity presenter on the Steve Wright Show and Sustained’s BE You editor, Janey Lee Grace, author of the bestselling Imperfectly Natural series.

There’s much more besides, oh yes, and I’ll be on the Alistair Sawday’s stand signing copies of my hot off the press eco-read, The Book of Rubbish Ideas ….

Visit the Soil Association website for further information and I’ll look forward to seeing you there!

TSx

The above it taken from Tracey’s blog at Sustained magazine

Over the last few weeks the national press, radio and TV news has been full of stories about the effects of rising fuel prices for vulnerable householders. The debate has mainly focused on increased fuel payments and how much they should be and how such money should be paid. However, Island charity the Footprint Trust says that the issue of poorly insulated homes has been overlooked.

They say ,’It’s bit like having a bucket with a hole in…you could repair the bucket… or just keep poring more water in…’

‘ . . . Our housing stock is amongst some of the worse insulated in Europe. People in colder countries spend less of heating their homes than we do – due to the fact that their homes are properly insulated.’

The Footprint Trust’s Warmahome project will be attending the East Cowes Community Day on Saturday 6th September and  the Newport Classic Car Show on Saturday 13th September to highlight grants available to insulate homes in response to the increased domestic fuel prices.

In October they will be holding three energy events and different venues to bring home the message of energy efficiency thanks to funding from the Big Lottery and the IW Council.

Eighteen UK and international festivals are the first recipients of the prestigious 2008 Greener Festival Award for their efforts in promoting environmentally friendly music festivals. In the UK, recipients of the leading eco-award included Latitude, the Glastonbury Festival, the Camden Green Fair and the Cambridge Folk Festival, all praised by the award organisers for their green efforts. In the US, the Bonnaroo Festival was singled out as a ‘beacon of excellence’ and in Australia three festivals, Falls Festival, West Coast Blues & Roots and Bluesfest all received the Greener Festival Award.

The Award is based on a seven part questionnaire which covers event management, travel and transport plans, CO2 emissions, fair trade, waste management and recycling, water management and noise pollution. Points are awarded for festivals which can show an active plan to promote public transport, reduce on-site waste, recycle and compost wherever possible, re-use water and use sustainable power. Festivals are expected to have a coherent environmental policy and organisers www.agreenerfestival.com has environmental auditors who visit as many festival sites as possible to assess how festivals implement their plans.  

A Greener Festival co-founder Ben Challis said, “We are very encouraged that so many more festivals are making an effort go green and adopt environmentally friendly practices. Some festivals are going through a steep learning curve to improve their green credentials, others are old hands now who keep improving year on year. The UK and international festival scene is now making a concerted effort to be a leader in protecting the environment and fighting climate change”. He added “applications for the award are double those for 2007 and standards are undoubtedly higher with some great new innovations ranging from new green power sources, to better public transport solutions to biodegradable tent pegs.”

So far in 2008 the Greener Festival Award winners are:

UK
Big Session Festival
Camden Green Fair
The Cambridge Folk Festival
City Blues Festival (Leicester)
Download
The Glade Festival
The Glastonbury Festival
Hard Rock Calling
Latitude
Leicester City Blues Festival
Lounge on the Farm
02 Wireless Festival
T-in-the-Park
Workhouse Festival
2000 Trees

International
The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival (USA)
Bluesfest – Eastcoast Blues & Roots Festival (Australia)
The Falls Festival (Australia)
West Coast Blues n Roots Festival (Australia)

To find out what the environmental assessors said about each festival visit: www.agreenerfestival.com

These are the first of the 2008 Awards to be announced. There will be a second announcement of further Awards which will be made in September 2008 when the UK and US festival season ends. All Awards will be confirmed at the UK Festival Awards which will be held on October 30th in London.

Dr. Dawn Scott (University of Brighton) & Dr. Rich Reading (Denver Zoological Foundation) will be giving talks on their Earthwatch projects, ‘South Africa’s Brown Hyenas’ and ‘Wildlife of the Mongolian Steppe’, species in the one case often unfairly maligned, and in the other, sadly under- researched.

By ticket only – free to Earthwatch supporters, otherwise a small donation is requested on the door.

Thursday 16th October, 7.00pm-8.30pm, at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR, UK.

Contact the Earthwatch Europe Events Department on +44 (0) 1865 318856. Email: events@earthwatch.org.uk.

http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/get_involved/events08/habitats

New Puppet Kits Created by BBC Tweenies & Muppet Creator    

These new puppet sets, made from recycled cardboard, are perfect for parents looking to minimise expenditure and maximise their Children’s creativity during the summer holidays, while being kind to the environment.

The great value sets have been created by a former BBC Puppeteer and Tweenie Sally Preisig, who also worked with Jim Henson’s Muppets.  As a mother, Sally was fed up buying very expensive, mass-produced craft kits for children.  She wanted to create something interesting that contained more than a few pieces of paper and sequin.

There are a number of kits allowing kids to create their own individual monkey, bear, pig, sheep, giraffe, dinosaur, cat, robot or a puppet girl.  The kits contain everything you need to make the puppets including full instructions and all the materials. The constituent parts are made using recycled cardboard and wood, the cardboard packaging is recyclable too. No cutting or knotting is required, but a little adult supervision may be needed. Ideal for children aged 4 and over and not suitable for the under 3’s due to small parts.

These puppet sets, costing £10, and other creative toys are available from http://www.fairwindonline.com/.

Fairwind is owned and run by Teresa Owen and Martin Abel who are passionate about fair trade and the environment.  In addition to their thriving online business they have a shop in Crouch End, London.  In 2007, Fairwind was shorlisted for an Observer Ethical Award and is a member of the British Association for Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS) visit http://www.bafts.org.uk/ for more information.

Fairwind’s great range of fair trade and eco friendly home products and gifts include; jewellery, wooden children’s toys & clothing, bags, cushions, candles, CDs and garden accessories.  To see Fairwind’s full range, obtain a catalogue or further information, visit http://www.fairwindonline.com/

Tel: 020 8374 6254.