Available through www.specialiststock.com

This amazing picture  is a potent symbol of a suffering world and has recently featured in  many newspapers and magazines around the world.

It is just one of the stunning images both still and moving available through the superb collections of a changing world at www.specialiststock.com

The ‘weeping glacier’ is now available to Ethical Junction members at a special membership rate.

The crying face has appeared briefly in a melting glacier off Norway. ‘Tears’ in the natural sculpture located on the Nordaustlandet ice shelf in the Svalbard archipelago are created by a waterfall of glacial water falling from one of the face’s eyes.

This glacier has been retreating at a rate of 400ft per year steadily since 1920 according to the Norwegian government body.  These pictures were taken by a Michael S. Nolan who is a specialist in the marine environment and contributes regularly to our Splashdown collection and lecturers on National Geographic ships on tour.

For more information:

Tom Walmsley
Director

SPECIALIST STOCK
‘a comprehensive collection of motion footage + still picture libraries‘

Web:  specialiststock.com
Tel:  +44 (0)1275 375520
Email:  tom@specialiststock.com
Skype:  splashdowndirect
Locale:  Bristol, UK

A
growing area of awareness, as far as the Environment is concerned, is
our excessive use of “Throw Away Carriers” (“TACS”) and even
some of the larger “multiples” have used TV Advertising Campaigns
to encourage us to use ANY bag in their Stores.

In
the UK we get through something in excess of 11 BILLION “Throw Away
Carriers” (“TACS”) each year, which is over 300 per household,
and with the average “Life Span” of these “TACS” being around
8 minutes isn’t this all getting a bit ridiculous?

The
GOOD NEWS is that there are alternatives and by “Thinking
outside of the BAG”, it is possible to help BOTH the Environment
and YOUR Business…

In
2003 a Family Run Company “Ecobags”
launched. They specialise in working closely with High Quality
Independent Businesses across the UK to design & supply their own
range of
Highly effective, long lasting, reusable “Walking Adverts”, which
substantially cut down on the HUGE number of “Throw Away (single
use) Carriers” (TACS) used on a daily basis.

As Debbie Kay & Gavin Sheppard, the Directors of
“Ecobags” told us:

“Whilst
both working in Marketing, we became aware of the fact that most
businesses were keen to find new ways to get themselves noticed and
with the growing “interest” in Environmental Issues, the idea
came to us – WALKING ADVERTS – and “Ecobags” was born”.

“Over
the last six years we have developed relationships with hundreds of
High Quality Business clients across the UK and by “Thinking
outside of the BAG”
have helped them to BOTH increase their
exposure & sales, whilst at the same time reducing their
overheads & substantially helping the environment… Some of our
clients have reduced the number of “TACS” they use each year by
MANY pallet loads!!”.

But what do we mean when we say “Think outside of the
BAG?

“We’ve
all heard the expression “Thinking outside of the box” to come up
with something innovative and that’s exactly what we do with our
clients…. By changing your thinking a
bag becomes a dynamic Marketing tool.

What exactly are
“Ecobags”?

High Quality Bags, Custom Made for any Business – Any
Shape; Any Size; Any Colour – and come “Logo Printed”, so they
act as perfect LONG LASTING, COST EFFECTIVE “Walking Adverts”.

Debbie told us: “We have found, over the past few
years, there are FOUR MAIN REASONS for
Businesses to approach us and start to work with us:

1. The Business wants to show its customers that they are
   concerned about the Environment
   and by using “Ecobags” they will help to cut down on the 11
   billion Throw Away Carriers disposed of in the UK each and every
   year.

2. Businesses using long lasting, re-usable “Ecobags”
   will SAVE MONEY, as
   it reduces the overhead of “plastic carriers”. Customers who buy
   an “Ecobag” will bring it back every time they shop and not
   expect to be given throw-away carriers on each visit.

3. “Ecobags” are best sold at cost and as such will
   give any Business using them FREE
   ADVERTISING, as their customers walk around
   promoting that business wherever they go. Our clients have found
   that a majority of the General Public are quite happy and willing to
   pay for a High Quality, re-usable bag, to “do their bit for the
   environment” – think about it for a moment – would you? And
   most importantly, would your customers?

4. The Image & Identity
   of the Business MUST be protected. Our list of clients who regularly
   re-order from us is testimony that if you’re looking for a High
   Quality re-usable bag that needs to look good for the long term,
   then you need to consider talking to “Ecobags”.

Gavin then went on to say…

January
2008 saw “Ecobags” launch our major initiative: “Make 2008 the
year your Business Goes “TACS Free”".

“Many
of our existing clients, as well as plenty of new ones are
re-ordering so often, with more & more of their customers buying
their logo printed “Ecobags”, that they have been able to make
huge reductions in their spend levels on “TACS”.

One
of these clients, has reduced their weekly “TACS give away” from
3,000 bags to around 1,200. Just think for a moment the ANNUAL SAVING
you would make if you didn’t have to order ANY “TACS”, or even
substantially reduce the quantity you used day in, day out….

We are here ready to help any “Independent” who
wants to start working towards the day when they no longer have to
give away any bag, thereby helping the environment and INCREASING
THEIR PROFITS!

If you’re interested about finding out how “Ecobags”
could work with you, then more information can be found by visiting
their websites or calling them FREE:

0808 178 8822

www.ecobags.co.ukor
www.walkingadverts.com

SPECIAL OFFER for fellow members of “Ethical
Junction”:

20% OFF our standard “Price Guide” when you
mention this article

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

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.

Supreme Creations were awarded the BITC ‘Responsible Supply Chain’ Award by HRH The Prince of Wales at Clarence House.

Winners of the top Business in The Community Supply Chain award in this year’s Awards for Excellence, Supreme Creations has been showing the big boys how it’s done. The accolade recognises the company’s pioneering product development and commitment to creating secure working conditions and sustainable communities for its 2,000-strong workforce.

Guardian Article yesterday
Supreme Creations, the world leading
ethical manufacturer of reusable bags has been campaigning against
single use plastic bags for years. We have not just campaigned, but
provide a range of alternatives for promotional, retail and packaging.
We now offer the widest range of reusable bag alternatives in the UK.

Long
lasting reusable bags will strengthen your marketing message by making
it a positive one: environmentally friendly and extremely useful; two
excellent things to be associated with your brand.

Quick link to the largest range of bag styles, colours and options.

Call
0845 230 5996 or email kiran@supreme-london.com for the WIDEST CHOICE
OF ECO-BAGS FOR PROMOTIONS, RETAIL & PACKAGING & OUR LOW PRICE
PROMISE.

Allen & York, leaders in their market, specialising in the Built and Natural Environments, Energy, Health & Safety and Waste worldwide, have been acknowledged as ‘First Class’ for great work practices and employee care.

Best Companies Accreditation has been established to acknowledge excellence in the workplace recognizing organisations by Star Status by focusing on workplace engagement in the UK.

2008 saw 653 companies applying for ‘Star Status’ with only 307
achieving success by being awarded a ‘One, Two or Three Star’ Award.

For a Company to take part, there are necessary elements for
eligibility that an organisation must have; been in existence for a
minimum of 3 years, at least 50 full time employees and any mergers or
acquisitions to have been completed by 31st August 2008.

If a Company is suitable, an employee survey and company questionnaire
is carried out to identify workplace performance and best practice
according to eight factors; leadership, management, career progression,
employee work-life balance, team work, Corporate Social Responsibility,
commitment employees have to their Company and employee benefits
offered.

Having been rewarded with a ‘One Star’, Allen & York are now one of the few elite
organisations that drive sustainable business performance through
‘Workplace Engagement’.

“By being accredited annually, we can identify tendencies and
developments within our organisation that we can measure our
performance against. It also gives employees the opportunity to let us
honestly know how they feel towards us as their employer.” Mark Allen,
Managing Director at Allen & York.

The Sunday Times ‘Best Companies to Work For’ is a list of the top 100
Companies in the UK celebrating the best small, mid-size and large
workplaces alongside Best Companies. The list is compiled annually by
Best Companies and published in The Sunday Times which continues to build in
prestige.

“A One Star accreditation, the Best Companies signal of a ‘First Class
Company’, in 2009 has been a great achievement. With great competition
and as the status of the Sunday Times list grows, we just missed out on
being one of the top 100 Companies this year.” Mark Allen continued by
saying, “As staffing partner to many of the high profile names on the
list, going forward we are naturally aiming to be one of the Top 100
next year as it remains our belief that the most valuable asset is our
people.”

Networking Event, Piccadilly House, Manchester
Wednesday 18th February, 6pm – 8.30pm
Find Out more > > >

To
succeed in business, entrepreneurs need to make sure their companies
differentiate themselves from the rest. What are the strategies,
tactics and ideas that can make you stand out from the competitors?
Come and join us on 18 February to hear how award winning entrepreneur
Sandy Lindsay of Tangerine PR developed their USP and got ahead of the
rest.

Networking Event, Piccadilly House, Manchester
Thursday 19th March, 6pm – 8.00pm
Find out more > > >

Come along to network with like-minded entrepreneurs and get some top tips from our guest speaker, Chris Hough, on how to make your business stand out on the web.

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.