Freeset have launched a new online shop and market place for ethically traded products that help women find employment who have been previously trafficked into prostitution. 

Why the change? Apart from the need for a general update we now feature more than bags and more than Freeset it was time to make a complete change and find a new identity that communicated what we were about – hence www.globalseesaw.co.uk.

Global Seesaw is committed to bringing you quality products that are beautiful, useful and ethical. Our products are known for their contemporary design, use of recycled materials and manufactured with love by the women who make them. Our aim is to balance quality products at affordable prices with a business that really makes a difference in the lives of women made vulnerable through poverty, exploitation, human trafficking and prostitution.

We are a social enterprise business that goes beyond fair trade to provide employment for women who have formerly been trafficked into prostitution and assist them in changing their lives.  We employ women to address the global inequality that keeps them in poverty and leads into a downward spiral of prostitution and exploitation.  We go beyond simply paying fair wages, providing a safe, healthy working environment and refusing to employ child labour, but re-invest our profits into the business.  By doing this, we actively invest in the women and their families empowering them to escape poverty and build a secure future.

Whether you are searching for a gift for someone special, a treat or an essential household item, you are sure to find products that are unique, beautiful, modern and helping women to make their future brighter.

Global SeeSaw is the UK distributor for Freeset , Sari Bari and Love Calcutta Arts.

Our existing domain (www.freesetbags.co.uk) will remain online for our custom printed bags but all online shopping is available through our new domain. 

Freeset is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

EXCLUSIVE – 4 for 3 deal on Yes to Carrots and Yes to Tomatoes. No Parabens, no phthalates and no animal ingredients. Vegetable inspired body and skin care. 4 for the price of 3 until 7th November

FREE FABRIC SOFTENER – Buy a 5: Ecover Laundry Liquid bet a 1L Fabric Softener absolutely free. Click ECOVER for details.

3 for 2 BODY LOTION – Until the end of November exclusively at BigGreenSmile we are offering 3 natural body lotions from Jason for the price of 2. Click Jason for details.

25% off FAITH IN NATURE – until the 11th November get 25% off selected Faith in Nature products.

This plus lots of exciting new products available at BigGreenSmile.com

Big Green Smile is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

With the launch of Faith in Nature products on BigGreenSmile we are exclusively offering a 25% discount across selected Faith in Nature products until 11th October.

You will also find an excellent buy 1 get 1 free offer on Jason Shampoos & Conditioners this month, a 3 for 2 offer on EcoCert organic skincare from Evolve Beauty and there is still time to cash in and get 20% off all Natracare products.

Oh.. and through September you can also get 25% off the famous, must have, fair trade 1L liquid castille soaps from Dr. Bronner’s

And if you are too busy to spend time at your desk placing an order fear not, there is also the brand new and FREE BigGreenSmile iPhone app so now you can shop on the go.

Big Green Smile is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

No-one is exactly certain how wire art came about. The most likely origins of this art form are the tranquil hills of Maputoland and Zululand in rural Northern Kwazulu-Natal, in the North-East corner of South Africa.

For many years, due to a lack of resources to buy proper toys, the young herdboys of these regions have been fashioning their own out of discarded coathanger wire, tin cans and whatever else they can get their hands on.

Their ingenuity is quite amazing, and it is not an uncommon sight to see one of these boys steering a fully functional, made-to-scale model car crafted solely from discarded materials, complete with independent axles, fully functional steering column and a keen attention paid to details such as licence plates, headlights and in some cases, optional extras like mag wheels

It wasn’t long before older inhabitants of the area, recognising the uniqueness and marketability of these wire toys, began making their own wire creations and selling them to tourists and visitors to the region, and the vibrant medium of wire art was born.

Today, this genre is a thriving and legitimate art form in its own right, with many ‘wiremasters’ supporting their families by selling their creations on street corners, at craft markets, in shops and selected art galleries.

Products range from working wire radios in a number of shapes and sizes, to CD stands, keyrings, wire picture frames, baskets, vases, wine racks, egg cups, beaded sculptures, in fact the scope and range of wire art products is almost limitless. A common thread running through all these creations, and one which sets them apart from most other art forms, is the fact that the majority of wire art is designed not only with ornamental value in mind but also to be functional in one way or another.

These are genuine, original hand-crafted examples of African art that not only look great, they often also serve a purpose in the home or office.

Streetwires believe strongly in the broad appeal of these unique pieces of Africana, and are proud to bring the medium of wire art to the attention of the international community by giving their deserving local wiremasters an opportunity to display their wares on a global stage.

Streetwires focuses on the unique and dynamic genre of wire art, their Proudly South African project Streetwires is providing the skills, training, support, and raw materials necessary to enable over 100 formerly unemployed men and women to channel their natural creative energies into this vibrant art form.

A select range of Streetwires’ products are available from Urban Africa. Please visit the Streetwires website for more information on their products and their company.

One of the most popular products is a working wire radio. The wire radio is hand made and can pick up most FM frequencies. A unique gift for any music lover or connoisseur of wire art. Each radio has beaded work displayed in the traditional Ndebele pattern and comes with 9V battery.

The bead work can be customised and is the perfect corporate gift as the bead work can incorporate logos, text or company colours. Please email Ryan or Sharon at info@urban-africa.co.uk for more information. Please allow 6 – 8 weeks for delivery.

Urban Africa is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Model Naomi Campbell testified that she was given some ‘dirty looking stones’ in 1997. Read the BBC news story here and hear her testimony:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-10875811

Jeremy Vine gave a wonderful lunch time show  on BBC Radio 2  6th August on the issue of Blood Diamonds, Ethical Diamonds and War Crimes.

Listen to it by clicking here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/jeremy-vine/

Michelle Tuck called in and spoke  very well on behalf of  UK’s ethical jewellers . Fifi Bijoux maintains that the sale of blood diamonds finances conflict and thus can be implemented in war crimes and crimes against humanity in many civil war situations. Transparency and known provenance of diamonds is the surest method of protecting the consumer and the integrity of the jeweller. We specialize in sourcing ethically mined diamonds from known mining projects and origins.

You can learn more about the context of the case against Charles Taylor by viewing Brightwide’s film click the link below to be taken to their site and look for ‘Pray The Devil Back To Hell’

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pray-The-Devil-Back-To-Hell/10831840869

Fifi Bijoux is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Luxury Yurts and posh Bedouin Tents have become the place to be seen at this season’s biggest events!  From The Brit Awards After Party at The Mandarin Oriental, to the Queens Cup at Guards Polo Club and Kate Moss’ christening party, ‘posh tents’ are this seasons place to party.

Somerset based Indian furniture and home accessories supplier, Myakka, often have their products featured on ITV, the BBC and in the National media.  However as a result of this new love for posh tents their furniture is appearing in fields all over the World!

Working with the Bedouin Tent Company, Myakka recently decorated a number of their tents in Kazakhstan for a large corporate hospitality event.  Items included Myakka’s Thakat coffee tables, hall cupboards, lanterns and a range of other fair trade home accessories.

Euro-Camp purchased solid wood nests of tables, a number of blanket boxes and range of hand-made cushions for one of their sites in the South of France.

Georgie Hopkins, director at Myakka gives her thoughts on the tent craze “People want to be seen to be environmentally aware, but they don’t want to skimp on luxury.  The rise in popularity of yurts and Bedouin tents goes hand in hand with our high quality fair trade furniture.  The hand crafted style of the dark hardwood coordinates beautifully and it’s a privilege to see our products popping up in tents all over the World!”

Closer to home LandnSky’s luxury yurts, the latest celebrity craze, were a focal part of the 40th Glastonbury Festival.  The 60’s California generation of material designers and architects first designed yurts and throughout the years they have evolved into the beautiful, ultra-modern tent structures we see today.  Myakka decked out the Glastonbury yurts with beautiful solid wood dressing tables, mirrors and coffee tables.  With only 30 yurts available, they were definitely the place to be seen at this year’s festival and provided considerably more comfort than traditional festival accommodation!

Following the success of Myakka’s furniture ranges in the yurts at Glastonbury, they have recently had enquiries from a luxury yurt camp in the Republic of Ireland who would like to furnish their yurts with a selection of Myakka’s Sheesham wood furniture.

Myakka were delighted to receive the Ethical Award last August which listed them within the top 33% of British companies for demonstrating corporate social responsibility.  They were also featured in the Good Shopping Guide.

“Operating an ethical business is a long term commitment, w’ve been recognised by the British Association for Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS) since August 2006 and in total over 90% of our products are sourced following fair trade principles,” commented Simon Whitehead, Director.

Myakka continue to supply high-quality hardwood furniture and accessories to homes and businesses across the UK through their online shop, mail order catalogue and Warehouse Outlet in Wincanton, Somerset.

Myakka is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

I know it’s another form to fill in and we are all tired of answering the same old questions but think, how much money could you save over time?

Cashback shopping is a fantastic way to eco-shop guilt free. It rewards you for ethical purchases and you can receive up to 10% cash back through MoreEco. What could be more green than recycling your money?!

Sign up for MoreEco and not only will you get money back on all your purchases but you also receive offers, eco-advice and tips to help you stay eco-friendly. Good for the planet and for your bank account.

Take advantage of our top-tens and articles on how to be green. We also offer environmental news and information on the latest trends and offers on all the best eco shops. EcoTrendSpotter provides information on new products and fashion and gives you the inside scoop on the latest green info.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to buy eco alternatives for all your shopping needs. Sign up today and reap the rewards of filling in that one form!

The MoreEco Team

MoreEco is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Green People has got a host of offers on during August 2010 (valid until the end of the month) which we’d like to share with you.

Star Offer

This month the star offer is Buy 1 Get 1 Free on Fruitful Nights, a delicious organic night cream with a beautiful fruity scent.

This offer saves you £13.99.

More Offers

Save £5 on Body Bliss – a rose-scented body lotion

Save £3 on Help at Hand – lavender-scented hand cream

Save £5 on Toning Facial Mist – with calming chamomile

Save £2 on Aloe Very Shampoo – for normal/dry hair

Green People is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Hello to everyone at Ethical Junction!

As you’ll be able to see from our Profile page, we are Swop2Shop – an online clothes swopping company that was founded last year by two working mothers. We are now a growing team of seven and are currently in the process of updating our website to make it easier for users.

We believe that swopping is the new shopping and we encourage people to recycle their quality clothes instead of sending them to landfill. It’s also an ideal way to conquer the credit crunch that has most of us in it’s grasp at the present moment!

We really hope you like our concept and take a look at our website at www.swop2shop.co.uk. 

Swop2Shop is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Things are getting personal at online organic beauty boutique, Lucy Rose!  The award-winning natural beauty website is now offering a range of personal care products, which have been through the usual fastidious vetting process, to guarantee genuinely natural products, which are not in the slightest bit tinted with chemicals, animal testing or unethical production.

The Organyc Cycle

Organyc is a range of organic natural cotton tampons and sanitary towels, certified by the Soil Association, which feel fresh, safe and clean, and have absolutely no negative effects on the environment.  The natural cotton fibres feel instantly more comfortable as they are skin-friendly, breathable and pH neutral.  Better still, they are 100% biodegradable.  From £1.79 for 24 Flat Panty Liners.

Simply the best Cotton Wool

Go organic with Simply Gentle’s 100% organic cotton wool and cotton buds.  Certified by the Soil Association, choose from cotton balls, pads or pleats, safe in the knowledge that this pure cotton is completely natural, is 100% biodegradable and will not harm the environment or the people in it.  From £1.29 for 200 Cotton Buds.

It’s Easy with Inlight

The balms and oils from Inlight organic skincare are the result of years of research by Dr Mariano Spiezia who is a medical doctor, homeopath and herbalist.  The result is a range of highly effective skincare products which use the very best organic ingredients, such as cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and delicately scented essential oils, chosen for their natural therapeutic and preservative qualities.

The high performance balms include Joint-Easy, Acn-Easy, Ecz-Easy and Nyp-Balm for dealing efficiently with specific skin/muscle complaints.  The range is completed with a collection of rich and nourishing body oils and creams, designed for everyday use, including an Organic Line Softener, for treating scars, burns and even laughter lines.  From £13.55 for Joint-Easy to £50.60 for the Organic Line Softener.

For more details, visit www.lucyrose.biz, where postage and packing is free on every UK order.  The extensive selection of organic beauty and skin care, has been meticulously hand-picked to provide top to toe beauty treatments for people who genuinely care about what they put on their skin. 

Lucy Rose is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more