From
the heights of the Andean Altiplano to the vast plains of the Kenyan
savanna, the Fair Trade Market in Cutty Sark Gardens on Sunday July
12^th
will bring you handmade gifts, clothing, accessories and food to
amaze and delight you. By popular demand, the Cutty Sark Gardens,
Greenwich SE10 is hosting its second annual Fair Trade event from 11
am – 4 pm. With 25 fair trade stalls inside a huge marquee
featuring products from 16 developing countries ranging from
handwoven Ugandan fruit baskets to handloomed block printed cotton
shirts from Nepal, this year’s event is a must for the conscious
consumer.

What you can buy

Products
available will be: jute bags, rice sack bags, Ugandan cotton bags;
banana fibre and raffia baskets; men’s and women’s handloomed
Nepali shirts and dresses; Indian cotton and lace tops; crochet
flower necklaces, shawls and brooches; kids’ clothes from South
America; jewellery from Mexico, Ecuador, Nepal, Uganda, Morocco,
Chile, Kenya; skincare range; mobiles, wine glasses, purses,
incense, cards and paper, gifts, scarves, handwoven, hand-dyed
applique Bolivian cushion covers; food – biscuits, chocolate,
Palestinian olive oil, almonds, couscous, tea, coffee; and a whole
lot else besides.

Producer groups represented…

Mahaguthi in Nepal, Bombolulu in Mombasa, Godavari
Lace Makers in India, Undugu Society in Nairobi, National Association
of Women’s Groups of Uganda, Women of Hope in Afghanistan, Comparte
in Chile, Artesania Sorata in Bolivia, NEED in India, WINV in
Vietnam, Asha in India, Tara in India. (These are the large ones -
there will be smaller groups represented too).

Local food

Visitors
will also have a great range of fairtrade and locally produced food
to take away or eat on site, with Mother Bhumi cooking fresh organic
bhajis and pakora accompanied by a variety of chutneys; buttery
French crepes, sandwiches, wraps, cakes, tea, coffee and soft drinks.

Organisers

The
Co-Operative Group are partly sponsoring the event and will be
providing information on how fairtrade helps. And, as a special
feature this year, we have a representative from Shared Interest, the
bank that lends to fairtrade producer groups and importers. They will
be letting people know how to invest with them and will have details
of a special scheme for schools to set up their own accounts. There
will be more information from War on Want, the local Oxfam group,
local Traidcraft reps and more.

Greenwich
Council and Lovethatstuff are organising the event. Barbara Wilson of
Lovethatstuff, who imports from ten WFTO (World Fair Trade
Organisation) producer groups says, ” I organise a monthly fair
trade market in Brighton and now have a shop at Brighton Marina. We
organise events like this because it’s a great chance for people to
see and buy the work of some very skilled artisans around the
developing world. People really love the products, not just for the
quality of the designs, but the stories behind the products. For
example, Mahaguthi in Nepal were founded by a student of Gandhi’s
and employ over 95% women. With some of the social premium raised
through sales, they give untouchable caste girls skills’ training
so they can return to their villages with a means of earning an
income. Bombolulu in Mombasa, Kenya employ 160 disabled people and
without their workshops, workers have told me they would be begging
on the streets.”

Please come along

The
Fair Trade Market is a chance to celebrate the wonderful quality and
diversity of skills that the producer groups represented have, and
you can also find out how fair trade works and what difference you
can make in a credit crunched world.

Entrance
is free and with prices ranging from £1.50 for a handmade card to
£25.00 for a handloomed shirt, these are prices that everyone can
afford.

Over 50
styles available at new online shop Reusablebottle.co.uk

From a 1 litre bottle which folds down to the size of a (thin) wallet,
to completely natural charcoal-based water filters and an unsuspecting looking
bottle which purifies water from normally un-drinkable sources  www.resuablebottle.co.uk is a
one-stop shop for this year’s must have accessory – the reusable
bottle.  

Established with the aim to help reduce plastic waste,
ReusableBottle.co.uk is the only UK-based independent online bottle shop,
stocking more than 8 different brands of reusable bottles (and more to come) as
well as a host of practical and quirky accessories.   

Reusable Bottle.co.uk is doing more than just encouraging people to be
eco-savvy explains the brand’s founder Dan Brousson:  “We wanted to create
a single point where individuals could find a bottle which reflects their
personality, a practical need or conveys a message they want to share with the
world.”

Read on for top picks…

OUR TOP
PICKS

For The Multi-Tasker

Product Name:
           Source Liquitainer  

Size:
                          
Ranges from 1L – 4L

Cost:
                         
>From £5.50

What’s interesting about it?

This extra strong, lightweight, reusable bottle folds flat when empty
and stands stable when full!

• Resistant to extreme temperature conditions
  (-i.e. From freezing to boiling)

• Bacteria Free thanks to Grunge Guard (anti-microbial FDA approved
  technology, which blocks bacteria growth)

• Extremely Durable: Crack and Puncture Resistant.
• Twist Top Sport Cap

For the Host with the Most

Product Name:
           Bamboo Charcoal Filters

Size:
                          
Available in packs of 4, 8 and 12.

Cost:                          
>From £4.00 per pack of 4

What’s interesting about it?

Bamboo
charcoal is a simple and natural way of filtering tap water.

§              
Simply leave it in a jug filled with tap water and it will
slowly filter out impurities such as chlorine.

§              
Works like a sponge, absorbing impurities into its pores. It
also mineralises the water during initial usage by slowly releasing minerals
into the water.

§              
Lasts up to 2 months

§              
100 % biodegradable – once they’ve finished filtering, simply
bury them in the garden

For the Adventurer (A gap year must-have)

Product
Name:            Aquapure Traveller Bottle by Pure Hydration.

Size:
                          
750ml

Cost:                          
£34.95

What’s interesting about it? 

It produces safe, clean, filtered water any time, any place in 15
minutes. 

• The inbuilt filter will purify 350 Litres of
  water, killing viruses and bacteria and removing nasty stuff like pathogens,
  chemicals, heavy metals, faecal matter, bad tastes & odours
• It’s the only portable water purifier officially
  endorsed by the Hospital of Tropical Diseases London.
• Replacement filters available.

For the Passionate Enthusiast 

Product
Name:            Various including SIGG and Nalgene brands

What’s
interesting about it?

Forget Slogan Tee-shirts!  Why not
share your message with the world on your omni-present water bottle instead?

Take your pick from messages such as:

§        
Refill Not
Landfill

§        
Simply Eco
Logical

§        
Make Love
Not Landfill

§        
Green is
the New Black

The individuals behind Reusable
Bottle.co.uk do their research too; only stocking products from
brands with sound environmental and ethical production methods. 

For more information – or to purchase your own reusable bottle – visit www.reusuablebottle.co.uk
or call 05602 696001. 

- ends -

Notes to Editor:

Did you know?

§        
Britons use approximately
13billion plastic bottles (equivalent to 257,000 tons) every year

§        
Only 3billion of
these are recycled, the remaining 10bn end up as landfill

§        
These
landfill-destined plastic bottles would fill Wembley Stadium three times every
12 months

Reusable Bottle.co.uk founder, Daniel
Brousson is a dedicated campaigner for plastic alternatives.  He has
already achieved success with the Onya Bags range, a collection of durable,
lightweight bags which fold down into a compact size making it easier than ever
for people to carry them ‘on-ya’ as the brand suggests. 

Ketan who is technical director of Ethical
Junction and Kate, who is EJ’s administrator, recently got married.
The couple are both vegans so they had an all vegan wedding (everyone
really liked the food!) and they set out to use as many Ethical Junction
companies as possible as part of their wedding. Kate and Ket would like
to give a big Thank You to all of the Ethical Junction companies that
they were able to make use of for their products and services as part
of their wedding.  

They gleaned tips, practical advice and
inspiration from both Green Union and Ethical Weddings. Their rings
were ethically sourced from Fifi Bijoux

Kate, the Bride made her own dress and
jacket using organic fabric from Greenfibres, and wore shoes from Beyond
Skin, her necklace was from Natural Collection, her handbag was from
Feel Good Handbags, her make up from Beauty Without Cruelty and Inika.
Both the bride and groom used skin care products from Green People and
Simply Soaps, hair care products used were from both Faith In Nature
and Daniel Field.

Ket, The Groom wore an organic linen
suit (unfortunately not from an EJ, a gap in the marketplace there people!).
Ket’s shoes were from Natural Collection. The beautiful faritrade
roses that were used for the buttonholes and the bride’s bouquet were
from Imogen Stone (Kate kept the fairtrade tags on the rose stems).  

Paper for the invites, place settings,
and table names was from the Exotic Paper Company and envelopes from
Eco-Craft. All the alcohol was from Vintage Roots (organic and vegan).
A Lot of Candles who is part of the company A Lot of Chocolates supplied
organic candles.

Ket’s band played to the guests as part of the evenings entertainment, and is currently having a bass guitar custom built by Simon Lee Guitars .

The couple used gift lists from Greenfibres,
Our Green Wedding List, Natural Collection and Bishopston Trading. The
honeymoon destination later in the year is to be at Bloomfield House. 

Kate and Ket would like to say, “Thank
you to you all 22 Ethical Junction members for making our day so wonderful and memorable.” 

8^th
June 2009

World
Ocean Day (http://www.theoceanproject.org/wod/wod_about.php) is an initiative used to celebrate and support
the protection of our world’s oceans through sustainable actions,
events and activities. Here at Article 13, we believe that natural resource
management, water governance and sustainable stewardship are hugely
important to protecting and conserving the world’s most important
natural resource for future generations. Through a collective response
to this day, we can move to a more sustainable management of the oceans
and its resources, which we rely on for our survival; it generates oxygen,
offers us a reliable food source and regulates our climate.

The world’s oceans
deserve our attention and support, and World Ocean Day can encourage
different action such as:

• Encourage individuals and
  organisations to think about what the ocean means to them and their
  livelihood.
• Deepen the understanding of
  the wealth of diverse and beautiful ocean creatures and habitats, how
  our daily actions affect them, and how we are all interconnected.
• Change our ways to greatly
  benefit our blue planet – Make small changes to everyday habits, e.g.
  purchase fish from sustainable fishing sources.

As part of Article 13’s United Nations Global Compact
(UNGC) commitment (http://www.article13.com/csr/ungc_iip_values.asp) we are supporting World Ocean Day in our efforts
to apply the precautionary approach to environmental challenges ( Principle
8 ). Below are some Article 13 resources which make up part of our advocacy
and information dissemination.

Tackling water consumption
as a core business issue

http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1239

Water risks and opportunities

http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1389

Article 13 case examples:

BAA http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1364

AWG http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1314

Aviva http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1376

For information on how
Article 13 can assist you in auditing your company’s practices, developing
water action plans, and reducing your businesses water use and related
impacts on the environment, contact Fiona Banyard on 020 8840 4450 or
mail fionab@article13.com

The more I read the news the more apoplectic I become. Basically it comes down to two core truths: Big Business Sucks; Big Politics sucks. The former has sucked everything and everybody dry, robbed us of all life. The latter has sucked up to the former and greased the wheels of legislation for a greased palm or two. The only realsitic way to stop this is to stop playing their game their way like a bunch of wet sheep on morphine.

OK, we’re all in this together – I’m guessing we have certain wish-list items in common. For example: we all want a world in which it’s safe for us to breathe, eat and drink; we’d like our children and grandchildren to have the same gorgeous natural surroundings we have been privileged to enjoy. We’d like to see less warfare and fear, more peace and laughter. We sometimes feel there’s little we can do to help. WRONG. Research shows there are 250 million of us – people who want a just and sustainable future (I’ll come back to this in future postings). Do the sums, we can make a HUGE difference, starting with where we shop and what we choose to buy. And better still, where and what we DON’T choose to buy.

FatWest, General Bloaters and Gainsburys don’t give a toss about us or our wellbeing. Why would we give them all the cash earned with our blood, sweat and tears? It’s like cooking lunch for someone who’s just mugged you.

Time to rebel. Be revolting – you have nothing to lose except your shackles…

Rob Weston, Schmeditor

Picks from the Market

EcoOutlet have a great range of ethical goodies. This fruit, vegetable and wheatgrass juicer not only requires no electricity, it actually produces higher-nutrient juices than the carbon-villain variety…

Well Cultivated – these guys are the real thing. They check everything, they really care about making a difference and they have seriously cool stuff. 

Natural Home Products are very rare – they have 20 years of specialist experience in seriously high-integrity bedding products, yet they make no self-important claims. They just take good care of their customers and provide superb products, again and again and again. Here, to prove the point, are two organic summer duvets to keep you cool at night:

Teramo Summer Organic Merino LambsWool Duvet
Firenze Summer Organic Cotton Duvet

Cool Green Attitude is a company founded by mums for kids and their families who want great clothes that look and feel wonderful and do no harm to others. If you are going to have attitude, this is the kind we want… have a look at their cool green t-shirts!

Picks from the Pulse

New Social enterprise round up from the Social Enterprise Coalition

Antartic Ice Shelf Destabilised

Ethical Junction gets on Twitter!  @ethicaljunction

The Environmental Transport Association slate the “car scrappage scheme”!

ScienceDaily (2009-04-29) — Satellite images show that icebergs have begun to calve from the northern front of the Wilkins Ice Shelf – indicating that the huge shelf has become unstable. This follows the collapse three weeks ago of the ice bridge that had previously linked the Antarctic mainland to Charcot Island.

Read more here…

Naturally safer and stronger eco-friendly anti-insect camouflage products from incognito selling at record levels

People are defying the recession and the cold weather by planning holidays abroad, and with the euro so high, tropical holidays are on the increase. incognito, creators of 100% natural, ethically produced anti-insect products have noticed a surprising surge in sales of their most popular items, many selling out before Christmas last year.

Selling both in the UK and abroad, including recently in Hawaii and
the Caribbean, the fresh, pleasant smelling incognito products use a
secret blend of 100% natural ingredients, all containing an organically
certified citronella only found on the volcanic island of Java, which
is much more effective against insects than ordinary citronella found
elsewhere.

So how does incognito work?  Says Patricia Carter,
Director: “A female mosquito can detect human kairomones (similar to
pheromones) up to one kilometre away!  Our products mask these
kairomones, camouflaging the wearer so they remain incognito –
unrecognisable – to the blood thirsty mosquito!  They also do not have
the unwanted negative side effects and health risks associated with
chemical repellents such as DEET.”

As well as smelling much
better than pungent chemical-based repellents, incognito camouflage
products are ideal for people, especially babies and young children,
who do not wish to expose themselves to the potential hazards of
chemically manufactured toxins.  They prefer to invest in an infinitely
safer product.  Those with sensitive skins or skin conditions will also
benefit from the gentler, natural formulations, without compromising on
efficacy. 

Rigorously tested by the London School of Hygiene and
Tropical Medicine, incognito works on all insects, not just
mosquitoes.  The range includes a 100ml camouflage spray, citronella
incense sticks, after-sun moisturiser, and a 3-in-1 shampoo,
conditioner and camouflage, as well as soaps: jasmine rice, ginger and
citronella; lemongrass and citronella; and luxury loofah soap, which
contains skin conditioning loofah for exfoliation as well as cleansing,
and therefore the perfect minimalistic product for light travelling -
you can even recycle the loofah as a gentle pan scourer when all the
soap is gone!

All soap packaging is made from biodegradable Saa paper, made from
sustainable mulberry bark harvested in fair trade conditions by
impoverished Thai women.

incognito products are transported ethically, fashionably and
practically in their roll-up travel bags which can be hung on a wall or
door, or unrolled flat.

Sold direct through their website or through
Wholefoods in Kensington, Fresh n Wild, Planet Organic, John Bell &
Croydon and most chemists, sales have been steadily rising since winter
began.  All products except the luxury loofah soap (which contains
honey) are certified by the Vegan Society.

 From April 29th, Wholefoods and Fresh n Wild will be selling the
exfoliating scrub at half price for only £3.62.  These two outlets
along with John Bell & Croydon in Wigmore Street also stock the
entire incognito range.

Article 13 Report
12th February 2009

Sustainable Development, Climate Change, Environmental protection – just a few of the terms currently being linked to global droughts, floods, fires and other climate related natural disasters occurring more and more across the globe.

With an increase in world population and urban development, heightened environmental risks and vulnerabilities are demanding long-term, sustainable management of natural resources. Natural Resource Management (NRM) involves managing complex and intertwined systems such as biodiversity, desertification, just to name a couple.

This month Article 13 is focussing on two of the issues surrounding
Natural Resource Management (NRM) and briefly explores the
technological and organisational responses from business to help combat
environmental degradation.

Water management
Water management refers to the sustainable management, governance and
utilisation of water resources, including rivers, lakes and estuaries,
coastal and marine waters; sewage treatment; and reservoir safety.
Water management is an issue of the global commons, which means it’s
outside national jurisdiction and there is an ever increasing battle
for access to fresh water resources. Initiatives must cross borders and
boundaries to make any real difference. The United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), partners with over 150 businesses and concentrates on
the potential risks associated with water scarcity and the strategic
importance for businesses to act responsibly. Businesses and
Institutions need to start acknowledging the interconnectedness of
water resources with many of the world’s major issues, including
climate change, energy, economic development, environmental health, and
social justice. For businesses to tackle the challenges surrounding the
depletion of water resources, there needs to be the following:

• Financial investment into a water supportive infrastructure.
• Partnerships with water management coalitions. 
• Integrate water management systems into the business, in order to minimise environmental risks

So how are businesses managing water resources? Some examples include:

BAA: A water management scheme at Terminal 5 reduces BAA’s reliance on
mains water and economically harvests water from rainfall on campus and
boreholes on its own land
(http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1364).

AWG: “RiverCare” programme a community approach to involving
communities in cleaning up watercourses
(http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1314).

United Utilities: Establishment of a multi-partner sustainable water
catchment management programme to deliver improved water quantity and
quality. (http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1360)

Land management
Land management refers to the sustainable management and development of
land resources. Land management practices often include, conserving and
enhancing the natural environment, ensuring that industrial processes
do not exploit land resources and foster social and economic well
being. It is in a business’s and individual’s best interest to act
responsibly with land resources and manage them effectively. Poor land
management practices can lead to heightened environmental risks with a
rise in CO2 emissions and the destruction of ecosystems, biodiversity
and plant diversity. Also businesses can be affected greatly through
poor land management, with high cleanup costs, consumer boycotts and
increased pressure from environmentalists and NGOs. Alternatively,
sustainable land management can have beneficial factors in terms of
climate change impacts, wildlife, biodiversity, social well-being,
social equity and help the bottom line; for example:
Wangari Maathai: “Promoting ecologically viable social, economic and
cultural development”
(http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1091).

For more information please contact Fiona Banyard on
fionab@article13.com or call 020 8840 4450. Please also see Article
13’s website www.article13.com

From this month, garden-building projects WILL NEED planning permission.

As new planning regulations come into play this month, InsideOut Buildings anticipates that more people will need planning permission to build a garden office, studio or shed.

The new legislation is designed to protect neighbours from having to suffer large garden buildings hard up against their fence. However, the new rules may have some strange repercussions. Outside of Conservation Area and AONB you can build a series of ugly, 20 sq metre, 2.5m tall, flat roofed bunkers in your garden, without needing planning permission!

InsideOut Buildings, who design and build environmentally responsible garden offices and granny annexes, are expecting to see 85% of clients needing planning permission against a previous average of 75%.

So what do the new regulations mean for people wanting to build a garden annexe?

The fundamental point is that if you want to install a garden office or even a shed more than 2.5m/8ft 4in tall without planning permission, it must be 2 metres or more from any boundary. This will be difficult to acheive in a small,urban garden.
“Check the criteria below,” recommends Lynn. “If your building ticks one or more of the points, you’ll need planning permission. But if you’re proposing a good quality, well-designed building in a sensible, non-intrusive position, you’re very likely to get that permission.”

As of this month you will need planning permission:

• If your garden building will sit forward of the principal elevation of your house, facing onto – and visible from – a highway. In other words, if it’s in the front garden!

• If the height of the eaves – where the gutters are – is more than 2.5m, with an overall height of more than 4m for dual pitched roofs and more than 3m for mono-pitched roofs.

• If it is higher than 2.5m at the highest point and within 2m of a boundary. All buildings more than 2.5m tall must be at least 2m from the boundary. To avoid planning permission, they’d also have to comply with point 2.

• If it covers more than 30 square metres of floor space.

• If it covers more than 20 square metres in a garden that’s smaller than 100 square metres.

• In National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, if your building covers more than 10 square metres and it is more than 20m from your house.

• In designated areas, if your garden building is at the side of your house.

• If it is within the boundaries of a listed building.

• You will still need planning permission in Conservation areas.

• If you want decking more than 30mm above level ground.

But are the new rules causing concern? No – quite the opposite.

InsideOut Buildings Director Lynn Fotheringham explains why. “A planning officer in Oxford recently revealed that because the new rules allow you to build an ugly, flat-roofed bunker less than 2.5m tall, anywhere in your garden without planning permission, a beautiful, eco-friendly wooden building that needs planning permission would be viewed very positively by planners.”

So far, Inside Out Buildings has a 100% planning permission success rate. Why? According to InsideOut architect Gordon Smith, it’s because InsideOut works with planning departments and their local requirements. “We also have a detailed understanding of applying for planning permission.” he explained. “Interpreting the planning regulations correctly is half the battle! Because our garden buildings are sensitively designed and built with subtle, low impact materials, they fit well with what today’s planning legislation aims to achieve.”

My Greener Home, the environmental company that saves you money, have launched a new product: the Eco Showerdrop. My Greener Home’s price is £11.95 incl. VAT.

The Eco Showerdrop helps you stop wasting water and energy in the shower. The Eco Showerdrop could save you £180 each year. It uses a digital display to show you the amount of water your shower is using, and when you have reached the recommended 35 litres of water. It can be installed in a matter of minutes by anyone.

We all think we are saving money having a shower, but how often have you been day dreaming and twenty minutes later, you have used up huge amounts of hot water.

A standard bath holds between 80 and 100 litres of water, and conventional wisdom suggests that we save water by taking showers instead of baths. Modern power showers can easily use over 20 litres of water each minute. That means that your shower could use up 100 litres of water in just five minutes. If you stand around contemplating the day ahead in these showers you will definitely be worse off than if you had a bath. The Eco Showerdrop wakes you up to the need to save water and money.

The NGO Waterwise did a survey at the end of 2007 in which they calculated that the average shower used around 64 litres of water. However Waterwise and leading water suppliers calculate that 35 litres is sufficient to have a really good shower. With different water pressures and different shower heads, the flow of water varies between showers so measuring time alone won’t tell you how much water has been used.

Using calculations verified by Waterwise and the Energy Saving Trust (which assume a 7.2 minute shower and 9 litres/minute flow rate), the Eco Showerdrop could save the average family of four £180 each year in water and water heating bills, and save 40,000 litres of water. That is the equivalent to reducing your carbon footprint by 2/3 of a tonne.

Visit My Greener Home Website or call 020 8133 9002