|
Hybird's Feather Duster events |
| Print |
|
Email
|
|
Green is the new black. With the release today of the Guardian’s report on discount
clothing retailers' exploitation of Bangladeshi workers, there’s no time like the present to find ethical
alternatives to ‘bargain’ fashions.
But going green needn't mean turning up to this summer's picnics and
parties sporting last summer's sundress. Freshen up your
wardrobe the ethical way at a
glamorous ‘Swap ’til you Drop’ Feather
Duster event (from ethical events promoter hybird).
Cleanse your closet of ill-fitting frocks or impulse buys
that still make you blush – after all, one woman's duff duds are another's glad rags. The Feather Duster events are
fun and festive. The next one, this Saturday (21 July)
from 2-6pm at The New Rose includes two-for-one deals on brunch and Bloody Marys, music by DJ Marshmellow Mike,
crafty DIY customisation workshops, beauty treatments and more, all for your £5 entry fee. Any clothes left over are donated to Salvation Army. There will be plenty of wardrobe space for your new,
guilt-free finds, but there's limited space at the event, so email
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
to reserve your spot.
|
|
|
We're in this Together |
| Print |
|
Email
|
If (like me) you missed Live Earth there’s no need
to fret. You can still watch it and you can still be a part of it at Live Earth's UK partner We're in this Together. After all, the organisers insist Live Earth is more
than just one day’s music and message-mongering; it's the start of a three-year campaign to
raise awareness and encourage us all
to do our part to prevent climate change. At Live Earth's other UK partner I Count you can pressurise politicians into doing the right thing. And there's still time to sign up to the Live Earth Pledge,
which includes demanding that your country joins a carbon-cutting
treaty, protesting against new coal-burning power stations and supporting eco-friendly
businesses.
|
|
Nag, nag, nag. Your
heart's in the right place, but what about the rest of you? Maybe
you're still slumped on the sofa, making excuses about why – despite
your best intentions – you're still a lighter shade of green. You
say you want to switch to an eco electricity supplier, buy organic
fruit and veg, recycle more, buy fairtrade food and clothing and reduce
your transport footprint, so what are you waiting for?
There's no time like the present, but if you need a little nudge now and then, try The Nag. This cheeky web campaign is the brainchild of Anti-Apathy (motto:
'Because
waking up is hard to do’).
 The Nag is designed to inform and inspire
you to take action, one tiny
step at a time. Sign up and get 'nagged' each month to do one easy
thing to transform into a true ecomaniac.
There's a monthly theme: climate
change, sweatshops, sustainable farming,
chemicals, rubbish, flying, Fair Trade. It’s all part of a grand
‘experiment’ to show that large numbers of people each making small changes can add up to a big
difference for the planet.
July's
nag is about finding out the real story behind clothing labels. After
all, when you buy a box of eggs, you learn practically everything but
the hen's name, but when you buy a skirt, the only info is whether it's
'Dry Clean Only' or washable. To learn more, join The Nag and add
'Going Green' to your list
of things to do this month.
|
|
|
Earth Huggers |
| Print |
|
Email
|
|
 The Earth Huggers team is wary of greenwashing and  committed to finding genuinely green, recycled
products. This UK-based company is serious about tackling climate change and
is doing its part by helping to create a market for recycled goods. The company
has a heart too – a quarter
of profits goes to environmental and humanitarian aid projects around the
world. Help spread the message with this cute T-Shirt made from 50% recycled plastic bottles and 50% recycled cotton,
£8.50. At Earth Huggers, you'll also find recycled glass goblets, recycled aluminium  foil, recycled plastic mugs,
recycled rucksacks and bags, and much more. And if the pretty picnic hampers on my Favourite Finds page are
out of your budget, pack this in your picnic hamper: colourful 100% recycled plastic plates and cutlery;
eight small plates, £3.50; eight large plates, £5; cutlery, £4.50
for 24-piece pack. They’re even dishwasher safe on low-heat cycles and can be used
over and over again.
|
|
On yer bike! It's Bike Week, 16-24 June. This 'celebration of cycling' includes more than 1,500 local bike events and
rides. Cycling is more popular than ever. If AA Gill can come out of the
cycling closet – and still remain best buds with Jeremy Clarkson – cycling is
definitely on the up, though we’re still miles behind other European countries.
Perhaps Bike Week will inspire you to use two wheels instead of
four for short journeys – or even for your commute to work. Here are
some links for info:  * Cycle-Route.com features paths in
England, Scotland and Wales (and Canada) *Sustrans provides thorough cycling info for the entire country.
*Join the London Bikeathon,
Sunday 15 July to raise money for Leukaemia Research. Choose between
Scenic, City and Challenge rides, 13, 26 or 52 miles respectively.
|
|
 Wake Up and Smell the Coffee. Black Gold opened last weekend (8 th
June), so this morning there might not be such long queues at the multinational
coffee shops. This evocative – and provocative – film investigates the coffee
industry, which is worth over $80 billion (the world's second most lucrative, after
oil). That money certainly isn’t trickling down to the farmers and workers, some
of whom earn less than 50 cents per day – while you’re paying around £2 for
your java.
Like Blood Diamond, this film hopes to wake up – and shake up – the
western world's comfortable consumers and transform us into
conscientious consumers, or even, perhaps to stop us from consuming so bloody
much altogether. Consumers do have power, especially in numbers, so instead of believing the
slick multinational marketing campaigns, find out for yourself the truth
behind the slogans and
put your money where your conscience is. Click here for UK and Ireland
screening info.
|
|
|
Recycle More |
| Print |
|
Email
|
If the prospect of bi-weekly bin collection has you down in
the dumps, take a look at Recycle-more.co.uk and
put your bin on a diet. Each year UK households throw away almost 30 million
tonnes of waste. Recycle instead to save resources and energy –
recycling just one aluminium drink can saves enough energy to power a telly for
three hours.
Recycling can be a minefield as different councils
accept different types of waste (especially plastics). Recycle-more
helps you make sense of recycling symbols and gives top tips for
reducing waste at home and at
work. There's a waste diary where you can record your rubbish. It's rather like calorie counting – taking note
of your overconsumption helps you stop bin binging. There’s even a
link
where you
can purge the junk mail.
Don’t miss the link to recycledproducts.org.uk – where
you’ll find an A-Z listing of companies who are creating treasures
from our
trash. Support these businesses and you ‘close the loop’, increasing
demand for
recycled  material and
giving companies and councils incentive to recycle
properly instead of trying to sneak the stuff into Chinese landfill.
Now I
need help putting my recycling bins on a diet, as bi-weekly collection
will apply to recyclables too. If you're guilty of overindulgence and
don't want to be confronted with two-weeks' worth of newspapers and
wine bottles, just type in your postcode to find nearby
recycling centres where you can (responsibly) dispose of the evidence.
|
|
|
Love London: Love your Planet. Love London
is sponsored by The London21 Sustainability Network (london21.org),
which aims to show that individuals can be persuaded to act, and
that collective action can make a difference. London
Sustainability Weeks (3-17 June) will help promote a better and more
sustainable London,
with over 200 events in the capital, including celebrations for World
Environment Day (5 th June). Take a look at the London Green Map to find out what’s on: parties, organic food fairs, film festivals, cycle
rides, workshops and even an eco pub quiz. The celebrations kick off on 3 rd
June with the Camden Green Fair and Bikefest,
London’s biggest free green event, with music, food and an eco fashion show  (green is the new black, dontcha know). Bookmark the site so you
don't miss out on events in your area.
|
|
 Going green is going up in the 'What's Hot' lists. Whatever
your opinion about that sort of thing, it's a fact in today's world that
celebrity sells and famous faces can bring attention  to important issues.
"Celebrities have the power to really make a difference, to set an
example for their fans and promote green living,” says Rayne Vezir, owner of Bebeco.co.uk. Rayne
believes celebrity mums could do their bit to protect the planet by
choosing organic, natural or Fairtrade baby gear and cloth nappies. In fact,
she is planning to send some free cloth nappies to mums-to-be Charlotte Church,
Myleen Klass, Katie Price and Emma Bunton.  Bebeco sells gorgeous eco-friendly cots and cradles,
natural mattresses, organic sheets and cute organic cotton clothing. Snap up
slings for cuddling while carrying and pampering products for pregnancy, plus a
wide selection of cloth nappies, including Tots Bots, made from GM-free terry
or soft bamboo and made in Scotland. Find out more about Bebeco’s ‘Nappucinos’
where cloth nappy experts can help you decide which system is best for you.
They may even be able to do a home visit.
|
|
|
Compost Awareness Week |
| Print |
|
Email
|
|
Compost Awareness Week
does what it says on the bin. From 6-12 May, you can learn more about
how composting is good for the environment – and for your garden. Once
you learn how easy it can be, you'll have no excuses for
throwing the peelings out with the rubbish – and no need to buy
expensive (and possibly eco-unfriendly) compost from DIY shops. Enter
your postcode to find out if your council is offering discounts on
compost bins. You can also find out more at The Compost Association, WRAP and Recycle Now.
|
|
|
Website of the week 
