Ethical Living

First mounted in 1975, National Tree Week is UK's largest tree celebration annually launching the start of the winter tree planting season. National Tree Week is a great chance for communities to do something positive for their local treescape. Each year, Tree Council member organisations such as voluntary bodies and local authorities, up to 200 schools and community groups, our 7,500 Tree Wardens and many others, support the initiative by setting up fun, worthwhile and accessible events, inspiring upward of a quarter of a million people to get their hands dirty and together plant around million trees.


See the Tree Council website here for more info

A new report published today, provides nine
testimonies from people around the world who have dramatic
first-hand experience of the devastating impacts of climate
change.


The Friends of the Earth International report "Voices from
Communities Affected by Change Change", is being published ahead
of the key United Nations climate talks taking place from 3-14
December 2007 in Bali, Indonesia. The report gives first hand
accounts of the impacts of climate change from indigenous people,
women, local authorities, farmers, small business owners and
small-scale fisherfolk from Honduras, Peru, Brazil, Mali,
Swaziland, the UK, Australia, Malaysia and Tuvalu.


These people highlight the strategies that they have developed to
try and adapt to the radical impacts of climate change on their
land, livelihoods and ecosystems.

Read the report here

Labels: Campaigns, Ethical living

The 21st FAIR TRADE FAIR will be held on 1st and 2nd December.

The hours of opening are from 12 noon on Saturday 1st to 6pm and from 12 to 5pm on Sunday 2nd December.

Where?

Westminster Central Hall, Parliament Square, London SW1 (on the other side of the road from Westminster Abbey) nearest tubes; Westminster and St James's Park

There are 45 exhibitors, including 12 groups that have come directly from Africa (Rwanda, Zambia, Kenya), the Philippines, and elsewhere. It is a remarkable event. There will be world music and there is a reasonably price cafeteria in the same building.

The full details are on our website, which is

www.fairtradefair.org

After two successful previous events, the third Our Ethical Network event is taking place upstairs tomorrow at 8pm at The Eagle pub, 125, Gloucester Rd, Brighton, BN1 4AF. There will be a small charge of £3 to cover costs. Rather than a stand up and mingle event, we're aiming to make it more of a sit down and talk session this time so come prepared to say a little bit about your business and what help you need to move forward. For more details of the network please see www.ourethicalnetwork.com or email me at jennifer@ethicalwoodfurnishings.co.uk.

Our Ethical Network was set up by myself (Jennifer Everest) and Katie Fewings. As founders of ethical businesses we found that networking opportunities specifically to meet other ethical businesses were few and far between. Believing that small businesses should stick together and that getting advice which doesn't conflict with their ethical beliefs is paramount to their businesses and others in the surrounding area, Our Ethical Network was born.

Networking events are a great way to meet like-minded people, share advice and support and make business connections and contacts. Unlike other Brighton networking events we've deliberately restricted invitations to ethically inspired companies in order to make the evenings as useful and informative as possible for all with the central aim to help aid and support the growth of local ethical businesses.

If you'd like to join the network please email jennifer@ethicalwoodfurnishings.co.uk. (There is no charge to join, and events are free wherever possible)

Labels: Brighton, Ethical living, Ethical Networking

Yesterday was the 4th annual Responsible Tourism Awards, sponsored by Virgin Holidays and organised by responsibletravel.com. This inspiring and uplifting event celebrated responsible tourism companies and individuals all around the world who work to improve the lives of local people and minimise impacts on the environment.

Ethical Wood Furnishings was delighted to be asked to make all the frames for the certificates. Each of the winners, from many different areas of the globe, all left clutching their frames made from reclaimed pier decking from Brighton pier.

The New Forest was the overall winner - a destination which has worked over the last 15 years with visitors, the industry, the community - including commoners and small holders - to look after the environment (the VICE model: Visitor, Industry, Community, Environment) and to benefit all interests as well as providing a model for other destinations to follow.

Each of the winners and highly commended companies and individuals all have a unique and inspirational story of how they've got to the level they are today. You can read their stories and why they won an award on this online magazine here

Many congratulations to all the winners - especially Anthony Climpson who was clearly over the moon with his 3 awards!

The awards ceremony marked the opening of the first World Responsible Tourism day and the well attended number of seminars and lectures that followed marked the tourism industries growing realisation that action needs to be taken now - to ensure better destinations for people to live and better destinations for people to visit.

Labels: Responsible Tourism Awards, responsibletravel.com