When we shop, for most of us, the two key things that we look out for are suitability and price. We know what we want, and we want it to come at a price that makes us smile. But what about the ethical price of a product?

Sure, it's nice to grab a bargain at the til, but how is it that the stores are able to deliver this great bargain to us? It is easy to turn a blind eye and not bother to consider how a product came to land on the shelves of our local supermarket, favourite cafe or chain store, but what if we did consider how it is our products are manufactured? If we knew about the labour conditions of the workers picking our bananas or growing the cocoa that goes into our chocolate - would it change how we shop?

"Fair trade is a global movement that tackles poverty by making sure that people in developing countries are paid a fair price for their produce." Oxfam

Deep down, most of us do care about the people around us. And we care about our local area. When we start reading and watching world news, we start to care more about what's going on elsewhere in the world too. Exposure gives us an awareness and awareness gives us knowledge and the will to then act on what we know.

So when we learn about how it is that tea makes it from the plantation on the other side of the world to the cup we enjoy in our local cafe... or how the cotton harvested on a farm, somewhere equally as far off as that tea plantation, makes up our favourite knee high socks and knickers, we can be armed with a greater consciousness that urges us to make a smarter choice at the store.

It can be hard to understand the importance of what is seemingly a small change of switching to fairtrade products, but imagine if every city worker bought fairtrade coffee each day? That would be thousands more supporting the ethical treatment of farmers and communities. Buying fairtrade is usually only nominally more expensive, and so the difference to our wallets is slight, but the difference in the life of a farmer is significant.

Unfortunately, child labour is a huge problem facing communities that produce many products we consume regularly too. Fairtrade.net puts figures at "an estimated 218 million children aged 5-17" involved in work around the world. By purchasing fairtrade products where available, you are assisting the Foundation address the underlying problems associated with child labour, such as a family's basic need to earn enough money to survive.

"Globally one child in seven is engaged in work that negatively affects his or her education, health or safety – often poverty means children work to help their families survive. Fairtrade helps address the roots of child labour by offering producers in the developing world a fair price and stable trading deals." Fairtrade Fights Child Labour (pdf)

Often, when we don't make the smartest possible consumer choice, like buying fairtrade when it's available, it's not because we don't care, it's just because we haven't stopped to consider what decision we are really facing.

If you'd like to learn more about what's available in your area, please choose the appropriate website from below. You can also keep an eye out for the Fairtrade logo on products (see image above).

Fairtrade Association of Australia and New Zealand - It's Fairtrade fortnight from May 1st through 16th, keep an eye out for events!

Fairtrade Foundation UK - It's Fairtrade Festival May 7th through 9th, events listed on the website. Fairtrade UK has also compiled a list of retailers that you can purchase fairtrade fashion from, check out the listing including Debenhams, Topman, Warehoue and ASOS.

Fair Trade Federation in America - For those in the US who are keen to learn more and get involved.

World Fair Trade Day is May 8th 2010 - get involved in making some positive change for small producers and farmers.

Download a fact sheet on Fairtrade from the Fairtrade Association (pdf).

If you love a morning coffee, why not check out where your coffee starts it's life in one photojournalists glimpse into The journey of coffee in Timor-Leste.

View a video the gives you 45,000 reasons to swap to fairtrade chocolate. Oxfam "...takes you to Ghana, where local farmers talk about the amazing benefits they receive from producing fairtrade cocoa".

I'm on my second day of 4:45am wake up calls. This is because I've not yet moved into my new, much closer to college campus, apartment. This means that my daily commute is quite a long journey. I think if this sort of day continues I'm going to have to start taking Nanna naps at about 2pm. The upside to long train journeys is that I have a lot of time to read and write. However, rather than inducing enviable productivity, the morning journey occurs pre-caffeination and thus results in live-tweeting as I read The Australian, rather than clever analysis or comment for my blogs.

This week on Tres Lola I'll be talking about celebrating the 80's, beating the back to work/school blues and body image (which I also touched on a few weeks back in this article about naked and unretouched Jennifer Hawkins). In yesterdays Australian Daily Telegraph, it was reported that Australian women have the highest rising obesity rate. Which got me to thinking, why is this the case? A male commenter touched on what is probably quite a likely contributing mindset to increasing weight gain amongst women when he said "Food is fuel, it isn't recreation, eat when you're hungry, not bored ".

Earlier this week I noticed a tweet from Natalie about the fat acceptance movement and the lack of media coverage it receives (at least, here in Australia). When asking her whether she believed a movement of this sort really deserved greater media attention, she replied that she didn't believe any person deserved to be demonised based on their body type. And I agree with this sentiment whole-heartedly. I know I could never consider judging the worth of a person based upon what size pants they wear.


In saying that, on a personal level, I think that we place too much of a link between our body image or size and our self worth. But when it comes to 'fat acceptance', comfort in ones own skin can be a positive, but I must err on the side of health. We must also acknowledge that being underweight can be just as damaging as being overweight. The only questions I pose when considering my weight are: am I healthy (ie. how is my energy, have I been poorly a lot lately?) and do I feel good about me? If I can answer both of those questions with a yes, that is good enough for me. There will be more on this on Tres Lola this Thursday.

Onwards to contentious topic #2: Late last week I attended a talk by radical British climate sceptic, Christopher Monckton. I wrote an article about his presentation that you can read here. You may know, my hometown is Newcastle, Australia. Newcastle is the worlds largest coal exporter. While this is most certainly not a feat to boast of, it gives some context as to the sort of receptive crowd (consisting largely of people around my grandparents age group) Monckton met with when he addressed Newcastle. To hear so many allowing fear of a loss of traditional industry in Newcastle result in mockery of climate science, and those who lobby in favour of it, was disheartening. However, as I write this on my train journey back to Newcastle, I can over hear a mother explaining wind power to her young son, my faith is renewed and the enviro-activist in me is encouraged.

Whichever side of the climate argument you find yourself on, surely both sides can come together to agree that a move towards sustainable energy is positive for the new jobs it will create and the economic prosperity it will bring about. If we want to operate a capitalist society, the least we can do is to capitalise on natural resources, such as wind and solar rather than coal, in a way that will ensure that not only us lot in the United States, Britain and Australia are enjoying all the luxuries our industrialised societies afford us, but that we give developing nations such as Bangladesh and island nations like the Maldives a fair go too. And, if, a time comes where all the incredibly learned climate scientists and economists are proven to have miscalculated the effect of our carbon emissions on the environment, we will still have developed a new industry to bolster our economies, provide jobs for our families and ensure that even after we have exhausted our oil and coal reserves, we can still enjoy our lifestyles.


What are your thoughts? What's going on in your world this week?

The 10th of December is Human Rights Day and in 2009 the focus is on non-discrimination. 60 years ago the United Nations established the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You can learn more about Human Rights Day and what is happening around the world here.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights"
UN Declaration of Human Rights

So what about some of the simple ways we can make constructive contributions to supporting human rights for all? Here are a few ideas:

• Attend a lecture, seminar or event in your community to learn more about a pertinent social justice issue. Check for event listings in your local newspaper. Learning is a catalyst for creating powerful positive change.
  
  
• Instead of walking by the charity collector outside your train station or supermarket, donate your lose change.
  
  
• Instead of skimming over the world news, have a read about what's going on in Iran.
  
  
• Pick up a copy of your favourite national newspaper and write a letter to the editor in response to an article on a national or international humanitarian issue that was covered in the paper ie. Tamil asylum seekers on route to Australia or reaching a fair and binding deal in Copenhagen.

Photo by isafmedia, simminch.

• Wear a badge, patch, bag or create your own slogan t-shirt showing support for a humanitarian cause. Craft a succinct, non-patronising response to give when you get asked what your badge, patch, bag, t-shirt is about.
  
  
• Instead of buying a latte or bottle of coke today, donate a few dollars to a charity such as Oxfam who are currently assisting the survivors of Myanmar's 2008 cyclone to rebuild their communities.
  
  
• Help sponsor Jeanima in Haiti. An initiative by one clever blogger that allows us to come together to provides Jeanima with food, clean water, medical care, and fees for school.
  
  
• Visit the websites of non-government organisations and read about what's happening around the world. Find out about how you can get involved in eradicating human rights abuses. Amnesty International's How You Can Help page is a great place to start.
  
  
• Spread the word of a cause you feel passionate about by tweeting from act.ly, or you could even start your own twitter petition campaign for others to join with you in a call to action.
  
  
• Support the work Oxfam International does in seeking social justice for all by choosing a truly unique Christmas gift from the Oxfam Unwrapped catalog.

Causes that need your support right now:

• Call on Belarusian President to Free Youth Activists
  
  
• Call on Honduras to Hold Security Forces Accountable for Human Rights Abuses
  
  
• Help stop Catastrophic Climate Change

What will you do to mark Human Rights Day 2009? What humanitarian cause (in your own country or abroad) concerns you most at present?

It can be easy to become trapped into wondering how we can help and make a difference in the world when we don't have a lot of money to throw at a cause. Money certainly goes a long way towards improving the social standing of disadvantaged individuals, families and communities but so too do other contributions. In times when money is tight it's important that rather than discounting the opportunity to contribute to a charitable organisation, we rather take a fresh look at the ways we can contribute.

So how can progressive & positive change be achieved when money is not something we have in abundance? Let's take a look at just a few ways:

Donate clothing, books, cd's, movies, homewares. The old saying is true: one mans junk is anothers treasure. Don't throw out your old belongings if they still have some life in them. Charity stores are always looking for new bits and pieces to sell and raise funds for their cause, without donations these sorts of stores would not be able to operate. Try and take a look around your house quarterly. At the beginning of each season, look at what you may have that has sat in your apartment collecting dust for the past few months. Ask yourself if someone else would find greater value in the item? And while you're at the charity store donating your goods, why not purchase a few items that you may require. Buying at charity stores is eco-chic and charitable too!

Donate time. To local school, charity stores, outreach programs. Life can get hectic and charities often have difficulty filling volunteer slots at their organisations. Look for charities that operate locally and see if they are looking for help - even a few hours a week can make for a valuable contribution to the life of an individual or group that is at present less fortunate.

Swap your purchases. Instead of buying Marie Claire buy The Big Issue; instead of shopping at Top Shop try the British Heart Foundation charity store.


Photo by rofanator.

Spread awareness. Chances are there is a social issue that makes your stomach churn and conjures up exciting thoughts in your mind. Think about the topics that rile up passion and anger and leave you with an urge to set things right. Put your thoughts to paper, or screen. Blog it, submit a piece to your universities magazine, write to your member of parliament, organise a fundraising event, speak to your friends. Be a conversation starter! Words create ideas, ideas become actions and actions change the world. It all starts small, but someone needs to start it, why not be that someone?

These actions are just as important as giving big sums of cash, your time is valuable, as are the possessions you no longer require. Don't underestimate how important what you have can be to someone else.


What are your good deed ideas?

As the end of the year draws nearer, it's almost time to take the used calendar down off the wall and replace it with a fresh, yet to be flipped through, scrawled all over or glanced upon new calendar: 12 fresh months of opportunity, hope & beauty! But before tossing your used up calendar into the recycling pile, why not consider refashioning your favourite months pages?

Calendars can hold awe-inspiring photography and humorous imagery & anecdotes. They may also be home to your scribbled notes from exciting and hectic months or funny quips in the not so busy months. Some pages are simply too good to throw away. Pull out your favourite monthly images, quotations or calendar notes and consider bringing them into the new year with a new lease on life.


Photo by Sarah Parrott

01. Make home made Christmas or New Years cards. Cut a portion of the image and affix to a piece of folded card. To embellish, try trimming the edge of the image with pattern edge scissors or use white-out pen to scrawl your own message over the image.

02. Laminate and affix your favourite months accompanying image to your work space. For extra points, make a note of a memory from the year past using just a few words to jog your mind, such as 'tea for two' or 'getting amongst it' or 'camping in the country'.

03. Using wooden pegs and a length of twine, peg the images to the twine and hang the line across a room in your home.

04. Design a DIY postcard, made & sent with love. Glue a postcard sized snipped of the calendar image to a piece of card paper, write your message, pop on a stamp and post away.

05. Create a wall hanging. Add your favourite motivational quotation to accompany the image. When done with your reincarnated calendar image, frame your work and hang upon your wall.

06. Cut a portion of the image, back with heavier card paper if necessary and laminate to use as a bookmark.


Have you got any ideas on how to reuse your old yearly calendar?


If you enjoyed this post, you may also be interested in How To Get More Value Out Of Magazines.

"People should consider eating less meat as a way of combating global warming. UN figures suggest that meat production puts more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than transport."
Rajendra Pachauri, United Nations Climate Scientist

By making some simple lifestyle choices when it comes to the food we eat, we are able to ensure animals do not suffer unnecessarily. There are many documented benefits to following a vegetarian lifestyle such as:

• Improved health, including being less likely to become overweight, develop heart disease or Type II Diabetes. (source: National Vegetarian Week)
  
• Lessened environmental impact. Learn more about the environmental impacts of vegetarianism.

If committing to a full vegetarian diet seems too daunting a step, why not give Meat Free Monday a whirl? Not only will you be doing good by the planet but you'll also have the opportunity to get creative and experiment with new foods and flavours that you may not otherwise consider. Learn more about Meat Free Mondays and pick up some tasty yet simple and affordable meat free recipes.

Alicia Silverstone
In 1995 Alicia Silverstone starred in Clueless as Cher Horowitz, the head girl we all aspired to be with the closet we all hoped technology would make real. In 2009 Alicia is not only admired for her style (though she does list these Steve Madden 'Cecilia' Boots amongst her favourites), she is also now committed to animal activism and is the author of vegan book, The Kind Diet: A simple guide to feeling great, losing weight, and saving the planet.

Like so many vegetarians, Alicia Silverstone was not brought up on a non-meat diet. However, Alicia's love of animals saw her make the informed choice to become vegetarian in order to reduce their suffering. Check out Alicia's video in support of PETA below.


Alicia Silverstone's Sexy Veggie PSA
Order a FREE vegetarian starter kit at GoVeg.com

Milo Ventimiglia
He won us over as Rory's boyfriend Jess in the Gilmore Girls and has continued to set pulses racing as Peter Petrelli on the acclaimed television series Heroes. Proving that you certainly don't need to be able to down a t-bone in order to stake out your masculinity is Milo Ventimiglia.


Photo by Joits.

Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman, the Israeli American actress who looks smokin' even with her head shaved. Natalie has eaten a non-meat diet since childhood and recently chose to follow a vegan diet. Natalie leads the way with support of ethical fashion as an advocate against wearing fur, feathers or leather. In 2007 Portman launched her own line of vegan footwear. Natalie says, "I am a very strict vegetarian ... I just really, really love animals, and I act on my values."


Photo by Mira (on the wall).

Carl Lewis
Proving that veganism does not prohibit ability to excel on the sporting world stage, track and field star Carl Lewis has been vegan since 1990. Lewis even credits his best year in competitive track to his vegan diet. Learn more about Carl Lewis's transition to veganism at EarthSave.org, Carl Lewis on Being Vegan.


Photo by lorenzinhos.

Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis was catapulted to super stardom after winning Britain television series The X Factor in 2006. Since then Lewis has released two albums, the first of which became the fastest selling debut album in the United Kingdom. As such, Lewis is in high demand but when luxury department store Harrods approached the songstress with a lucrative deal to open their 2008 store sale, she turned them down. Harrods stocks fur products and Lewis has spoken on numerous occasions about her opposition to animal cruelty. A committed vegetarian since the age of 12, Lewis was named PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian for 2008, it's not difficult to see why.


Photo by treslola.

A few more celebrities showing us how vegetarianism is done include Pink, David Duchovny, Paul McCartney, Stella McCartney, Russell Brand and Chris Martin. (source)


Are you vegetarian or vegan? Do you have a favourite celebrity role model?

Linguistically playing on the word 'whitewash' and utilising the colour green, as is now intrinsically linked to the concept of environmentalism, GREENWASH refers to "...the practice of companies disingenuously spinning their products and policies as environmentally friendly" (source).

'Greenwash' is not a new concept. The word was first used by environmentalist, Jay Westerveld, in 1986, when referring to the hotel industry and specifically the concept of guests being encouraged to re-use towels. The concept was spruiked as a way for the guest to 'save the environment'. However, the hotel industries business policies remained unenvironmentally conscious, leading one to inevitably consider that this was more an exercise in cost cutting than in genuine support of a cleaner, greener environment.

Climate change is an inevitable and globally pertinent issue and as such, we as consumers from across the world are becoming more aware of the simple ways that we can contribute to acting ethically when it comes to environmentalism. In becoming aware of the existence of greenwash we can avoid supporting companies that are deliberately misleading us, as consumers, by cashing in on our desire to shop ethically.

Driving company profitability can be a key factor behind employing this sort of tactic - that is utilising public relations companies or advertising campaigns to push products and services as an eco-friendly option, or going further, to rebrand a company on a whole.

Companies are very aware that 'green' sells. A key reason why it is so important to ensure we are do not support these companies that falsify or exaggerate their environmental pursuits is that we are allowing them to profit and gain greater power within their industry - essentially, we enable their growth.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

For more information about how to identify whether companies are genuine in their support of environmentalism, click to download the pdf 'The Seven Sins of Greenwash'.

By making smarter environmental choices we can be the change that the world so desperately needs.


When you are shopping is an environmentally friendly product/service important to you? Would you purchase an obviously 'greener' product/service if you had the option?

"You don't know how to fix the holes in our ozone layer. You don't know how to bring back an animal now extinct. And you can't bring back the forest that once grew where there is now a desert."

"If you don't know how to fix it, please, stop breaking it."

Skeptics of twitter will spend boundless energy on discouraging it's use and dismissing it's value. Their argument based on the belief that the tool is used primarily as a means to promote ones self and in particular, the mundane aspects of ones day. However, the value of twitter as a platform truly transcends that of Facebook style status updates. Twitter offers an outlet for all people to become citizen journalists and break up-to-the-minute news. It allows us to connect with politicians and celebrities with whom we would otherwise have had no level of conversation with. It also offers an opportunity to learn about topical issues through use of the search function.

The immediacy of Twitter has allowed for access to groundbreaking news from around the world, even before it has been picked up by traditional media outlets, such as television networks and radio stations. What follows are some examples of how twitter has been used to break and share up to the minute news:

In November 2008 twitter saw a flurry of texts offering accounts of the terrorist attack in Mumbai, as the tragedy unfolded. Soon after, twitter was used as a means of communicating the urgent need for blood donors to assist with those injured in the attacks (source).

January 15 2009 saw Janis Krums posting a photograph of the US Airways flight that crashed into the Hudson river, he was soon contacted by television networks to offer an eyewitness account of the events.

At London's G20 demonstrations in April 2009, Alok Jha reported on the Police tactic of kettling demonstrators and noted that those disallowed to leave the guarded pen outside of the Bank of England included accredited press (Alok Jha is a science and environment correspondent at The Guardian).

Examples of this sort of news reporting are limitless and citizen journalism will continue to see social networks like Twitter at the forefront of eyewitness accounts on breaking news stories from across the globe. For this reason, we will continue to turn to online for the latest news.



Images by mfilej and treslola.


As well as offering citizen news reporting, twitter is also a great tool for communication with those who we may otherwise have the opportunity to reach. From Ashton Kutcher to the Mayor of London, The X Factor to the United Nations - everyone who is anyone is using twitter to share with the world, 140 characters at a time. And you too can use Twitter to share with them, in fact, it would be inopportune not to.

Let's consider the ways that we could make best use of this dynamic online tool: from tweeting a politician or ambassador to act on pressing issues to sharing petitions and promoting causes - twitter has the power to transform and we, as individuals can provoke transformation.

Tweeting a Treaty, an Oxfam initiative held at the Beekman Hotel, just uptown from the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, was an event that saw international diplomacy and social media collide. Speakers from Avaaz, Witness and Social Change Camp as well as Ambassadors to the UN from both Netherlands and the United Kingdom gathered and shared how they were able to use social media as part of their humanitarian and diplomatic outreach.

Avaaz is a global movement with a simple goal 'to close the gap between the world we have, and the world most people everywhere want'. Brett Soloman spoke of their campaigns which
have seen Avaaz members rapidly responding to calls to demonstrate on urgent humanitarian issues, from petitioning for justice in Guinea to Climate Change demonstrations that saw Gordon Brown agreeing to attend Copenhagen. Avaaz are leading the way when it comes to global humanitarian calls to action.

Bukeni Waruzi from Witness, a website that 'uses video and online technologies to open the eyes of the world to human rights violations', spoke about The Hub. The Hub, he said, is essentially 'a humanitarian youtube', where users are able to watch and upload videos to create global awareness for humanitarian causes or to share their own human rights stories.

UK Ambassador to the United Nations for Multilateral Arms Controls and Disarmament is particularly passionate about twitter as a means to reach an audience that has opted in to the information he is sharing on twitter. In a separate conversation with John Duncan that took place earlier in the week in the United Nations delegates lounge, Ambassador Duncan spoke of the twitter as a very powerful tool with international reach that allowed for the formation of relationships, but not before recommending his Twitter client of choice, Hoot Suite. Duncan said Twitter was 'unlike the press', explaining that it had allowed him to reach '700 people who are articulate and informed and interested in what I want to say'.

John Duncan speaks further on 'digital diplomacy' and his use of social media in the video below.

So how can you make greater use of twitter, right now? The ways are many and varied but why not start by tweeting a petition? David Miliband will meet with Hillary Clinton this Sunday and he needs to persuade her that the United States should support a strong Arms Trade Treaty. You can show your support by clicking the little red button below - tweet your support, click now:

Act.ly is a fantastic tool by which to tweet for change - check it out, tweet your cause and encourage your followers to do so too.


How are you using twitter?

A belief in climate justice...

Photos by neil365, Devina Pereira, Anirudh Koul.

October 1 marked the international release of an all-star remix of Beds Are Burning. Originally written and performed by Midnight Oil, and now rewritten for the 2009 release; the song is as pertinent in rallying global support and creating passion for political justice today as it was in 1987.


"Music is the universal language, capable of transcending cultures, generations, religions and races. A song or an artist truly has the power to translate a message or a movement more than any politician or world leader can on a global scale.

"This will create a voice for all of us who deserve to have a say leading up to Copenhagen in December. The goal is to draw enough attention to an event that will affect everyone's lives on the planet."

Alexandre Sap, CEO of The:Hours (who assembled the artists and produced the soundtrack, source: media release)


The rerelease of Beds Are Burning saw over 60 celebrities and musicians from across the globe have come together to collaborate, for a game of spot-the-celebrity on a scale not seen since the release of Jimmy Kimmels parody clip, "I'm f*cking Ben Affleck". They did it because they care: about something bigger, something global, something that requires all of us, from wherever we are in the world, to band together, to learn about and act upon. Climate change is inevitable and it is now our responsibility to move towards climate justice. The release of Beds Are Burning is a demonstration of the reach of passion for climate justice, "...the greatest humanitarian crisis facing humankind today", from Fergie to Duran Duran, they're doing it because they care.

TckTckTck, a global alliance of non-government organisations, trade unions and faith groups, are the organisation behind this epic release. They are urging the global community to become climate allies by stepping up and saying "I am ready for our leaders to sign a global deal in Copenhagen that is ambitious, fair and binding". The climate talks to be held in Copenhagen this December offer leaders from across the world an opportunity to join together and make a binding and viable commitment to actively working towards combating climate change.

As well as being a killer track with an impressive video and inspired by a most worthwhile cause, the song is free to download. View the video embedded below or at Time for Climate Justice and if you want to load the song onto your ipod you can download the song here. Be sure to stop by tcktcktck for more information on climate justice and Copenhagen.




What do you think about Beds Are Burning? Has it peaked your interest in Climate Justice?

Photos by UN Climate Talks, Net Efekt.

With an overwhelming amount of media attention concentrated around the upcoming climate change talks to be held in Copenhagen, it can be difficult to make head nor tail of the basics - what follows is your guide to the basics of the United Nations Climate Change conference, or COP15, which stands for the 15th Conference of the Parties (the official name of the summit).

What?

COP15 is a two week United Nations conference. It runs from the 7th December 2009 through until the 18th December 2009. The talks are being held to coordinate international action against climate action.

Who attends?

Environment ministers and officials from 192 countries.

Why?

• To negotiate ways to combat climate change. Climate change is now widely regarded as inevitable.
  
  
• For international officials to agree on targets and strategies to "...reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable" (source: UNFCCC).
  
  Quick climate change fact: A recent study by the British Met Office found that if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced, the global temperature could rise to the extent that we would see major climate climate change by 2060, a year that is within what most would fore-see as within our lifetimes!
  
  
• Essentially, the aim of COP15 is to sign onto an agreement, regarding climate change, to succeed the Kyoto Protocol and cover the period from the year 2012, going forward.


Kyoto 101: The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement that "set binding targets ... for reducing greenhouse gas emissions" (source: UNFCCC). The commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012 and so Copenhagen is a chance for the international leaders to come together and look beyond 2012.

How?

By creating a legally binding agreement that is signed by the attending 192 countries. By accepting a new agreement, a top down approach to tackling climate change is being put in place.

Your key to Copenhagen related jargon

Unlocking the lingo!

UN United Nations
COP15 15th conference of the parties (official name of the summit)
UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
GHG Greenhouse Gas
CO2 Carbon Dioxide

Learn more:

Copenhagen negotiating text: 200 pages to save the world?

Official COP15 Website

The essentials in Copenhagen

What do you want to come out of the Copenhagen Climate talks this December?

"Love your planet go organic"

Jo Wood toured the globe for 30 years with the Rolling Stones, now she devotes her time to creating quality organic beauty products.

Inspired by her African heritage and general passion for African culture, Jo's first foray into organic products came in 1989 when she was misdiagnosed with Chrones disease and consequently looked for organic lifestyle products. At this time Jo found that the beauty industry had little in the way of organic offerings and so made the decision to create her own.

From humble beginnings, 2005 was the year that saw Jo launch a "...sophisticated and decadent range". A range that now includes fragrances, bath and body items, gift sets, candles and more. The entire range is certified organic which means the products are better for you and the environment, as organic products do not use chemical ingredients. Everything from the manufacture through to the packaging is considered to ensure the products meet the high standards that allow a brand to be deemed certified organic.

With a commitment to quality products and at price points that are comparable across the beauty product market you can shop safe in the knowledge that Jo Wood's products are a smarter option when it comes to choosing your beauty products.

If that's not enough to convince you that Jo Wood Organics are a smart beauty investment, you can head over to the official website where you are able to 'try before you buy' and request a free sample pack! What's not to love? Click here to learn more.

A lot is said about living life to the fullest; as far as making the most of our opportunities, we are quite the entitled generation. We know that we are the captain of our ship, the director of our play, the masters of our destiny. But super confidence in our own infinite potential can only be a positive sentiment, by which to live out our lives, when it is balanced with the question of considering the consequences of our every action.

Sound heavy? It needn't be. Considering the consequences of your actions could be an inbuilt mechanism for you, or perhaps it is something you consider most of the time; whatever the case, taking the time to consider the larger direct and indirect outcomes of your choices is one way to ensure you are being the best person you can be. Achievements in life are not always about being able to tick an item off of your person to-do list for life, some of the greatest achievements can come from developing your emotional self and creating a deep sense of how it is you present to the world.


Images by martapigs and l0ckergn0me.

It is difficult to measure all of the consequence of our actions but one way to attempt this is by consciously asking ourself, "Can my saying/doing this negatively impact anyone else?".

On top of ensuring we do not negatively impact people, we can also consciously look out for opportunities to do good, to any extent, from assisting a colleague, to picking up discarded litter in the street, to offering our time on a charitable project.

Courtesy & Manners;
Start small, keep your manners in check, encourage courtesy and make it common again. Think about this in every part of your day, here are a few places to start:

Consider your actions towards loved ones and strangers alike: in your home, work place, in the street, on the bus, at your coffee shop, on your lunch break, at the grocery store.

Mind your manners: please, thank you, excuse me. Always.

Be aware that we do not all think the same way and as such behaviour that is acceptable to one person, may not be acceptable to you; be sensitive to this. For example, if a tourist is blocking the walking side of the escalators, politely ask them to move over, don't charge at them and knock them aside.

Do not feel that you are more entitled than any other person you encounter. Do not aid stereotypes by strutting by a person in need when you're on your way to your office job in your power suit, for example. Help where & when you can.

Think before you tweet. Tweeting can be impulsive, are you ridiculing someone or being negative? Is this public forum the best and most constructive outlet for your words?


Consume with Social-Consciousness;
Being a good person & making smart behavioural choices need not be limited to your direct actions towards those in what you say or do. Consider the choices you make when you shop. When we do shop, our purchases will have effect, however indirectly you see it to be: on the people involved in the manufacture of the product as well as our environment in your eventual decision of how to discard the product.

In the current climate, one where we are well versed on climate change and ethical injustices occurring in the manufacture of products; we, as consumers, and as intelligent people, should not turn off our social consciousness every time we take a trip to the shops.

We are fortunate that because climate change and social justice is on the agenda, more businesses are helping us out by conducting their businesses ethically. They are giving us options. They are granting us the ability to make better choices. Consumerism no longer needs to be synonymous with waste and unethical behaviour. This is a fabulous thing, because shoes are pretty & designers are continually exciting us with their innovation - living ethically is not about sacrificing this part of our life, it's about making smarter choices: quality, not quantity.

Look at Louise Galvin, her hair care products are reasonably priced, free of the chemicals usually found in similar products and manufactured in a way that is entirely carbon neutral.

The Body Shop prides themselves on supporting community trade, defending human rights, protecting the planet and are against animal testing - all that on top of the fact that they provide high quality beauty products. Read more on The Body Shop's values.

"If business comes with no moral sympathy or honourable code of behaviours, then God help us all." Dame Anita Roddick. Human Rights Activist. Founder of The Body Shop (Source: The Body Shop online)

People Tree fashion offer quality fair trade women's and men's fashion. Click here to check out there stuff online.

How about some seriously fabulous vegan shoes? It's 2009 ladies, and shoes do not need to be made out of leather to offer comfortable, long lasting quality. Two great eco-friendly shoe retailers that are proving ethical fashion need not be pricey & unattractive are Beyond Skin and Bourgeouis Boheme. Check them out, what do you think??


Images by treslola, jovike and venturout.

Some considerations for the next time you hit the shops:

Is it a quality piece that will live in your wardrobe for years and years or will it be tossed aside and see itself in landfill come next season?

Has that lipstick come from a company that tests products on animals?

Have those tights been produced in a factory that subject workers to poor working conditions as a way to achieve cheap manufacture costs?

Is that coffee you're drinking ethically sourced from fair trade farmers?

Is your meat and dairy produce sourced from free range farms?

Take your reusable bag! These little beauties don't just come in handy for doing your weekly grocery shop, save on wasted plastic when buying your jeans & shoes too! Check out AlphabetBags for a stylish & eco-friendly carrier bag option.

Being ethical and conscious about your shopping does not need to be boring or difficult; there is nothing negative about educating yourself and making the choices you know to be right - share your knowledge with your friends - shop local, buy fair trade, use animal-cruelty free, choose ethically manufactured products, buy fresh product with little or no waste packaging, buy vintage, opshop!

It is also difficult to change the way our minds make consumer choices - huge, sudden change can often prove unsustainable. Instead, take it step by step and it, educate yourself, become more aware. Making the ethical choice will soon become second nature, as you quickly consider where the product has come from and how it was manufactured - it's all about small changes, ladies! Check out this article by Green My Style, Can we find eco on Oxford St?

Being Fabulously Successful;
It won't happen if you slay people along the way, it won't happen if you forget to consider that despite your status as leading lady in this show that is your life, you still need the rest of the cast, they're going to see you make this thing happen and they're going to be there at the wrap party.


Image by .laurie., taminator

Awareness is a gift you can grant yourself and it is an infinitely giving gift that will allow you to see ways to greater grow into the type of balanced person you need to be in order to achieve unfathomable personal success. Be it in your career, family life, with friends, travel; you need to achieve balance as success that is gained by negotiating what is best for yourself by sacrificing the needs and desires of others is success that will be shallow and short-lived.

Chase what excites but give your mate a leg up on the way.

Rise to the top, but don't push away the ladder that helped you get there.

Rallying around the concept of super confidence and self love is wondrous, but achieving balance and love of others as well as yourself is even greater.

Measure your good-will and success on your ability to express kindness to those you do not know and without want for anything in return; it is in these virtuous actions, to extend courtesy and kindness without expectation of return of favour, that we can truly assess our strength of character.

Live wondrously, largely, outrageously - but above all, live ethically - acting with love, consideration and balance is something we can all live out, if we choose to.


Big stuff or small stuff - when have you found yourself facing a difficult choice? Perhaps an opportunity that could have been a sure fire get-ahead for you, but at the expense of another? What did you do?

Our world is such that it is as great as it is tragic. For every incredible part of our existence there is another part that causes us to feel deep despair. The difficulty is in challenging ourselves not to turn a blind eye, to stop believing that there is not enough that can be achieved on an individual level and to start formulating ideas that will take us away from feelings of helplessness and towards the gratification and excitement of creating a positive impact.

Whenever you are faced with a situation that tugs on your heart strings and causes you to feel a sense of despair, the best way to channel these sorts of emotions is to consider actionables. In the same way we can plan our dream future by brainstorming and taking actionable points to formulate a plan to get us where we would like to be, we can do so too for stepping up in other areas.

Asking why social justice issues exist is simply the first step in taking action, we need to move beyond asking why and start considering how we can make things better.



Don't ask what your government / corporation / [insert other authority figure, larger group or institution here] can do - ask yourself what you can do:

• Can I donate money?
• Can I volunteer time to a local charity or combine an interest in travelling with that of being charitable, eg. teach ESL abroad or use profession in a third world country?
• Can I organise an event to spread awareness?
• Can I make myself more aware?
• Can I purchase cosmetics that do not test on animals?
• Can I buy ethically manufactured clothing?
• If I need to fly, can I off-set my carbon levels?
• Can I encourage my corporation to recycle / donate unused goods to charities?
• Can I write an article for my school / college / university / work newspaper about events that broaden the knowledge of those around me?
• Can I give my old clothes to charity stores instead of selling them on eBay?
• Can I give the $70 I was to spend on a new pair of heels to the Red Cross/Salvation Army/[insert charity of choice here] instead?

Maybe there is only one or two things on that list that you can practically commit to doing, and that is fine! The key here is to recognise that making change starts with the individual, it starts with us, and all change starts small.

It is also important to realise that we don't need to completely reconcile each part of our life. For a practical example: we may work for a huge corporation but be super passionate about the environment. This does not mean that we should quit our job because the company doesn't recycle as best it should and sends senior management on frequent long and short haul flights. It simply means we should do what we can in our personal life to make as big of an impact as possible and when it comes to work, we should see if there is any practical solutions to the ethical clash you may be experiencing - again, taking action is about creating workable plans. If an opportunity exists for you to bring about some level of change at your corporation, perhaps you have found that your reconciliation is not that you should be shunning this un-eco friendly corporation but rather that you should be gently giving them a nudge in the right direction. You are where you are meant to be.



Another example could be of how to make socially responsible consumer choices. While it would be rather difficult to show our disdain towards an increasingly consumeristic society by halting all purchasing, being aware of the great ecological or social justice issues will allow you to make smarter every day choices: fair trade coffee, non-sweatshop clothing, free range egg and meat products.

The same goes for those of us who love our Starbucks, a corporation that has become the poster child for our consumerist society. We don't need to give up our caffeine fix to believe in greater equality, but how about giving as much as you'd spend on your coffee to a charity box. Making change doesn't have to be about sacrificing all of your mini life luxuries but rather about allowing your gratification to ensure you take action to see that everyone has an opportunity to enjoy the sort of lifestyle you are able to.

We don't need to commit all of our time to every cause, but we can let a charitable awareness be the underlying basis for how we carry out our lives; we don't need to change our entire lifestyle to be eco-friendly, but small adjustments and smarter choices will help; we do not need to quit our job and volunteer all of our time to make a difference, but if we can sacrifice a few hours a week, that's awesome. You have to first learn to crawl before you can walk and even when you can walk, it takes practise to become a runner.

Consider the barriers to your creating actionable change and make your first plan around how to break down these barriers. If, for instance, we allow ourselves the excuse of being 'too busy', we give ourselves permission to feel indifferent. We all have weeks where we are fully booked - however, to be constantly 'too busy' to do something for someone else is all too indicative of the societal norm and we should embrace challenging this fast paced distracted reaction to charity and replace it with passion for a cause, despite our other commitments, in conjunction with our other commitments.

It's all about prioritising - we are not too busy to care. Doing something charitable might just be the perspective we all need.

What do you care about and what do you do to turn despair into action and action into change?

Landfill Portal
Originally uploaded by Nargopolis

Looking beyond right now to recognise long-term consequences...
When it comes to implementing new ways of doing things in our day-to-day, unless there is some direct and negative implication of not adhering to these encouraged changes, there will inevitably be some reluctance to get on board.

It is natural to be motivated by consequences and while, for the most part, this is positive, in areas such as adopting environmental best practise, failing to see long term consequence for the earth - rather than just looking for short-term direct and personal consequence - can mean you are negatively contributing to what is already a monumental problem facing our international community.

Is laziness part of why are we not recycling & reusing?
While it is safe to say most of society is aware of recycling and re-using as best practise when it comes to waste disposal - this does not necessarily mean that awareness has transferred to action. There is still a significant proportion of households and companies that do not recycle to the greatest achievable extent, or even at all, and as such put out a larger than necessary amount of waste into the non-recyclable collection that will ultimately end up in land-fill.

Change needs to be met with facilities and encouragement - specific recycling bins and clear signage need to be provided within companies and in our homes to enable an easy transition. Encourage your family, friends and co-workers so that the act of recycling is seen as an imperative that is widely accepted and even to the extent that choosing not to recycle is frowned upon. Simple measures like these can ensure that recycling will become second nature.

Is money the motivator individuals and companies require to amp up their recycling efforts?
The idea of costing non-recyclable waste by weight has been raised in the UK (source: A charge for disposing large amounts of unrecyclable waste? The Wickedness! - The Guardian). A government body suggesting charging for a service that is currently provided free of charge (or where costs are met from existing taxes and levies) will certainly provoke passionate discussion amongst those to be affected by the proposed change. Already, some have suggested this idea is merely another way for our governing authorities to push up revenue. However, before allowing too much scepticism on this proposed new fee, consider three things:

1. Is this it not possible that hitting people's wallets is the best way to get everyone truly on board with environment best practise? People are often times greater motivated by practises that see them able to save money or avoid monetary penalties. If recycling properly and paying closer attention to consumption could save a household or company money, charging cost-per-weight for non-recyclable waste would broaden the appeal of recycling to those who could not initially find benefit in their adopting of the practise of recycling into their lifestyle.

2. Disposing of unnecessary amounts of non-recyclable waste is detrimental to the wider community. Why is it that we feel we should not be penalised for unnecessary damage to an entity that is not our own personal property? (That 'entity' being the earth).

3. As the article on The Guardian points out, we pay for other services by level of consumption rather than by way of a flat rate (for example: energy). Why then should the service of collecting waste be any different?

It is not as if we are faced with no alternate option but produce large amounts of non-recyclable wast - we have the option to act responsibly and minimise our waste output through re-use & recycling as well as making smarter consumer choices (choosing products with less packaging or packaging that can be recycled) - so why does charging for excessive waste cause such an enormous and appalled uproar amongst some? What do you think?


Do you believe that implementing a cost-per-weight charge for the collection of non-recyclable waste would encourage people to rethink their levels of packaged consumption and how they dispose of waste?

green leaves
Originally uploaded by butters stotch

A big part of what holds us back from adopting new concepts is a lack of understanding. When it comes to embracing sustainability, this is one issue we can not afford to be uninformed about. Complacency, particularly in regards to matters of environmental sustainability, will cost us our way of life and so it's really important for us all to make sure we know as much as we can and in turn, do as much as we can.

We've all got recycling and conserving electricity down pat by now and so it's time to delve a little deeper. We know that when it comes to travel, taking a lot of flights is detrimental to our earth - we also understand that when it comes to the earths natural resources, there are some very dubious practices being carried out by big corporates in third world countries - while we sometimes have no choice but to take a long haul flight and while we too can not stop big businesses immoral practices, we can focus our attention on making positive choices as consumers by staying informed about eco-friendly brands.

Let's take a look at one company that has realised the importance of environmental sustainability and as such has become the first beauty company to offset their carbon emissions under The Carbon Neutral programme. With her carbon neutral beauty, Louise Galvin is bridging the gap between beauty and sustainability and proving that these two concepts are not mutually exclusive. Her revolutionary beauty company gives us a smarter option and is is proof that we can be passionate about both beauty and the environment.

With 20 years colour industry experience and counting Sophie Dahl and Patsy Kensit amongst her many admirers, London based Louise Galvin, combined her beauty experience and her passion for the environment to create the Louise Galvin Sacred Locks line. When it came to creating this line of luxury hair care products, her vision was clear: no animal testing, use of ingredients that are natural or naturally-derived only and for any greenhouse gases produced in the manufacture of the line to be neutralised. An impressive ambition and incredible step forward for the beauty industry. This unprecedented move is no doubt pathing the way for the future, not only of businesses within the beauty industry, but across all industries.

So what does this mean for us as consumers? When it comes to beauty products we look for several key aspects of a brand: value for money and quality of product to name a few. Delivering natural products of the highest calibre, the Louise Galvin Sacred Locks range proves that sustainablity need not be at the expense of any other facet of the brand. The range showcases quality products that have been produced without detriment to the environment and that leave your hair nourished and glossy.

'Less is more,' says Louise. 'Maximum impact with minimum effort.'

This brand shows it is not going to take huge lifestyle choices for us to ensure that we are eco-friendly in each part of our life, including our beauty routine.

Click here to learn more about Louise Galvin's Carbon Neutral Beauty and her Sacred Locks line.

Click here for more information on the Carbon Neutral Company and their role in assisting businesses offset their emissions.

Click here for The Carbon Neutral Company's overview on Climate Change covering all need-to-know the basics.


Are the environmental practices of a company important to you when making a choice as to whether you will purchase their product? What do you think of Louise Galvin and her Sacred Locks line, have you / will you try the range?

Bright Green Office
Originally uploaded by lippi

Out of awareness grows positive change and a hugely important issue that has come to the forefront of international awareness as of recent years is that of environmental sustainability. While on the home front, initiatives such as recycling of plastics, papers and food waste may be well established routine, it is surprising how many work places have not jumped on the green bandwagon. The workplace can be the source of an enormous amount of waste, particularly office based businesses. Everyday countless reams of paper are used in photocopiers, envelopes, boxes and courier satchels are opened and thrown out, left over food tossed into kitchen waste receptacles and computers, lights and other electrical products left running or on standby.

With the support of local government and independent bodies, implementing environmentally friendly initiatives and creating a more sustainable work place need not be a difficult task.

Simple ideas to kick start a workplace environmental plan:

Place a paper recycling / shredding bin by every photocopier/printer

Place recycling receptacles for plastics, cans, papers and food waste in your kitchen.

Make recycling easy by clearly marking bins with signs showing what can be recycled, ie. "THIS BIN IS FOR: Light cardboard, Paper NO plastics, heavy cardboards" etc. Make it really easy for everyone to get used to, use pictures - make it obvious.

Put small stickers/labels on all light switches in the building reading "Please switch off when not in use" or similar.

Implement a company policy to shut down all computers at COB, rather than just logging off. A reminder email could be forwarded to all employees at knock off time to ensure compliance.

If environmental initiatives seem difficult to introduce you could form an environmental committee to audit processes, offering rewards initially to best performing departments. This encourages employees to work together to create this positive change, no one likes to feel as though they are letting the team down.

Purchase paper that is created from renewable / sustainable sources, most larger stationery suppliers will have options ie. Office Max (NZ/AU) offers reams of paper made from 50%, 80% or even 100% from recycled fibre- all of which are suitable for office use in copiers/printers/faxes etc!

Rather than each employee having a bin for general rubbish at their desks, utilise one per department. This way people will be more likely to consider the best option for disposal before throwing out their waste.

Through banding together with your co-workers and creating these changes in your workplace you are not only improving your work environment but creating an awareness for every employee to continue practicing these newly learnt habits in their home too. What does your office do to keep in check with the environment?

Environmental sustainability has been a major buzz concept for the last few years and with good reason. If we don't start making small adjustments to our daily habits, it will be at the expense of the most important asset of all- our earth. We need to view our world in the same way we do our bodies. We respect and invest loads of our time, energy and money into our own well being and aesthetic and we need to be doing the same for our earth because it's the only one we've got!

Just about everything we do each day impacts on our environment and unfortunately, it is not often in a positive way. From what we do with empty coke cans or cereal boxes, how long we spend in the shower each morning right through to our choice to leave electrical products on standby and of course the way we get to and from the office everyday - all of these things contribute to the ecological footprint we leave behind.

The most important step towards adopting a clean & green lifestyle is to realise that it's not about making huge changes. Equally as important is realising that sustainability can only be achieved if we all do our part. Even the smallest changes, when combined with the efforts of others, become great results in the bigger picture.

So how do we start living with a great environmental consciousness? It's about breaking it down to a whole bunch of super simple little ideas. Start off with a few things and once they become habit, introduce a few more smart lifestyle choices and before you know it you'll be a living happy, healthy & green without even thinking about it!

Keeping in mind that there are tons of aspects to environmental sustainability such as transport, utilisation of renewable resources, water use, power consumption and so on, probably the simplest place to start is with recycling. It's something we can all do every single day, so lets get started:

Local Government Initiatives. Many local governments are focusing their efforts on putting into place initiatives and strategies for their town to tackle sustainability. From recyclable rubbish collection services to planting more tree's and creating cycle lanes on our roads. Be aware of what you're local government is doing for your area and take part where you can- your local government website is a great place to start.

When doing groceries try to buy fresh food with minimal packaging: eg. meat from the butcher tends to have less plastic packaging than that which you find in the supermarket, fruit from the fresh produce department or fruit store has little to no packaging. The other great thing about food with less packaging is that it tends to be healthier than the rest. With the products you do buy that have packaging, ensure you have a system in place in your home to recycle all your cardboard's, glass bottles, cans and plastics.

Composting food scraps is a great option is you have a yard, not so simple if you're an apartment dweller, though. A tip to note is that decomposing food tends to have a bit of an odour, so if you are composting, try the far corner of your yard!

Don't throw out old magazines. Call around local doctors surgeries, beauty salons or women's shelters. You will no doubt find someone more than happy to take them off your hands & with a smile and a thank you!

Recycle your plastics properly. Sometimes not all plastics can be recycled, for instance, some areas will take empty milk cartons but not the lid. Check with your local council (or the body that is responsible for recycle collection in your area) for specific guidelines. You don't want your effort going to waste, literally!

If like a lot of city dweller you're hooked on your daily caffeine habit, invest in a coffee flask. Most chain coffee shops like Starbucks or Gloria Jeans stock them in a whole range of colours, sizes and shapes to suit your lifestyle. Some places even offer a discount off the regular price of their coffee when you buy a coffee & have it in one of their branded flasks. Saving money & the environment: what's not to love?

Most offices use a ton of paper. See what is being done about recycling in your workplace. Do you have tubs for recycling in your lunch room? What about papers bins around photocopiers? Provision of shredders, labelled bins, photocopiers with ability to print double sided and a bit of positive encouragement from management can go a long way in preventing massive waste at work.

Give your old clothes a second lease of life. There is so much you can do with your old clothes that it's a sin to throw them out with general rubbish. You can pop them up on Ebay and make some coin or donate them to a local thrift store; hand them down to a younger sibling or get creative, cut them up & modify.

Remember that there is no time like the present to get started! Be sure to check back for more ideas on other means of contributing daily to environmental sustainability, coming soon to Tres Lola.