For just the price of a weekly shop … you can protect an area of Rainforest from deforestation

Why do we need to save rainforests?

Because in the next 24 hours, deforestation will release as much CO₂ into the atmosphere as 8 million people flying from London to New York. Thatâ??s about 100 acres cleared every minute to create farmland for crops such as soya or palm oil, or for cattle ranching.

By buying up an affordable piece of land, you are securing 130 tons of CO2 within the trees that would otherwise be cut down by illegal loggers. You will also be protecting the local wildlife such as, the puma, the brown toed sloth and the jaguar.

The Peruvian Amazon is experiencing rapid deforestation. As you read, illegal loggers are devastating the rainforest resources of many tribal communities. Cool Earth’s project with the Ashaninka tribe at Cutivireni prevents loggers from entering the community’s forests and the neighbouring Ashaninka Communal Reserve which form a buffer zone for Otishi National Park. In collaboration with our local partners Ecotribal, the Ashaninka chiefs at Cutivireni have offered their land for sponsorship through Cool Earth, allowing them to keep their forests in tact and continue to live sustainably from their own land.

All you have to do is donate to www.coolearth.org and select which area of rainforest you would like to preserve. I chose the Ashaninka region, where people from Coolearth are helping the Ashaninka trabe to protect their forests with bio-diversity management, giving them and the animals around them a brighter future.

Here is our little piece of the Peruvian Amazon saved rainforest:

If you want to read about the work that these guys do out there, go to their amazon rainforest projects or call them on 0800 093 0624.

Cool Earth is a UK based international charity that is super-charging everyone’s efforts to halt climate change. By donating funds you give us the tools to protect the world’s most endangered pieces of rainforest, acre by acre we will help to halt climate change.

Buy some land… its worth it and it helps the people of the rainforest get their lives back as well as protecting the planet.

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I love the Innocent company and look forward to their quirky newsletters arriving every month, eagerly scrolling down to the bottom to see what amusing link delights await me. I love the cute marketing, the colourful bottles of lovely juices, the funky little knitted hats and the fun blog where everything about the company it totally transparent.

But, i am stunned that they have given a 30 million stake in their business to the corporate giants of soft drinks Coke. Coke stands for unhealthy drinks so loaded with sugar that when my baby brother drinks it he bouncing off the walls for an hour.

James Quincey, group business unit president for Coca-Cola Europe, said the group was delighted to be investing in Innocent. “We have long admired their brand, their products and their unique approach to business,” he added.

co-founder Richard Reed of Innocent said “every promise that Innocent has made, about making only natural healthy products, pioneering the use of better, socially and environmentally aware ingredients, packaging and production techniques, donating money to charity and having a point of view on the world will remain.We’ll just get to do them even more.”

But i don’t understand, Innocent employs 275 people, has a turnover of more than £100m and sells about two million smoothies per week, why do they need this involvement from Coke, Ok they can do more work for charity but what harm are they doing in the process. I just don’t see how they can up hold their ethical credentials in light of this, after all Coke was recently made to correct its advertising campaign in Australia because its claims that Coke did not make you fat or rot your teeth were deemed “misleading”.

Read the Twitter feed to see just how pissed some of their customers are http://twitter.com/innocentdrinks

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The EIB have just given around 800 million to fund green technology development for Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan’s British factory. This is on top of Jaguars loans from the government expected to be around 500 million. Nissan have been awarded the fund for their work in the development of green technologies which i agree is a good support for their efforts and a significant boost for their UK workforce, but the only thing that’s green about Jaguar Land Rover at the moment is ‘the famous colour’.

Lord Mandelson said that the loans were good news: â??For Nissan, it is recognition of their commitment to a low-carbon future in the UK and is a particular boost for their workforce. For JLR, it is a welcome step forward.

“a welcome step forward…” I won’t even touch upon that fact that while all this money is flying around, the British tax payer is bailing out the banks and helping them get their ‘well deserved million pound bonuses’, we are now bailing out the car industries ‘yipee’, i dont even drive a friggin car. Why are these car factories who have been well aware of the impact of the air pollution they have caused over the past fifty so years, taken steps back in the 1990’s to develop green technology, why have they waited for government hand outs in the middle of a recession, to do these developments. Could it be that before enough people started to shout about it, that it just wasn’t a priority… or is… erm as for the green money and you get over 900 million to play with and .. hey they might look at making a start on that, greener fuel thing. I checked on Jaguars website to see any mention of this great eco cause they are planning and found nothing.  Athough they have just won, What car of the year award, which is nice.

I won’t hold my breath, the adverts for “jaguar are planning… are thinking…. are considering…” are worthless… lets see if they put their green were their mouth is over the next two years huh? or maybe they can leave it until the last minute and turn their hand to land rafts.

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London is being rocked by protestors as the world leaders gather for the G20 summit.

Thousands of protestors, bloggers and Twitterers hit Liverpool street, Bishopsgate and Central London to campaign about Climate change and vent their anger about the economic crisis and the war on terror. Minkbaby werent there but followed the progress through out the day and will be attending the Brighton Climate Camp in April.

Tweeple reported from the scence throughout the day:

1.30pm: @SandraLaville - “Cracked heads from police batons” on Threadneedle Street

@paul__lewis - Riot officer cont 2; “we’ve been told to turf them out. They’re a nuisance. I’m just doing what I’m told” http://twitter.com/paul__lewis

Jessica Reed (@sijeka)- “Capitalism epic fail…” http://twitter.com/sijeka

just now @bethgranter - “still stuck in climate camp. still need a wee. asked police when i can go home. they didn’t know.” http://twitter.com/bethgranter

The unfortunate thing is the Times are promoting the fact that

All police leave has been cancelled on the two days and 2,500 uniformed officers will be deployed in Central London on Wednesday. The combined cost of the public order and security operations is likely to reach £10 million.

Lets not forget that billions have been lost by arrogant bankers and the threat to our planet doesnt really have a figure.

Lets see what happens tomorrow in the East of London when it all moves over to the EXCEL.. eh .. nite Tweeple, Hope Beth managed to get that wee

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Can the Green pound quash the Red recession Blues

In a recent report by Ernst & Young (the London Development Agency), London’s Mayor Boris Johnson is said to be looking at not only improving energy efficiency in buildings, introducing low carbon vehicles and developing new waste and recycling infrastructure in London, but the bi-product of this will be the possible creation of around 15,000 blue collar, or as they have been called ‘green collar’ jobs in the capitol by 2025.

Of the green plans the Major has said: “I see the green economy as an unprecedented opportunity not only to improve our planet and our quality of life, but to develop new industries and create new jobs in an economic climate that is otherwise extremely difficult”.

London already has 80 university departments focused on climate-change research and development, and other projects such as hybrid buses and a massive tree planting scheme go ahead, London could be set to become the ‘low carbon capital’ of Europe.

A tiny dog in a dress, i found it and i love it

This is so cute and made by monamivie from an old 1960’s dress, you can buy it for $20.00 from buy vintage doggie dress.

My dog is now terrified i’m going to buy her one of these..

Sony Bravia Go Green

The sensor detects the movement and body heat of anyone sitting within normal range of the screen. If the viewer falls asleep, the motion sensor can detect this and move the set into ‘picture off’ mode, so reducing its power consumption.

If the last person in the room goes out, the sensor’s body heat detector picks this up and again triggers the ‘picture off’.

Quote from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1164445/Revealing-Eco-TV-Sony-turns-fall-asleep.html

Bravia 'eco TV'

The skinned truth behind fur trade fashion

Ever since the cat meat story on the TV, there has been a wave of support on facebook for the anti fur lobby. Following this a friend of mine andre, how passed the petiton URL onto me asked if i would add Minkbaby to the support of ‘banning fur’ and of course i said yes.

Dogs crammed into wire crates wait to die

This reminded me of a piece i wrote a while back that i had intended for PETA, but since it wasnt published then, i’ll let it out now.

Jason Wu started his life as a designer of toy dolls and has ambitiously morphed into a major fashion presence. He hit the headlines on the 20th of January after designing the inaugural ball gown of Michelle Obama, and is set to hit them again with a new 2009 autumn collection that I doubt even the first lady would be happy wearing.

Fashion Designer Jason Wu

In his own words he boasts that the up and coming collection will be â??a significant fur collection, and the message will be all about luxuryâ?� with fur giant Saga supplying the mink pelts to make up his 15-piece ensemble.
Back in 2002 â??The Independentâ?? newspaper labelled the use of fur the â??Myra Hindley of fashionâ?�, not surprising considering the horrific conditions of animals raised on fur farms and unspeakable ways they are killed, by either gassing, broken necks or anal electrocution.
So why then should a talented young designer like Wu talk about fur in such a non-emotive way?
It could have a lot to do with Saga, who are pulling out all the stops to re-inflate a sagging fur industry by luring young designers to their offices in Denmark, handing them free pelts, a special workspace with training in fur techniques and all expenses paid flights to and from Scandinavia. Sagaâ??s design centre is a sprawling country retreat set in fairytale surroundings, the workshops are said to be filled with young international designers, experimenting with furs from mink and fox to rabbit and ermine. The furs are dyed and treated to make them look as unnatural as possible, so people can feel as guilt free as possible when wearing them.

The cutting room as SAGA fur design house

Whatever the reason for Wuâ??s decision, the main issue is that vanity shouldnâ??t breed torture, no matter how daring the fashion industry make us believe it is or how cool fans think their pop icons look wearing it. The fact is, fur is still as outdated now as when Saga began in 1954. Unless young designers stop being seduced by the lies of a dying fur trade and start embracing new fabrics and new ideas, theyâ??ll be just as dead as Sagas bottom line.

Please sign the petitions below to ask Parliment to put a stop to this horror and help millions of defensless creatures avoid this kind of suffering in the name of fashion.

The videos that are shown are horrific so be WARNED
http://animalsaviors.org/

(No upsetting images in this link)
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Chinese-Cruelty/

PETA anti fur demonstration

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Since the 1990’s Germany’s Environmetal party has struggled to unify the 16 states on water and land use

An effort to unify the environmental planning approval for industry across Germany’s 16 states has failed apparantly due to the internal politics of the Bavarian Christian Socila Union or CSU.

The CSU criticised the law, saying that it “added another layer of bureaucracy for companies seeking environmental certification”

CSU Anglea Merkal and gordon Brown

Germany has been trying to get this ruling since the 1990’s when back then Chancellor Angela Merkelâ??s Christian Democrats apposed the ruling.

Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said “Even industry doesn’t want what Bavaria now wants. I’ve been ready to make compromises … but I cannot agree to total nonsense and that’s what (CSU head Horst) Seehofer wants”

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Monday saw President Barack Obama take his first of many promised actions agaisnt climate change by forcing U.S car makers to create fuel efficent cars in the future.

He said “Today, I’m announcing the first steps on our journey toward energy independence, as we develop new energy, set new fuel-efficiency standards and address greenhouse-gas emissions,” said Obama, who signed an executive order asking the EPA to re-evaluate a proposal by 14 states to enforce their own tailpipe emissions standards. “The federal government must work with, not against, states to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.”

Under the new regulations, U.S states get to set their own policies on car emissions, something that the Bush administration had strongly prevented. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said that the news was great for California that had been limited by the Bush administration to reduce its transport emissions and are now looking to lower it’s emissions by 30% by 2016.

Future regulations will also require new cars and trucks to achieve an average of 35 US miles per gallon by 2011, a move previously outlined by President Bush with a provisional 2020 deadline.

Several manufacturers will now have to lower the emissions levels of their cars by up to 40 per cent if they are to meet the new targets.

You can watch the moment that President Barack Obama announced his decision below

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