Archive for October, 2009

“Elephants extinct by 2025…”

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

I love elephants, I think most people do – they are such intelligent and beautiful creatures, it’s so hard to understand why anyone would want to kill them… However, there seems to be one very strong reason, which is quickly depleting the elephant population – money. According to figures from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, as written by The Telegraph, all 600,000 African elephants will be extinct by 2025!

Although ivory sales have been illegal for twenty years, it seems that almost 104 elephants are killed on a daily basis, totalling a shocking 38,000 elephants a year!  In total, the illegal trade in animals throughout the world is valued at $20.5 billion annually… However if this ‘business’ continues, sadly there will soon be no elephants left at all…

The photo of this beautiful elephant was taken during our honeymoon in Tanzania almost 2 years ago… It’s heartbreaking to think that these wonderful creatures may soon be gone due to sheer greed…

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Posted in Eco-tourism, Green News | 1 Comment »

My Organic Cotton Jeans…

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

I decided I was in need of a new pair of jeans for work and after receiving the Howie’s catalogue (and loving it!), I thought a trip down Carnaby Street to the Howie’s store was in order… The Howie’s store is a lovely little place, full of their great ethical designs. One pair of organic cotton jeans happily purchased.

Fella Jeans - Howies

Fella Jeans - Howies

The jeans label proves very interesting reading about organic cotton, which I thought I would share with you…

- The average cotton T-shirt contains only 73% cotton. The rest is made up of resins and chemicals that were used to grow and make it.
- In America last year, farmers applied 53 million pounds of toxic pesticides to cotton fields.
- Cotton is the most sprayed crop – using over a quarter of all insecticides used today.
- This is obviously not good for the farmer’s health, the water table’s health, the factory workers health, the sea’s health…

Howie’s organic cotton costs about 30% more than normal cotton however as it’s worn close to your skin, for many hours at a time, it seems to me that it is clearly worth the difference in price.

Fascinating stuff! Thank you Howie’s for the lovely jeans and the very interesting reading!

Fella jeans - Howies

Fella jeans - Howies

Posted in Design, Ethical fashion | No Comments »

This week’s green news – The Recessionista iPhone cover, Urban Agri-tecture, LFW couture recycling…

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

 This quirky Recession iPhone Case is proving to be a popular recession beating accessory! Made from recycled cardboard the Recession iPhone Case aims to take a more light-hearted approach to these serious and somewhat depressing times.

iphone

It has been another great year for sustainability at London’s 100% Design, the UK’s leading architecture and design event. Some of the finds from this year’s event included flooring made from old belts, deer horns turned into mosaic tiles and beautiful basins made from coconut shells…  coconut

Sustainability and ethical fashion was prevalent at this year’s London Fashion Week, with a dedicated area to eco and fair-trade clothing. We particularly like Jasper Garvida recycled couture. The designer styled Asahi bottle tops in to embellishments on dresses in his collections creating an exciting ‘Couture Recycling’ collaboration between the two brands.

Jasper1

I have recently read about MetaboliCity – who aims for London and other cities to “metabolize its resources and waste to supply its inhabitants with all the nourishment they need and more.” MetaboliCity is a design research project by Loop.pH , aiming to re-integrate nature into our cities to combat key issues ranging from pollution to obesity and sustainable food production. Through creating food growing networks and Grow Labs, they want to establish “large-scale awareness about the importance of localised food production”. To find out more or to even develop your own Grow Lab, click here. 

urban agrictecture

Finishing on some good news, it seems that Brighton and Hove City Council is planning to become the first area in the UK (outside of London) to install electric car charging points.  By the end of 2009 there will be ten charging points placed across Brighton and Hove Brighton and City County Council

Posted in Design, Eco Living, Ethical fashion, Green events | No Comments »