A Green Dictionary?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary has released the new words for 2009. The new words include ‘locavore’ and ‘carbon footprint’ and ‘green collar’. I’m sure I don’t have to provide definitions!

Ethical Fashion

 

Coming up in October is the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris during fashion week. The show presents annually and shows collections of designers from all around the world who respect people and the environment. 

Reserve your pass here.

U2 Carbon Emissions

So, yesterday an article in The Independent caught my eye. It would seem that U2’s space themed show will generate a carbon footprint equal to the band flying to Mars and back.

According to the article to offset the amount of carbon generated by the band for the tour (including the transportation of all the crew, stage and lighting etc) Bono et al. would need to plant more than 20 000 trees.

Bono is well known for much of his positive work regarding the environment and other important issues such as campaigning about Aids and international aid. He is of course, involved with fashion brands such as RED and Edun too. The gigantic carbon footprint being generated by the U2 tour highlights the problem (in somewhat more magnified proportions) that we all face in our quest to live our lives in a more ethical or sutainable way. It is difficult to to be consistant in all aspects of our lives. Though this huge footprint fails to suggest that the band feels it necessary to make some cut-backs.

Does the good work done by Bono become watered down in light of this? He has previously acknowledged the difficulty in marrying the expectations of being a rock star with environmental considerations largely due to the amount of travel that is required. Does the fact the ticket price of  the specially designated ‘RED zone’ seats is going to charity, which is an estimated total of €9million, make a difference either?

Things to ponder…

Pants Amnesty

Pants to Poverty are holding a Pants Amnesty on the 7th July at 1pm. The aim of this international event is to demand an end to unethical pant production – so bring down a pair of your worst pants. For those willing to don them, we’ll exchange your soiled goods for a brand new spanking pair of Pants to Poverty pants. 

See the Pants to Poverty website for event details. 

Water

These hot summer days have got me thinking about water. I’m craving a drink of it, desperate for a swim in it and am grateful for a wash in it. When you start thinking about it water is so precious, more so than gold and even oil.

But as a precious resource it often worryingly slips under the discussion radar when environmental issues are being debated. Water is a resource that causes international disputes – just look at the Middle East.  The Government’s chief scientist Prof. John Beddington warned earlier this year about the dangers of insufficient energy, food shortages and water scarcity, calling this combination of problmes the ‘perfect storm’. Yet, we are still taking water for granted.

The thing about water is that no matter what your interests are it matters to you. How you look after your clothes, what you eat and drink and how you function each day is related to water. CSF’s student competition has a category dedicated to it this year too (make sure you enter soon!). Just to make your t-shirt took about 4100 litres of water though finding the exact stat is difficult with some estimates at about 2000. The basic minimum quantity of safe water needed for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene in any household is at least 15 litres per person per day, according to the internationally recognised Sphere Project.

To measure your water footprint click here – you’ll be suprised how much water you use.

Debate: From Tsunami to Drought

So, this debate will not take place ’til the long winter nights are back but it is definitely worth thinking about some of the issues surrounding water. Drought is predicted to become an global problem and could bring neighbouring states into conflict.

Four enterprising speakers will outline their solutions to this crisis before being interrogated by a panel of experts. The audience will then have the final vote, with the winner receiving a fititious $1 000 000 000 cheque to put their ideas into practice.

The event starts about 6pm and is not until the 19th NOVEMBER 2009 but put it in your diaries. Click here for more information.

Knock on the Door Opportunity

Knock on the Door is an exciting new online store which will showcase ethical yet fashionable clothing. They are committed to searching for new designers to produce a capsule collection and will encourage them to use ethical fabrics. 

Work can be done for Knock on the Door on a freelance basis where designers are paid for their designs and the sourcing and manufacture will be done by Knock on the Door. Your collection can be trend led or completely innovative but the key point is that it must be wearable. The first focus is on DRESSES. 

For more information email designers@knockonthedooronline.com or see the Knock on the Door website.

Sir Ratan Tata Scholarship Available

One year Masters’ level scholarships are now available for study in the UK. The area of study is Developmental Economics and Science & Technology Studies.

To be eligible you must be:

• An Indian national, domiciled in India and not more that 35 years old on May 1st 2009.
• Cadidates with work experience in the selected field of study may be preferred.

Click here to find out more and download the application form.

Eco Age Event

Natural Dyes – An Exhibition

Annie Sherburne presents the 4th of 12 exhibitions at the back of the shop galleryon Natural Dyes. The exhibition started last week on June 25th and will run for roughly a month, until the end of July.

The exhibtion explores what natural dye colours look like and how they compare to chemical dyes. There are examples of a rainbow of colours on display. For more information click here.