FairTrade fortnight is underway. Fairtrade is about better prices, better working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.

By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which mustn’t fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers.

Fairtrade enables producers to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

Commuters passing through some of the UK’s biggest railway stations will be able to join in an array of exciting activities to highlight this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight. The two-week annual campaign (25 Feb – 9 March) celebrating Fairtrade products will see action-packed events taking place around the countryFairtrade has never been an easier choice for commuters, with Virgin Trains, Virgin Atlantic, Ryan Air, Midland Mainline, and cafes and restaurants in stations and airports across the UK serving Fairtrade drinks and snacks.  Sales of Fairtrade products in the foodservice sector are now growing faster than within retail.  Sales of roast and ground coffee alone grew by 98% in 2006.  Demand for greater availability of Fairtrade products outside supermarkets and shops is rising significantly. In a recent OC&C online consumer survey, 65%of respondents said Fairtrade products should be more available out of home, not just on shop shelvesCheck out our fair trade categories and explore a number of merchants that are celebrating fairtrade fortnight with special offers. Find Fairtrade Home & Garden products here & here - Find Fairtrade Clothing & Accessories here - Fairtrade Gifts here , Fairtrade Jewellery here & Fairtrade Toys here

Simply Fair is a shop that offers only fairtrade products

Browse some Fair Trade Productshere - Please wait while window opens

Other Shops stocking Fair trade products include: Nigel’s Ecostore / Ethical Superstore

Scientists warn that continued abuse of dwindling Tuna stocks could lead to a crash in Tuna populations similar to that happening to cod. Speaking at the “Last Best Chance for Tuna: Learning from the Cod Collapse” symposium at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on February 18th 2008, leading natural scientists explored the lessons learned from cod population collapse and recommended urgent actions to prevent further declines in tuna populations.

Read more here

You still have a chance to nominate the winner of the Observer Ethical Awards, which are held in association with Ecover. Entires for this years nominations must be in by March 14th 2008. This is the 3rd year Awards that give everyone the chance to promote their favourite socially and environmentally ethical enterprise. There are 10 categories of award, four of which: Best Local Retailer, Best Supermarket or Online Retailer, Campaigner and Politician of the Year, Ethical Kids Award, are determined by public vote. Other awards include Conservation Project of the Year, Ethical Business of the Year and Fashion Product or Accessory of the Year are judged by an expert panel from eco designers to sustainability academics and eco architects. There are prize funds of £500 - £2000 to be won & the exposure of winning the award can be a real help to small businesses. Projects can download promotional materials and you can vote here

26-28th February, Earl’s Court, London.  From solar cells to sustainable regeneration, eco-paints to the zero carbon house, whatever your interest in sustainable design, sustainable construction and the built environment, a visit to Ecobuild will give you a fresh perspective. Over three days, you can visit the 500 exhibitors; join in 100 conference & seminar information sessions, most of which are free; listen to 500 expert speakers. There’s something for every one with an interest in green building. Explore and learn more about the cutting edge issues: zero carbon, water management, renewables, natural materials, & urban design. Learn More…

The Virgin Climate Change Fund is an actively managed fund, that invests predominantly in Europe, and offers investors the opportunity to invest in companies taking an environmental lead in their industries.  Investors get the chance to make improved returns whilst making a positive impact on the environment. As more and more people vote with their wallets, and choose cleaner, greener products and services, research demonstrates that cleaner, greener companies are performing better and better, and are becoming more likely to give you the best returns on your investment. Polluting companies now face increasing costs and penalties, so those companies that are adopting good environmental practices are gaining a competitive advantage.

The Virgin Climate Change Fund managers identifiy the best stocks from an economic returns point of view, in all industries, and then ‘cherry pick’ the best from each industry from an environmental standpoint. This ‘all sectors’ approach offers the chance to not only outperform most other ‘green’ funds, but other traditional non-environmental methods of stock picking too.

The Virgin Climate Change Fund has a minimum opening investment of £500 & investors can pay in lump sums of £100 or regular monthly savings of £50 or more. No notice is required to get your money out so you can access you savings straight away.

As Virgin put it: “No investor wants to trade performance for a pat on the back. Yet no one can ignore the impact of climate change on the world our children will inherit. The Virgin Climate Change Fund offers the perfect solution, providing the opportunity to make investment capital out of helping the planet.”

Get more information on the Virgin Climate Change Fund here

An internet network offers facilities to encourage investment in environmental technologies and services to help British entrepreneurs, inventors & companies find finace to help them solve various environmental challenges, such as climate change, water pollution and waste.

 ‘The Environmental Investment Network’ brings together private and corporate investors with organisations looking for funding to support green projects, such as the development of low carbon technologies, eco-friendly waste management systems and advanced water treatment methods.

Set up by leading environmental law firm Clarkslegal, & The Environmental Industries Commission (EIC), and sponsored by Lloyds TSB and intellectual property specialists Mathys & Squire, the Environmental Investment Network (EIN) aims to play a part in helping to meet the significant challenges and opportunities identified in the Stern Review.

By facilitating the raising of finance (equity and debt) and providing support, information and networking opportunities to investors seeking investment opportunities and to companies, social enterprises and academic institutions seeking investment.

The EIN enables organisations to submit proposals for funding, where they can be viewed by investor members on a secure website.

Simon Thorne, of Clarkslegal, explains: “The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change calls for immediate action to be taken to invest in low carbon technologies in order to reduce the effects of climate change.  It also emphasises that significant business opportunities will be created from the development of new markets in environmental technologies and that the investment that takes place in the next 10 - 20 years will have a profound effect on the climate. It is predicting that new low carbon energy markets could grow to be worth hundreds of billions of pounds each year, so now is the time to invest in the environment.

“Securing funding however is often a major hurdle for those wishing to develop environmental technologies.  Venture capital funds and institutional investors tend to focus on large companies preparing for listing on the Alternative Investment Market or projects in excess of five million pounds. Support for smaller and medium size businesses, social enterprises and educational institutions is urgently required.”

Adrian Wilkes, Chairman of The EIC, adds: “This is a vital new service for the UK’s environmental industry, which is dominated by SMEs who often have problems raising growth finance – it will help them seize the huge new business opportunities in the fast-growing worldwide environmental markets and so boost the UK’s international competitiveness.

“As Gordon Brown recently predicted the environmental industry would become ‘as big as the successful aerospace or pharmaceuticals sector’. But there is a real need amongst young environmental technology firms to have more interaction with the financial sector. This initiative will help improve the quality of deal flow. This is a unique service for the UK’s environmental industry, nothing else like this exists.”

For investors, the opportunity to invest in early-stage ventures is only one of the benefits received as a member. Not only will investor members be able to view high-quality funding proposals and engage in face-to-face meetings with those who have submitted proposals, but also have the opportunity to secure introductions to like-minded investors wishing to form syndicate groups. 

Those who submit proposals will also have the opportunity to present their proposals to investors at regularly held investment meetings and receive, prior to the investment meetings, presentation training, IP advice and support from the network sponsors. Additional benefits include access to the network’s knowledge bank and the opportunity to attend seminars and training events.

Stephen Pegge, head of communications, Lloyds TSB Business, said: “The demand for environmentally friendly products and services is set to increase dramatically and the financial potential for investors is significant based on the initial market estimate for low-carbon energy products of at least $500 billion dollars by 2050.

“We want to support our small and medium sized businesses in developing environmental projects through access to risk capital alongside commercial finance from us. In supporting the Environmental Investment Network, not only do we get a forum for bringing green projects and investors together but it also provides a support network to both parties.”

http://www.environmentalinvest.com/

A new design of turbine offers the possibility of getting much more energy from the wind. The FloDesign Wind Turbine used advanced aerospace technology to increase efficiency. This unique, state of the art wind power machine is called the Mixer Ejector Wind Turbine. (MEWT)

Designers suggest the new turbine is more efficient, safer and cheaper than current designs.

The turbine design is significantly smaller than the conventional design we are all used to and has more blades than a conventional HAWT system. The unique design produces low pressure on the  inside surface which sucks in more wind flow into the turbine.

The smaller, shrouded rotor blades of the MEWT are cheaper and less intrusive, have low inertia and spin faster and provide more energy extraction at all wind speeds. The designers claim the shrouded blades and higher rotor speeds also reduce gear box complexity and result in quieter, safer wind turbines.

The designers claim: “A stator-rotor turbine cascade design is used to more effectively extract energy from the flow. For a given wind velocity, a MEWT having a maximum diameter 50% smaller than an existing 3-Bladed HAWT can potentially generate over 50% more power, and can potentially cost 25-35% less than the same HAWT.”

In additon they suggest the MEWT system could even be used at severe sites where wind gusts and variability make current HAWT installations impractical.

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