Natural Choices

Record year for ethical banking

Peter Shield — 2013-01-02T12:55:12Z

After an annus horribilis for Britain's high street banks, alternative and challenger banks look set to reap the rewards. Ethical bank Triodos Bank reports a 260% increase in new customers in 2012 against the same period in 2011. And following the recent round of cuts in savings rates at high street banks Triodos Bank's rates are now even more competitive - as a result it expects this strong growth to continue into 2013.

Government failing in ambition to be 'greenest ever'

Peter Shield — 2012-11-27T17:46:30Z

The Coalition Government is failing on its own commitments to Britain's natural environment: that's the public's view from a survey organised by Wildlife and Countryside Link (Link), a coalition of 39 leading environmental charities.

Sweatshop Campaigners unite against Adidas' "Fundamentally flawed" workers rights summit

Peter Shield — 2012-10-23T11:14:31Z

Anti-sweatshop campaigners from the US and Europe today united to condemn a summit to be held in Lausanne, Switzerland on Tuesday organised by adidas, intended to deal with the issues workers face when its supplier factories close. Whilst United Students Against Sweatshops, the Clean Clothes Campaign, War On Want and People & Planet welcome comprehensive, long-term solutions to workers' rights abuses in adidas' supply chain, they say the summit is “fundamentally flawed” and an “empty rhetorical gesture” as workers in Indonesia that made adidas products have been waiting for severance payments for over a year.

Marine Ingredients in Cosmetics: Sustainability Implications

Peter Shield — 2012-10-21T10:23:09Z

The cosmetics industry is increasingly turning to the sea and oceans in the search for new ingredients. Although many novel raw materials are emerging, the development is raising many questions about sustainability. Can the cosmetics industry learn from the food industry and prevent damage to marine eco-systems when sourcing?

Improving Yields and Destroying the Environment

Peter Shield — 2012-10-21T09:32:24Z

A short but very interesting item was recently broadcast on Radio 4's Today programme. The report highlighted a disaster in the production of corn, wheat and soya beans in the US. This was not because of the widespread recent drought, but an additional man-made disaster which may have longer-lasting impact, writes Michael Burke in the Socialist Economic Bulletin.

Organic farming enhances soil carbon stocks

Peter Shield — 2012-10-19T13:28:15Z

Organic agriculture provides environmental benefits through the sequestration of atmospheric carbon in soil organic matter, says a group of international experts headed by scientists from the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland. In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) they analysed data from 74 field comparison studies that measured the soil organic carbon (humus) levels in different soils under organic and conventional farming systems throughout the world. Of those, about 20 delivered results that enabled comparisons of carbon sequestration rates among farming systems.

Agrarian Reform in the 21st Century: Building a New Vision, Redefining Strategies, and Celebrating Victories

Peter Shield — 2012-07-20T16:35:51Z

The international workshop and seminar, “Agrarian Reform and the Defense of Land and Territory in the 21st century: The Challenge and Future” culminated on Sunday, July 15, in a celebration in Sibaladuang, Sungai Kamuyang Village, Limapuluh Kota Regent, West Sumatra, Indonesia.

Organic Tomatoes Contain Higher Levels of Antioxidants Than Conventional Tomatoes

Peter Shield — 2012-07-13T18:34:16Z

A study conducted at the University of Barcelona shows that organic tomatoes contain higher levels of phenolic compounds than conventional tomatoes. Phenolic compounds are organic molecules found in many vegetables with proven human health benefits.

The Green Party, the Left and moving beyond electoralism

Peter Shield — 2012-07-09T17:42:19Z

An article in the latest issue of New Internationalist (by Richard Swift ) on the conundrum of why the left has failed, and is failing, to prosper even in these apparently auspicious times of systemic capitalist crisis, highlights the split between “a kind of tame Centre Left mainstream” and “an extra parliamentary movement that rallies around single issues and identity politics”These two “lefts” “exist, by and large, in separate universes” writes the Green Left's Peter Allen

Mood for Resistance – Romayne Phoenix

Peter Shield — 2012-07-09T17:32:44Z

50,000 students marching on Parliament 10th November 2010 was an event so dynamic and spontaneous that it served to energise and motivate the mood for resistance throughout the country.