Dead Silence Musical interlude.

Musical interlude.

Do you like folk music? How about blues, country, rock, occasional psychedelia or dance music?

Did you know there's a group that plays all these?




Their backgrounds are as diverse as blues, bluegrass, classical, jazz & rock.

They're world famous & one of the top names in the business.

They have played in front of the pyramids in Egypt & with one of the worlds best songwriters, Bob Dylan.

They have contributed to a fellowship to produce modern classical music.

They have contributed to theory of rhythm.

They have a worldwide following of deadicated followers but are often unknown.

They have played as a group since the early sixties and have released a huge number of recordings. They involve the fans so much that there is no boundary between the group and followers.

Curious?


You can listen here:

http://gddb.dead.net/radio/radio.html

Find out all about them here:

http://www.dead.net

Here is a discography:

http://www.deaddisc.com/


The world is full of amazing people & musical treasures!

Wood Furnishings

Do you like wood furnishings?

Planning on buying some soon?

Worried about forest devastation & global warming?

You can buy wood that is certified to be replaced.

Trees are planted for those harvested.

Look for the FSC logo on any wood products, its widely available.

Heres the details: http://www.fsc.org/en/about


Keep trees they help our world breathe!

Ethical finance

Is it possible to ethically invest your money?

Perhaps money isn't the best way to run the world, but if you want to improve the ethics of the things your money goes on, you could do worse than look into what is available.


Start here: Ethical Investment Research Service
http://www.eiris.org/

Here are some examples:

Banking
http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk

Building Society
http://www.ecology.co.uk/

Motor insurance
http://www.eta.co.uk/page.asp?ref=mtrinshome

Most (unit based) pensions schemes offer ethical options & you might be able to invest in them 100%.

These days there are many ways of investing ethically. Be sure your money is only going on causes you of which you approve.

Of course if you want to explore ways better than money, you should investigate LETS local trading schemes and timebanks. These do away with money altogether and swap expertise & time with others with no money involved.

LETS central site
http://www.letslinkuk.net/

Timebanks
http://www.timebanks.co.uk/

If you have something you want to give away, or are looking for something for free, I've had recommended to me this great organisation:
http://www.freecycle.org/

Note: I have no authority to recommend any financial products & am only recommending looking into ethical financial products generally.

Fairtrade

Fairtrade

Do you believe in treating people fairly?

Ever buy tea, coffee, chocolate?

Look for the Fairtrade logo (above).


What is fairtrade?

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/about_fairtrade.htm

Many supermarkets squeeze more & more profit out of food producers. Fairtrade is a label that guarantees that producers fair price for their produce and an extra premium that is invested in the local community.

Fairtrade products are available all over the place in Britain.

Coop supermarkets for example have a range of tea & coffee & chocolate, Starbucks & other coffee shops have a fairtrade coffee available.

Kenco has started producing a fairtrade coffee, Clipper tea is fairtrade. There's also lots of chocolate!

In fact, you can get all these fairtrade products: Bananas, Citrus, Coffee, Cotton, Tea, Mangoes, Sugar, Fruit juice, Honey, Snacks, Chocolate and cocoa, Roses, Sports balls, Wines and beers.

Many of the products are organic too!

Fairtrade is fair for you, for them, for all of us.

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk

Support Fairtrade.

Easy Eco Campaigning

Are you interested in any of these issues?





Climate
Biodiversity
Corporates
Global Trade
Real Food
Safer Chemicals
Transport
Waste

There's an easy place to have your say here:

http://www.foe.co.uk/press_for_change/index.html


Why not do something easy to improve the planet today?

Green Computing

Greener Computing!

How to make your computing eco friendly!

How your PC can help save the world!


Buying a PC?

Checkout the Fujitsu Green PC:

http://www.greenconsumerguide.com/profiles_html/f/fujitsu/


Connecting to the internet or upgrading to broadband?

For a Green ISP See (Broadband from £19.50 on 20.02.2006):

http://www.greenisp.net/

Donate to charity while you surf (Broadband from £23.99 on 20.02.2006):

http://portal.charitydays.net


Saying goodbye to an old PC?

http://www.itforcharities.co.uk/donorinf.htm

http://www.computer-aid.org/donorsintro.htm


Remember Your Electricity Supply!

http://www.greenelectricity.org/



Working together, we can keep computing green & eco friendly!

Be Friendly!

Now that cold winter is over, be sociable!

People in local groups are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.



Here are some details:

Vegan Society

http://www.vegansociety.com/html/about_us/local_contacts/


Vegetarian society

http://www.vegsoc.org/network/


Green party

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/contactsregional


Friends of the earth

http://www.foe.co.uk/england/


Come along & meet us! Make Friends!

Vegan Eating - Environmental Benefits

Vegan Diet is more Green, & better for our planet!

You may have heard of the health benefits of eating a vegan diet,

(see http://www.vegansociety.com/html/food/nutrition/

but did you realise there are many strong environmental benefits too?

Water

World agriculture uses 70% of fresh water for irrigation.

Much of this land is wasted to grow feed crops for livestock rather than food for people. Professor David Pimentel of Cornell University's Ecology Department has calculated that it takes 500 litres of water to produce 1kg of potatoes, 900 litres per kg of wheat, 3,500 litres per kg of digestible chicken flesh and a massive 100,000 litres for 1kg of beef.

Land & Grain

In 1900 just over 10% of the total grain grown worldwide was fed to animals; by 1950 this figure had risen to over 20%; by the late 1990s it stood at around 45%. Over 60% of US grain is fed to livestock.

A vegan diet can meet calorie and protein needs from 300 square metres using mainly potatoes. A more varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, grains and legumes would take about 700 square metres. Replacing a third of the calories in this diet with calories from milk and eggs would double the land requirements and a typical European omnivorous diet would require five times the amount of land required for a varied vegan diet.

Energy

A study by the US Department of Agriculture concluded that their results "pointedly reveal the high level of dependency of the US beef cattle industry on fossil fuels. These findings in turn bring into question the ecological and economic risks associated with the current technology driving North American agriculture."

This same technology is being adopted as a model for industrial livestock production throughout the world. The study's review of energy inputs versus energy outputs in food calories showed that while corn and barley produce about five times as much food energy as the energy used in production, beef production uses about three times as much energy as the food energy produced. This means that corn and barley production is around 15 times more efficient in terms of fossil fuel input than beef production.


All this should be food for thought for any serious ecologist or anyone who wants to help improve the planet.

http://www.vegansociety.com

Green Living Ideas

Saving Money & The World!

Low energy light bulbs.

Did you know these are now really cheap?

They last around 15 times as long as other bulbs & they give off just as much light!

All supermarkets now stock them. Try one, it will save its cost in electricity!

http://www.nef.org.uk/energyadvice/lighting.htm

Green Energy

Switch to a Green Electri company. They cost the same money (very close),
and you will be reducing cabon emmissions so slowing global warming.

Its good for us, and its good for future generations. Costs next to nothing!

Every time ytou switch on a light, know that you are saving the world!

http://www.greenelectricity.org/

Green Travel

Do you have to fly by plane? You do?
OK, did you know you can offset each hour of flying?

For only £1 per hour, the ET will offset your pollution.

They also have other allowances for driving, home heating & others.

See here:

http://www.eta.co.uk/pages/Climate-Neutral/27/default.htm


I hope you enjoyed these tips. All easy to do & they make a huge difference.

Feel free to send me more! See this excellent book for lots more:

http://www.foe.co.uk/pubsinfo/pubscat/living.html#save_c

Amnesty International

Amnesty International (AI) campaigns for human rights. It works for the release of individuals who are in prison & being tortured for their beliefs.

http://www.amnesty.org/

Their aim is to make available to all the human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (and other international human rights standards).

They do research and take action to prevent and end abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights.

AI is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion.

It does not support or oppose any government or political system, nor does it support or oppose the views of the victims whose rights it seeks to protect. It is concerned solely with the impartial protection of human rights.

This is a good organisation and anyone who could do should support the excellent work around the world that it does.

http://www.amnesty.org/

Airport Expansion

Airport Expansion

Nottingham East Midlands Airport plans an expansion in flights.

While this might be welcomed by those seeking more holiday destinations, its easy to overlook the environmental impact. Air flight has the highest output of pollution of any civilian travel. Each flight adds greatly to the environmental impact on the ozone layer & the atmosphere, accelerating climate change.

See this ROYAL COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION:

http://www.rcep.org.uk/news/02-04.htm

Or here is Friends of The Earth comment on air travel:

http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/transport/issues/air_travel/index.html

Here are some comments from The Green Party:

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/1643


You can have your say about the expansion here:

http://www.nottinghamema.com/en/about/masterplan/documents.html

Do what you can to reduce pollution for all of us.

Hate Litter, trash & rubbish?

In the UK, almost everything can be recycled from electrical objects to glass, plastic & paper.

Local councils are obliged by law to increase the amount they recycle.

A good way to reduce household waste is to take home less in the first place!

Here are some great tips:

http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/waste/news/50_waste_tips.html

Where can you recycle your stuff? What can you recycle when you get there? See here for information:

http://www.recycle-more.co.uk/

Please make the effort for all of us.

Here's another great & colourful easy to use site:

http://www.recyclenow.com/

Perhaps tie it in with going to the shops to make it easier to get into the routine.

We only have one world, lets make it a clean one!

Green Driving!

The Environmental Transport Association

http://www.eta.co.uk

can provide an environmentally friendly breakdown service.

Also, the ETA promotes awareness of environmental impact of excessive car use & helps to make positive environmental changes in travelling.

Through them, you can balance your carbon output (footprint) in a variety of ways: Driving, home emissions from average annual gas and electricity use, flying in airplane, Average citizenship.

http://www.eta.co.uk/pages/Climate-Neutral/27/default.htm

They aim to be the ethical alternative to other motoring organisations and are the world's first climate-neutral motoring organisation

They started Green Transport Week in 1992 & inaugurated National Car Free Day on 22nd September every year.

They conduct and commission research into environmental transport issues.

They have firmly established environmental and ethical business policies to ensure that our day-to-day activities respect the environment.

I get no commission, I just found it & thought you'd all be interested!

Offence.

Recently, some wise Quakers said something like:

'It is as important to not take offence
as to not give offence.'

Anger spreads and is a violent emotion.

Free speech is always right, but we should use discretion.
Deliberately offending people is a violent act and can never be justified.

Just because we can offend someone, it doesn't mean it should be done. We should all respect others' viewpoints & beliefs.

Spread peace & understanding in your heart & peace will grow in the world.

Peace in our world

Peace

Recently, the 100th british soldier
was killed in Iraq.


Additionally, an official total of 16549 people have been wounded.

Sending people to kill or be killed is no way
to solve international crises.

Now the UK government is going to send 4000 british
troops to Afganistan. Some will be killed, and for what?

War is senseless tragedy.

Support the safety of people on all sides.

Pray for peace and contact your MP: http://www.writetothem.com/

See also:

http://www.quaker.org.uk/peace/

http://www.ppu.org.uk/indexa.html

There is no way to peace. Peace is the way. (Mahatma Gandhi)

Green party, not just a one issue party!

The Green Party. Not just a one issue party.

Recently the government has produced a report that highlights the dangers of global warming to the UK. Only one party is making serious attempts to do anything about this.

However, The Green Party is about the whole of life, not just one issue.

Do you ever wonder about any of these issues?




Did you know The Green Party has sound policies about them all, debated in a spirit of cooperation?

Agriculture Animals Rights Arts
Climate Change Crime Prevention
Countryside Disability Drugs
Economy Education Energy
Europe Fisheries Food
Forestry Green Councils Health
Housing Industry International Policy
Land Local Planning & Built Environment
Marine Industry Migration Nationality
Natural Resources Northern Ireland
Peace and Defence
The Philosophical Basis of the Green Party
Pollution Population Principles of Government
Public Administration
Refugees Responsibilities and Rights
Science and Technology
Scotland Social Welfare
Tourism Transport

You can see them here:

http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/mfss/


The Green party. Working for a better future for all.

Coretta King

Sadly the inspiring Coretta King has left us.

Widow of Martin Luther King, she spent her life working for equality, civil rights, justice and non-violence for all the people of the world.

She founded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change

Here is her biography at The King Center

http://www.thekingcenter.org/csk/bio.html

Here is an article about her:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coretta_Scott_King


She will be much missed by the whole world, even those who didn't know her.

Domestic Abuse, Bullying, Fighting

Domestic abuse is the greatest betrayal. People have a right to security at all times. In our own homes, we should feel safest.

Too many women, children & men are physically attacked or mentally and emotionally bullied by those who they are closest to.

In the UK call this helpline if this sounds like your life:

Freephone - 24hr National Domestic Violence helpfulness

0808 2000 247

Email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk

Why do people do it? Many reasons I feel. People stay with those
they love even when abused sometimes just for love, or because
of low self esteem.

Sometimes they feel alone & don't know where to turn. Children of
course, know nothing better.

Alcohol, testosterone, repeating a cycle of abuse, mental illness,
poverty, stress, drug abuse and many other reasons are why the abusers do it.

It is the duty of ALL of us to stop this cycle. If you know anyone who
is being abused, give them the number above, let them know they are not alone.

ALL violence and bullying is wrong, physical, mental & emotional.

Sending troops around the world can never help make peace.

More must be invested in Peace Studies both for schools,
governments and individuals. See www.ppu.org.uk

The journey to rid the world of violence is a long one and a journey that we may never complete. We must at least make the first steps.

National Domestic Violence helpline: 0808 2000 247
Email helpline@womensaid.org.uk Website: www.womensaid.org.uk

Anger Management
http://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/angerManagement.php

Network For Peace

http://www.networkforpeace.org.uk/

Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution

http://www.peacestudiesjournal.org.uk/latest.asp

http://www.cartercenter.org

http://www.ppu.org.uk/learn/peaceed/pe_ednetcurriculum.html

http://www.ppu.org.uk/indexa.html

Above all let us always pray & act for peace is all areas of our lives