DON'T TAKE A TAX AVOIDER ON HOLIDAY

As the country prepares to wind down for its summer break Ethical Consumer today calls on holidaymakers to demonstrate their opposition to tax avoidance by not buying their holiday books from tax avoiding bookshops.

Many of the UK's leading bookshops both on the High Street and online have been identified by Ethical Consumer as being implicated in tax avoidance most notably Amazon.

Other tax avoiding companies include Alibris, Google Play and Kobo.

Ethical Consumer researcher Tim Hunt said: “This summer we're asking holidaymakers not to support tax avoiding booksellers. Instead sun-lovers can buy their favourite summer reading from the many companies who are supporting the British economy by paying their fair share of tax.”

Ethical Consumer recommends the following book-selling alternatives to tax avoiders:

Online

Better World Books: www.betterworldbooks.co.uk

Green Metroplis: www.greenmetropolis.com

Oxfam Books: www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/books

www.booksetc.co.uk

On the High Street

Any independent bookshop. For details visit:

www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethicalreports/buyingbookswithoutamazon/radicalbookshopsdirectory.aspx

Foyles & John Smiths

Second-hand bookshops such as Oxfam

Alternatives to tax avoiders for people who already have an e-reader:

Use free sites such Project Gutenberg: www.gutenberg.org and Feedbooks: www.feedbooks.com
Or buy from www.ebooks.com or www.booksetc.co.uk

E-readers also come under the ethical spotlight with Ethical Consumer unable to find any ethical or environmental argument in their favour.

Ethical Consumer researcher Tim Hunt said: “E-readers such as Amazon's Kindle may be a top-selling piece of cutting-edge technology but they've yet to prove their environmental credentials.”

“You might think that one piece of hardware which contains a hundred books is an environmentally low impact option but this is yet to be proven. For us the greenest option is a book, preferably one that's reused.”

The product guide to bookshops and e-readers is available here: www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethicalreports/buyingbookswithoutamazon.aspx

Ethical Consumer is currently running a boycott of Amazon.

For details visit: www.ethicalconsumer.org/boycotts/boycottamazon.aspx

Launched in 1989 Ethical Consumer is the UK's leading ethical and environmental magazine. In each issue Ethical Consumer examines the ethical and environmental record of the companies behind everyday products and services from bread to banks. For more information visit the Ethical Consumer website: www.ethicalconsumer.org

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

Driving ban for combine harvesters in Germany

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

In a number of German states and counties a driving ban is being considered or already put in force banning combine harvesters from the roads between 1500 hours on Friday and 0900 hours on Monday to allow holiday traffic free flow.

It would appear that the powers-that-be do not have the faintest idea of farming and that it is not a Monday to Friday 9-5 occupation and that crops have to be harvested when and whenever the weather is right and that might be on a Saturday or even a Sunday, holiday traffic or no holiday traffic.

Those making up such rules seem to be of the same mentality that one encounters every now and then with people who state firmly that we don't need farmers as we can get all our food at the supermarket.

One can but wonder as to which parallel universe those people have escaped from or if some people are indeed correct in the belief that we all are governed by lizards.

© 2013

The many benefits of crop rotation

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Crop rotation is a common farming practice where different series of crops are planted in the same area each sequential season. Planting different crops on the same piece of land has been used since Roman times and has been proven to improve plant nutrition, benefit soil health, and control the spread of disease.

A new study, and yes they indeed needed a study again to tell farmers what our ancestors have known all along, to be published in Nature's 'The ISME Journal' reveals just how profound crop rotation's effect is on enriching soil with bacteria, fungi and protozoa.

"Changing the crop species massively changes the content of microbes in the soil, which in turn helps the plant to acquire nutrients, regulate growth and protect itself against pests and diseases, boosting yield," said Professor Philip Poole from the John Innes Centre.

Researchers collected soil from a field planted with wheat, oats and peas. After growing wheat, it remained largely unchanged and the microbes in it were mostly bacteria. However, growing oat and pea in the same sample caused a huge shift towards protozoa and nematode worms. Soil grown with peas was highly enriched for fungi.

"The soil around the roots was similar before and after growing wheat, but peas and oats re-set of the diversity of microbes," said Professor Poole.

After only four weeks of growth, the soil surrounding wheat contained about 3% eukaryotes. This went up to 12-15% for oat and pea.

Every gram of soil contains over 50,000 species of bacteria so the task is enormous when analyzing DNA samples, so researchers sequenced RNA so a full snapshot can be taken of the active bacteria, fungi, protozoa and other microbes in the soil.

"By sequencing RNA, we can look at the big picture of active microbes in the soil," said PhD student Tom Turner from the John Innes Centre. "This also allows us to work out what they are doing there, including how they might be helping the plants out."

"Our work helps explain the experience of farmers in the field," said Professor Poole.

The findings of the study could be used to develop plant varieties that encourage beneficial microbes in the soil. John Innes Centre scientists are already investigating the possibility of engineering cereal crops able to associate with the nitrogen-fixing bacteria normally associated with peas.

Professor Poole comments, "Scientists, breeders and farmers can make the most of these effects not only with what they grow but how they grow it."

The fact that crop rotation works has been known for millenniums probably and it was for that reason that there always was a rotation cycle in vegetable gardens and on fields before the agro-chemical industry tried to make us believe that we could just throw chemicals at the plants and that would be all that would be needed. It is not.

Soil leaches its nutrients when plant food, aka fertilizer, more often then not nowadays in the form of some petroleum derivative, is thrown at the plants. The structure of the soil gets destroyed by planting the same crop each and every season on the same plot of land and then bombarding the area with chemicals and the nutrients are getting more and more depleated.

It is for this very reason that yields, per acre, are larger on Amish farms than they are on the big "commercial" farms, those that are worked with heavy machines and where the plants get bombarded with chemical fertilizers.

Where manure is being used, such as on organic farms, and those of the Amish people, the soil is what is enriched and in that way the plants are. Another well-known fact required a million dollar study to discover the truth already known.

Sometimes one can all but wonder where all the ancient knowledge has gone. It would appear that there are far too many people about who have been educated well beyond their capacity. The gods help us!

© 2013

Living below your means

Living not just within your means but below it

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Far too many people are living (well) above their means and cannot make ends meet. They live from paycheck to paycheck and often rely on so-called “pay-day lenders” to tide them over to the next payday. This is no way to carry on.

Many people are struggling financially and many without much fault of their own. But some financial hardships are self-inflicted in trying to keep us with the Joneses, so to speak.

Ordering take-outs most days of the week is not a good idea but many who live just around the breadline do just that, and not just only that, to cause themselves and their families problems in the financial sector.

We must, also for the sake of the Planet, all learn to live (well) beneath out means.

“But how do I do that”, I now hear many as, “with the cost of everything?”

First of all reduce needs and, especially, wants, for many perceived needs are all but wants. Then learn to reuse, repurpose and make as much as possible yourself.

Also change what you eat and here especially reducing meat in your and your family's diet. (Believe me I would not have believed it myself some while back that I'd ever say that).

Then reduce food waste by cooking from scratch and by learning how to use leftovers.

When it comes to food reduce your costs by cutting out meat at least once a week or, better still, go almost vegetarian by restricting yourself to meat only on Sundays and special occasions, as used to be the case for most people not so long ago even.

While it is true that many people in dire straights are not entirely – and I do stress the word entirely – responsible for the financial difficulties there are a huge number who are, or who are doing little to nothing to help themselves, and this even and especially among those who live from paycheck to paycheck. And the main problem is the desire to keep up with the neighbors as to possessions.

This is not a way to go about things when one already does not have the mean to do so and when one is just about able to make ends meet.

What does it matter whether the neighbors have a new car, a new large screen LCD TV, or whatever? They may not actually be able to afford it themselves either and have run up debt to pretend that they can. No need to keep up with them. It is not a race, it is not a competition.

There is not need to partake in such “games” of one-upmanship for, if your car is OK, your TV fine (though I would even go as far as suggest ditching your TV altogether), etc., then those wishes for new are not needs at all. Often, as said already, the needs that we perceive are nothing but wants.

There is no need for a new cellphone, a new computer, or whatever simply because there are new models out or a neighbor or friend has or gets a new one. But too many people fall into this trap. It is not good for our finance and it is also bad for the Planet.

Our needs – on al levels – are far removed, often, from our wants. But the latter are all too frequently confused for and with the former. Needs are one thing and wants a different one altogether and we must learn to differentiate between the two.

It is wants, all too often, perceived as needs and mistaken for them, that many times lead people into financial difficulties as they then try to, instead of saving up for something that they want, have immediately and look for instant gratification and forego real needs in order to fulfil their wants and desires, sometimes by means of loans with exorbitant interest rates (in the form of credit cards).

Living below your means is a skill for sure and especially a mindset and it requires first of all discipline.

It means to make do with fewer wants and to live frugally, making do with what you already have got and also to make things you need (and want) yourself, including from what others regard as waste, as trash, even.

Being frugal used to be the way in most households at least until the late 1970s after which the keeping up with the neighbors by whatever means became the name of the game. So far even that families who prided themselves on their frugal ways were and are still considered odd and eccentric.

In fact being frugal is being considered, in this time of economic downturn and austerity, as an act, and I kid you not, by the authorities, akin to terrorism. How far have we come from how things should be and used to be and how far have we become removed from reality.

Regardless of how and what the powers-that-be do and think frugality is what we should and must strive for, especially for the sake of the Planet, but also for our wallet.

We cannot continue on the consumption bandwagon the way many have done and do, even when they actually do not have the means to do so, just because the government says that we need to buy our way out of the crisis. It just will lead from one crisis to another.

There are many ways to live below your means but to understand what your needs and wants are is where to begin and then reducing the stuff you buy. You wallet and the Planet will be happier for it and so will you in the end.

© 2013

“Water the birds, NOT the lawn!” – Bill Oddie

Water the birds, NOT the lawn!

With the current hot temperatures in the UK Bill Oddie’s asking us to spare a thought for wildlife and put out fresh water for birds to drink and bathe. “Water the birds!” says Bill.

“I’m not for a minute suggesting that you sprint around the garden hosing down Blackbirds and Robins. That’s NOT the kind of watering I’m encouraging! No. It is as basic as this: provide fresh drinking and bathing water for birds, daily if you can, and you’ll make life so much easier for them, and you’ll enjoy the spectacle of watching them splash around. It’s great fun, and it costs pennies. Get the kids involved this summer.

“If you haven’t already got a bird bath, go out and get one. Please! If not, then use a shallow dish/plate and make sure you make filling it part of your daily regime. Clean it regularly, too, and you’ll soon be awash with happy birds,” forecasts Bill.

The two main reasons birds need clean water is of course for drinking and bathing. Fresh drinking water is more important for some species as the weather affects the supply of their preferred foods; for example, Blackbirds would ideally feed earthworms to their young, but dry weather is likely to mean they may be more reliant on bird foods you put out, such as Bill Oddie’s Mealworm Crumble. This type of food is absolutely fine for both adult and fledgling, in fact it’s very close to their natural diet, but it doesn't of course provide the level of moisture found in natural foods such as earthworms. (You can of course always feed live food).

Birds bathe to keep clean and also to keep their feathers in good condition. A few species – Starling and House Sparrow for example – like to bathe in groups and it’s a great spectacle to see eight or more birds trying to take a bath at the same time! It’s a great idea to get your camera out, and Bill’s encouraging people to share their photos on twitter, via the hash tag #waterthebirds.

“Of course we know it will only be a matter of days before the weather changes and we’ll have a deluge of rain; however, providing fresh water, daily, is a great habit to succumb to as birds need watering all year round – even in winter!”
• It is best to use tap water rather than from a water-butt (unless the water from a butt is ‘new and fresh’ – e.g. after a storm), and the water topped up or replaced whenever necessary (which will probably be at least once a day if the birds take to it).

• It’s likely that a small build-up of algae will occur and attach itself to the bird bath, but this can be easily cleaned of with a stiff brush (an old washing up brush is ideal).

• It’s best not to use any sort of household detergent or cleaning aid to clean the bird bath (just clean water), but, if you do (perhaps because it really does need a very good clean), then it’s important to ensure it’s rinsed out with plenty of clean water so none of the detergent remains. Special wildlife-friendly cleaning products are available on line from www.haiths.com

• Bill Oddie’s Bird Food Recipes are available direct from ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Wilkinson, see: www.billoddiesbirdfood.co.uk for details.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/billoddiesbirdfood
Blog: www.billoddiesbirdfood.wordpress.com
Twitter: @billsbirdfood
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Billsbirdfood
Website: www.billoddiesbirdfood.co.uk or www.haiths.com

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Victory for a new food system!

Victory for Veg!

ManchesterVeg People are jubilant as their Crowdfunding campaign to 'Get the Manchester Food Revolution moving’ has exceeded it £16,000 target! This very modern form of fund-raising utilised a huge twitter campaign, and mobilised bloggers and celebrity chefs to help spread the word over six weeks. The result: over 300 people from across the UK made pledges from £5 up to a thousand pounds.

The overwhelming support and enthusiasm for the campaign has shown what an appetite there is for a fairer food system to thrive in Manchester a fact that is backed up by the recent poll, commissioned by the Prince's Countryside Fund that reveals public concern about mainstream food production. Funds raised will allow the cooperative to buy much needed equipment, helping them to grow the capacity of the co-op and realise their dream to bring affordable, healthy and sustainable food to everyone – whilst also paying local growers fair price for their produce.

Talking about the campaign Veg People co-ordinator Katie Brandon said ‘We’re ecstatic that the campaign has hit the target. It’s been a nail biting 6 weeks but the support and messages we’ve received have been amazing. This funding will make such a huge difference to us – more storage space and our own van means we'll be able to supply loads more pubs, restaurants, canteens and schools across Greater Manchester and in turn help more local farmers set up in production by paying them a living wage which is currently an issue in encouraging new people to the industry'.

During the course of the campaign a Greater Manchester local authority have agreed to a pilot supplying Manchester Veg People produce in a local primary school. Meaning MVP will be supplying local organic veg direct from local farmers our children and young people. Initiatives such as these are at the heart of what MVP and partner organisation The Kindling Trust are try to achieve; ensuring a better fairer food system for Greater Manchester.

Helen Woodcock from the Kindling Trust said 'It can feel like an impossible task to create a food system that is fair to everyone. Paying farmers a fair price for their produce and at the same time making this fresh sustainable and tasty produce available to everyone at times seem like two aims that are completely at odds with each other. But Manchester Veg People are proving that this is a model that can work – so much so that we’re having to support new farmers to set up so that we have enough produce to sell!'

'We’d like to send out a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign in a variety of different ways' said Katie 'we really couldn't have done it without any of you!'

Look out for a shiny Manchester Veg People people van emblazoned with donors names delivering food to a school near you within the coming months!

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Meat is becoming the food of the lower classes

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

In Germany trust in the meat suppliers and meat supply has reached rock bottom among consumers. Those who earn well and have been to university are those who today eat less in the way of meat and meat products. One of the reasons for meat abstinence among the upper classes are the many scandals surrounding meat. But the producers also have an image problem for other reasons.

There are upheavals in the process which largely go unnoticed by the majority of the population. The eating habits of the upper classes, for example, are undergoing radical changes: In the old times the higher their social status was the more meat the consumed. Now this trend is turning around.

According to a national study in Germany the consumption of meat reduces the higher the level of education and income. Those with a high disposable income and those who have degrees eat the lowest amount of meat while among the lower classes eat more cutlets and sausages.

This change in attitudes to eating meat among those at the higher social spectrum are not just the amount of scandals as regards to meant and its safety but also the lackadaisical way in which the authorities deal with such incidents.

This trend can also be observed in other countries where people, especially again those who are somewhat better – or very well – educated change their eating habits to almost vegetarian, vegetarian or even vegan. A leading and growing trend is that of the Meatless Monday, where one day a week is meet-free and that of the Weekday Vegetarian, where meat is only for the weekend, Sundays or special occasions.

Among the lower and working classes, however, as far and especially as the UK is concerned, the word is still: “I have to have my meat” and that best, as far as many here are concerned, several times a day.

Changes are on their way, however, as may are losing trust in the meat industry and even butchers no longer, in the UK especially, actually ever see what animal the meat that they sell comes from and thus cannot guarantee the consumer the source or the animal actually.

While we may not know how our vegetables are grown, unless we can afford organic and even then, if it looks like a carrot or a potato it, more than likely is going to be a carrot or a potato and not a radish or an onion.

© 2013

Give us Snowden or else

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The US, the world's big bully-boy, is threatening Russia. This is not a good move and could lead to real trouble for all of us.

The US has basically said to to Russia: “Turn over Snowden or risk long-term problems”. With this recent message from the White House the US left the Russians that American patience with Russia playing host to NSA leaker Edward Snowden is wearing thin.

“The Russian government has an opportunity here to work with us,” press secretary Jay Carney told reporters at his daily briefing. “This should not be something that causes long-term problems for U.S.-Russian relations.”

Washington and Moscow have been “engaging on a number of important issues, both economic and security related issues, and we want to continue that relationship unimpeded by this issue,” Carney added. By turning over Snowden, or at least expelling him, Russia could “resolve this situation that they have been dealing with now for three weeks.”

The US does not seem to understand, however, the ay things actually stand.. First and foremost Snowdenn is still in the transit area of the Sheremetyevo International Airport which, according to Russian law, is not Russian territory and thus the authorities have no way of actually expelling him. Secondly, he has committed no crime, as President Putin has stated more than once, in Russia or Russian jurisdiction and thus the Russian authorities cannot touch him and also have no intention of doing so.

“Our interest has always been in seeing him expelled from Russia and returned to the United States,” Carney told reporters. “He should not be allowed to engage in further international travel except as necessary to return to the United States,” Carney said of Snowden, who is regarded in some quarters as a whistle-blower for disclosing the incredibly broad sweep of NSA spying on American citizens.

“He is not a human rights activist, he is not a dissident,” Carney insisted. “He is accused of leaking classified information, he’s been charged with three felony counts related to the leaking of classified information. And for those reasons he should be returned to the United States.”

It is amazing that every time, in some other country, someone does the same as what Snowden has done, he or she is lauded by the USA as hero for freedom but when in the US someone leaks information on how the state spies on its citizen and the citizens of other countries then that person becomes an enemy of the state and a dissident.

As per usual the US, and allies, have a different set of rules for different circumstances and are almost prepared to go to war over such an issue with a well-armed state like Russia. Russia, Mr. President, is not Iraq or Afghanistan but a country with substantial arms and a well-trained military, one that is in many aspects better and more prepared to fight than the US military and the British one combined.

Also it is so hypocritical when the state says that people have nothing to fear is spied upon by the NSA, the CIA and the FBI if they have nothing to hide. Same applied to the state itself.

They know they have done and are still doing wrong to the American people and will try their utmost to silence anyone exposing their treachery.

Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning are not traitors. The traitors are in the White House, Langley and other such locations. It is those that have broken the very Constitution that they swore to uphold and defend.

© 2013

Monsanto drops GM crop plan in EU

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Biotechnology giant Monsanto is scrapping plans to win approval to grow new types of genetically modified crops in the European Union. Please note that the operative word here is “grow” and not that it is abandoning plans to get GM crops into Europe. Far from it.

Monsanto says the move is due to the lack of prospects for cultivation in the EU.

The company, the CEO of which, so it is claimed, is to have said that there will be no food crown, no crop, to which they (and others of their ilk) will not own the patent, produces GM crops and agro-chemicals which are in wide use in the US and in other parts of the world but has had problems getting permission from the legislators in the European Union to grow the plants – in trials and others – in EU countries.

In Europe there have been concerns about the use of GM food products, and approval for GM crop cultivation can take years to obtain as the cooperation between Monsanto and the legislators are not as close as they are in the USA. However, the recently introduced seed law in the European Union which, basically, makes it unlawful to grow any plant, whether from seed or from plant material, even in private gardens shows that the influence of the large seed and GM companies is growing also among EU legislators, and definitely in the UK.

The Monsanto decision related to pending requests to grow genetically modified maize, soybean and sugar beet and it comes just days after the EU began talks with the US on a wide-ranging trade deal, with agriculture likely to be one of the toughest issues.

The company said it would now concentrate on growing its conventional seeds business in Europe but it will also look to get EU approval to import its genetically modified crop varieties from the US and South America into Europe.

In 2012, Germany's BASF halted the development of genetically modified crops in Europe and moved its European research operations in this area to the US.

As said, far from giving up, Monsanto will now look to import genetically modified crop varieties into Europe and thus get GM crops into the EU by a backdoor.

While it may appear to some as a victory the facts would point to a rather devious ploy by Monsanto to, as said, get their GM crops into the European Union via a backdoor and to market, regardless as to whether or not the people in those countries want it.

Another prove of the pudding, so to speak, that we do not need a new government but a new system.

© 2013

The garden trowel: The gardener's utility tool

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Much like garden gloves, and possibly even weeding tools, the garden trowel is one of several gardening tools that the hobby or professional gardeners simply cannot live without.

The garden trowel is nothing more than a small shovel really, but it is a piece of gardening equipment that gets almost constant use.

In addition to the basic garden trowel most people are familiar with, some trowels have serrated edges on the shovel blade, and when it comes to handles, there are several options.

The original trowel was different however and some are still made in that way. It was, basically, a bricklayer's trowel and it was used in a backwards pulling motion to open a hole in which to put the plant. Sneerboer from the Netherlands still forges a similar style today and it is that kind of trowel that is the one used in the tulip fields of Holland.

If you are buying a trowel for the first time, it is probably a good idea to visit the local garden center and give the trowel a “test drive”, so to speak to get the right one for you.

It should feel comfortable and be well constructed with a sturdy handle and a forged carbon- or stainless steel blade. Do not skimp on quality and chose a cheap one just because it is cheap.

If you prefer a hardwood handle make sure it’s smooth to prevent splinters with a reinforced interface between the handle and blade. Other handle options are available and work just as well including those that allow for a soft grip like the OXO Good Grip versions with a gel filled handle or the Thingamedig from Dalsonware Pty Ltd, Australia.

Another option for finding garden trowels and other small garden tools is to visit flea markets or antique and collectible shops that specialize in antique garden and farm tools. These tools were built to last so in most cases you can’t go wrong. Avoid too much rust (you can always get rid of a little bit of rust), worn and splintered handles, or excessive wear.

But latter source, as far as antique tool markets and such are concerned can be a more expensive option to buying a quality trowel new. On flea markets, trunk sales (car boot sales) and in so-called Charity Shops (if the latter have any) good secondhand garden tools may be had for less than in the garden centers.

Also, I am sure, you will want for more than just one single garden trowel as they are a little like horse for courses and a small transplanting one also will come in very handy indeed.

© 2013