Okay, I don't always remember to take non-plastic bags with me to the supermarket, but mostly I do. Or I take the old plastic bags from the cupboard under the stairs (or the European used plastic bag mountain as it is also known), so they get used a few times before their 400 year wait until nature finally wins.
'Bag for Life' offers at our supermarche are a good idea - but much, much, much better is to use fairly traded jute bags, available from Traidcraft, New Internationlist and other such wonderful places.
I support the campaign to emulate Ireland and begin charging for plaggy bags - we'll soon start to remember to take our trendy fair trade environmentally friendly bags with us. And anyway - your wine bottle's much less likely to fall out of a sturdy jute bag than a thin, poorly made, environmentally disastrous carrier.
visit www.green-england.co.uk/plasticbagpetition to add your name to those who support 'old bags' (you know what I mean) or visit www.mrdf.org.uk for more ideas about tackling climate change.
Gone shopping?
Or has no new shoes changed our habits?
Thursday, 20 September 2007
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
Monday, 17 September 2007
Please tell me this counts as ethical shopping!
How much do I LOVE Oxfam's new online charity shop!!!!
Check it out at: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/
It came at just the right time for me. Friday was payday and I have been battling a serious urge to splurge. I was just wondering whether I might succumb to the cheap n cheerful lure of Primark and Matalan. Then - ahh! - came Oxfam's online shop.
It has a whole range of clothes, household items, books, music...you name it. The postage is pretty cheap, you can add a cash donation to your order and you can even Giftaid it!! I ordered on Friday and my first purchase (beautiful skirt from Kew) has already arrived.
I couldn't be a happier bunny.
Okay, it's still rampant consumerism, but the fact that it's all for charidee makes me feel a tad better...
xxx
Check it out at: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/
It came at just the right time for me. Friday was payday and I have been battling a serious urge to splurge. I was just wondering whether I might succumb to the cheap n cheerful lure of Primark and Matalan. Then - ahh! - came Oxfam's online shop.
It has a whole range of clothes, household items, books, music...you name it. The postage is pretty cheap, you can add a cash donation to your order and you can even Giftaid it!! I ordered on Friday and my first purchase (beautiful skirt from Kew) has already arrived.
I couldn't be a happier bunny.
Okay, it's still rampant consumerism, but the fact that it's all for charidee makes me feel a tad better...
xxx
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
Don't take away our guilty pleasures, say women with a secret wardrobe
Don't take away our guilty pleasures, say women with a secret wardrobe:
__
The effort some people will go to for a pair of Jimmy Choos...One of these women actually walks round shops with a red pen so that she can make it look like she bought items on discount when her husband asks.
Yeesh.
Saturday, 28 July 2007
Going 'Large'
No new shoes began through a conversation between Anna and myself, after we read about Judith Levine not shopping for a year. It kinda blossomed from there.
It was fun - lots of people were interested and some even left comments on our blog.
But now.... Methodist Conference thinks it's a good idea for ALL, yes, ALL Methodists in Britain to give up shopping for luxuries during Lent 08.
Little things get bigger. That's how we change the world.
Soon we'll think of a way for people to sign up and pledge to reduce their carbon footprint by dropping shopping during Lent next year. So do watch this space, as we gear up to gearing down for Lent 08.
Hey - and if you're not a Methodist, we don't mind - join in anyway.
It was fun - lots of people were interested and some even left comments on our blog.
But now.... Methodist Conference thinks it's a good idea for ALL, yes, ALL Methodists in Britain to give up shopping for luxuries during Lent 08.
Little things get bigger. That's how we change the world.
Soon we'll think of a way for people to sign up and pledge to reduce their carbon footprint by dropping shopping during Lent next year. So do watch this space, as we gear up to gearing down for Lent 08.
Hey - and if you're not a Methodist, we don't mind - join in anyway.
Thursday, 19 July 2007
Methodists to drop shopping for Lent 2008 - hurrah!
Ok, it's a bit late cos I'm on holiday, but exciting none the less...
NEWS RELEASE
12 July, 2007
Methodists to drop shopping for Lent 2008
The Methodist Conference is calling on Methodists all over Britain to mark Lent 2008 by only shopping for essential items. They will seek to reduce their carbon footprint and instead focus on the essentials of life, raising awareness of the demands of consumerism on the planet and on daily life.
Lent, the forty days before Easter, is a time when many Christians fast and spend time thinking about the impact of their lifestyles on other people and on creation. During Lent 2007, members of the Church’s Connexional Team marked Lent by shopping for essential items only. They charted their progress, thoughts and temptations on a special blog: www.nonewshoes.blogspot.com, which attracted attention from all over the world.
Michaela Youngson, Secretary for Pastoral Care and Spirituality, says; “The no new shoes project is just one example of how people can use Lent to reduce their carbon footprint and focus on spiritual priorities. It’s about thinking about how each one of us can make a difference in the world and in our own lives. We can’t wait to hear about all the different ways people use Lent 2008 to honour this commitment. Watch this space!”
Supporting this initiative, the Methodist Relief and Development Fund Lent study pack will offer thought-provoking information and suggestions for possible actions for change. For more information, visit www.mrdf.org.uk.
NEWS RELEASE
12 July, 2007
Methodists to drop shopping for Lent 2008
The Methodist Conference is calling on Methodists all over Britain to mark Lent 2008 by only shopping for essential items. They will seek to reduce their carbon footprint and instead focus on the essentials of life, raising awareness of the demands of consumerism on the planet and on daily life.
Lent, the forty days before Easter, is a time when many Christians fast and spend time thinking about the impact of their lifestyles on other people and on creation. During Lent 2007, members of the Church’s Connexional Team marked Lent by shopping for essential items only. They charted their progress, thoughts and temptations on a special blog: www.nonewshoes.blogspot.com, which attracted attention from all over the world.
Michaela Youngson, Secretary for Pastoral Care and Spirituality, says; “The no new shoes project is just one example of how people can use Lent to reduce their carbon footprint and focus on spiritual priorities. It’s about thinking about how each one of us can make a difference in the world and in our own lives. We can’t wait to hear about all the different ways people use Lent 2008 to honour this commitment. Watch this space!”
Supporting this initiative, the Methodist Relief and Development Fund Lent study pack will offer thought-provoking information and suggestions for possible actions for change. For more information, visit www.mrdf.org.uk.
Monday, 4 June 2007
self-indulgence
It's been rather a long time since I last posted here, but I've had such a fantastic weekend, I thought I'd log on again. We had 10 people for dinner on Saturday (yes, we were very hungry - ha ha) and after a long lie-in on Sunday went for a nice long walk in the park, cream teas and lazing in the sunshine with friends. Absolute bliss and with the most wonderful company.
I've largely been trying to stick to the no new shoes lifestyle as much as possible lately. Mainly, I confess, because of a distinct lack of funds (in one month I had a triple whammy of Car tax, insurance and MOT) rather than a new-found love of asceticism. That said, much stocking-up had to be done for the weekend, on all the best kinds of things - soft-drinks, wine, snacks and all the necessary ingredients for a decent paella. It wasn't particularly expensive, but not exactly in line with the moderate lifestyle encouraged by no new shoes. But worth every penny. It's not so much the food and drink, but the fact that it provided the setting to enjoy each other's company and share time together, which can be fairly rare.
One great thing about the no new shoes project is that it has helped me to think more about what is actually worth spending money on. Those things that can seem dreadfully self-indulgent (and often have that happy side-effect) are sometimes really worth while. (Of course, often, they're not. I suppose the trick is to know the difference - one I haven't quite mastered yet!).
I've largely been trying to stick to the no new shoes lifestyle as much as possible lately. Mainly, I confess, because of a distinct lack of funds (in one month I had a triple whammy of Car tax, insurance and MOT) rather than a new-found love of asceticism. That said, much stocking-up had to be done for the weekend, on all the best kinds of things - soft-drinks, wine, snacks and all the necessary ingredients for a decent paella. It wasn't particularly expensive, but not exactly in line with the moderate lifestyle encouraged by no new shoes. But worth every penny. It's not so much the food and drink, but the fact that it provided the setting to enjoy each other's company and share time together, which can be fairly rare.
One great thing about the no new shoes project is that it has helped me to think more about what is actually worth spending money on. Those things that can seem dreadfully self-indulgent (and often have that happy side-effect) are sometimes really worth while. (Of course, often, they're not. I suppose the trick is to know the difference - one I haven't quite mastered yet!).
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