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GM Cotton not quite as successful as it promised to be ? |
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By Linda on
31/07/2008 15:51
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Well I have to say yesterdays Rhubarb and orange cake was really nice! If anybody wants the recipe just leave me a message. We have been to Dunrobin castle today its a bit like a fairytale castle with turrets sitting just back from the foreshore at Golspie. Mother in law enjoyed it and we were lucky with the weather too.
I have been reading an article about GM cotton in India and how it has not been as successful as it first appeared to be although this has been disputed by the biotechnology company Monsanto. Costs to farmers have escalated.
When cotton farmers first began using pesticides did well. They got high yields and enjoyed
a real increase in income. But then problems arose. The hybrid cotton
proved susceptible to pests and diseases, and it was not uncommon for
farmers to spray their fields up to 30 times in a single season.
Production costs went through the roof and farmers got trapped in debt.
They became desperate for a technical fix, and Bt (ge ...
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Over exposure to electromagnetic fields |
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By Linda on
30/07/2008 15:54
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I've just been making a rhubarb and orange cake for our pud tonight I hope it tastes as good as it looks! I thought before I go and get involved elsewhere it would be a good time to come and chat.
I have been reading a rather alarming article about the association of increased exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) in cell phones and other sources including power lines. A recent study in America documents scientific evidence that links childhood leukemia to
exposure to power lines as well as brain tumors and Alzheimer’s disease
associated with the prolonged use of cell and cordless phones. For at least the last two years, scientists have warned about health
impacts caused when people are exposed to electromagnetic radiation and
cautioned the existing safety limits are actually too high and need to
be lowered.
There is evidence that EMF is a risk factor for both childhood and
adult cancers,” said public health expert and co-editor of the Report
Dr. David Carpenter ...
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Crude Oil is a finite resource |
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By Linda on
29/07/2008 18:09
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Had you given up on me? I just got back from picking up my Mother in law from Inverness Airport she has come to stay with us for a couple of weeks. This may well be a short blog tonight I want some food!
I received an email from America this morning from a lady who wanted me to share her blog with you and she sent me a link. I had a look and thought that you might be interested so click here if you would like to check it out.
I also found a very interesting and thought provoking piece in Ethical Pulse by David North about the oil situation. Here is Lord
Oxburgh, former Chair of Shell: "Today I believe is the end of cheap
energy. It's essential that we move away from fossil fuels as fast as
possible. The boat is sinking and we have to do everything we can to
plug the hole."
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The Beach and Summer Cocktails |
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By Linda on
28/07/2008 17:07
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Late today, we have been to the West coast to Durness and had a walk on the beach its been lovely although there was a haar (I hope I've spelt that correctly) this morning. In other words it was foggy! But later it was sunny and really warm.
Small bit of news, I've set up a group for Sones on Facebook so if you would like too come and join me!
Now that Summer is upon us I thought I would share with you a couple of recipes for Summer cocktails. On a day like this it seems appropriate and if I had the ingredients to hand I'd be sitting out on the river bank now!
Strawberry Mojito
Put a seasonal spin on a traditional Mexican cocktail.
5-8 mint leaves
3 strawberries, halved
2 tsp. sugar
3 oz. lime juice
3 oz white rum
Sprit ...
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Fairtrade and Internet Shopping |
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By Linda on
27/07/2008 16:00
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Whew it's hot! Very stormy but some sunshine as well I think we will get some rain later. I have had a fairly laid back sort of day so far which makes a nice change. I found a list of reasons for buying Fairtrade recently which I thought would be worth publishing. All my suppliers are ethical and promote fairtrade which is how I want to continue. So here they are-
1. Back a system that benefits the poor
2. Pay small-scale farmers a fairer price.
3. Buy products you can trust
4. Help producers believe in tomorrow
5. Make trade more democratic
6. Empower women and girls
7. Enjoy real quality produced with pride
8. Keep on saving poverty history
9. Get rid of sweatshops
10. Change the world When you read this you can't help asking yourself "But can I make any difference?" I think ...
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Carpet Freshner and recycling Aluminium foil. |
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By Linda on
26/07/2008 13:51
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We seem to have chaos in the house today, My husband is painting the kitchen and has moved everything out all over the place I have been weeding yet again mainly in order to keep out of the way. I have been trying out a carpet freshner today it's from a tip I saw for giving your dog a dry shampoo! Shula is never dry enough! Anyway I mixed a quantity of bicarbonate of soda with some lavender essential oil in a jar left it to percolate for a while and then sprinkled it on I am going back to vacuum later but it is giving off a lovely smell. I suppose you could any oil but it would probably need to be quite a strong one.
I was looking at a blog about aluminium and the fact that it recycleable over and over again - Aluminum is one of the few recyclable products that doesn’t degrade during the recycle proces ...
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On the beach and in the organic garden. |
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By Linda on
25/07/2008 13:59
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I've had a lovely time at the beach today with Sian and the little ones and the two dogs. It was sunny but a bit windy just right for sandcastles although Jacob's main pleasure is jumping on them. He had great fun throwing the ball for Shula who never tires of ball games and we had a picnic as well. Tristan in the shelter of a sunshade slept through it all. We are lucky to live so near to the beach I love the sea.
I am going to head to the vegetable patch and do some serious weeding this afternoon and with that in mind I thought you might like some tips from Greenfinder who can be found at www.greenfinder.co.uk
With soaring food and oil prices
constantly in the news
apparently 1 in 3 people in 
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Sones as a brand name. |
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By Linda on
24/07/2008 17:13
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Sorry I'm rather late today, I had to go to Inverness to get my hair sorted out and whilst there I just had to pop into M&S like you do! I must say it's really been much too nice a day to spend in the hairdressers but never mind at least I haven't any roots now!
I received my copy of ethical Pulse today and there were some interesting things in there. One item was about ethical branding which followed on a bit from what I was talking about yesterday.In the last few years, there has been a big increase in demand for
ethical and green products and services. Following this increased
demand and a growing desire to reduce the negative impacts of
consumption, many new ethical and green businesses are being started
up. There are of course many large, established businesses trying to
ride on the green and ethical wave, but also a great number of small
businesses founded by individuals or groups that want to be able to
earn a living while making a positive contribu ...
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Smelly Chickens! and Ethical Shopping |
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By Linda on
23/07/2008 16:06
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I'm exhausted! It's a beautiful day here and this morning I took the dogs to the beach at Golspie miles of sand and clear blue sea we had a lovely time.
This afternoon I have been shampooing carpets which is probably not the ideal job for a hot day but at least they are drying quickly.
I was reading an item in the Telegraph today about a family who live in a council house and want to be as eco friendly as possible. They keep 25 hens for eggs and use the manure in their vegetable garden. Very much in line with current trends you might think it's what we are all being told think of the environment etc etc. But no they are being threatened with eviction if they don't get rid of their hens people have complained that they smell. In these days of ASBO'S and knife crime is this really such a heinous offence? Has the world gone mad? Whats wrong with farmyard smells, personally I would prefer that to living next door to a factory. Of course I am only reporting what I have read an ...
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Garment workers not earning a living wage some case studies. |
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By Linda on
22/07/2008 13:24
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Firstly may I apologise to any of you that received a missive from me over the weekend it was supposed to be my latest newsletter, but it went disasterously wrong due to lack of know how from yours truly! My mentor Andy has been trying to return me to the straight and narrow today but unforunately for him its an uphill task! Anyway hopefully I will send a proper newsletter out in the next couple of days.
I thought it might be of interest if I reproduced some finding from Labour behind the label the social campaigners association regarding wages in third world countries it makes sober reading.
Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable
remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of
human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social
protection. - Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 23.3
Nadia
works in a factory supplying a well-known fas ...
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