Fair Trade Gifts
Posted Mon, 02/23/2009 - 23:38 by muenda
Saturday, May 9, 2009 is World Fair Trade Day this year, with the theme "Everything Is Better When It's Fair". The range of Fair Trade products has expanded from coffee, handcrafts, tea and chocolate to sugar, soccer balls, rice, wine & more. Fair Trade not only offers consumers the means by which to value the people who make our products, but also the opportunity to reduce our environmental footprint.
Posted Sat, 02/21/2009 - 14:08 by muenda
Muenda is a member of Green America and is commited to environmental sustainability. Their website is a valuable resource for green ideas and information.
Before you make an investment in renewable energy, there are six simple steps you should follow to make your transition easy and your investment pay off.
read more
Posted Wed, 02/18/2009 - 13:29 by muenda
I found this article whilst browsing the Independent (UK) and it made me think about the downside of technology. Africa needs technology - but not the waste by-product. How will we ever be able to merge technology with sustainability for computers?
Posted Sun, 02/15/2009 - 13:57 by muenda
I always marvel at the out-of-sight-out-of-mind mentality regarding trash. Littering is against the law, but more importantly trash is a by-product of a wasteful, consumer-driven society. Taking ‘trash' and putting it in designated areas (garbage dumps) does not solve the underlying problem of too much waste. The following article is a reminder of the fact that the earth is not a dumping ground.
Posted Sat, 02/14/2009 - 13:27 by muenda
Water is the most valuable resource on the planet and it is gradually coming to the forefront as quiet global crisis. Not just access to clean, safe drinking water but also the volume of water required to meet the demands of industry and agriculture. We need to piece together the dots...no country's crisis is in isolation and the sooner world leaders realize this the sooner they can act.
Posted Fri, 02/13/2009 - 13:32 by muenda
Charleston's Earth Day Festival 2009 hosted by Charleston County's Solid Waste & Recycling Department will be held on April 18th 2009. Located at Park Circle, North Charleston from 11am - 3pm, this event will build on the success of last year where over 7, 500 attendees and 70 contributors turned put to support national Earth Day.
read more
Posted Sun, 02/08/2009 - 13:57 by muenda
Ok, so i have to credit Chad's hard work with Go Green Charleston for this blog entry....
10 great reasons to support the Local First Movement.
read more
Posted Tue, 02/03/2009 - 18:18 by muenda
Well we have just about managed to survive another winter at the City Market and are looking forward to spring! There have been positive changes to the market since the City Market Preservation Trust took over management and more are yet to come. The market is a unique environment with a strong sense of community. Vendors seem to weather the storms together.
Posted Tue, 02/03/2009 - 00:42 by muenda
Green Drinks is a dynamic group of individuals and organizations from around the Lowcountry who gather to enjoy cocktails, lively discussions, new friends, guest speakers, and good times. Green Drinks Charleston organized locally in 2006 and are proud to be the first chapter in the state.
read more
Posted Thu, 01/29/2009 - 22:23 by muenda
The World Economic Forum is an independent, international organization that is striving towards ‘entrepreneurship in the global public interest'. Those involved believe that economic progress without social development is not sustainable, while social development without economic progress is not feasible.
read more
Posted Sun, 12/28/2008 - 23:13 by muenda
I am not much into ‘New Year Resolutions' however, recent articles made me think about how to enjoy a more environmentally sustainable 2009. Eat local foods and encourage more variety in our diets!
read more
Posted Thu, 12/18/2008 - 13:04 by muenda
June 2009 there will be a cooperative promotional event with Charleston Style and Design Magazine. Sustainable and Green providers from all over Charleston will come together to collaborate and show off their skills and products by building a GREEN IDEA HOME.
read more
Posted Sat, 12/13/2008 - 11:55 by muenda
Teaching children to take care of the environment is as important as them learning to read!
Our actions today as adults has a significant impact on how they will live in the future.
Learning about the environment can be fun, what child does not want to play in the garden!
Here are some ideas to get started.
read more
Posted Sun, 12/07/2008 - 16:59 by muenda
Looking at pictures from back home in England. Would be homesick, but the parent are here for the holidays:-)
read more
Posted Sun, 12/07/2008 - 16:27 by muenda
The holiday season is the time for family and friends. This is priceless! The best gift you can give those you care about is time. And good food!
I mentioned in the previous Christmas blog about using local and organic food: supporting local farmers and having fresh food.Why not bake a cake as a gift? Cookies, bread or a pie are always welcome when visiting those nearest and dearest.
Posted Fri, 12/05/2008 - 12:36 by muenda
Posted Tue, 12/02/2008 - 15:02 by muenda
It is Buy Local Week December 1-7th and there are various ways to support local businesses and events.
Buy Local Week is a national awareness campaign that emphasizes the importance of our local independent businesses on our local economy!
Posted Wed, 11/26/2008 - 00:33 by muenda
I remember the first campaign to raise awareness of Aids while at school in England. General public opinion back then was that only gay and lesbian people were at risk, and that it could be caught by having contact just like a handshake with an infected person. Thankfully, a very bold and couragous woman, Princess Diana helped ease the nation when captured tenderly holding an infected HIV baby. 20 years later HIV/Aids is still claiming lives every minute of every day. Despite great moves forward into understanding this deadly disease, there is yet no cure to Aids.
Posted Fri, 11/21/2008 - 02:21 by muenda
With many people looking for ways to save money, the holiday season needn't be one of extravagance and frivolous spending. These are many ways to find or make low cost, yet thoughtful gifts and ideas for a meaningful Christmas Season.
In the last blog I mentioned Low Energy bulbs. This year you can also deck the halls and boughs with the latest in energy-saving light: LED string lights.These use less electricity and last longer than conventional bulbs.
Posted Wed, 11/19/2008 - 13:37 by muenda
The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) is a US$50-100m private sector fund, backed by some of the biggest names in development finance and hosted by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
read more
Posted Mon, 11/17/2008 - 00:24 by muenda
The Fair Trade African Sculptures that are featured here at Muenda Fair Trade are hand carved in Zimbabwe, Africa. Although there is information on the Origins of Shona Art, there is not much information on the stone per se. These are beautiful sculptures; people are drawn to their simplistic and rustic form. We have done some delving around and came up with the following information:
Posted Sun, 11/16/2008 - 23:29 by muenda
On behalf of our artists, thank you. Your Fair Trade purchases this holiday season are helping fight global poverty.
When you buy Fair Trade gifts you are a part of a growing trend towards equal and sustainable trading relationships. Muenda Fair Trade works with impoverished communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Posted Fri, 11/14/2008 - 00:47 by muenda
It is that time of year when we can think about conserving and building food resources for the following year. I grew up with my parents as gardeners and ‘composters, ' my mother would make jams and preserves for the winter months. We also used to collect rainwater in 'butts' for watering the garden in the summer.
Posted Mon, 11/10/2008 - 22:24 by muenda
Christmas is about giving and receiving gifts, as well as spending time with loved ones. Over the next few weeks i want to share ideas and reminders about how we can each contribute to having an Eco-friendly Christmas. Start Planning Now!Some of the best gifts i have received in the past have been handmade with love, creativity and care. Maybe not an 'expensive' gift, but priceless nonetheless!
Posted Sat, 11/08/2008 - 02:22 by muenda
On October 23rd this year Bono (supporter of the One Campaign) spoke at the California Women's Conference and passed along some startling Statistics (listed below) about women in Africa.
• Nearly two-thirds of adults with HIV in Africa are women. Young women (age 15 to 24) in South Africa accounted for around 90% of new infections in 2007.
• In Africa, the likelihood of a woman dying in childbirth is 1 in 20 (compared to 1 in 2,800 in the US).
read more
Posted Thu, 11/06/2008 - 01:02 by muenda
America Recycles Day (ARD), celebrated on November 15 every year, is dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products.
The purpose of America Recycles Day is to promote the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling and to encourage more people to join the movement to create a better natural environment.
read more
Posted Tue, 11/04/2008 - 02:41 by muenda
Muenda Fair Trade is now a proud member of Coop America's Green Business Network!
After a very thorough screening process, Muenda Fair Trade is finally a member of America's foremost Green Business Network (GBN).
Co-op America's Green Business NetworkTM is dedicated to helping socially and environmentally responsible businesses emerge and thrive to form a global green economy.
Posted Sun, 11/02/2008 - 23:45 by muenda
Posted Mon, 10/27/2008 - 15:03 by muenda
Susie at Muenda has followed the ONE campaign for many years now and wanted to share excerpts of this article she found on the website.
Ambassador John J. Danilovich, writing for the Huffington Post, offered up an eloquent and concise argument for why foreign aid is more important now than ever.
The full article was submitted on October 23rd and is available at the online Huffington Post:
read more
Posted Thu, 10/23/2008 - 16:40 by muenda
The next Green Festival to be held is the Washington DC Green Festival on November 8 and 9th:
These national 'Green' events take place in various cities around the country and is a joint project of Global Exchange and Co-op America.
read more