Not many clothes retailers can boast a mission statement like People Tree!   And even better, with People Tree you are no-longer restricted to sticking to their mail-order and internet shopping services;  Topshop are to stock People Tree's stylish and sustainable range of Fair Trade clothing in their highstreet stores, to the ongoing benefit of some of the world's most marginalised communities.

If you think that Fair Trade fashion is too good to be true, take a look at People Tree's policy to Fair Trade and the environment for yourself:

Fair Trade Policy
To pay producers fair prices
To promote traditional skills
To support appropriate technology
To promote rural development
To make advance payments if needed
To operate with transparency

Eco Policy
To promote natural and organic farming
To avoid polluting substances
To protect and sustain forestry
To protect water supplies
To use biodegradable substances where possible
To recycle materials where possible 

The exciting new microgeneration sector has today received a huge boost with the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill passing its final Parliamentary stage and receiving Royal Assent. The Private Members Bill, promoted by MP Mark Lazarowicz and supported by a range of industry and environmental associations, will prioritise policy measures to support consumer-based microgeneration and breakdown many of the barriers facing uptake of the sector.

The Bill promotes household microgeneration and community energy schemes, helping alleviate cold homes and fuel poverty, and specifically requires 'route-maps' and targets for microgeneration to be set, governmental accountability through annual reporting on carbon dioxide emissions, reporting on dynamic demand and smart metering, along with a review of permitted development rights, local plans and building regulations and other measures.

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) research for the Government's Energy review identified that up to 1,200 MW from micro and mini wind turbines could be installed by 2020, and this Bill clearly sets the ball rolling to realise this potential.

Given the right support mechanisms, microgeneration technologies such as small wind turbines can have a key part to play in our fight against climate change and empower the general public to take their own steps at a domestic level.

Why not build your own wind turbine using the  BWEA factsheet.

June 2006 saw The Observer newspaper has handing out its first ever Ethical Awards - in association with Ecover.

The awards aim to reward people and organisations judged to be making a real contribution to ethical living.

The winners of the six categories varied from the high profile ?Make Poverty History? campaign, to a group of schoolchildren and a grandmother.



The winners of the six categories were:

Young Campaigner of the Year - Meare Village Primary School

Innovation of the Year - Architecture for Humanity

DIY Project of the Year - Averil Stedeford, Oxford

Building of the Year - Jubilee Library, Brighton (Architects: Bennetts Associates and Lomax, Cassidy & Edwards

Retailer of the Year (voted by Observer Magazine readers) - Natural Collection

Campaigner of the Year (voted by Observer Magazine readers) - Make Poverty History