Oxfam and Earthworks partnership with No Dirty Gold

Oxfam America and EARTHWORKS to Strengthen Efforts to Reform Extractive Industries' Environmental and Social Practices

April 2008 -- International humanitarian relief and development organization Oxfam, and environmental advocacy group EARTHWORKS are announcing a new and exciting phase of their joint efforts to promote reforms of the environmental and social practices of the global mining and oil industries.

Since 2004, the two organizations have partnered in the highly successful "No Dirty Gold" campaign (NDG), which has sought to raise the human rights and environmental standards of the global mining industry. The campaign has enlisted the support of 30 of the world's leading jewelry companies for the campaign's "Golden Rules" human rights and environmental standards for more responsible precious metals production. In addition, 100,000 people from around the world have signed the campaign's pledge calling for more responsibly produced gold. The campaign has also helped catalyze the creation of the Initiative for Responsible Mining, an effort by NGOs, mining companies and jewelry retailers to develop a third-party, independent system for verifying environmental and social practices at large-scale mines.

The two organizations now seek to build on the unprecedented success of No Dirty Gold (NDG) and take on even greater challenges. EARTHWORKS will assume the management of NDG, and will continue to raise concerns about irresponsible practices at mine sites around the world as well as document progress towards best practices. Oxfam America will intensify its work in this sector by launching a new initiative focused on the theme "Right to Know/Right to Decide," which will seek to empower local communities by calling on mining and oil companies to fully respect communities' basic rights to participate in decision-making and to fully disclose money they pay to foreign governments. Such information is a crucial first step for ensuring that governments use these funds to reduce poverty and protect human rights. Later this spring, EARTHWORKS will also be launching a new effort to pressure companies extracting fuel minerals to implement best practices and policies that protect communities and our climate.

Should you pay for your wedding with an 'ethical' credit card?

workingassets.com
BrighterPlanet.com

Are two of the big ones. Working assets has donated 60 million to good causes since 1985.

BUT, they are owned by Bank of America and MBNA. 60 million is chump change to them, and it buys a lot of greenwashing. Such banks have been accused of predatory lending, ethics violations, and are big republican donors. See this CoopAmerica article, comparing Greenwashing Credit companies like BOA and MBNA. Where possible, look up a local credit union.

Happy Earth Day - greenwashing

Another lite posting day -- Gotta do more gardening - hand-picking slugs today. Consider supporting this Greenwashing campaign, and make sure you check out 'green' companies to see what they're really doing. I'm riding my 'new' second hand bike - saddle sore, but nice to be on the road, out of the subway. Cheers!

Wedding in National Park

Sorry for the light posting -- must go garden! Gotta get those organic seeds in the ground before the rain. If you're interested in being married in a national park, see this list: Weddings in National Parks

Provincial Parks:
British Columbia: "You do not require a Park Use Permit to hold a wedding ceremony within a provincial park HOWEVER you do need permission from our Regional Office. Please contact our Victoria office at 1-866-433-7272 ext. 3 so that we can direct you to the appropriate Regional Office for the specific park you are interested in"

Park locations in Ontario Ontario parks need to be contacted individually. Some have event spaces or lodges for rental use, some will let you use the park space.
Also consider private gardens and conservatories, like the Arboretum at the University Of Guelph.

Earth Day Action - lobby for HR 1590 S 309

The Unitarians are on it - (and so are the Quakers)
Here is the short and sweet: Global climate change is already creating water shortages and forcing large-scale human migrations. The scientific community tells us we must reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 2000 levels by the year 2050. Only the Sanders-Boxer (S. 309) and Waxman (H.R. 1590) bills require the sufficient reductions, as an economy-wide cap-&-trade. Moreover, the competing bill benefits corporations at the expense of low-income families. (See more information on why the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) endorses Sanders-Boxer (S.309) (PDF) over Lieberman-Warner.)

Eco honeymoon?

I'm of two minds about eco-tourism. Surely the best way to preserve the ecosystem of unique environments is to -- STAY AWAY!

However, in some cases, sustainable (??) tourism allows the indigenous population to keep out the loggers, developers, miners, and other encroachments. So I'll try to find some eco-tour ideas and post the list on agreenbride.

Here are some inititial guides:

Ecotourdirectory
"Our directory currently contains 76 eco holiday agents, tour operators and eco accommodation providers to help plan your next day trip, weekend break or trip of a lifetime. Between them all they can provide hundreds of responsible & ecotourism holiday options to inspire you."

Out of season fruit killing songbirds

The Independent.

Think about serving strawberries and cream at your wedding -- in November...and read this:

"The number of migratory songbirds returning to North America has gone into sharp decline due to the unregulated use of highly toxic pesticides and other chemicals across Latin America. Ornithologists blame the demand for out-of-season fruit and vegetables and other crops in North America and Europe for the destruction of tens of millions of birds. By some counts, half of the songbirds that warbled across America's skies only 40 years ago have gone, wiped out by pesticides or loss of habitat.

New and highly toxic pesticides banned by the US and European Union are being widely used in Latin America. Because of changed consumer habits in Europe and the US, export-led agriculture has transformed the wintering grounds of birds into intensive farming operations producing grapes, melons and bananas as well as rice for export..."

Combined with a loss of habitat due to ethanol planting, the birds are doomed. And the bees haven't recovered yet, either. Consider this when you're planning your wedding menu, and it's not just fruit - so vegetarians and vegans should take note too, and do their research.

Ethical companies are not forever

The Lazy Environmentalist is a friendly sort of eco-blog (and the owner, Josh Dorfmann, runs Vivavi.com, (showroom in Manhattan), where you can set up a registry for eco wedding furniture).

I discovered on his blog that Clorox bought Burt's Bees (in 2007, where was I?), and Disney bought Treehugger.com. Be advised. Mileage may vary on these items, now. Remember when Hershey bought Dagoba? Sigh.

Wedding poems and blessings about nature

We have been asked about spiritual readings for outdoor weddings (and readings which reference Nature). Many of the Native American readings, such as the Apache Wedding Blessing are frequently used for this purpose, as well as the Eastern Seven Steps wedding blessing.

Here is a page of wedding readings about nature with some other prose and poetry readings which may be suitable, as well as the usual passages by Khalil Gibran, a popular selection from Louis de Bernieres' Captain Corelli's Mandolin, some Shelley and Yeats and some more unusual poems you might consider. Let us know anything else we should add!

I like this Classical Chinese poem:

I want to be your friend forever and ever
When the hills are all flat
and the rivers run dry
When the trees blossom in winter
and the snow falls in summer,
when heaven and earth mix -
not till then will I part from you.

and this:

Double Love Song by Thomas Whitebread

Open your heart, as if you could,
Let me come into it like fire,
And let me know it as dry wood,
Pretend your being is desire.

Then turn to sandstone, as you can
And let me flow like water through
Your pores toward air, where I began
As if your earth were all of you

Catering a Vegetarian Wedding Menu - hidden meat items

If you are using an omnivorous caterer (one who is making both meat and non-meat dishes) you may need to ask certain questions regarding the vegetarian aspects of your meal. Here is a list from a UK wedding site to ask your caterer. I'm married to a chef, and I added a few questions.

* Cheese: not all cheese is vegetarian. Double check that vegetarian rennet, not animal rennet, is being used.
* Wine: the sediment in wine may have been removed (fined) with gelatine or egg white. Always check with the supplier. Remember, too, that organic wine is not necessarily vegetarian.
* Eggs: many veggies will only eat free-range eggs.
* Margarine: some margarine contains whey or vitamins A, D or E, or additive E471, any of which may be from animal sources. It's safest to use margarine with the vegetarian or vegan symbol.
* The cake: does the icing contain animal products, such as egg whites? While this will be OK for veggies, any vegans among your guests will not be able to eat it.
* Honey: this is avoided by most vegans.
* Pasta: may contain egg or squid ink or other substances.
* Soup: double-check the ingredients in the stock.
* Vegetables: Many caterers cook veggies in soup stock and butter for added flavour
* Glaze and thickening agents: check the ingredients of vegetable and dessert glazes and thickening agents for sauces. You want cornstarch or agar-agar, or some sort of carageen (Irish Moss), not aspic or gelatin.
* Tuna-fish: well, it's true. Many cooks think 'vegetarian' means fish.

The British Vegetarian Society has a great website with information and alternatives, including a special page for caterers and some recipes. (I like their Vegetarian Paella, which would be a festive buffet dish).