CNet’s new Green site

Today I found out about CNet’s new eco site SmartPlanet.com. It’s got loads of interesting articles about what people and businesses are doing; News on green issues and organic, fair trade and low-carbon products.

My 3 top articles are;

1. Eco bloggers bring the landfill home
   
2. SmartPlanet looks forward to Estethica at London Fashion Week
3. Photos: MiniCat, the car that runs on air

I especially liked the article on the American Ari Delfer that has kept all his rubbish for a whole year – he’s planning on making a SuperSizeMe style film about the experience – although presumably he’d have to start all over again?

Comic Relief /Sport Relief

Hi – David has been championing Peter Gabriel like mad this week! – so I’ll just briefly champion myself…!?

Im starting a new job tomorrow as ‘Creative Communications Director’ at Comic Relief – and basically just to say I am overseeing all the creative output of Comic Relief so will be looking for all the latest inspirational stuff that I can find – so please forward / upload anything that you think is cool / relevant etc.

Comic Relief do far more than anyone realises – one of my first jobs is to make it more obvious that CR does – Red Nose Day, Sport Relief, American Idol Gives Back, Owns ‘Monkey’ (currently being used by PG Tips),  is looking to do substantial  / massive work in the interactive space (should be owning comedy online at least…), runs charities for / with Robbie Williams, Steve Redgrave, Annie Lennox etc, co-owns the chocolate bar ‘Dubble’, has international versions of Comic Relief, a global online day, a massive public education campaign around Mental Health and a few more really exciting potentially huge projects – not a lot then.

I will be overseeing a team of 45 that looks after all print, new media, broadcast & public education output. I want us work with the very best people  – so please recommend excellent agencies and people doing good work….

Also – would be good to know anyones honest thoughts on Comic Relief generally / creatively…?

Thanks – now back to Peter Gabriel….

Peter Gabriel honored as the MIDEM Personality of the Year in Cannes

Peter Gabriel, one of the world’s truly great men was honored by MIDEM (The World’s Music Market) last night at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes for his achievements in music, in technology as well as for his inspirational work for human rights, social and environmental causes.

As a musician, he is a legend. He built on his early success with Genesis and then become a globally successful solo artist. He also was hugely influential in bringing world music to the western world through WOMAD and his own label Real World.

As a pioneer and innovator, he has always been on the forefront of new technology whether through his use of video technology (Sledgehammer video, anyone?), multimedia/CD-Rom projects way before it was mainstream, launching the first online music distribution services (OD2) or more recently by being involved with two web startups we7 (ad-funded music downloads) and The Filter (personalised music recommendation service).

Peter Gabriel believes passionately about making a difference. Not only has he touched millions through his music and other projects, but he is also making a significant difference to the world. He has given his time and energy to a number of causes through the years including helping human rights through his Witness project that gives people the communication tools to document human rights abuses, as well as through the recent launch of The Elders which he set up with Sir Richard Branson and Nelson Mandela (see our Sign The Declaration of Human Rights story for more details on The Elders)

Peter Gabriel is an inspiration to anybody who wants to make a difference. He doesn’t just talk about it, he makes it happen. A truly great man. I am really pleased he has been honored in this way by the music industry.

Natural Collection

One of my favourite places for online shopping is the Natural Collection website. They are perfect for Christmas and birthday gifts if you haven’t got much time and you want to avoid the highstreet. Before you get to the purchasing they also offer you the opportunity to donate to a number of charities in the same transaction.

They sell all sorts of home supplies plus great fair trade fashionable clothes and gorgeous health and beauty products. I bought all of my nappies there until I discovered the Nature Baby range in Sainsbury’s.

I particularly like their gadgets section. You can see what new innovations are out there to make everyday life just that little bit more green. Check out this gizmo that turns one newspaper into a log that will burn for one hour! Not sure if it’s smoke free though!

They have a sale on at the moment so get there quick!

Cosmetics company donates its profits to good causes

Peacekeeper Cause-metics is the only cosmetics company we know of that gives every single penny of its profits to charitable causes.

When you buy your lip gloss, eye-liner, nail polish or lipstick from the Peacekeeper online store you can be sure that some of your money will go to support women’s health or human rights issues around the world.

Ethical tickets???

Gigantic is a great site. An everyday service with an ethical spin – the company promotes great customer service alongside greener thinking.

Their value seems much better as well; charging only £1.75 for postal delivery against TicketMasters £3. And 10% of their booking fee goes straight to Oxfam.

More companies like this please!

The Independent newspaper searches for top social entrepreneurs

Back in May 2007, The Independent newspaper launched its search to find the top social entrepreneurs of 2007. The exercise was carried out in partnership with The Schwab Foundation and the Boston Consulting Group. It’s pretty close to Fast Company’s Social Capitalist Awards, but this time, from a UK perspective.

The winner will be announced later today (14th January) based on this shortlist of six:

Belu Water – sells bottled water and uses 100% of the profits to fund clean water projects.

MEND – the MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It!) programme was set up to offer children and families free after school sessions for a 10-week period. The programme focuses on lasting change and has had very positive results. It has secured further funding to roll it out to 27,000 children across 300 sites by 2010.

The Hub – according to founder Jonathan Robinson, The Hub’s mission is to “inspire and support social innovators to realise imaginative initiatives for a radically better world.” The idea is based on the members club principles, but clearly it has a different raison d’être. There are six hubs (Rotterdam, Sao Paulo, London, Bristol, Soweto and Jo’burg).

Community Food Enterprise – based on a belief that eating healthy food should be a right, not a privilege, CFE provides affordable fruit and veg through mobile shops.

The Eden Project – established as an educational charity, this amazing project brings together science, art, technology and commerce by showcasing 1m plants in the world’s biggest conservatories.

Cosmos Ignite Project – its mission is to provide a cheaper alternative to 1.6 billion people without electricity who currently use kerosene for lighting.

I will post details of the winner when it is announced later.

Fast Company reveals 45 social entrepreneurs for 2008

The team at Internet mag Fast Company have recently announced the winners of their 2008 Social Capitalist Awards. I am really chuffed that awards like these exist. Though I’m not 100% sure of the ’social capitalist’ tagline. I prefer ’social entrepreneur’. But that’s not important.

What is important is the fact that they have listed 45 entrepreneurs that are really trying to make the world a better place. And they have highlighted some inspirational projects. There is a fair US bias to the results (Fast Company is American, so clearly, that’s normal), so we need to make it our aim on Web of Conscience to highlight great social entrepreneurs from outside of the US.

Out of the 45, here are the 10 that struck a chord with me:

Accion – microenterprise finance and business services in 25 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America; 97% of the loans have been repaid, which shows that it has helped the vast majority of its 3 million clients.

Ceres – bringing investors, companies, environmentalists and other key stakeholders together to build a sustainable and prosperous future.

Common Ground – Common Ground pioneered the concept of mixed-income supportive housing: affordable housing for a range of income groups with on-site social services. 93% of those they help stay in stable housing.

Donors Choose – schools submit projects that need funding to the website, and the visitors can then choose which projects to donate to. The donors then get some really cool feedback from the kids that benefit from their donations. I love this site.

Endeavor – Endeavor supports entrepreneurs in the private sector in emerging-market economies by offering them mentoring and access to connections and networks.

Network For Good – enables you to donate to 1,500 charities in one place, and keep all the info to help you when declaring your donations to the tax man. They make giving easy.

Path – Path find solutions to some of the world’s more challenging health problems. They think outside of the box and approach finding solutions from the user’s perspective.

Peace Works – the OneVoice project is designed to engage Palestinian and Israeli in civic involvement and get the moderate majority to help find solutions to the ongoing conflict.

Transfair USA – this is America’s official ‘fair trade certified’ label. If the world’s biggest economy can get behind fair trade, that would make a huge difference.

Witness – uses the power of video to highlight human rights abuses in the world.