This is something I posted a few months ago from the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation after I attended their Christmas Event & Art Auction in London.

I was thinking of it because I saw on Michelle Desilets' Facebook (Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation) that they had just taken in a 2 month old Orangutan off the palm oil plantations where his mum had been killed. she has since reported that he is starting to eat and drink, but will need years of care and then somewhere to go back to....

We have become so distant from where our food comes from and how what we do and what we eat has an impact somewhere else. Seems we cant do much for ourselves anymore, and yet in the 1940s during the war everyone got by and 'made do and mend'. We have lost so much and it seems we are about to lose something even more catastrophic...the lungs of our planet and the last of the Orangutans and all sub species in the rainforest.....let's hope that that margarine or eye make up was worth it....

Anne Frank said "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."

And from Jane Goodall, who I had the pleasure to meet last year, "Let us remember, always, that we are the consumers. By exercising free choice, by choosing what to buy, what not to buy, we have the power, collectively to change the ethics of the business of industry. We have the potential to exert immense power for good—we each carry it with us, in our purses, cheque books, and credit cards."

I ponder when people cast(e) themselves by what they wear or where they go, or who they hang out with, because when it comes down to it, that's just nonsense, and it's a poor example to set our kids. maybe the tide can turn, because it needs to, and very very soon...

Watch this youtube video and see what we are doing, by being silent and complicit in our weekly shopping:

http://www.savetheorangutan.org.uk/

Jane of Little Satsuma wins title of one of Future 100! Yey!

Well what a lovely award to have. After a great year, raising awareness and taking onboard a national animal charity to our products....we get this!!!!

Little did I think as that crackers 12 year old in 1988 who joined Greenpeace and who stood (and then fainted!) in the drama theatre at school campaigning to stop people using CFCs and stop the whaling in international waters that things would have had turned out like this.....funny the paths we take, and how they lead us to where we were always supposed to be, no matter the diversions we take........

At Striding Out we searched for talented young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 who are demonstrating entrepreneurial flair and innovation in progressing a responsible business venture to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008 -17th - 21st November.

Our definition of responsible business, is one which demonstrates a balance between economic, environmental and social goals to achieve ultimate business success. The future of our world is in the hands of individuals who are committed to generating commercial and ethical returns.

"The future of our world is in the hands of individuals who are committed to generating commercial and ethical returns.
Challenging economic times can offer opportunities to question the way we operate as both a business community and a society. Our 'Future 100' young entrepreneurs are changing the face of everyday business and improve commerce's impact on the wider world."