People & Planet: WWOOFing around the world

Whilst flicking through a Lonely Planet guide over summer I came across something that I'd never heard of before: WWOOFing.

This odd sounding acronym stands for ‘World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms’. This is a programme which spans every continent of the globe and celebrates not only Organic Farming but also preserving traditional farming and production methods. Fancy the opportunity to learn how to make cheese and cider whilst meeting new people and experiencing new culture?

Strangely, within an hour of reading this I met an actual ‘WWOOFer’, as they are humorously called, who had just been working on an organic rice farm in Northern Japan. She said the experience was absolutely amazing and would recommend it to everyone.

Ever eager to travel and do a little learning and good work along the way I’ve signed up. France will be my first stop!

Poppy Sakulku

People & Planet: Friends of the Earth

Friends of the Earth representatives have been barred from the UN climate talks in the Bella Centre in Copenhagen this morning.

Every delegate from the international environmental campaign group arrived at the centre this morning to find their badges were no longer valid.

Friends of the Earth representatives from countries ranging from Nigeria to Japan and Denmark have been taking part in the negotiations over the past two weeks calling for a strong and fair agreement, with rich countries leading the way with emissions cuts of at least 40 per cent by 2020.

Friends of the Earth is petitioning UN climate secretary Yvo De Boer to protest against the ban and calling for members of the public to add their name at www.foe.co.uk.

Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

“It is a crisis of democracy when campaigning charities like Friends of the Earth are prevented from speaking up on behalf of communities around the globe within the talks themselves.

“We were stunned to discover that every Friends of the Earth delegate has been banned from attending these crucial talks – if this is a consequence of our role as one of the most prominent groups calling for a strong and fair agreement, this is even more disturbing.

“This draconian measure is completely unjustified – the Copenhagen conference is fast becoming an international shambles.”

Via Daisy Green

People & Planet: The Good Thing About The Recession

Ok this year has been tough due to the recession and some people have had their circumstances changed more unfairly than others. However I wanted to write something positive to highlight the golden moments that I've gleamed from this last year and what I personally have received from having to be more resourceful with a lot less.

I would also like to ask you to use this as an opportunity to dig within and to look at what treasure you yourself have dug up within seemingly difficult times. I would love it if you posted your comments below about what you've found out this year and we can all learn from each other. Although on La Luminata we write a lot about cool eco things to buy, it's also about being smart, intelligent and savvy with what you already have.

Number One on my list is friendship. I have really found out who is a good friend to me, whether I've needed a pep talk, a hug, a cup of tea, some advice or even a night out, I would have been lost without my friends both old and new who have supported me throughout this year. It's also made me realise how important these friendships are to me and that nothing makes you feel quite as great as people who love you for who you are.

Number Two I would say...is that I've realised just what you can achieve with very little resourses...just a good idea, a lot of energy and the courage of your convictions. I'll say no more.

Number Three is that I've made friends with the kitchen recently, which I've always found an intimidating place until now. But my new gung-ho attitude seems to be paying off. I have been making gorgeous soups which are quick and easy to make from the BBC website and experimenting more with in-season local vegetables to boost our immune systems through winter. I've also been learning more about raw food which is so good for the body and I've become quite addicted to raw chocolate truffles which are actually healthy! I've also been getting friendly with various ingredients in my kitchen as beauty products. For example, using virgin organic coconut oil to restore my very damaged hair, which has worked a treat and left me with healthy shiny locks.

Number Four is doing less. Yes really. I always used to feel like I needed to go/see/do absolutely everything and in the meantime completely tire myself out with exhaustion. Now I'm a lot more selective and often prize spending an evening in watching a moving film than spending money in bars and clubs for the sake of it. When I go out now it feels like a real occasion and something that I look forward to.

Number Five is crafts. Thanks to a number of customizing websites, blogs and magazines I have rediscovered my own inner fashion designer and have been sewing buttons and fringing onto clothing, not to mention the amazing vintage and charity shop finds which I have come across. I recently purchased a floor length turquoise dress for £12 from Traid and with a bit of alteration I know that I will be the envy of Christmas parties everywhere! Best of all, no one else will have the same dress.

Number Six is using organic products. Where I've saved money on clothing, customizing and by walking everywhere, I have spent money on organic and ethical skincare because what you put onto your skin is absorbed by the body and this can have a knock-on effect years later. So I put total importance on buying the best products that I can possibly afford for my skin, hair and body. Not forgetting mineral cosmetics because with products this good, there's really no reason to be using anything that contains chemical ingredients.

Number Seven is shunning the high street completely during this unsteady time and instead investing my money in small businesses with strong ethics. This year I will be buying all of my Christmas presents from local crafts people in Sussex and not only do I help them to grow their business, but I get to give ethical, handmade, thoughtful and original gifts to the people I love. Beat that 2 for 1 gifts at Boots!

Number Eight is to recycle. Now I've been doing this for a long time anyway but what I really mean is to not throw things into the recycling bin automatically and instead look at the whole way in which you consume and re-use your items. For example, envelopes and jiffy bags get reused instead of being thrown away, glass jars and bottles can be reused for storing food/products/pens, etc. Vegetables are never taken to the checkout in individual plastic bags and I always try to buy things with as little packaging as possible (seriously, what's our obsession!) It's all about being resourceful and creative in every area of your life. For some inspiration look here.

Number Nine is to Look within. Now I don't mean this in a kind of misguided hippy sentimental way, but seriously we are constantly made to feel by the media that we don't have enough and aren't good enough unless we buy this or that or do this or that. That we can never be thin enough, rich enough, sexy enough, cool enough to be happy and this is such a silly fabricated lie. So this year I have become totally connected with myself through writing, exercise, eating well and meditation. And you know what, I've decided that I'm absolutely fine as I am. It's about listening to your inner thought patterns, turning off the negative critics in your mind and learning to love the person that you are today, flaws and all. It's amazing how much more successful, sexier and vibrant you become (and seem to others) when your at peace within your mind and heart. Life is beautiful.

Number Ten is Kindness and compassion. It's free, it makes you feel amazing and it brings so many wonderful experiences to you. So many people seem to have forgotten the simple act that a few kind words or a smile to a stranger can make. If there's one thing that you change about yourself, this is the best one. Kindness and giving to another human being, an animal or even a plant will make your heart expand enormously, there really is nothing better.

People & Planet: Greenpeace Take Over Parliament

Tomorrow MP's  will  return to Parliament after recess and may well be surprised to see the brave Greenpeace volunteers who right now are occupying the roof of the Houses of Parliament.

The protesters may stay up there all night. Their message is clear. Lets hope the people in power listen. For more info and to support the campaign check www.greenpeace.org.uk

People & Planet: One to Watch, Luxirare

If you haven't heard of this girl, then you should have...

Part artist, part mad scientist, part fashion designer, part muse and in my view a total genius.

Check out Luxirare to have your mind seriously blown away with perfection, ingenuity, beauty and creativity.

People & Planet: My Top 5 Style Blogs

Now, let it be known that I much prefer reading fashion blogs these days to magazines and that the majority of my style ideas come from wierd and wonderful things found in real life, nature and all across the web.

That's not to say that magazines still don't have their place in the world, as excellent journals on all things fashion. But blogs, are free, accessible, regularly updated, express real character, set their own trends and are not edited by a team...which can sometimes be a good or a bad thing.

Here's the pick of my favourite blogs, not to say that they are the best ones out there or necessarily eco in any way...I just like them personally, in their own unique and eclectic way and find myself inspired by the writers.

So this is my gift from me to you, enjoy!

1. Outtsapop

2. Luxe Noir

3. Fashion Wrap

4. Life In Lomo

5. Facehunter

People & Planet: Interview with Jim Miller

La Luminata caught up with sustainable design enthusiast and practitioner Jim Miller of Jim Miller Design Ltd….

La Luminata: Explain a bit about yourself and the work you do….

Jim: Jim Miller Design Ltd offers sustainable architectural design and build services.

La Luminata: What made you decide to specialize in sustainable design?

Jim: I am hard wired with a sustainable attitude and strongly believe that we must all make dramatic changes to all our lives to ensure the health of the planet.

La Luminata: La Luminata recently attended the Brighton & Hove Open Door event and visited one of your latest projects, 3 East Drive. Explain a bit about the project and the sustainable strategies you adopted here….

Jim: Because new builds only make up a tiny fraction of the total housing stock the real issue is how to upgrade the housing we already have, and period buildings are the most difficult. East Drive was a fantastic opportunity to implement many sustainable technologies and ideas into a period house. Insulation was upgraded in every part of the house along with air tightness. Secondary improvements included replacing the single glazing with slim double glazing and adding solar panels and a green sedum roof.

La Luminata: Are there any emerging new technologies that you are particularly excited about?

Jim: Nano technology is very exciting and could resolve some insulation issues. We also need to look at designing buildings which work passively and in a more natural way.

La Luminata: What has been the highlight of your career so far as a sustainable architectural designer?

Jim: Changing clients attitudes to sustainability.

La Luminata: Have you seen a shift in clients’ attitudes towards sustainable design due to the financial crisis, because people just want the cheapest solution?

Jim: Sustainable solutions are often more expensive and tightening budgets obviously affect this. However the solution is longer term and as sustainability becomes more mainstream the costs will come down and new ways of building will become widely accepted.

La Luminata: How do you think sustainable architecture, and the way the public embraces sustainability, will develop in the future?

Jim: I think it will become the norm in the not too distant future.

La Luminata: Have you got any exciting sustainable design projects coming up?

Jim: I’m hoping to combine the latest technologies and design ideas in a garden office as a small scale trial with the plan to build my own sustainable new build in the future.

La Luminata: Any tips or advice you’d like to pass onto the readers..?

Jim: Incorporate sustainable improvements whenever you upgrade your building and spend the money on the simple things like insulation and air tightness first.

By Carly Gordon