elephant pepper

A friend recently alerted us to the Elephant Pepper Development Trust - they seek to preserve Africa's threatened elephant population.

Their mission is to promote the livelihood of farmers living in elephant range through training, the deployment of appropriate conflict mitigation methods and development of agricultural techniques which promote elephant conservation. By promoting effective farming techniques crop security for rural communities in Africa is also improved.

How you ask? Well one of the ways is through chillis! These hot peppers are being used by farmers to protect their crops from elephants as they are known to hate chilli! Elephants cause widespread damage to crops. With only 20% of elephants in Africa formally protected this has lead to massive decreases in elephant populations in some local areas where people are forced to compete with them over food.

The organisation is currently working the the following countries.

You can also buy Elephant Pepper produce at their online hot shop!

congratulations Bholu!

Big news from Bholuland over the weekend. Bholu won the Telstra Business award for social responsibility. Congratulation to Jodie and all our Bholu friends, what exciting news! Of course you deserve it, we always knew you were amazing and it's not surprising everyone else does too. 

If you haven't heard about Bholu you should make sure you check them out. Jodie is pictured above and is the founder of Bholu. We've mentioned them here before. They are a wonderful design company that has a beautiful range of products and they also are a fair trade company with a social conscience. 

Go Fair Trading!

Very exciting! A relative has just sent a link for a new joint venture she is invloved in! Go Fair provides fair trade hand-made, multi-cultural and educational resources to the early child education sector. The fair trade movement advocates goods being produced ethically and ensuring a fair price is paid for those goods!

By purchasing Go Fair resources, you are helping artisans all around the world and giving them an opportunity to grow and be free of poverty. Fair trade enables artisans to earn a fair wage and provides them with an opportunity for a better quality of life.

If you are in the market for some kiddy gear go online and check out some of the truly cute items - some of these include hand puppets, finger puppets, wall hangings, Aboriginal and multi-cultural dolls, educational charts, international music, books, puzzles, jigsaws, multi-cultural costumes, mobiles, musical instruments and much more.... TOO cute!

FAIR TRADE fortnight 3rd - 18th may

Its FAIR TRADE fortnight!

By changing to fair trade today or getting involved in events, you can change the lives of farmers and producers across the developing world.

Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers - especially in the South.

Fair Trade organisations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.

As a result of Fairtrade, these producers receive a Fairtrade Minimum Price that covers the cost of sustainable production as well as an extra Fairtrade Premium that is invested in social or economic development projects.

bricks + cartwheels attended the FAIR TRADE Fiesta ot the Paddington Hall on tuesday night. There was a great vibe with lots of stall holders selling Fairly Traded goods and the food by Kylie Kwong using fairtrade products was delicious!

Look for the FAIR TRADE label on products such as coffee, tea, chocolate, cotton, sugar, rice and sports balls!

For more infomation about the FAIR TRADE click here

Bholu - Fair trade designers

We have recently stumbled across this amazing design company called Bholu. They are a fair trade and carbon neutral company who as well as being socially conscious are amazing designers. Bholu products are designed in Australia and are brought to life by the hands of women artisans in Gujurat, India. Their philosophy is to create great products that also benefit the community along the way.

By using their traditional skills the women gain income and independance. Part of the proceeds from all products go back to the women and their communities along with funding educational facilities and other programes for underpriviledged children.

Bholu also has a blog called Bholuland which you should check out! There are lots of inspiring photos and stories about their work both here and in India. We discovered that AWF (Architects Without Frontiers) under the leadership of Sam Crawford and Jane Rothschild are designing the next Bholu anganwadi building in Ahmedabad, India.

To find out more about the amazing work of Bholu check out their website here. It's great to find out about wonderful companies like this.

All photos coutesy of Bholuland blog.