Can you believe that it's February already? It seems to me that time is going faster than ever and that the way we view and use time is something that we are going to have to change as part of our adaptation to life in the 21st century. I have been thinking back to when we were approaching the millenium shift with expectant curiosity as to whether everything would change or still be the same, and whilst the changes were not as immediate as some predicted, change has certainly been consistent and dramatic over the past nine years.
Everything is in a process of change, bringing with it mixed feelings of excitement and trepidation. A lot of people found 2008 a really hard year in many ways, but also a year of growth and re-evaluation. As we venture forth into 2009, its good to remember that we have made it through many challenges in the past years which makes us better equipped to face and conquer the challenges that 2009 will bring. It's our world that is in chaos, our environment that is threatened, and our people, plants, animals, water, air and soil that are in various shades of neglect and disease. It has been hard for us to awaken to the mess that our world is in, but looking back at our thinking (or lack of thinking), our habits and our lifestyles, brings us more understanding of where we went wrong, and in this understanding we find the keys to where and how we need to change to bring a new order out of this chaos.
Have you noticed how many people are rising with passion and resolve to make a difference and to make a contribution to a better world for all of us? Different knowledge and different viewpoints coming together for a single goal of doing something to turn around and avert an environmental catastrophe. The world is also in disarray because of the economic downturn, which is causing much hardship on personal levels but on an environmental level, it is forcing a correction of our over-consumption. Not an easy lesson or experience at all, but possibly what we need to help us avert environmental disaster. We need to make peace and find balance in experiences like this and to learn the art of sustainability.
We hope that you enjoy this newsletter as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you!
Warm Regards,
Cheryl
INTRODUCING SWAP PARTIES...
A Great way to Recycle. Save Money, Have Fun and Make new Friends!
Clothing swaps are the most fun way to get rid of wardrobe clutter, freshen up your style and 'welcome new outfits without the monetary or environmental cost'. Swapping items that you might ordinarily throw away relieves some of the pressure on greenhouse gas emitting landfills'. (One million tons of clothing is dumped in landfills every year!). It also reduces the amount of chemicals and raw materials used in the textile manufacturing process....READ MORE
WATER IN THE NEWS - Cholera Spreads in Mpumalanga.
Mpumalanga has recorded 381 new Cholera cases, the provincial health department said (Jan 24, 2009)
Spokesperson Mpho Gabashane said on Friday the new cases brought the total number of cases treated in the province to 2276 since the beginning of the cholera outbreak in November last year.
Nineteen people have died of the disease in the province......READ MORE
WATER DISTILLERS COME OUT TOPS FOR REMOVING CHOLERA.
Be Safe. Be Sure.
The distillation process is excellent for removing cholera and a safe and easy way to ensure that your water is definitely cholera free. Because the distillation process boils the water first, all bacteria, viruses and parasites are killed, and because it lifts the water from the boiling tank as steam, before re-condensing the steam as water, you can rest assured that you are not drinking any dead or living bacteria, parasites or viruses.
Cholera is just one of the many contaminants plaguing our water supply. Other substances such as e-coli, heavy metals, pesticides, hormones, chlorine and fluoride are also threatening the safety of our drinking water. The good news is that water distillers are very effective at removing these contaminants, making safe drinking water within the reach of many people. It is especially important that babies drink uncontaminated water, and many mothers are choosing to distill their babies water, instead of just boiling it.
Wide Range of Water Distillers available to suit every need:
SEE YOU AT BLUBIRD...
Wholefood Market in Birnam, Jozi. Every Sunday 9am - 2pm!
Delicious Breads, Home grown vegetables, Herbs, Orchids and Bonsai's. Coffee Beans, Spices, Pies, Olives, Sundried tomatoes, Marinated Artichokes, Savoury Tarts, Honey, Jams, Preserves and so much more. Also great Earthworm Bins for making your own earthworm compost from kitchen waste, Grow a Tree campaign, Greenpeace and Naturalwise with Water Distillers, Organic Skincare, Natural soaps and the Champion Juicer.
Blubird Shopping Centre, Atholl Oaklands Road, Birnam. (Take the Corlett Drive offramp from the N3 highway). Every Sunday 9am to 2pm.
PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE...
Try these Great Services, for jobs big and small!
Janda Collet Architects
Sustainable eco-friendly architectural design. New energy efficient eco-friendly houses and offices, and eco-renovations. Free your living and working environment from over dependence on the grid and create a healthy environment to live and work in. Consultations also available to help you make big or small changes to your existing home.
Call Janda on 082 877 3981 or email her on jcarchitects@telkomsa.net
Naturally African Landscapers Naturally African is garden advice, design and installation service that strives to promote the use of our own beautiful South African plants partly just for the pleasure of it, but also for important ecological reasons! Did you know that you can achieve all manner of garden styles using indigenous plants? Why not test the theory!? Consultations also available to get advice or start a working plan on how to start transforming your existing garden into an indigenous, eco-friendlier garden.
Call Sue Truebody on 083 325 1948
GET GOING WITH YOUR VEG AND HERB GARDENS...
Sustainable and Rewarding - learn from the experts!
Book now for these 2 great talks:
TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF GROWING YOUR OWN VEGGIES - a talk by Paul Vonk (Commercial Manager of Mayford seeds)
When: Saturday 14 February 14h00 to 15h00
Where: FOURWAYS GARDEN PAVILION, Leaping Frog Centre, Cnr William Nicol Drive and Mulbarton Road, Fourways.
Cost: Talk plus tea R30 or R20 if you are a FGP Frequent Shopper Member (It is free to join)
SAY 'NO' TO ECO-UNFRIENDLY PRODUCTS IN YOUR HOME...
Being Eco-clean is really clean!
Did you know that when we buy and use chemically based products, then we are playing a part in adding chemicals into our greater environment? Most of us wouldnt consider eating, drinking or breathing the chemical ingredients contained in common household and personal cleaning products and yet when we use them we are doing just that. Current regulatory bodies do not check for the safety of ingredients in products which means that there is no assurance whatsoever that ingredients used in non-food type products are safe for people, animals or the earth. The products that we flush down the drain (or throw away as common household waste) enter own water, air and soil systems, affecting all life in many ways, big and small.
All Naturalwise household, body and baby care products are 100% natural and free from all articifial chemicals, preservatives and colourants, giving you the peace of mind that comes from knwoing that you are part of a healthy eco-system and not inadvertently contributing to local or global toxicity.
* Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the MCC and as such,
no information presented here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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