Articles Directory

Systems ecologist, Folke Günther says it is food production that requires massive amounts of energy and is the major source of Carbon Dioxide. His concept, Eco-Units, radically reduces emissions by integrating agriculture and housing. He expands on his ideas in this interview.

OK - so you're a consultant, but giving advice is easy - could you hack it out there running a real company, in the face of first line consumers, coping with suppliers who let you down at the last minute, running a business with regulations oozing through the walls?

Could you do it?

The first edition of Authentic Life is out now. The lovely people at New Consumer magazine (www.newconsumer.org) are incubating it, giving it some love so it stands a chance out there in the big wide world of media. Authentic Life is ushering in a whole lot of new positive energy for Kat Byles. Maybe it will for you too?

Making this world a better place can be as easy as having another cup of coffee. Max Havelaar has raised the awareness of the Dutch population about fair trade principles by getting into their kitchen cabinets. With more products to follow the route coffee has gone, even the world’s biggest food corporations are beginning to take an interest – Rinze Terluin reports

Sometimes new solutions mean restoring old ways. The micro organisms that are part of revolutionary EM mixes, have been around longer than mankind. And they may just provide the solution to many of the problems that plague so called modern agricultural developments – Rinze Terluin explains how

If someone told you that there is a plant which offers a 100% renewable and environmentally superior alternative to petrol or diesel, wood pulp in paper, oil based plastic, cotton and can also be used to make dietary supplements, foods, drinks and medicinal creams you might wonder why you had not heard about it before - Paul Benhaim explains.

Andrew tells his inspiring if daunting tale of setting up one of the UKs first conciously organic, ethical and authentic businesses in 1976 when the rest of the market (both suppliers and customers) were far from ready for it.  From Russian correspondant at the BBC to Baker and cafe owner in one rather complicated step.

Sawday’s are a publishing company who currently publish two series of books; Special Places to Stay and Fragile Earth. Special Places to Stay is packed full of wonderful bed and breakfasts and small hotels. Each place is chosen for its individuality and character and the authenticity of the owners and hosts. I have used the books a number of times and stayed in recommended places and can vouch for their specialness. Starting with France in 1996 the guides now cover much of Europe with a book for each country.

Authentic Business is publishing the Walk Your Talk newsletter, which over the next few weeks will be profiling participants in the Walk Your Talk event for socially and environmentally responsible entrepreneurs at the Findhorn Foundation, 18-21 September 2003.

Meeting design is not something, which seems to get a great deal of recognition but it is something Neil Crofts came to understand during his time at Razorfish. "We had so many meeting and had such a lot to achieve in them that designing the meetings using specific activities and break out sessions to achieve particular outcomes and build towards a final objective became crucial. Since then I have learned far more about meeting design and we now offer it as part of the Authentic Guides service.