Recently, a cancer victim friend of mine wrote to me of her thoughts and feelings expressed in a short piece of prose. Her piece was called ‘Fighting the Dragons’ and I reproduce here for you...

The simplest energy efficiency and renewables actions - taken seriously - can carry us right across 'the energy gap' - in one single bound! There is so much bad news around climate chaos that it is easy to lose heart.  We are so 'hooked' on the belief that we 'need' vast amounts of energy to live decent lives that we all shun tackling the root of the problem.

Remould – Fair Trade Clothing is run by Cathy Tiffany from her shop in New Mills, Derbyshire. Cathy wanted to sell alternative fashion to local people who had an interest in ethical and Fair Trade clothing. Cathy has recently expanded her range to children’s wear and is working hard to develop her online business to reach a wider spectrum of ethically minded people.

The other evening I was at home relaxing watching television and an old episode of ‘Airport’ came on. I always enjoyed the series. It always reminds me of my times of travel and excitement and of seeing people bustling on the concourse and feeling my hopes rising and feeling as though my dreams are appearing through the mist of uncertainty and becoming more solid. Watching the screen you see such a diversity of travellers and then all the staff of Heathrow [it could be any airport really]. The end credits to ‘Love Actually’ always come to mind as well when watching this program.

Public participation is a key ingredient to sustainability in tourism. Raising public awareness requires strong political leadership.

There are two fundamental questions that the leaders and those who hold the power on matters of hospitality and tourism on the island of Rhodes should address: (1) what is sustainability in tourism? and (2) why they should raise public awareness?.

Do you ever have the feeling that you're being lied to about just don't know what? That there's something wrong with the way society defines your success, but you just can't put your finger on it? Do you question that there has to be more to life than getting a job, making some money, working until you're sixty, then retiring to the country

You may well have read last October on this web site an article I wrote entitled “A Bridge in Life”. If not, you can still see it or you can even email me for a copy. In the article I wrote about my being a retired Police Officer and the dangers I faced on a daily basis ~ the journey of my life through and from that phase ~ and my soulful expression these days through my work, interactions with people and my written poetry and prose.

I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to meet some of the most inspiring possible people. These people are not famous (yet), they are not especially rich or successful (yet), but they do have one thing in common.

Increased land fill taxes. Rising energy prices. Emissions taxes. Unpredictable weather.  For most of our lives the environment has been a more or less free resource to be used and abused at will. That situation has changed and that means changes in the way we run our businesses.

New Consumers change the world via the High Street as Fairtrade becomes a habit of a lifestyle so Fairtrade producers get a fair deal. It’s Fairtrade Fortnight 6-19 March, and New Consumer, the UK’s leading Fairtrade and ethical lifestyle magazine, is celebrating the achievement of new consumers as you continue to fuel a Fairtrade Revolution. You are changing the world, by taking ten small, easy steps to support Fairtrade a proven, practical way to alleviate poverty.