The history of green fairs is an interesting one, and the more one reads about it, the more hopeful one gets about the future of the planet and its possible salvation from environmental threats. If ecologists and environmentalists work towards organizing these green fairs, more awareness will be dispersed across the globe, paving the way for a greener, peaceful planet.

If we look back into the past, we find that the habit of celebrating nature and raising awareness of its many resources started as early as the 1800s. One such event was the Brome Fair, an agricultural fair home to the small village of Brome, situated in the Eastern Townships region of the city of Quebec in Canada. This fair is celebrated every year on the Labor Day weekend. This fair started as early as 1856, and although it cannot be called a full scale ecological or green fair, it was a start in the right direction.

Expo ‘74 is another such environmentally geared event that was held in Spokane, Washington as early as 1974. The common theme that ran through this green fair was that of “Celebrating Tomorrow’s Fresh New Environment.”

A familiar event for environmentalists is the Camden Green Fair that is held every year in London. The aim of this fair is to raise awareness of London residents about environmental issues, and to help them keep their surroundings clean and green.

The main purpose of most green fairs is to raise awareness of crucial environmental issues such as the harmful effects of plastic or the deteriorating impact of pollution on the health of the planet. Besides celebrating the spirit of nature, green fairs are also meant to get like-minded people together and provide them a common platform through which they give vent to their apprehensions and voice their opinions.

Green fairs are immensely useful in the way they get together a diverse group of people that comprise of eco-friendly business entrepreneurs, community members, visionary thinkers, and many of the environmental groups. The motive of such ecological fairs is to help build up relations between such groups and work towards the collective good of the environment.

Such fairs focus on the ways in which environmental groups can team up with businesses to create winning products and services that are conducive to the growth of the planet. We all know that the use of harmful chemicals to manufacture goods hampers the environment, and many businesses are now looking at going the organic way to manufacture environmentally friendly products. A green fair is the perfect platform for business leaders to meet green activists and exchange valuable ideas and notes on how to take a green campaign forward.

Most of the green fairs organized around the world also feature useful workshops and lectures on environmental issues. This is not just useful for students and research scholars or businesses but also for the common people who could much benefit from such vital knowledge. It helps to know about the state of the planet that we live in, and in what manifold ways we can go about making a difference. Since green fairs are huge crowd pullers this is an excellent way to grab their attention and inform them in a fun and exciting way about the many possible ways in which they can keep the planet beautifully green.

The importance of organizing these ecological fairs lies in the fact that they showcase all the natural richness of the planet in an easy to understand and attractive manner. Most times we read about crucial environmental issues on the newspapers, but the entire meaning may have got lost owing to the technicalities in the language or descriptions. Such reports may be child’s play for an environmental researcher, but for the common person it may be something too overwhelming. This is why it is important to organize green fairs to attract the masses and speak in their language. At the end of every green fair there is a tremendous amount of information that gets shared, and that makes for a great, positive step towards a healthy and green environment.

· Aggressive conservation— Ask a representative from your electric company to conduct an energy audit. Your energy auditor will walk your office with you, looking for energy saving opportunities; she may also itemize your electric bill, showing you where you spend the most for electric power, and suggesting ways to conserve.
In most offices, heating and cooling cost the most, followed closely by your large office machinery, your computers, and your lighting. If you have not already taken these measures, take them right away:
(1)Adjust your thermostat so that your heating and cooling system maintains the office at 72 degrees during the day and shuts-down completely at night. Better still, adjust the air conditioning to 74, making it a little warmer but still comfortable; adjust the heat to 70—everyone can add sweaters as needed. If your office has functional windows, use them; your energy auditor will help you arrange a schedule to capitalize on fresh air as an alternative to air conditioning.
(2) Turn-off your overhead fluorescent lighting and equip each workspace with a low-energy CFL desk lamp, insisting that your associates turn-off the lights when they take their breaks, go to lunch, and leave at the workday’s end.
(3)set your computers to go to sleep when they are not in use, and ask your associates to turn them off as they turn off their desk lamps.
(4)Make sure that your doors and frames are properly weather-stripped; and, if you have old fashioned windows that actually open and shut, make sure they have fresh weather-stripping, too. If you have exposed tile floors, lay down thick padding and then carpet them. The floor needs a layer of insulation, too.

· Natural light— Morale improves and you save money when you rely on natural light. Your energy auditor or an interior designer may show you alternative arrangements for your workstations, so that you may make the most of the natural light you have available. Give serious consideration to installing “three-dimensional skylights”—elevated well above the roof line, they have glass on the sides as well as the top, allowing for maximum sunlight from dawn until dusk. Ideally, you will install one large skylight over every major work area. Natural lighting is a great way of saving energy as well as maintaining great aesthetics for the workplace.

· Indoor landscaping— Plants act as natural insulation, and they purify your air. In other words, well-placed natural landscaping helps you control your heating and cooling costs, because it regulates the air’s natural circulation by maintaining a constant temperature throughout your open spaces. If some of your windows create hotspots in the office, put that sunlight to good use, letting it shine on a row of small trees or large containerized plants. Fertilize your indoor landscaping with the grounds from the coffee machine, and work with your office landscaping service to start composting food waste with the debris from routine maintenance of the grounds.

· Efficiency— Your printer, copier, and fax machine suck-up almost as much energy as your heating and air conditioning. Try to eliminate the fax machine altogether; regard your fax as a fossil relic from the 1990s. Save paper and electricity by printing only essential documents. In most settings, you can manage more than 90% of your documents electronically. Moreover, you know that your associates are comfortable and proficient with text messages; take advantage of that post-modern expertise. Similarly, manage projects to control printing, so that you may shut down the copier for extended periods—at least part of every business day, always over night, and often for days at a time.

The new teaming is going to bring a better environmental health and a thorough check during the 40th Anniversary celebration year of Earth Day. The official mantra for this current project is “safety, sustainability as well as standards” for better environmental growth and sustainability. There are many plans and programs that are going to work through throughout 2010 bringing new amplified results this year. There are going to be many eco-friendly projects and creative effects that will be recognized through the evolutionary effects that UL and EDN are trying to bring. The CEO of UL, Keith Williams, have declared that there are more and more areas and families coming to be inspired to adapt eco-friendly ways of sustainability and adoptions to be made this year. These family by family changes will yield a great deal of work.

The raising of awareness will result in something bigger that will elevate the overall condition of the earth. In order to help spread the whole aspect of environmental knowledge and aspiration for something better on earth, the new efforts are going to make massive changes. Many environmental concerns are expected to get solved this year.

Over the years, organic food has gained a considerably favorable reputation with more and more people developing a taste for it. It is true that not everyone can relish organic food all at once, and it is, for most people, an acquired taste.

In the history of organic food, we see a gradual increase in its popularity, especially during the phase when people were plagued by diseases and illnesses resulting from an unhealthy diet. As awareness about the ill effects of processed food began to rise, a large number of people got attracted to the natural benefits of organic food.

The last few years has seen a significant boost in the demand for organic food. With a handful of organic companies to start with, we now have a plethora of choices to pick from. Starting from organic honey to organic fruits and vegetables, we can now go on an all-organic diet and lead an refreshing lifestyle.

The quick-paced modern lifestyle has also fuelled the rapid growth of organic food over the years. Consumers are becoming more and more eco-conscious and aware of potential health hazards. What we have now are shelves of organic food products that can satisfy all your food cravings. A new brigade of health conscious individuals are now carefully picking and eating what is organically produced and good for them in the long run. Such organically produced food also guarantees to ease the stress and tension that has become a part of the modern day work life.

A lot of celebrities have endorsed organic food products and that has further contributed to its growing popularity. Organic food products have been successfully marketed in attractive packages, grabbing the attention of millions of consumers worldwide.

In the past most people would relate to organic food as something that is associated with a pure vegetarian serving of fruits and vegetables. This misconception was slowly dispelled with a growing number of non-vegetarian consumers becoming aware of organically grown meat products. Traditionally produced meat products contain harmful antibiotics and growth hormones that are injected into animals to prevent them from falling ill. Raising awareness about such issues has convinced many meat-eating consumers to opt for organic meat products.

It is not that difficult to find organic food in your local area. A few years back, only a few select stores in few cities had a limited stock of organic food products. Fortunately for organic food enthusiasts these days you will find plenty of stores in every city and town offering a variety of such food items.

One of the good things about organic food products is that you can buy it online. In the past this comfort and convenience of shopping from home was not possible, but now you can browse through a bevy of organic food products available in the numerous web stores.

Another advantage about buying organic food is that it is now available from the source itself. There are many private farms that sell their organic products not just on super markets and stores but on site as well. You could plan out a holiday in a farm stay and bring back lots of delightful organic food products. This is also a great way for families to educate their children about natural food products as they enjoy the bounties of nature.

The world that the new generation of children knows today is one where chemically prepared food is packaged and sold as any other product. Organic food products aim to raise awareness about the process of producing food the natural way. Although processed and refined food is available in a variety of choices, it is not always the best option for the stomach as well as the environment.

Research on the effects of pesticides and insecticides on the soil and crops have shown alarming results. Farmers have realized the ill effects of chemicals on the soil and the quality of food products. Organic farming aims to maintain the natural balance in the soil and make it ready for the growth of healthy and strong crops.

It is easier to fully appreciate the importance of biofertilizers when we know how harmful chemical fertilizers can get for the soil and the crop. Chemical fertilizers are meant to boost the growth of plants and increase the fertility of the soil; however they cause significant damage to the environment. These chemical based fertilizers also make use of nitrogenous fertilizers or chemicals, are expensive and not as conveniently available.

The value of biofertilizers has further increased in an increasingly eco-conscious world. Since these fertilizers are eco-friendly they can be used generously to promote healthy crops. The quality of the soil is also improved thanks to these environmentally friendly fertilizers.

Biofertilizers can be of the following types:

· Organic fertilizers

· Micorrhizae

· Phosphate solubilizing bacteria

· Algae biofertilizers

· Asymbiotic free nitrogen fixers

· Symbiotic Nitrogen fixers

One of the major benefits of using biofertilizers is their ability to symbiotically relate to the roots of plants. These living microorganisms help transform complicated organic material into basic compound, helping the plant to grow and nurture in a natural way. The effects of biofertilizers on crops and soil can be felt for a long time. The use of such fertilizers enables the soil to remain fertile and ready for increased crop productivity.

Another reason why the importance of using biofertilizers is rapidly increasing is because it helps to restore the natural habitat of the soil. In case of chemical fertilizers the soil loses its natural balance and that in turn leaves a harmful effect on the environment.

Studies on environmental science have also indicated that biofertilizers could help reduce the negative impact of global warming. Biofertilizers are gaining increasing importance for their sustainable and holistic approach to maintain the purity of the soil and enhance crop productivity.

For many years farmers were under the impression that chemical fertilizers were the answer to all their problems. However the shortcomings of such fertilizers soon surfaced, what with polluted soil, infected water basins, and loss of crucial life forms that maintain the overall ecological balance. Unlike environmentally harmful chemical fertilizers, biofertilizers work on naturally building up the resistance of the soil and the host plant by adding primary nutrients.

While chemical fertilizers are used to increase crop productivity, long-term usage could lead to weakening the roots of plants and making them easy prey to unwanted diseases. Biofertilizers, on the other hand, help the soil to remain fertile and strong.

Biological wastes are suitably used to bring out what we know as biofertilizers. Unlike chemical wastes, biological waste does not burden the environment or pollute the soil. This increases the importance of biofertilizers as an excellent means to enhance the productivity of the soil. These fertilizers contain essential nutrients that aid plants to fight diseases and remain healthy and robust.

For those looking at organic farming, biofertilizers make the perfect choice. A large number of people are realizing the value and benefit of living an eco-friendly life, and therefore the demand for organic products is ever increasing. Using biofertilizers is a great way to produce organic products and promote good health.

You will find a broad range of biofertilizers available in the market, from Vermi-Compost to Trichoderma, you have everything you need to keep the plants happy and healthy.

Soil conservation comprises of all the procedures and methods that involve protecting the soil from natural as well as manmade destructions. There are many natural ways in which soil could get eroded or blown away. In the same way, soil could also get contaminated or chemically altered owing to acidification or salinization, or destruction from machinery.

The saying, ‘change is the only constant’ holds true for everything …including nature. Everything in our natural world is in a perpetual state of evolution and change. However, when this change is triggered by unnatural methods, that is when an imbalance occurs in the natural process of the planet and it begins to affect our quality of life.

Changes in the quality of the soil owing to pollution could lead to disastrous results. It is vital for us to conserve the soil that we live in as this is where most of the food products are grown. The quality of food ingredients largely affects our well being and health. Therefore, soil conservation is as important as any other form of conservation that attempts to safeguard the environment and improve the quality of life of all living beings.

It has been found that soil pollution is carcinogen, which means that it is related to causing cancer. Excess of lead in soil can also be harmful for children leading to complicated health problems.

Soil pollution can be a result of misuse or overuse of the soil. It could be factories dumping their waste material in large dumping grounds, acid rains which are a result of industrial fumes mixing with rain, or accumulation of chemicals, radioactive materials, contaminants, toxic waste matter and others. The most common types of pollutants found in soil are dioxins, PCBs, tars, oils, herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals such as zinc, mercury, and lead, and hydrocarbons.

Soil pollution can be broadly divided into three main types:

· Agricultural soil pollution

· Soil pollution owing to industrial wastes

· Soil pollution as a result of urban lifestyle

Agricultural soil pollution comprises of contamination of surface soil as well as underground soil. This type of soil pollution is a result of agricultural procedures that require heavy usage of pesticides, fertilizers, irrigation, and others. Such agricultural pollutants adversely affect the quality of the soil that leads to complications such as excess salinity in the soil. Owing to excess levels of salinity in the soil, the growth of healthy crops is badly affected. An overdose of fertilizers and pesticides can upset the natural rhythm of the soil, resulting in soil that is alarmingly low on productivity.

Agricultural soil pollution can be prevented in many effective ways. One of the most important prevention methods is to cut down on the usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Many farmers are opting for organic methods of pest control that are gentle on the soil. Other methods of preventing agricultural soil pollution include protection of areas that are sensitive, effective use of nutrients, improvement in livestock waste management, integrated pest management, and economical use of energy and water.

Industries are largely responsible for the growing amount of pollutants in the soil. Several industries dump their unwanted waste in soil. These waste products include harmful substances such as plastic materials, bottles, broken pieces of metal, radioactive wastes, magnesium sulphate, chemicals, powders, and a lot more. These waste products adversely affect the intrinsic nature of soil and bring about an imbalance. Studies conducted on soil pollution state that soil polluted by heavy metals may be life threatening for humans if we don’t check the spread of heavy metals to the food chain.

The harmful effects of industrial waste on the quality of soil need to be checked to ensure general good health and well-being. Industries can adapt an eco-friendly approach to recycle their waste products and help in the process of soil conservation. Those industries that are unable to recycle their effluents are advised to dump their waste materials in a environmentally conscious manner, keeping in mind not to dump harmful substances directly into the soil.

Soil pollution can also be a result of urban lifestyle. Without our knowing, we could be living in urban areas and contributing to soil pollution through the enormous waste that we accumulate. Urban households generate waste products that include plastic products, food wastes, sweepings, glass items, and a whole lot more. One critical cause of soil pollution in cities is the use of plastic bags. Many cities have initiated movements to ban the usage of plastic bags and other items that contribute to soil pollution. Residents of urban areas are also encouraged to dump their garbage in an eco-friendly manner.

Biodiversity
The term biodiversity can be interpreted in several ways but is generally used as a replacement for species diversity or genetic diversity. The terminology describes variations of life and its various forms in an ecosystem or biome, which includes the entire planet. Earth is made up of thousands of different ecosystems and each is generally self sustaining. The coral reefs are an excellent example of a perfectly balanced ecosystem within itself as long as the system remains in balance.

Upsetting a natural balance
When the sea is polluted or the water temperature rises above the norm, there is a chance the ecosystem will become threatened and then we see that finely balanced biodiversity becoming unstable and there may be loss of that ecosystem as we know it. There are barriers separating ecosystems and these may be in the form of mountains, oceans, rivers, and other barriers that prevent crossover from one particular environment into another.
Australia is an excellent example of a large land mass ecosystem. There can be found a wide variety of animal and plant life that is only found on that continent, and never found anywhere else. That is until human interference comes into play. The mammals and birds would never be able to travel to other continents unless man takes them there.

Ecosystems imbalanced
There have been examples of fish being introduced into an environment unfamiliar to them and we find those alien fish totally take over their new environment and drive off or kill off the fish native to that waterway. The invasive species may well be capable of living in a far wider range of ecosystems but they are upsetting the balance and potentially becoming pests rather than useful additions to that environment.
Whenever new or exotic species are introduced into a ecosystem that they did not originate in by human intervention, the entire balance of that ecologic system is put at risk.

Pollution and our coral reefs
Biodiversity is what happens when the balance of nature is disrupted. Pollution of our oceans and seas has created an upset in that fine balance that can have long reaching affects on many ecosystems. Life forms that have been untouched and pristine for millions of years become unstable and unable to maintain their perfect balance.
The beautiful coral reefs have been called the rainforests of the sea. Most coral reefs on planet earth have been formed after the most recent glacial period, making them less than ten thousand years old. This means they are relatively young when compared to many living things on this planet. Many of them grow along the continental shelving created when sea levels rose during ice melts following the glacial movements. Most require light in order to thrive and grow as these reefs are living things, although some coral reefs can be found in deep seas and away from continental shelves.

Let’s save the planet before it’s too late. Coral reefs are amazingly beautiful and diverse, displaying a wide range of colors. When the oceans become polluted by human garbage and oil spills, or the waters warm due to the current global warming, these finely balanced ecosystems can die due to the changes in their environment. We must somehow prevent this from happening.

Another alternative for your older vehicle is to donate it to your favorite charity. Car donation is a great way to help out your favorite charity while helping the environment at the same time. Since the car will now be donated, the charity will most likely resell your vehicle and this way your older car does not have to end its life. Donating it will not only help the charity but also the environment since fewer vehicles will be in the junkyard and fewer parts will be left to degrade.

Car donation is a great idea in this economy, since you can help charities without breaking your wallet. You can just donate your older vehicle and this way the charity does not suffer in this economic downturn and you get good karma for donating! Another benefit of donating your vehicle to charity is that you get tax benefits. A car donation tax deduction will generally be up to the book value of your car.

Most of the charities today accept vehicles as donations. They normally either keep the car and use it within the organization or may resell it with the proceeds going back to the charity. Another great thing is that you do not even need to get your car towed to the charity; they will normally cover the towing charge and take the vehicle from your place. So what are you waiting for? Donate now to help your charity and the environment.

The Problems of Non-Organic Cotton

Your baby’s skin is the most sensitive it will ever be, so it makes sense not to bring it into contact with anything remotely harmful. You’ll probably have chosen cotton rather than man made fibres for precisely that reason. Even so, it’s hard to avoid all unhealthy substances with non-organically produced cotton, given that growing it uses somewhere in the region of 25% of the world’s pesticides, many of which are carcinogenic. Even processing it involves a number of chemical processes, and while most companies will take every care to ensure that nothing gets through to the end product, can you really be certain that it won’t, when allergies and related complaints have risen steadily in industrialized nations?

It’s Good for Your Baby, and the Environment

Using organic baby clothes clothes made from cotton that has never been subjected to pesticides or insecticides isn’t just good for his health but it is also better for the environment. These days, we’re all trying to reduce our carbon footprint, but what about damage to the environment done in other ways? Pollution to water sources and the destruction of biodiversity by industrial farming are both issues with potentially serious consequences. Choosing organic options for your baby’s clothes is a way to protect not just them, but also the world that they are going to grow up in.

It’s Good for Farm Workers

If you’re worried about the possible effects of the substances used in non-organic farming on your child, imagine how much worse any effects are for people who work with those substances every day. By purchasing baby clothes that are not produced with extensive use of chemicals, we can increase the chances of these workers being able to operate in an environment that won’t kill them later on.

It’s Not More Expensive

Inevitably, talk of organic products turns to how much more expensive they are, but that isn’t true of clothing to the same extent. Stuff for daily use such as baby hats and gloves are not significantly more expensive than non-organic ones, and might actually be cheaper in the long run, since organically produced cotton tends to be more robust and harder wearing. Not having to buy an extra set of clothes for your child can quickly repay your initial outlay.

So there you have it. Organic baby clothes are better for the environment, better for the people who produce them, and better for your wallet. Most importantly, they might well be better for your child, and that has to be the deciding factor.

A recent survey suggested that about 70 percent of American consumer factor in the environment impact of any products or services before purchasing. Hence companies are trying their best to serve consumer concern by increased focus on improving energy efficiency, reducing waste, recycling waste and raising awareness about environmental concerns.

Retail industry has a direct contact with the end customers and hence has a vital role to play in the current push towards green and sustainable practices by collaborating with its consumers and suppliers. The climate change which has become the most pressing problem facing the mankind can be addressed by reducing green house gas emission and using energy efficiently. Logistics optimization through supply chain management can be an important tool. A culture should be developed in the retail industry that encourages employees to identify energy saving opportunities and rewards them for implementing them.
Products like nanomaterials and genetically modified products that pose greater danger should be examined properly in all aspects including packaging. Retailers also have an opportunity to request suppliers to reduce excessive packing thereby reducing wastage and material cost. Organic food should be encouraged by the retailers and sustainably harvested sea food from well managed fisheries must only be offered for consumption.

The retail sector also has to look at the practice of outsourcing from a new perspective as sourcing from foreign markets might appear to improve competitiveness yet it has a negative environmental impact.

The consumer must be educated about the urgent need to adopt green and sustainable practices. The policy of three R’s i.e. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle can help make the industry more environments friendly. Green products like recycled paper and energy saving devices must be promotes in retail stores. The problem of plastic and paper bags – both of which are detrimental to environment can be avoided by promoting bags made of natural fabrics. These bags can be used to promote the retail brand too by printing the logo of the retail company. Retail companies also can save on fuel costs using hybrid fuel efficient delivery vehicles and solar power panels for refrigeration.
In the fiercely competitive retail sector it is pleasant to see the market leader at the helm of the affairs to make the sector more green and sustainable. The retail giant Wal-Mart adopts a practice of encouraging suppliers of green products through its policy of “environmental scorecards”. The company also alongside other players like IKEA and Whole Foods has started efforts to eliminate plastic bags that are non biodegradable. The company is a pioneer in adopting solar energy to generate power for its stores.

Similarly Home Depot – the second largest general retailer in U.S. has stated on its website its commitment “to the environment and pledge to continue to be an industry leader in looking for products and services that are respectful of our world.” The company highlights its green products under it Eco Option program and these products are placed at preferred positions in stores. Its charitable arm, the Home Depot Foundation pledged in 2007 to invest $100 million for 100,000 green sustainable housing and planting 3 million trees. Further the company promotes energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (popularly called as CFL lamps) and has even created the largest recycling program for recycling of the bulbs in the U.S.

Staples Inc. was the first nationwide retailer to offer a recycling program for electronic waste. The consumers can drop most electronic equipment at any of its stores for recycling by paying a small fee. The company has adopted environmental friendly paper and is developing green products for its brand.
Although the retail industry has taken the first step towards a sustainable business model but the industry needs to overcome huge challenges like e waste. Such an approach is crucial for the growth of the industry as the material resources of our planet are limited.