The hummingbird

Environmental and Social Magazine

London, Zagreb

Published by Nektarina Non Profit

Issue #1 December 2011

Bear by Amanda Hall, UK

www.amandahall-illustration.com

ediTor’s LeTTer Dear reader,

Welcome to the first issue of The

Hummingbird. This is a people powered

magazine. It is non-political, non-religious

and not for profit. It is positive and creative

about both people and planet. This

magazine is concerned with ecology, social

welfare and environmental issues. This

magazine is not trying to save the whole

world. We just collect bits and pieces that

inspire good, green lives. It is named in

tribute after Wangari Maathai’s anecdote ‘I

will be a Hummingbird. I will do the best I

can’. This magazine follows that

philosophy. It is for hummingbirds

everywhere.

Your Editor,

Jessica Massucco

ConTenTs FEATURE:

p5 Wangari Maathai

p29 Face the Enemy. Face the Waste. Alexander Iscenco

p35 Good Gifts for People

p41 Good Gifts for Planet

FOOD:

p11 An interview with a fabulous Vegiehead: the vegetarian and vegan diets

p19 Recipes: Pierogi and Goulash.

p24 Feeding the 5000, Do we waste Food?

FASHION:

p55 Ethical Fashion: Nancy Dee

p67 Freaky Flax from Poland

ART AND LITERATURE

p85 Treehugger Dan’s Bookstore and Café, Budapest – Organic and Fair Trade

p91 Peacock, Chloe Waterfield

NEKTARINA NEWS:

p95 Photography Exhibition at Green Screen Film Fest, Belgrade, Serbia.

p98 Global Youth Music Contest

p99 Documentary Film Contest – win a trip to Brazil for the United Nations conference on Sustainability, Rio+20.

LOGO CONTEST:

Thank you to all those who sent in their brilliant hummingbird illustrations. We chose the blue hummingbird (see right) by Georgiana Chitac from Romania to become our official logo as it resonates both peace and optimism. However all entries had real character and are dotted around this issue of the magazine, so look out for them!

Find Georgiana here: www.etsy.com/people/HopesDreamsFantasy

P 4

i wiLL be a hummingbird. i wiLL do The besT i Can.

wangari maaThai (1940 -2011)

The Hummingbird is named after an anecdote from the late Wangari Maathai. Her message embodies a positive spirit during difficult times. Maathai died on 25 September 2011 aged 71. Her work with both people and planet remains celebrated around the world. J Massucco ●

In 2004 she became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She received this honour for her influential democratic and environmental campaigns. Maathai is principally noted for founding the Green Belt Movement in 1977 which aimed to lessen the terrible effects of deforestation and desertification in her native Kenya. She encouraged local women to plant trees and care for the land proactively. This in itself formed a strong political community which the Green Belt Movement utilised to carry out pro-democracy activities such as freedom of expression and registering votes for elections.

wangari maaThai was one of This worLd’s undisPuTed eCo warriors. her messages were PowerfuL buT PosiTive, and she remains one of my greaTesT insPiraTions.

Throughout her life she united environmental campaigns with the fight for human, and particularly woman’s rights, which earnt her international awards and acclaim alongside several arrests and contempt from a repressive Kenyan government. She is acknowledged around the globe for her powerful focus on environmental restoration, providing educational programmes, community projects and political campaigns.

She also became the first East African woman to receive a PhD, from the University College of Nairobi having previously completed degrees in America and Germany abroad. During her academic career she insisted on equal working benefits for women.

This is the message of The Hummingbird magazine. It is not about saving the whole world. It is about living our lives as best as we can, producing as little waste as possible, reducing our carbon footprints and respecting both people and planet.

Maathai was not only a prevailing environmentalist and an uplifting personality but a pioneer for women and equality everywhere. ●

Visit these links for more information:

Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement: www.greenbeltmovement.org

Dirt! The Movie: www.dirtthemovie.org

Taking Root: the vision of Wangari Maathai Documentary: takingrootfilm.com

In Dirt! The Movie, Maathai narrates a short story about a forest in flames and a solitary hummingbird who tries to put them out. Her message is clear: ‘I may feel insignificant, but I certainly don’t want to be like [the other characters] watching as the planet goes down the drain. I will be a hummingbird. I will do the best I can.’

Photo Credit: Mary Davidson 1999

food?

Hummingbird, Kimberly Anderson, USA www.etsy.com/people/kimberart

an inTerview wiTh a LoveLy

Australian Adele is a self-professed Vegiehead. And a Vegiehead is what exactly? A Vegiehead is someone who decides to eat plant based food and little or no animal products. They are vegetarians (who do not eat meat) or vegans (who do not eat any animal products like meat, milk, cheese or eggs) and they’re creative and passionate about their food! Adele’s recipes are certainly colourful and well-seasoned creations. We talk to her about her favourite ingredients, ethics in the meat industry and Christmas dinner.

P 11

vegiehead, meeT adeLe:

iHealth Smoothie

The Hummingbird: When did you decide to become a vegetarian?

Adele: I have never been a big fan of meat, even when I was younger it just never felt right. I was 17, sitting at the dinner table, and I just pushed the meat away and said to my parents that I couldn't eat it anymore! They were very supportive, and mum was always (and still is) coming up with nice things for me to eat when I visit them! It doesn't need to be hard, you just need to make sure that you are getting all of your nutrients, and not relying on vegan burgers and junk food. I get a lot of people emailing me asking how to introduce vegan or vegetarian food to their families. Why not offer to cook them a plant based dinner? You don't need to advertise that there is no meat. Simply let them enjoy the flavours and textures.

“i was 17, siTTing aT The dinner TabLe, and i jusT Pushed The meaT

away and said To my ParenTs ThaT i CouLdn'T eaT iT

HB: What are your greatest concerns about the meat, fish and dairy industries?

Adele One of my biggest concerns is the way that the animals are treated. I think that over time, and with films like "Forks over knives" (a documentary film about our health and animal based or processed foods) people will realise that what goes into their mouths directly affects their health and well-being, as well as the planet.

Mexican Rice Bowl

HB: What vegetarian dish would you serve to a stubborn meat eater?

Adele: Well my husband was a stubborn meat eater when we first met and now he eats what I eat, but has meat once a week! For him I serve dishes with lots of flavour and protein from beans and legumes. The Mexican rice bowl (pictured above) is perfect as it has low Glucose Intake (GI) carbs (brown rice), protein (pinto beans) and veggies with lots of flavour and colour.

P 14

adeLe’s

favouriTe ingredienTs

1. Coriander- aids in digestion, full of phytonutrients and iron

2. Garlic: a natural anti-biotic

3. Sweet Potato: Rich in carotene, vitamin C and fibre

4. Raw cacao: full of magnesium and antioxidants

5. Turmeric: anti-bacterial anti-fungal, anti-mircobial and fights cancer cells

“vegan. no, iT's noT a dirTy word, aLThough i CerTainLy geT raised

eyebrows aT many a famiLy dinner (hi dad!). i don'T Live on saLads, i don'T ChanT and i shave my armPiTs (my husband wanTed me To make ThaT

CLear)”

Vegan and Gluten free Chocolate Mud Brownie

Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie

“we eaT wiTh our eyes firsT, make

your food CoLourfuL and aTTraCTive!”

HB: What do you eat for Christmas dinner?

Adele: Traditional Aussie Christmas dinner is usually roast beef, pork and chicken, cold ham, seafood, roasted vegies, and salad. I have a big plate of vegies and salad, and last year I also had homemade falafels. I know vegetarians that cook tofu-turkey rolls, but I’m not a fan of fake meat. I would rather have fresh, colourful food, full of nutrients. But I do enjoy some plum pudding!

You can find Adele online at the following links. She frequently updates her recipe collection and is very open to suggestions so why not send her a message:

Website: www.vegiehead.com

Blog: www.vegiehead1.tumblr.com

Vegan and gluten free choc Mud brownies

P 18

Adele has been kind enough to create two delicious vegetarian recipes for us, inspired by Eastern European cuisine. Try them!

PoTaTo and sauerkrauT Pierogi:

Ingredients:

1 large potato, peeled and cubed 1 onion, diced 2 celery ribs, sliced thinly 3 cloves of garlic, minced 1/4 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp sweet paprika

freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsn sauerkraut

Method: 1. Sift the flour into a large glass bowl and pour in water and oil. 2. Mix gently until it forms a ball.

3. Cover with a damp tea towel while you are cooking the filling. 4. Steam or boil the potatoes until soft, set aside. 5. Sauté the onions over a very low flame, with a drop of safflower oil. 6. Allow the onions to sweat- we want them to caramelise, not burn, so stir them occasionally 7. Add the celery and a tiny bit of water. Cook for 10 or so minutes until onions are translucent and celery is soft. 8. Add garlic, smoked paprika and sweet paprika. 9. Mix the onions and celery with the potatoes, and mash together. 10. Stir in the sauerkraut and black pepper. We need the filling to be smooth with a little bit of texture. 11. Roll the dough out onto a floured surface and roll until quite thin. 12. Using a round cookie cutter, cut as many circles as you can- with the scraps, roll out again and cut more circles. 13. Fill the circles with about a teaspoon of filling- you still need to be able to close them. 14. Fold in half using wet fingers 15. Using a fork, edge the pierogis and drop gently into a pot of boiling water (no more than 6 at a time) 16.When they rise to the top, put them into a very hot fry pan, with a drop of safflower oil

17. Cook for 5 minutes on each side until a nice golden brown 18.Continue until they are all cooked

Serve with vegan sour cream and sprinkle with some more sweet paprika

hungarian bean gouLash

Ingredients:

1 onion, diced 1 zucchini, diced 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 tsp sweet paprika 1/4 tsp smoked paprika 1 can crushed tomatoes 2 tbs tomato paste 250ml passata sauce 1 can cannellini beans, rinsed 1 can red kidney beans, rinsed 1/2 cup torn parsley 1 cup torn kale

Method: 1. In a large pot, lightly saute the onions and zucchini in a drop of safflower oil 2. When onions and zucchini are soft, add the garlic and paprikas and stir well to coat 3. Pour in the tomatoes, passata and tomato paste, and bring to a gentle, rolling boil 4. Add the kidney and cannellini beans, and reduce to a simmer 5. Simmer gently for 15 minutes, allowing the beans to soften and flavours to develop 6. Stir in the parsley and kale, and let simmer for 5 more minutes 7. Serve with brown rice, wholegrain pasta, or some delicious crusty bread.

do we wasTe our food?

With millions around the world suffering from malnutrition and starvation, it can be difficult to think about food waste. However, rich and developed societies are guilty of wasting food from farm to fork and this is something we all need to face. Wasting edible food not only challenges global ethics, showcasing an absurdly unfair distribution of natural resources, but impacts our environment too.

British food waste champion Tristram Stuart has been pushing the issue for years. Internationally recognised, he has campaigned in several countries to reduce social and environmental problems caused by wasting food. This year he was awarded The Sophie Prize for his work, an award previously given in 2004 to Wangari Maathai (see out feature on Maathai p5). The Hummingbird asks him some questions:

P 24

The Hummingbird: What is the greatest reason for waste in the food industry?

Tristram Stuart: Ultimately food has become a disposable resource as we’ve got richer and food over the past few decades has got steadily cheaper. But we need to wake up to the fact that even if we can financially afford to waste food, the planet we live on can’t afford it. 40 to 60 % of fish caught in European waters are discarded – even while we’re over-exploiting fish stocks. Some farmers discard a third of their fruit and vegetable crops because they don’t fit the cosmetic standards of the supermarkets. Neither of these are necessary – and both have to be dramatically reduced if we’re going to leave the planet in a healthy state for future generations.

“some farmers disCard a Third of Their fruiT and vegeTabLe CroPs

beCause They don’T fiT The CosmeTiC sTandards of The suPermarkeTs.”

On 18 November 2011 Tristram organised the second Feeding the 5000 event in London’s Trafalgar Square. The event gave out free hot lunches to the crowds, made entirely from fresh food that would usually have gone to waste. Popular celebrity chiefs demonstrated quick and tasty ways to use up leftover ingredients and participants were encouraged to sign a pledge to reduce their own food waste. We applaud these events because they’re

positive, sensible and achieve a true sense of community spirit.

HB: Why are community outreach events such as Feeding the 5000 important?

TS: I’ve always thought that a massive feast made from food that otherwise would have been wasted would be a fun, clear way of sending out the message about the vast quantity of food that is wasted, and that the solutions are often very simple: eating and enjoying food rather than throwing it away. By illustrating the gigantic problem of food waste, since the first Feeding the 5000 event in 2009, we’ve engaged the public in novel and fun approaches to the practical solutions that can be adopted by businesses, individuals and governments, both locally and internationally.

HB: What other creative environmental /social projects have you admired?

TS: Charities like FareShare (UK) collect surplus food from the food industry and redistribute it to vulnerable people. This helps to alleviate two problems at once – food poverty and food waste.

HB: What can our readers do to reduce waste at home and in the industry?

TS: At Feeding the 5000 this year, we are launching a pledge to encourage the public and businesses to cut food waste. I’d encourage everyone to visit our website (www.feeding5k.org) sign the pledge and find out more about how we can all help to solve the global food waste scandal.

Tristram’s book WASTE: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal (Penguin, 2009) which examines the worldwide food crisis and what we can do it fix it, is available to buy online.

TrisTram’s faCTs abouT food wasTe:

• 10% of rich countries' greenhouse gas emissions come from growing food that is never eaten.

• The UK, US and Europe have nearly twice as much food as is required by the nutritional needs of their populations. Up to half the entire food supply is wasted between the farm and the fork.

• The irrigation water used globally to grow food that is wasted would be enough for the domestic needs (at 200 litres per person per day) of 9 billion people.

• If we planted trees on land currently used to grow unnecessary surplus and wasted food, this would offset a theoretical maximum of 100% of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion.

• 40 to 60% of all fish caught in Europe are discarded - either because they are the wrong size, species, or because of the ill-governed European quota system.

• There are nearly one billion malnourished people in the world, but the approximately 40 million tonnes of food wasted by US households, retailers and food services each year would be enough to satisfy the hunger of every one of them.

Learn more at www.tristramstuart.co.uk

NATURAL RESOURCES: WASTE

FACE THE ENEMY. FACE THE WASTE.

Alexander Iscenco Researcher, MSc student

University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences alexanderiscenco@dsr.life.ku.dk

Abstract: This short article introduces the issue of pollution by household and industrial waste and of the inappropriate waste management. It serves as an introduction to the revealing of the area of waste management with focus on the developing countries, as they are the ones who suffer the most here. The article is part of the international research project “Non-state Cooperation in Environment Protection Area in Developed and Developing Countries: The Case in Moldova”1 the author of Waste Management currently conducts. More information about the project is available on the LinkedIn group “TripleR: Join the Waste Management Evolution!”: www.linkedin.com/groups/TripleR-Join-Waste-Management-Evolution-4065460?gid=4065460&trk=hb_side_g.

1 More information about the project is available on the Linked In group “TripleR: Join the Waste Management Evolution!”: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/TripleR-Join-Waste-Management-Evolution-4065460?gid=4065460&trk=hb_side_g

Key words: Developing countries, household and industrial waste, pollution, waste hierarchy, waste management.

Household and industrial waste is a significant source of

land, water, and air pollution. Without proper handling and

recycling, this pollutant causes serious damage to the

ecosystem and human health. The constant increase of the

amount of waste all over the world is the consequence of

such global trends as urbanization and industrialization. The

problem is even bigger in the developing countries, because

they lack appropriate waste management processes and

technologies. In such states, waste management usually does

not go higher that the first two lowest levels of the waste

hierarchy (see Diagram 1), i.e. disposal to the waste sinks

(landfill) and burning (incineration). And with much weaker

environmental regulation than in the developed countries,

the developing world often suffers from additional amounts

of waste (including radioactive) arrived (“shifted”) from the

industrial states. In the end, the generation rate of this

source of pollution overwhelms its reduction rate (if it even

exists), causing more and more territories to be “conquered”

by hazardous landfills.

P 30

Diagram 1: Waste Hierarchy.

Source: elaborated by the author based on Event Sustainability (2011).

The problem is also characterized by its prolonged

negative impact. Some waste products have a long period

of decomposition (see Table 1), during which they release

hazardous chemicals into the soil, water, and air.

Table 1: Period of Decay for Some of the Waste Products.

# Product Period of Decay 1. Paper 3 – 12 months 2. Aluminum can 10 – 100 years 3. Plastic bottle / bag 100 – 1000 years 4. Plastic card 1000 years 5. Glass 1000 – 4000 years

Source: Hotărîre Nr. 35 din 01.06.2010.

.

.

.

.

. Disposal / landfill

Incineration with or without energy recovery

Recycle

Reduce / minimization

Prevention / avoidance

“3 R’s”

Most favoured

Reuse

Prolonged and constantly increasing (due to more waste

disposed to a landfill) impact of these products makes the

territory almost inhabitable for animals and plants, as well as

renders this land unusable for living or agriculture. In

addition, the greenhouse gases released during the decay of

waste contribute to the well-known issue of global climate

change. As the latter is a public “bad”, it affects negatively

not only the country of waste disposal, but the whole planet

Earth with its inhabitants.

REFERENCES

1. Event Sustainability (2011), What is the Waste Hierarchy?, http://www.eventsustainability.co.uk/pages/faq.php?catid=19, last visited 16-10-2011

2. Hotărîre Nr. 35 din 01.06.2010 privind Raportul auditului performanţei în domeniul mediului - gestionarea deşeurilor menajere solide „Sînt necesare îmbunătăţiri în reglementarea sistemului de gestionare şi eliminare a deşeurilor menajere solide din Republica Moldova”, http://lex.justice.md/viewdoc.php?action=view&view=doc&id=335606&lang=1

3. Iscenco A. (2011), Non-state Cooperation in Waste Management in Developing Countries

P 32

30 Mango Trees, The Good Gifts Catalogue. The Charities Advisory Trust.

good gifTs for PeoPLe and PLaneT

December welcomes the heart of winter in the Northern hemisphere. Yet this is no time for frosty hearts! For many, this is the time for Love, Cheer, Goodwill, Faith and Peace.

So if you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or even Chinese New Year, here is a guide for good gifts to give to people, planet and those you love.

Gifts are always an excellent idea. They express love, appreciation, gratitude and respect. Giving gifts strengthens relationships as they encourage an understanding of what the other person enjoys.

But of course sometimes that other person has everything they need. So what can you give them?

How about making a donation to a charity on their behalf. Support a poor community by buying them medical equipment, or protect trees in the rainforest. These gifts are always needed, and they’ll be enjoyed by many people. You will usually receive a certificate of your gift.

good gifTs for PeoPLe

maTCh your donaTions To The inTeresTs of your friends and famiLy. a moTher wouLd undersTand The imPorTanCe of suPPorTing midwifes in Poor CounTries, for examPLe.

Left: Cure, Curable Blindness, Gift of Sight (€17.7o)

“It's an amazing fact that 80% of blindness is preventable or curable and often at a minimal cost.

“Your gift could also assist with the rehabilitation of those who are irreversibly blind - helping them to live fuller and more independent lives”

Left: Provide one chicken, Send a Cow, (€7.10)

Chickens provide meat and up to 200 eggs a year – a vital source of protein and income for each family. The chickens go to poor communities in Uganda, Kenya and Lesotho in Africa.

Above: Health Check, Oxfam (€7.10)

“We think that everyone should have the right to professional care. But it’s not an option for most poor communities… this gift will help us bring doctors, nurses, and medicines within the reach of many more people.”

Gift of Sight: www.giftofsight.co.uk

Send a Cow: www.sendacowgifts.org.uk

Oxfam www.oxfam.org.uk Save the Children

shop.savethechildren.org.uk The Good Gifts Catalogue

www.goodgifts.org WaterAid

shop.wateraid.org *please note that some of the gifts below may not ship certificates to your country. First try and locate your national branch of the charity or company to find their online shop, if it exists. We have showcased gifts from UK sites as a starting point, use them as inspiration!

P 36

Left: Midwife Birth Kit, Save the Children (€17.70)

“Birth complications are one of the main causes of infant deaths, with one and a half million babies dying on the day they are born. So it’s vital that somebody is on hand with the right knowledge and equipment.”

Right: Soft Blanket for a new born Baby, The Good Gifts Catalogue (€7.10)

A soft blanket to substitute an old rag and keep a new born in a poor family warm.

Below Right: Textbooks, The Good Gifts Catalogue (€8.26)

Textbooks are fountains of knowledge for schools in poor communities. Particularly when children cannot access the internet.

“Here at the Good Gifts Catalogue we do precisely what it says on the tin: your

money buys the gift described. Because we know the importance of knowing

where your money goes, we guarantee it. And the delivering charities guarantee

it too.”

Above: Donkey Drawn Library – Book Grant, The Good Gift Catalogue, (€41)

“The Trunk is made of sTeeL To rePeL raTs and TermiTes. iT’s PadLoCked To ProTeCT iTs

vaLuabLe ConTenTs: around 100 voLumes of fiCTion, non-fiCTion and referenCe books. iT’s ConsTanTLy on The move, TrundLed by donkey or biCyCLe CarT To sChooLs in somaLia, sudan,

souTh sudan and uganda (aLL former war zones, undersTandabLy shorT of books). The

suPPLy is refreshed every monTh. iT’s a sTory ThaT needs To be ToLd.”

[

work and PLay are

infiniTeLy harder on an emPTy sTomaCh

Top Left: Emergency Food Pack, The Good Gift Catalogue (€17.70)

“In India, natural disasters strike too often. While large-scale disasters generate international response, dozens of small-scale floods, droughts, typhoons and forest fires that leave hundreds destitute are often overlooked. Our emergency food pack, including rice, lentils, tea, salt, spices, oil and jaggary, all bought from small growers, provide immediate relief. Where households are destroyed, a pack with utensils, mats, bed sheets, buckets, candles and toiletries can be delivered within 24 hours.”

Bottom Left:50 bowls of rice for 50 hungry children in Africa, The Good Gift Catalogue (€5.90)

Left: Teach Food Nutrition, Send a Cow (€5.90)

"By teaching families the best ways to plant and grow veg, and by giving essential cooking and nutrition skills, we help mothers make the most of what they grow”.

This gift goes to Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Rwanda, Lesotho and Cameroon.

waTer gifTs:

Top Right: Two taps for a Village Waterpoint, Wateraid (€14.15)

"Turn heads with this great gift. A tap gives communities access to the precious gift of safe, clean water. Raise a glass to health and long life."

Bottom Left: Build a TipTap, Send a Cow (€7.10)

"a Tip Tap is a simple structure made from readily available materials. It allows families to wash their hands where there is no running water

good gifTs for PLaneT

The Rainforest Foundation www.rainforestfoundationuk.org

Greenpeace www.greenpeacegiving.org.uk

Oxfam www.oxfam.org.uk

WWF wwf.panda.org

Oceana store.oceana.org

Send a Cow www.sendacowgifts.org.uk

The Good Gift Catalogue www.goodgifts.org

*please note that some of the gifts below may not ship certificates to your country. First try and locate your national branch of the charity or company to find their online shop, if it exists. We have showcased gifts from UK sites as a starting point, use them as inspiration!

Above: Protect one Tree, The Rainforest Foundation (€5.90)

“Protect a rainforest tree for a friend and receive this mini gift pack with certificate, 'about us' booklet, gift envelope and delightful ‘people tree' pin badge.”

Above: Protect one acre of Rainforest, The Rainforest Foundation (€30)

“As you enter Virtual Rainforest you catch an aerial view of a virtual world with birds and hot air balloons competing for air space. You can then swoop down into one of six continents and pick a virtual acre. A donation lets you start making it your own by adding monkeys, tigers, sapling trees, birds and butterflies and personalising the acre with a

message or dedication. Every £25 donation helps RFUK work to protect highly endangered rainforests in Africa and South America.”

“you Can aLso dediCaTe an aCre as a gifT for someone sPeCiaL, giving Them Their own

aCre To Look afTer and PersonaLise. you Can Leave a PersonaL message for Them To find.”

P 42

Top Left: Love Bug, Greenpeace (€10.60)

“The Amazon rainforest is home to 2.5 million species of insects, which is a good enough reason alone for us to protect it. So show your loved one you care about them, and ancient forests, by giving them the Love Bug!”

Middle Left: Fertilizer, Oxfam (€5.90)

“you'll be amazed at what a load of old manure can do. Add in some worms and a bit of food waste and you’ve got the perfect recipe for crop-boosting fertiliser – helping communities to grow loads more fruit and veg to eat and sell.”

Bottom Left: Four Fruit Tree Saplings Send a Cow (€14.15)

“Fruit is nutritious for the whole family and is also profitable to sell. Whilst providing shade and shelter to other crops, a tree’s roots also help to prevent soil erosion during floods and their leaves are natural carbon catchers.”

Left: Rubbish Job, Oxfam (€15.35)

“around the world's urban slums, recycling waste is providing jobs for young people as well as cleaning up the environment. This gift helps provide the machines and the training to turn rubbish into a profitable enterprise”

Right: Give us the green light, The Good Gifts Catalogue (€17.70)

Fact 1: kerosene lamps are bad for lungs. Fact 2: kerosene costs money. Sunshine is free. Fact 3: when kerosene lamps are replaced by solar lanterns, there´s a great saving in lives and money. (Furthermore, each solar lantern with a life expectancy of 60 years, also saves a tonne of carbon every 10 years).

buy soLar LanTerns for viLLagers in afriCa.

sPonsor a sPeCies: adoPTion

For your creature loving friends and family, this can be a fantastic gift and one that lasts. Sponsor a species for them by ‘adopting’ an endangered animal or bird. Donations can be made monthly or as a onetime instalment and will help support the protection of that species through well-established organisations.

WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature):

Adoption package includes a soft toy of your chosen animal and important updates about your species three times a year. Plus surprise extras.

Cost: As little as £3 (€3.54) a month

Species:

GIANT PANDA POLAR BEAR ORANG-UTAN BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN BENGAL TIGER ASIAN ELEPHANT BLACK RHINO AMUR LEOPARD HAWKSBILL TURTLE ADELIE PENGUIN JAGUAR SNOW LEOPARD

P 45

Oceana (Marine Wildlife)

Adoption packages range from certificates and cookie cutters, to soft toys and t-shirts.

Cost: A onetime payment from €22.80 to €114.

Species:

DOLPHIN PELICAN SEA TURTLE KILLER WHALE SHARK PENGUIN OCTOPUS SEAL POLAR BEAR

handmade feLT PuPPeTs from TbiLisi, georgia

Natural felt is a versatile fabric produced by manipulating wool. It played an important part in the development of manmade textiles and has been used for centuries across the world.

In comparison to modern synthetic fabrics, it is an environmentally friendly material and a fantastic alternative to other fibres such as cotton, which requires vast amounts of water to grow.

Olga from Tbilisi, The Republic of Georgia, uses felt to make fantastic puppets. Her creations have huge charm and character and are completely handmade.

Born in Estonia, Olga studied Fine Art at the Moscow State Academy of Textiles in Russia. Now she lives in Georgia with her family and has been working at The State Puppet Theatre as a set and puppet designer. She also dedicates her free time to a women’s community project called the Waldorf School’s Puppet Theatre. They create monthly fairy-tale puppet shows for local children, which are no doubt loved by all.

“i Like feLT and Love marioneTTes, and

These Two faCTs Come TogeTher here in my sTore. and These Toys are resuLT of

This Love… i’m insPired by naTure, animaLs, ChiLdren’s CreaTiviTy, anCienT roCk PainTing and of Course by The arT

of mark ChagaLL.”

You can find Olga and her marvellous puppets on line at her Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/people/TwoSadDonkeys

P 48

Bapoto the Giraffe by Olga

naTuraL Treasures from The sandy

beaChes of greeCe.

Maria has called her shop collection Ammoudia, the Greek word for ‘sandy beach’, and it is well named. She collects driftwood and natural materials from the coastal environment and transforms them into beautiful candle holders, household ornaments and jewellery.

They are all unique pieces of true environmental design. Each item tells its own story, smoothed by the waves and bleached by the Mediterranean sun.

You can find her work and more information at her online shop: www.etsy.com/people/Ammoudia

“aLL maTeriaLs are naTuraL and organiC and

have been CoLLeCTed by me from The CoasT in my

homeTown, aLexandrouPoLi.” P 50

Driftwood Candle Holder with Romantic Lace.

Lava stone necklace with amethyst and silk flowers.

fashion?

The Hummingbird: How can fashion be used as a creative art to tackle climate change and other problems? Nancy Dee: The fashion industry has a huge impact upon our environment, but much can be done to improve this. At Nancy Dee we look at the entire life cycle of a garment, from the initial design stage right through to its decomposition, in order to identify ways to make it more sustainable. We only use natural, sustainable and organic…

an inTerview wiTh nanCy dee

Nancy Dee is at the very heart of British sustainable fashion. Established in 2008, the clothing label is both fresh and young with a

much needed philosophy on industry ethics. It is the fabulous collaboration of sisters Tamsin

and Seraphina Davis who embody perfectly the relationship between art and industry in

the fashion world. Tamsin is in charge of production, ensuring Nancy Dee maintains social and environmental standards, whilst

Seraphina is responsible for creating original and wearable designs. Together they aim to

make ethical fashion accessible. Karen Dress ~ Stripes

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“TransPorTing goods is a neCessiTy, so wherever PossibLe we shiP by sea insTead of by air – iT Takes abouT 6

Times Longer, buT if we PLan in advanCe, iT’s PossibLe!”

... fabrics for all of our pieces, which means not only are the primary sources renewable, but at the end of a garment’s life the fabric is degradable. We also recommend that our pieces are washed at lower temperatures. Our garments are designed to minimise fabric wastage when cut and any leftover fabric is used for sampling or for future styles. Also, our packaging is 99% recyclable, and we try to source from local services wherever possible for things like printing.

HB: What is your favourite textiles material to work with?

ND: The range of sustainable textiles available now is amazing. We specialise in jersey dresses, so we look for stretchy fabrics that drape beautifully and are really soft to wear. Our favourites at the moment are bamboo and modal. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world, needs little in the way of nutrients or water and doesn’t need pesticides to thrive. Modal is a manmade fabric that originates from beech wood fibre. It’s like viscose in the way that it drapes, but unlike viscose the chemicals needed to extract the fibres are recycled again and again so they are not released into the environment.

Delilah minidress ~ Storm Clouds

HB: What are your greatest concerns regarding the social and environmental impact of the fashion industry?

ND: At Nancy Dee we felt the only way to be truly confident of the way our garments were made was to have them manufactured here, in Britain, where we can easily check on standards…

“worker exPLoiTaTion is a big ConCern – and iT doesn’T jusT

aPPLy To The fashion indusTry.”

Above: Workers at Nancy Dee’s factory in Britain

P 60

…Also, it means we are investing in the specialist skills that this shrinking industry is at risk of losing. Britain has a great heritage of high-quality manufacture, and with production at home, we can reduce our carbon footprint as the need to transport goods is much reduced.

Worker exploitation is a big concern and it doesn’t just apply to the fashion industry. Any product that relies on cheap labour to produce it is at risk. There are international auditing bodies like Social Accountability and The Fairtrade Foundation that check factories for child labour, forced labour, fair wages and health and safety, but there are difficulties in checking production as many factories will subcontract out work to other unregulated factories and home-workers. Larger companies should have production personnel stationed in the country of manufacture to keep an eye on this, but smaller brands have to rely on certification such as SA800.

Far Left: Grace dress in Black

Over the Page: Candice t-shirt in grey, Charlie trousers

Over the Page: Giselle dress in Teal

friendly garments but Nancy Dee is committed to responsible fashion and the great thing is that the high street is beginning to come round to the idea too, with several chains now producing small ranges of organic garments, hopefully this will grow and grow.

You can find Nancy Dee online to learn more, buy their products and keep up to date with their new collections here:

Website: nancydee.co.uk Facebook fan page: facebook.com/nancy.dee1

HB: From your experience, how large is the Fair Trade and sustainable fashion community within the Industry? Is it growing?

ND: It’s still a very small community, but growing all the time and there are lots of great ethical fashion labels out there to cater for all styles and price ranges! In the current economic climate, with rising costs of raw materials, it has become even harder to produce ethically-made and eco-

Below: Seraphina and Tamsin

eCo suede bags

There are many sides to eco fashion. How about these eco suede bags by Polish artisan Iwona Dubińska? They belong to The little House series. Iwona ensures her creations are produced responsibly.

“bags are my Passion. i Like To design for women

who are haPPy and CoLorfuL. i PuT a LoT of

warmTh and my hearT inTo eaCh bag i CreaTe.”

1. The Little House and the Autumn Tree 2. The Little House and the Blooming Tree 3. The Little House and the Night Tree 4. The Little House and the Lemon Tree

Her Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/ifONA Her blog (in Polish): www.ifona.blogspot.com

P 65

Roses by Juste Boreikaite, Lithuania

www.juste-boreikaite.com

FreakyFlax is an eco-fashion brand, designed and made in

Poland. They specialise in linen clothes for women and are

passionate about the material. Linen is produced from plant fibres, particularly flax, and

remains a popular textile for its durability, strength and

wearability. It is often sourced for hot climates for its

absorbent quality that leaves the wearer feeling fresh and

cool.

“freakyfLax is insPired by naTure, making use of naTuraL CoLours and

fabriC. Linen beige, CoTTon whiTe, warm browns and fresh green – These

CLassiCaL CoLours are used by The brand’s designers.”

Flax plants produce abundant harvests in short periods of time,

requiring less man made fertilizers and pesticides to grow than other popular crops such as cotton. This

makes linen an eco-friendly alternative. It is a classic material

and has been used for centuries to make countless things.

“To emphasize the relation of our brand with nature, some of our

[collection pieces] are signed with the characteristic symbol of a flax

flower.”

Here’s what Freaky Flax shared with The Hummingbird about their inspiration, ethics and the power of linen.

1) Linen should be celebrated because it is a pure material. It is hypoallergenic, kind on the skin and unlikely to cause irritations, rashes or allergic reactions.

2) Natural colours such as browns, greens and beiges are used for the clothes to enhance the brand’s relationship with nature and the environment.

3) The entire creative and production process of the clothes happens in Poland. They ensure that their Polish workforce is protected by fair standards with ‘emphasis on equal salaries and career opportunities.’

Freaky Flax’s website: www.freakyflax.com

P 68

Parrot, Amanda Hall, UK www.amandahall-illustration.com

Hummingbird, Joanna Pasek, Poland www.akwarelki.net/galeria/en

Raposa’s Garden (left) and Annabelle’s Blue Umbrella (right), Shanna Trumbly, USA. trumblydesigns.com

Previous Page: Hummingbirds, Wiesia Weijs, Poland. dudekbb.digart.pl/digarty

Previous Page: By the River, Ana Andonovska, The Republic of Macedonia

andonovska.webs.com

This Page: Red Grapes, Juste Boreikaite, Lithuania

www.juste-boreikaite.com

Next Page: Cut Apple, Juste Boreikaite, Lithuania

www.juste-boreikaite.com

Next Page: Hummingbird, Kimberly Anderson, USA

www.etsy.com/people/kimberart

Next Page: I Told You, Joanna Pasek, Poland

www.akwarelki.net/galeria/en P 76

Previous Page: Otter, Chloe Waterfield, Malta, canidaeart.com

Hummingbirds, Kimberly Anderson.

This Page: Narcyze Narcissuses, Wiesia Weijs inspired by Joe Garcia. P 80

Kingfisher, Chloe Waterfield, Malta, canidaeart.com

Hummingbird, Emma Cowley UK

emmacowley.blogspot.com

“we read To know we are noT aLone”

C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963)

Hummingbird, Kimberly Anderson, USA, www.etsy.com/people/kimberart

Black Cat, Wiesia Weijs, Poland. dudekbb.digart.pl/digarty

Treehugger dan’s booksTore & Café, budaPesT, hungary Hungary’s mighty capital city Budapest is home to Treehugger Dan’s Bookstore & Café where owner Dan Swartz promotes both good reads and eco-friendly services. The store’s mission is to create a high quality second-hand English bookshop and the country’s ‘first showcase for organic coffee’. They are self-described as ‘the local bookstore with a global conscience’. We talk to Dan about the store, its support of artists and its ethical standards.

The Hummingbird: Why do you support organic and Fair Trade products?

Treehugger Dan: Organic and Fair Trade products are good for the environment and good for human rights. I am more environment-centric so I prefer to focus on organic items. If I can get something that is Fair Trade also, like my organic Fair Trade coffee and chocolates, that is a bonus. Fair Trade generally means trading partnerships based on reciprocal benefits and mutual respect. It also means knowing who grows the coffee you drink. In our case, we are getting our "morning cup" from producers like the Coffee Farmers Group Expocafé S.A. It is a public-private joint venture based in Bogotá, Colombia that wholesales beans from smaller cooperatives throughout the country. P 85

‘Organic’ agriculture does not involve the use of artificial pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), antibiotics, irradiation or such potentially harmful "inputs" like sewage slurry. Organic farming also does not harm biodiversity, insects, birds, microbes or humans as agro-chemicals do. Organic food

is both healthier to eat, and better for the environment. The potential of organic agriculture to have a beneficial impact on rural development, job creation and human health, whilst improving the environment is enormous.

HB: Does Budapest have an eco-friendly side? TD: Yes: reusable bottles; excellent public transport; an extensive

“i esPeCiaLLy Like The wine

TasTings we hoLd wiTh LoCaL ProduCers, aLongside sLow food ProduCers of Things

Like Cheeses and sausages.”

national park system and easy access to hillwalking in parks; dozens of organic shops and little repair shops; the organic market; some vegetarian restaurants.

HB: What are your favourite events at the Bookstore & Cafe?

TD: I especially like the wine tastings we hold with local producers alongside local Slow Food producers (of things like cheeses and sausages.) I also enjoy the concerts such as The Poosta Ramblers, The Voice and the Verse, Nick Palmer and Attila Pozsgai (Flamenco), and The Random Chocolates.

You can follow Dan and his store on the following links:

Website: www.treehugger.hu

Facebook: www.facebook.com/treehuggerdan

P 88

Bruxelles Street Montage, J. Massucco

environmenTaL LiTeraTure Exodus, Julie Bertagna

I read this aged about 12 and it really struck me. Set in 2099, the sea levels have risen. Protagonist Mara and her family seek refuge from their drowned island in the great new city built on top of Glasgow’s remains, but society is over populated and panicking. It explores the real issues of climate change refuges, environmental justice and our relationship with nature.

Jessica Massucco

Exodus is followed by Zenith (2007) and Aurora (2011), forming a trilogy. All are published by MacMillian Children’s Books are available to buy online at Amazon. Ideal for teen reading. Visit Julie Bertagna’s website for more info: www.juliebertagna.com

Hummingbird, Kimberly Anderson

P 90

PeaCoCk Chloe Waterfield, Malta

Dazzle me with iridescent light, Clutch me to your blue-green chest of leaves And whisper me words beneath the emerald temple, Crafted by your hands, And with your all-seeing eyes That lie like crescents across your back; Teach me the night sky

I do not look; I see you. On warm summer evenings we shall Learn the verse of your cluttered harmonics, Mesmerized, all will roam through the narrow streets And from balconies The sun clings to the railings, Blinded; blinded by superstition We will give him eyes.

Sunshine in the waterfall When the hour is small and silent Your heartbeat speaks the loudest chorus, Its pearly silhouette like a hand upon the wall, In darkness I see colours becoming sleepers, As feet sink beneath the sand I will dance In your painted spell. I do not look; I see only you, Below your indulgent crown of jewels There lies a creature; a lover in disguise, Thief of innocence, Decorative of time, It is your mind that speaks, so I close my eyes And only listen. It was not your guise That led me to you.

P 92

Three Ducks, J Massucco

nekTarina non ProfiT news

P 95

Exhibition title: FOREST & TREES Venue: Green Screen Fest, Sava Center, Belgrade, Serbia Exhibition format : B2 format posters

Photographer: Sandra Antonovic Formatting and footer design: Mina Radojevic Shooting locations: Plitvice Lakes Croatia & Maksimir City Park, Zagreb Croatia Printed by: Grafonin, Belgrade, Serbia Production: Nektarina Non Profit Copyrights: Nektarina Non Profit

This November, Nektarina contributed a photography exhibition at Belgrade’s Green Screen Fest in Serbia. The Festival showcases international environmental documentary films to inspire ecological responsibility and social change. Each photo in Nektarina’s exhibition included a ‘Tree Fact’. They are examples of how art can be used for educational means.

gLobaL youTh musiC ConTesT

Nektarina participated in the preparatory workshop and launch of the Rio+20 Global Youth Music Contest (GYMC). The GYMC is using the resonance of music as a powerful expression of intercultural dialogue to incite all multi-stakeholders and actors of change to act upon their commitment for sustainable development.

It is a contest to inspire, connect and mobilise young people to use their creativity towards building a sustainable future.

The contest will collect musical messages from global youth exploring solutions for sustainable development . The winners will win a trip to Brazil to experience the United Nation’s conference on Sustainability Rio+20, in June 2012.

Deadline to submit Music Video: 12 February 2012

For further information: www.glocha.info

Nektarina Non Profit is excited to launch our international contest for short, green documentary filmmaking. Amateurs, students and professionals are all invited to apply. We are looking for documentaries that provide fresh perspectives and exploration into environmental issues. The theme is sustainability. All entries adherent to the rules will be remixed into a single 20 minute film to be screened at Rio+20, the United Nation’s Conference on Sustainable Development June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

PRIZE

The chief submitter of the winning entry plus one guest will accompany Nektarina Non Profit on an expenses paid trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to attend the Rio+20 Conference in June 2012. The winning entry will also have a separate, full screening at the Conference.

DEADLINES

The contest begins 1st October 2011 and closes 1st March 2012 There is a £25 registration fee per entry.

RULES 1. Films must reach but not exceed 10 minutes in length. 2. There are no age restriction limits. 3. There are no restrictions on the number of separate entries per person. 4. Films must follow the spoken theme of sustainability. Entries that do

not keep to the theme will not be considered, will not be included in the remix and their registration fees will be non-refundable.

5. The chief submitter of every entry must be available for the first week of June 2012 to travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Rio+20 Conference.

6. If the winner is under the age of 18 they must be accompanied by an adult with written permission from their parent or guardian. To register visit this Link: http://nektarinadailyblog.tumblr.com/greendocumentary

P 100

You are very welcome to contribute to The Hummingbird. Send your artwork, articles or ideas to Jessica at jessica@nektarinanonprofit.com

Theme

Articles will be positive and not lean towards any political party or perspective. A strong use of the creative arts will attempt to enrich the relationship between science, campaigns and the public imagination, alongside making scientific fact more accessible to a broad readership.

Rules for submission

Articles and artwork submitted to be published must be line with the following rules:

1. No suggestions of racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia or any other prejudice against any social, cultural or religious group.

2. No strong political or religious opinions. Both politics and religion is encouraged to be discussed, but only in respect and neutrality.

3. Articles must be written in English and with a clear and consistent vocabulary.

4. No swearing or suggestions of illegal activity. Keep it clean, keep it green.

5. Artwork must be submitted in a high resolution JPEG.

Let’s not, Ana Andonovska, The Republic of Macedonia

andonovska.webs.com

Nektarina Non Profit’s Website: www.nektarinanonprofit.com

Nektarina Daily Blog: www.nektarinadailyblog.tumblr.com

Facebook: /thehummingbirdmag ● /nektarinanonprofit

Twitter: @HummingbirdMag ● @nektarina

Thanks & Links

P 104

Adele

Alexander Iscenco

Amanda Hall

Ana Andonovska

Chloe Waterfield

Dan Swartz

Emma Cowley

Freaky Flax

Georgiana Chitac

Greenpeace

Gift of Sight

Good Gift Catalogue

Iwona Dubińska

Joanna Pasek

Juste Boreikaite

Kimberly Anderson

Maria

Oceana

Olga

Oxfam

Save the Children

Send a Cow

Shanna Trumbly

Tamsin and Seraphina

The Rainforest Foundation

Tristram Stuart

WaterAid

Wiesia Weijs

WWF

*

With many thanks and best wishes to: