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 PM
Tony helps launch UK Red Tractor Day
YES, not content at painting the
town red, Tony is painting the farms red as well. On 20 April 2006,
PM Tony Blair gave his backing to a scheme which helps shoppers more
easily find UK produced fresh food. He even had a full-size red
tractor out side Downing Street. The scheme is hoping to make UK
produce more distinctive by adding a red logo on packs of food which
must meet strict criteria. These standards cover animal welfare,
food transport, processing and packing.
Mr Blair told reporters "Six years ago I helped launch the Red
Tractor logo. Last year it appeared on over £5bn worth of food. This
demonstrates what can be achieved by farmers, processors and
retailers working together in a close alliance, and I congratulate
them on what has been achieved."
Will this get you to go more British? The AFS believes "The
Red Tractor has a major role to play in the future of British food
and farming, by promoting recognition of professionally-produced,
assured food, and by boosting the reputation of food production in
the UK." What do you our readers think about this?
Web Link to Red Tractor site:-
redtractor.org.uk/site/rt_home.php
SISTERS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MAKE THEIR MARK ON
MERSEYSIDE
WOMEN Developing Sustainable
Communities event will take place in Liverpool on the 15 May 2006 to
16 May 2006 under the title:- 'Faith, Health and Environment'.
The free event will take place at Blackburne House in Liverpool city
centre and is in recognition of women’s achievement to make the
planet a better place to live.
The two day event will provide a platform for Merseyside women to
increase their understanding, sharing and action on developing
sustainable and tolerant communities in the region, and beyond.
Leading female decision makers in the region from Mersey Waterfront
Partnership, Liverpool City Council to Merseyside Environmental
Trust and Knowsley Borough Council will be speaking at the event.
Senior women from six different world faith communities will also
share their perspectives and beliefs on building better
environments.
The event is aimed at engaging women who either work in the home or
in a professional capacity with the region’s communities as well as
those working to improve their area through local charities, faith
agencies and voluntary organisations. Women Developing Sustainable
Communities event will also include a number of knowledge exchange
workshops on Faith, Health and the Environment.
In advance of the event, Liverpool's Bishop's Operation EDEN
Co-ordinator, Annie Merry, said that as historical managers of their
health, their families and their communities, women are inextricably
linked to the issues of sustainability. “This event gives
women from all sectors, cultures, ages and faiths the chance to meet
and share beliefs, knowledge, practice, policy and experience. And
we hope the outcomes of our discussions and workshops will lay the
foundations of a new style of sustainable development across
Merseyside that gives equal weight to the needs of both genders,
their environments and the health of their communities.”
The event has been made possible thanks to the generosity and
support of Creative Concern, Operation EDEN, Al-Ghazali
Multi-Cultural Community Centre, the Northwest Regional Development
Agency (NWDA), Environment Agency, Merseyside Waste Disposal
Authority, Diocese of Liverpool, and all of the women speakers and
their organisations.
Steven Broomhead, NWDA Chief Executive, said:- “Operation EDEN
is making a real difference in Merseyside, undertaking valuable
community initiatives to create an improved environment for all
Merseyside residents. Through encouraging difference faith
communities to work together on local projects, this unique scheme
is making significant progress in engaging and empowering the
region’s faith groups in driving forward local environmental
regeneration. The NWDA is pleased to support this event, which will
provide an important opportunity for women in the area to discover
how they can get involved in improving their communities and raise
awareness of the role they can play in promoting sustainable
development.” |
Online soap collection slips into the hands of Museum
THE Port Sunlight Village Trust
has recently acquired a new ‘soap collection’ from the eBay on-line
auction site to be used in their museum. The soap has been sold to
them from a couple who have downsized their house. Jan and Colin
Davis from Surrey have collected over 3500 soap packets from all
over the world.
The Sunlight Soap collection itself consists of soap made in
Belgium, Germany, China, France and England. The soaps date back
from the early 1900’s onwards and the most valued item in the
collection is a bar of soap made in Port Sunlight circa 1910! One of
the most remarkable features of Sunlight Soap was its rapid spread
into almost every country in the world. This in turn led to a
thriving export trade and the creation of factories for its
manufacture on every continent.
Margaret Williams, Historical and Documentation Officer comments:-
“We are always on the look out for artefacts that have a
connection with the village and it is great to have found this
wonderful collection of Sunlight soap.”
The collection will go in display in Sunlight Vision which is due to
open later this year. Sunlight Vision is the result of 5 years hard
work by the Trust and is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and
the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It celebrates the
rich and varied social history of Port Sunlight Village. The
exhibition will be a mix of memorabilia, graphic displays and
state-of-the-art technology.
Jan Davis, keen soap package collector comments:- “We have
been collecting soap since the 1990’s and were very disappointed
when our house move meant we had to get rid of our collection but we
were delighted to be able to hand the soap back over to The Port
Sunlight Village Trust so that visitors to the village will be able
to enjoy them on display in future.”
The Port Sunlight Village Trust is the only UK stockist of Sunlight
Soap which can be bought via their
website or in the Port Sunlight
Heritage Centre.
SOUTHPORT SPAR SHINES AT
ANNUAL AWARDS
SOUTHPORT retailer, Jean Gordon,
has been picked from thousands of hopefuls to win a prestigious SPAR
Stars award, when the SPAR store at 251 Liverpool Road, Southport,
was awarded a Best Store Award this week.
The awards ceremony, hosted by SPAR, named Jean, a top retailer of
2005 because of the high standards and friendly atmosphere she has
created in the store since taking over 8 months ago. The award also
recognised the store’s involvement in the local community; a Car
Boot Sale, sponsored walk and a fun day are just a few examples .
SPAR hosted the annual awards to reward excellence via rigorous
judging procedures and qualifying rounds, to ensure that the final
winners were the crème de la crème in retailing.
Jean Gordon said:- “The team and I are thrilled to have
received recognition for our efforts. Our store is a vital part of
the local community and the whole team works together to provide the
community with the products and services they really want. This is a
real honour and I would like to thank my dedicated staff without
whom this would not have been possible."
John Hodgson, spokesperson from James Hall & Co, distributor to SPAR
stores in the region, said:- "We wanted to recognise Jean for
her excellent standards and brilliant involvement in her local
community. SPAR is all about responding to the local community needs
and offering the highest standards of customer service across all
aspects of our offering and this fantastic win just goes to show how
far great service can get you”.
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