fl0wer

Yes david but we cannot possibly stop there. Looking at the range of options to avoid unfair trade, its process can be interrupted at any point along its length. Anywhere - until responsibility is exercised at all possible levels. Everyone, from the beginning to the end of its chain, has a part they could play, once alerted to the consequences of inaction. Because each individual chooses, a 'group permission' exists. Schools could open teenagers' eyes about production methods for the cheap fashion goods they see in the shops. It could be tied in with some other study by any skillful teacher. E.g. many parallels in 19th century industrialisation and what had to happen in Victoria's reign. Mass migration into factory towns took place because people lost the means to thrive in their rural working lives running small family businesses. How they lose independence, and why, is almost a whole A level in itself.

I thought they were gorgeous, until I discovered that some species need to live as parasites in other insects, before they emerge as winged adults. First Orange Tip butterfly seen this week, flying alongside the trees of Camberwell Old Cemetery. It tells you here what the larval food plants are, worth knowing so as not to be over zealous with the 'weeding' http://www.britishbutterflies.co.uk/species-info.asp?vernacular=Orange-tip

Agree with you re: City and that reminds me - many investors get entangled with these unwanted businesses, eg pensions, stocks and shares schemes purchased without our permission, knowledge of their profit-making style remaining a closely kept secret. About the Irish wheat. In that story, as in this one, ignorance as well as propaganda play their part. From Cecil Woodham-Smith's book [The Great Hunger] she describes in exact, chilling detail how the government of the day eventually sent rations to prevent starvation from Ireland's potato crop blight. But the starving people couldn't cook these unfamiliar new grains like rice & maize, having been subsisting on one-pot potatoes for centuries....ever since the English ousted them from their mixed farms inland.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2014/apr/bangladesh-shirt-on-your-back Am re-posting links about cheap consumer goods because I believe every ordinary shopper will want to assess their next course of action. When it is so hard to avoid buying things which are made in sweatshops, and the market is flooded with cheap clothing, whose responsibility should it be to bring about change? Purchaser's, to withdraw their sponsorship directly, by not buying? Or shop's, to ensure their buyer researches and deals only with fairtrade? Could local Chambers of Commerce deny High Street space for chains with known links to this kind of industry? Should it be the government's, to exert power abroad and insist on workers having rights? What stops the workers themselves forming unions?

Lots of charity shops in area, 1 at the Plough 2 St Christopher's on Lordship Lane 1 Save the Children on LL 1 down on Goose Green 1 on Rye Lane etc also, 1 which raises money to rehouse homeless people, Emmaus, nearest branch over at W. Norwood. It sells all sorts of sound household goods.

Lewes is a great town, house prices are not much lower than London. Short trip by train to Gatwick; could get noisier from aeroplanes in future. Further inland Petersfield gets my vote but again housing is pricey. Designated inside S. Downs National Park, countryside fantastic round there. Trains frequent & fast, it's on the London/Brighton line.

The designers would benefit from a research trip to see how well all playgrounds are surfaced and maintained in Berlin. Their standard is much more child-friendly, using softer finishes under the installations than tarmac, and more resilient surfacing than turf. They include wood chippings and sand. We were remembering German excellence of design and willingness to look after things collectively, on sight of the sorry muddy mess and cold metallic Health & Safety dictated appliances of average London playgrounds. Wood is used for frames & platforms and runways in friendly shapes to climb. Metal just gets used for slides and rails here and there. All well maintained and clean and strongly built. Trees & flowering shrubs are set out round interesting curving pathways. Some children learn to use their trikes and others chase round playing hide & seek with their friends etc. Best of all each street corner has a slightly different version. For example you find lots of 'animals' the toddlers can climb through. Many have charming circular house shaped structures. Winter or summer these are welcoming spaces.

Dear Mike, the forum has a separate Events section, "What's On In East Dulwich" which you can find by clicking in the 'jump to...' drop-down menu at the top right

Launderette on Forest Hill Road, they do a great job, but you might like to ask for a less "fragrance"-laden fabric conditioner. They do supply a non-aromatic one if you ask. My feather dble size service-washed and tumbledried was less than ?10. A label on quilt will state if washable. Have hand washed feather items at home, but they don't usually fit in the drum of an ordinary washing machine to spin out excess moisture. Then drying needs a sunny hot day, labour intensive as pillows or duvet need to be shaken and turned often.

Killing things by hoovering them = cruel. A slow death by suffocation. If you have to kill a thing just crush it quickly. For preference set it free outdoors instead. The hibernators in your pic were 'harlequins'. Picture gallery, FYI. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2013/jul/22/ladybird-species-harlequin-uk-insects Invertebrates generally are an important layer of the food chain which humans have been damaging so it is worth doing the research.

New case of great concern re: grounds for prosecution/medical interventions (quite a complicated text but relevant to all health professionals helping women get repairs after FGM, especially when they are necessary in preparation for childbirth). http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/mar/27/fgm-charges-doctor-criticised-obstetricians-gynaecologist

Dear Katzenbaer, you are well situated for walks in almost every direction. Apart from Sydenham Woods, there is wild woodland in Camberwell Old Cemetery, then you can cross Forest Hill Road, & beyond Brenchley Gardens cross R to find historic woodlands on One Tree Hill. Parallel to the Horniman Gardens, between the footpath and Wood Vale, is a strip of disused railway line, now designated nature reserve and 'wild woodland walk', pond and wildflower meadow at the far end. (No dogs. Locked outside office hours.) Dawson's Hill is another area of trees and shrubs and grassland, superb views specially for sunsets. Dulwich Park has gorgeous mature trees and flowering plants - more horticulture than wild but still a welcome 'green lung'. Peckham Park has an enclosed wildlife garden with beehives and a shelter + bench to eat a picnic. The rest of the park has big trees, ponds and wild woodland walkways. One section is kept dog-free, essentially as a facility for families with little children. Marsden Road has a wildflower garden, a lovely sanctuary which holds various teaching events through the year. These green spaces are all in need of the public's vigilance. To love them is to see how delicately they are poised between true wildness and urban vandalism! Some of them are being looked after well, others have endured fly tipping and over-zealous Council lopping & mowing etc.

So wise to keep friends out of it. Some of them reveal particularly mischievous sides, loving to fan the flames as it were. Contact the local mental health team as detailed above to get yourself an 'assessment'. It usually takes the form of three one-hour interviews within 1 month, during which a kindly person helps establish the sort of therapy to refer you for. This varies in each area and the helper will know what sort are on offer. Plus, as you have a little child the emphasis must be on finding you a manageable time in the week. Some groups are really ace - others a dirge. It depends how well run, how dynamic and refreshing they can be. At their best they offer a life-raft to get people through change, whatever they are stuck with, and the good thing is that the meetings span over time, many months if necessary - so that you receive encouragement as your goals clarify. Also you can give that same kind of thing to others, then you aren't always in a therapist/patient relationship. Good luck to you, and I am sure nobody minded seeing your request on the EDF.

Latest news is that since 2009 4,000 women have been treated for FGM in London hospitals. http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/mar/19/fgm-women-london-hospitals-female-genital-mutilation

Most of the good advice is already written above. I think as well as making a verbal complaint to the school staff, it is crucial to follow this up with the same material in written letter form, including their replies [a bit like minutes of a meeting]. Keep this document within the school first - 1 copy should be given to the people you met, hopefully these were your son's form teacher, and the deputy head. Keep one to use if in future things have not improved. I would suggest someone on the Parent Teacher Association next. At this point in time whilst your son has an instinct not to escalate things at this school, but to leave altogether - and he isn't saying everything, I feel sure - you need to be on his side. There might be other reasons he wants a different place. Have you understood fully what his critique of the school means to him? Is it possible he is not thriving there because his creativity and personality cannot flourish in the things they're offering? I mention this, because special needs can go unrecognised. Usually educators will pick up on dyslexia but there are plenty of hyper sensitive children who find ordinary big, noisy secondary schools intimidating....and the other kids might well label them "gay". They will be OK in adulthood only if they are given the slightly more sheltered options of smaller classes, more creative arts, more skillful attention to learning methods, etc.to help them get through the exam hurdles and find careers which make the most of these sensitivities. Many become writers, musicians, and painters.