Wednesday 7 December 2022

10 young and inspiring activists from around the world

When we talk about climate activists, the name Greta Thunberg immediately comes to mind. While the young Swedish activist has made significant strides in raising awareness on issues surrounding climate change and inspiring the global movement 'Fridays For Future' (FFF), there are many other incredible individuals that are leading the way on global climate action to curb global warming and the biggest environmental issues we face today. Here are 10 inspiring climate activists that are making a difference.


1. Xiuhtezcatl Martineza


Also known by the initial ‘X’, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is a young environmental activist and advocate for indigenous and marginalised communities that has already made massive waves in the fight against climate change. Martinez has been particularly vocal against the effects of fossil fuels and was one of 21 plaintiffs in Juliana v. United States, a lawsuit filed in 2015 against the US government for the continued use of fossil fuels and their failure to act on climate change. The 21-year-old campaigner (and hip-hop artist) has made speeches at the United Nations on multiple occasions – in English, Spanish and his native language Nahuatl – to highlight how global climate action plays a part in the wider fight against injustice and inequality.


2. Nyombi Morris


This young Ugandan activist is not easily deterred when it comes to climate justice campaigning. In March 2021, Morris was physically threatened, and had his placard and cell phone confiscated when he was protesting for climate action on the street. The year before, his Twitter account was suspended for nearly two months following his television appearance opposing industrial logging in his country’s Bugoma Forest. Morris is fiercely passionate about protecting the environment, especially after discovering Uganda is highly vulnerable to extreme climate events and how the floods that displaced his family is linked to climate change. Aside from planting trees and tackling plastic waste, the climate activist is also making sure everyone has the freedom of speech.


3. Licypriya Kangujam


One of the world’s youngest climate activists, Licypriya Kangujam started advocating for local and global climate action since the age of six, where she protested outside the Indian parliament with a specific set of demands, including air pollution laws and to make climate-change literacy mandatory in schools. Kangujam has since addressed world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid in 2019, given TEDx talks at least six times, founded ‘The Child Movement’, a young, global climate justice organisation, and travelled to 32 different countries to give speeches and raise support, all before she turned the age of 10.


4. Xiye Bastida


Born to two environmentalists who met at a climate change conference in 1992, this 19-year-old is continuing her family’s legacy and is now one of the most visible young activists in Mexico. Witnessing first hand the severe impacts of climate change when extreme flooding hit their hometown of San Pedro Tultepec in 2015, Bastida is not only lobbying for more aggressive global climate action by governments, but also for greater indigenous and immigrant visibility in climate activism. Bastida wears multiple hats at the same time, from one of the lead organisers of the Fridays for Future in New York City, to the co-founder of 'Re-Earth Initiative', an international not-for-profit organisation that aims to be inclusive and intersectional, as well as sitting on the administration committee of the People’s Climate Movement.


5. Lesein Mutunkei


This Kenyan teenager was driven to take action after learning the shocking impacts of pollution and deforestation while he was at school. But Mutunkei has found a fun way to reforest; by combining it with his love of football. When he was just 12 years old, he founded Trees4Goals with a simple mission: to plant 11 trees every time he scores a goal. Fortunately, he’s a capable footballer, and has planted more than 1,000 trees so far. Mutunkei has also made efforts to encourage schools and football clubs to be more sustainable, attend climate conferences across the world, and working to expand his campaign across Africa.


6. Luisa Neubauer


One of the main organisers of Germany’s Fridays For Future climate strike programme, and often referred to as the ‘German Greta Thunberg’, Luisa Neubauer is advocating for climate policies that surpasses the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. She has previously campaigned for the University of Göttingen to stop investing in fossil fuel industries, as well as educating and endorsing polices such as degrowth. Neubauer is now a member of the German Green Party as well as its youth wing to continue her lobbying efforts.


7. Autumn Peltier


17-year-old Indigenous activist Autumn Peltier is fighting for clean drinking water for First Nation communities in Canada and around the globe. Hailing from Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Manitoulin Island in northern Ontario, Pletier believes in the universal right to clean drinking water. Her campaign efforts has been drawing attention to the need to respect the sacredness of clean water. In 2019, she was invited to speak at the UN General Assembly, during which she said: “I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again we can’t eat money or drink oil” and continues to fight the fight in bringing access to clean water for Indigenous People across the world.


8. Ella and Amy Meek


As the name of their non-profit suggests, Ella and Amy Meek are two kids (and sisters) fighting against plastic pollution and waste in the UK. The duo started Kids Against Plastic in 2016 at the ages of 10 and 12, and have since picked up more than 100,000 pieces of single-use plastic litter all across the country. The also launched campaign initiatives with over 1,000 schools and over 50 cafés, businesses, and festivals, as well as published a book Be Plastic Clever in 2020. With multiple speaking engagements including a TedX Talk under their belts, you can follow the sisters’ latest campaigns and initiatives on social media, and help make the UK plastic free.


9. Daniel Koto Dagnon


Young, dynamic, passionate, and dedicated to the cause of his community, Benin, Daniel Koto Dagnon focusses on safeguarding and protecting the environment from climate change. With the support of 'Turning Green' – a San Francisco based environmental nonprofit, that works with young people from around the world, Daniel developed a program called Green Amazones that addresses the needs and requests of women leaders and girls in Benin and empowers them to take climate action. “Women have a crucial role to play in the fight against climate change.”– he said – “We need to involve them in the implementation and adaptation of resiliency measures in the face of climate change.”


10. Qiyun Woo


This Singaporean environmental activist and artist is using uniquely stylised illustrations to raise awareness of complex climate issues and sustainability-related causes. From circular economy and sustainable finance to environmental policies and ecology, Woo has managed to engage and educate new (and often younger) audiences on how to make the world more sustainable and the complexities in dealing with the climate crisis. Beyond her educational artworks, Woo works closely with a wide range of stakeholders in the private and public sectors, and civil society, including hosting book clubs on alternative economic models and ecofeminism, as well as producing climate-related content for media outlets such as TODAY online and Singapore Policy Journal.

Monday 14 November 2022

Sustainable gift-wrapping solutions to adore!

The amount of wrapping paper thrown away in the UK alone, is enough to reach the moon! That is equivalent to 384,400 km.

Shocking enough?

Every holiday season, US households throw away 25% more trash than any other time of the year. A big part of this daunting number includes the materials used for gift wrapping. The shiny and glittery wrapping paper, ribbons, and plastic bows can’t be recycled and end up in landfills. When you get down to gift-wrapping, start by looking for reusable material at home. If you don't have anything, you can always check for cute materials at second-hand shops.

Let’s start wrapping!


1. Furoshiki

Furoshiki is a Japanese wrapping cloth traditionally used to carry around belongings, but has now become a popular eco-friendly gift wrapping method in other cultures as well. To wrap a gift in furoshiki, all you need is a two-sided square cloth and some basic folding skills. Here’s a simple way to wrap a gift in furoshiki:

How to wrap a gift in furoshiki
Source: Invaluable

There are also plenty of other furoshiki gift wrapping ideas out there that cover various kinds of gift types and forms. To get the most out of it, use a piece of cloth you already own—look for forgotten gems in your closet or scarf drawer. Tip: To make the wrapping fancier and add some nice rustling sound, wrap the gift in leftover tissue paper under the cloth.

If you want to keep it as simple as possible or just don’t have the patience for decorating, furoshiki is the right choice for you. When wrapping a gift in furoshiki, you’ll see that no decorations are needed. Just find a nice cloth, perhaps with a festive pattern, and you’re good to go.


2. Kraft paper

Most types of wrapping paper can’t be recycled. The shiny, laminated paper, and anything glossy, glittery, and metallic-looking contaminates the whole batch if thrown together with recyclable paper. This is where kraft paper comes in—it’s biodegradable and recyclable. 

Let your creativity shine when decorating a gift wrapped in kraft paper. To complement the rustic look of the paper, decorate the gifts with some natural materials like pinecones, dried plants, or dried orange slices. Tip: Remember to go tape-free to keep it eco-friendly.


3. Gift bags

Finding eco-friendly gift bags is easier than you think. First off, you can use a multi-purpose bag as a gift bag. I’d love receiving a gift wrapped in an eco-friendly tote. Or even better, create personalized tote bag or a personalised drawstring bag that can be used for years. If you’re into crafts, there are ways how you can create reusable and eco-friendly fabric gift bags yourself. Look through your closet for pillow cases, scarves, sweaters you don’t wear anymore, and anything else that can be reused, but doesn’t look old and washed out yet. Tip: Sweater sleeves make great gift bags for wine bottles.

Save up all the gift bags, gift sachets, and drawstring bags you get and you won’t have to worry about buying new ones and creating more waste. But if you decide to buy a gift bag after all, make sure you purchase something reusable or recyclable.


4. Newspaper & magazines

While more people are switching from printed newspapers to digital news, there are still 28.6 million copies of newspapers printed daily. And many of us have our own share of newspapers and magazines lying around at home waiting to be reused and recycled. 

There are quite a few ways to make this simple and thrifty idea into something meaningful. For example, go through your stack of newspapers and look for an interesting or funny article that complements the gift you’re giving. Or find an unsolved crossword puzzle and use it as a place to write your holiday greetings.

Ask your friends or family to share some of the newspapers they don’t use anymore, and in exchange, share your gift wrapping idea with them. They might try it out as well! 


5. Carton boxes

This is the time for you to rattle through all your saved up gift boxes and any other reusable boxes you have (for example, cardboard delivery boxes). If they don’t look as good anymore, there are ways to freshen them up. Use eco-friendly colors, kraft paper, newspapers, or saved up tissue paper to make gift boxes look like new.

But there’s also a way to make an eco-friendly gift box yourself. All you need is the inside of a paper towel or toilet paper roll. What’s great about this gift wrapping idea is that you can leave it to the kids to wrap small gifts as well. It’s quick, easy, and you won’t even need scissors or tape. Just fold both ends of the roll and you’re all done. 

With the right eco-friendly decoration of some leftover ribbons, pine tree sprigs, or anything else you find, it’ll be hard to tell how the gift box was made. (Although, you can always make the receiver guess, and spread the word about eco-friendly gift wrapping at the same time!)


6. Glass jars

This is another adorable gift wrapping idea where all you need is to look through your shelves to find a glass jar waiting to be reused. If you don’t have any jars at home, remember to save up jars from pickled goods the next time you eat them. Or, again, just ask around—your family and friends will definitely have some spare jars you can use.

Add a personal touch by decorating the jar with some cinnamon sticks, candy canes, eucalyptus leaves, or carved wooden decors. If you have some leftover pieces of cloth from furoshiki wrapping, use them to cover the top of the jar and tie it up with twine. Tip: If you’re short on gift ideas that fit in a jar, try some homemade goods, like jam or eggnog, or small DIY kits.


Sustainable gift-wrapping station at the Christmas Green Fair

We thought it would be handy and convenient to offer visitors at the Green Fair sustainable gift-wrapping. You can shop over 40 stalls, all selling approved eco-friendly and sustainably-made products, and we'll wrap your gifts in some of the methods mentioned above. 

The Christmas Green Fair is on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November at The Veg Box and Majjistral Nature Park, Manikata. Only 3 minutes walk from Golden Bay. 

Besides eco gifts, you will find vegan and vegetarian food and the many delicious Christmas treats, vegan wines & beers, ice-cream and chai. The popular Kids4Kids Market will be happening too - plus several fun workshops! 

The agenda looks like this:

  • Saturday 19 November
  • 10.00hrs – Permaculture Workshop
  • 12.00hrs – Kids Workshop: Make your own Santa Stocking
  • 13.30hrs – Plant-based Nutrition Talk & Recipes
  • 15.00hrs – The Elves Workshop
  • 16.30hrs – BEE-Aware Workshop
  • Ongoing – Kids4Kids Market, Sustainable gift wrapping, thrifting and face-painting

  • Sunday 20 November
  • 10.00hrs – Finger puppet show 
  • 12.00hrs – Kids Workshop: Make your own Advent Calendar
  • 13.30hrs – Kids Yoga
  • 15.00hrs – The Elves Worksop
  • 16.30hrs – Sunset Yoga
  • Ongoing – Kids4Kids Market, Sustainable gift wrapping, thrifting and face-painting

Visit the Event Page for more info.

This year, let's choose local, mindfully and sustainably!

Thursday 3 November 2022

10 environmentally-friendly Christmas gift ideas

Christmas is coming and we all know it represents a moment of joy, sharing and gifts. Often, the consumption produced during the Christmas holidays have a heavy impact on the environment, so why not give, through conscious choices, something sustainable that can reduce the impact on the environment? Let's see some examples that you can buy from our sustainable and ethical e-commerce platform Coral. With every order, we plant a tree in your name.


Mock Layer Top Banjo (3-8 Years)

Usually clothes are one on the most frequent gifts, many of them are much more polluting than we can imagine, so why not give a different shirt made of organic cotton and suitable for the whole season?

BUY HERE


Cobalt blue tied fabric necklace

It is a sustainable piece of jewelry for every season, soft to the touch and lightweight, to be worn comfortably over casual or business attire. Uniquely designed and meticulously sewn, this handcrafted piece of jewellery enhances minimal clothing. Add our necklace to your everyday outfit or for an occasion, you’re sure to receive many compliments for your originality and sensitivity to the environment, perhaps setting an example for others.

BUY HERE


Home diffuser: Ivi May - Pomegranate e Cassis

This fruity blend of blackcurrant (cassis) and pomegranate brings together two unexpected fruity scents, emitting a vibrant, sweet aroma that brightens and uplifts the spirits. it is a bamboo product,  a combination of non-toxic, non-flammable and eco friendly ingredients which have the ability to carry the fragrances over a long period of time. Nonetheless All the packaging is fully recyclable and environmentally-friendly.

BUY HERE


Barbology London Vegan Mens Survival Gift Set (4 piece set)

A perfect gift for him, an incredible set consisting of a shampoo, an oil, a conditioner and face mosturizer plus a comb. These are products with natural ingredients such as tee tre oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, suitable for any skin, a multipurpose cleanser that helps to wash away dandruff and impurities in hair or beard.

BUY HERE


Shopper 

A bag may seem like a very common gift, not very innovative, in reality we are sure that it will always be nice to receive a new one to show off, especially if eco-sustainable.



TAPP Water Ecopro Compact Water Filter


With the TAPP EcoPro Compact easy-to-install water filter, you will instantly get pure, healthy and great tasting water straight from your tap, knowing that your drinking water is free from contaminants, chemicals, micro-plastics and that healthy minerals have been retained.




Triclimb

Perfectly formed to encourage children to stand, climb and conquer at their own pace. Triclimb naturally inspires confidence and builds strength in your little ones as they reach new developmental stages. Each step on the ladder signals a new achievement and a new goal.




Warner's UK premium botanical gin - Harrington Dry


All ingredients are natural and no artificial products have been used to produce this product. Warner’s have an Environmental Policy in place to ensure we safeguard the services nature provides and examine our environmental footprint as a business.




Double Chocolate CheeZecake


A dessert is always pleasing to everyone, from the smallest to the oldest, so why not give a super nutritious cake, made exclusively with natural products, to conclude perhaps the Christmas lunch or dinner?




Maltese Honey Full Body Avanced Pack
This Maltese Honey Full body Advanced is a unique, all-in-one package containing facial and body cream moisturiser, face toner, face cleanser and face mask. Made with Maltese Honey and combined with the benefits of the beautiful Maltese islands nature, they will leave your skin feeling refreshed and rejuvenated!




These are just some of our tips for a sustainable Christmas, but on coral you can find many other innovative gift ideas, interesting for all types of people and above all eco friendly.

Friday 23 September 2022

Why do public markets matter?

Public markets are as old as civilization. They were once a primary channel where people gathered to find the ingredients for their meals. Around the world, for centuries, the buying and selling and exchange of food and other essential products has been transacted in public marketplaces open to all. As urbanisation and industrialisation swept through, in the mid 90th century, public markets started to decline. By 1950s, supermarkets had eclipsed the old public markets in both convenience and sales volume.

Yet, public markets never wholly disappeared and they are making a comeback. In some countries, markets remained an immersive tradition and a cultural experience.  

This September, we saw the return of the original Eco Market, the summer edition at the beautiful Square in Mellieha, and it was great to see the community coming alive again, after three years! 



Eco Market in Mellieha, 2019


Eco Market in Mellieha, 2022



The Eco Market took place during EU Sustainability Mobility Week and on this occasion, we organised several mobility-related activities. For the young ones, we had free balance bikes trials, and there was also a fun obstacle course for kids on bicycle, scooter and skates. There were crafts where children had the opportunity to build their own 'futuristic' vehicle from upcycled materials. Kids also had fun learning new moves at the yoga session, and reflect during a mindfulness session.




For the adults there was an AI workshop, to better understand the role of artificial intelligence in the mobility sector and several info stalls about green jobs and cycling. 

The Eco Market's purpose goes beyong the buying and the selling. Our focus is on inspiring sustainability as a way of life and on public good. Our events create a safe active space for people with like-minded interests to learn, share and give birth to new ideas. We bring diverse people together, from retired tourists enjoying the experience and supporting local small business owners - to young children who ask their parents to take them to the Eco Market! 






As an ethical and sustainable business, we promote public health and well-being, through plant-based food, but also vegan wines, beers and ice-cream. Also all the beauty products are chemical-free and made from natural ingredients, mostly organic. Everything is packed in a sustainable way and there is a 100% ban on all types of single-use plastics. 



Buying with purpose

Supporting small local business owners at markets has several ripple effects. From the point of view of the vendors, it is a unique opportunity. For instance, those who have just started their business have the chance to explain face to face the work behind their product to their prospective customers, while getting confident in their new role and beating the fear and anxiety that inevitably comes with a new business. For seasoned business owners, markets are an additional stream of income, especially those who do not have a brick-and-mortar store.

Buyers, on the other hand, know that purchasing something from a local brand means that the product is made with love and care, as opposed to underpaid labor, and they get to appreciate the creativity rather than seeing mass-consumed objects. They get to meet the artist or creator behind the product and establish a mutually beneficial relationship.




Eco Market vendors and their products are approved according to our sustainability criteria which looks into how the product is made, what raw materials are used, where they came from, the life-shelf of the product, and several other aspects. It is important to mention that we do not look for perfection - for we do not believe such thing exists. We believe in effort, in progress, and in a passionate heart. Therefore brands who do not use any single-use plastic, and tick at least one of our criteria, are welcome to the Eco Market. 



UPCOMING EVENTS






We're looking forward to hold Eco Market's 'Marine Life Fair' next weekend at the Square in front of the Malta National Aquarium. This is a first-of-its-kind event in Malta - a family-friendly weekend jam packed with interesting and marine-themed activities and market stalls. Have a look above for a sneak peak of activities, which will be conducted by professional marine biologists from the Aquarium staff, social enterprises and NGOs. 

Saturday 1 October from 1200 to 1700
Sunday 2 October from 1000 to 1700

Free entrance to the Fair and all the activities.
Free entrance to the Aquarium for 3 kids with every paying adult.



On Sunday 9th October, we will once again be part of 'Genna ta' Gonna' (literally, Heaven of Gardens), the open day of the city of Floriana, with all its wondrous gardens which will be open to the public, along with many other attractions of the locality.

You can find the stalls of the Eco Market on the sidewalk near the main bus terminus between Floriana and Valletta from 1000 to 1700. We are planning an exciting and varied list of stalls which will include pre-loved thrifting and vintage clothing, vegan bakery and desserts, handmade luxury candles, jewellery, kids clothes, handsewn cushions, contemporary home decor, and a unique artisanal ice-cream. 

If you are looking for a unique and purposeful shopping experience, you know where we are! Looking forward to seeing you there 💚🌍🌱


Eco Market at Genna ta' Gonna 2019






Friday 5 August 2022

Climate-neutrality by 2030 for Gozo

On 28th April 2022, the EU Commission announced the 100 cities selected for a mission in becoming a carbon-neutral and smart city by 2030. 



"The green transition is making its way all over Europe right now. But there's always a need for trailblazers, who set themselves even higher goals. These cities are showing us the way to a healthier future." said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission. 

The selected cities will receive €360 million in funding from the EU Horizon project, to start the innovation paths towards achieving climate-neutrality by 2030. The research and innovation actions will address clean mobility, energy efficiency and green urban planning.

At the Paris Agreement in 2015, over 98% of the world's nation leaders pledged to become climate-neutral by 2050. These recently selected 100 EU cities embarked on a quest to get to that achievement by 2030; becoming climate pioneers and an example for others to follow. 


What exactly is climate neutrality?

Climate neutrality refers to the idea of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by balancing those emissions so they are equal (or less than) the emissions that get removed through the planet's natural absorption; in basic terms it means we reduce our emissions through climate action. A net-zero world is a world where global emissions are in balance with what is naturally absorbed in 'sinks' such as forests and oceans. 


Is it just about carbon dioxide?

No, it's about all gases that are harmful to the climate, such as methane and nitrodius oxide, as well as hydroluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride. This is not an exhaustive list, but for now, think of greenhouse gases as a catch-all term for the harmful substances we are pumping into the atmosphere. 



Where does carbon offsetting fit into this?

Climate neutrality means that you bring your emissions down to zero. This applies to both individuals and organisations. Many organisations are not able to reduce their emissions to zero immediately - as it will take a number of years for them to make the technological investments and change the baits that climate neutrality requires. That is why the path to net zero starts yesterday. Organisations can - in addition to the reductions that they can start making now - also invest in emission reductions outside their organisation, known as 'offsets'.

This option helps accelerate the global effort to reduce emissions and puts a 'carbon price' on their own organisation, providing an economic incentive to reduce their own emissions quicker. Purchasing compensation units is also an option available to individuals and households, as - similarly to organisations - they will have difficulties becoming climate neutral immediately. Offsets are not a long-term solution, and they don't replace the need for you or your organisation to go to zero as fast as possible, but they do provide a way to accelerate that journey. 


The way forward for Gozo 

Sectors that will need addressing are Energy & Buildings, Food System, Green Infrastructure, Transportation, Water and Waste. But a climate-friendly city is also a people-friendly city. Issues such as the wellbeing, health, environment, equity, livability and the synergies in between, must be taken into consideration. The pathways for change lie heavily on technology and innovation, science, business and finance, policy and governance, behavioural change and integrative scenarios. 

Your journey to net-zero

You start by measuring or estimating your emissions. Check out this online calculator to measure the emissions from your household.


List of the 100 climate-neutral and smart cities:

Aarhus, Copenhagen and Sonderborg in Denmark

Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Helmond, Groningen, Rotterdam, The Hague, Ultrecht in the Netherlands

Espoo, Helsinki, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Tampere, Turku in Finland

Gavle, Gothenburg, Helsingborg, Lund, Malmo, Stockholm, Umea in Sweden

Antwerp, Brussels Capital Region, La Louviere, Leuven in Belgium

Cork and Dublin in Ireland

Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Valencia, Valladolid, Vittoria-Gastelz, Zaragosa in Spain

Gulmaraes, Lisbon, Porto in Portugal

Angers Loire, Bordeaux, Dijon, Dunkerque, Grenoble-Alpes, Metropole, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Paris in France

Llepaja and Riga in Latvia

Taurage and Wilnius in Lithuania

Krakow, Lodz, Rzeszow, Warsaw, Wroclaw in Poland

Liberec in the Czech Republic

Bergamo, Bologna, Florence, Milan, Padova, Parma, Prato, Rome, Turin in Italy

Bratislava and Kosice in Slovakia

Budapest, Miskolc, Pecs in Hungary

Gabrovo and Sofia in Bulgaria

Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Suceava in Romania

Athens, Ionnina, Kalamata, Kozani, Thessalonki, Trikala in Greece

Limassol in Cyprus

Zagreb in Croatia

Kranj, Ljubljana, Velenje in Slovenia

Klagenfurt in Austria

Aachen, Dortmund, Dresden, Frankfurt, Heldelberg, Lelpzig, Mannhelm, Munich, Muster in Germany

Gozo in Malta