Friday, October 14, 2011

Eco-friendly knitwear contains skin-healing properties

The eco-friendly fashion trend continues to flourish. In the recent months we’ve seen flipflops made from upcycled newspaper and biodegradable shoes. The next ethically-produced idea comes from German label Twosquaremeter, with their knitwear made from milk and seaweed which nourishes the skin as it’s worn.
Twosquaremeter is a brand created by Innovation and Clothing Factory, with a range of jerseys and cardigans made from specially developed biological yarns. The yarns contain either seaweed fibers or milk protein fibers, both of which are thought to contain healing and nourishing properties for the skin. To produce the milk-based knitwear, natural milk is skimmed and drained before the extracted proteins are processed into fibers. Twosquaremeter claim that these fibers bind sweat and neutralize the smell, while also regulating body temperature. The other garments, meanwhile, are created by combining cotton with seaweed, which is said to contain skin-rejuvenating vitamins and minerals. Produced using special techniques, these seaweed fibers do not lose their beneficial properties when the garment is washed, ensuring the articles continue to nourish skin even after multiple wears. The label claims to adhere to strict ethical standards to ensure their production process is environmentally sound and sustainable, and will only produce in countries that comply with their policies. The video below shows some of the Twosquaremeter product range:

Eco-friendly fashion is all well and good, but add cosmetically-enhancing natural fabrics to the mix, and you have an eco superior product that benefits the body as well as the planet. One to be inspired by!



Spotted by: Katharina Kieck www.springwise.com

Ana Lisa Alperovich: London’s First Certified Passivehaus Shaves 90% Off its Energy Bill Read more: London’s First Certified Passivehaus Shaves 90% Off its Energy Bill | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Travelife Kicks off Major Criteria Review




The Travelife Sustainability System, which has become the international certification of choice for the travel industry, kicked off a major review of the criteria used to rate holiday accommodation on 7 October 2011, to boost growth and relevance of the scheme with the industry.

The Travelife Sustainability System is a practical tool for hotels and apartments to monitor and manage their social and environmental impacts. Independent auditors rate properties bronze, silver and gold depending on achievements. To date nearly 17,000 properties have registered with Travelife, with more registering every week.

The Travelife criteria and scoring system were developed in 2004 following a multi-stakeholder consultation process involving tour operators, hoteliers, trade associations, NGOs, Academics and Consultants from several European countries.

The review process will follow internationally recognised ISEAL procedures for standard-setting organisations and will include two multi-stakeholder, public consultations. The first opens on 1 November closing on 16 December 2011 and the second opens on 1 February closing on 2 March 2012.

Since Travelife’s launch, there have been a number of developments which has prompted the review. These include:

• The European Union supports Travelife but it also has its own sustainability instruments such as EMAS and the EU ECOLABEL. The review aims to ensure that Travelife criteria are aligned to maximise effectiveness.

• More and more companies are now aware of the business benefits of sustainability, but Travelife criteria are not “one size fits all”. The review will look at how Travelife can be used by companies of different sizes and business models.

Travelife is establishing a Criteria Review Group which will represent all stakeholder groups these include representatives from different global regions, NGOs, academics, hoteliers, tour operators and other standard-setting organisations.

Nikki White, ABTA’s Head of Destinations & Sustainability said: “Travelife is supported by the EU, hotels across the world and by large international tour operators and smaller independents. It has become the international certification scheme of choice for the travel industry. In order to ensure credibility, grow the scheme and keep it relevant to all its members and subscribers, we need to ensure it has the most up-to-date and relevant criteria. This review will do just that, and we look forward to hearing and considering all interested parties’ recommendations.”

http://www.abta.com


Saturday, October 8, 2011

Dimitria: A 46-year journey into the magical world of arts

Dimitria: A 46-year journey into the magical world of arts


The greatest autumn festival – and one of the most established cultural festivals in Europe – takes place in northern Greece: Dimitria!

Thessaloniki: capital of Macedonia, second largest city of Greece and the most important port of the Balkans! It was first established in 316 BC and was the second most important city of the Byzantine Empire next to Constantinople. It is here where Apostle Paul first brought the message of Christianity, and Saint Dimitrios, the holy patron of the city, also lived and died.

On the occasion of his name day on the 26th of October, the greatest autumn festival – and one of the most established cultural festivals in Europe – takes place in northern Greece: Dimitria! The celebrations of this festival last for 3 whole months during which you can enjoy the very best in music, drama, dance and visual arts!

Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a bright mix of superb cultural events held in the enchanting Byzantine setting of Thessaloniki! Take this unique chance to uplift your spirit through Αrt, and wallow in a centuries-old tradition of a city steeped in symbolism, mythology and religious awe!
This year, for the 46th time in a row, there is a plethora of wonders to be discovered and experienced in an event where modern and classic art coexist harmonically indulging all kind of tastes! The festival begins on the 12th of September with the outdoor concert of Thessaloniki Symphony Orchestra; through a variety of venues- dance from Spain on 29/9, pantomime theater from Switzerland on 24-25/9, “the vegetable orchestra” from Austria on 26-27/9 and the Greek-Turkish Youth Orchestra on 14/9- people representing various countries, civilizations and trends come together to celebrate art whereas colourful theater performances and visual arts festivals complete the picture of a bustling event that you cannot afford to miss!
Dimitria celebrations date back to Byzantine times, when they were held in glorious splendour and brightness. With our mind’s eye, we could visualize the setting: hundreds of artists, acrobats, actors, “clowns” and musicians stroll around the city amusing people, while philosophers, scholars and rhetoricians create the perfect atmosphere for those seeking spiritual exhilaration.
Those festivities were a great pole of attraction for plenty of merchants, creating a kind of “trade fair” in the city. Ships and caravans carrying cargo, such as food, silk, gold and silver were arriving in hundreds in Thessaloniki, whereas tradesmen from all over the world would camp outside the walls creating a small, noisy settlement at the outskirts of the city!
The faithful Christians formed a significant part of this contrasting crowd; on the name day of Saint Dimitrios, pilgrims were participating in religious ceremonies and processions, creating a mystic atmosphere of devout concentration. It is truly impressive that today’s cultural and spiritual essence of Dimitria brings to life the magnificence of Byzantine Dimitria!
This autumn, Thessaloniki invites you once again to embrace the event that will impress even the most demanding viewer! Escape reality through Αrt and feel reborn through this magical experience! And don’t forget: what could be a better motivation to travel than Art?

Check the complete program

12/09/2011 - 25/09/2011
Location: MAINLAND GREECE THESSALONIKI
 
http://www.visitgreece.gr

Allison Leahy World’s Largest Solar Bridge Crosses The River Thames in London

London's largest solar roof is now under construction -- and it's set on a bridge! The massive 6,000 square meter array photovoltaic array is currently being installed by Solarcentury on the Victorian-era Blackfriars Bridge in London. The project is on track to become the world's largest solar bridge - when completed, Blackfriar's roof will hold 4,400 individual photovoltaic panels and produce around 900,000 kilowatt hours of electricity every year. Renewable energy will account for half of the station's energy needs and reduce annual CO2 emissions by more than 500 tons -- the equivalent of 35 American households.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Ethics and Social Dimensions of Tourism

Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

A fundamental frame of reference for responsible and sustainable tourism, the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET) is a comprehensive set of principles designed to guide key-players in tourism development. Addressed to governments, the travel industry, communities and tourists alike, it aims to help maximize the sector’s benefits while minimizing its potentially negative impact on the environment, cultural heritage and societies across the globe.

Adopted in 1999 by the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization, its acknowledgement by the United Nations two years later expressly encouraged the Organization to promote effective follow-up of its provisions. Although not legally binding, the Code features a voluntary implementation mechanism through its recognition of the role of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), to which stakeholders may refer matters concerning the application and interpretation of the document.

The Code’s 10 principles amply cover the economic, social, cultural and environmental components of travel and tourism:
Article 1: Tourism's contribution to mutual understanding and respect between peoples and societies
Article 2: Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfilment
Article 3: Tourism, a factor of sustainable development
Article 4: Tourism, a user of the cultural heritage of mankind and contributor to its enhancement
Article 5: Tourism, a beneficial activity for host countries and communities
Article 6: Obligations of stakeholders in tourism development
Article 7: Right to tourism
Article 8: Liberty of tourist movements
Article 9: Rights of the workers and entrepreneurs in the tourism industry
Article 10: Implementation of the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.

http://ethics.unwto.org/

Monday, September 5, 2011

Protection and Restoration of the Environment XI


Protection and Restoration of the Environment XI

July 3-6, 2012

First announcement and call for papers

"Protection and Restoration of the Environment" is a well-known series of international conferences, which started in 1992, in Thessaloniki, Greece. Since then they have been organized jointly by one American and one Greek University every two years. In 2012, which marks the twentieth anniversary of the Conference series, it will take place in Thessaloniki again. Organizers are the Stevens Center for Environmental Engineering of the Stevens Institute of Technology, USA and the Division of Hydraulics and Environmental Engineering, together with the Environment Council of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Thessaloniki is an inspiring place for an environmental conference: It is a large city, facing many environmental problems, but, at the same time, it is situated in the middle of an area of undisputable beauty, which exhibits the environmental quality that we have to preserve for future generations. Moreover, it is located in a rather small distance from Stagira, the birthplace of Aristotle, and Mount Athos. Aristotle contributed decisively to the formation of scientific thought, while Mount Athos represents the spirit and the moral discipline, which are indispensable for the restoration of the environment.
The conference is timely, too. In the middle of a financial crisis, it serves as a reminder that protection of the environment is not a luxury, that could be temporarily disregarded, but a basic prerequisite for a viable future.

Main topics

  • Air quality and contamination control
  • Cultural and social issues
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Environmental economics
  • Environmental education
  • Environmental fluid mechanics
  • Environmental geotechnology
  • Environmental health
  • Environmental Informatics
  • Environmental impact assessment and risk analysis
  • Environmental law and policy
  • Global environmental changes
  • Indoor air pollution
  • Natural treatment systems
  • Protection and restoration of ecosystems
  • Protection and restoration of coastal zone and open sea waters
  • Sediment transport and erosion control
  • Soft energy sources
  • Solid waste management
  • Sustainable architecture, planning and development
  • Transport and fate of pollutants in the environment-mathematical and numerical modeling
  • Waste minimization and pollution prevention
  • Wastewater treatment and management
  • Water resources management and contamination control

Important deadlines

Abstract submission: Monday October 17, 2011
Provisional acceptance of abstracts: Monday October 31, 2011
Full paper submission: Monday January 30, 2012
Reply with review comments/acceptance: Monday March 12, 2012
Final paper submission: Monday April 2, 2012

For more information:
Christodoulatos C., Stevens Institute of Technology
Katsifarakis K.L., Department of Civil Engineering, A.U.Th., Greece
Koutsospyros M, Stevens Institute of Technology
Theodossiou N., Department of Civil Engineering, A.U.Th., Greece

Previous conferences

I
1992
Thessaloniki
II
1994
Patras
III
1996
Chania, Crete
IV
1998
Halkidiki
V
2000
Thasos
VI
2002
Skiathos
VII
2004
Mykonos
VIII
2006
Chania, Crete
IX
2008
Kefalonia
X
2010
Corfu