I am so pleased by the positive response I have had to this project.I know that as an individual I can not pretend to make a huge difference to all the different issues that I raise in these blogs but I feel that I can't do any harm, and you should not underestermate the power of the internet and films on TV.

There is a charity in South Africa that focuses on Aids called Starfish. There is a parable which sums up this project perfectly, It goes

" A girl walks along a beach, throwing Starfish back into the sea, when she meets an old man. The man asks the girl why she is throwing starfish into the ocean. She says, The sun is up and the tide is going out, if I don't throw them back they will die. But theres a whole beach and it runs on for miles, You can't possibly make a difference says the man. The girls picks up a starfish and throws it back in the sea, " It made a difference to that one" she says

A typical farmer working in Africa, producing Fairtrade Products.

DAY 9

Todays Video Blog - Imporient Fairtrade Tea

DAY 7

One of the charities working in developing countries is Find Your Feet (FYF)

Dickson Sakala is one of 36 people who FYF has chosen to be a lead farmer in their community in northern Malawi. Trained in enviromentally friendly farming practices and teaching skills at a cost of £ 110 each, ( $165 ) lead farmers like Dickson are sharing their knowledge with over 3,500 of their fellow farmers. Dickson Sakala started working with FYF in 2002 when they launched an organic composting competition. "I'd never used compost before but I was actually the most successful farmer that year. I produced 172 compost heaps. I used the compost on my land and it made a real difference". She goes on, " Because of Compost-making success, FYF invited me to become a lead farmer and train other farmers in sustainable farming practices. I now have 84 follower farmers who I train in composting, crop diversification and water conservation."

CO2 Report 28 miles travel by car   

DAY 6

I recently visited San Francisco (USA) and Hawaii, which was great. There was a plentiful supply of enviromental and fairtrade on show. One area that was particularly interesting was Haight Ashbury.

CO2 Report - None as I worked from home

DAY 5

I have visited many places in the last 2 or 3 years and it is always heart warming to discover Fairtrade in any shape or form.

When I was in the South of France recently I came across this great store selling some Fairtrade Products. You will find it in Antibes Town

CO2 Report today - None as I worked from home

DAY 4

I have had another 20 boxes reserved, including a company based in Boston, USA. Thats, $720 to add to the total. I hope you have had a chance to view the promotional video, which was filmed here on the Isle of Wight, an Island off the South Coast of the UK, about 70 miles south of London, England.

CO2 Report - 26.5 miles travel by car today

DAY 3

Another 2 boxes sold so steady progress in these early stages. I have just finished making my film update. This whole project is being made into a film, to help promote Fairtrade and Enviromental issues. Its a bank holiday is the States, 4th july celebrations so I will have to start contact the US tomorrow.

Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream, which I sell at my Fairtrade Store, here in the UK have a great idea. Create your own ice cream flavour and win a trip to a Fair Trade Cocoa Farm in the Dominican Republic. See www.transfairusa.com for details. Only applies to the US.

CO2 Report -None as I worked from home.

Raised £ 140.00 / $210.00 todays in sponsorship from companies to put their websites on my homepage. I must admit that these small sums were from companies that I had mentioned about the project before the start, however it gives me the confidence to continue as all these who I did not know before the project started all said what a great idea this was.

DAY 2

As I enter the second day, it was a shock to hear an announcement that the second largest killer in developing countries especially amoungst children is  DIARRHOEA. Clearly not the most talked about subject, never the less a major problem. Sanitation, something we take for granted, using something as simple as a toilet prevents so much infection. I want to donate monies to charities working in this area as I think Water and Sanitation are key to helping people get on with their lives. Please help me achieve this goal I have set. As you may know at least half the money I raise will be donated to charities working in developing countries, also I plan to film how this money is spent, as part of the film project running alongside this internet project.

(back to top)

DAY 1

Its 4pm (BST) Britsih Summer Time, Its Thursday 12th August, -2010, and after much preparation which has taken many months, this project finally gets started. Based on the fact that this project will run for 90 days,  I calculate that the final day will be 4pm on Tuesday 9th November 2010. This period  will exclude Saturdays and Sundays as it will be unlikely that I will be able to deal with businesses during these weekend breaks, So wish me luck, and more importantly, why not join me, see you at the finish.

Julian

CO2 report today - 18 miles travel by car

DAY 1

As I prepare for the start of this ambitious project I have entered some Charity websites on the homepage, to help promote them while I contact companies about including them in the project. You may notice a large number of entries so far These are made up of some companies we are showing as examples of what their site will look like , but I am looking to fill all the spaces so join me now.

CO2 Report - 22 miles travel by car today