During the celebration, children would bring a gift for their mother and the tradition has continued to this day. In the past, flowers and cakes were a common gift but now we tend to give a variety of different presents. This year, why not consider giving an ethical gift for mother’s day.

Mother’s Day ethical presents

Mother’s Day is an important time to show appreciation to your mum given the years she has spent loving and nurturing you. So, wouldn’t it be good to give a gift that lets her know how much you love her while also representing the same spirit of caring for the environment in which we all live.

An ethical gift is the perfect way to do this. Ethical gifts can be fairtrade, organic, natural, sustainable or recycled. There are many ethical brands producing beautiful gifts so you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Ethical gift ideas for Mother’s Day

Every Mum likes to be pampered from time to time and the bathroom is always the part of the home where they can escape for some relaxation. Instead of searching through the high street for luxury bathroom products this Mother’s Day, have a look online for some natural bath and body gifts to make Mum look and feel good. From luxurious body creams and lotions to beautifully packaged gifts sets containing shampoos and moisturisers, these products are free from chemicals and not tested on animals.

If you want to help your mum unwind even more, natural scented candles can help create the right mood. Candles are ubiquitous these days but many contain dyes or pigments for colour, and fragrances for scent (as well as other minor ingredients). Candles made using natural essential oils for fragrance not only smell better but are also better for the environment as no toxins or chemicals are used.

For a fashion conscious present that is ethically sound, why not buy some stylish fairtrade fashion accessories for mum such as a new handbag or silk scarf. Fairtrade means that the products are manufactured by communities who are given a decent wage for their work and the working conditions abide by fair trade criteria. Bags are scarves are produced by indigenous people using natural materials and traditional skills and you’re unlikely to find anything like it on the high street.

If she likes jewellery, there’s some great silver jewellery for mothers that you could buy. Beautiful pendants, necklaces and earrings made from recycled silver can be bought online. The silver mining industry has a major impact on the environment so buying recycled silver represents the best way to reduce the devastation.

The ethical toy debate

The toy industry, which is said to worth around £8 billion, has long been criticised for its lack of environmental awareness. However, that hasn’t stopped adults from splashing the cash. By the time the average British child reaches the age of 16, they will have owned around £11,000 worth of toys. It’s impossible for all those toys to have been made from sustainable materials or be ethically sound, so what’s being done to improve the situation?

The answer has, until recently, been very little. The mass market for cut-price toys lends itself to huge industrialisation leading to outsourcing and then questionable labour rights for the workforce who produce the products. Then there’s the materials used in manufacture.

The idea of the ‘toxic toybox’ has been in evidence for decades. A 1997 study into 71 toys from 17 countries found that they contained between 10 and 40 per cent of a plasticiser that is connected to childhood asthma and reproductive disorders. And the problems still exist today. As recently as 2007, around 21 million toys were recalled for posing hazards such as excessive levels of lead paint.

So, the manufacturing process is damaging to health, natural resources are being depleted and the recycling of toys that are no longer wanted is near on impossible because the materials simply can’t be reused. Will parents refuse to buy their child the latest Dalek or Transformer toy based on these revelations?

Eco-friendly toys

There’s a long way to go until the mainstream toy industry ensures all materials are sustainable and all factory workers are given fair wages and basic human rights. However, this will be the decade of the environment and consumers are waking up to the fact that things have to change.

The majority of ethical toys made from sustainable materials are wooden and while this may not appeal to the ipod generation of kids, it makes sense for the tiny tots. Sustainable toys made from sustainable hale wood or rubberwood and coloured with vegetable dyes remove the danger of potential toxic poisoning and reduce the devastation of natural resources.

Fairtrade toys produced by workers in impoverished areas give communities the chance to work for a decent wage and the profits are utilised to improve health and education.

Recycled toys manufactured from materials that have been recycled (and are recyclable when the toy is no longer wanted) reduces waste going to landfill.

These options are available to us as consumers and the more we demand them, the quicker the toy industry will change its practices.

How ethical is recycled silver jewellery?

Can recycled silver jewellery itself ever be truly ethical if we’re unsure of the original source. Well, as a metal, silver is ethical in that it is rarely thrown away because the silver industry has always recycled. Silver can be easily melted down and reused many times over and therefore it is deemed ethical by the industry because of this. The ‘ethical silver’ debate therefore moves to the process of getting the metal out of the ground in the first place.

Around a third of all silver actually comes from silver mines but the majority is as a by-product of mining other metals like copper, gold and zinc. This type of mining is one of the world’s most environmentally destructive industries using an estimated 10 per cent of world energy, not to mention all the toxic emissions, landscape damage and human rights issues.

Finding ethical sources for silver is more difficult than with diamonds or gold. The supply channels are rare if almost non-existent. Eighty per cent of gold mined each year will become jewellery making it a desirable target for ethical consumer campaigns. Not so with silver. Only 25 per cent of silver will become jewellery or silverware, the rest is used in electrical products such as plasma displays and X-rays or the fabrication of solar cells.
Until certification is introduced and mines and manufacturers meet criteria for the responsible sourcing of silver, what can we do in our efforts to be ‘ethical’ about buying silver jewellery?

Buy UK produced recycled silver jewellery

While the campaigns for ethical mining gather momentum, as consumers, one of the best efforts we can make is to buy jewellery from a range produced using recycled silver from unwanted silver products that have been melted down.

We can also buy from UK suppliers who have sourced recycled silver pendants, earrings and necklaces that are handmade in this country. By doing this, we reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing and transportation and we also place less emphasis on requiring new silver from the mining process, which in turn puts pressure on the silver industry to mine in an ethical and responsible way.

Websites such as www.greentulip.co.uk have a great range of jewellery made from UK sourced recycled silver including this beautiful necklace and earrings.

An elegant recycled silver necklace with large matt silver heart	Recycled sterling silver heart stud earrings

But it’s little wonder that some may have unrealistic expectations  about a psychic reading when you consider all the advertising hype on television and in the newspapers. Many ads announce how having an accurate psychic reading can solve just about any problem you may have in your life. Really!

That doesn’t mean that email psychic readings can’t help. If you’re confused or uncertain about which direction to take in life a good psychic reading can be very helpful.

HERE’S A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO GET THE BEST FROM YOUR PSYCHIC READING:

1: Don’t ask a psychic to choose the winning lottery numbers for you, because they can’t. Do you think they would be offering psychic readings if they could. No, of course not! They’d be on some white sandy beach in the Pacific enjoying a rum and coke! And, of course, it would be a misuse of their psychic gift to do so even if they could.

2: Remember if you are  afraid or unwilling to move forward, no amount of psychic help and guidance will help you. It’s necessary to let go of the past to move towards a more positive future.

3: A good psychic will not tell you silly things such as what you had for breakfast yesterday, or what time you went to bed two days ago. How could this possibly be of help to you?

4: Good psychics may use psychic abilities such as clairaudience, clairsentience or clairvoyance when reading for you and many will often use a combination of all three.

5:  Good psychic readings should be about self empowerment and personal development. A good psychic will be able to see your possible future, which will allow you to make informed decisions.

6:  A good psychic reading should give you insight into how to improve your life, especially when things have been difficult.

7: Psychics are only human and unfortunately don’t always know  all the answers to your questions, when this situation arises they should be honest and tell you they can’t help.

8: A good psychic can only give you psychic guidance on how to solve your problems, you are the one who has to make the final decision.

9: A good psychic will tell you if they foresee any problems in the future, they will not peddle false hope just to keep you happy.

If you’re unhappy with the psychic reading tell the psychic you want them to stop, there is no reason for you to sit through a reading that is not working. The psychic should have no problem with refunding your money and may even suggest another reader who will be able to connect to your energy.

First of all, don’t spend any money on programs that promise you to "get rich quick". In fact, you should not spend any money at all for signing up with an affiliate program. It’s the companies that is inside the affiliate programs you might have to pay a smaller fee to but never for signing up with the programs.
To stay in an affiliate program it’s ok to pay a smaller fee but only if they offering a VERY GOOD SUPPORT.
VERY GOOD SUPPORT means: good education on how to promote, tips on how to advertise, how to make videos and upload them on for example YouTube, how to get the search engines to see your affiliate site or product, how to get traffic to your affiliate site, how to build a web site if necessary, how to build income streams, support/discussion forum where you can ask questions and get answers from experts in marketing etc etc.
Any affiliate program you decide to participate in must be willing to learn you how to earn. To learn how to promote your business is a must. If they don’t have that support, don’t sign up.

The companies in the program and the program itself should also provide you with support material like: Text links, banners in both flash and gif-animated, sales text, a good sale page to promote and other good material. If you choose to support them they should absolutely support you because you are the companies salesman.
You can achieve a good internet income without the so called "getting rich quick-programs". The odds are 99% against you that you will "get rich quick" with any of those programs.

And why is that?
Well, have you ever seen or heard how much you will have to spend on advertising to earn all that money the "getting rich quick-programs" say you can earn? A screenshot showing $50,000 earned in 60 days doesn’t mean much if you will have to spend $49,995 in advertising.
The scams are so common that many people have become wary to join a money making system. Look for the programs that doesn’t promise you huge amount of money within a couple of month or promising "fast money making".

Look for them that can make dollars for you in the long run. Think like this, and set up a goal like "the first dollars I will see on my bank account is after 4-5 month".
It demands both time and patience from you to make the first dollars. Just like any business, you’ll have to build your own business from zero.

Look what they offering in commissions, if they have any bonus program, if they pay per month. The affiliate programs and/or the companies in it will pay you only after a certain amount has been reached. If you’ve made $170 it doesn’t necessary means that you can get that amount right away. Some companies doesn’t pay until you have reached maybe $200.

No matter what other people say or what you hear about easy "fast-money-making", there are no easy ways to make money fast. But if you stay in an affiliate program long enough and continue to work hard you will finally be rewarded.

To learn how to make money online you should do a little reading. To succeed in this business you’ll have to learn from the people who are doing it right. If you are looking for that "get rich quick" miracle online, you can stop looking. There are no such program. Start to make money online with proven techniques from Internet marketing experts. What you need is the right marketing tools to earn money online. You can find all the marketing tool you need at Dollars2Make.

Do we pay over the odds for fair trade products?

The answer to that is ‘not necessarily’. If you go back a few years you may be right in thinking that Fairtrade equalled “expensive” as the market price was higher. Buyers and suppliers look to cover their own costs while making sure the farmers and workers receive the set minimum price for their work. Buyers can also pay money on top of the set minimum price to support social projects and improve education and health.

However, with the increased demand for Fairtrade goods, the market is now being flooded and more products are being sold. This is good for the developing countries who reap the benefits and good for the consumer because it places Fairtrade products on a level playing field with non-fair trade when it comes to pricing. And let’s not forget that Fairtrade gifts are often hand-made from quality natural materials which are beautifully crafted and long lasting. Not only are you paying a fair price, you’re often getting a superior product.

Fairtrade gift shopping ideas

The range of Fairtrade jewellery available now is amazing. Ethically produced jewellery from locations such as Africa offers real diversity from typical high street jewellery. It’s little wonder that girls looking for something different are seeking out these products.

If you’re looking to buy a jewellery gift, how about these sets made by Masai women in Kenya. The jewellery helps support local women and children while the men drive cattle hundreds of miles for grazing. These vibrant grass weaves combined with glass beads can be worn as a bracelet, necklace or hair band.

Zulugrass Jewellery - Blues 2 Strand Set	Zulugrass Jewellery - Reds/Oranges 2 Strand Set

Or why not treat your family member or friend to one of these funky Fairtrade bracelets made by local women in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Money from these jewellery items goes towards supporting medical facilities and a domestic violence centre.

Fairtrade Funky Acrylic Bracelet - Fresh Green	Fairtrade Funky Acrylic Bracelet - Electric Blue

Fairtrade homeware and kitchenware gifts are great for those who love natural wood products in the home. Brightly coloured bamboo lacquered serving bowls and salad bowls are perfect for hot or cold food.

Bambu Lacquered Small Bowl - Cayenne	Bambu Lacquered Large Salad Bowl - Red Pepper

Journals, albums and photo frames have proved popular gifts for years and they’re readily available as Fairtrade. Leather-bound journals with ivory cotton paper, photo albums bound in linen with interleaves made from banana skin, and photo frames hand-made from sustainably sourced wood from Eastern India are all ethical and all great gifts for someone special in your life.

A5 Timu Leather Journal	Medium Linen Photo Album	Manyara Wood Photo Frame

These are just some of the Fairtrade gifts you can buy online. Why not explore and buy more of these gifts for loved ones and help support people and communities who are striving for a better life.

There are some fantastic reasons for taking up the hobby of metal detecting. Some may even refer to it as a sport due to the exercise you will also be getting as you search for the unknown - the hidden treasure that could lie just beneath your feet. Using a metal detector, could quite simply take you anywhere, the possibilities are endless.

Think of how satisfied and excited Terry Herbet must be right now with his massive find in Staffordshire! Terry may have just unknowingly stumbled upon the discovery of a lifetime, one that has the potential to change our beliefs and challenges the way we will now view history.

In case you are not aware, Terry stumbled upon one of the most amazing treasures of all time whilst metal detecting in Staffordshire, and once the items are valued, the pay off for his hobby will more than likely provide him with millions to last him the rest of his life.

How’s that for a hidden treasure!

We may not all be able to come across as brilliant a find as Terry, however there are definitely some valuable discoveries still to be found out there. They could just be waiting for you and your metal detector to discover them.

So how do you do it?

First and foremost, you will need to ensure you have a good metal detector that will be effective for the places you wish to search. There are different options available if you would like to detect on the beach, park, or underwater. Yes underwater!

Finding treasure underwater is often referred to as deep metal detecting. This can be extremely profitable as many valuable items are lost out at sea and never to be recovered again. That is of course, until you came along!

To achieve success with your metal detecting, it is important to conduct research beforehand. The useful information that you can gather from your local library or through searching the Internet can provide you with a great starting point.

Knowing where to start is one of the key factors for any person wishing to take this hobby seriously. Simply getting out your metal detector and starting on your front lawn may lead you to finding some interesting things, however visiting places from our history, that you have researched beforehand, could prove far more fruitful, as Terry now knows all too well.

Metal detecting can be fun and rewarding for anyone wishing to give it a go. It doesn’t have to cost you the earth to purchase a metal detector - Terry got his from a jumble sale!

Whether it’s to theme a nursery, update a child’s room or enhance a living space, you can have any style or design, tailored to suit your specific taste and budget.

The Design

As an experienced muralist, all of my murals are drawn free hand with no stencilling or projections involved. This allows me to transfer your ideas directly onto the wall with no scale or design restriction. I can work to all scales and budgets, producing either simple colourful wall murals to enhance a style of room – or completely theme a room in intricate detail. No project is too large or too small, and every project is treated with the same personal care and attention. When producing an interior scheme I can either translate your specific ideas directly or if you would prefer I can produce imaginative design creations for you. You may already have a room decorated and decide you want to take details from a border, curtains or duvet cover and create a mural to finish the room off.

The Price

There are a number of factors to consider that will determine the price of any given mural. The size of the mural, the detail, the wall texture and whether or not there is a ceiling involved - all have an impact on the costs. Prices start from as little as £65.00, so please use my contact page or phone me directly to arrange for a free consultation or guide price over the phone.

I am a fully qualified designer specialising in hand painted murals for interiors. I have always been creative and started painting murals when I was 14 in my own bedroom and then I found all of my friends wanted one. I went on to University and qualified with a Ba Hons in Design – Surface Pattern.

I worked as a designer for commercial companies but when I had my first child I decided that the nursery just had to have a Winnie The Pooh themed mural. As friends started to see my son’s room – my mural business began and it is the most rewarding and satisfying of jobs I have ever done.

As well as painting murals in people homes I have also been commissioned to produce murals for the National Health Service and other commercial properties, which have been featured in the local press.

Following our initial contact by phone, I would arrange to come and meet with you to view the room you intend to have the mural painted in. We would talk through your ideas, and at this stage if you needed inspiration I would also bring along ideas, pictures, and books to look at. For children’s rooms, every child has a favourite cartoon character, theme, TV character or book so this would be our starting point. If your child is old enough I always like to ask what they would like to see in their room so we make sure the mural makes everyone happy.

Once you have decided on the size and design of the mural that’s when I can provide you with an exact cost. My price is always inclusive of all materials and time – so no matter how long it takes me to complete the mural – the price will remain exactly as quoted (prices start from as little as £65).

When I come to paint the mural - the whole design is sketched out on the wall, ceiling or cupboard etc. in pencil first, and it is at this stage that I always make sure the client is completely happy with how the design looks before any painting begins - as once the design is painted changes are hard to make!

Your custom hand painted mural can usually be finished within a few days depending on size and detail level. The paints I use are waterproof and non-toxic and are therefore ideal to be used around children and babies.

Protea repair’s Motorola radios such as the GP300, GP320, GP340, GP360, GP380, GP344 and GP388. Licence free types such as the XTR446, XTN446, XTNi and XTNiD are also repaired.  Most Kenwood models are repaired including the TK-3101, TK3201, TK-360 and others, while repairs to Icom types IC-F22, IC-F22SR, IC-F15 an IC-F25 to name a few are also performed. Vertex, Entel, Yaesu, TTi, Midland, Alan, Maxon and Cobra equipment can also be repaired.

Most two way radios are repairable so there is no need to discard them should they become faulty. Protea Electronics offers solutions for your communication needs, with free estimates, fixed price repairs and service contracts to suit your budget. So if its one walkie talkie for your kids or a maintenance contract for your large fleet of two way radios contact us for a free, no obligation quotation. Repairs can be sent to us from anywhere within the UK and surrounding Islands, individuals, small and large Companies, schools, colleges, sports stadiums, fitness centres, security Companies, shopping Malls, Hospitals, Supermarkets and clubs all welcome.