#Oxfam Fair Trade

[no-distance-left-to-run]

Damon Albarn photographed by Greg Williams being showered by tomatoes for Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair campaign, 2005

[l5-gbsdehorizon]

Bezoek aan Oxfam Wereldwinkel in Gistel.

Via speelse zoekopdrachten komen we meer over de werking en fair trade te weten.

En eerlijke chocolade smaakt het lekkerst! 🍫 😋

🌎

[cherrylng]

The reality of Oxfam's involvement with Coldplay [CROSSBEAT (August 2006)]

In the UK, where philanthropy is very popular, celebrities and individuals often choose one (or more) of a number of organisations and campaigns to support and work with as part of their life's work. Coldplay's commitment to the UK-based development NGO Oxfam's 'Make Trade Fair' campaign is widely known.

The ‘unfair trade’ that prevails in the world is a long-standing problem between the so-called ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ countries. Historically, it has the same roots as the unfair colonial trade once practised by Western countries. Western countries buy raw materials at low prices from developing countries (without teaching them the technology) and export them, while selling goods mass-produced in their own countries to developing countries. Even now, developed countries are forcing developing countries to open their markets, putting pressure on the livelihoods of local farmers and workers. In the 1990s, when people became aware of the problems of unfair trade, it began to become a problem that footballs made by young children in Pakistan and other Asian countries, who were not allowed to go to school and were forced to work for cheap wages, were traded at high prices in the UK. In addition, in the banana industry, where five major corporations control more than 80% of the world market, the struggles of Latin American farmers, who are forced to ship at unfairly low prices, attracted attention and support movements in the late 1990s. As a result, when the first ‘fair trade bananas’ were imported into the UK in 2000, it was widely reported.

In 2002, Oxfam launched an international campaign to bring together the sporadic campaign to correct unfair trade and to call on governments and the WTO to change trade rules and shift policies. In 2002, Chris and his staff visited the Dominican Republic and Haiti in Central America to see first-hand the plight of the local people and the production of coffee beans, which had seen a decline in wholesale prices in recent years. In 2003, they visited Mexico, where they performed as a band at a concert in support of maize farmers fighting against cheap imports from the USA. In 2005, Chris toured Ghana (see photo) and was shocked to learn that cheap agricultural imports from the West were destroying local agriculture and contributing to poverty. Incidentally, Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa beans in the world, yet it cannot make chocolate. Even if they did, they could not export it because of high tariffs imposed by developed countries.

What is needed is not for rich countries to seek more wealth, but for them to share it with less rich countries. "When I was a child in the 80s, if you saw on TV the miserable situation of farmers, the only solution was to ‘donate money’. But here I see other solutions. I mean, everyone can participate by speaking up. The more I study, the more I think that poverty is also caused by trade imbalances. What I feel is particularly serious is that we are ruining the industries of developing countries by exporting products that are surplus in developed countries at unbeatable prices. It's crazy. It should be easy to stop." (Chris).

Chris has made the movement known by wearing campaign slogan T-shirts in public, including at shows, and by contributing a column to newspapers. "As long as we're providing music with heart, we can talk openly about things we feel are important in the media in developed countries. We can also promote Fair Trade and play our part in putting pressure on governments in the developed world to expand our activities and bring about trade inequalities." -Sumi Imai

[delightful-goblins]

https://onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk/category/sourced-by-oxfam

Fair Trade Handmade Rainbow Cat Cave

Circular Cup 8oz Pink/Black

Mandala Cushion - Yellow

Green Floral Watering Can

Oval Labrador Gold Earring

[lovenona]

I just haad to say thank you for the free serotonin that you have provided me with through the last artist sukuna post

it's just... ✨beautifull✨ we are slowly building up this au

BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE HIM GETTING MORE AND MORE FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF ATTENTION WERE HE'S KIND OF POUTING

and then there need to be a project done in which you have the option to work in groups and NO MATTER WHAT this proud cherry haired idiot WILL work alone but geto won't he came to y/n and they really need to work in a group if they want to get this done so of course y/n is happily gonna agree to the offer of geto to work together they do be viben after all which ultimately leads to the fact that y/n is gonna give sukuna even less attention (it probably doesn't even get on his nerves that much that y/n works with geto its just the lack of attention and ultimately time spending with you that result from it)

ah i am sorry I was rambling again😂

anyways hope you have a nice day and don't stress yourself too much with answering always happy to see you post❤️

babe let me just say ur brain is massive and i thank u from the bottom of my heart – anyway here’s the original post for everyone about to embark on this godforsaken journey with art student sukuna and our new friend pretentious fuck geto suguru 

if you thought you were pitiful at drawing, your sculptural skills are on another level of true and utter shit. you cannot, for the life of you, create things out of clay. you despise carving anything into wood. your pottery faithfully collapses on you whenever you try. you hate working with glass. you would have dropped the class, honest, if you didn’t desperately need it in order to fulfill your major requirements and graduate on time. 

all in all, it’s an awful class created solely to tank your gpa – you don’t understand what you’re doing, you don’t understand what anything is supposed to look like, and you sure as fuck don’t understand how anyone else seems to have their shit together all the time. when you glance around the room, no one, not even the famous ryomen sukuna, has trouble making their materials turn into something recognizable.

(and, in true sukuna fashion, he loves to make sure you know how fucking untalented you are.) 

so when anthropology-and-ceramics king geto suguru asks if you want to be partners for the next big art project, you agree without a second thought. you’ve been talking to him recently, small talk before class, and for all his pretentious faults, you think he’s delightfully hot as fuck with a smooth voice to match. he wears those crisp, expensive button-downs that he bought at overpriced local craft markets. he always smells like cedar and eucalyptus; he brings a different tote bag to every class, his favorite being one he got as a gift for subscribing to the new yorker. he shops organic only and throws around the words “fair trade” and “bourgeoisie” and “means of production” with the ease that sukuna throws around the words “fuck” and “shit.” 

you think geto is fascinating. and maybe he talks down to you when explaining his anthropology knowledge, he absolutely does, but when he gazes at you with those warm eyes and offers to help you learn how to sculpt and raise your grades, you can’t help but agree with a pair of big pathetic doe eyes. 

why wouldn’t you? you’re just here for a good time, after all.

so when you giggle as geto places his sinfully smooth, manicured hands over yours while teaching you how to use the pottery wheel, you don’t think much of it. you think he’s cute and warm. you’d be a fool to notice the dark annoyance radiating from the other corner of the room.

ryomen sukuna always works alone. but what he didn’t count on was that you wouldn’t be working alone with him. 

it’s not that you’re working with geto, he swears. it’s that you’re not working with him. his ears feel strangely empty without your argumentative quips, without the way you tell him he’s infuriating and annoying every time he tells you something lewd just to fluster you. it’s strangely empty without you both arguing about the difference between great artists and sell-outs – were you here, in his corner of the room, maybe sukuna would have tried to tell you michelangelo was a loser just to see what you would say. 

but you’re not with him. you’re listening to geto tell you about the time he went to study abroad in germany and how he took a trip to morocco where he tried some amazing food you’ve never heard of. he’s telling you about the time he helped make tampons in botswana after his senior year of high school and all of the other deliciously precocious things he has done for the sake of human rights and anti-capitalism. 

(you’re killing the environment, you know, geto often admonishes you when you stumble into class with your cup of coffee. that cup is going to end up in a landfill. he always taks a sip from his hydroflask for emphasis. it’s sleek and black with an oxfam sticker on it.

and sure, you know that your cup is going to become trash. geto doesn’t have to be an annoying fuck and tell you when it’s only eleven in the morning and he drove a literal moped to campus. but still, with that silky man-bun, everything he does is okay.) 

but understand that sukuna doesn’t hate geto. sukuna craves attention, and he absolutely cannot stand being ignored. he’ll pout without realizing it, pursing his lips and wondering what kind of circus act he needs to perform to win back your presence. should he get another tattoo? cuss out the professor? offer to fuck you senseless in the third-floor bathroom? he’s not sure – he’s never not been seen before. ryomen sukuna doesn’t know what it’s like to come in second. 

so he intercepts you after class; in a manner that is both sukuna-and-not-sukuna, he’ll casually throw one of his heavy arms over your shoulders, subtly pulling you away from geto’s aura, wrapping you in his scent of earth and leather and sex appeal. “come on, puppy,” he says, sultry and annoying and condescending all wrapped in one, tapping his ring-clad fingers against your arm. “you’re supposed to help me write my paper, aren’t you?” it’s not a question, it’s a demand, one you know deep down that you would rather die than shy away from. 

you might not like sukuna, you tell yourself, but there’s something about him, the way he talks and moves and exists in the world, that makes you unable to shy away. there’s something about him that always makes you want more without you quite knowing why. 

(he kissed you, once. sometimes you wonder if you would like it to happen again.) 

and you’re still nestled under sukuna’s arm, trapped in his orbit and following him to his favorite empty classrooms, when geto calls back to you, wondering if you’re still interested in going to the avant-garde poetry reading with him tomorrow night. 

he’s going to present a poem he wrote on the terrors inflicted on south america by the united states, geto had explained earlier when his hands were on yours. it was going to be some real, hard-hitting poetry, none of that “rupi kaur bullshit.” he thought it might enlighten you to join him, perhaps in more ways than one.

you pretend you don’t notice the way sukuna’s arm tightens around your shoulders when you tell geto with a flirtatious smile that you can’t wait. 

[skippyv20]

Global Citizenship

Eliminating exreme poverty worldwide is a rather altruistic goal and I do not believe it is achievable until corruption and greed are eliminated amongst those in power. Most poverty is caused by powerful people seeking to be more powerful - they create discord and wars amongst their neighbours and their own people and the results are devastating for ordinary people. Many on here will remember the images of Biafran children and of war torn Ethiopia, and of Cambodia under Pol Pot. Yet it continues in Syria, Myanmar, etc. as the powerful seek even more power and the wealth and status that accompanies it, whilst their people are displaced and thrown into poverty. 

For years organisations have raised billions of pounds to improve the lives of those suffering poverty (Oxfam and Save the Children spring to mind as two of the largest and most enduring) and I am sure they have made a difference to some, as have private donations from philanthropists such as the Gates’ yet, overall, we still have millions living in poverty and the figures keep rising. Is Global Government the answer? The ‘woke speak’ makes it all sound very equitable and fair, but what worries me is that within any organisation there will be those with power and those with none, and those with power will inevitibly want to become even more powerful. Huxley’s 'Brave New World’ springs to mind - the Alpha’s and Beta’s enjoyed their power and status whilst the Delta’s and Epsillon’s were consigned to working for the good of the 'World State’ until their usefulness was over.

Perhaps there are lessons to be learnt from the EU; Britain was desperate to join for years, but what began as a trading union (Common Market) became a political entity (EU) and gradually we became dissilusioned with yet another layer of government and the loss of our 'British’ identity. National Identity is important; people are willing to fight and die for their country and what it represents to them, but less so for someone elses. We were always first and foremost British, that never changed, regardless of having European passports, and I do not see other peoples accepting loss of identity to an altruistic new world order.     

Thank you❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

5/04/21

[rosettefairtrade]

If you’re a milk chocolate nut like I am, you’ll enjoy this bar with creamy Belgian chocolate and pieces of crunchy Brazil nuts! Best of all, it’s Fairtrade Certified, meaning that the cocoa farmers were paid a fair price for their cocoa! These bars are even on sale now at Rosette—grab a bundle of 6 for only $2.49 CAD while supplies last!

[thesydneyfeminists]

Feminist Chef: Kylie Kwong

Have you ever eaten at Billy Kwong in Potts Point?

Billy Kwong restaurant is the brainchild of Kylie Kwong. She opened it in May 2000 with colleague Bill Granger. From wontons to crab cakes and everything in between, this restaurant has wonderful reviews. The business is doing so well, they recommend you reserve a spot five to six weeks in advance!

Kylie Kwong is a Buddhist, Chinese-Australian wife, cookbook author, television presenter, mother, and renowned chef. Kwong is a twenty-ninth generation Cuong and a third generation Australian. Born on Halloween 1969, she grew up in North Epping, Australia and started cooking at just five years old. The rest is what they call history.

Kylie Kwong image from her homepage: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52d65c51e4b01cea685ea035/t/544f6afbe4b0e29dac8bad0b/1414490875870/IMG_3616.jpg?format=750w 

Kwong was the head chef at Sydney’s Wockpool for four years, before working at bills and bills2. After these experiences, she wanted to try starting her own restaurant. But then she went on “a life-changing trip to China”. She decided then and there she wanted to capture her experiences in China in her new restaurant. That’s when she came up with the concept of Billy Kwong.

Kwong uses her Chinese and Australian heritage to create her own style of cooking. Kylie Kwong believes in sustainable cooking practices, even when it's not time efficient. She cares about the planet as well. Billy Kwong only sources sustainable fresh products and fair trade products. Billy Kwong even received the inaugural Sustainability Award in 2009 from the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide.

At the end of 2009, Kwong served as the master of ceremonies for a public lecture by the Dalai Lama at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. So she even got to meet the Dalai Lama! How amazing is that? Then, in October 2011, Kwong released homeware products in Oxfam shops around Australia.

Image Source: https://www.timeout.com/sydney/restaurants/billy-kwong

Kwong has been on multiple cooking stations as well, such as Australian ABC, Foxtel, LifeStyle Channel. In2012, she appeared as a guest chef in the fourth season of MasterChef Australia and returned as a guest judge and mentor in the eighth season. Kwong has written six cookbooks, including Kylie Kwong: Recipes And Stories (2003) and a story in the anthology Growing up Asian in Australia (2008).

Kwong shared one really cool cooking tip in a recent article of tips and tricks of various Australian chefs. Below is an excerpt.

“My Chinese steamer is my most used piece of cooking equipment at home. I steam fish, vegetables, chicken thigh fillets, noodles. You cannot go wrong with this gentle cooking technique and several good quality sauces at hand, like organic tamari or good quality balsamic and extra virgin olive oil.”

To read more and discover other fun tips visit Good Food.com.au

I know what you're probably thinking. After all that, what else can this fabulous woman do?

Well, this year she married her partner, Nell, an artist working across performance, installation, video, painting and sculpture. They also had a child named Lucky, whom they sadly lost in 2012. That being said, Kwong isn’t slowing down.

Image Source: https://www.sydney.com/sydney-life/food-and-wine/best-new-sydney-restaurants-2015/attachment/billy-kwong/

On her website, Kwong writes, “I’m never happier than when I’m at a market surrounded by amazing fresh food – which is why, every Saturday morning, you’ll find me at Sydney’s Carriageworks Farmers Market, selling dumplings and pork buns, pancakes with saltbush, and sticky rice parcels of macadamia and warrigal greens. The vibrant taste of these indigenous wild greens and herbs has been a revelation for me, as has the tender wallaby meat from the salt-dusted pastures of Flinders Island, and in recent years I have incorporated these ingredients into my food to create a distinctly Australian Chinese cuisine.”

I think even if you don’t want to wait five to six weeks to eat at Billy Kwong, tasting Kwong’s delicious food at the Carriageworks Farmers Market would be a good idea! But be warned, since turning fifty, Kwong is going in a new direction this year: her restaurant will permanently close in the next three to five months. So I don’t know how much longer she will be doing the farmers market, either! But Kwong still has a bright future in food ahead of her, and I can say I’m excited to see what she comes up with next.

By: Alex Berg

Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTZCCc-mpP8

https://www.goodfood.com.au/recipes/how-to/good-foods-team-of-recipe-writers-shares-vital-tips-and-tricks-20190425-h1ds0e?fbclid=IwAR3mZZ6GeCCOKQknVjyyh792YrF8lV6JQxMr9VvezWZhoMsPJdUizEZKCWY

http://www.kyliekwong.org

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of the Sydney Feminists. Our Blogger and Tumblr serve as platforms for a diverse array of women to put forth their ideas and explore topics. To learn more about the philosophy behind TSF’s Blogger/ Tumblr, please read our statement here: https://www.sydneyfeminists.org/a

[duchessofostergotlands]

I heard the prince foundation does some work in Greece, so it’ll be really odd when a UK prince who takes UK money to support other country.

Um…Oxfam? British Red Cross? Comic Relief? Water Aid? Save the Children? Fair Trade? All take British money for work in other countries. I have no idea what you’re saying anon! 

[tea-sparrow]

Cacao Tea: why we love it

Forget hot chocolate. Organic Cacao Tea is the new cool kid on the block.

Heard of Cacao Tea yet? Tea and chocolate lovers alike everywhere are falling in love with this antioxidant-rich drink that’s conveniently caffeine and calorie free. Sound too good to be true? Read on, chocoholics! Cacao Tea is made from the husks of the cacao bean. That’s all! It’s completely natural and basically a by-product of chocolate making. When the beans are harvested, the chocolate makers roast them and then crack the shell from the nib inside. The nibs go on to make our beloved chocolate, and the shells are left behind. Brew those in hot water and voilà! Cacao Tea. Brewing Cacao Tea has a long history in South America where it grows, but its availability to us North Americans is a recent (exciting!) change due to the challenge of sourcing high-quality, organic and fair trade cacao husks for the tea. Non-organic cacao has been treated heavily with toxic pesticides and fumigation chemicals and Oxfam estimates that over 70% of the world’s cocoa is grown by indigenous communities who are paid such a low wage that poverty is widespread. Luckily, Tea Sparrow sources only 100% organic fair trade Tisano cacao tea. You may have heard that Cacao Tea also has some hidden health benefits on top of being a delicious, sugar-free alternative to chocolate. It’s true! Cacao is one of the highest plant-based sources of magnesium and cacao husks boast many of the same health benefits as the cacao bean itself, making the tea rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It contains copper, vitamin D, phosphorus, zinc, iron and tons of magnesium. The caffeine is swapped out for theobromine for a natural, slow release stimulant kick. Cacao is also a great source of four scientifically proven bliss chemicals – serotonin, tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylethylamine. These neurotransmitters are associated with cosy feelings of wellbeing, happiness, and can even alleviate depression. By now, if you have not yet tried this tea, you may be wondering how the taste compares to a good old cup of hot cocoa. The answer is yes: it is rich and satisfyingly chocolatey. You can customize it to your chocolate preferences. Some of us who prefer our chocolate dark love it as is, while others prefer it with a bit of honey and milk. You choose! So go on, chocolate lovers! Indulge your sweet tooth without the sugar. You can find our organic, Fair Trade Cacao Tea in tea bags or loose leaf.

https://begoodorganics.com/cacao-5-little-known-benefits-of-this-amazonian-superfood/

https://kitchen.nine.com.au/2016/09/07/07/20/cacao-tea-made-from-chocolate

[jimmywoodriff-blog]

Slacktivism

CAN WE BUY OUR WAY OUT OF POVERTY?

That was the headline for the Vivid ideas exchange event I attended yesterday, as part of the Vivid Sydney festival. For those that don’t know about it, Vivid is major three weeks long Sydney event where colourful lights are blasted on to iconic buildings around the city, making them dance to esoteric soundtracks.

The ‘Vivid Ideas’ event, hosted discreetly by Huddle (A community-minded insurance company) was filled with a crowd of… Let’s just say, if the crowd was bread it would be a bespoke organic sourdough from Sydney’s upper-middle-left-leaven suburbs.

There were three-panel speakers. A reasonably unprepared, but clearly passionate, James Dunlop from Oxfam Australia, Dr Stuart Palmer, Head of Ethics at Australian Ethical (superannuation fund) and ‘reformed fashionista’ Clare Press, of Wardrobe crisis.

There was also beer and representation from 4 Pines Brewing Co. I didn’t at all mind having a couple of free beers at midday (Don’t be judgey with me, they are a certified B corp after all).

SO… CAN WE BUY OUR WAY OUT OF POVERTY?

Short answer: I’m still not sure.

We certainly can’t hope to, if we don’t get a concrete answer from a room full of like-minds and industry-leading business representatives.

The vague conclusions made by the panel was typical of these kinds of events and conferences. Powerful and responsibly-minded organisations keep telling everyone how their organisation is empowering change. Through their various collaborations and projects, they have provided water to such and such village, or micro-finance a group of women to do something cute like ‘basket making for a fair wage’.

Dr Stuart Palmer of Australian Ethical was the only speaker who had a good crack at answering the question, and associating real-world examples of Australian Ethical’s spending decisions and how they affect poverty… He used the example of their investment in Tesla being challenged by the fact that Cobalt (used to make batteries) is often mined in conflict zones of the Congo. He told us not to punish ourselves for being perfect when it comes to conscious consumption. Instead, like Australian Ethical does, we must focus on being GOOD. Because perfect production and perfect products and perfect people are a myth.

Agreed.

Still not answering the question however because the ‘we’ in this discussion isn’t your CSR team, it’s my neighbour Wayne, the everyday consumer.

Hearing about how Big Business does good can be nice. Don’t get me wrong. But it won’t actually provide any practical tools or advice to everyday people, to understand the impact of their consumer behaviour on millions of less fortunate others around the world. We’ll get a big pat on the back for buying our organic, fair trade, conflict-free bespoke tea cosy from the Oxfam shop. Literally being rewarded for our contribution. But if we really wanted to make a difference,

WHY DON’T WE JUST DONATE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY TO OXFAM?

This ‘I deserve recognition’ mentality is precisely why so many businesses are using socially and environmentally responsible initiatives to greenwash their image. On an individual level, our slacktivist ego will inflate when we participate in a fun-run, faux famine or retail scenario that makes us feel like we are doing something. Something that we can share on social media or get a thank you ‘gift’ for.

In the last few moments of the panel discussion, Claire Press gracefully pointed out a big hole in the days’ discussion, urging the room to consider whether events like this are simply “preaching to the converted”? Yes Claire, they are. They are if the speakers don’t embrace the opportunity to offer advice to the educated and motivated audience who have travelled, paid and taken time to see them.

In my mind, the outcome of an impassioned conversation about ‘Buying our way out of Poverty’ should be focused on helping people to make informed decisions about what they buy. By “others” I mean the Helgas, the Tip-Tops and the Light Rye Cobs.

Specifically, the ‘everyday Australians‘ who simply don’t have the resources (time, disposable cash for event tickets, motivation or education) to care or effect change. The single parents who simply need to clothe their kids and don’t care if the school uniforms are made from organic cotton. The pensioner who can’t walk to the shops can’t be expected to get a taxi across town to buy organic groceries.

But those people in the room at this particular event (including myself) have the ability to set up grass-roots services for organic food delivery, encourage industry reform in uniform manufacturing or tell their mates that it is possible to get cost-effective, high-quality clothing that will last, instead of the cheap fall-apart bargain bin stuff.

CAN CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR DIRECTLY HELP PEOPLE IN NEED?

[newstfionline]

Headlines

World’s 26 richest people own as much as poorest 50%, says Oxfam (Guardian) The growing concentration of the world’s wealth has been highlighted by a report showing that the 26 richest billionaires own as many assets as the 3.8 billion people who make up the poorest half of the planet’s population. Oxfam said the wealth of more than 2,200 billionaires across the globe had increased by $900bn in 2018--or $2.5bn a day. The 12% increase in the wealth of the very richest contrasted with a fall of 11% in the wealth of the poorest half of the world’s population.

Trump vows not to ‘cave’ on 32nd day of government shutdown (AFP) President Donald Trump had a message Tuesday for Democrats hoping he’ll relent in the political arm wrestle that has seen funds blocked to swaths of the government for a record 32 days: “No Cave!” Trump’s defiant tweet again blamed congressional Democrats for the chaos, insisting he will not lift his shutdown on federal government funding unless they approve his $5.7 billion plan for more walls along the US-Mexican border.

Newark Airport Resumes Normal Operations After Drone Sightings Temporarily Halt Traffic (Reuters) Reports of drone sightings in northern New Jersey temporarily halted arrivals at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday, but normal operations had since been resumed, officials said.

Venezuela’s Opposition Takes to Streets to Seize Momentum Against Maduro (Reuters) Venezuelans will take to the streets on Wednesday as the opposition hopes to capitalize on several weeks of momentum and force a change in the government of President Nicolas Maduro, who has overseen economic collapse and the erosion of democracy.

Striking Taxi Drivers in Standoff With Police in Madrid (AP) Striking Spanish taxi drivers demanding more regulations for app-based ride-hailing services are blocking access to a trade exhibition center in Madrid where a major tourism fair begins Wednesday.

Macron hangs tough on reforming the French economy (Reuters) Exactly 226 years after the decapitation of King Louis XVI, who failed to quell popular discontent over a France’s feudal society, President Emmanuel Macron started his speech at a pre-Davos dinner at Versailles by invoking the king and his wife Marie-Antoinette. Macron, speaking to an audience that included J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, Snapchat chief Evan Spiegel and Microsoft boss Satya Nadella, said he would not follow the path of guillotined French royals and would continue to reform the French economy despite occasional violent revolt.

Italy’s Salvini Hopes Macron’s Support Dwindles at EU Elections (Reuters) Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on Wednesday he hoped the French people would not choose President Emmanuel Macron’s party in European parliament elections later this year, heightening recent tensions between Rome and Paris.

Russia Presents Info on Missile US Says Violates Pact (AP) The Russian military has released the specifications of its new missile, seeking to dispel the U.S. claim that the weapons violates a key nuclear arms pact.

China Detains Students, Labour Activists in Deepening Crackdown (Reuters) About a dozen Chinese labour activists and university students have either gone missing or been detained by police this week, sources told Reuters, amid a deepening crackdown on activists seeking improved rights for factory workers.

Hong Kong Moves to Make Disrespecting Chinese National Anthem a Crime (Reuters) Hong Kong on Wednesday presented a controversial bill to lawmakers that prescribes jail terms of up to three years for disrespecting the Chinese national anthem, a move critics say raises fresh fears over freedom of expression in the city.

Thailand to Hold First General Election Since Coup on March 24 (Reuters) Thailand will hold a general election to restore civilian rule on March 24, the election commission said on Wednesday, announcing a new date for the often postponed vote, which will be the first since a 2014 military coup.

South Korea Condemns Japanese Patrol Flight Over Ship as ‘Provocation’ (Reuters) A Japanese patrol aircraft made an “intimidating” pass over a South Korean warship on Wednesday, in what South Korea’s military said was a “clear provocation” toward a friendly neighbor.

Landslides, Flooding From Dam Kill 8 in Central Indonesia (AP) Torrential rains overwhelmed a dam and caused landslides that killed at least eight people and displaced more than 2,000 in central Indonesia, officials said Wednesday.

No Screen Time: Tonga Faces Weeks of Internet Disruption (AP) People in Tonga could face several weeks without Facebook, YouTube and even some basic services like credit card transactions due to a fault in the undersea cable that connects the Pacific nation to the rest of the world.

Afghanistan Says Taliban Mastermind of Deadly Attack on Military Base Killed (Reuters) Afghanistan’s main spy agency has killed a Taliban commander who was the mastermind of this week’s deadly attack on Afghan forces at a military base in the central province of Maidan Wardak, officials said on Wednesday.

[roystongking]

Who is Royston G King?

By age 21, was already an investor, partner & advisor to multiple multi-million dollar companies and owned multiple multi-million private & public ventures. All with zero outside funding, zero co-founders/co-owners/co-investors, 100% bootstrapped starting with close to $0 zero dollars in the bank account.

By age 21, built companies himself employing over dozens and dozens of full time employees. And one of his team in Master Scaling, even managed paid advertising directly for a billion-dollar company. Despite being a complete foreigner himself, Royston G King managed to hire & manage full time employees in the USA as well as over the world in the first year of business.

By age 21, started and sold multiple companies and now owns multiple public & private ventures like Master Scaling, Good Purpose Life, Good Purpose Universe, God Like Scaling & Mastermind, Good Purpose Brands, Trillion Dollar Growth, etc. Ventures in multiple industries like ecommerce, digital agencies, medical, home improvement, software, real estate, private equity, investment funds, etc. Royston G King is on his way & journey to building a billion dollar empire & positively impacting a billion people’s lives

By age 21, made a pioneering category for himself and is the world’s first & #1 curator for “Good Purpose Brands”, brands that are truly making a positive impact and change in this world. Royston G King is also the pioneer of the Good Purpose Life, revolutionising the world with a new way of life to establish a heaven on earth.

By age 21, fully & directly owned multiple social media accounts with more than 1 million followers primarily through instagram.

By age 21, got featured in world-renowned publications like Forbes, New York Times, MSNBC, Thrive Global, Fox News, CBS, ABC, NBC, IMDB, Yahoo, USA Today, Morningstar, Marketwatch, Benzinga, Digital Journal, Daily Herald, etc. then shortly less than a year after that interviewed on television and got featured in even more major top publications like Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Fortune, Bloomberg, International Business Times, Buzzfeed, Today Show, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, etc.

By age 21, shared the room and pictures with billionaires, celebrities, & CEO of multi-million & billion-dollar companies like Tim Cook, John Paul Dejoria, Janice Bryant Howroyd, Gary Vaynerchuk, Tai Lopez, Alex Mehr, Robert Cialdini, Jonathan Neman, Nathaniel Ru, Scott Painter, Charlie Rocket, Joshua Earps, etc.

By age 21, got endorsements by world-renowned celebrities like Kevin O Leary, Grant Cardone, etc. and even exchanged messages directly with world-renowned celebrities like Steve Wozniak, etc.

By age 21, started a charity foundation fund, Good Purpose Foundation, where he personally donated more than multiple 5 figures the first year

By age 21, became an award-winning entrepreneur with his award-winning company

By age 21, wrote his first official book ScalingSecrets.com

By age 21, was a brand ambassador for a Y-combinator backed company.

By age 21, was 1 of 2 undergraduate exchange students at the University Of Southern California while studying his bachelor’s at the University Of Melbourne, and then even took summer school at Harvard University & London School Of Economics.

By age 14, bought his share at Warren Buffett’s company Berkshire Hathaway following his footsteps and started his first legitimate company at age 17 right after high school.

By age 21, got chosen and selected to be the executive director of Kairos Society, an entrepreneurship society started by Ankur Jain endorsed by Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Naveen Jain, etc. And even got an invitation to Richard Branson’s private island

By age 21, got interviewed by London’s youngest millionaire digital agency growth owner and received a direct Facebook private message from the founder of Australia' #1 leading digital growth agency.

By age 21, garnered over 100+ customer reviews for his company and even got a endorsed by USA’s highest rated business lawyer

By age 21, got accepted and worked as a management consultant at Bain&Co., the world’s top 3 management consulting firms and ranked #1 best workplace in the world. As well as multiple prestigious work experience including working at the big 4 accounting firm, Deloitte. Had multiple management consulting projects, during his university, travelled for FDM group & Outernets.co in New York USA, worked a silicon valley based venture capital firm Raiven Capital, a netherlands based real estate blockchain startup, Holmesglen Education Institute, and for fortune 500 companies and billion dollar companies like AIA insurance. Royston also got accepted a for management consulting project for the billion dollar company big 4 accounting firm Ernst & Young (EY), by his university, in central/south america. In addition to all that, Got offered & selected by top 5 prestigious companies to work at hedge fund, private equity firm, asset management firm, Morgan Stanley U.K., Accenture, and even got to the second round interview at Goldman Sachs.

By age 21, 1st place award-winner consultant to Humanitix, the world’s first not-for-profit ticketing platform, and received a personal invitation to the office by the co-founder.

By age 21, president, director, executive committee, brand ambassador, board member & advisor of multiple highly successful world-renowned not-for-profit charity like VGen Australia, RE-Volve, Save The Children, Habitat For Humanity, Hult Prize Foundation, Robin Hood Army, Singular University, Net Impact, One For The World, Oxfam, International Student Union at University Of Melbourne, Junior Chamber International (JC), Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Australia, University Management Consulting Clubs, University Fair Trade Steering Committee, University Green Impact Auditing, Melbourne University Blockchain Association, Teach For Malaysia, Blockchain Centre, Stone & Chalks, etc.

By age 21, Royston was a consultant, mentor & was involved to multiple not-for-profits like 180 Degrees Consulting, Blackstone Launchpad Associate USC, Oaktree Foundation, USC Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, Splash SC, Moneythink, Unimelb Red Cross, Thrive Refugee Enterprise, The Smith Family, Culturebridge, Investing 4 Charity, Community Health Advancement and Student Engagement, Classroom Experience, Vollie, etc. Royston was also selected & attended Harvard PAIR (Project for Asian & International Relations).

[bestweb20sitelist]

EU unveils tough climate rules, eyes tax on foreign firms - Times of India

New Post has been published on https://uspost.xyz/eu-unveils-tough-climate-rules-eyes-tax-on-foreign-firms-times-of-india/

EU unveils tough climate rules, eyes tax on foreign firms - Times of India

BRUSSELS: The European Union unveiled sweeping new legislation Wednesday to help meet its pledge to cut emissions of the gases that cause global warming by 55% over this decade, including a controversial plan to tax foreign companies for the pollution they cause. The legislation presented by the EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, encompasses about a dozen major proposals, ranging from the de-facto phasing out of gasoline and diesel cars by 2035 to new levies on gases from heating buildings. They involve a revamp of the bloc’s emissions trading program, under which companies pay for carbon dioxide they emit, and introduce taxes on shipping and aviation fuels for the first time. Most of the proposals build on existing laws that were designed to meet the EU’s old goal of a 40% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels – and must be endorsed by the 27 member countries and EU lawmakers. World leaders agreed six years ago in Paris to work to keep global temperatures from increasing more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and ideally no more than 1.5 degrees C (2.7 F) by the end of the century. Scientists say both goals will be missed by a wide margin unless drastic steps are taken to reduce emissions. “The principle is simple: emission of CO2 must have a price, a price on CO2 that incentivizes consumers, producers and innovators to choose the clean technologies, to go toward the clean and sustainable products,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. The commission wants to exploit the public mood for change provoked by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s already channeling more than one-third of a massive recovery package aimed at reviving European economies ravaged by coronavirus restrictions into climate-oriented goals. The aim of the “Fit for 55” legislation, commission officials say, is to ween the continent off fossil fuels and take better care of the environment by policy design, rather than be forced into desperate measures at some future climatic tipping point, when it’s all but too late. European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans said that by failing to act now, “we would fail our children and grandchildren, who in my view, if we don’t fix this, will be fighting wars over water and food.” Given the implications, the proposals are certain to be subject to intense lobbying from industry and environmental groups as they pass through the legislative process over at least the next year. They’ll also face resistance because of the very different energy mixes in member countries, ranging from coal-reliant Poland to nuclear-dependent France. Germany’s environment minister, Svenja Schulze, said negotiations need to focus on maintaining the ambitious targets in a reliable way, be fair to the poor and ensure all of Europe “goes down this path together.” “National solo efforts won’t lead to the goal,” she said. “There needs to be a coordinated, massive expansion of sun and wind power from the North Sea to the Mediterranean.” Echoing the thoughts of some climate scientists, Oxfam EU head Evelien van Roemburg urged the member countries and lawmakers to be more ambitious than the European Commission. “They must step up ambition by ensuring all EU climate rules contribute to carbon emission cuts of at least 65% in 2030, rather than the current 55%,” she said. Among the legislation’s most controversial elements is a plan for a “Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.” It would impose duties on foreign companies and therefore increase the price of certain goods, notably steel, aluminum, concrete and fertilizer. The aim is to ease pressure on European producers that cut emissions but struggle to compete with importers that don’t have the same environmental restrictions. The question is how the EU – known for its staunch defense of open trade – will ensure that the carbon tax complies with World Trade Organization rules and not be considered a protectionist measure. Another concern is the need to help those likely to be hit by rising energy prices. The commission is proposing the creation of a “social climate fund” worth several billion euros to help those who might be hardest hit. “This fund will support income and it will support investments to tackle energy poverty and to cut bills for vulnerable households and small businesses,” von der Leyen said. But Martha Myers, a member of the climate justice team at Friends of the Earth Europe, said the decision to extend emissions trading to buildings “throws low-income people into high energy price waters while offering only a swimming float of support to relieve energy poverty.” Under Fit for 55, a drastic acceleration in sales of battery-powered cars also is likely as the EU aims for a 100% reduction in auto emissions. Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Association of the Automobile Industry, said the industry supports the EU goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. But she said that goal can only be accomplished “if the consumers and companies can implement these goals.” Mueller warned of a “substantial” impact on jobs at auto suppliers that would struggle with the pace of the changeover.

[josuesypi362]

Comment expliquer épicerie bio nimes à votre patron

Le Grand Marché De Producteurs Et Épicerie Vrac Ouvrira Mi

Nous proposons également toute une gamme d’aliments adaptés aux personnes suivant un régime sans gluten ou végétarien. Mais aussi l’alimentation biologique du bébé, qui n’a pas été oubliée. Nos produits sont BIO par respect de la santé et de l’environnement et BONS pour le plaisir de manger sainement.

Dans des soucis d'équité, afin de permettre à tout le monde de faire ses courses sereinement et pour vous envoyer vos commandes au plus vite, nous limitons pour le moment le poids des commandes à 15 kg.

Près de 125 producteurs de la région toulousaine travaillent aujourd’hui avec la jeune marque.

Nous avons donc pris la décision d’ouvrir dans un milieu plus rural, pour répondre à la notre promesse d’origine.

On dénombre aujourd’hui environ 200 épiceries vrac et en 2019, 70 nouvelles ouvertures devraient avoir lieu.

La rédaction vous a préparé une sélection d’adresses pour découvrir la meilleure épicerie bio à Toulouse où acheter toutes sortes de produit biologique, souvent plus éthique ou local, et parfois même zéro déchet.

Lorsque vous récupérez votre commande à l’entrepôt, celle-ci est conditionnée dans des bocaux en verre ou des sacs en tissu réutilisables. Avec Les Bocaux de Clo, on supprime toutes les contraintes et on rend l’achat en vrac bien plus facile. Il y moins de 10 drives vrac & zéro déchet dans toute la France et par chance, il y en aura bientôt un près de chez vous, au cœur du Florival.

Bio Et Cie : La Plus Ancienne Épicerie Bio À Toulouse

La Base fermera ses portes à 17h45 pour vous permettre de rentrer à votre domicile avant 18h. naturodrive.fr et (pour la récupération des courses) au 1 Impasse de la Bigorre, Eaunes. L’achat en vrac sous forme de e-commerce est une vraie démarche innovante et profitable pour tous. Pas besoin de se soucier des contenants, on les fournit, et en plus ils sont durables et recyclables à l’infini. Un seul lieu, beaucoup de choix et un gain de temps considérable. Pas de superflu pour nos produits, uniquement des emballages réutilisables et consignés.

La Tourangelle a lancé une gamme d’huiles bio présentée dans des bidons en fer blanc de 250 ml positionnée premium. Elle propose plusieurs références sur une base d’huile de colza riche en oméga 3 et à prix compétitif (huile de colza fruitée noix, fruitée sésame, fruitée noisette ou fruitée coco). La marque implantée dans la Loire propose également une huile vierge bio de noix de coco, une huile bio avocat et coco, une huile d’argan bio, qui trouvent leur place en cuisine comme dans la salle de bains. Même désir d’alternative saine à l’apéro pour Les 3 Chouettes avec ses pickles de légumes bio aux couleurs acidulées et à la saveur aigre-douce, mis en bocaux aux portes de Paris. « Nous voulons valoriser le travail des agriculteurs d’Ile-de-France, assure Élodie Germain, sa cofondatrice. Nous nous focalisons sur les usages avec des coffrets salades, sandwichs, apéro… » Autre exemple avec la société Ducs de Gascogne, qui propose une gamme festive de tartinables en conserve sous la marque Les Bons Mets bio pour la GMS. Cette dernière a été sélectionnée pour le Grand Prix Sial Innovation aux côtés de la conserverie Azais Polito, qui présente des rillettes de poulpe à tartiner à l’apéro.

Règlement en ligne Vous pouvez régler vos commandes de façon sécurisé directement sur le site. Les intéressés sont dès à présent invités à se rendre sur la plateforme de commande en ligne qui vient d'ouvrir ce jeudi soir. Pour poursuivre votre navigation sur le site, veuillez lire et accepter notre politique de confidentialité. Ce modèle de vente, qui mêle le vrac, le drive et le circuit-court, prend d’ailleurs de l’ampleur sur le territoire avec des initiatives similaires qui émergent un peu partout. On retrouve ce concept, par exemple, dans les Yvelines https://www.la-brouette-occitane.com avec le Drive des Champs ou encore Drive Fermier en Gironde.

Lydie vous accueille dans son magasin BIO à Mollans sur Ouvèze dans la Drôme. Pour cela, ils préservent les ressources d'eau, d'air, la fertilité des sols, participent à maintenir la biodiversité et à réduire les gaz à effet de serre. Effectivement, les exploitants bio s'engagent à limiter l'impact de leur activité sur l'environnement. Le paiement s’effectue sur le site Internet de la banque Crédit Agricole. Nous n’enregistrons ni ne détenons aucune information bancaire.

« Nous nous chargeons de conditionner votre commande dans des contenants réutilisables et de récupérer vos fruits et légumes le jour de votre venue. Lors du retrait suivant, ramenez-nous vos contenants pour bénéficier d’une remise à valoir sur une prochaine commande (10cts par contenant ramené, bon d’achat édité à partir de 2€). Drive Zéro Déchet, Bio et local, livraison à domicile et point retrait ! Nous vous proposons une interface utilisateur la plus fluide possible et surtout classique, afin de ne pas vous perdre dans les méandres de multitude de pages de produits. Voici le déroulement de vos achats sur le site Le Drive Du Bon Sens jusqu’au retrait de la commande et le retour des consignes. Découvrez les nouveautés de l’Atelier du Bocal, toujours plus de nouveaux produits pour simplifier le mode de vie zéro déchet. Un peu en catastrophe, nous avons fermé l’accès au magasin, installé une table sur le seuil et proposé aux gens de les servir ou de préparer leurs courses commandées sur internet.

Cidre Bio

Le gérant du magasin Thierry Solm affirme que « comme à l’époque, ce sont toujours les producteurs de la région eux-mêmes qui livrent le magasin » dans un souci de réduction des intermédiaires, et de bio éthique. La Camionnette itinérante parcourt l’Hérault et le Languedoc-Roussillon pour vous faire découvrir les produits et spécialités de la région. Les produits de l’épicerie Bio issus du commerce équitable sont identifiables par différents logos comme Max Havelaar Fair-trade, Artisans du Monde, Bio Solidaire, Bio Equitable, Oxfam ou Ecocert Equitable. Ils certifient la juste rémunération des producteurs afin d‘améliorer leurs conditions de vie dans les pays en développement. Muesli riches en céréales complètes et en fibres, agrémentés de douceurs ou de super aliments ont la côte pour un petit déjeuner santé. Un doute sur la composition de céréales pour le petit déjeuner ? Ils sont là pour vous renseigner, vous donner des astuces et idées afin de mieux vivre au naturel.

Nos produits proviennent de Dordogne, des départements voisins , de France et d’Union Européenne. Notre philosophie repose sur une consommation biologique et écologique dans la mesure du possible. Il existe plusieurs enseignes de commerce bio en franchise, les plus connues étant Biomonde et Biocoop.

Comme tout établissement accueillant du public, votre magasin de vente en vrac devra obéir aux normes d’accessibilité pour les personnes handicapées. On peut aussi noter l’existence du règlement européen 834/2007 précisant diverses règles concernant les produits biologiques. Une multitude d’organismes de certification agréés (comme Ecocert, Qualité France, Certisud, ou encore Qualisud) est chargée du contrôle des distributeurs et importateurs de produits biologiques. “Le vrac nécessite des conditions d’hygiène et de sécurité irréprochables, d’où des contraintes pour l’aménagement de l’espace”, selon LSA conso. Selon LSA Conso, en 2016, "entre 500 à 600 points de vente proposent du vrac et on recense une quarantaine d'épiceries sans emballage". D’autant plus que le CA estimé du vrac est entre 300 et 350 M€, ce qui fait un chiffre d’affaires moyen autour de 600 k€ par magasin par an. À retrouver en libre service et sur mesure au rayon farine de votre épicerie vrac au cœur de Nîmes.

Cette page présente l'ensemble des épiceries et commerces adhérents de Réseau Vrac. J’imagine qu’une fois le local trouvé il faut faire vite pour ouvrir, mais dans votre article j’ai l’impression que vous avez géré beaucoup de choses après.

De la gourde en passant par les mouchoirs en tissu, ce sont les petits gestes qui font toute la différence. Grâce à l’incubateur de projet «Eticoop», elles ont pu être formées à l’entrepreneuriat et se consacrer pleinement à leur projet à partir de septembre 2019. Ces petits pois et carottes sont cuits dans leur bocal, dans un bouillon très peu salé et parfumé d’une feuille de laurier. À consommer en salade, agrémenté d'une vinaigrette citronnée, ou chaud, avec un filet d'huile d'olive, pour accompagner une grillade ou une céréale. Idéal pour les petits creux, ce fruit sec, riche en magnésium, permet de faire le plein d'énergie.

En poussant les portes de Ceci n’est pas une boulangerie, on est accueilli par une bonne odeur de pain. Tout de suite, le regard se pose un peu partout tant il y a de choses disposées ça et là. En se dirigeant vers la caisse, on peut découvrir une belle étale où sont disposés des pains séduisants et bien cuits. Ici, on fait sur place du pain bio, essentiellement au levain, mais aussi du pain de seigle qui a connu son heure de gloire lorsque la boulangerie est passée dans l’émission d’M6, la meilleure boulangerie de France en octobre 2018.

Faites le plein de nutriments avec les haricots, lentilles, quinoa et pois. L’association gagnante - 1/3 de légumineuses et 2/3 de céréales - constitue un excellent apport de protéines, base de l’alimentation veggie et végane.

[agtdalecooper]

Colin Firth, L’Uomo Vogue [July 2014]

Giving a voice to those who need it.

Surfing the web looking for information, the definitions of Colin Firth are always the same: "One of the most talented of today’s actors, appealing, classy, chic, cultured, engaged in humanitarian causes, and with one of the most stable and lasting marriages in the world of cinema".

"So what’s wrong, Mr. Firth?". The actor does not like interviews and does not hide the fact. He smiles with his eyes, frowning slightly, "When they describe you like this, it’s because they do not know you and I do not want to be known by the public. So this boring description is perfect".

English by birth and sense of humour, the son of two university professors – the mother of comparative religion at King Alfred’s College, Winchester, and the University of Winchester, and his father, the head of education for the Nigerian government, professor of history.

It was in Nigeria that Firth spent his early childhood, of which he does not have clear memories, though well acquainted with the local culture and intellectuals who live in the country. Perhaps this nomadism and the spirituality “inherited” from his parents led him to take an interest in different cultures and to work since the early 90’s with Survival International to defend the rights of indigenous peoples around the world.

A convinced ambassador in the campaign to save the Awá, one of the last hunter-gatherer tribes in Brazil, called the “most threatened tribe in the world”, he is a supporter of the importance of protecting the culture, customs and way of life of marginalised, isolated populations who only want to protect the “romantic” aspect of their existence in a world that is increasingly obsessively industrial.

His theory is that "we evolve in length but not in breadth" and ignore everything that is not directly consistent with what we define as “evolution”. "Destroying these ethnic minorities is genocide. We are destroying our planet. We think we are making it more beautiful but we do not do it with due respect. I’m not at all naive or utopian nor against capitalism. I’m just aware that we will not be leaving anything good for the generations that follow. We should not accept this situation".

Engaged on several fronts, he also works with Oxfam for the Make Trade Fair campaign, while his wife, Livia Giuggioli, has established GCC-Green Carpet Challenge to bring a greater awareness of eco-sustainability to the red carpet.

Firth does not flaunt his commitment in any way. He just does things. Simply. He doesn’t shout but he is listened to. Colin “dissents”, writes, performs and produces.

He is the executive producer (his wife the producer) of In prison my whole life.  The documentary shows a different version of the case against Mumia Abu-Jamal, a political activist accused of murdering a Philadelphia police officer in the ’80s and sentenced to death. He has published a story, The department of nothing, which is part of the Speaking with the angel collection, whose purpose is to raise funds for the TreeHouse Trust, which helps autistic children, and has contributed to the writing of We Are One: A celebration of tribal peoples.

After being fascinated by the book by Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove, Voices of a people’s history of the United States and the movie The people speak again by Zinn and Arnove, Firth co-published The people speak: Voices That changed Britain with Arnove, which was a play and a documentary before coming out in book form.

"Seeing from the other side, seeing the country from the part of people who are different, seeing through the eyes of those who rebelled to show that democracy is not a spectator sport, as Zinn claimed". It’s a project – giving a voice to those who are “against” – that Colin would like to develop in many other countries.

Firth was also co-author of a scientific treatise on the analysis of the brains of politicians to see if there are differences between a politician of one party or of another, coming to the conclusion that Conservatives have a greater amygdala volume and liberals have larger volume of the anterior cingulate cortex. "I was curious: there must be some synaptic circuits in the brain that affect certain positions".

What does he think of politics? "I’m an optimist. We need to look at reality. If we seek perfection, we will never do anything. In many countries there have been changes but not necessarily for the better. Sometimes you have also to accept a compromise, but not in a reductive sense, just to be able to move forward. And anyway, every era comes to an end and now a new one is emerging. Or at least I hope so".

Colin has always been “curious of the truth” and “against” ever since he was a teenager. "I was not a rebel, but I simply could not find the school system interesting. I liked music. I thought of writing or composing just to skip classes. So during weekends, I started a seminar for acting and a lady who I still see today urged me to continue. I did not want a life dedicated to something depressing. I did not want a boring life. So I chose an acting school and have not looked back! Those were years in which I was very committed to being a hippy".

And now, despite his hatred for school, he has received an honorary degree from the University of Winchester. "My career has progressed with alternating rhythms", he says of a curriculum that started in ’84 with the role of co-star alongside Rupert Everett in Another Country.

This was followed by many films: Valmont by Forman, a television version of Pride and Prejudice which provided him with thousands of fans, the two Bridget Jones and the "late bloomer” success of A Single Man by Tom Ford, for which he was nominated for an Oscar and won a BAFTA award in 2010, and on to the triumph of his role as King George V in Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech, which won a hat-trick of awards (Golden Globe, BAFTA, Oscar in 2011).

"Sometimes you think you have chosen a good part, and sometimes instead the package is not perfect, but if you want to work you need to do different roles. Sometimes I choose a part because I like it or know the director. Sometimes I like the story. Sometimes I do not like the other actors, although this does not happen often. Often a project takes time, as was the case for the film I’ll be doing in autumn. It took three years to arrive at the starting point. I always learn, as I did with The King’s Speech. I found myself in a world I knew nothing about, among those who suffer from stuttering. I am moved by the courage of these people. They are heroes. The children especially, who must find the strength daily to face life: now I am working with them through an organisation. The writer of the movie is a stutterer and in shooting the film I realised the sense of panic that grips you even in the most simple situations, such as answering the phone or ordering in a restaurant. I have great respect for these people".

Two years ago he was made CBE by Queen Elizabeth.

And fashion? He has a relationship with the sector that is not limited to the movie, A Single Man, and having a wife committed to promoting environmentally sustainable creations: few know that he also has a past as a cover boy. In 1988, he appeared on the cover of L’Uomo Vogue.

"I respect fashion. I recognise it has its own language. Fashion goes to the heart of people and is a factor of socialisation. You can use perfect manners of speech and have a large vocabulary and yet say superficial things. Fashion tells stories. There are stories behind every outfit. It makes you dream. Fashion speaks to people and has a great power over people. In media terms, it has a great power".

And Italy? "I have a great love for Italy, for its territorial diversity and its riches. I have an Italian wife and two children who are half Italian. My life would be very empty without Italy!".

L'Uomo Vogue, July-August 2014 (n. 452)