Picture: Heavy Rain in Japan

A house leans perilously after being damaged during heavy rain in the Tokai region of central Japan has left one woman dead. A further 1.2million people were advised to evacuate after a record 246 millimetres of rain fell in three hours, last week. Authorities dispatched about 100 soldiers to the hardest-hit city, Okazaki, to rescue the stranded from flooded homes. Some areas were left without power or telephone service hours after the storms and several rivers overflowed, forcing drivers to abandon their cars in the streets.

LED Night Lights

Kids and adults alike often leave lights on at night, I know I have on many occasions left lights on when I shouldn't, even with CFL bulbs, they still use a tiny bit of energy. However an alternative to this problem is a Light Emitting Diode based night light. LED bulbs are the technology to supersede CFL bulbs, as they last over ten times longer and use as little as a twentieth of energy CFLs use, the only drawback is currently cost and fittings. However they are getting cheaper every single day.

On my visit to IKEA the other day I picked up two night lights, the first an Osram LED plug-in night light which at 0.4W, uses just over 4% of the energy required for a 9W CFL bulb, this is perfect for in the hallway to illuminate it at night. Only £3 with the IKEA Family Card.

The other is a child's portable nightlight called Spoka, design by Bodrul Khalique which makes use of rechargeable batteries and LEDs, priced at £8. You push the head to switch on the light, it's exceptionally red glow does provide reasonable light (if not "makes it look like a window in Amsterdam", my mother's comment, then asks can she have one) and of course you can carry it with you round the house. I have noticed that since using it oppose to normal lights has improved my sleeping pattern, dramatically. A cute alternative to a lamp.

And ... Don't forget just take your old IKEA electronics back to store to be recycled.


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Charity Shops Reports Bumper Profits as Credit Crunch Crisis Continues

It seems as times get hard people are turning to charity shops as a way of beating the credit crunch. The profits of the top charity shops rose 7.4% to a total of £106.7m over the past year, in stark contrast to falls across the rest of the retail sector.

Recent figures from the British Retail Consortium show that retail sales values were down almost 1% from July 2008.

"Trading conditions, as for all retailing, are now extremely tough, however, evidence from previous slowdowns is that charity shops are well placed to weather economic storms as cash-strapped consumers turn to them for value for money. If charity shops continue to respond to consumer needs, then they are well-placed to come out of this downturn in a good position."
David Moir, Association of Charity Shops

Not that I frequent charity shops, but we can all look on the positive side, charity shops often make use of the stuff we would otherwise throw away, sending straight to landfill. Whilst I'm sure not everything recieved can be found a loving new home, most can, whether it be retro chic 1980's attire or used CD's, DVDs, games or jigsaws, its recycling. Could the economic crisis also yeild even more vintage and quality second hand clothes stores?

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Support the Woodland Trust with the Swipe of a Card

Everyone's favourite furniture retailer IKEA has teamed up with the Woodland Trust with the ultimate aim of creating 181 hectares of new woodland in the UK, the equivalent of 362 football pitches of trees. IKEAs offering would increase the Woodland Trusts land ownership by 0.9%.

Each time someone uses their IKEA Family loyalty card instore, they will donate a square foot of forest. The IKEA Family card is a reward and loyalty scheme that's completely free. As a member, you'll get exclusive offers, inspirational ideas and even a free cuppa.

The UK needs more trees – lots more! The UK is the least wooded country in Europe. Only 12% is covered by woodland, compared to a European average of 44%. The Woodland Trust is a UK charity established in 1972 dedicated to the protection and creation of woodland. It owns more than 1,000 woods throughout the UK which are open to the public, every day the area of woods and forests increases, and last month we heard of their efforts to grow the largest continuous native forest in England, after purchasing 850 acres of land.

Trees generate oxygen, store carbon, stabilise the soil, are home to wildlife and form a stunning part of our landscape. Woods, specifically our ancient woodland, are our richest wildlife habitat.

Since 1950, 98% of wildflower meadows and 190,000km of hedgerows have been destroyed. What's more, global deforestation accounts for 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions. It's a serious issue.

New woodland can help wildlife adapt to climate change. It can help in flood prevention, improving water quality, urban regeneration and enhancing landscapes.

You may consider that it would be an odd partnership for one of the World's largest furniture retailers, using copious amounts of wood, to support efforts of the Woodland Trust. However, both support the use of wood sourced from sustainable forests. Sustainable forests are managed to benefit the local economy, community and wildlife, where at least one tree is replanted for every one that's extracted.

IKEA, doesn't accept timber from intact natural forests or forests with a high conservation value. Their aim is to source all our wood from well-managed forests verified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

So next time your at IKEA make sure you swipe your card, and you will help ensure that the UK has woods and forests for future generations.


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