There is a very loud event on the eco-ethics calendar this year to mark World Fair Trade Day. On the 9th of May BIG BANG!! will draw the world's attention to the collective efforts of those involved in the Fair Trade movement. BIG BANG!! is a series of non stop drumming event crawling across the globe. Starting in New Zealand at first light a solo drummer will begin the beat continuum. Drummers from cultures all over the world will be joining in with the close of day drums in Samoa. People from African to Iceland to Nepal, all over the world are getting involved.

The organisers of BIG BANG!! intend it to be just that - make a big bang to wake those that do not realise the effect that the hazy underworld of unethical, imbalanced, inhumane trade has on the poorest people of the world. Millions of farmers, producers, performers and celebrities across the globe including Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox and Eddie Izzard will join together to generate awareness about the importance of transparent and accountable trade practices to make trade fair for all.

Fair Trade can be the solution to poverty, climate change and economic crisis. Paul Myers, president, World Fair Trade Organization says these three issues come "from the same place - greed and ignorance. We don't have to wreck the future to meet the needs of today."

So if there ever was a time to dust off those bongo drums you bought on that exotic holiday abroad years back, now's the time.

Drum loud, buy Fair Trade.

For more information visit Big Bang!! website.

December 12 2009 is a date already circled in many a devout climate change activist's diary. From Istanbul to Costa Rica people everywhere are planning peaceful protests to call world leaders to take urgent action on climate change as they meet in Copenhagen on December 7-18 this year at the annual UN Climate Talks.

The Copenhagen Climate Talks are the only chance to secure emissions reductions agreement amongst countries before the Kyoto Protocol runs out. Since scientists give us ten years before climate change becomes uncontrollable this is an exceptionally important international meeting.

The demonstrations are a 'Call to Action' to ‘demand that the long-industrialised countries that have emitted most greenhouse gases currently in the atmosphere take responsibility for climate change mitigation by immediately reducing their own emissions as well as investing in a clean energy revolution in the developing world.'

The poorest countries in the world are already being hit hard by the effects of changing climates. The Call to Action demands all those ‘who have the economic means to act, must therefore urgently and decisively do so.'

If last year's December demonstrations are anything to go by there will be a lot of support at these marches. The Global Climate Campaign website gives updates and photos from the 95 countries that participated last year. Thousands took to the streets in London outside parliament carrying banners like ‘No New Coal', No Third Runway' and ‘Time for a Green New Deal.' It's predicted they'll be even greater numbers attending with powerful messages this year round as more people embrace the idea that we all need to take action and that includes nudging the government to increase its urgency on tackling environmental issues.

The Global Climate Campaign website gives details of what's happening where during this year's summit.

Now this is the kind of show every vegan should know about (or even just veggie fanatics like me!). The largest show of its kind in Europe, The Incredible Veggie Show will have more than 100 exhibitors showcasing a vast array of vegan products.

There will also be a cooking demo area, a talks area, a dairy free area, nutritional consultants, a vegan café, a kids play area and free product and hot food tastings. What we like about this year's show is that there are new sections dedicated to Beauty & Body care, Clothing & Footwear and Health & Lifestyle.

The Incredible Veggie Show is hosted by Viva! who are the Vegetarians International Voice for Animals. Viva are a bit like a support group for vegetarians who research veggie issues like how eating meat affects the degradation of the environment. They also provide wholesome recipes and give advice on how to go Vegetarian as well as campaign against cruelty to animals.

The third Incredible Veggie Show will be held on Saturday 18 April at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London SW1 from 10am to 6pm. Admission is £4 and free for those under 18. Also if you pre-book you save 25% on the ticket price (£1 off to spend on a nice plump melon). For more info visit the Viva website.

They're expecting 5,000 people across the course of the day so if you want to avoid the crowds get there early!

This Saturday 28 March at 8.30pm it's time to switch off for Earth Hour. The WWF (World Wide Fund for nature) are trying to get 1 billion people to power off for one hour. Already the campaign has enlisted companies, landmarks and individuals from over 900 cities across 80 countries.

The Eiffel Tower, London Eye, Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and the Sydney Opera House are some of the famous landmarks going dark at Earth Hour. These big icons will certainly raise awareness for the cause but it's corporations like HSBC who are pledging to turn off all office lights in 33 countries that can save the most power.

Earth Hour started in one city - Sydney - but last year it swept the earth with an estimated 50 million people participating in places as barren as Antarctica. Watch this short film to watch countries across the world participating in the 2008 big switch off in an effort to raise awareness on climate change. WWF are running this global campaign to convince governments everywhere to ‘agree effective action' on climate change with particular focus on effecting decision made at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen this December.

You can participate by signing up on the Earth Hour website.

Vote with your light switch and tell the policy makers that we can all make a difference - especially if they help us!

Ever fancied cycling from London to Paris? I don't suppose many of you have even thought about it unless you're a crazy cycling enthusiast like my partner who rode the length of Spain last year. Well, the Great Fashion Cycle may be his (and yours) chance to cycle the English/French countryside, burn a few organic sweets calories and raise money for the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF).

The EJF have set up this event in aid of their work addressing human rights and environmental abuses in the fashion industry. One EJF success stories has been bringing the issue of child exploitation in the cotton industry in Uzbekistan which is the world's 3rd largest exporter of cotton. A third of the population are forced to work in slave-like conditions for the state run cotton industry - that included children who's schools would shut down during harvest time so that they could work the fields. EJF has put the spotlight on this issue which has lead to dramatic changes in buying policies by the world's largest cotton buyers.

Before you shake the spider webs off your old bike here's a few more details. It's a 300-mile ride over 4 days. That's quite a hike if you're not use to riding so best start training now! The best bits of the journey include cycling the British countryside, crossing the channel by ferry on your bike, peddling through the small villages and medieval market towns of Northern France, finishing at the Eiffel Tower.

Registration costs £99 and you have to raise a minimum of £1250. What's included in this is the travel by ferry to France and a return ticket on the Eurostar, accommodation for 4 nights, all meals, bike mechanics, guides and medical support. If you're interested there's two dates to choose from - the 1-5 July or the 9-13 September 2009. To register visit EJF The Great Fashion Cycle.