Comments on: Can I interest you in a green Blow Up Doll? http://angryafrican.net/2008/02/18/make-it-better-can-i-interest-you-in-a-green-blow-up-doll/ I have opinions. I am from Africa. I live here now. I blog. Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:22:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: ders notu http://angryafrican.net/2008/02/18/make-it-better-can-i-interest-you-in-a-green-blow-up-doll/#comment-5959 ders notu Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:46:49 +0000 http://angryafrican.wordpress.com/?p=63#comment-5959 sad but true :( sad but true :(

]]> By: Rodney North http://angryafrican.net/2008/02/18/make-it-better-can-i-interest-you-in-a-green-blow-up-doll/#comment-280 Rodney North Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:35:48 +0000 http://angryafrican.wordpress.com/?p=63#comment-280 As one who is trying to sell green products I know that only a minority of consumers will be swayed by the green-ness of our coffee or tea, but that's good enough. Just as BMW is not trying to appeal to all car buyers neither do we (Equal Exchange) think that all coffee drinkers will care for the extra social and ecologicial benefits of our products. But that's ok. If even just 5% of the market might choose , say, our Peruvian French Roast over our competitors' Peruvian French Roast thanks to our organic/Fair Trade certifications then we & our farmer partners have succeeded. Further each time we edge out our competitors this way they are nudged that much closer to adopting our organic/Fair Trade practices - all as part of the competition for that 5% of the market. In the 21 years since we introduced Fair Trade coffee to U.S. grocery stores over 400 other coffee brands and local roasters have adopted the practice (some for 1% of their coffee, but also a few for 100%). And - by the way - those Tiffany diamonds are sourced according to the Kimberley Process. It may not be a perfectly water-tight system, but it is a step in the right direction. Interestingly very few Tiffany customers are aware of it. As you suggest they're shopping according to other variables (reputation, quality, price) AND YET they, too, are unknowingly a part of a slowly reforming industry. As one who is trying to sell green products I know that only a minority of consumers will be swayed by the green-ness of our coffee or tea, but that’s good enough. Just as BMW is not trying to appeal to all car buyers neither do we (Equal Exchange) think that all coffee drinkers will care for the extra social and ecologicial benefits of our products.
But that’s ok. If even just 5% of the market might choose , say, our Peruvian French Roast over our competitors’ Peruvian French Roast thanks to our organic/Fair Trade certifications then we & our farmer partners have succeeded.
Further each time we edge out our competitors this way they are nudged that much closer to adopting our organic/Fair Trade practices – all as part of the competition for that 5% of the market.
In the 21 years since we introduced Fair Trade coffee to U.S. grocery stores over 400 other coffee brands and local roasters have adopted the practice (some for 1% of their coffee, but also a few for 100%).
And – by the way – those Tiffany diamonds are sourced according to the Kimberley Process. It may not be a perfectly water-tight system, but it is a step in the right direction.
Interestingly very few Tiffany customers are aware of it. As you suggest they’re shopping according to other variables (reputation, quality, price) AND YET they, too, are unknowingly a part of a slowly reforming industry.

]]> By: Ian http://angryafrican.net/2008/02/18/make-it-better-can-i-interest-you-in-a-green-blow-up-doll/#comment-230 Ian Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:45:12 +0000 http://angryafrican.wordpress.com/?p=63#comment-230 A house is such a big investment that most people will consider ways to make it cost less to run. Green houses can be had for the same as, or little more than, non-green- particularly new builds. A net-zero energy house, which is feasible with current technology at a competitive price, will save energy every year. This money can make the owner more secure, going into savings or paying off the mortgage sooner. Some lenders are thinking of getting in on this- offering larger mortgages on houses where the new owners won't have to pay any fuel bills because they'll then have more to pay back the loan with. I don't know about blow up dolls, but there are environmentally conscious sex toys- http://www.howtosavetheworldforfree.com/2007/03/going-green-in-bedroom.php The chemicals in normal sex toys tend to leach and be rather nasty, making dildos of glass, wood or even steel a healthier option. They also look a lot prettier. A house is such a big investment that most people will consider ways to make it cost less to run. Green houses can be had for the same as, or little more than, non-green- particularly new builds. A net-zero energy house, which is feasible with current technology at a competitive price, will save energy every year. This money can make the owner more secure, going into savings or paying off the mortgage sooner. Some lenders are thinking of getting in on this- offering larger mortgages on houses where the new owners won’t have to pay any fuel bills because they’ll then have more to pay back the loan with.

I don’t know about blow up dolls, but there are environmentally conscious sex toys- http://www.howtosavetheworldforfree.com/2007/03/going-green-in-bedroom.php
The chemicals in normal sex toys tend to leach and be rather nasty, making dildos of glass, wood or even steel a healthier option. They also look a lot prettier.

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