Archive for April, 2008

Improving Communication in Your Relationships: Learning How to Listen

As a couples therapist, I don’t always give relationship advice. In fact, at its core therapy is a practice of listening and “presence. Often, just the understanding ear of a psychotherapist can be soothing to clients who are experiencing stress. As a result, learning how to listen is a requirement for any effective psychotherapist. Ever cry your heart out to a good friend, and afterwards felt much better even though they may have said very little or anything at all? The reason you felt relieved is because it works wonders.

Unfortunately, we live in a society of rugged individualism where many like to be the center of attention, to publicly and unashamedly speak of their problems but rarely caring about the needs of others. (Conflict-driven Reality television and TV talk shows are perfect examples of this.) As a long-time couples and marriage therapist I’ve seen how a basic inability to listen to ones’ partner can spell doom for a relationship. Indeed, learning how to listen to your mate is a fundamental part of any successful union.

The good news is that learning to listen is easy! First, pay attention to your partner. When communicating with someone, directly face them in order to show interest. In fact, by showering your undivided attention upon your partner you show that you value them in a way that few others have.

Maintain eye contact. Your body posture should indicate that not only is your partner important to you, but that they are, at that moment, the only person in the world that matters. Sit down next to them if they’re sitting, don’t stand.

In addition, remain cognizant of non-verbal behavior. In fact, 90% of communication is non-verbal, so be aware of changing facial expressions such as frowns, a raised eyebrow, or oncoming tears. Importantly, if you don’t bother to notice any of those things then you are missing what is TRULY being said! Remember, take it slow. Don’t rush through conversations just to get back to doing something else. Turn off all distractions such as the television or radio. Try helping your partner to further elaborate by asking open-ended questions in order to gain more information, and closed-ended questions to increase clarification.

Finally, one important piece of relationship advice: Don’t become defensive. If your knee jerk reaction is to get defensive when someone criticizes you, this will greatly hinder your ability to truly hear what your partner is saying.

In conclusion, you have been equipped with some tools and techniques that will enable you to better communicate with your partner. Learning to listen is a skill that takes a little time to master, but try it and I promise you’ll see positive results!

Emily Kensington is a psychotherapist specializing in couples and marital therapy. Her website is www.hearts-and-kisses.com http://www.hearts-and-kisses.com .

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Computer Games

Remember your old Commodore Vic 20? You were free to spend a Saturday afternoon doing nothing but playing video games–as soon as you found the game cartridge and typed in that lengthy run code. But man, it was fun!

Computer game plays have come a long way since those days in the 1980’s. From pinging a white dot from paddle to paddle, to simple static non-scrolling games, to today’s mind blowing sound and graphics, computer games have evolved into game categories that are played on super consoles.

Playing computer games is part of our everyday popular culture. The entertainment genre that was once reserved for idle teenagers has grown to be the favorite pastime of the average thirty year-old. The computer games marketed today are so varied in style; anyone choosing from a selection of computer game software can easily be overwhelmed by the available choices.

The latest development to boost computer game playing was the development of broadband. With this technology, two players can play games from different parts of the world. As long as the broadband connection is good, the game is played simultaneously in real time, with no lag. Because of the universal appeal, computer games have made it possible to interact with other players anywhere, despite the cultural, time or language barriers. Even toddlers can now enjoy software with games and software designed for their education and amusement.

Computer game playing has enjoyed such worldwide popularity with people of all ages, studies are now being conducted on the effects it has on players. The seemingly innocent invention has created so much attention that international assessments are underway to track the impact of these products on user’s behavior and thinking. Initial studies hint that computer game bestsellers tend to be violent or ugly game styles, but the results may be leaning to a more optimistic side.

Choosing which computer games to play is a personal choice affected by a number of factors. Taste and preference of the player are the biggest determining factors. When choosing a computer game, consider these factors to find the style that suits you:

* Challenge: What are your strong points? Logic, speed, verbalizing or coordination? Find a game that challenges you and builds your skills.

* Number of Players: Do you play well with others? Team play or opposition involves organization, multi-player strategies and building coalitions.

* Luck: If you’re just plain lucky, try cards or games of chance.

* Strategies: Strategic games are great for your brain. Choose titles with deeply strategic game play.

* Ease of use: Some games are so complicated they’re just not fun to play. Kids, especially, should choose games appropriate to their age and skill.

* Reality: Does the game attempt to simulate real life, or is it an abstract game designed purely for entertainment.

* Objectives: What is the objective of the game? Do players get eliminated, or can everyone stay to the end?

* Style: There is an incredible range of themes and styles of computer games, from comical to downright violent.

Depending on your interests, you can shoot, race, fight or role-play on your computer. There are real time games, and simulation games.

Computer games have come a long, long way since those early blips and bleeps of the 1980’s. Our screens are now graced with full-colour 3D graphics (although many still prefer two-dimensional games). Anytime you’re ready to take a break, you can just turn on your computer and instantly disappear with the computer game of your choice.

Robert Jones contributes articles to several web sites, including easy-recreation.com http://easy-recreation.com and kemop.com http://kemop.com .

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Binoculars and Birding for Autumn and Winter

With the coming of autumn in the Northern hemisphere, there is the usual migration of birds to warmer areas of the continent. There are a number of challenges that go along with birding in the autumn.

Young birds are harder to identify as their plumage may not have reached maturity. They may not match up to the bird you are looking at in your standard birder’s guide.

Birds may also be molting at this time of year.

Another issue may be the changing color of the leaves and the grey skies of fall (depending on your location and the exact time you are bird watching of course). Hawks and other autumn-toned birds can be harder to spot.

Best binoculars

To spy birds best, you will ideally use a well-kept pair of 8x-12x binoculars to see birds from far away - across wetlands and ponds, for example. You will want to carry a tripod with you, so you can set up for long views (especially with lenses of 50mm or wider). A retractable tripod will make it easy for you to quickly move to get a better view.

Backyard Bird Watching with Your Binoculars

There are a number of things you can do to improve your bird watching experience for autumn.

In preparation for the winter, you can build a winter roosting box. This will increase your experience with birds. These boxes have a door underneath or near the bottom and are more spacious than other bird houses. This allows birds to get inside and out of the cold winter wind. On sunny winter days, you will have more birds to keep you company, especially if you can keep them out of the cold other days.

You will increase the variety of birds you see if you increase the variety of bird houses you own.

Provide birds with water. If you are in the northern states or Canada, unfrozen water will be harder for them to find. If you can supply them with a consistent source of water, they will stay around.

Suet: get to it! You can make your own or you can stock up. Suet is the easiest way to feed birds and it is very valuable to them in the cold winter months. Suet is really only fat; you can grab a pack of lard from the corner store.

Leave some of the dead flowers in your garden. These are full of seeds. You won’t need to keep all of them for next year’s planting; leave them, and you just may be rewarded with a rare sighting.

Keep your binoculars clean and keep your field guide at hand - preferably near your window onto your backyard. During the migration season you may see birds that are completely unfamiliar to you. Avid, vigilant birdwatchers find at least one or two surprises every season.

Bear in mind that seeds and berries are plentiful in autumn, so birds may not be attracted to your bird feeder. If you need to get out to where the birds are, water is the place to go. Know the local hotspots where rarely seen birds tend to congregate.

Use Google or other mapping resources to find all the secluded ponds in your area. This is where the wild and rare birds will be found, the ones that are not used to civilization. Check out all the coves and bays of any coastline near you. The key, as always is to be patient and to have your binoculars ready.

Winter Birding

Once winter comes and the leaves have all fallen from deciduous trees, you will be able to tell who has been nesting near you. Identifying nests is an underrated part of bird watching. This is a fascinating way to increase your knowledge the birds in your area.

Bill MacArthur is an avid birdwatcher. When he isn’t searching for the ruby-throated hummingbird, he spends his time writing for thebinocularsite.com http://thebinocularsite.com , and informative online resource for types of binoculars, telescope binoculars, and more!

Overview of an informal meeting of EU Ministers for justice and interior affairs at Vienna's Hofburg palace, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2006. Paintings on the ceiling and walls were made by one of Austria's best-known postwar painters Josef Mikl, who died at the age of 78 last Saturday as it was announced on Friday, April 4, 2008. (AP Photo/HOPI MEDIA/Georges Schneider,handout)AP - Josef Mikl, whose abstract works went a long way toward rehabilitating Nazi-ravaged Austria’s visual art scene, has died. He was 78.

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Beware Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimisation

Search Engine Optomisation is the Web Development equivalent to “Franchised Personal Injury Lawyers” or even worse “Debt Management Consultants” many (not all) are more than happy to sell you a service you probably don’t need or could do for yourself considerably cheaper.

How do they succeed ?

They succeed because their basic business model assumes that most potential clients are too ill informed to achieve what they want for themselves. They rely on the fact that most people don’t know much about the mechanics of searching the web . They also rely on the fact that most people will take as “gospel” whatever they are told by their chosen web developer.

There are NO! excuses for being ill informed or believing someone who has a vested interest in telling you that you need to spend more money than you were intending to.

Ask yourself two simple question:

Would you pay FULL price for a car with four flat tyres and no MOT ?

Would you then agree to pay extra for

“ROAD OPTOMISATION” ?

NO of course you wouldn’t, not without good reason anyway.

So what do you do ?

The Microsoft Small Business Center [ www.submit-it.com/subopt.htm http://www.submit-it.com/subopt.htm ] gives free and open advice on Search Engine Optomisation techniques along with a list of do’s and don’ts.

Careful reading of this mini site will reveal that all of the Seven “Tips” that are listed are coding issues that any experienced and or competent Web Designer/Builder should be avoiding as a matter of coarse. Anything less would constitute a poorly built site and therefore a waste of your money.

Google also offer free advice on dealing with SEOs in their Webmaster Help Center [ www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=35291&ctx=sibling http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=35291&ctx=sibling ]. Googles advice is centred around how to choose an SEO and what not to do when optimising your site. Most noteably they say…….

Beware of SEOs that claim to guarantee rankings, allege a special relationship with Google, or advertise a priority submit to Google. There is no priority submit for Google. In fact, the only way to submit a site to Google directly is through our Add URL page or through the Google Sitemaps program, and you can do this yourself at no cost whatsoever.

-Google Webmaster Help Center.

Google also point out that it is entirely possible for some of tactics used by the less reputable SEOs to result in your site being removed and or barred from there index.

At Sideimpact Web Design we pride ourselves on the fact the that we follow all the Microsoft and Google guidelines for submission as standard. In our opinion any developer that doesn’t is at best lazy at worst they are trying to garner further work at extra cost to you.

Paul Betts is the senior Designer/Developer at Sideimpact Web Design [ www.sideimpact.co.uk http://www.sideimpact.co.uk ] and has been designing and developing CSS based websites for over three years.

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How To Sell Without Selling And Pack Your Copywriting Business With New Clients Fast

There’s no doubt about it that we are being bombarded with more advertising and marketing — especially online — than ever before.

And if you want your ads to cut through the noise and clutter of an overcrowded market place, one of the best things you can do is not try to make the sale at all.

Let me explain.

Almost 100 years ago the legendary copywriter Maxwell Sackheim wrote an ad with a headline (that is now ingrained in direct response copywriting mythology) that said, Do You Make These Mistakes In English?

And even though the ad is considered to have some of the best sales copy of all time, nothing in the ad was being sold. Instead, the entire ad was designed to get people to send for a free book.

You see, before selling anything, the ad first got anyone interested in developing better English skills to raise their hands. Then they sent them a sales letter selling an actual product. Which, from what I hear, sold a TON of courses.

And this concept is even more important today.

Whether you’re writing online or offline, doesn’t matter. If you find your ads and sales letters just aren’t pulling because you are in an overcrowded market, try to write an ad that sells people on something free first.

From there, when they’ve gotten to know you and the valuable information you possess, then go for the sale. Then sell a straight pitch on something that costs money.

Now, if you are a copywriter who wants to start attracting dozens — even hundreds — of new leads and clients, here’s another unique way to accomplish this.

This may sound over simplified (or complicated, depending on your work ethic) but the key to attracting copywriting clients is to simply write a book on the subject.

In fact, Joe Vitale in his book The 7 Lost Secrets Of Success told the story of how Bruce Barton (one of the founders of the famous ad agency BBDO) once wrote a book about advertising and business. And how, after the book was published, their ad agency was flooded with new business almost overnight.

People all the sudden wanted to hire Bruce Barton — the guy who wrote the book they had just read — to do their ads. And BBDO made a lot of money, and got some extremely big accounts as a result.

Now, I’m not saying you will have the same success as Bruce Barton.

But having a book out there that demonstrates your knowledge and skills will do more for your credibility and perceived value as a copywriter than any amount of portfolios, testimonials or bragging will ever do.

And realize that writing a book doesn’t have to be a hard, drawn out process. You can do the same thing, get the same effect, by having someone interview you about the subject, putting the interview on CD and having the transcripts typed up into a book.

The key is to give good information in a format people can easily access it in.

You do that, and you get it in enough people’s hands, and you will start to find people coming from all over wanting to hire you, and only you.

Michael Senoff is a sought-after Internet marketer, interviewer and business coach with more than 50,000 students on four continents. For 117 hours of free audio interviews with top copywriters, go to www.hardtofindseminars.com/Copywriting.html http://www.hardtofindseminars.com/Copywriting.html .

AP - Yahoo Inc. will begin showing homemade videos on its online photo-sharing site, Flickr, in a long-anticipated move that may be too late to lure most people away from the Internet’s dominant video channel, Google Inc.’s YouTube.

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African American Hairstyles

African American hairstyles range from short to long haircuts, so you definitely have a lot of options to choose from. Many women opt for short, manageable African American hairstyles that can still look trendy and professional. The great thing about choosing short African American hairstyles is the fact that you can choose different styles at any time.

African American hairstyles should adapt to your face, occasion, personality and texture of hair, so it is a very individual choice. However I can still give you some pieces of advice here. First of all, be creative. Try out several African American hairstyles at home; that can give you inspiration to modify your hair look. African American women are the beat at creating their own styles.

One of the most popular African American hairstyles is the Afro. It can be simply described as any length of hair that is in its natural state. Like many other African American hairstyles it is an easy, low maintenance style since it can be cared for with a pick or simply with your fingers. There is no need for chemicals, so you won’t do any harm to your hair. What an exciting way to begin this article about African American hairstyles, now let’s take a look at what else we can learn about that!

Cropped cut is another popular African American hairstyle. It is created by the short hair layers all over the head finger-combed. It is fixed with pomade which also gives the effect of moisture. This African American hairstyle allows for diversity as you can make the layers look a bid different each day. This article is meant to be a quick overview of African American hairstyles, for more information, check out our other articles.

Thus, African American women may choose between short, long and medium hairstyles. The main idea is to find your own individual style.

Jerry White writes Hair Styles - www.hairstylescut.com http://www.hairstylescut.com , Short Hair Style - www.hairstylestalk.com http://www.hairstylestalk.com and Beauty Makeup Tips www.free-makeup-tips.com http://www.free-makeup-tips.com

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Thinking About A Remortgage? Let’s Look At The Choices

Remortgage Regulars

When you’re thinking about a remortgage you have a number of options you’ll want to weigh. Let’s look at the choices:

* Standard variable rate (SVR) remortgage -usually this is the most costly rate, typically with a low temporary rate up front as a promotion and then a transfer to the standard variable rate once that time period has passed. Most homeowners on an SVR will try to remortgage as soon as they can.

* Fixed rate remortgage - This typically has a set interest rate for a predetermined time period, after which the lender’s current SVR kicks in. This mortgage or remortgage provides a firm monthly payment for the initial loan period, although subsequently may not be cost effective. This mortgage, just like the SVR, is something a homeowner often seeks a remortgage from.

* Capped rate remortgage. Whether your first mortgage or your remortgage there are pluses and minuses on a cap rate mortgage. You have the security of knowing that for the initial period of two to three years the highest rate you will pay. But the cap may in fact be higher than if you had chosen a fixed rate mortgage or remortgage.

* Discounted rate remortgage - with this mortgage or remortgage you have an initial period where you pay a predetermined percentage off your lending institution’s SVR. The discounted time period can vary, but in general the longer the discount period, the less the discount. Once the discount period is over, you’ll pay the bank’s SVR.

* Tracked rate remortgage - This guarantees that your mortgage or remortgage will mirror the base rate of bank mortgages. If the rate decreases so will the amount you pay each month on your remortgage.

* Drop lock Tracked rate remortgage - this tracker mortgage or remortgage offers you the option to make a change to a fixed rate remortgage during your initial time period without any penalty for early repay. This drop lock remortgage can be a handy way to take advantage of low base rates while making the change to a secure fixed rate remortgage when it’s advantageous to do so.

* Cash back remortgage - While the mortgage rate on this loan is usually your financial institution’s SVR, this remortgage offers you a large upfront payment for whatever your lump sum needs might be. You might use this, for instance, to pay the deposit on a new home, to begin home improvements or to buy additional furnishings.

Many mortgages or remortgages offer optional features such as flexibility. If your remortgage is flexible you can make some changes in the payment you make each month if your finances require or allow that. You might be able to overpay or under pay, make a lump repayment or take a short reprieve from monthly payments. The latter is most commonly used if the homeowner has some one time large expense, such as the purchase of a new vehicle or to pay for a wedding.

Overpayments are usually the most common flexible remortgage feature. Underpayments and reprieves (also known as holidays) are allowed based on your payment history and credit.

Another remortgage or first mortgage feature is currency. With a current remortgage, your bank account and your remortgage become one account. You can even set up a direct deposit of your salary into the account to pay your remortgage automatically. The interest is a daily calculation.

You can also choose an offset feature for your remortgage, which simply means that the balance on your remortgage is offset against any money you have in any other account with that lending institution, such as a savings or checking account.

Robert Michael is a writer for Domus Property which is an excellent place to find Property links, resources and articles. For more information go to: domusproperty.com http://domusproperty.com

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Book Review: Innocent in Death

Innocent in Death , by Nora Roberts writing as J. D. Robb, is the latest novel of the suspense series that takes place in a futuristic New York City. Amid a frigid, winter setting, Lieutenant Eve Dallas works to solve the murder of Craig Foster, a school teacher who appears to have been an all-around good guy. Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, ISBN: 978-0-399-15401-0, the book appeals to readers who enjoy mystery, police procedural, and romantic subplots.

Roberts/Robb does a wonderful job at creating three dimensional characters in Innocent in Death. Lieutenant Eve Dallas is a no-nonsense, smart cop who takes no prisoners once she believes she knows the culprit that is responsible for Craig Foster’s murder. Beneath Dallas’ cool posterior lies a slightly less chilly interior. Beyond the walls that Dallas has probably built as a defense mechanism is a witty, sarcastic woman who is fiercely in love with her husband, Roarke. While I enjoyed the entire book, I especially enjoyed how Roberts/Robb shows the intense passion that Dallas and Roarke share by weaving words in such a way that the novel’s romantic subplot drew me deeper into the story. When someone from Roarke’s past slinks into town, Roberts/Robb uses her word-weaving skills to show Dallas’ more vulnerable side.

Innocent in Death touches on several themes, in my opinion. The author shows that appearances can be deceiving, that past mistakes in life does not define one’s present or future, and that love does conquer all, sometimes.

Although Nora Roberts has written twenty-three previous suspense novels as J. D. Robb, Innocent in Death was the first book I had read of the series. Despite Innocent in Death having been the first I had read of Eve Dallas, the book was written in such a way that I understood the parts that touched on Dallas’ past without needing to have read any of the previous books. Over all, I enjoyed Innocent in Death from its first page to its last. The novel has good pacing, well done suspense and characterizations, and a chilling culprit. I look forward to reading the next novel in the series and as many of the past novels as possible, and recommend that other mystery/suspense lovers read Innocent in Death also.

C. M. Clifton is an author on www.Writing.Com/ http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Love Poetry.

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Modern Ways to Achieve the Perfect Smile

Everyone desires to have a great smile. For a killer smile, one should have sparkling, bright, and shiny teeth.

Today, a lot of people are spending more money just to have their teeth whiter. They make use of the best teeth whitening treatments and undergo procedures to achieve the brilliant white teeth.

Teeth whitening had been an effective procedure to lighten the color of the teeth, without taking away any of the tooth surface. It will not completely whiten the whole set of teeth; it will just lighten the existing color of the teeth.

Only a few are blessed with pearly white teeth, and our teeth normally become discolored as we grow up.

Our teeth can also be stained on the outer part because of the food and drink. Coffee, tea, blackcurrant and red wine have effect on the discoloration of our teeth. Smoking is another cause of teeth discoloration.

Most people may encounter staining beneath the surface which is caused by tiny cracks in the teeth or certain antibiotics that absorb the stains.

But what are these teeth whitening treatments and procedures? And are these done?

Bleaching. This is most common form of teeth whitening procedure. Your dentist will advice you if this is the best teeth whitening treatment suitable for you.

Bleaching is done by placing a gel or rubber to shield the soft tissue of your gums. Then, the whitening product will be applied on your teeth by using a special tray which shapes into your mouth like a gum shell.

The teeth whitening product usually contains carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide as the ‘active ingredients’. When these ingredients break down, the oxygen enters the enamel of your teeth thus, making the color lighter.

The entire treatment can be completed in three to four weeks time.For those who wish to undergo to this treatment, you will need at least three visits to the dentist. On your first visit, the dentist will create a mouth-guard and take a caricature or impressions of it.

Once the treatment has started, it is recommended that you continue it at home. You have to regularly apply the teeth whitening product over four weeks, for at least 30 minutes at a time.

Most of the known and best teeth whitening products can be applied for up to several hours at a time. The treatment can be done even while you’re sleeping. Ideally, a good result can be attained in as little as one week.

Laser Whitening. This is also called the power whitening . Though expensive, a lot of people especially artists consider it as the best teeth whitening method.

During this process, a rubber dam is placed over your teeth to shield the gums, and the whitening product is then painted on your teeth. A laser will be used to stimulate the chemical.

The light will help boost the chemical reaction of the bleaching product, thus the color change can be attained more rapidly.

Dentists believe that the result of laser whitening treatment is good. It can make your teeth up to six shades lighter.

Unfortunately, not everyone can get a chance to undergo laser treatment. The dentist will have to check your teeth and ensure that you are fit for the treatment. The total procedure is usually done in an hour.

The effects of this power whitening is said to last up to three years depending on the person. The dentist still advice not to smoke, eat and drink products that may cause a stain in your teeth. Others may find their teeth vulnerable to cold after the treatment.

But these symptoms usually vanish within a few days.

These are just two of the famous and best teeth whitening methods available. Despite the fact that they may cost a lot, the effect is still worth it. Through these methods, you’ll surely flash everyone a perfect smile.

———————————–

Dee Williams Is A Consultant And Writer For Online Articles.

To Find Out More About Teeth Whitening Visit: www.24hr-teeth-whitening.com http://www.24hr-teeth-whitening.com

Article Source: www.24hr-teeth-whitening.com http://www.24hr-teeth-whitening.com

———————————–

Dee Williams is actively involved with the internet. She finds it very exciting. Her passion’s involves keeping Fit, Strong and maintaning a healthy body.

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Buy Local Food To Reduce Food Miles

I have to admit, I am becoming obsessed with checking where my food comes from and this is driving my partner mad. Whether you are in the local market or a supermarket, it says South African apples, Israeli pears and peppers from Chile. You would think that the UK and USA does not produce any food, if this is the case then where has the billions of pounds gone that our two governments pay in farmers subsidies?

By buying food from abroad, developing countries get to market their produce world-wide and we get out of season food all year round. Everyones happy except the environment. Food transportation across the globe is making a significant contribution to climate change. Just look at the following examples:

Food in the UK travels 65% further than it did two decades ago

Heinz ketchup eaten in California is made with California-grown tomatoes shipped to Canada for processing and returned in bottles

In one year, the port of New York City exported $431,000 of Californian almonds to Italy, and imported $397,000 of Italian almonds to the US

Examples are from www.newint.org http://www.newint.org

What is local food and how can it help?

For many, local food is interpreted as unprocessed food, to be transformed by the consumer or a local shop rather than by the food industry. The food originates from as close to home as possible such as on a regional or national level. As such, local food reduces or eliminates the costs of transport, processing, packaging, and advertising. The go local food movement is currently flourishing with over 15% of people buying food locally and this number continues to rise as the number of farmers markets and local vegetable box schemes increases.

The benefit of locally grown fresh food is that it can be consumed almost immediately after production leading to an increase in food quality and taste as it may be sold fresher and usually riper. Also, the need for chemical preservatives to artificially extend the shelf-life can be reduced or eliminated.

Buying local food does not necessarily mean giving up all food coming from distant countries, but rather favoring local foods when available. Why buy apples from South Africa when you can buy British apples? But often buying food produced abroad can be cheaper (yes, cheaper) than locally produced food due to the subsidies the farmers receive and economies of scale from these large plantations.

It is also argued that national borders should preferably not be used to define what is local and instead measurements made in miles. The growth of Sat Nav systems maybe able to help in calculating the exact number of food miles that food has undertaken. For people living in, say, the south of England, food produced in northern France is more local than food produced in Scotland as it is closer. The local food movement in the European Union has been furhter complicated and hindered by EU rules requiring items produced in the EU, including food, to be marked as products of the EU, rather than as products of any particular country. The instinct of customers to buy nationally produced food in the name of patriotism was deemed to be a barrier to free trade and anti EU.

Studies need to be undertaken so that people can have faith and knowledge that the food that they are buying is actually reducing their carbon footprint on the earth. For example, we need to assess whether it is likely to be more environmentally friendly for tomatoes to be grown in the hot climate of Spain and transported to the UK than for the same tomatoes to be grown in greenhouses in the UK requiring huge amounts of electricity to light and heat them.

Davinos Greeno works with the Organic directory www.guidemegreen.com http://www.guidemegreen.com This growing green products directory lists 100s of Organic and Fairtrade food and drinks companies plus Green Jobs at www.jobs.guidemegreen.com http://www.jobs.guidemegreen.com and Campaigning Videos at www.videos.guidemegreen.com http://www.videos.guidemegreen.com .

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