planet impiazzi

It always disappoints me when I open the cupboard at work and see that very few of my colleagues (social workers) buy fair-trade tea and coffee. Fair-trade to me means supporting environmental, ecological and human rights. The people I work with are people with consciences who work to improve the lives of disadavantaged members of our community. But, despite that, despite reading sensible publications like the Guardian, they fail to see that by buying Nestle and other such products they are damaging the lives and environments of communities far away. Merrick has written an excellent article about fair-trade. I couldn't have put it better myself.
Next Saturday, 5th March, there is a fair-trade event at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, from 1.30pm (I think). There has been practically no publicity for this, despite Leeds proclaiming itself a fair-trade city. I saw mention of it on the intranet at work (I work for Leeds City Council). But a quick look at the website today didn't reveal any news about it. I couldn't see anything on the West Yorkshire Playhouse website either. So if anyone can find a link to the event please let me know. And if you are in Leeds next Saturday go along and have a look.

POSTSCRIPT
Found a link - see Fair Trade City

Feeling a bit under the weather this week. Nothing to do with the snow though. So I rang in sick today and stayed in bed til 2pm.

I've been doing a bit of family history research. I went to the library a couple of weeks ago and tracked down great grandad Impiazzi through his marriage record. Turns out the family name was Inpiazza back in 1898. I'm not sure when it changed. Although great grandad's marriage certificate states his father's name as Inpiazza, I'm not sure if that really was the family name. Great grandad couldn't read or write, so the registrar will have just transcribed what he thought it was. Great great grandad was a macaroni maker so I've been having a look on a few websites and have discovered that Naples was considered the home of macaroni. This ties in with the vague family knowledge that great gramps came from Naples. Anyway, it looks like I'll have to work hard on learning the language and get myself over to Naples to find out more!

I'm not at all smug that I haven't any of this shite in my cupboard. Honestly, if you buy processed, ready made "food" you have no idea what is in it or how it has been made. Ok, occasionally I'll buy a cheese & onion pasty while I'm out shopping, but the food we eat at home has almost all been prepared and cooked at home from fresh (organic) ingredients because I want to know what I'm eating and what I'm feeding my son. And not only that, but the ready-made stuff comes complete with masses of packaging, plenty of plastic that ends up in landfill. And of course there are the resources used to produce all the plastic and the chemicals. Pollution from start to finish. Do people really believe we can get away with an instant, disposable lifestyle any longer?

I spent most of today cleaning out my cellar - a major achievement - in preparation for getting central heating. There was so much junk down there that the workmen wouldn't have room to swing a cat (my cats will go to stay with my folks while the work is done. I don't want any cat swinging happening!). Now there are 7 sacks of rubbish waiting to go to the tip, and a huge pile of cardboard to be recycled (I tend to keep empty boxes long after the item they once contained has died and gone to heaven). Diane is coming to help me sort out the attic later in the week. There's lots of stuff up there that would be better off in a charity shop. Ooh, I feel very pleased with myself!

Having trouble blogging today because I've got Polly on my lap. Her sense of balance is not as good as it could be, so she tends to fall off a lot, digging her claws in as she goes. But then she's determined to get back up, so its best to hold onto her - saves my legs from puncture wounds anyway.
Polly & Esther's mum next door is pregnant again, despite the fuss her owner made last time when she lost patience with Esther and her litter mates after 8 weeks. I'm definitely not having anymore though! I think our dog would leave home if she had to put up with another cat. I think FK probably would too.

Anyway, enough cats. Have a look at Stand by your Statue where a certain cat owner proves she doesn't spend all her time covered in small furry creatures.

You are a Persian! You are quiet, gentle, and
loving, though sometimes you need extra
attention and care. Some might call you high
maintenance, but you just need to be pampered.


What breed of cat are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Its half term here in Leeds, and I've had a couple of days off work to keep FK company (get in his way really!). Today has been beautiful - clear and crisp, sunny day. Only problem with that is it shows up all the dirt in the house. I must admit to being a tiny bit of a slob - I only clean when something looks mucky - and having 3 cats and a dog mean things can get rather hairy. Anyway, the sun shone and I thought "Aaargh!". So I spent the morning frantically hoovering and scrubbing, and felt very satisfied at the end result.
When FK finally emerged from his pit, we had pancakes (Shrove Tuesday, innit?) then headed off for a walk along the litter strewn streets of Armley - crisp packets, sweet wrappers, drink cans and plastic bottles, burger cartons, broken bottles; fast-food disposable society; we should be ashamed - and round a couple of slightly cleaner local parks. Despite the detritus it was a pleasant afternoon.
Well done to Ellen MacArthur on completing her record breaking journey. I think she is an inspiration to women. I was listening to a radio phone-in at lunchtime where not everyone was quite so impressed. One man was really angry that she had broken the laws of the seas by not being able to keep watch 24 hours a day, and that as a lawbreaker she doesn't deserve the acclaim she is receiving. Another said that what she has done is easy and that he could do it if he had 2 years to learn how to sail. If its so easy, why isn't everyone doing it? Because it takes a special blend of skill and will, and thats what she has aplenty.