For example, the Amazon rainforest covers an area of two and a half million square miles. That’s a big number, but you can’t really visualise it can you? All you see is a lot of trees.

To put it slightly into perspective, Australia is around 2.8 million square miles, so the Amazon rainforest is only a little smaller than the entire Australasian continent.

Even more astonishing is the estimate that there are still around 50 Indian tribes living in the Amazon rainforest that have never been discovered and never had contact with the outside world. But it isn’t just the big numbers which are impressive – it’s the actual contribution of the Amazon rainforest to the survival of the planet that needs to be understood.

The Amazon rainforest has often been described as the lungs of the planet, and for good reason. Every single day the Amazonian forests generate 20% of all the oxygen in the atmosphere. Without them we’d quickly start to suffocate. 70% of all plants used in treating cancer are found in the rainforests, and if you lined up every plant, animal and insect in the entire world, every other one of them would live in the Amazon rainforest.

It’s easy to be impressed by these figures and images, but sadly it isn’t all good news. Imagine an acre and a half of rainforest. Not easy is it? So imagine a full size football pitch, which is an acre and a half in size anyway.

Now picture that football pitch full of trees, animals and wildlife. Listen to the exotic birds calling to each other, the gentle drip of the heavy raindrops pattering through the leaves onto the rich soil beneath. Imagine that huge area of stunning and valuable forest.

Now blink your eyes twice. It’s gone.

Quite literally an acre and a half of Amazon rainforest is destroyed forever every single second of the day. It’s hard to visualise isn’t it?

Even harder to visualise is the irreparable damage it is causing by destroying one of the most valuable and diverse natural resources on the planet. We need to do something today, because by this time tomorrow an area of Amazon rainforest more than one and a half times the size of the UK will have vanished forever.

By installing even just a few of these products, you can be assured that your carbon footprint will dramatically reduce and you won’t only feel better in yourself, you’ll notice the difference in cleaner air and less pollution. It’s not just about reusable bags (although that’s it, too). It’s about buying smartly so you get more for your money, and contribute less to the Earth living longer.

Wait; did we say ‘more for your money’? If helping the world in which you live is not incentive enough, then surely saving a penny is. By purchasing eco products, many times what you buy will not only last longer, but they can be reused (as in the case of reusable bags, such as canvas or string bags). Energy saving light bulbs will last longer, cost less to run, and won’t harm the environment as they operate. ‘Green ink’ will last longer as it is designed to use less as it prints, plus it is less damaging to the environment when the paper it’s on is thrown out (although hopefully you’d first think about printing an email, and perhaps putting it in the recycle bin when you are done with it, if you do print it).

So, now you’ve decided to get on board and do your bit. Good for you! But there is more you can do, without spending that much more. Ethical products ensure that whatever you’re buying is sourced or manufactured in areas free from slave labour, where the workers are paid a fair wage for a fair day’s work. Chocolate that has been made using cocoa beans from countries where children don’t work to gather them will taste better, and if you want to actively purchase products from countries where the people want to create the items, then there are stores that enable you to do so. Not only will you be buying something free from slave labour, you’ll be supporting the workers and supporting the communities they live in.

It’s easy to contribute to a better world, and it costs very little. The rewards, however, are great. What’s stopping you?

Choosing organic baby clothes

One of the great reasons to go organic with your infant’s clothing is down to the natural materials and fibres used in the manufacturing process. Many materials used in baby clothes contain dyes, pesticides and metals which are potentially harmful to a young child, particularly if they suffer with allergies. Not so with organic materials which can actually help to eliminate this risk. Child care experts also recommend organic clothing for children who suffer with skin conditions as the natural materials can significantly reduce irritation.

With that in mind, look for clothing that is made using organic cotton. This cotton is much softer and more durable than standard cotton and better for your baby’s skin than synthetic materials such as polyester. Organic cotton has also not been treated with any chemicals and the garments will be coloured and printed using environmentally-responsible plant-based or herbal-based dyes.

Where to buy organic clothing for babies

As the demand for organic children’s clothing increases, so the big companies are trying to cash in on consumers appetite for all things green. Unfortunately, many of the big retailers are putting profits ahead of ethical practices and what the customer buys isn’t always what it seems. Ethical gift websites are a great place to start in your search for ethically sourced and manufactured organic baby clothes.

When you find an online retailer, the next question to ask is how environmentally conscious is the company you’re buying from. Look for a retailer who deals with small suppliers and organic trade associations as they will check on the ethical sourcing of the products they stock. This guarantees that you are getting something that is Fairtrade, organic or eco-friendly. Try to use a reputable ethical products retailer who gives a percentage of their profits to charitable organisations or supports social causes with regular donations.

What organic baby clothes to buy

As any parent will testify, a baby requires a lot of clothing mainly due to the mess they make after feeding or when a nappy needs changing. Organic baby bodysuits and playsuits are essential babywear and there’s a beautiful range of classic and understated baby clothes available for boys and girls.

These recommended products are perfect for the fashion-conscious parent who wants quality baby clothes that will last for many years.

	A stylish white baby playsuit with navy dots and trim. Perfect for daywear or nightwear and machine washable.
	This funky pink playsuit made from natural cotton will be soft and comfortable against your baby’s skin.
	A beautiful kimono-style product that looks great when put together with a skirt or trousers. Easy to dress your child in and fully machine washable.

When it comes to using renewable energy to power your home, either fully or partially, most people opt to use wind power or solar energy, as these are the easiest and most reliable options.Most home owners will use both wind and solar combined with a battery pack.  By setting up their system in this way they are assuring their supply. For example, when prevailing winds are not strong enough to provide enough power, requirements can be topped up with the solar panels.  And with a battery pack as part of the system, energy can also be stored to be used at times when the turbine or solar cells are not keeping up with your household demands.

If you want to install your own wind generator or solar energy systems, you basically have two choices.  You can either buy a system or believe it or not, you could actually make your own.  The latter option is cheaper, and makes sense if you have the time to do it.Ther are several DIY renewable kits on the market today, plus there are guides available to show you how to build your own systems and source the components yourself, all for as little as $200!  That sort of cost has to be attractive!

To read more about building your own systems, and to see which kits and manuals I recommend, take a look at earth4energy review and read my reviews there.