Paisley Daily Express Column

Paisley Daily Express Column - 3 Feb 2010

FAIR TRADE FORTNIGHT

Regular readers will know that I am a strong supporter of Fair Trade and helping to end poverty in the developing world. The aim of Fair Trade is to guarantee a better deal for Third World producers.

Countries in Africa and elsewhere need help and through trade, that help can be given in a positive way, without forcing poorer nations to rely on handouts.

Paisley already has a good record for selling Fair Trade products and I was very proud when the town was given Fair Trade status back in 2003.

Fair Trade Fortnight is coming up this month so what better time to try out some new Fair Trade products? You could even hold a Fair Trade party at home or in your workplace.

It has never been easier to get hold of good and reasonably priced Fair Trade items such as coffee, chocolate and fresh fruit.

Supermarkets have started to recognise the demand for these products and most now stock a wide variety of Fair Trade items.

You could also pop along to Paisley’s own Fair Trade shop, Rainbow Turtle on Gauze Street. The shop is lovely and stocks all sort of unusual jewellery, ornaments and other gift ideas. It’s a great place to go to find something a bit different. Even better, you know that you are helping to give workers a fair deal.

For more information about Fair Trade check out the website at www.fairtrade.org.uk.

ADD 14 YEARS

What with all the cold weather of recent months, it’s easy to see why exercise can take a back seat at this time of year. But I was interested to read this week that people who adopt four principles for a healthy lifestyle can add as much as 14 years to their lives.

Adopting the four "healthy behaviours" - giving up smoking, taking exercise, drinking in moderation and eating five servings of fruit and vegetables a day - has a huge impact on life expectancy.

This may sound like common sense but the results are astonishing.

Unfortunately, the West of Scotland is renowned for its high levels of heart disease and strokes, both conditions which in many cases can be prevented by changes in lifestyle.

Over recent years organisations like “Have a Heart” have held events across Paisley to persuade us all of the need to take better care of ourselves. These new findings remind us all of why such information campaigns are still needed.

THINK GREEN AND SAVE CASH TOO!

Figures released last week that drivers in Scotland could save almost £400 a year on average if they knew more about environmental issues and the new legislation that has just been launched concerning C02 emissions.

A survey showed that most people who are buying a new car are more interested in the style and the price of the vehicle they are going to buy rather than how environmentally friendly it is.

In fact, 3 out of every 4 drivers in Scotland do not know the CO2 rating of their car.

This means that they may not be making the savings that they could be by purchasing a greener vehicle.

The average motorist could save £375 a year in fuel costs by opting for the greenest car in its class, compared to buying a top of the range vehicle.

As a local MP I am very aware of the large numbers of people here in Renfrewshire who are very concerned with green issues and with making environmentally sound purchases.

The environment is everyone's responsibility so why not take the time to find out about how green a car is before making the purchase.