Community Profiles

Individual Profile:

Racheblue BluAngeldesigns

New Zealand

(Artist & Designer)

Comments:

• Make sure it's Fairtrade!

  Fairtrade

  20 February 2006

  All trade should be Fairtrade! It just makes sense that everyone involved in the act of consumerism, from the farmer, to the manufacturer, the producers, the suppliers, the re-sellers, the buyers - we should all get the best deal. No one should have to suffer for the sake of consumerism. If you don't need it - don't buy it! If you buy it - make sure it's Fairtrade!

• Much more fun that high-street retail

  Trade Me

  20 February 2006

  So much easier to use than E-bay - I love TradeMe: so simple, so effective, so amusing and what great bargains! Much more fun that high-street retail, it encourages recycling rather than senseless consumerism.

• I love the bitter tang

  Green & Black's

  20 February 2006

  Green & Black's Organic do make great chocolate which is in a different league, tastewise, to most other brands. I love the bitter tang, the lack of sugar packed in, the fact that a big bar can last a month and the fact that it is organic chocolate. However only the Maya Gold product is Fairtrade - the other flavours are not - and since the Cadbury take over, my love for Green & Black's Organic is waning.

• I can't help but be enchanted

  Jimmy Stewart

  20 February 2006

  James Stewart was adorable and a fantastic actor to boot! He epitomises the America of the late 40's / early 50's for me. When I think of Jimmy, that beautiful era of mysterious black and white romanticism (e.g. classic Rom-Com The Philadelphia Story) comes to mind, filtered by the glorious Technicolor, but no less mysterious, later Hitchcock tales. His characters are always appealing despite their many nuances, and the way Jimmy plays them, I can't help but be enchanted. I especially love his more left of centre roles in the off beat Bell, Book & Candle and the unforgettably charming Harvey.

• "Oh Captain, My Captain"

  Dead Poets Society

  20 February 2006

  The first time I saw this film was the first time I went to the movies alone, and I'm so glad to have had the experience all to myself. The story and concept whilst not new, was very apt and moved me profoundly. The film is about coming of age in a restrictive era. Robin Williams is the catalyst for his students escape from the norm and he takes them down a literary path that leads below the surface of their everyday lives to a kind of enlightenment that inevitably attracts ferocious derision from a society too afraid to leave its comfort zone. Dead Poets Society is scripted, acted and directed superbly. 16 years after that first viewing, my eyes still well up when I hear the words "Oh Captain, My Captain". The film introduced me to the concept of Carpe Diem and for that I will be eternally grateful.

• They never fail and last at least twice as long

  Ecover

  21 February 2006

  I love Ecover because they have been committed to developing ecologically sound cleaning products for over 20 years, way before many other manufacturers jumped on the sustainable wagon. I love that Ecover's products are reliable, outdoing the few other eco products available, as well as the vast array of nasty chemical filled products. They never fail and last at least twice as long as conventional products. The natural non-synthetic smell is homely. My clothes and skin feel comforted. I love the understated yet recognisable design. The simple colour scheme has a reassuring retro vibe. The Green evokes Freshness, the Blue is Safe, the Pink says ‘I am never dull’ and the White is Clean. I love the disclosure of all ingredients and the clear and simple instructions. There is no gimmick, just straightforward getting the job done without sacrificing stylishness. Ecover is the future of cleaning and personal products!

• Not the real thing

  Coca-Cola

  27 April 2006

  I understand that Coke tastes good and has a very addictive appeal and expensive marketing. However, I have stopped drinking it because Coca-Cola has caused much more harm than good to people & planet. It has been banned for containing dangerously high levels of pesticides & insecticides including DDT!; Coke sold their toxic waste to farmers as fertiliser; they have exhausted essential water supplies; destroyed agriculture land beyond repair & their ethical & racial stand is dubious. Please don't support these acts by buying Coke. It's not the real thing - it sucks!