In India, we hear reports that a company is opening franchises for the retailing of organic cotton. India has a huge potential in terms of its domestic consumer market so this is a positive development. It fits with smaller signs of local market development in other regions, for example, in Latin America. These are very positive developments and hopefully take us away from discussions that say organic and ethical trade are the preserves only of the wealthy.

http://www.indiaretailing.com/news.aspx?topic=1&Id=3665

More amusingly if still seriously, the BBC is reporting calls for us all to go back to the 1970s, at least in terms of bodyweight. As long as they don't mean the fashion styles! The reports suggest that our increasing Body Mass Index globally is a cause of increased demand for food and so the land to grow it, with negative environmental impacts.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8004257.stm

Also from the BBC is a report on the potential for 'megadroughts' in West Africa.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8003060.stm

Forum for the Future, a UK green platform, has some dratf tools on its website on sustainable consumption and sustainable business modelling. This is quite interesting if a little technical but well worth a look.

http://www.forumforthefuture.org/node/10285

There is an interesting book review from the Financial Times of a book called: False Economy: a surprising economic history of the world, by Alan Beattie.

This looks very interesting and will go on my 'long' reading list. Read the review here:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/e0fc8320-24ac-11de-9a01-00144feabdc0.html