The Ecolo Cafe Association is a non-profit organization which monitors the ecological area intended to receive the public. These actions pass through the establishment of recycling, saving energy or by vegetation. Main public spaces: the cafe. When registering, the cafes receive a “green cafe kit” with among others: a distributor “Stop ads” stickers, a collector of corks, a Velib’ membership or some anti 4×4 parking tickets to put on the windshields of those big vehicles!
Today, the Ecolo Cafe has close to 40 partners including companies, restaurants and cafes. They are the ones that play the ecological ideas that the association puts in place such as events, debates bar or conferences.
You can even request by email a copy of the green agenda to be informed of upcoming events.

Fair Trade: Fair Trade is a trading partnership and a social movement that aims to improve the law and trading conditions of marginalized workers, particularly in international trade of North-South.
It provides 10 standards that its adherents in both North and South regions must apply in their daily work. In the case of members IFAT (International Federation for Alternative Trade, or the International Fair Trade Association) certified or groups FLO (Fairtrade Labeling Organizations), different control systems are in place to ensure that these standards are met.

. 1. Creating opportunities for producers who are economically at a disadvantage. Fair trade is a strategy for the fight against poverty and for sustainable trade. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system.
. 2. Transparency and credibility. Fair trade involves transparent management and commercial relations to do business with our trading partners.
. 3. The individual capacity. Fair trade is a means of developing the autonomy of workers. Fair Trade organizations to provide continuity during which producers and market organizations can improve their management capacity and access to new markets.
. 4. Promote fair trade. The fair trade organizations aim to educate their customers and the general public about the injustices of the current trading system. They must also be able to provide information on the origin of its products, working conditions for producers and so on.
. 5. The payment of a fair price. A fair price in a local or regional level was accepted after consultation and dialogue. This covers not only production costs but also enables production which is socially just and good for the environment. This provides a fair price to producers and takes into account the principle of equal pay for equal work by men and women. Fair trade organizations provide immediate payment to their partners and their producers sometimes help with the financing of a loan before harvest or before the production.
. 6. Equality between the sexes. Organizations from industry fair value women’s work: they must always be paid for their contributions in the production process. The presence of women in the governance of these organizations is also encouraged.
. 7. Working conditions. Fair trade means a healthy working environment and safe for workers. The participation of children (if ever) does not affect adversely their welfare, security, educational requirements, and their need for play and conforms to the UN Convention on the rights of children and laws and standards of the country.
. 8. Child labor. The Fair Trade Organizations respect the UN Convention on the rights of children, as well as laws and social norms are applied to ensure that children’s participation in the production of fair trade products does not violate their well-being, security, educational requirements and need to play. Organizations working directly with organizations reveal the informal participation of children in production.
. 9. The environment. Fair trade actively encourages better environmental practices and the application of responsible methods of production.
. 10. Trade relations. Fair trade organizations do business taking account of social welfare, economic and environmental development of small and marginalized producers do not profit behind their backs. They maintain long relationships based on trust and mutual respect contribute to the promotion and expansion of fair trade. Sometimes producers are supported by appropriations before harvest or before the production.

The most well-known labels Fair Trade is the Max Havelaar label, created in 1988 by two Dutch.
If the Fair Trade label guarantees some good environmental RATIQUES and very often the production is also certified organic (but then a label must be type AB) that is not an obligation.
Thus, this label does not guarantee against GMOs, nor against pesticides, hormones and antibiotics.

The name “Mountain” designation authorization issued by the Prefect of the Region, this means products other than wine, whose production area is located more than 700m above sea level. The conditions of manufacture and quality do not matter, only the altitude is taken into account in the allocation of that statement.
Does not guarantee against GMOs, nor against pesticides, hormones and antibiotics.

Mention “Farm products” means the food produced and processed in an operation whose size can sometimes be far removed from that of a traditional farm. The manufacturing conditions are not always clear, except for poultry, eggs and cheese. For their part, this may be defined by decree. Thus, a farmer must be cheese made from raw milk (not heated above 40 ° C) produced locally. This presents a risk of contamination with listeria, but give him his taste of the terroir. It should now display its fat. As for poultry, only those who wear a Red Label or a certificate of compliance may benefit.

Mention “Products countries” concerns products for which all stages from production to packaging, are made in a French overseas department.
Does not guarantee against GMOs, nor against pesticides, hormones and antibiotics.

Mention “Wine Country” attributed to a table wine. Used when one wants to develop by putting forward its origin.
Does not guarantee against GMOs, nor against pesticides, hormones and antibiotics.

Demeter: a system of agricultural production bases have been given by anthroposophy Rudolf Steiner in 1924. Although based on the anthroposophical ideas of Steiner, it was mainly developed and tested by farmers. This method, aspects of which are esoteric is not scientifically based and qualitative performance would be substantially the same as organic farming.

Biodyvin the equivalent of Demeter for wine.

Because eating organic food preserves the environment and health, to join the association to support the development of bio France.
Intensive production = loss of soil and biodiversity
Fertilizer and chemical treatments = danger to human health, animal and plant for the earth in general
Production under greenhouse heated = 50 times more energy than open field, accentuation of global warming, over-consumption of energy
Heavy industrial agriculture = subsidies despite the pollution, your taxes are used to this!

http://bioconsomacteurs.org/

For three years now, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and the magazine Terre Sauvage hold a partnership, the Fete de la Nature. The 3rd edition offers to live a weekend in the heart of natural sites in France, accompanied by professional and major players in environmental protection.

Fete de la Nature is the opportunity to discover or rediscover the natural resources of nature, to understand the business and the work of foresters. Between friendly exchange and sharing, this celebration is also a good way to discuss problems related to the protection of our ecosystem, according to the riches that we can bring the fauna and flora of our region.

To common sense, sustainable development is synonymous with downward consumption. This would mean reducing your water consumption, electricity or gasoline for the sake of our planet. But what about the class of businessmen who wish to join the environmental movement while maintaining their standard of high-end living? In May, the capital is pleased to host the first edition of Paris 1.618 dedicated to the green business. This event, designed by Barbara Coignet, unites the very best of new technology aligned to sustainable development. This show combines skill with art, culture and trade. Between a film and an exhibition, visitors can climb aboard a hybrid limousine or take a moment of relaxation in the 100% eco-friendly spa. Supported by the Ministry of Culture and the global organization WWF, the show is a true pioneer of clean luxury. The title of the event refers to the Golden ratio, 1.618 is the result of a careful mathematical calculation to determine the most perfect harmony. A name suitable to the products submitted and also our beautiful planet.

Admission: 25€.
From 15 to 17 May at the Palais de Tokyo.
From 10am to 7pm, late opening on Friday until 10pm.

Palais de Tokyo
13, avenue du Président Wilson
75008 Paris
France

* Several shops and chain stores (Biocoop, Nouveaux Robinsons, Naturalia …) offer a range of products covering most of the food items at the same price as non organic products.

* Large supermarkets (Carrefour, Cora, Monoprix / Inno …) created their own organic range at affordable prices.

* The AMAP Campania, Jardins de Cocagne organic baskets and other supplies offer baskets of fruit and vegetables from the farmer directly, without intermediaries (and therefore without the often outrageous margins of large retailers), at reasonable prices.

* Compare farming and traditional agriculture:
- The land area cultivated in organic is about 2% in France (4% in the EU, 11% in Austria, 10% in Switzerland, 8.5% in Italy)
- The performance of agriculture varies from 80 to 200% (according to studies and crops) compared to traditional agriculture, contrary to a popular notion is that organic gives a low yield, particularly due to fallow (in fact an alternation of plants with high and low in nitrogen uptake and the possibility of grazing ruminants).

Golam, R. et G. B. Thapa. 2003. Sustainability analysis of ecological and conventional agricultural systems in Bangladesh. World Development 31(10): p. 1721-1741.
. Nguyen, M. L. et R. J. Haynes.1995. Energy and labour efficiency for three pairs of conventional and alternative mixed cropping (pasture-arable) farms in Canterbury, New Zealand. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 52(2/3), p. 163-172.
. Reganold, J. P., J. D. Glover, et coll. 2001. Sustainability of three apple production systems. Nature 410(6831): 926
. Lotter, D.W., R. Seidel, et W. Liebhart. 2003. The performance of organic and conventional cropping systems in an extreme climate year. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 18(3), p. 146–154.
. Mäder, P.,et coll. 2000. Soil Fertility and biodiversity in organic farming. Science 296(5573), p. 1694.
. Martini, E. A., J. S. Buyer, et al. 2004. Yield increases during the organic transition: improving soil quality or increasing experience? Field Crops Research 86(2/3), p. 255-266.
. Bromm, J. 2002. An economic and productivitiy comparison of organic and conventional farming in Saskatchewan. Honours thesis, Lakeland University.

- The cost of organic energy is not higher than the traditional, it seems even according to an organic study under certain conditions it can consume half the energy.

Entz, M.H., R. Guilford and R. Gulden. 2001. Crop yield and soil nutrient status on 14 organic farms in the eastern portion of the Northern Great Plains. Can. J. Plant Sci. 81, p. 351-354

- The cost of labor and agricultural equipment are higher in organic farming but largely offset by the absence of herbicides and fertilizers extremely expensive (not to mention the creation of jobs)
- Traditional agriculture is heavily subsidized (the share of income guaranteed by subsidies in the EU ranges from 30 to 40%!) Even though it consumes too much water, pesticides and other pollutants and is threatens the planet
- Organic promotes local and seasonal production at the expense of imports (and hence relocation), so it is good for the local economy while fighting against global warming due to goods imported by air.

In light of this and reported the volume of production / sales, organic products are not more expensive than their “competitors”, they are comparatively quite cheap!
Imagine if instead of subsidizing industrial agriculture were encouraged processing or the establishment in farming!
Imagine the jobs created when we know the need for a culture more arms that industrial bio!
Imagine the drop in price if the volume of organic products grew at the expense of industrial products!
No, this is not a dream, it is quite possible and is the only thing to do. You can fight for it by buying at least part of your food organic.

http://agridape.leisa.info/index.php?url=getblob.php&o_id=80768&a_id=211&a_seq=0

Eating organic is not a luxury, Lylian Le Goff, Editions Terre Vivante, 2006.

AOC: Appellation d’Origine cContrôlée. Initially created for wines and spirits, AOC applies to a product having the characteristics of its geographical origin (climate, soil …) and the know-how of its producers. Wine, chicken, peppers, lentils … wide range of products are benefiting.

Designed to ensure the authenticity of the food, the AOC does not guarantee the quality! It depends on the specifications of each product: a Bresse chicken is committed to raising chickens on a grassy course with a 100% natural food and shoot at 4 months against 81 days for a Label Rouge and 40 days for a standard chicken, which suggests that the meat is more tasty, the AOC label was awarded to a large number of them, without any real hardship, not prevent a race to performance and insufficient controls, giving a highly variable quality.

The label does not guarantee that products are certified GMO-free or that pesticides, hormones and other antibiotics were not used at any time of production.

PDO: Protected Designation of Origin, the European equivalent of the AOC, created to unite the different denominations within the community.

Label Rouge: French label which guarantees a superior quality. Products could be: meat, meats, fruits and vegetables, fish, eggs, butter …
Producers have an obligation of result as the taste comes first. It must respond to precise specifications for all levels of production and development, all certified by an independent person.
If the sanitary condition is not a priority of the Label Rouge, special attention is paid to food, transport and slaughter of animals. Thus antibiotics are banned as activators for growth and extensive grazing is fostered for cows.
In contrast, the Red Label does not guarantee that no GMOs have been used.

Recognized Flavor of the Year: Contrary to what the name might suggest, these words are not a sign of quality. The products bearing this logo do not obey to precise specifications. They are distinguished by a panel of consumers from a selection of items. The criteria evaluated were taste, appearance, smell, texture. Neither the ingredients nor their proportion in the product, either the origin or the specifications of production are taken into account.
It does not guarantee against GMOs, or against pesticides, hormones and antibiotics.
The name was convicted in 2003 by the court of Versailles for using the word “label” in a slogan.

Recognized Product of the Year: The award-winning products must be new products. They must be selected by a committee of professionals.
The products are then “elected” according to results of a postal survey conducted by TNS Worldpanel (group TNS). 10,000 questionnaires are sent to a panel. If the rate of return is 2%, the products are elected by a maximum of 200 people, a figure lower than the standards of statistical reliability.
Those invited are invited to judge the attractiveness and value in use of selected products based on their photos and descriptive text. A product is “elected Product of the Year” without necessarily being consumed or used by the “voters”!
Obviously this logo does not guarantee against GMOs, nor against pesticides, hormones and antibiotics.

Established in 1989, Green Drinks gathers players and enthusiasts of sustainable development. Held once a month, Green Drinks is an opportunity to exchange and discuss topics related to the environment over a drink. The goal? Try to move things forward, to launch initiatives to make our world healthier.
The rule of the game is simple: to invite at least three of your friends who are actors of sustainable development. Students, NGOs, associations, entrepreneurs and businesses, anyone is welcome.
You will find the Green Drinks in Paris, Marseille, Grenoble, Lyon, Orleans and Tours, and soon in Nantes and Lille. On holiday abroad? Do not be disappointed to miss the next evening in Paris with a little luck, you will enjoy the Green Drinks in New York, London, Berlin or Tokyo.
A friendly and original movement that is becoming increasingly widespread.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand released a new documentary, HOME on June 5th. Still in his quest for the planet, Yann Arthus-Bertrand intends to increase humanity awareness to excessive exploitation of the wealth of the earth, and to change consumption patterns. With more than 50 countries seen from the sky (the Pantanal marshlands in Brazil, caravan of camels in Mauritania, etc.), HOME is a call to action, because it leaves us only 10 years to change the course of events and protect our planet. A film that reminds us that even today, 1 billion of people are hungry, while over 50% of cereal are sold in the world to serve the livestock and agro-fuels.
Rendezvous with the planet set for June 5th.