Canadians Matt and Jessica Flannery have set up the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending non-profit website, Kiva.org, to help low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world, thereby fighting global poverty.

On the Kiva.org website potential lenders can browse through profiles of low-income entrepreneurs and can loan as little as $25 to the entrepreneur(s) of their choice. The lender then receives regular updates from the Kiva.org website and can track repayments, see exactly WHO their money has gone to, WHAT they are doing with it and HOW they are making a difference. (more…)

For some financial institutions, more than just the notes are green although you may say that the Irish banks of late have more of a yellow tinge. Check how yours measures up, and if you don’t love what you see just switch to a greener bank.

Making a difference

• A sustainable future. Bank at institutions with an eye on the future – those committed to reducing waste and pollution, conserving natural resources, and addressing global climate change.
•  Save some spondoolicks. Some banks give borrowers a break for loans that will improve the energy efficiency of your home or car.
•  Keep the bills at bay.Seek out banks that offer free online checking and bill pay. You reduce your eco-footprint and will never have to buy another book of cheques. And, if you sign up for automatic bill pay, you’ll never pay a bill late again.
  

Interested?

AIB are offering up to €2000 home loans cashback to fund a renewable energy system in your home they also have an E statement initative for doing your banking online.

Permanent TSB has a green loan which rewards you for being environmentally friendly.

Ulster Bank are offering a Green Investment Bond which helps you take advantage of the emerging green business sector while at the same time make a difference to the environment.

Rabo Direct has collaborated with the WWF to offer a climate card which offsets your  purchases.

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Photo courtesy of flickr.

Wind Farm Ireland

As discussed in my previous post, Ireland’s best chance to come out of the current downturn successfully is to develop new sectors for employment, particularly green jobs. The market is reacting to this trend, with a year on year increase in green sector employment. However, the big question still remains – can we sustain this growth to put our economy back on track?

A recent EU study predicted that Ireland is unlikely to lead as an innovator in the high tech sector. This primarily comes down to a lack of investment in research and development, from both government and business in Ireland. As well as research and development, financial investment in growth areas will be necessary in order to ensure that Ireland remains competitive in the new global economy.

The availability of natural resources coupled with a young, educated workforce, means that Ireland is still capable of providing a viable economy for our green future. Many renewable providers have reported an increase in business, in spite of the downturn. This gives a good indication of the current strength of the green economy in Ireland.

Recent investment of €200 million by wind technology firm Gaelectric demonstrates a strong belief that Ireland is still a viable location for investment and development.

A large number of Irish firms have also indicated that they would invest in energy efficiency measures and are funding their own research into this area. Although this is often in reaction to a desire to reduce costs, the impact of this will be to open up the renewables sector in Ireland, and ensure investment for its future.

Extreme budget measures, such as an increase in corporate taxes, the reduction of funding for research and development as well as the introduction of newer taxes, may have a negative impact. Damage to the scale of investment in green technology, the renewables sector as well as other high tech areas is inevitable. In order to ensure the sustainability of our economy, we must be sure not to lose our edge because of the current economic downturn.

We are on the brink of a global economic shift. Ireland should aim to become a leader instead of a follower to ensure the sustainable development of our country. The Ideas Campaign

_ provides us all with a platform to voice our ideas on developing our economy. Check out the latest ideas, or post your own as part of the Ideas Campaign.

What a good time to be creative and innovative.  With the economy on it’s knees we certainly need some  original, resourceful and imaginative ideas to kick start this country!

With this in mind, GreenMe are delighted to see The Patents Office launch of Junior Inventor 2009, a competition for primary schools. The theme of the competition is ‘green innovation’ and they are looking for new ideas and inventions with an eco friendly emphasis.

‘The planet is facing an environmental crisis.  Our enormous demand for energy is outpacing supply at an alarming rate.  We are exhausting dwindling resources in ways that accelerate carbon emissions, global warming and harmful climate change.  Environmental pollution continues to grow largely unchecked.  Worldwide people are increasingly thinking, creating and inventing with a view to finding eco friendly “green”.’

The idea is to try and encourage the children to be pioneering, thus sowing the seeds of interest in science and engineering at an early age.  The competition is being organised to mark the Patents Office contribution to World Intellectual Property Day, which is held annually on 26th April.

This year the theme for World Intellectual Property day (26 April) is the promotion of “green innovation” as the key to a secure future.  In keeping with this theme, the Patents Office is running the Junior Inventor 2009 competition and we would like to hear about new ideas and inventions with an eco friendly emphasis from primary school children who are Ireland’s future inventors.

Enter any idea or invention concerned with improving the environment; an idea for a new “green” environmentally friendly product, an improvement for an existing product, a new “green” procedure, ideas for new environmentally friendly ways of creating energy or saving energy or any idea that uses green technology, solves an environmental problem and/or makes life better and more eco friendly.  This can simply be an idea that can be described and drawn or illustrated.

Students will be required to submit a drawing or illustration for their invention accompanied by a written description (see competition rules for further details)

Today we all feel a little shell shocked by the announcement that Ireland has finally, after months of speculation hit a recession. Some, who are lucky enough to have reaped the benefits of the Celtic Tiger will remember the heady days of making a few quid on the stock market. That same market, in most part is taking the beating of a lifetime at the moment. But it′s not all doom and gloom! It seems ethical investments are still very much holding their own presently and have a very sunny outlook!

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