Jack Gourden asked:


Fair Trade bags are mostly made by under-privileged communities who with the help of charities make a living in producing the bags that are organic and eco-friendly. The workers involved in the stitching and final production are not under-paid but are treated according to the fair trade agreement. These include the survivors of human trafficking or the violent genocides.

Concept

The idea behind the production of the bags is to sustain a green world while providing opportunities for the underdeveloped by the use of natural resources. Most of the grants from purchase go to the families of workers. These bags are mostly of the highest quality leather and cotton that are further strengthened by skillful embroidery. Apart from the human aid, the main advantage of these bags is that each one offers a unique design that it distinguished enough not to be made again. Most of the workshops are set up in Africa and Asia and utmost effort is done to make everything from the local resource. The use of organic material further strengthen the cause behind each bag as the martial used is recyclable and sustainable in the long run.

Value for money

Contrary to the popular belief, most of these bags offer a real bargain. The cheap prices for a luxury good is only made possible due to the low labor rates in the Eastern countries and its distribution by non-profit organizations. Numerous websites have sprung up recently which offer these unique items in a similar style but with different colors and texture. According to the fairtrade organization, the bags meet the objectives of reducing the environmental impact by almost 25 percent. In just one year, the sales have expanded from half a million products to nearly 10 million in 2007. Almost seventy five countries are commissioned to produce these bags, locally.



Patricia

Uncivilization asked:


I had a respray done about 1 and a half years ago, then It started to pill and bubble. It looks like they didn’t Primer my car 1st and just sprayed over my old colour. I rang them up but they have sold the company off, but they still trade and use the name , website, same logo etc..

Would they still be liable for my car? I have photo’s of the car at the workshop from start to finish. It was a private job
I didn’t make clear that they sold they company to someone else, who now uses their same name etc..

Raymond

chinemere onuekwusi asked:


As customary to my write ups on this article board and others, I’ll continue to assert the fact that Nigeria is a force to be reckoned with as regards every known endeavor on the face of this planet called Earth, and the internet is no exception, it is left for the rest of the world most especially the United States to fathom this cold hard fact out. Well I would have titled this piece ‘the online conspiracies of the west against Nigeria’ well that would sound cynic and inane. It will look as we are beggars at the rich man’s table waiting for crumbs that falls off his table; when we are kings in the making. However, it has become imperative that we will take on destiny instead of waiting lazily for it to come beckoning at us. But do you know one thing my friend? Your destiny cannot come to you except you shrug off the ashes of defeat, rise to your feet, and then take what rightly belongs to you. Sorry if I have digressed from the main topic of the day, well I was trying to crave your indulgence as is always the case with me. Like I said earlier on, Nigeria remains the biggest internet estate and can compete favorably with India on the third world country category and in the real sense can give the west a run for their money; and as a member of cyber world is not immune to the fistful of online fallacies that pervades the internet daily. But I’ll only deal with this ill wind the as it concerns we Nigerian.

One thing that has remained obvious to we Nigerians especially those who wants to make a decent living doing decent business online is that we are greatly disadvantaged because of some pre-conceived notion of the developed economies against Africa and Nigeria in particular, but I wont dwell much on the bad side as an optimist but will deal on the possible and well established side as a realist. What do I mean by this? The internet has become a real estate and as such many people world wide are reaping the benefits of this innovation and smiling to the bank every other day, so my main concern is to get you acquainted with the common myth that pervades the internet daily and the obvious.

Recently, online FOREX TRADING has become a niche that every person with little or no experience on money matters wants to get involved in within a short period of time (most attend one to two days seminar) and want to start reaping from it, stop! I’ll love to ask, why is it that we still have few people that are rich from trading FOREX with all the hype associated with it? Well have you stooped to think this over? But my friend like I titled this article I’ll love to list the myths, facts and the reality of online FOREX trading. Personally I don’t trade FOREX but I know of an array of people who do; and from the fillers I get daily, it is not as rosy as it sounds. You loose money and you gain money, however the tendency of loosing far out weighs that of gaining if you don’t know the fundamentals of the trade. Knowing the fundamentals is not some thing you gain the knowledge in 1, 2, 3 or even 7 days as those who advertise it in dailies will tell you. What the organizers of various FOREX seminars are after is to gain back what they have loosed trading through levying outrageous seminar fees on the participants. At the seminar they don’t take the time to explain the technical and fundamentals of the market, terms like pips, bull traps, Fibonacci analysis etc are not well explained: leaving the participant more confused than ever. But like I said earlier on, trading with no fore knowledge of the aforementioned points makes trading an experience not worth the venture.

Still on online FOREX trading, it will be unfair if I don’t mention the benefits of this online money making venture even if I’m not trading this very lucrative market (yet). Basically FOREX trading exceeds about 1.3 trillion dollars daily, so it will be mediocre of a person to jump into a market as large as this with no formal knowledge of the happenings. However ,it becomes expedient of the person to get fully into the know of this liquid market before getting his hands burnt in the process of wanting to make 100 pips a day as most of the self acclaimed FOREX experts promise you when you trade on their systems. Like I always do when posting any article, I try to make detailed research (even if I know little or not) before coming to press, and when I do it is in the form of a personal experience. While this FOREX rave reached fever pitch, every person wanted to tap into this market to reap bountifully; I decided to make my own in road. Daily, I hit every search engine on the net for a detailed report, I subscribed to every ezine, news letter, and every available publication that deals with the subject. From my findings I observed that the requirements of this market is quite tasking, however if all these requirements are met, the market is worth the venture, what are the requirements I’m talking of: they include a laptop computer connected to the internet; as you need this to enhance the mobility of the market, a domiciliary account, and a form of identity which could come in form of an international passport or national identity card and a plat form to trade on.

One day I saw an advert on a daily on a FOREX seminar that’ll last for about two days, and within these two days you will be taught all the basics required to start making between 30 to 40 pips daily (note: a pip is worth about 10 dollars). I did not attend the seminar as the seminar fee was too much, not that I can’t afford it but because the money was too much for a seminar that will last a couple of days. So I took the address of the FOREX firm and decided to pay them a visit and perhaps make more enquiries. On getting there I met a lady who looked more like a cleaner than a FOREX expert, as I was expecting to see a person who looked like those who work in wall street or if I want to sound modest like some one who works for one of the banks, then how can such a person teach me the basics of the trade for me to start making 50 pips every day!. I thought may be if she really is an expert as she claims, I figure she should be making good money as a FOREX expert and at least look good for her troubles. Is not like I’m saying that there aren’t people here in Nigeria who are doing good trading FOREX, but what I’m saying is that they are very few, this is the fact and the sooner it downs on you the better. I don’t want to sound cynical but in this business is very good for you to be very truthful to your audience, telling them the reality of every situation, instead of leading them falsely by reporting fallacies and stuff.

On the contrary, FOREX trading is a niche and can not be ignored as it has enriched many Nigerians (the few who know the rudiments of the business) as I know of a guy who takes home close to 30 to 40 pips any time he trades, do you know his secret? He sells when others are buying, and sells when others are buying. He knows where to make his stop loss and quit when it really mattered, he understands the basic trends mostly the fundamental, since with it you have a clue as to how the currencies are performing in the market relative to how the various big economies are faring. One other fact in relation to a myth pervading the scenario is that FOREX is not a vocation as the ‘experts’ will tell you. It is not some thing you do on a part time basis; rather I will say it is more of a career, since most traders do it full time. Why this is so is that you can dwell on a chart a whole day waiting for a favorable signal to begin trading, while you are in your office waiting for the required signal, your boss will be telling the secretary to prepare your sack letter and pay-off. But if you learn the ropes you work smart as a FOREX trader, knowing the best times to trade; then you can jolly well make it a vocation, rather than a career as earlier speculated. The secret is that most FOREX traders don’t trade every day. This is another fact, you only trade when there are auspicious signs. Another secret is contentment (avoid being unnecessarily greedy), when you make a good move that gives you 20 to 30 pips, is usually advisable to quit at that juncture even if you see another favorable trend. Usually such trends end with you loosing the money you already made. So be careful, as it could be very enticing as well as deceitful

 

The fact about this market is that you make money if you avoid bull traps and interpret the market trends both fundamental and technical, looking at the charts, knowing when to buy and when to sell, knowing the best currency pair (e.g. euro/dollar), knowing when to enter and when to quit and Fibonacci analysis. If you get your self acquainted with all these, then your venture into this market will be worth the while, on the contrary the myth is that you don’t, make 30-40 pips daily by just taking part in a 2 day seminar or workshop as most will call it, most self acclaimed experts introduce you to robots that trade on your behalf, well the truth about robots is that they only function according to how they are programmed. Most robots are programmed using technical analysis, but this market is very volatile and economic trends in most leading economies especially the US can affect the market negatively or positively, for example the recent recession so experienced in the US resulted into a weak dollar and like a virus it spread to other economy especially the Euro zone and Japan: so if your robot was programmed following the reverse you can figure out what happens. The reality here is that you can only make it in FOREX when you master the ropes of the market as it has been noted that about 90 percent of those who go into FOREX exit after a short period of venturing. The fact then is that FOREX trading can be lucrative as well unprofitable. Which ever side of the divide you belong the choice is yours. But I assure you that you can make a difference if you believe in your self, since many plat forms reject registration from Nigeria (another western conspiracy), for example FXSOL no longer accepts registration from Nigeria. So it is left to you to decide how to take this market by storm as I promise to give frequent updates as regards my online experiences since I’ve decided to join the trend of Nigerians making dollars form FOREX trading.

Feel free to post your comments and views on this topic, you can also get a free FOREX manual by one of the world’s best FOREX experts, contact me by email if you are in need of this manual, it is free of charge and will come as an email attachment sent free of charge to your box. You can also get e-books on how to build your internet empire for a token fee, more so many freebies are also included like the e-book ‘as a man thinketh’ by James Allen and another free e-book by Wallace D Wattles titled ‘the science of getting rich’. Just contact me via email for these rich books that will enrich your online money making experience.





Diana

Paul asked:


can anyone tell me the strength and weakness of this subsidy?

WASHINGTON — Imports of processed French fries from Canada depressed prices for the 2003 potato crop, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ruled, and Idaho potato farmers stand to receive government aid payments as a result.

The department last week approved and is expected today to certify a petition by the Potato Growers of Idaho stating that imports of Canadian French fries depressed Idaho fresh-market prices by more than 21% in the 2003 season. The import flood was another blow to an industry already hurting from the low-carb diet craze and a slowdown in the expansion of fast-food restaurant chains, which sell about 90% of the fries consumed in the U.S.

“The last several years have been very brutal for growers in the fresh market,” said Paul Patterson, an agricultural economist at the University of Idaho. The government aid, called trade adjustment assistance, would have no affect on current potato prices, he said.

Trade adjustment assistance, long available to manufacturers hurt by foreign competition, was expanded by Congress to include farmers in 2002. It allows producers to receive up to $10,000 in cash as well as technical and marketing training if they can demonstrate to the Department of Agriculture’s satisfaction that foreign countries hurt domestic prices. Petitions are made by individual states.

Idaho growers who sell potatoes in the fresh market have 90 days starting today to apply at their county’s Farm Service Agency to participate in the program.

Once growers are approved for the assistance, they can receive cash benefits based on their production, according to Dennis Fiess, a trade adjustment assistance specialist at Washington State University. The payment comes to 3.5 cents per hundred pounds of potatoes, and Idaho’s Farm Service Agency expects the estimated 285 eligible farmers to collect a total of roughly $1 million. There were 818 potato farms in Idaho in 2002, according to the Idaho Agricultural Statistics Office.

Idaho produced 12.3 billion pounds of potatoes in 2003, down from 13.3 billion in 2002. Production rebounded to 13.2 billion pounds in 2004.

Agriculture experts and Idaho growers said imports of processed French fries from Canada surged 24% to 1.72 billion pounds in 2003, displacing 670 million pounds of Idaho potatoes. The fresh potato price dropped to 3.85 cents per pound in the 2003 season, from the five-year average price of 4.9 cents per pound

The government program’s cash benefits will soften the blow of the French fry imports, but in terms of the overall cost for farmers it may not help much, Idaho farmers say. “It’s a drop in the bucket for any average potato farmer’s cost,” said Keith Esplin, executive director of the Blackfoot, Idaho-based Potato Growers of Idaho, who brought the petition. “It won’t anywhere near begin to make up for his losses.”

Mr. Fiess will be working with Foreign Agricultural Service and Idaho farmers to come up with “shotgun” business training for the farmers. It will include workshops, some available over the Internet, on such basic business-management skills as using a balance sheet and cash-flow statement.

“We’re not going to provide them with an M.B.A.,” said Mr. Fiess. “It’s more of an overview.”

Richard

Geoff Morris asked:


Online currency trading takes on more than just a speculators or investors role in today’s complex markets. If you are running a multi-company trading business, or even if you are ‘just’ a property investor, moving currencies around different exchanges at the right time can add quite a considerable amount to your bottom line.

As most property transactions are in many hundreds of thousands of dollars, a few points alteration on the exchange rate of the day could actually make or break the profitably of a deal.

However, many people regularly invest on the Foreign Exchange markets as a pure investment. Well, I say many, but actually FOREX is the largest market in the World, but it doesn’t have an actual home.

There are a number of workshops available that are ideal if you’re new to the Forex market and have some experience trading stocks or other products. Whether you’re looking to diversify your portfolio, learn a new skill, or supplement your income, you’ll find out if the Forex market is right for you. Have a look at forex.com for more information.

Online currency trading is all done through the Foreign Exchange or FOREX. It is the largest market in the world with about $1.9 trillion going into different hands everyday. Unlike all other financial markets on the planet, FOREX doesn’t actually have an actual physical location.

That is because it is all done on the Internet and through banks with individuals trading their local currency for another. Or, if they have come back from a different country, then they might be changing from that currency into their home currency. Because FOREX is all based on the Internet, you can use online currency trading services to work within the market 24 hours a day.

But to be able to use the FOREX service, you have to sign yourself up to one of the many companies that offer these trading accounts to customers. You can open an account with any one of the hundreds of companies available; and then immediately begin trading currencies.

You will not want to use this service if you only exchange currency once a year, as you can do that at your local bank. Although this choice of account is available, large corporations mostly use online currency trading and they are the ones that will use this service the most.

However, in many cases, there are agencies available that you can sign up with ,that for a low percentage return will actually take care of all this for you.

For the really serious investor, there is a lot of money to be made, and often a lot of money held on risk. There is so much information that is now readily available, that with laptops and a wireless connection, anybody can trade basically anywhere in the world.

Also, on these online currency trading websites, you will get up to minute exchange rates from all over the world, so you will know the exact amount that you will get from your money. This also enables you to know the best time to use the online currency trading services. When the rates are just right for you, then that is when you can exchange your money.

However, it is important to note that some currency trading companies will need two days advance notice before you withdraw your money, so it is always wise to plan ahead if your goal is to make money with FOREX trading then use that money to pay bills or to pay for living expenses.

Have a look, you may well find that this is an interesting, and potentially, a very profitable new area of investing for you to look at.



Anthony

Terry T Leslie asked:


“There’s no way to make money in trading.”

“The economy is working against us.”

“It is so hard to catch the right market trend.”

“I will never understand how to make money at this.”

 

Emotions we overhear from other traders when they are stressed, afraid, or upset can affect you negatively – if you let them.  Change the way you perceive what is going on around you into a positive manner.  You’re a trader – be excited about it! 

 

It is very important that we protect our emotional and mental state from those around us who may be having a bad day or experiencing a string of losses.  Attitudes are contagious and we need to be aware that often our attitudes are kindled by others’ opinions.  As an up and coming trader, you need to be an eternal optimist, and not let others around you influence how you feel about your plan, the market that day, or the trades you’ve made.  That’s their problem, not yours.  Take charge of your attitude.  Don’t let someone else choose it for you.

 

As expert trader Mark Douglas says in his “Path to Consistency” workshops, “What each individual trader perceives in relationship to what is or isn’t available ~ 1) how he interprets what he perceives; 2) what he decides; 3) what he expects.  What he does and how he feels about the results is all a function of what he believes about the nature of trading.  The real secret behind why trading is so difficult to master is because few people are genuinely sincere about their willingness to adapt themselves.  What makes it even harder is that the next winning trade can make all of this seem completely unnecessary.”

 

Every time you begin talking or thinking in a negative way to yourself, realize it is a step in the wrong direction.  Try to change it as soon as possible and instead say positive comments.  To move from a beginner’s level to the next one, you must practice trading, polish your skills day-by-day and practice changing your self-talk and attitude.  Over time, your way of talking will become your way of thinking and it can influence your trading in a very big way.

So next time you hear a fellow trader complain, “It’s impossible to make a profit,” don’t let it affect you.  You can listen, but don’t believe.  If trading is not for him, that’s his decision.  It has nothing to do with you.  Remain steadfast and optimistic and you will be profitable!   

 

In the mean time, Good Luck on your journey to success…

 

If you would like to immensely improve your trading and investing results, check out www.secrets2trading.com

AND for a Limited Time, you will also receive a FREE copy of a limited number of the amazing book “Trading In The Zone” which is jam-packed with daily trading ideas and psychological preparations to instantly improve your trading and investing performance.

 

 

 

 



Jack