Gluten-Free Beer: A Health-Social Enterprise Mashup

Is the latest health food drink a trend in both the social enterprise and alcohol sectors? European beer giant SABMiller just announced that it has launched a new beer called Impala, which is based primarily on the root vegetable, cassava. Cassava is often grown in tropical countries and in some nations is called yucca. SABMiller’s Mozambique-based subsidiary Cervejas [...]

Water: A Scarce Resource?

Consultancy Maplecroft has released a report evaluating the 165 nations and outlined the top 10 nations facing the most extreme water situations. The results showed the following nations face a potential crisis regarding their clean water supply, based on the Water Security Risk Index: Somalia, Mauritania, Sudan, Niger, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkmenistan and Syria. [...]

Shakira Covers African Song For World Cup

The impending World Cup 2010 festivities in South Africa will feature a concert with musicians from Africa and beyond, and the official song of the World Cup, Waka Waka, by Shakira. Her track is a remake of the traditional African tune, performed and recorded with African musical group FreshlyGround. FIFA and Control Room, a producer [...]

Are Our Cell Phones Made of Conflict Metals?

Human rights campaigners are demanding that technology companies be honest with customers regarding the origin of metals in their products, reports The Ecologist. According to Global Witness, militia groups in the Republic of Congo control most of the mineral trade. The trade includes tin and gold, which is ultimately manufactured in mobile phones. “Consumers have [...]

Military Stages A Coup In Niger

The military has overthrown the government of Niger, an African nation located north of Nigeria and sandwiched between Mali and Chad. According to Reuters, the junta staged a coup d’etat to push out President Mamadou Tandja. On state radio, this statement was announced: “The president of the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy also [...]

Rachel Roy Announces Africa Initiative

Many designers are inspired by African cultures but Rachel Roy is helping to create jobs for women through a new partnership that will source accessories from Africa. Designer Rachel Roy has partnered with Fairwinds Trading to integrate hand crafted items by female-owned businesses in Africa into her collection. Via her label, Rachel Rachel Roy, a [...]

Diary of a Nappy-Haired Houle

I have a mane that is the result of a mother with pre-pregnancy curls and a father with what might only be described as a JewFro. He brushes his hair with a pick, so is it any wonder that my hair begins to lock after about four days? Most any hair or beauty “specialist” will [...]

Jamba Juice Adds Hot Drinks

Smoothie company Jamba Juice announced that it will begin selling hot drinks on March 1, 2010, in more than 340 stores. The launch includes 10 new hot beverage items, including four unique to Jamba Juice and six organic Mighty Leaf Tea. The company will also add some baked goods and a new cold Chai smoothie. [...]

Uganda Prohibits Female Circumcision

The Parliament in the African nation of Uganda has approved a bill that will outlaw female circumcision, the Associated Press reports. James Nsaba Buturo, the minister of ethics and integrity, said the new law passed without resistance and could charge offenders with a life sentence. Otherwise known as genital mutilation, female circumcision is common in [...]

Nestle, Beauty Biz, Make Fair Trade Moves

Nestle is making a move into the Fair Trade sector thanks to a partnership with cocoa farmers in the African nation of  Ivory Coast. The move, one lauded by the UK fair trade organization, The Fairtrade Foundation, will the see the first Kit Kat bars made with fair trade cocoa hit shelves in the UK [...]

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