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If you’re still scratching your head wondering what to buy your Mum this Sunday then look no further than the Concern Worldwide Gift Shop. If your Mum loves gardening, why not get her a vegetable pack for just £28 and provide someone living with HIV with the seeds and tools they need to grow healthy, nutritious vegetables.

Your gift could help someone like Sepo* who grows a variety of vegetables on her small patch in Luandui village, Zambia. Sepo, who was widowed in 2000 and her seven-year-old daughter are both HIV positive. Thanks to the seeds from Concern though, Sepo is growing food for her family and selling the surplus to earn a little extra money. The family diet is improving, and she now has enough money to send all her children to school.

We’ve got gifts for every taste and budget and each one comes with the knowledge that you’ll be helping Concern give real and lasting support to people living in extreme poverty around the world.

Make a real difference this Mother’s Day, buy a Concern Gift!

> > Click here to order online for the Concern Worldwide Gift Shop

With Easter just around the corner, now is a great time to pick up something unusual and innovative for your loved ones from the Oxfam Fair Trade Shop. They have just expanded their range of goodies and have some great gift ideas to surprise young and old (it’s not all about chocolate you know!). There is a huge selection to choose from, including -

• Paper Mache Eggs
• Wooden Easter Puzzles
• Handwoven Baby Bunnies
• Embroidered Cards
• Bunny boxes

Plus of course, for all you chocolate lovers out there, there is a wide range of milk and dark chocolate treats available in the all sorts of shapes and sizes (there’s even some shaped like chocolate bars!). There’s even a selection of chocolate hampers available for those that really want to indulge this Easter. So why not treat someone special to something a bit different this Easter with a charity gift from Oxfam Australia’s Fair Trade shop, and help make a big difference to the lives of people around the world at the same time.

> > Click here to order from the Fair Trade Shop

Other top charity gifts

WWF charity officials are concerned that Japan is at risk of undermining its own commitment to reduce carbon emissions reductions of 25% below 1990 levels by 2020 as using the ‘cap and trade’ scheme as agreed under the Copenhagen Accord framework. The climate bill is being lobbied against by industry labour unions who see the change as the possible cause of job loss, ignoring the fact that new jobs will be created in clean energy and other industrial sectors.

WWF-Japan’s Head of Climate Change, Naoyuki Yamagishi, said -

If the bill includes ‘intensity-based’ emissions trading schemes then it ignores the emissions cap that the Japanese government has promised to the Japanese people during the elections and to the world following the Copenhagen Accord. For the scheme to be called a ‘cap and trade’ scheme, it needs to have a real emissions cap.

Japan should not send wrong signals by making its action conditional on an international agreement.  It will not only jeopardize the credibility of the Japanese target internationally but will also slow down domestic actions. There is no time to waste, and Japan needs to avoid locking itself further into development using environmentally and socially unsustainable technologies. The current language in the bill could be interpreted as Japan doing nothing to reduce emissions if there is no comprehensive international agreement.

With many governments promoting a carbon intensity framework rather than absolute targets, now is the time for the many ministries across the globe to stand up and be counted. An intensity based commitment would seriously undermine the Copenhagen Accord, with emissions increasing globally if this strategy is followed. Japanese groups are calling on the government to drop the clauses in the new bill that threaten Japan’s existing pledge to cut gas emissions by 25% by 2020, one of the most ambitious targets in the world.

WWF-UK’s Head of Climate Change, Keith Allott, said -

Japan’s 25%  target is one of the strongest that any country has committed to so far. It should remain as an example to others; Japan should not chase everyone else in a race to the bottom, and to the disastrous climate impacts that will result.

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme.

From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy that would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one.

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View other top charity gifts

World Vision UK is calling on all political parties to ensure that extreme poverty remains a priority on their agenda as they canvas for votes with the election just around the corner. World Vision is asking their supporters to use this opportunity to help persuade your local parliamentary candidates that child health is an issue that the UK public cares deeply about.

The last general election was 5 years ago, and since then people have written to MP’s to speak against injustice, and asked the government to take action towards ending global poverty. Nearly 9million children die ever year across the globe before their 5th birthday, with many of the deaths caused by completely preventable causes such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria.

World Vision is joining with a coalition of other charities to ensure that international development and extreme poverty remain a priority for all political parties. When talking about a wide range of domestic issues, it is important that local candidates understand that there is much to do across the world and this must not be forgotten. World Vision are asking you to use the help persuade your local candidates and their parties that child health is an issue across the globe, not just in the UK.

The bigger fight must continue…

> > Click here to register to take part and Vote Global

Help World Vision by sponsoring a child

The World Vision Sponsor a Child programme is a great way to give a needy child a real chance of escaping poverty. As part of a long-term program, your continued support enables World Vision to use your donations to build sustainable communities in partnership with the people who live there.

You can provide a child with a better future for just 60p a day – giving them a real chance of escaping poverty. You get to see and feel the difference your support makes directly, through the eyes of your sponsored child and their regular letters and photographs.

> > Click here to sponsor a child with World Vision UK

The UNICEF UK Shop is now offering free delivery to all customers who spend over £50 at their online boutique. Simply add the voucher code -

9C95

at the online checkout when purchasing over £50 worth of goodies to enjoy free postage and packing (worth £4.95), and that’s not all. For a very limited time you will now receive UNICEF premium eco bag absolutely free with all orders. There’s loads to choose from, including -

• £2 – Unite against Aids Wristband
• £8.95 – UNICEF Pocket Diary
• £14.95 – Happy Children Watch
• £14.94 – Adidas UNICEF Football
• £19.95 – Global Cuddly Bear

Plus many, many more excellent charity gift ideas for all the family. But do hurry, as this great offer is only available until the end of Sunday 14th March 2010.

> > Click here to shop online at the UNICEF UK Gift Shop

Other top charity gifts

Only 2 weeks now until the WWF charity Earth Hour, which will be taking place in the UK at 8.30pm on Saturday 27th March 2010. Over 1000 cities and towns across the globe will be taking part by switching off their lights to show they care about climate change. 88 countries took part across the world last year and 2010 looks like even more will be taking part in what will be one of the world’s biggest unified messages to the world leaders that climate change need to be dealt with.

World famous landmarks across 25 time zones will be switching off their lights for one hour, including in the UK -

• Big Ben
• Piccadilly Circus
• London Eye
• Royal Albert Hall
• Manchester’s Trafford Centre
• Inverness Castle
• Wales Millennium Stadium

Supported by companies like M&S, Coca-Cola and Ikea, this worldwide phenomenon will show the world’s leader that the people of the planet are serious about stopping climate change. First time participants include Kosovo, Madagascar, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Cambodia, Czech Republic, Paraquay, Ecuador and the US Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK, Colin Butfield, said -

This years Earth Hour hopes to attract some one billion people. By signing up to switch off their lights, individuals, businesses, towns and cities can join a global phenomenon and show world leaders that we care about climate change.

> > Click here to sign up for Earth Hour

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme.

From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy that would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one.

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View other top charity gifts

WWF UK is absolutely over the moon that ‘Operation Tram’, INTERPOL’s targeting of the illegal trade in medicines that contain protected wildlife products, has seized millions of pounds worth of illegal medicines. The contraband, worth more than 10million Euro’s, has resulted in many arrests across the globe during the international operation.

‘Operation Tram’ was the outstanding work of wildlife enforcement authorities, police, customs and specialized units from 18 countries across all five continents that ran between 1st – 28th February 2010, and is one of the biggest seizures of illegal medicines containing endangered animal and plant species ever.

> > Click here to read the full INTERPOL media release

WWF-UK’s wildlife charity trade advisor, Heather Sohl, said -

Given that this crosses many borders, co-ordinating effective efforts to tackle the illegal trade in wildlife is not easy. However, this UK-inspired operation proves what’s possible. It’s great to see 18 countries all working simultaneously to investigate and curtail the trade in traditional medicines containing threatened species.  This can be a blueprint for future action on other areas of illicit wildlife trade too.

During the month-long operation, large amounts of medicines containing ingredients such as tiger, bear and rhinoceros were discovered by investigating groups of individuals and companies. Hopefully this will put a big dent into the resources of what is a truly horrific trade.

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme.

From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy that would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one.

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View other top charity gifts

UK band Coldplay added some much needed weight behind the British Red Cross‘ Chile Earthquake Appeal on the 2nd March 2010. In these days of fast technology, it’s become easier and easier to reach huge audiences with nothing more than a few words, and this is what they did when they sent a tweet out to their fans.

Coldplay currently have 2.5million people following them on Twitter, and within minutes of dropping their tweet, literally thousands of their fans flocked to British Red Cross website wanting to donate to the Chile Earthquake Appeal.

Coldplay tweeted -

Two million people have been affected by the earthquake in Chile – donate towards the Red Cross’s relief work at http://bit.ly/chilerc

This small nugget of information flew round the world so quickly that it led to a huge spike in traffic for the Earthquake Appeal, leading to a 400% increase in hits in just 15 minutes!

Coldplay, who are currently touring in South America and were recently performing in Sao Paulo, Brazil, said -

the band have been extremely saddened by reports of the terrible earthquake which hit the country on 27 February 2010.

As you can see, the power of twittering is a worldwide phenomenon that is an excellent way to reach millions of people at the touch of a button. Many of the charities we feature on D4C have Twitter feeds, (as do we) so if you’d like to find out more click on the links below to view our extensive charity Twitter list and also to follow our charity blog and keep up to date with all the latest news, reviews and views.

> > Click here to follow the D4C blog tweets

> > Click here for the D4C Twitter Directory

The British Red Cross has immediately transferred £50,000 from their Disaster Fund to their counterparts in Chile following the initial earthquake. This was no mere tremor, measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale with over 120 aftershocks. Aerial assessments of the overall damage are taking place, with public service announcements being provided on how to react to aftershocks and appealing to the public to donate blood.

If you would like to make a donation to the British Red Cross Chile Earthquake Appeal, please click on the link below.

> > Click here to make a donation to the Chile Earthquake Appeal

Cancer Research Gift Shop is offering free delivery on all their excellent selection of thoughtful presents when ordering online before the end of Wednesday 31st March 2010. Simply add the code -

FS09TGN0014

at the online checkout to ensure all your goodies are delivered free of cost. Plus with no minimum spend, anything you order won’t you cost a penny.

There’s loads of great charity gift ideas to choose from, and now is the perfect time to be ordering any Mother’s Day or Easter presents. Every penny of profit from all online transactions go towards Cancer Research’s life saving work, so why not treat a loved one to something special and help provide funds to stop cancer.

> > Click here to order online at the Cancer Research Gift Shop

Other great charity gifts

Present Aid is offering a great selection of interesting and unexpected gifts this Mother’s Day on Sunday 14th March 2010. By choosing a gift from Present Aid, not only will you giving your mum a unique gift to show that you care, but also helping families across the globe living in poverty who desperately need help. There is a fantastic range of gifts and price ranges to choose from, including:

• 50 Fruit Trees for £5
• Meal for 80 Children for £10
• Brood of Chickens for £21
• Furnish a Classroom for £51

By purchasing a Present Aid gift, you will be helping to raise millions of pounds to go towards vital work in areas of poverty and crisis. Plus with each charity gift the recipient will also receive -

• A beautiful gift card
• An explanation of how each gift really works
• Free Calendar with every order over £10
• A present of real meaning with lasting benefits
• The great feeling of helping others

Every time you buy a gift for a loved one from Present Aid, remember that you’re also buying someone else a brighter future too. So why not treat you mum to an exciting and innovative Mother’s Day present this year, as surely even you must be sick of buying chocolate by now!

> > Click here to order online with Present Aid

Other top charity gifts