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Your choice of internet service provider (ISP) can help charities raise funds and salve your environmental conscience. There are a number of possible providers.
Rates and special offers change fast so check these figures before making a decision.
All Surefish's profits go to Christian Aid. The ISP describes itself as an ethical provider and web portal. It has an ethical fair trade policy and a section for kids with topics such as making goat-dropping biscuits - they should go down well - and discussion boards. Surefish has a pay-as-you-go option for the price of a BT local call and a £14.99 per month flat rate fee (£23.50 for broadband). Prices include VAT.
I really like the fact that you can give to a good cause by using surefish as an ISP - and it doesn't cost you anything extra. I like the games and I read some of the news articles, but you have to draw the line somewhere as you can get sidetracked easily and before you know it you have spent hours playing and reading.
Belinda Chavasse, secretary with a London merchant bank
GreenNet was founded in 1986 to serve people working for social change. The not-for-profit workers' collective continues today, providing information communication technology (ICT) for individuals and many organizations including Friends of the Earth Scotland. Get GreenNet for £11.75 per month payable three months in advance.
The Phone Co-op was the fastest growing co-operative in the UK in 2004. Broadband services start from £18.99 per month, with low cost phone calls and line rental also supplied. As a consumer co-operative, they are run on ethical, environmentally-responsible principles, as directed by the 5,500 of their 13,000 customers who have chosen to become members.
Sixty per cent of the profits from this ISP are donated to the charity of your choice - there are over 100 to pick from, including Friends of the Earth. See http://www.charitydays.net/ for more information on broadband, unmetered and pay-as-you-go internet access, plus personalized webmail, from as little as £12.99 per month.
NB: Friends of the Earth benefits if you follow this link.
Green ISP will plant a tree with TreeSponsibility, a community climate action group, for each new BroadBand customer who signs up, in order to offset its carbon emissions. See http://www.greenisp.net/ for more information - there is a £9.99 service for home customers (£14.99 for heavier users), plus broadband and pay-as-you-go rates and web hosting packages.
If you haven't looked lately you'd be amazed what you can buy and sell on the internet - anything from a "Are you doing your bit?" mug to a vintage car.
Many of the big names on the web, like Yahoo and Amazon, offer an exchange or auction service so you can get rid of that old exercise bike and acquire a nearly new plasma screen TV.
The best-known online auction site is Ebay. Once you get your head around the registration it's easy to start selling. Easy to get carried away and buy stuff, too.
This is based on an extract from Save cash & save the planet.
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