GM cotton (Geneticly Modified)

Reduces use of pesticides by up to 80% (< www.csiro.au > 23.7.07) There are worries that pests will develope resistence, and that beneficial insects will be adversely affected. Bollgard or ingard are engineered with natural resistence to glyphosphate, a herbucide. One type is used, rather than choosing species which would be specific to different environments. The seeds are also sterile, so seed producers have monopolies, and farmers are locked into contracts. GM is used increasingly in Australia (20% in 1998,) (www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/ 23.7.07)

Geotextiles

Textiles used for erosion control, soil stabilisation and drainage (ridgewell)

Geothermal Energy

Thermal energy contained in the earth can be used directly to supply heat or converted to mechanical or electrical energy.

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

Established to develop a recognised international standard for Organic conversion, criteria and transition by the Institute for Market Ecology (IMO) <www.imo.ch> 7.5.07 [online]

Global Warming

(answers.com) An increase in the average temperature of the earths atmosphere, especially a sustained increase sufficient to cause climatic change.

Gore-tex

Microporous, breathable membrane which makes clothing waterproof and windproof.

(Ridgewell)

Green

‘A blanket term for a range of environmentally friendly approaches.’ (Elizabeth Wilhide)

(AS) When people use this word, it refers to a common understanding of good environmentally friendly practise. As a word it is easy to use, but ‘it is not easy being green’

(Van Morrison)

Greenhouse gases

(AFL) gases which contribute to the rise in temperature on earth, known as global warming, which traps the heat of the sun within the earths atmosphere.

(www.answers.com ) Without these gases, heat from the sun would return to space in the form of infrared radiation. The trapped heat is similar to heat trapped in a greenhouse, where the glass traps the infrared and warms the air.

(AFL) These gases include Carbon dioxide (from burning fossil fuels) Methane (from landfill, agriculture and coal production) Chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and hydroflourocarbons used in refrigerators and aerosols, nitrous oxide from nylon nitric acid production and hexaflouride from the chemical industry.

Greenwash

A term applied to products and processes which claim environmental integrity without grounds or substance, usually for economic gain, out of ignorance, misinformation, or to deceive.

Griege

Natural colour of textiles before colouration (ridgewell)