Do you have 7 min & 39 seconds?

Oh Good I am glad you have a few minutes in your 24 hour day! Watch this video (you don't even need sound, but it is better if you do). This is one of the grantees of the foundation I work for. See how a little goes a long way.

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment!

Happy watching!

Cool Stuff That Helps The Environment

Below are things that with everyday use you could help the planet! Check them out:

1. Baggu - a reusable bag that folds up and fits in your pocket or your purse. Comes in bright fun colors, is stylish and lasts forever. I got six and have shared them! Order at www.baggubag.com

2. Klean Kanteen or Sigg Water Bottles

About:

The reusable, lightweight, and risk free stainless steel Klean Kanteen® was introduced in 2004 to encourage better health, hydration, and environmental responsibility.

	Better Health: Klean Kanteens are made from #304 stainless steel, the material of choice in the food processing, dairy, and brewery industries. Stainless steel is easy to clean, durable, inert, sanitary, toxin-free, and non-leaching.
	Hydration: It’s vital for life.
	Environmental Responsibility: Klean Kanteens are the stainless steel alternative to plastics. Plastics in landfills and oceans are one of the most alarming of today’s environmental stories.

The Klean Kanteen has won over thousands of people concerned with making healthy choices for their bodies and natural environment. Join them in their efforts and try a Klean Kanteen.

Stainless steel Klean Kanteens outlast their plastic counterparts and drinking water from a stainless steel Klean Kanteen tastes clean and odor free, unlike drinking from plastic which often makes water smell and taste undesirable.





3. All recycled paper products. Think consciously before choosing a a new journal, greeting card or anything else. Make sure it is recycled!

4. Clothes made out of bamboo! Yep I said Bamboo :) Check out these websites for environmentally friendly clothes.

http://www.metowestyle.com/
http://www.bambooclothes.com/

or you can ask your favorite store if they sell ecologically friendly products.

That's all I have for now, do you have any products to share???

Happy Shopping!

Books to Read

So my book choices lately have not only been to educate myself regarding issues around the world, but also to inspire change. Plus they are some amazing stories that I believe everyone should be reading.

Books I highly recommend include:

1. Three Cups of Tea (see post below)

2. Not for Sale by David Batstone. (I'm currently reading)
"Human trafficking generates $31 billion annually and enslaves 27 million people around the globe, half of them children under the age of eighteen. Award-winning journalist David Batstone, whom Bono calls "a heroic character," profiles the new generation of abolitionists who are leading the struggle to end this appalling epidemic. "


3. Terrify No More by Gary Haugen (I've read and it's amazing!!!)
"This gripping book documents the events leading up to, and surrounding, IJM’s raids in the notorious Cambodian village of Svay Pak where their workers rescued 37 underage victims of sex-trafficking, many of them under the age of 10."

4. Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken (currently reading)
"Blessed Unrest explores the diversity of the movement, its brilliant ideas, innovative strategies, and hidden history, which date back many centuries. A culmination of Hawken's many years of leadership in the environmental and social justice fields, it will inspire and delight any and all who despair of the world's fate, and its conclusions will surprise even those within the movement itself. Fundamentally, it is a description of humanity's collective genius, and the unstoppable movement to reimagine our relationship to the environment and one another."

5. She Said Yes (was recommended in church on Sunday)
"In the aftermath of the Columbine High School tragedy, a story came out about Cassie Bernall, a young woman who allegedly professed her belief in God in the moments before she was shot dead. Hailed a modern-day martyr by Christian groups and the media, detectives revealed months later that she may never have had such an exchange with her killer. Bernall's parents responded to the news with a statement:

"Our intent was to share Cassie's story in an effort to encourage parents and teenagers. If any of our actions have hurt or offended anyone, we sincerely apologize."

In She Said Yes, a moving memoir written by Cassie's mother, Misty Bernall, we meet the real Cassie, a typical adolescent who struggles with peer pressure and her relationship with her parents. Once headed down the common teenage path of self-loathing and depression, Cassie turned her life around through her faith and the support of a group of people who helped her find peace and purpose--her youth group at church. Though Cassie was far from the perfect child, She Said Yes tells the story of how Cassie's faith gave her the strength to overcome the obstacles she faced in her young life. Regardless of what happened at Columbine, She Said Yes is a moving tribute to an extraordinary young woman and a lesson for both parents and teenagers alike. '

I will be recommending more and updating my blog as more book titles come along, but please share any books that you have enjoyed in the comment section.

Happy Reading!

MicroFinancing...say what?

Microfinancing is what you ask? Yes it sounds boring and something that is not interesting. When actually it is quite a revelation. Here is the definition:

"Microfinance is the supply of loans, savings, and other basic financial services to the poor." (CGAP)

As the financial services of microfinance usually involve small amounts of money – small loans, small savings etc. – the term "microfinance" helps to differentiate these services from those which formal banks provide.

Why are they small? Someone who doesn't have a lot of money isn't likely to want to take out a $5,000 loan, or be able to open a savings account with an opening balance of $1,000. Hence – "micro". (Kiva, 2008).

Why is Microfinancing important? It gives people in poverty the opportunity to make a life for themselves and/or their family. People in small villages may not have "credit" to go to the bank and get a loan to start their own business, therefore microfinancing ables them to do so. Here is a woman in need of a loan.

Kate Efejokwu is 40 years old, married with two children and lives in Benin City, Nigeria, where she makes a living selling groceries. She studied this business for 12 months before opening her store in 1999. She is requesting a loan of $1,200 to buy more supplies to sell. She has been a LAPO client for six years.

This woman is seeking only $1200. They are not seeking $20,000 loans to buy a nice new car or to buy a house. They are only needing money to sustain themselves and even expand their business.

How can you help? By going to Kiva.org you can learn more about how to help out and provide people like Kate money. Kate still needs $275. Remember these are loans, so they repay you and you can withdraw your funds or you can re-invest it to someone else (the better choice of course). There are many different types of people out there, so go learn about them and simply invest and provide people like Kate a positive future.

A friend of my family's who has invested with Kiva wrote me an email the other day. She said her loan to the Kigandazi group is almost repaid! Therefore it does work :) Another side note is Kiva is located in San Francisco, however they have people all over the world who are being provided loans and Kiva's organization is one of the grantees from my job, yet another reason to invest with Kiva.

I would love to hear what you think and if you have invested, plus if anyone wants to all invest in someone, share with us and we can do it!

Happy Investing!

It's Been awhile

Hi Everyone!

Yeah I know I am bad at this. But with all the changes going on in my life and transitioning into a new job, I am back! Ok so I have recently been inspired, to not only blog about everything environmental, but just everything in general. From cool tid bits I learn, to stuff I read, to ideas I learn at work...so get ready because I am going to blogging about anything and everything that I come across :)

P.S. It's hot here, is it hot there? With all the fires going on in California my prayers are with you and your family. For everyone being affected by the fires we are praying that this too shall pass. But what does come to mind with all these crazy weather changes and natural disasters it does make me think of Global Warming. So if you haven't watched "Inconvenient Truth", I say shame on you! Ok just kidding, but seriously you should really watch it, it opened my eyes to being nicer to this world we live in and how I (and you) can make a difference! Happy Watching (http://www.climatecrisis.net/). Oh and yeah the founder of my new jobl, his media company produced it! So another reason to go watch it!!

Ecological Footprint

Ever wondered how much "nature" your lifestyle requires? You're about to find out. Ecological footprint (EF) analysis tries to measure human demand on the Earth's ecosystems and natural resources. It compares human consumption of natural resources with planet earth's ecological capacity to regenerate them. It is an estimate of the amount of biologically productive land and sea area needed to regenerate (if possible) the resources a human population consumes and to absorb and render harmless the corresponding waste, given prevailing technology and current understanding. Using this assessment, it is possible to estimate how many planet Earths it would take to support humanity if everybody lived a given lifestyle.

This Ecological Footprint Quiz estimates how much productive land and water you need to support what you use and what you discard. After answering 15 easy questions you'll be able to compare your Ecological Footprint to what other people use and to what is available on this planet.

The Quiz takes less than 5 minutes: http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp

10 Ways to reduce your footprint:
1. Walk, Bike, Carpool... (Drive Less)

2. Eat Less Feedlot Beef

3. Eat Eco-friendly Seafood

4. Free Yourself From Junk Mail

5. Install Compact Fluorescents

6. Stop Freezing in the Summer

7. Stop Sweating in the Winter

8. Eliminate Lawn Pesticides

9. Reduce Home Water Usage

10. Inspire Your Friends

Reducing your ecological footprint not only helps you but also OUR planet!

EARTH DAY 2008

April 22, 2008 is EARTH DAY 2008!

Find out what you can do in your area by going to http://www.earthday.net/earthday2008.aspx.

Earth Day is a driving force steering environmental awareness around the world. Through Earth Day Network, activists connect, interact, and have an impact on their communities, and create positive change in local, national, and global policies. A great way to learn and celebrate our environment!

I will going to the Green Apple festival at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, where will you be this year??