Making Change: Loving Yourself

I think making change in the world starts with loving yourself. If you don't love yourself you won't care about much else. You won't care about the planet, you won't care about animals, or plants, or other people. You make think you do but until you love yourself now of it's fully real. Try starting there. Make that change.

Making Change: School Of Life

I found these pictures first on Shrimp Salad Circus and thought I had to share them with you. Here is a quote from the photographer that took these wonderful photos.

"I tried to get out of the kids their strong natural roots. Most of them lost their parents (from HIV or from the tsunami), and are now growing without family roots. For them, nature is sometimes the only parent left, especially in their new countryside environment at "school for life" (the school is built as and on a farm, in the middle of nature).

Check out this school (at their website) and what you can do to help these beautiful children.

Making Change: The Feed Bags

I saw these bags and read about their mission and thought it was great!

I think a lot of people, as much as we want to help, we don't want to do anything unless we get something out of it. And we don't want to do something unless we can be flashing about it; "I have a feed bag, people are going to see that I did something good". I'm at the point that I don't care about your motives (although I hope and wish that they are pure and selfless) as long as you are doing something to help! So here they are, the FEED bag. I included their Mission below.


"FEED Projects goal is to reach hungry children through the sales of our FEED bags.

FEED bags raise much-needed funds for WFP school-feeding operations and awareness of the problem of child hunger.

All FEED products are made as eco-friendly and fairly as possible. Our bags are produced with high-quality, 100% organic cotton and natural burlap. We work with only audited and certified fair labor facilities. It's important to us to visit the places our products are made AND the places our donations are going.

The goal of FEED Projects is to market and sell as many FEED bags as possible and to FEED and educate the world's 400 million hungry children."

Making Change: The Garbage Patch

I watched this video the other day and I almost started to cry.

I think this was all over Oprah a couple of time, a year or so ago and it probably faded into that area of our mind we call "Can't do much about it so I'll just ignore it" but it's time to be reminded and it's time to realize we can do something about it!! We can buy recyclable plastic and make sure it gets to the recycling center. We can buy glass or tin or paper or not buy at all! We can make change!!

(This video-below- is a little longer and more detailed on what is going on and what science is discovering in this problem)

Ok Go & Dogs

Two things I love put together: Wonderfully creative music and dogs!!

(And here's another great video by them! How much fun right??)

One Day on Earth...WOW!

One Day on Earth - Original Trailer from One Day On Earth on Vimeo.

Wow, I don't really have words for this. On 10/10/10 it all happens. How can you not want to capture some part of this world and contribute? I can't wait to see what all comes in and together!
Looking at the map there's not a lot of us Canadians on there! Come on! We have a huge country, let's show how amazing it is!

Making Change: Economica

I get this daily email called Daily Worth. It's a great financial email and one day it was featuring Economica and I thought it was great!

"The mission of I.M.O.W. is to value the lives of women around the world" and that's just a piece of what they do. Below are some picture from an exhibit they have.

There is just so much to say about this website and organization. They are involved world wide in making change and helping women becoming financial able and self significant so that they can contribute in their countries too. I'm not going to say much more but instead encourage you to check out the website yourself!

Arab women are changing the face of business leadership in the Middle East. (more)

In India, thousands of farmer suicides are leaving a generation of young widows with crushing debt and responsibilities. (more)
Arab women are changing the face of business leadership in the Middle East. (more)

Making Change: Easy Gardener

I saw this Easy Gardener on the Saving Money In Winnipeg Blog and I thought it was the coolest thing! I don't have a house yet, but that might just be in the works so I'm on the look out for all sort of things for my future backyard and I for sure want this!! AND the great thing is if you don't have a lot of room you can still use it, and it's Eco-friendly which I always love. So to go along with my previous posts about gardening for all this one is just another way to get started!

The easiest way to start a new garden! Easy Gardener Raised Garden Kit is the ideal way to begin growing flowers or a vegetable garden. Made from strong, UV-protected composite plastic and wood flour this eco-friendly kit has everything you need. Just add soil and plants. Complete assembly and garden instructions make for an easy quick set-up. Makes a 42.5” x 42.5” raised garden.

• Fast and easy to assemble
• Eco-friendly
• Multiple kits can be joined to create larger, taller gardens
• Includes complete instructions and gardening tips

Making Change: The Nashville Flood. May 2, 2010.

I know this was a while ago, but I think we just don't remember things like we should. We hear about problems or desasters in the world, take it in for a couple of minutes and then change the channel or change the subject.

So here you go, remember the things that happen in the world, remember others and what they go through. Think of others and be thankful what you have in all of the reflection. Changing your attitude can change the world.

Making Change: Gardening for All

I sometimes don't pay a lot of attention to the news or what's going on, which can be good and bad, but in this case it was bad. I didn't know there was a fight to get a garden at the white house, and a push for more gardening in the US and the world at large. I should have figured, but I didn't... Well in any case now that I found this organization that is trying to provide gardening skills so people around the world can grown their own sustainable foods I'm telling you about it! I think it's a great organization and another step for Making Change here on our planet.

Making Change: Eat Real Food

I saw this video and thought it was a really quick and good reminder of how many crappy food we eat each day and probably don't think a thing of it. I'm going to do more intensive posts on this, but I thought for today a little reminder to "Eat Real Food" was all I'd suggest : )

Making Change: Composing

I saw this video and thought it was great. I am yet to have my own backyard, but I'm planning already, and composting is for sure something I'm going to be doing! (if you didn't already catch that from my post on Monday...) I thought this video was super informative and helpful. And composting is just one more step to reusing and working with what we already have! Another step for making change!



I was in Costco the other day and saw this great compost tumbler, it's a good option if your looking!

Making Change: Ever Bamboo

I saw this product first on Saving Money In Winnipeg and looked into it further recently and it looks great! You can get anything from deodorizers to water purifiers out of this great product, and the best part- 100% all natural! Check out the info below taken from their website.

Due to the growth characteristics of moso bamboo, millions of tiny holes are created as the plant densifies as it matures, a process taking approximately five years. It is these tiny holes that ultimately give the resulting bamboo charcoal its revolutionary abilities as both a deodorizer and dehumidifier. These benefits have been enjoyed for more than five centuries in Asia.

Bamboo forests are widely planted throughout Asia, and due to the resurgence in the recognition of its benefits, many more acres are planted every day. And as bamboo takes only five years from seedling to mature plant, it will be readily available for all future generations.

With proper care, your bamboo charcoal product can last an entire year or more. After this, and because it is a 100% natural product, it can be recycled into the ecosystem.

Compared to regular charcoal, bamboo charcoal has 10 times more surface area and is 4 times stronger in its absorption rate. Making bamboo charcoal the ideal deodorizer and dehumidifier in many places.

Making Change: To Write Love On Her Arm

Like a lot of people I found out about this organizations when a lot of bands started to wear their tee shirts. And like a lot of trends everyone started to buy these shirts and it started to pick up. I really hope in all of that the real reason behind it all was shown too but if you’ve seen one of these shirts or something about this organization but didn’t really take the time to look into it here’s your chance. Below are some quotes from the website. It’s a great organization and I love what they are doing to make change in the world.

“To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.”

VISION:
“The vision is that we actually believe these things…
You were created to love and be loved. You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known. You need to know that your story is important and that you're part of a bigger story. You need to know that your life matters.

We live in a difficult world, a broken world. My friend Byron is very smart - he says that life is hard for most people most of the time. We believe that everyone can relate to pain, that all of us live with questions, and all of us get stuck in moments. You need to know that you're not alone in the places you feel stuck.

Beyond treatment, we believe that community is essential, that people need other people, that we were never meant to do life alone.

The vision is that community and hope and help would replace secrets and silence.
The vision is people putting down guns and blades and bottles.
The vision is that we can reduce the suicide rate in America and around the world.
The vision is that we would learn what it means to love our friends, and that we would love ourselves enough to get the help we need.

The vision is better endings. The vision is the restoration of broken families and broken relationships. The vision is people finding life, finding freedom, finding love. The vision is graduation, a Super Bowl, a wedding, a child, a sunrise. The vision is people becoming incredible parents, people breaking cycles, making change.

The vision is the possibility that your best days are ahead.
The vision is the possibility that we're more loved than we'll ever know.
The vision is hope, and hope is real.
You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story.”

Check out what you can do to help or more about this awesome organization on their site.

Check out this great video by Between the Trees

What are you doing today to create change?

Making Change: Buying Local

Locally Grown Food Tastes Better

John Ikerd, a retired agricultural economics professor who writes about the growing “eat local” movement, says that farmers who sell direct to local consumers need not give priority to packing, shipping and shelf-life issues and can instead “select, grow and harvest crops to ensure peak qualities of freshness, nutrition and taste.” Eating local also means eating seasonally, he adds, a practice much in tune with Mother Nature.

Eat Locally Grown Food for Better Health 
“Local food is often safer, too,” says the Center for a New American Dream (CNAD). “Even when it’s not organic, small farms tend to be less aggressive than large factory farms about dousing their wares with chemicals.” Small farms are also more likely to grow more variety, says CNAD, protecting biodiversity and preserving a wider agricultural gene pool, an important factor in long-term food security.

Eat Locally Grown Food to Reduce Global Warming
 Eating locally grown food even helps in the fight against global warming. Rich Pirog of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture reports that the average fresh food item on our dinner table travels 1,500 miles to get there. Buying locally produced food eliminates the need for all that fuel-guzzling transportation.

Eat Locally Grown Food to Help the Economy 
Another benefit of eating locally is helping the local economy. Farmers on average receive only 20 cents of each food dollar spent, says Ikerd, the rest going for transportation, processing, packaging, refrigeration and marketing. Farmers who sell food to local customers “receive the full retail value, a dollar for each food dollar spent,” he says. Additionally, eating locally encourages the use of local farmland for farming, thus keeping development in check while preserving open space.

Check out more info here.

Making Change: The Story of Stuff

I found this video on Green Love and it's really great! It's long and super informative (so be ready to be attentive) but so much of it is true, and a lot of it I don't think I truly thought about, or at least thought about enough!

What do you guys think?

Making Change: Bono

It's a bit long for a Youtube video but take some time and listen and watch the whole thing. Really take it in. It's inspiriting and challenging, but we for sure need more of it!

Making Change: Dispatches From The Edge

It's not my usual post, but I really really enjoyed this book and for me- someone who doesn't watch the news that much- (I should likely pay more attention) this book was a real eye opener and I think even if you do watch the news it would be. I highly suggest it. It for sure inspired me made me think more about what really matters in life and I think that it would likely do the same for you.

Making Change: Habitat for Humanity

“Devastating natural disasters happen around the world every year. War, conflict and civil unrest also create millions of refugees and internally displaced people. Families left homeless by disasters and refugees returning to their homelands face uncertain futures, often confronting dire housing needs as they struggle to rebuild their lives.”

With everything that goes on in the world think of how horrible it would be to come back to your home to find there is no home left there at all?

Check out some of their information below! I strongly encourage you to give this a try as a great area to volunteer or donate to.

Habitat for Humanity International is:

- A nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry.
- We seek to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.
- To accomplish these goals, we invite people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.

Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller, along with his wife, Linda.
Today, we have built over 350,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.75 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.
How does it work?
Through volunteer labour and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner (partner) families.

Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labour (sweat equity) into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.

Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans.
The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses.

Where does Habitat for Humanity operate?
Worldwide, nearly 90 countries and in all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. Use our search engine to find local affiliates and connect with Habitat in your community.

Our operational and administrative headquarters are located in Americus, Georgia, USA.

How are donations distributed and used?
Donations, whether to a local Habitat affiliate or to Habitat for Humanity International, are used as designated by the donor.

Gifts received by HFHI that are designated to a specific affiliate or building project are forwarded to that affiliate or project.

Undesignated gifts are used where most needed and for administrative expenses.
HFHI's most recent audited financial statement is available online.

How can I become a volunteer?
Use their search engine to find your local Habitat affiliate and their volunteer opportunities.
Explore their Get Involved section.

Making Change: Micro Loans

MicroLoan at work
“We provide small loans to groups of women across sub-Saharan Africa. The need for appropriate microfinance opportunities here - servicing the extreme rural poor - has been the driving force behind the development of MicroLoan since 2002.


MicroLoan is committed to enabling families to become self-sufficient by financing and helping them launch their own businesses. Small loans provide women with the opportunity to buy goods in bulk to re-sell in the local market at a small profit.


A modest increase in financial resources from money generated through a small business can improve a family's food security and support their children's education.
Microcredit results in asset creation, employment generation and economic security.”

MicroLoan Operations
“Having started operating out of a garage in the early days, MicroLoan now employs over 100 staff in Africa. Thanks to careful nurturing, the vast majority of projects we have supported are commercially viable and 99% of the loans are currently repaid in full. This allows the capital to be recycled into new ventures and to go on working for many years to come.


As the size and capacity of MicroLoan continues to grow, so does its impact on the lives of its clients.”

They have made over 79,000 loans to date, and counting! To make a donation and help change Africa with these great loans click here.