Let's call this Day 66 :)

I thought it would be easier to keep writing this blog once summer started, but it's actually harder for 2 reasons:

1) I've been busy studying for grad school entrance exams, which I need to pass in order to avoid paying to retake undergraduate classes when I start a masters. Zoinks.

2) It took less than 66 days to make living to create a better world a habit. :) That is, in the beginning, I had to actively think of an action to improve the world each day and then choose to do those things. After researching and writing the blogs to support those actions, I'm more convinced than ever of the benefits and necessity of making lifestyle changes that benefit the world. I'm convinced to the point that the changes are things I now do naturally.

For Example:

I now naturally decide whether or not trash can be recycled rather than simply throwing it in the trash.
I use re-usable bags instead of plastic bags.
I choose to buy locally and/or fair trade whenever possible and consider whether or not items I wish to purchase can be purchased locally.
I choose not to support factory farming by eating a vegetarian diet.
We're volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters. We're doing something that truly matters, and we get a cool little brother in the process.
I vote every chance I get.
I watch the news and listen to npr every day to stay informed.
I go to every community event I can, and I really look forward to them!
I turn off lights, appliances, my car, etc...when I'm not using them to save energy.
I try to re-use instead of re-buy.
I recognize that every dollar I spend supports something, so I'm increasingly conscious of what my dollars support and spend accordingly.
Most importantly, I'm more connected to the world around me and consciously try to be compassionate of people, animals, and the environment with everything I do.

I try. I try, and it makes a difference. Day by day the world gets better because of the choices I make. Do your choices make the world better? I'm not so naive as to suggest the quaint notion that my actions alone will change change the course of the world, but human beings are, by nature, social. We are connected to each other. No man is an island. Thus, my actions will influence those around me and radiate out. So will your actions. Our collective actions will change the world. It is our collective actions that make the world what it is now-the dwindling resources, increasing air pollution, diminishing clean water, slavery, massive ocean 'landfills,' abused and neglected people, abused and neglected animals, endangered animals, plastic bag paradise, etc... I don't kid myself into thinking these things don't matter. They do. "If nothing matters, then there's nothing to save."

Collective change starts with one person, like me. Or, you. All we have to do is commit and try. And, keep trying.
The End. :)

Animal Friends

Unusual animal friends

A little over a year ago, I watched a story on the LA morning news about a bear that had been spotted in the city. Somehow it had wondered into a neighborhood and was "relaxing" in a tree in someone's front yard. The news station was filming the bear and the efforts to capture it and remove it from the city. I never saw the conclusion of the story. Unfortunately, I had to go to work, so I don't know what ultimately happened to the bear.

I mention this story because the basic premise of the news cast was that the bear was some place it didn't belong. Everyone was scared of it and speculating on how it had gotten into our city. Didn't it know that this was a place for people and not bears? I felt bad for the bear though. Imagine how scared it must have felt trapped in a tree presumably far from home with helicopters circling around. Don't misunderstand me, of course. I'm not saying that the bear should have been left alone in the tree. Bears can, after all, be a danger for people to encounter. However, I do have to ask: Was the bear really out of place? Or, could it be that we've over-extended our place?

In truth, bears probably lived in the valley well before human beings did. Furthermore, it's no big secret that society is continually "developing." We're constantly expanding the boundaries of our cities, chopping down forests for new strip malls, destroying habitats for subdivisions, etc... Where are the animals supposed to go? Where should they seek shelter and find food? Then, when they move out of our communities, how long will it be until we expand again and demand they relinquish their new homes?

Wildlife and plantlife are vital to the functioning of the planet in which we live-all of us. together. They are also integral to, if not the source of, the earth's beauty. Wal-Marts and apartment complexes are not beautiful nor do they add anything crucial to the functioning of the earth. If Wal-Mart is gone, life will be able to continue. If the forests and rivers are gone, life as we know it will cease.

I think it's necessary to realize that the earth does not belong to humans. It's shared. Everyone recognizes that the aliens in Indepence Day who steal planets and use up their resources are the bad guys. Let's not be the bad guys. Let's share! :)

To that end, we filled our birdfeeder today. Admittedly, I'm using this action as an excuse to make a post about habitat destruction and urban wildlife sanctuaries. Is it necessary to insist that animals live outside our properties? Why not create places for them to eat and safely raise their young? If you have children, you could even fence off a spot for wildlife. Regrettably, we only have a small porch, so a birdfeeder is the extent of what we can provide. But, the birds LOVE it. And, for whatever the reason, rabbits, squirrels, turkey, and deer feel comfortable hanging out around our porch, too. It's pretty amazing!

Bullet Point Statistics:

• Habitat destruction caused by human activities is the number threat to wildlife survival.
  


• 4500 acres of forest fall to chainsaws every hour



• Approximately 1 animal species goes extinct every 20 minutes
  

On a side note: Urban Sprawl isn't necessary to accomodate our growing population. At least, it doesn't need to occur so quickly. Think of all the abandoned buildings and properties in inner cities. Why not revamp the land already developed?

A video

Role Models

We interviewed to be a Big Couple with Big Brothers Big Sisters today! Next step: training! In a few weeks, we should have our very own "little." We're so excited!

Also, for yesterday's 'g' thang, I applied for a credit card at Chase bank. However, it was not just any credit card. In truth, I don't actually advocate the use of credit cards unless absolutely necessary. But, Chase has a credit card that earns rewards. "How do rewards make the world a better place?" you ask. These particular rewards can and will be credited to one of several national charities, such as the world wildlife fund. You can choose a charity from a list. Organizations can actually make millions of dollars this way because those rewards add up. So, make your credit card work for good!

Another credit card that actively improves the world is the Green America Visa, which is available through One Pacific Coast Bank. www.opcb.com With this card, every purchase you make supports various green projects.

Finally, I've been interviewed for a fellow blog! It'll be posted tomorrow. :)

A store of which to be Proud!

In the beginning, the recycling bin that I set up at work saw very little action. That's not to say there wasn't any paper around to recycle. There was plenty. My co-workers were just in the habit of throwing it all in the trash cans rather than recycling it. Initially, I actually started pulling paper out of the trash cans to make sure something got recycled. Before you judge me, let me just say that I only pulled from the tops of the cans and did not reach to the bubblegum graveyard bottoms.

However, after about a week, something strange started to happen. The recycling bin started attracting paper. After about 2 weeks, the force of recycling increased even more to include things other than paper. (The sign on the bin says "paper only," but I can't turn away a cardboard box, among other things, that longs to be recycled.) I'm pleased to report that, in just a few weeks time, my co-workers adopted recycling to the point that they now save entire boxes of things that would otherwise be thrown out to see if I'll recycle them instead. (e.g. boxes of un-used promotional flyers) Everyone now thinks before they throw away, and that's all it takes to start a recycling trend.

Today, I took the david's bridal recycling to the recycling center, and it actually took up my entire backseat.

The Lesson: Start making positive changes for the world and others will join your efforts faster than hollywood remakes movies, which is pretty darn fast.

From a Girl who loves Newsies

Today, I read the news! Like I've said in previous posts, it's important to be informed about what's going on in the world. In this way, I can stay aware of what issues need to be addressed and the ways that others are helping to make the world a better place. When you know what's going on around you, then you can discover ways to contribute and make positive impacts!

Be aware that often news venues are "slanted." Some are right-slanted and some are left-slanted. They are all slanted though. So, I try to vary my news sources to get the most accurate picture possible.

If you feel like you need a way to force yourself to read news but want to start reading it, then I suggest subscribing to a periodical. That way, news comes to you regularly whether you like it or not. Start by reading only the stories with headlines that appeal to you. If you're like me, you'll gradually find yourself reading more and more. Recycle when you're done of course. :)
OR, I also watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. The comic twist makes them a sort of gateway drug for news.

My favorite news websites are
www.commondreams.org

www.nytimes.com

Also, I would love to subscribe to www.thenation.com if I had a bit of extra money lying around for periodical subscriptions.

Finally, don't overlook your local paper when choosing a periodical. It needs your support! :)

1 post: 2 days! Such efficiency!

This weekend has been an example of how easily (and quickly) living to create a better world can become a lifestyle. Between yesterday and today we've surpassed my "1 deed per day to improve the world" goal.
Here's what we did:
1) We recycled. That is, we took our home recycling to a recycling center.

2) We went to 3 community events! Let me just go on record saying that community functions are actually really fun. I was a skeptic, but they're wonderful. Since making a point to become involved in Bloomington life and to take advantage everything the town has to offer, I appreciate the area and even enjoy it. Admittedly, I prefer city life, but Bloomington is actually a great little town. I used to focus on where I would rather be living and on all of the reasons that I'd rather not live here, which I think is a common mindset among people in general. However, this isn't a healthy or productive way to live; this mindset actually impeded my happiness severely.
Accept your community as your community. Take responsibility for it and pride in it. Participate in it! You'll be happier and your community will be richer because you're a part of it.

3) We bought groceries at the local Farmer's Market. Find a farmer's market and
Look up your state, and find out what's in season at a local farmer's market. 'Currently growing' food is fresh and perfectly ripened, and, therefore, tastes better. Purchasing from a farmer's market also fuels the local economy without using extra-fuel to get to you and, in turn, is better for the environment and the community. :)

4) We bought groceries at a local food co-op. What is a co-op? This link will also help you find a co-op near you.

5) We didn't use a single plastic bag!

6) We didn't eat any meat. We have almost been vegetarians for an entire month now, and it's great. I highly recommend it! Also, read this book. This book was recommended to me, and now I'm recommending it to you. It's not a book of 'reasons to be a vegetarian;' it's a book about why people eat meat and how dietary/farming habits have changed in the last century. I think people should know where their food comes from because we put it in our body every day, which makes it a pretty big deal. It's a fast read, too.

7) We rented a movie from a locally-owned rental shop, which actually had a much better selection than Family Video. I wouldn't recommend the movie we watched though: Another Year .
It got good reviews, but I really have no idea why. It's boring and appears to have no story line. However, if you enjoy realistic characters and dialogue, give it a watch.

8) We hung out with friends! Good company. Good drinks. And, of course, video games. It was a great way to relax!

9) I called my Dad. Well, I will call him in 10 minutes. Don't forget the people who love you!

Let me finish this post by emphasizing that we didn't go out of our way to do any of these things. Once you know what actions improve the world and how to do them, it's natural. It's about replacing old habits with new habits. Also, don't feel overwhelmed by the idea that you have to do everything possible to improve the world. You don't. Just do something, and build from there. :)

Kids are Cool

I'm home again!

For Wednesday, I played a game and donated rice to the hungry at freerice.com. This is maybe the easiest thing a person could do to make someone's life better and, in turn, make the world a better place. You simply go the website and play trivia games for as long as you like. For every question that you get right, the organization that runs the website will donate a set amount of rice to struggling people. It's pretty addictive because you can watch your rice bowls get fuller and fuller!
Also, I want to recognize my Mom who, rather than purchasing a new phone when hers quit working, started using one of the other, many, abandoned cell phones we left behind at her house. In this way, a cell phone avoided becoming trash and no nonrenewable resources were used to produce a new phone for her. Way to go, Mom!

For Thursday, I did 2 things and you can accept your favorite as my 'g' thang for that day:
1) I clicked the many buttons on thehungersite.com. Each button makes a different donation. It's actually easier than playing Free Rice!
2) I was at an airport for 5 hours, so I used the time to reconnect with friends. To me, there's no experience worth having unless you share it with someone. In other words, people are the most important thing in my life because, without them, what's the point really? Staying connected with the people you love lets them know you care about them. How can letting people you love know you love them be anything but good for the world? Spread the love!

Today! Josh and I took the first step to becoming a BigCouple with Big Brothers and Big Sisters. We may not be accepted as volunteers in the program, but, the important thing is that we want to be and so we're giving it a try! There are thousands of kids in the world who lack good role models and/or who need to know someone loves them. That's what Big Brothers Big Sisters is about. I'm passionate about kids and making sure that all kids know they're loved and get a chance to be kids. That's why we want to volunteer.
There are scores of organizations in the world that need volunteers. All a person has to do is figure out what issues he/she is passionate about-what wrongs need to be righted-and get started volunteering for an organization that matches those passions. It doesn't have to be a big volunteer commitment. Even showing up randomly for an event here and there is something. If everyone did that, than there would always be plenty of volunteers. In turn, the impact of organizations, like Big Brothers Big Sisters, would grow as would the positive impact they have on the world.

Rafiki Would Be Proud

Starting today, I'll be in Georgia with my family for the next couple days. My sister is graduating from OCS! Congratulations! :)

In any case, that means that I spent a significant portion of the day either on an airplane or alone in an airport. You may or may not believe me, but I'm something of an introvert at heart. So, though I find most of flying uncomfortable, I like to take advantage of traveling as an opportunity to think. That said, as my world-bettering action, I wrote a personal mission statement today. I think a person needs to take the time to self-reflect and evaluate her purpose in the world. Think about what you personally care about and where your passions lie. Think about what you hope to accomplish in life. For me, this type of 'meditation' focuses me and energizes me. It also ensures that my actions are not simply robotic replicas of something I've been told to do but are actually sincere manifestations of the things I believe in. When this concept is applied to altering one's life habits to make the world a better place, even small changes are more likely to endure if they are spurred on by true conviction rather than merely a feeling du jour. So, look inside and consider what principles you believe in and feel passionate about. Then, think of ways to live out those beliefs.

My mission statement is this:
I endeavor to hurt nothing unnecessarily and to, day by day, champion the causes of those who and that which cannot speak for themselves so that the world might sustain and that life might improve for all those living now and for generations to come.

Additional Thoughts:
I respect and understand that everyone has reasons for doing the things they do.

The world is not ours to abuse and destroy. Arrogance created this idea, and selfishness perpetuates it. The refusal to use the creativity endowed to us as human beings to find and use methods of living and producing that are at most minimally harmful merely because it is at present cheaper and easier is, ultimately, not even self-serving but is merely and detrimentally lazy.

It's a work in progress! :-P

Mudpies not Mudslinging!

Woot! This blog hit a new record high for daily reads! Making a positive difference in the world is gaining in popularity! yay!

Tonight, I'm watching the Republican presidential debate. Regardless of one's personal, political leanings, the world can only become a better place when its citizens are aware of what's happening in the world around them and become involved. Today, I'm involved by listening.

Also, it's important to listen to all sides of an issue. Don't write off everything a Republican says just because you are a Democrat, and don't write off everything a Democrat says just because you're a Republican. Republicans, Democrats, liberals, conservatives, Christians, Muslims, Jews, CEO's, workingmen-Few people are all right or all wrong, which means that everyone has something to offer. Fighting, name-calling, and mudslinging are not the paths to a better world-even preschoolers learn this concept. Sharing and listening to ideas is how solutions are found, and all change starts as an idea.

Also, voting is our opportunity to influence the future of our world. It's important to be an informed voter. I intend to listen to what the candidates have to say and vote for whichever candidate's ideas most closely match my own. True that I'm only one vote, but I won't be the only person to vote for my favorite candidate. If we all choose to believe that our votes are "only one vote" and therefore have no influence, then we all really won't have an influence. So, it's a good idea to vote! You've got nothing to lose!

Litter is for Catboxes

Trash is inevitable. Litter is a choice. As much as it pains me to admit it, I don't think it's possible to live a completely trash-free life. Well, it is possible, but it would require significant lifestyle changes. This blog is about first steps toward a better world. It's not a master class. For example, I'm sure that I'm not alone in saying I'm not ready for the mooncup (skip this link if you're a man.). I firmly believe that we should all do what we can to create a better world and then build on that. The important thing is to do something. When people do nothing, then nothing gets better.

That said, we can all put our trash in a trash can. Today, I saw some litter in a parking lot, so I put it in a trash can. Picking up litter does make the world a better place, but I must admit I'm annoyed that it had to be done because putting trash in a trash can in the first place seems like an easy thing to do. Why didn't the person who dropped it dispose of it properly to begin with?

Landfills are made to contain trash and its harmful effects, but parking lots and roadsides are not. Trash discarded carelessly as litter becomes more than just an eyesore; it becomes a harmful part of the ecosystem. It destroys water systems, suffocates wildlife, smothers plant growth, carries germs, attracts disease-carrying pests, etc...Plus, it's expensive to clean up. Litter has become such a problem that the Pacific Ocean is now home to what's known as "The Great Pacific Garbage Patch"-a swirling column of garbage twice the size of Texas that weighs appr. 3 million tons. An estimated 80% of this aquatic mess came from land-based sources, that is, our litter.
Everyone thinks that, if they drop just one water bottle in the parking lot or throw just one cigarette butt on the sidewalk, it's not a big deal. And, it's not as long as you are the only person discarding your trash in this way, and as long as it only happens once or even twice. But, what happens if all 6.8 billion people in the world all have that same train of thought and all drop a water bottle in a parking lot? "The Great Pacific Garbage Patch" is what happens.

Sound bite of the World!

I've noticed that my blog has been reaching a wider world audience lately! I'm really excited about this, but I also feel like I need to step up my game a little bit so that "Nothin' but a 'G' Thang" isn't a disappointment. lol

To make the world a better place, I supported street musicians today. By that, I mean that I heard music I liked, so I put money in the tip jar. This seems minor, but never under-estimate the benefits of art on the world. Art expresses the human experience. It also plays a significant, if not primary, role in preserving our cultures. For example, being midwest-born and raised, I feel a sense of home and a connection to my heritage every time I hear bluegrass music. When people listen and feel these sensations together, they also connect with each other. Furthermore, when we listen to the music of others (e.g. african drumming, punk rock, euro pop), we can start to understand and connect to others.



Though music, and art in general, is different around the world, it all expresses human experiences, and those are surprisingly universal. Maybe, if we all understood that our similarities are more significant than our differences, then we would be able to see all people as people. And then, maybe life could cease to be us vs. them, and just be 'us.' Admittedly, it's a long range goal, but I think it's a worthy pursuit nonetheless. It'll never happen without art.



Support street musicians. This is how they can afford to continue to be musicians, and it encourages them to continue being artists. Support art education and music education. Go to concerts. Listen to the music of others. Art is not a waste. It's a necessity.



Benefits of art on the Brain

Practical and more immediate benefits of music

Statistics on music study

Chocolate addicts for a Better World

OK, here's my plan. Writing a 'catch-up' post is going to take some time, so I'm going to write it later at some point when I have gobs of time. I promise I'll write it, but, for now, I'm going to move on as if I didn't miss 4 posts this week.

Today, I bought fair trade chocolate. It's delicious. You can taste the justice in it.
Fair trade basically means that goods go from the artisan to you the buyer with few steps in between and, most importantly, everyone involved in the creation and distribution of the goods is paid a fair and livable wage. Fair trade respects workers, provides a sustainable way of life for developing communities, supports preservation of the environment, and empowers women and minorities. It is also anti-slavery and anti-child labor.

Most people see slavery and child labor as problems of the past. In truth, however, an estimated 30 million people are enslaved worldwide today. This means that more people are enslaved today than there were when slavery was legal. Many commonly purchased goods, such as chocolate, use slavery and child labor at various points in the supply chain. The cocoa industry, including suppliers of companies like Hershey's, employs over 100,000 children thousands of whom are slaves. That's not to mention the workers who are simply forced to work excruciating hours and not paid a wage they can survive on. Purchasing these goods condones these practices.

Buying fair trade ensures that you are not supporting oppression of any type. Fair trade chocolate costs only $1-2 more than non fair-trade chocolate. Plus, it's delicious. By being willing to pay a little more for fair trade, we ensure that others can lead lives of better quality in freedom and that children can be children. Is saving $1 on chocolate worth enslaving others for life? Is my life worth so much more than theirs?

Note: Organic products are not necessarily fair trade.

Find fair trade products here

fair trade federation

Time to Game!

I haven't forgotten about you! Please forgive me for not writing for a few days, and don't think that I've given up on my 66 'g' thang goal. I, like most of you, work, and I've worked 11 hour days the past 3 days. That doesn't mean I'm not doing good. It just means I haven't written about it... I'm sorry. I truly am.

That said, I worked today also, and now, I'm going to relax and watch a movie. Tomorrow, I'll update you on the world improving deeds of the week! But, for now, I need to relax. Incidentally, it's important to relax because you can't make the world a better place if you lack the energy or are too stressed to do so. So, play video games and watch movies sometimes-it's good for your soul! haha Video Games aren't all bad it turns out. In fact, as a closet gamer, I'd say they aren't bad at all!

Check out this organization. I joined a few weeks ago, and my Green Pages just arrived today! I'm so pumped! Green America can provide you with the information needed to have a greener lifestyle and support others who believe in the cause, too. If you want to make the world a better place, join up with others who want the same thing! That's what I did. :) We'll create more change if we work together.

Drinking and Walking is Legal: Though not Endorsed as Safe by this Blog

Don't worry, my faithful readers, I didn't abandon you or my 66 day goal! My birthday was this weekend, and I didn't get a chance to write. However, I did do 3 'g' thangs-one for every day since last we 'met.'

1) Josh and I participated in a community event (Indiana Brewers Guild Craft Beer Fest!). I think that in today's world a lot of people feel isolated. By that, I mean that people used to know their neighbors and care about what happened in their communities. Even when people didn't like their neighbors, I think that they cared about each other because they felt connected enough to realize that they were all fellow human beings and that they were stronger together than apart. People were more involved in their communities because they felt a sense of ownership towards them. Why a sense of ownership then but not now? Decades ago people were born, bred, and dead in the same location for the most part. This made them connected to the location and, in turn, to the other people in that location. Now, people move for work and all sorts of other reasons, and they are often in one location for only a handful of years. This mobility makes any given home/community potentially temporary, and this feeling of "temporary" makes people less inclined to form attachments within their communities. This is unfortunate because all opportunities for connection, whether temporary or permanent, are valuable. They make life rich and fulfilling rather than empty and lonely.

Communities weaken when people don't invest (not merely financial investment) in them. If communities weaken, then so do the people living in them. For instance, one person spouting ideas to herself in the bathroom mirror can enact little change, but a group of 5 people spouting ideas has 5 times the influence needed enact change. Community events bring people of the community together. They make people feel connected to each other. Community events make stronger communities, and stronger communities make a better world. Plus, they're a great place to meet and make friends!

2) We walked to and from Beer Fest rather than drove. Cars create pollution. Feet don't create pollution. A good rule of thumb for reducing pollution caused by transportation is to always use the slowest form of transportation possible. Is there a bus stop near your house? Do you have time to take the bus with others rather than drive your own separate car to buy milk? If yes, then take the bus because it's going that way anyway. Your car, on the other hand, doesn't have to start at all. Was Beer Fest a mere 1.2 miles away? Yes, it was. So, we walked. Nevermind the 95 degree heat... haha It's nothing a good beer can't make you forget!

3) Josh took me shopping for my birthday! My birthday presents were purchased locally. I know I've written about local shopping before, but "goodgollymissmollie" shared a link about the topic with me that I think is worth passing on. :) The 350 Project has some great stats regarding why shopping locally is a better choice than national chains or online shopping. For example, $63 of every $100 spent locally returns to the community. In national chains, only $43 goes back into the community. Nothing goes into the community when we shop online.

The Great Letter Extravaganza!

To demonstrate that a person can and should speak up when he/she has an idea, I wrote a letter to the vice-president of David's Bridal today. For those of you who don't know, I work there. In the letter, I respectfully suggested that the company's stores start offering re-usable bags as an alternative to the plastic bags we offer our customers now. Please see my post entitled, "American Beauty," for details on why plastic bags are a global problem worth addressing.

With this particular letter, my goal is to improve my workplace and our environmental impact. In general, however, I also really believe that corporations are among the strongest, if not the strongest, forces in the world today. They have the power influence trends on a very large scale. But, more importantly, they get that power from us, their customers. More specifically, they get it from our collective buying power. For the most part, corporations want to keep their customers happy. This is why we should let them know when we disapprove of or desire a change in their practices. If enough people speak up, they'll listen. Wal-Mart will consider changing a policy if only 20 people write a letter about it. :)

If you want to write a letter to David's Bridal requesting re-usable bags, too, the corporate office address is:
1001 Washington St.
Conshohocken, PA 19428

Just be respectful. Corporate presidents are people, too! Seriously.

Business letter format

If a Squash Can Make You Smile

One of my life dreams is to be an old woman with an extensive garden. Both of my grandma's and my Mom all garden, so it might be in my blood. Despite having been bred to grow plants, however, I feel like I know almost nothing about gardening. I think that the best way to learn, though, is to just jump in with both feet. To start planting and tending and ask questions/seek advice as I need it.

So, today I tended my garden. I'm sorry if this seems like a cop-out of a daily 'g' deed, but I feel like having a garden has enough global benefits that it needs to be discussed. So, I chose today to write about it! And, I really did tend my plants today, too.

A few weeks ago, Josh and I joined the new "grow-your-own-food" movement and started our own urban garden. We bought a few pots, purchased seedlings at the local Farmer's Market, and planted some vegetables. We are the proud parents of 4 broccoli plants, 4 green bell pepper plants, and 1 tomato plant. We're planning to expand the operation in the coming years, but, for now, it's a fledgling hobby.

Growing your own food is good for the world for several reasons:
1) You know exactly where your food comes from and what went into producing it. For instance, you can be sure that no harmful chemicals were used and/or that no workers were exploited.
2) Fuel and resources are saved as no form of transportation, other than walking, is necessary to bring the food from garden to table.
3) Plants improve air quality and so combat pollution.
4) Organic gardening actually revitalizes the soil itself.
5) Biodynamic gardening creates a sort of habitat for certain wildlife and encourages a symbiotic relationship with nature. Plus, it maximizes food production in a given space.
6) Growing food is cheaper than buying food.
7) Gardening together is a positive experience to share with others, OR gardening alone is good way to relax.
8) No tomato will ever taste as satisfying as the one you grow yourself.

More on Biodynamic Gardening. "Biodynamic gardens make it possible to grow lots of food in very little space." Incidentally, this could be a solution to the emerging food shortage.

Happy Dirt Digging!

Oooo! Cobbler!

In general, the less stuff a person buys new the less resources he/she uses. By this, I mean that it's usually better to repair things if possible rather than always re-buying them when they break. This reduces trash and the resources necessary to make a new item. So, repairing is a good rule of thumb to live by. It's also usually cheaper!

That said, today I took a pair of wonderful high heels to a cobbler. The bit of sole on one of the heels fell off awhile back exposing a nail that was scratching all floors and made walking unstable. So, I had stopped wearing them. It was pretty interesting going to a cobbler for the first time. The guy had a local shop and was a 6th generation shoe repairman! Unfortunately, repairing this particular pair of shoes cost me almost $20... I didn't expect that. Still, I comfort myself with the thought that I saved the resources needed to make a whole new pair and the landfill space that would have been needed to throw the old shoes away.

The real lesson in all this is to buy things that are better quality to begin with in order to avoid repairs and replacements as much as possible. It costs more upfront, but, in the long run, this philosophy actually saves you money. Shoes especially are one thing that varies widely in quality. I think I've mentioned this before, but I've noticed that a lot of things that lead to a 'g' (g in the sense of good, global, and green) lifestyle are more expensive upfront but cheaper in the longrun. (e.g. transitioning to solar power, preventative healthcare) At the risk of getting too preachy, I feel the need to say that it's important to save and invest now for a better future rather than simply living in fear of the future. That's not to say a person should spend money he/she doesn't have but it is to say that it's a good idea to think ahead to what you ultimately want to invest in and do it when you are able.

Vegetarian Week Conclusion: I have to say that I'm sorry I've neglected to provide as many reasons to become vegetarian as I promised. I forgot about this part of my blog this week and didn't do much research beyond the obvious reasons... I'm sorry... One more reason you should know, however, is that meat-packing plant jobs have possibly the poorest working conditions of any job. For instance, they have the highest injury rate though most employees can't afford health insurance, and the plants often pay as little as $5/hour. How are they able to do this? By exploiting immigrant labor. This could be a touchy issue, and my blog is not intended to be controversial. So, I'll leave it at that. I only write about the working conditions as one more issue that might matter to someone as they consider whether or not being a vegetarian is better for the world than being an omnivore.

I, however, have convinced myself and decided to take the plunge. For now, I'm going to be a vegetarian! I feel healthier and more world conscious. Plus, I think the new flavor palette is exciting! haha

Types of vegetarians

In case you decide to try it, too, I feel like I have to mention that the transition begins with a couple days of feeling great followed by a couple days of digestive track adjustment that feels not so great. The not-so-great days pass quickly though. :) Now, I feel perfectly normal but healthier.

I am excited about Borax!

It's a little known fact that you can clean pretty much anything (non-porous) with borax, a naturally occurring and environmentally-friendly substance that your grandmother has been using for years. It's also a little known, but vitally important, fact that most common household cleaners are bad for the world and bad for your health. The vapors burn your lungs and age your skin, and the chemicals, specifically chlorine and phosphates, pollute the water supply among other things. In fact, you are actually supposed to dispose of chemical cleaners by taking them to your community's hazardous waste drop-off site rather than by throwing them in dumpsters or dumping them down the drain. And yet, we use these cleaners all over our homes, get them on our hands, breathe them, and rinse them down our drains all the time...

So, today, I resolved to make my own environmentally-friendly, household cleaning products. Here are some recipes.

I bought a box of borax, a box of baking soda, and a bottle of vinegar. To be honest, I was convinced it wouldn't work. I really thought that the chemicals would be necessary to get a clean home, especially because our water is hard and creates some pretty ugly stains in our shower. I have never been more wrong.

Not only did the various combinations of vinegar, baking soda, borax, and water clean well, they cleaned better than windex, clorox bleach, and the host of other chemical products I usually use. Furthermore, the idea, which has been instilled in us by clever advertising, that we need a different product for every cleaning job is completely false. I found that even the link I provided above makes cleaning more complicated than it needs to be. For glass and glass-like surfaces, I used vinegar and water in a spray bottle and wiped it up with newspaper to prevent streaking. For all other non-porous surfaces, I had a bowl of dry borax and baking soda, which I scrubbed over everything with a damp sponge. The hardest thing was wiping up the granules. So, I waited for everything to dry, brushed them on the floor, and then swept. Easy. And yet, my sink has never been so shiny!

I can't tell you how excited I am about how easy, chemical-free, and effective this cleaning method was. Plus, it was cheap. I spent less on today's supplies then I usually do on only a bottle of Windex and a bottle of Clorox Spray, and the borax, etc... will last forever. AND, simplifying my cleaning supplies stash creates more space in my apartment and less trash for a landfill (or recycling center). Huzzah!

Off the Grid

Today, we used home cooling techniques rather than turning on the A/C. Yesterday, it was nice out but on the cool side temperature wise. I think it was in the 60's. However, the temperature shot up to almost 90 today! That is definitely warm enough to warrant turning on the A/C, but we held off for today in order to save energy. Instead, we opted to keep the lights off as much as possible, not use the oven, and close the drapes. Earlier this year we invested in energy-saving drapes. They're insulated to cut down on the influence outdoor temperatures have on indoor temperature, and they work wonders! We used them today to hold in the cool air from yesterday, and, by the time the air inside started to succumb to the outdoor heat to the point of slight discomfort, the sun was starting to set. Tomorrow, we will probably give in and turn on the A/C, but every bit of energy saved counts! The point is that, if you actively look for opportunities to save energy, you will find them!

Reducing household energy use is not only good for the environment, it's good for your utility bill. Utility usage is like golf, the lower your score the better!

Measure your eco-footprint and get ideas for ways to be greener in your day-to-day life.

This website lets you know if/what kind of government incentives to switch to solar energy are available in each state.

This website explains the different renewable energy systems currently available for home installation and how they work.

Energy efficient drapes also keep the bedroom super dark at night! I started sleeping a lot more soundly after we put them up. Admittedly, they're more expensive upfront, but I think they pay for themselves in monthly utility savings. Based on what I've found, most green technologies are more expensive upfront but cheaper in the long run. I think the initial cost is the major deterrent most people see to making the switch.

I love Saturdays!

I like to sleep in on Saturdays. AND, I always work on Saturdays. AND, I like to go out on Saturday nights. The point of saying this is to point out that I'm actually a normal person. At least, I think I'm normal. No one's ever told me I wasn't anyway... I work at a fashionable retail chain, so I take that as certification that I can't be totally weird or they wouldn't have hired me...I don't think...You be the judge.

In any case, being normal is no excuse to not be a benefit to the world. You do not have to stop bathing, wearing deodorant, or loving a cute pair of shoes to live a life that makes the world a better place. I'm finding that you actually don't have to change much, if at all. You just have be aware and live deliberately. For example, when asked if I want a plastic bag, I now stop to think whether I really need one or if I just say yes out of habit. In most cases, I can actually carry whatever I bought, and, if not, it'll fit in my purse or in one of the reusable bags in my car.

ANYWAY, my point is that I didn't go out of my way to do something good for the world today because it isn't always necessary. Tonight, we went out for dinner and drinks but we chose a new, local restaurant. I've explained in previous posts that spending money locally is far better than dropping money in a national chain because it goes directly back into the local economy, and it keeps communities viable and vibrant. I actually read somewhere (I can't remember where :-/) that every dollar you spend locally generates twice as much income for the local economy. Making a point to try new places is also good for communities because it brings new life and new interest to the place you live. It also encourages entrepreneurship and economic development and diversity. If you want your community to keep growing and becoming more interesting, then give the new places a try. They won't survive without customers like us!

Reason #5 to try vegetarian living: It's delicious. Really. Many people mistakenly believe that being a vegetarian means eating cups of raw vegetables and salads all the time. BUT, I've found that eating vegetarian has all the flavor and satisfaction of eating meat. In fact, the restaurant we went to tonight was vegetarian. They served everything from 'meatball' marinara sandwiches to BBQ medallions, and it was all delicious! You honestly couldn't tell the difference between actual meat and the meat substitutes except that the food wasn't as heavy. That said, my assessment of eating vegetarian is that it's more interesting than my regular diet, more satisfying, and it lacks the guilt that usually accompanies eating foods that are delicious. I think every woman knows what I mean by guilt. Who hasn't eaten a meatball sub and felt that she just undid all the crunches she put in over the last month? Vegetarian makes me feel free to enjoy eating. and eating. and eating. :-P

Brownies for a Better World

I made brownies tonight to take to work and share with my co-workers tomorrow! Doing nice things for co-workers increases camaraderie and moral. More importantly, it builds a sense of community among the people you work with, which is important because most people spend a lot of time at work. So, it's good to build happy relationships with them.

ALSO, I read in an article of "Women's Health" that I found in a recycle bin while I was making endless copies at work that doing something nice for other people inspires them to do nice things for other people, too! Studies actually show that one nice act can ripple out approximately 3 deep. People pay it forward without necessarily even knowing it! So I figure that, if we all do something nice for someone, it'll just keep going! A wave of kindness and caring! That would definitely make a better world.

I forgot to post a reason to be vegetarian yesterday. SO, here is yesterday's: My bowels have never felt better! haha

And, here is today's-Reason #4 to be Vegetarian:

a link to the webpage for more information

The Adventures of Captain Cullet!

I thought you might enjoy this cartoon. haha.

For the past several months, we've been hoarding glass. Admittedly, it's mostly beer bottles. Anyone who knows us knows that we're budding beer snobs...but that's beside the point!

The point is that today we recycled all of those glass bottles and the glass bottles from various other things. Since our apartment doesn't have recycling for glass, we actually had to drive the glass to the city recycling center. I think that people assume that this is really inconvenient and that's why many people don't recycle. And, I have to say that I also thought it would be inconvenient, but it actually wasn't. It was shockingly easy. We spent about 2 minutes loading the glass in the car, and about 1 minute unloading it at the center. Then, we went out for coffee. Easy. You should try it. You'll like it. Recycling, not the coffee. Although, the coffee was a fabulous experience, too.

In the future, I'm going to try to buy as many items as possible in glass packaging instead of plastic. Unlike plastic, which can generally be recycled only once, glass can be recycled and remolded infinitely. Also, there's a big market for recycled glass whose demand is not currently being met. Only 28% of glass is currently recycled. When not recycled, glass can take 4000 years to break down on its own. In short, there really isn't a reason not to recycle glass. If you think of one, let me know.

Other recycling options for beer bottles

Be aware that procedures for recycling windshield glass or glassware are different than those for recycling food and beverage bottles. Food and beverage bottles can definitely be picked up curbside or taken to a recycling center. However, other types of glass may require a bit of research to recycle.

Here's a shorter video:

Dillinger the Dog

This afternoon, Josh and I played with a dog at the animal shelter. His name was Dillinger and he was a Beagle mix. Although, he didn't really look like a beagle. Anyway, he was a great dog! He was surrendered to the shelter because his previous owner didn't think he/she could train him. But, he was really well-mannered and seemed to even be housebroken! If we were in a position to take care of a dog, I would definitely consider adopting Dillinger. For now, I'm glad to know that we brightened his day by taking him outside and giving him some love. Whether you're looking to adopt or not, playing with a shelter dog is an easy way to volunteer if you love animals. Playing with Dillinger didn't just brighten his day, it also brightened mine. (I think it brightened Josh's day, too, but I can't really speak for him on the subject.)

The point of this story is that, when looking to adopt a dog, it's a good idea to look at a shelter first. Contrary to popular belief, the dogs in shelters are not all abused, abandoned, or 'bad' dogs. (Although, I think these dogs are especially in need of loving homes, but not everyone has time for the training necessary to rehabilitate a formerly mistreated dog.) For the most part shelter animals are in shelters simply because their owners couldn't care for them. They're sweet, healthy animals who just want to love and be loved.

3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters every year. By adopting from a shelter you not only save your new friend, you also open up a spot in the shelter for another homeless pet. Plus, by refusing to by from a pet store, you withhold your buying power from puppy mills. Every dollar spent that supports a puppy mill gives them fuel to continue existing because it's a "profit-driven business." If you don't buy, they don't breed. Incidentally, without puppy mills continuously breeding dogs for whom there are no homes, the number of euthanized animals would also decrease.
Top Five Reasons to Adopt

Reason #2 to be Vegetarian: 72% of all grain grown goes to feed livestock despite the fact that 925 million people worldwide are hungry. In fact, a child dies from starvation every 5 seconds. The grain currently used to feed livestock could feed 800 million people, which lessens the problem of hunger significantly. Why feed a cow when a person is hungry? By being vegetarian, you lower demand for meat worldwide. If the demand lessens then so will the supply. Maybe then we can feed children rather than chickens. Furthermore, exporting the grain that we currently feed to livestock would boost the US trade balance by $800 billion/year. Why let a pig eat $800 billion?

The Week no Pigs would die! Or Cows! Or Chickens! Or Turkeys! Etc!

Today is day 2 in my meatless week. Josh and I are giving vegetarianism a week-long trial run. We actually started yesterday, but I just decided not to write about it until today.

Let me tell you: So far, I love it. That's all. I feel healthier, and I feel like I'm doing a really good thing globally speaking, too. Plus, plants are delicious.

There are so many reasons to be vegetarian and so many statistics that I've decided to spread them out. Every day this week, I'm going to share a new reason to be vegetarian. (I'm going to keep doing other world changing actions each day because it would be a cop-out to use "not eating meat" as my 'g' thang for the whole week) Also, the reasons to be vegetarian do not pertain simply to environmental and health concerns though I'll certainly cover those aspects. Then, at this time next week, I'll let you know if I think being vegetarian is a maintainable lifestyle.

Reason #1: Raising animals for food is one of the most environmentally damaging things we do. It destroys resources, pollutes water and air, and causes soil erosion.
80% of annual deforestation is caused by animal agriculture. Animal waste runoff has polluted more than 173,000 miles of rivers and streams. North Carolina alone produces 2.5 tons of hog waste each year. How thirst-quenching! Moreover, using the land to raise food animals in the first place is an inefficient use of the land. One acre can produce "50,000 lbs of tomatoes, 40,000 lbs of potatoes, 30,000 lbs of carrots, or just 250 lbs of beef." 420 gallons of water is necessary to produce just 1 lbs of chicken!

Tune in tomorrow to find out how eating meat is a cause of world hunger AND how reducing meat consumption could help the economy.



I ordered the vegetarian starter kit! ha!

Dryer, Dryer, Pants on Fire

I did laundry today, and I didn't use our clothes dryer. Since we live in an apartment, I couldn't hang the clothes outside to dry, which means they're hanging around the apartment. It's going to take them forever to dry, but I did it nonetheless because not using the clothes dryer is a major energy saver.

After the refrigerator, the dryer is the second biggest energy-using home appliance. In fact, if you stop using it completely, your utility bill could easily decrease by as much as 10% annually. A lot of people think that a dryer is a necessity, but it really isn't. Air can do the same thing; it just takes longer. Plus, clothes last longer when you air dry them as dryers thin out the fabrics. ALSO, not using the dryer reduces the risk of a dryer fire significantly. haha

Fire Your Dryer


In the future, I'm going to hang as many of my clothes as possible instead of using the dryer though I don't intend to fore-go the dryer completely. I'd like to, but it's not practical in our current living situation. That said, I think it's important to realize that, in changing how one lives in order to better the world, it's not possible to change everything at once. Start with what you feel is easiest and most doable for you. I've found that the more I do, the more I want to do. Small things build on each other and make the bigger things that, at first, seemed unattainable instead seem possible. Slow progressive change is often more lasting than sudden, rash changes anyway. So, if you feel inclined to make a difference, don't let yourself feel overwhelmed by the amount of things you feel you should be changing or paralyzed by guilt because you can't stop eating individually packages burritos. Just do what you can.
The important thing is to do something. Something's add up.

American Beauty

We went grocery shopping today and refused to use any plastic bags. We even avoided the plastic bags for produce and bulk items, and we bought a lot of produce. Incidentally, I was surprised at how much cheaper it was to buy a lot of produce than it is to buy mostly pre-made/pre-packaged food. I expected it to be more expensive. I'm not really sure why. *shrug*

Back to the subject at hand!
Ceasing to use plastic bags could be the single easiest and most important thing that everyone can do to improve the world as a whole. About 1 million plastic bags are used every minute. Each of those bags can take 1000 years to degrade, and, even then, they break down into toxic pollutants. Where do these plastic bags go? Well, I don't know about you, but I've seen them in quite a few trees and on quite a few roadsides. Also, every square mile of ocean has 46,000 pieces of plastic floating in it. It actually outnumbers phytoplankton...The Pacific Ocean is home to what's known as the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch," which is an estimated 3 million ton mass of trash swirling in the ocean. So, that's fun...

AND, though recycling plastic bags is environmentally better than throwing them away or dropping them in the street, it's actually not economically profitable.

MOREOVER, they require a lot of nonrenewable resources, like petroleum, to produce and a lot of public money to clean-up. California spends about 25 million annually to send them to landfill and another 8.5 million collecting them from the streets. Think of how many teachers they could be paying instead.

SO, what's the solution? Reusable bags. They're inexpensive, and they actually carry more items per bag than plastic bags. Plastic bag companies claim they harbor bacteria, but this problem can be solved by throwing them in the washing machine on occasion like you would any other cloth product you own. Plus, a lot of stores give discounts for using them.

Mesh produce bags online
reusable bags that fit in your purse and are reasonably priced

A funny but serious lawsuit about plastic bags

A Person's a Person

Today's 'g' thang was extremely simple but also extremely important. In my opinion anyway.
We went out to eat today, and I made it a point to talk with our waitress, learn her name, etc... In this way, I made sure to treat her like a human being. Often, I think that we ignore or inadvertently act superior to a significant portion of the people with whom we come in contact on a day-to-day basis. (e.g. waiters, maintenance men, walmart employees, postal workers, bank tellers, etc...) In truth, we are all equally deserving of respect and kindness. We need each other really because society requires people from all walks of life to function and, more than that, to be interesting/rich/vibrant. Everyone has a story to tell, and everyone's story matters.

The world is a better place when all people are treated like people and no one is treated like an object. :) Plus, friendliness rarely (if ever) has negative results.

How to be nice lol. I tried to find a good link for this post, but this was all I could find in 30 secs of looking.

Alice in Paperland

I didn't make paper today, but I thought you might enjoy Paper Alice. Just be sure to wear dance clothes when you watch as the music is truly moving. Honestly though, I found this video on a whim, and it's actually pretty interesting. I had no idea paper was so easy to make, and I might try it sometime soon.

However, I did do something less interesting related to paper today. To begin, I want to say that the purpose of today's action is to demonstrate that each of us has the power to better the world through actions other than simply those available to us in our own homes. The key is to look around and find something that you feel capable of improving. I noticed that my place of business throws away a lot of paper, so, today, I acquired a red recycling bin and put it next to a commonly used employee trashcan. The bin is marked 'Paper Only,' and I asked my boss if I could put it there. At this point, since the company has no recycling program of its own, I'll have to be in charge of emptying the bin. But, I think it's worth it considering the average American uses 7 trees per year from paper, wood, etc... 7 trees might not sound like a lot, but 7 times each of the hundreds of millions of people living in the US is a lot. Moreover, I'd wager most businesses likely consume more trees than the average person, so creating a recycling program at work is a small action with great potential for measurable, positive, environmental impact.

It's worth knowing that 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown away annually.
Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 trees. That's not to mention the nonrenewable resources preserved...

Disclaimer: This blog is not intended to only be about recycling. For tomorrow, I'll try to find something to do that is not recycling related.

Solving 1 and 2

For the last week, I have been actively trying to think of ways to surpass the barriers of recycling. If you read my post, "A Walk Across the Parking Lot," I listed 3 reasons why I think people don't recycle. In that post, I addressed the 3rd reason: Lack of awareness of recycling facilities. Today, I attempted to address reasons 1 and 2:
1) Trashcans are closer.
2) Recycling requires sorting.

The obvious solution to these problems would be a "trashcan" for recycling that sorts for you, can occupy any space normally occupied by a regular trashcan, and can be manufactured for as cheap as a regular trashcan. Unfortunately, I am not a wastebasket engineer.

So, here is the solution that I came up with for my own life:
Let me begin by saying that I live in an apartment and, therefore, do not have endless amounts of space or even a lot of space. However, after some clever maneuvering, Josh and I were able to clear out one of our floor level cabinets. In this cabinet, we put 2 small, white trashcans (each identical to the one we already have under the sink). One of these trashcans is now for plastic and the other is for paper. Glass we intend to keep in a box on the pantry floor. We've already been collecting glass for several weeks, and it's basically clean and completely odorless after we rinse it. Trash will still go under the sink.
It's not a perfect system yet, but it's a step in the right direction! "Approximately 88% of the energy is saved when plastic is made from plastic rather than from the raw materials..." AND, Recycling one ton of paper saves enough energy to power an average, U.S. home for 5 months! At least 70% of all trash is recyclable, so I'm working towards recycling 100% of recyclable materials. If I only had space to compost, then I could practically be trash free!

Reasons to recycle from EPA for those still on the fence.

A nearly exhaustive list of recyclable materials and guidelines. This website also has fun facts and many other helpful links!

Something I just learned about plastic: The numbers on the bottom of plastic bottles indicate their ability to be recycled. Number 1 and 2 are the best, but number 7 is basically non-recyclable.

Yesterday and Today: The abbreviated uni-post!

*Drum Roll Please* And now, the moment you have all been waiting for: What did I do with my money after I removed it from the clutches of Bank of America???

You Guessed it! I joined a credit union!
Why a credit union? How is that different from your run-of-the mill bank? Unlike a bank, which operates in order to turn a profit for its shareholders, a credit union is a not-for-profit financial institute that is members-owned. Anyone who has an account is considered a member. This means that, to a credit union, I am a member-owner and not a customer. The goal of the credit union is not to increase the products I buy or sign up for; the goal is to improve my financial situation. To that end, credit unions offer the same services as standard banks. The difference is really the objective.

Also, when you open an account at a major bank, the bank uses your money for its own investments. The money heads to a corporate headquarters where it is used to benefit something so far removed from your life that you are likely to never see/feel its effects. On the other hand, a credit union endeavors to benefit the local economy and its members. Your money is invested in community projects and plays a key role in maintaining the vitality of your own community. For example, the credit union I joined sponsors a local stage company and runs a scholarship program for local students. In short, Credit unions operate for community and member improvement rather than for profit. So, your money is doing good even when you aren't using it. That's what I did today! And, it feels good!

YESTERDAY, we took a road trip home from visiting family (We got back late. Sorry I didn't post. :-/). To foster world betterment, we made it a point to be patrons of local businesses rather chains. Have you ever noticed that all towns seem the same as you travel down the highway? They all seem to be clusters of McDonalds, BP, Burger Kings, TA, and maybe a Walmart. Some sects have termed this phenomenon the "McDonaldization" of America. Mere decades ago, travelers automatically helped local economies merely because travelers needed to eat and had no choice save to find a locally owned diner or drugstore. Unfortunately, the interstates moved in after the mom&pop establishments, and chains put themselves on the interstates. In this way, McDonald's, Burger King, Arby's, Taco Bell, etc...have been able to claim prime business locations and snag the patronage that travelers used to take to small, local businesses. More than that, these places also take local patrons from local business. This is why we see local businesses slowly closing their doors and small towns morphing into clones of each other.

Why is this a problem?
True, chains have their place in our world. Sometimes you just need a 30sec hamburger. However, as with major banks, chains shuffle money out of local economies and into the hands of distant corporations and shareholders. Local businesses,on the other hand, maintain the vitality, viability, and uniqueness of communities and, in turn, of the country. Plus, when you buy from a local business you can see and meet the people that your business is benefiting. You can cut out the middle man!
I'll admit that, occasionally, products are slightly more expensive than those of chains. However, the difference is usually not very noticeable. What's more, a deal for you tends to be a rip-off for someone else. "How?" you ask. I'll tell you in a different post. This one is getting too long, and I'm sure I'm about 2 sentences from losing your attention...if I haven't lost it already!

Let me leave you with 2 things to remember should you want to go to local businesses on a road trip:
1) Plan to eat before 9 pm. Most local businesses close early. We learned this the hard way when we stopped for dinner...
2) Start looking for a place to eat before you are famished because mom&pop's are harder to find than chains.

Bank of America Weeps

According to the Better World Shopping Guide, Bank of America is 20th on the list of the 20 worst companies. To formulate these rankings, the guide takes into account company records regarding Human Rights, The Environment, Animal Protection, Community Involvement, and Social Justice.
Bank of America is also number 3 on the list of top 10 Bailout companies and has been given a grade of 'F' on the list of banks in general. The 'F' grade is given to companies with the worst social and environmental records in the industry.

It's no secret that, in today's world, money really is power. This means that every dollar is some amount of power. It should also be noted that, when your money is in the bank, it does not simply sit in the bank waiting for you personally to spend it. The bank uses it for its own investments, projects, and gains. That's why it's important to make sure you actually support the things your bank supports. Today, I chose to exercise the power of my dollars (be it ever so meager) by closing my accounts at Bank of America.

It was kind of exciting to close my bank accounts. That is, it felt good to say, "I don't want to support the practices of this business. Therefore, I'm withdrawing my support from it." Although, I must admit that I didn't say those words explicitly. I had planned to say them. However, once in the bank and closing my accounts, I realized that the people working at the branch have almost nothing to do with the choices the company makes. They might even be Bank of America's biggest victims. It's impossible to know. But, I do know that they don't deserve any sort of righteous tongue-lashing. They deserve kindness and respect. So, I kept it simple and just closed my accounts without reason.

To be continued...
Join me later this week to find out where I choose to invest my powerful dollars instead!

Graydon Springs Outdoor Legacy

In creating a better world, it's not simply important to do your part; it's also important to encourage and support others in their endeavors toward a better world. To that end, I nominated Graydon Springs Outdoor Legacy for a Green Grant tonight. A few days ago, I received an out-of-the blue facebook message encouraging me to continue my 66 day challenge. It really made a difference to me because it's difficult to continue any kind of project without support from those around you. Encouragement let's people know that their actions are making a difference in positive ways, and it often re-energizes them to continue. This is why it's important to let other "world-improvers" know that you believe in what they're doing.

Encouragement is the fuel that feeds world improvement so that it can continue.

The person who wrote a facebook message to encourage me is one of the founders of GSOL. Ironically, I unexpectedly met some of the organization's other board members through a friend of mine last night as well. GSOL believes in community and environmental well-being, which are 2 concepts that I believe are key to creating a better world. AND, the members are so passionate! I really hope they reach their goals!

Good Luck, Graydon Springs Outdoor Legacy!

A Good Day for Fishing

A local food bank hosted a food drive today. They coordinated with the post office to put plastic bags in the mailboxes of community members. Then, anyone wanting to donate could put non-perishable food items in the bag and leave it for the mailman to pick up and return to the food bank. It was easy. I didn't even go to the store and buy food just for the food drive; I simply took food out of my pantry and put it in the bag. All this is to say that sometimes you can make the world a better place by participating in things that are easy and were organized by someone else. Make no mistake, however, helping to feed the hungry is no small thing.

Hunger is often thought of as a problem that exists only in the developing world, meaning in Africa and other, faraway places we can't see. While it's true that a whopping 925 million people are hungry worldwide, most people don't realize that 1 in 6 Americans are also considered food insecure. Moreover, these hungry people are not just "lazy" adults; 1 in 4 American children are hungry.

"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." This is a commonly heard mantra. And, though true, I think people often use this mantra as a reason to not be charitable. To not feed the hungry. But, the flip side of this proverb is that the physically debilitating effects of being hungry often render a person too weak to "fish" for himself or learn to "fish" for himself. Thus, hunger perpetuates hunger. That is to say, most people can't do much on an empty stomach let alone find a way to feed themselves and their children. I say, "Give a man a break. Give him a fish, then see where he goes from there!" :)

www.feedingamerica.org

Day 14: And now for Friday's World Improving Act!

http://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/wptdiv/p2pages/energy.pdf

This afternoon, we went out of town to visit our families for the weekend. It occurred to me that our air conditioner does not need to be on at all during that time. So, today we turned it off, and it will remain off until Tuesday night. We also unplugged appliances and other things we won't be here to use but would otherwise continue to use energy while we are gone, such as the microwave and the computer not coming with us. Heating and cooling systems account for around 50% of average household energy use. The major culprits accounting for the majority of the other 50% are appliances, especially the dryer and the refrigerator. The refrigerator we left on for obvious reasons, and the dryer we left off for obvious reasons. See the chart on this page for specific estimates of energy usage culprits.

It's important to conserve household energy whenever possible, especially electric and gas energy, because the vast majority of households are powered by nonrenewable sources, such as coal or fuel from oil. What's more, the use of these energy sources contributes significantly to world air and water pollution. For example, coal creates acid rain when the sulfur dioxide emitted as it burns combines with water. (This, incidentally, further reduces the percentage of the earth's water that can be classified as drinkable.)

The average household is responsible for 11,200 pounds of air pollution a year, and each kilowatt of energy not used reduces this number. By turning unnecessary energy-users off, my apartment's pollution creation should be down by approximately 80% for the weekend! Huzzah!

A World of Understanding

I'm Back! So sorry to keep you waiting for yesterday's post, but blogspot was 'read-only' for about 24 hours due to a technical difficulties.

I don’t want you to think that recycling is the only ‘g’ thang I do.
SO…
Today, I had a conversation with a couple women from Saudi Arabia. These women were in full head-to-toe garb, including the face covering, and they were wonderful people! In a room where it was just us women, they were able to remove their face coverings and reveal their beautiful faces and happy smiles. We talked about the differences in American and Arabic lifestyles. We talked about their husbands and my boyfriend. We talked about the roles of women in both societies. It was a fun conversation born out of pure curiosity without judgment or proselytizing.

It is important to have these types of conversations with people of races, backgrounds, values, and faiths different from your own, and it makes the world a better place. Through these conversations people can begin to see that other people are, in fact, people. No better or worse than you or anyone else. People laugh. People cry. People fume. People love. People want to be happy. Regardless of our differences, people have being human in common.

What would happen if we spoke with our enemies before labeling them as such? I once heard the director of a play say, “Even the bad guy thinks he’s the protagonist.”

How does a conversation make the world a better place? Conversations breed understanding. Understanding is the foundation of compassion, and compassion is the foundation of peace.

A Walk Across the Parking Lot

I live in an apartment complex that's part of a greater apartment community of several complexes all sharing a clubhouse and owned by the same company. I went to the clubhouse yesterday to request that the community start a recycling program only to find out that we already have one! I had no idea, and we've been living here almost a year. It's not the best recycling program. In fact, it's just a big, red bin with sections for cans, plastic, and cardboard nestled in one of the other complexes. Still, some kind of recycling program is better than no recycling program at all.

I have a theory as to why people don't recycle, and I don't think it's because they don't want to do it. I've come up with 3 main reasons people don't recycle. At least, these are the reasons I don't always recycle.

1) Trashcans are closer. If given a choice between tossing an empty beer bottle or a scrap of paper in a trashcan across the room or taking it to a recycling bin across the parking lot, most people choose to just throw it away.
2) Recycling requires sorting. If it wasn't for the sorting, trashcans could simply be replaced by recycling bins and then recycling would be the most convenient option.
3) People don't know where to take their recycling if they do make the effort to save it and sort it.

In response to number 3, it occurred to me that, if I didn't know we had recycling in this community, other residents probably don't know either. So, today, I made and laminated flyers to put by the dumpsters that let my neighbors know where the recycling bin is in our apartment community.

I'm still trying to think of practical ways to address reasons 2&3. Stay-tuned for updates on possible solutions to these problems. Also, please tell me if you have any ideas of your own!
I want this blog to be available as a forum for discussion on actions to improve the world.

John Hancock strikes again!

For the record, this blog is not intended to be political. In fact, it's meant to be as nonpartisan as possible. The purpose of this blog is simply to demonstrate that the world in which we live can be improved by doing small, easy things. I think that people generally feel powerless to enact any kind of change and so don't try. I want to show that people do have the ability to make changes, and that it isn't difficult to do. I believe that Goodness is not so much in whether or not one succeeds in making a difference but in whether or not one tries. That's all.:)

THAT said, I signed a petition today! It took a total of 30secs and was completely free. That's all it took to support a cause and help enact change! Petitions are a great way to get the word out about and garner support for a cause. Many people are afraid to put their name on petitions. I'm not sure why, but I say, if you believe in something, why not put your name on it? Change only occurs when people have the courage to speak out for what they believe.

I signed a petition here. It's a website showcasing petitions that focus on major issues.

Look here for an extensive list of victorious petitions! This is also a good website to use to get your own petition started for free.

It's Raining Men!

I shaved my legs today. Of course, anyone who knows me (most anyone) knows that I shave my legs every day. I admit it. I can't help myself! However, usually I spend about 12 minutes in the shower, but today, I set a timer and shortened my shower to just under 7 minutes! I didn't skip anything. I even got to rinse the conditioner out of my hair! The average shower head uses 2.5-5 gallons of water per minute depending on your shower head, so I saved 17.5- 35 gallons of water simply by moving a little faster.

There's a lot of water in the world, but 97% of it is undrinkable salt water. 2% is frozen in ice caps, which leaves 1% of freshwater available for drinking. Of that 1%, half is too polluted to drink. So, it's important to conserve what's left and to keep it clean.

In the future, maybe I'll change our showerhead to one that has the same water pressure but uses less water and/or one that has an on-off switch on the side. For now, however, I'll see how it goes if I just find a new place to daydream.

Water statistics
water tips and tricks
www.water.org

P.S. Please make suggestions for things to do to make the world a better place!

Honk if you Love NPR!

I learned about anesthesia today on NPR. That is to say, I was listening to NPR, and the topic was anesthesiology. They were discussing the effects that anesthesia has on the brain and what the brain does when a person is "under" for surgery.

I think that a lot of people typically think that npr is boring, but I actually think it's refreshing. For instance, the diversity of programming is far greater than that of privately owned radio stations who pander to specific audiences. True, I wasn't particularly interested in anesthesiology. However, I have been listening to NPR for a few weeks now, and the point is that every time I listen the programming is different. They have everything from news programs to stock updates to classical music to jazz to local news to interesting human stories to comedy shows. everything. The cool thing about NPR is that it doesn't exist to make a profit so the goal of it's programming isn't simply to increase their listening audience so they can sell more adds. NPR is focused on programming that is socially enhancing, community building, and informative. Contrary to popular belief, I think that, for this reason, NPR is one of few places one can go to obtain nonpartisan information. Of course, I concede that everyone has to make that call for themselves.

Still, regardless of partisanship, NPR is a great place to go for information about local events, off-the-beaten track news stories, and music with a minimal amount of commercial interference.

I like it!

P.S. I also called my Mom today. Making time for the people we love makes the world a better place. After all, what's the purpose of life without strong relationships? :)

Move Over Aunt Jemima

Alas! So far, it has rained every time I've gone to the Farmer's Market. Of course, it has rained here almost every day for the last 4 weeks, so it's no surprise that it rained today. *sigh*
Anyway, Bloomington, like almost all other cities/towns in the US, has an awesome Farmer's Market during the summer months. (In LA, the farmer's markets are year-round. So, they might be year-round in other places, too.) Here, the market is open every saturday morning, and I love it! Even when it's raining...

Shopping at farmer's markets makes the world a better place in a lot of ways:
1) You buy directly from local growers, so the money stays in the local economy. As with local elections, your local economy actually has more direct impact on your life than state or national economies (I'll expand on this in another post, but, for now, I'll leave you with a cliff-hanger.). Plus, you can meet and talk with the growers themselves and, therefore, see who your money is supporting. At a grocery chain, your money is just a drop in a pot of corporate profits, but, to a family farmer, your money is their lifeline directly. Farmer's are struggling these days on account of corporate exploitation, so it makes a difference whether or not you buy from them. That's a well-spent $3 for a box of tomatoes!

2) By purchasing from Farmer's Markets, you can truly be aware of where your food is coming from and how it was produced. Local Growers are really interesting people to talk with, and they are usually happy to talk about their growing practices, chemicals used/not used, etc... Today, I met a man who was eager to tell me how to make sassafrass root tea!

3) Locally grown food does not have to travel as far as grocery chain food, and so, the environment is spared the fuel and other resources needed to transport food long distances.

4) The food at farmer's markets tastes better because it is fresher and can ripen "on the vine!"

5) Farmer's Markets are great centers of community! They are a vibrant place to meet new people and find out what your community has to offer. Often, markets are not just about food, local musicians play and other artists and organizations set up booths, as well. If nothing else, I like to go and just hang out.

I should also mention that shopping at farmer's markets is not noticeably more expensive than shopping at a grocery chain. In fact, the local growers are down-right reasonable.

Finally, I want to say that I tasted (and purchased) natural maple syrup today, and it was delicious! I thought it would be far too thick and unbearably sweet. However, it was not thicker than store-bought syrup, and it was slightly less sweet than its name-brand counter-parts. Somehow, it tasted fresh and even light, which I wouldn't have thought possible for syrup.

If you're interested, you can find a farmer's market here. Enjoy!

Day 7: Have a Beer with a Narwhal

Today, I got an oil change and a maintanance inspection. "Hold up!" you say. "Aren't cars and our dependence on oil bad for the world? Don't you remember BP and the Gulf of Mexico (BTW: another recent oil spoil)? Don't you know that they're expanding drilling to the arctic??? Aren't you concerned about the rich, arctic ecosystems? What about the polar bears? What about the narwhals!?!"

To you I say, "yes, I remember these things. And, yes, I'm absolutely concerned about polar bears and narwhals." HOWEVER, it's no big secret that our dependence on oil won't end overnight. It's also no big secret that many of us can't afford to run out and buy a new Nissan Leaf immediately. (Ideally, I would love to purchase a Nissan Leaf or a hybrid car.) In the meantime, I drive a '95 Honda Accord, and, as long as I drive a gas-powered vehicle, it's good for the world for me to take care of it for 2 reasons:

1) A well-maintained car is more fuel efficient, emits fewer air pollutants, and costs less money in repairs.

2) Regular maintenance extends the life of a car, which, in turn, reduces the number of unwanted cars that essentially become trash.

Still, in case you aren't satisfied with an oil change, here are some other 'G' thangs today:

Josh and I also purchased a 6-pack of New Belgium beer. New Belgium is known for being a model company with regards to social and environmental responsibility, so it's cool to support them. They make Fat Tire, but we're trying the Tripel tonight. I'll let you know how it is!

OH! I found out that Target carries a line of reusable gift bags for wrapping presents. They're only $1 more than paper gift bags, and they can be used as beach bags, lunch bags, purses, etc...after the present is opened rather than just being thrown away! Huzzah!