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.