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
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Day 14: And now for Friday's World Improving Act!
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!
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, May 9, 2011
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!
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!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
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? :)
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? :)
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