How to Make a Difference

Save Your Change and Change Your Community ...

2011-03-28T15:46:00.000-07:00

A Year of Positive Action: Week Fifteen

Save your change and change the world… okay, maybe you won’t save the world but you could sure help your community! If you set aside your loose change each week through the end of the year you will be surprised at how much you accumulate! Then, if you donate this to an organization doing good in your neighborhood you can really make a difference…and you won’t even feel a pinch in your wallet!

Thanks Positivity Nation for this fabulous idea! If everyone contributed just a little, imagine the fabulous resources our community could build ....

Volunteer Mataura

2011-03-20T19:41:00.000-07:00

I need a logo for Volunteer Mataura ... a new volunteer jobs board launching in May both online and offline.

The website will look something like this:

If you'd like to volunteer to design a fab logo get in touch!

How to Build a Culture of Community Involvement

2011-02-28T13:18:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest issues in many small (and not so small) communities is that of getting volunteers for community organisations and events. Often it seems to be the same small group of people doing everything.

Below are a few suggestions to encourage more volunteers to come forward. None of this will result in stampedes of volunteers overnight, but if we think long term about building a community with a culture of active community involvement, they may help.

Set up service awards presented by Council/Community Board/local government - monthly/annually/as appropriate
Volunteer "jobs" board in the library and also in the Messenger
* Make sure that listings say skills required, that training is offered, what skills volunteers will gain etc etc
Volunteer "jobs" expo
Partner with significant employers in the area to have staff community volunteering recognised in some way
Partner with Government agencies/Social Services to have community service/volunteering encouraged
Put a monthly volunteer interview/profile in local newsletters/newspapers (+ sponsored award?)
* Why do you volunteer?
* How did you get involved?
* What do you get out of it?
* What skills have you gained?
* What skills did you need?
* How much time does it take?
Interview as diverse range of people as possible - ie not the usual suspects. Eg The bowls club secretary, Lions club treasurer, a volunteer fire fighter, someone from the Marae Committee, a PTA member, the Rugby club Pres ..

How do you encourage Volunteering in your community?

Lignite Costs the Earth

2010-12-23T18:22:00.000-08:00

Interesting to see that while there is some discussion nationally about Solid Energy's plans down here in Southland, there is still nothing in local media ...

Lignite Costs The Earth
MEDIA RELEASE | Coal Action Network
Thursday 9th December 2010 | For Immediate Use

The Coal Action Network today praised the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) for exposing the high environmental cost of Solid Energy’s plans to exploit South Island lignite reserves in her new report ‘Lignite and climate change: The high cost of low grade coal.’

“For too long, Solid Energy has used greenwash, contradictory statements and snazzy promotional videos to obscure the reality of what they are planning to do in Southland,” said Coal Action Network spokesperson Frances Mountier. “In her report, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has clearly shown how digging up and using South Island lignite would incur a prohibitively high environmental cost.”

“The reality is stark,” continued Ms Mountier. “Solid Energy has managed to lay its paws on 1.5 billion tonnes of lignite reserves. The PCE’s report states that there are over 6 billion tonnes of economically recoverable lignite deposits in Southland and Otago.[i] If Solid Energy, L&M and the other companies exploit all 6 billion tonnes, they will be responsible for releasing 8.89 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere.”[ii]

“It’s not true that New Zealand is too small to make a difference on climate change. We can let these companies go ahead with their plans, and bring the world closer to the tipping point of runaway climate change, or we can stop them in their tracks, and make a major contribution to the stability of the world’s climate.

“We need to keep the coal in the hole,” Ms Mountier concluded. “We need to send the message that the mining companies must abandon their plans to mine and burn Southland lignite.”

What Attaches People to their Communities?

2010-12-09T15:26:00.000-08:00

What makes a community a desirable place to live?

What draws people to stake their future in it?

Are communities with more attached residents better off?

The Knight Soul of the Community project started in 2008 with these questions in mind. Over 3 years they interviewed close to 43,000 people in 26 communities in the United States. The study found that three main qualities attach people to place:

Social offerings, such as entertainment venues and places to meet,
Openness (how welcoming a place is)
Aesthetics (its physical beauty and green spaces).

What is it that draws you to your community?

Southland's Love Affair with Coal

2010-12-06T00:13:00.000-08:00

I am constantly amazed, that with the spectre of a large opencast mining operation setting up on our back doorstep, there has been very little commentary (read none) covering the less savoury aspects of Solid Energy's plans for Southland.

All we seem to hear about is the possibility of new jobs and more money in our area. But there are other issues that should be being covered so that we can all make well informed decisions about our future.

What about the damage to NZ's clean green image - something we use shamelessly to promote our tourism industry and many of our exports? How much is that worth? Will this project have an effect on it?
I have seen no discussion about the effect on our lifestyles here - more people, more traffic and more heavy traffic are all potential consequences of Solid Energy's industrial plans for Southland. Given that our recent Business Expansion & Retention survey showed that many of our business people have chosen to stay in Mataura because of the lifestyle it offers, surely any potential negative changes to that lifestyle should be being discussed publicly?
Do we know how the waste from the mine and processing facilities will be dealt with? How will the mine and the processing of the lignite effect the local environment?
What about discussion over the appropriateness of mining the coal in the first place, given that it is well understood that coal is one of the dirtiest fuels available. Perhaps it is better left in the ground?
Solid Energy is a state owned enterprise. Where is the discussion over whether or not this is even a direction New Zealanders want them to take? Would the money that has been sunk into this project so far have been better spent on putting our country at the forefront of sustainable energy research?

There is so much more to mining in Southland than just jobs and money. Where is the rest of the story?

Mataura Messenger: December

2010-11-24T17:19:00.000-08:00

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Pike River: Family Support Fund

2010-11-23T23:42:00.000-08:00

Its hard to even begin to imagine how the loss of these 29 men at the Pike River Coal Mine is affecting their community and families. My thoughts - and those of the rest of New Zealand are with them.

Please give generously.

2010-11-19T00:41:00.000-08:00

Photo by J Cunningham, Mataura

I love this picture of Mataura!

We had it printed out today (by the very helpful crew at Jim Marshall Sign Advertising in Gore) and enlarged as part of the Mataura Development Trust display for Sunday's Annual Gala Day in Tulloch Park. It looks awesome!!

Project Mataura

2010-10-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

Project Mataura is into its second year as a community and economic development initiative designed to assist turn around Mataura'a Bridge Street's physical appearance, encourage new users for empty buildings, revitalise the Bridge St business district, and assist youth job creating and economic development generally. The initiative is encouraging and empowering local residents to become more involved in discovering and building their community and its economy.

Project Mataura's Community Vision Statement

"In the year 2018, Mataura will be nationally known and respected for the way it has built upon its human, cultural, environmentaland locational assests to create a prosperous, caring, safe, inclusive and proactive community. It will provide a strong sense of civic participation, responsibility and pride; a vibrant and diverse economy and employment base and a healthy quality of life for all residents."

From: Project Mataura Strategy Overview, prepared by Heritage Futures International

The major initiative of the Project Mataura Board is to purchase four of the buildings in Bridge St an hold them in community ownership. Jack Phillips reportedly thinks that private ownership is the key to Mataura's revitalisation - but I feel that private ownership has got our community to where it is now, and that as a community we will be more in control of our future, and more likely to achieve our Vision for Mataura if we, as a community, take ownership of at least some of the commercial buildings in Bridge St.

2010-10-21T01:08:00.000-07:00

I've spent today putting together the November edition of the Mataura Messenger. Its my first attempt at desktop publishing - and I have come to the conclusion that I really need a better program than Microsoft Publisher.

What are your suggestions for an inexpensive, easy-to-use desktop publishing program that will help me to create a beautiful, professional community newspaper?

Sign up here if you would like to receive a copy of the Mataura Messenger each month.

Slacktivism & the Degradation of the Philanthropic Community

2010-09-26T03:06:00.000-07:00

Image by Mindful One via Flickr

"I've written a lot about my feelings on the rise of "slacktivism"--that is, the growing prevalence and acceptance of all the small, simple, easy things people can do to make a difference: Embedded philanthropy, tweeting for donations, virtual volunteering, signing petitions, running races, etc. When I saw this new list of "5 Cool Things You Can Do RIGHT NOW To Make a Difference" (OMG!) I thought I'd fire off another snarky post lambasting this degradation of the philanthropic community." - Jeff Raderstrong 'Change Charity'

There is quite some furore around the internet over the merits (or lack thereof) of "slacktivism" - and I have to admit that I lean quite heavily towards the "I LOVE IT" side of the debate. (I even wrote the list of 'slacktions' that nearly tipped poor Jeff over the edge!)

Far from causing "the degradation of the philanthropic community", I believe these kind of actions give a much broader base to the 'activist' community by engaging people that otherwise might choose to do nothing at all, or due to limited time and/or resources may be unable to more actively support every cause that moves them. In my community I see the value of reducing the barriers to action in order to get people involved in or, at the very least, enthused about the rejuvenation and revitalisation of our town. The easier and more attractive we make it for people to act or to support what we are doing, the more people we have who are prepared to do something.
Sure, we need some people to roll up their sleeves and get actively and passionately involved in solving the problems of the world. And wouldn't it be just wonderful if everyone was prepared to get their hands a little dirty. But, as Randy Paynter of Care2 says "different strokes for different folks".
I believe the real degradation of the philanthropic community lies in judging the efforts of others.

Coal for Breakfast - Gore!

2010-09-16T03:29:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

"A 5:30 start got me to Gore on time for the Chamber of Commerce 'Solid Energy' breakfast. Coal was on the menu, and diesel, urea and all sorts of other energy-rich substances. S.E. man Greg had a slick patter and the Chamber-ites lapped it up, promising as it did, enormous profit and prosperity to them. No mention at all was made of the environment, nor was there reference to the taxpayer and the burden he and she will have to shoulder through the ETS and the subsidies the Government has promised to Solid Energy as a helping hand."

Find out what else Solid Energy spokesperson Greg Visser had to say on Robert Guyton's blog.

Mataura Update

2010-09-01T19:35:00.000-07:00

There's plenty of interesting stuff happening in Mataura at the moment (click on the images to enlarge them for more info):

Greg Visser from Solid Energy NZ Ltd will be speaking at the Eastern Southland Chamber of Commerce "September Breakfast Babble" to give an update on Solid Energy's progress to date in developing options for Southland's considerable lignite deposits
Peter Kenyon will be speaking on 'Revitalising Rural Communities & Small Country Towns' in Mataura on Thursday 9th September 2010. He is a fascinating and passionate speaker on the topic - you can find out more about him at the fantastic Bank of I.D.E.A.S website.

Mataura is looking for a Community Development Coordinator. Its a full time position for a 3 year term. The purpose of the position is to develop Mataura as a positive, healthy, safe environment where people can achieve their best. For the position description and application pack contact Robyn at the Community Connections Centre in Gore cccgore at woosh dot co dot nz.

7 Ways to Finance Your Community

2010-09-01T03:27:00.000-07:00

Image by origamidon via Flickr"I believe the notion of financing ourselves is where we receive the lowest marks as a community - as perhaps it is the most difficult thing to do."

". . . we have allowed our financing to go global, which means our debt and our premiums are traded half way around the world, and we have largely lost our ability to influence them."
- From "Small is Possible: Life in a Local Economy " by Lyle Estill

I love the idea of communities financing themselves. The rise of big global banks and financial institutions has rendered money abstract, mysterious and impersonal.

What could be more real, open and personal than financing each other? Whether its with a local currency, barter, time banking or a community bank . . . there are so many ways that communities can take back some control over their local economy.

Check out these ideas for funding your community:

Start a neighbourhood home maintenance fund to help homeowners keep their homes in tip-top condition
Start a community bank which returns all profit to projects that benefit the community
Encourage local businesses to start a workplace giving programme to fund local charities and non-profit groups
Set up a community cultural foundation that encourages locals to contribute to help develop arts and culture in the community
Establish a local currency
Set up a time bank
Encourage locals to shop locally and support local businesses

5 Reasons to Enjoy Local Food

2010-08-28T02:07:00.000-07:00

Photo by MattSkal

At the heart of our market thinking is the idea that consumers will always act in their economic self interest, and will always procure goods from the lowest cost producer. In our current world, that can leave our local economy in shambles.
. . .
Although we can put up protectionist trade barriers and cry foul over working conditions and lax environmental regulations in our competitors lands, the reality is that this is how we like it. The free hand of the market is working great. It is in our best interest to get cheaper goods, and voila, we are awash with cheap stuff.
- From "Small is Possible: Life in a Local Economy " by Lyle Estill

Surely food must be at the very heart of sustainable living. What we eat, how we produce our food and where we get it from affects ourselves, the environment and our communities. Our food choices affect everything from deforestation in the Amazon, to the accumulation of fast-food litter in our streets, to our individual health and wellbeing. And it isn't just the food itself we need to think about, but how it is transported, packaged, prepared, and sold. When you take all that into consideration, the true cost of your groceries could be well above the price you pay at the supermarket.
Here's just a few reasons why going out of your way to eat local is worth doing:

It tastes better
What could possibly be more delicious than freshly picked fruit and vegetables? When you buy locally you know that your produce hasn't been sitting in a warehouse for months or endured kilometres of travel to reach you.
Its healthier
Food produced locally is fresher, more nutritious, less likely to contain additives and preservatives. Not only that, but you can make sure you are buying food that isn't grown using unhealthy chemicals that also damage the environment.
It helps you stay in touch with the seasons
Believe it or not apples don't grow all year round, strawberries only grow in summer, and leeks are best in the late autumn and early spring (at least where I come from they are!). Eating local food helps keep you in tune with nature's cycles.
It helps you support your local economy
By buying from local producers you keep your money in your community longer. You create local jobs and a stronger sense of community.
It helps you get to know your neighbours
Buying local helps you get to know your neighbours, and your neighbourhood. You get to experience new flavours, meet new people, and see new places.

Does Anyone Know What the Point of Prison Is Anyway?

2010-08-25T19:02:00.001-07:00

Amplify’d from www.good.is

Although private prisons have been sold on economic grounds, a study this year by Arizona's own Corrections Department questions whether such facilities can even deliver in terms of cost savings, reports the Arizona Republic. The state's cost study showed that it's often more expensive to incarcerate inmates in private prisons than in state-run facilities, despite the savings that private operators typically promise.

... what is the service that prisons are supposed to deliver? There isn't much agreement on this question. Most people probably have a vague mix of ideas swimming in their head about what prisons should deliver. Prisons should sequester criminals to protect the public; prisons should provide a deterrent to potential offenders; prisons should rehabilitate; prisons should punish riminals by giving them an unpleasant experience that they "deserve."

How the hell do we know if prisons are delivering with a mandate like that? The aims of prison, as understood by the public and articulated by politicians, are often contradictory, or at least apparently so. Do therapeutic rehabilitation programs compromise the deterrent effect of prison, or make the punitive element too weak? Do punitive policies make it hard to rehabilitate?

Read more at www.good.is

Image via WikipediaSurely it is in the best interests of private prison operators to have more people in prison? It seems to me that their very existence creates a lobby group for both harsher penalties for crime, and for the kind of socially destructive policies that create an environment where criminal activity is more likely to take place.

(See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/984o)

Chasing Smoke Stacks

2010-08-22T04:26:00.000-07:00

Image by shodan

"Chatham Couny's economic development has been characterized by chasing smoke stacks around. And its a shame that we don't tend to catch that many.
. . .
We did manage to land 3M. It is the last plant that 3M will operate in America, and it came here. Whew, I am fortunate enough to live across the road from the 3M lands, and am pleased to report that all it cost us was our night sky and our silence. Now when we weed our gardens we do so against a constant background rumble. The sales of white noise machines must have plummeted at the Jordan Dam Mini Mart after 3M came to town."
- From "Small is Possible: Life in a Local Economy" by Lyle Estill

Where I live, we have - in the last 12 months - been blessed with a 24 hour McDonalds. It has created 60 more jobs, more late night 'disturbances' for the police to attend to, more litter, more traffic, and one more junk food outlet.

My town sits on top of New Zealand's largest lignite deposit. There was great rejoicing when Solid Energy moved in. They have bought a lot of land - and bumped land prices up, increased employment somewhat, and have development plans in the works that could result in a significant employment boom as they dig huge, ugly scars in the landscape to extract one of the dirtiest fuels around.

Surely there have to be better development models for our communities than this?

Miscellany Monday

2010-08-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

I read a heart wrenching, eye opening article by Jemima Khan about the recent disastrous flooding in Pakistan. Did you know that so far the international community has committed itself to funding that equates to only $3 per flood affected person (and there are some 20 million of them!) - as a comparison, the amount per person in Haiti was $495. If you want to know how to help, check out this article for a list of reputable aid agencies.
Do the Green Thing has invented World Tap Water Week - and its THIS WEEK! Lets celebrate the convenience of clean, safe, drinkable water delivered straight to our homes! It really is a privilege - and one that billions of people around the world don't get to enjoy!
And speaking of water .... why not donate a blog post to help fund clean, safe, drinkable water to people in developing countries with the Clean Water Blogivation. Not only could you get the opportunity to take part in a clean water expedition to Africa AND earn a $15,000 donation for your favourite water charity ... but every vote for your post (and every time you vote for a participating post) P and G will donate a day of clean water for someone who needs it!

Have you done something nice this week? Why not share it at the Vivo Bello Meaningful Monday Blog Hop. Check out the very awesome random acts of kindness Angie and her family have been performing - and share your own :)

My oldest daughter read me a story yesterday for the very first time. Its so exciting!! She has been making use of the free trial offered at ABC Reading Eggs during their Great Literacy Challenge and has come forward in great leaps and bounds. Its a really fun learning programme - and it comes in Australian, American and British accents!

100 Ways to Make a Difference

2010-08-11T02:31:00.000-07:00

This is a post by Caroline Ganun and was originally posted on her blog at DevelopmentCrossing.com.

Are you looking to make a difference in your community? Approximately 1.6 million more volunteers served in 2009 than in 2008, making this the largest single-year increase in the number of volunteers since 2003 (annual data collection for volunteering statistics started in 2002). A total of 63.4 million volunteers contributed 8.1 billion hours of service in 2009, equaling an estimated dollar value of approximately $169 billion for their services.

Here are 100 ways to make a difference:
1. Help teach a younger child to read.
2. Help cook and/or serve a meal at a homeless shelter.
3. Gather clothing from your neighbors and donate it to a local shelter.
4. Make “I Care” kits with combs, toothbrushes, shampoo, etc. for the homeless.
5. Pack and hand out food at a local food bank.
6. Adopt a “grand friend” and write them letters and visit them.
7. Visit senior citizens at a nursing home.
8. Rake leaves, shovel snow, clean gutters, or wash windows for a senior citizen.
9. Pick up groceries or medicine for an elderly person.
10. Go for a walk with a senior citizen in your community.
11. Deliver meals to homebound individuals.
12. Hold an afternoon dance for your local nursing home.
13. Teach a senior friend how to use a computer and the Internet.
14. Paint a mural over graffiti.
15. Invite local police officers to present a drug awareness or safety program.
16. Tutor a student that needs help learning English or another subject.
17. Organize a canned goods drive.
18. Clean up a vacant lot or park.
19. Organize a campaign to raise money to purchase and install playground equipment.
20. Plant flowers in public areas that could use some color.
21. Volunteer to help at a Special Olympics event.
22. Set up a buddy system for kids with special needs in your community.
23. Raise money for Braille books for visually impaired people.
24. Read books or the newspaper on tape for visually impaired people.
25. Bring toys to children in the cancer ward of a hospital.
26. Contact your local political representative about key issues.
27. Register people to vote.
28. Organize a public issues forum for your neighborhood.
29. Volunteer at a polling booth the day of an election.
30. Take a friend to the polling booths.
31. Vote.
32. Offer to pass out election materials.
33. Plant a garden or tree where the whole neighborhood can enjoy it.
34. Set up a recycling system for your home.
35. Organize a carpooling campaign in your neighborhood.
36. Adopt an acre of a rainforest.
37. Clean up trash along a river, beach, or in a park.
38. Create a habitat for wildlife.
39. Create a campaign to encourage biking and walking.
40. Test the health of the water in your local lakes, rivers, and streams.
41. Contact your local volunteer center for opportunities to serve.
42. Volunteer at your local animal shelter.
43. Help build a home with Habitat for Humanity.
44. Walk a neighbor's dog or pet sit while they are on vacation.
45. Teach Sunday school.
46. Learn to be a peer counselor.
47. Send a letter to one of America's veterans or overseas soldiers.
48. Volunteer at your local youth center.
49. Participate in a marathon for your favorite charity.
50. Become a candy striper at your local hospital.
51. Mentor a young person.
52. Serve your country by joining AmeriCorps.
53. Become a volunteer firefighter or EMT.
54. Donate books to your local library.
55. Donate clothes to the Salvation Army.
56. Start a book club in your area.
57. Adopt a pet from the Humane Society.
58. Hold a door open for someone.
59. Give up your seat on the bus or train to someone.
60. Donate your old computer to a school.
61. Give blood.
62. Coach a children's sports team.
63. Become an organ donor.
64. Teach a dance class.
65. Participate in Job Shadow Day (February 2).
66. Organize a project for National Youth Service Day (visit www.ysa.org/nysd).
67. Volunteer on a hotline.
68. Meet with local representatives from your area.
69. Don't drink and drive.
70. Listen to others.
71. Write a letter to the editor about an issue you care about.
72. Bring others with you when you volunteer.
73. Shop at local, family owned businesses.
74. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister.
75. Take a historical tour of your community.
76. Write a note to a teacher that had a positive effect on you.
77. Get together with some friends to buy holiday presents for a family at a shelter.
78. Recycle.
79. Drive responsibly.
80. Get CPR and First Aid certification.
81. Don't litter.
82. Shop responsibly.
83. Don't spread or start gossip.
84. Tell someone that you appreciate him/her.
85. Hold a teddy bear drive for foster children, fire victims, etc.
86. Make a care package for an elderly or shut-in person.
87. Teach at an adult literacy center.
88. Sing for residents at a nursing home.
89. Befriend a new student or neighbor.
90. Baby sit.
91. Look for the good in all people.
92. Coordinate a book drive.
93. Donate money to your favorite charity.
94. Make quilts or baby clothes for low-income families.
95. Bake cookies and bring them to your local fire or police station.
96. Donate toys or suitcases to foster children.
97. When visiting someone in a hospital, talk to someone that doesn't have many visitors.
98. Around the holidays, visit the Post Office and answer some letters to Santa.
99. Start a neighborhood welcome committee.
100.Visit www.SERVEnet.org to find volunteer opportunities in your area.
Related articles by Zemanta
10 Ways to get your Hands Dirty (While Volunteering!) (vivanista.com)

Are You Crazy?

2010-08-09T04:09:00.000-07:00

“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.“

Gratitude

2010-08-08T04:03:00.001-07:00

PLEASE READ THIS. by *whatshername13 on deviant ART

Is There Such a This as an Ethical Global Company?

2010-08-08T03:27:00.000-07:00

"I was running a profitable, ethical corporation. I was creating jobs. I was generating wealth. I stabbed no one in the back, saw no need to crush anyone below me, and if business is to be described as a “dog eat dog” activity, I had no occasion to “eat dog”.

My employees tended to stay with me for many years; I won awards for workplace culture, for family friendly environments, and for waste reduction. I had a disciplined program of charitable giving, and donated a percentage of my profits to local charities in the markets where the products were produced."- From "Small is Possible: Life in a Local Economy" by Lyle Estill

Free Trade is widely accepted worldwide as the prevailing economic theory. In a nutshell, the theory says that free trade will increase efficiencies as each country produces what its best at. This will drive down prices for consumers, who will spend more, which will boost business and will lead us ever onwards and upwards to bigger and better things. The wealth of those at the top will 'trickle down' to those at the bottom and poverty will be eliminated.

In reality, while we have increasingly freer trade, its not fairer trade. The wealth is getting concentrated at the top in the hands of the few. Global poverty seems to be becoming more entrenched rather than being a thing of the past.

The economic theory doesn't seem to fit with reality. While economies of scale may be being achieved, local economies, and the communities that relied on them, are being crushed. The ecosystem that we rely on for our very existence as a species is being poisoned by businesses more focused on short term profit than long term sustainablity. Culture is becoming increasingly homogenous around the globe and, as big business gets bigger, Governments are increasingly swayed from doing what's best for their citizens to doing what's best for business.

No matter how much global companies contibrute to local communities, or how well they treat their staff, at the very root of global trade is a theory that totally disregards the needs of human beings, our communities and our planet.

Is it really possible to be a truly ethical global company?

*Image via Wikipedia

The Parable of the Starfish

2010-08-04T04:13:00.000-07:00

Image by TheMarque via Flickr

One morning an elderly man was walking on a nearly deserted beach. He came upon a boy surrounded by thousands and thousands of starfish. As eagerly as he could, the youngster was picking them up and throwing them back into the ocean.

Puzzled, the older man looked at the young boy and asked, "Little boy, what are you doing?"

The youth responded without looking up, "I'm trying to save these starfish, sir."

The old man chuckled aloud, and queried, "Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?"

Holding a starfish in his hand, the boy turned to the man and, gently tossing the starfish into the water, said, "It will make a difference to that one!"

(source unknown)

Make a Difference One Coffee at a Time

2010-08-02T03:29:00.001-07:00

Coffee is the world's most popular beverage - some 400 billion cups are sipped each year according to Socially Conscious Coffee. It stands to reason that by buying sustainably grown, fairtrade coffee you can make a difference - to the environment and to the people at the bottom or the coffee distribution chain - the growers and harvesters.
Here's a few more things you can do to stage your own coffee revolution:

Find out who gets the money you spend on your coffee , check out this coffee calculator.
Check out what Bald Guy Brew is doing to help Rwandan coffee farmers.
Watch the movie 'Black Gold' and tell people about it!

Support an organisation campaigning on Trade Justice issues