tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66486137235119768282023-11-16T16:25:09.054+05:30Watchful eyes, thoughtful mindScience and technology made interesting and easy ... Yes, that's possible! ;)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.comBlogger257125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-26089193998728226232012-06-25T23:47:00.000+05:302012-06-26T00:19:55.402+05:30Review: My greatest teacher<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUtWuSf0fd1IKkrPWXw1JRJmf9O1JmvCmYFPHe4obhZQfNDDhjUioeeVpEpyNe7aH5mXUMiQHpg4Qp1tSH07DOHJRsGgzQ5WJej_82dhB0eKbOcZbQ8ArJsCxNvlDmZ_Bji0qC-uGeC3k/s1600/157214788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUtWuSf0fd1IKkrPWXw1JRJmf9O1JmvCmYFPHe4obhZQfNDDhjUioeeVpEpyNe7aH5mXUMiQHpg4Qp1tSH07DOHJRsGgzQ5WJej_82dhB0eKbOcZbQ8ArJsCxNvlDmZ_Bji0qC-uGeC3k/s320/157214788.JPG" width="199" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hay House documentary series, Tales of everyday magic, shows us that ‘magic’ is possible in everyday life. It doesn’t have to be some momentous event that changes the course of the entire world. It is magic even if it changes the course of one life, your life, my life.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Dr. Wayne Dyer’s ‘My greatest teacher’ is the second documentary in the series that I got a chance to watch. I was thrilled to get the opportunity to not just watch the documentary but also to review it. So here’s my two cents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For most of us, the word ‘teacher’ brings forth the image of someone who taught us in school or college. For those of us on a spiritual journey, it may bring to mind a guru who has guided us along our spiritual path. Many would consider Dr. Wayne Dyer himself one of their greatest teachers. But how many of us would consider our parent(s) to be our greatest teacher(s). And yet, they are. This particular creation by Dr. Dyer tells the viewers of his own story of his longing for his father whom he had never seen in his entire life, except on one occasion. Yet, he was obsessed with finding and getting even with him. He wanted his father to know how it felt to never have a father or never experience the fatherly love his whole life. He felt that his father was the greatest culprit of his life. Although the story is semi-autobiographical, it would make each one of us think. Our story might be the same or might be different. We may have ‘issues’ with our mom and not with dad. However, the documentary compels us to introspect and see whether we are living our life from the place of love or fear. Are revenge and getting even the drivers of our lives?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The end shows the son finding out that his dad’s no more and visits the graveyard where he’s buried. After the wave of anger and loathing for this man he never saw or experienced, comes the clarity in which he sees his dad for who he really was … his greatest teacher. The documentary also brings in the flavor of comparison between the eastern philosophies (which Dr. Dyer has studied in depth, follows in his daily life and propagates to his readers and listeners) and the western way of thinking. Forgiveness is the answer. However, before one can forgive, one needs to acknowledge and feel the nasty feelings one has about a person or a situation. Then, from the depth of fear and anger, springs forth spontaneous clarity and forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Director Michael Goorjian has once again done a fabulous job in showing all shades of emotions in his lead character. The forgiveness that the son feels for his father and the acknowledgement that he was the greatest teacher brings about profound change in his entire demeanor and the way he lives his life. It is truly a tale of magic that can happen every day in everyone’s life.</span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-23833259696280411712011-05-06T16:21:00.000+05:302011-05-06T16:21:23.410+05:30नमन नटवरा, विस्मयकारा<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx75Plk_XCuLBM3AwQ9Ru7F-23Z_Uku2T1lKGrD15QqQ-sV2au4yCzFERkOS6iRDrMSuCCKPtS_CAGyj2P3fftYrZ72EeUvoYwlL41HrAhvM-wMNVzMQlyom8-lZelrMeOL4AnDcqG11YB/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx75Plk_XCuLBM3AwQ9Ru7F-23Z_Uku2T1lKGrD15QqQ-sV2au4yCzFERkOS6iRDrMSuCCKPtS_CAGyj2P3fftYrZ72EeUvoYwlL41HrAhvM-wMNVzMQlyom8-lZelrMeOL4AnDcqG11YB/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";">The golden, ornamented frame that borders the screen
at the beginning makes sure you know that, what is going to unfold on screen
next is going to be grandiose. For the next couple of hours, the movie
Balgandharva more than fulfils this expectation. For someone like me, who has
never seen the <i>Sangeet Naatak</i> era in Maharashtra, the movie definitely
has a charm of its own. Although its not nostalgia, because I’ve never lived in
those times, it makes me want to go back there. The movie succeeds in showcasing
not just the life but also the times of Naaraayan Shreepaad Raajhans a.k.a.
Baalgandharva.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";">The movie depicts the characters, the culture and the
historic details extremely authentically. The director and the movie team hasn’t
fallen prey to over-dramatising any part of the script. Finding faces that
match the real persons of the time is never an easy job but it has been
executed with perfection in case of this movie. Right from Nitin Chandrakant
Desai himself playing Lokmaanya Tilak to Prachi Mhatre as Gauhar bai, everyone
seems to be just cut out for the role. I have seen some of the characters only
in photos or portraits but my mother has seen many of them in real life when
she was a kid. According to her, there could be no better Raam Ganesh Gadkari
than Manoj Kolhatkar and Ajay Purkar as Bhaaskar bua Bakhle is just perfect!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";">Of course, the highlight of the movie is Subodh Bhave
in the role of Baalgandharva. Or should I say the highlight is his <i>stree
party</i> get up, his costumes and his body language. I have never seen a
transvestite so beautiful! It may be that the make up and camera techniques have
played a part in it but for me, Subodh actually looks much more womanly than
any <i>stree party</i> ever, even Baalgandharva himself. However, credit goes
to the director in maintaining the balance between the on-stage, female
Baalgandharva and the off-stage, masculine Naaraayan. Subodh Bhave has done a
great job of limiting the femininity to the scenes in which he is on stage, acting
and then reverting to male behavior in others. There’s a scene where Naaraayan
is seen with his wife in a <i>stree party</i> costume because his wife insists
on seeing him wearing one. This scene could easily have become a weird romantic
scene with a lesbian-esque quality to it. But it doesn’t and that’s where the
expertise of Ravindra Jadhav as director and Subodh Bhave as actor, lie.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";">One complaint I had about Ravindra Jadhav’s previous
masterpiece, Natrang, was that it claimed to show authentic <i>Laavani</i>
performances which was simply not the case. The songs were good but the
choreography was no where near real <i>Laavani</i> performance. Younger generation
that hasn’t seen the real <i>Laavani</i> has come to think of the
Natrang-version as the real stuff. However, in case of Balgandharva, the team
has maintained the authenticity of the music, lyrics, stage performance and <span> </span>costumes </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";">from</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";"> the old <i>Pada</i></span><span lang="MR" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";"> (पदं)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";">. Hence, it would be a renaissance for the <i>Naatya
Sangeet</i> if the music of this movie goes on to become popular with the
younger crowd.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";">Ravindra Jadhav has also done a great job at only
subtly hinting at a controversial aspect of Balgandharva’s life which was his
conversion to Islam. For those who do not know his life and times, this might
not even figure as what is being shown. After his involvement with Gauhar bai,
it is said, that he changed his religion. The mix qawwali-bhajan number,
Parvardigaar, does a great job of hinting at this possibility extremely subtly.
It is not made into an obvious part of the script, thus keeping the focus on
Baalgandharva as a performer rather than on his personal life.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";">All in all, the movie is a great masterpiece, very apt
as a tribute to probably the greatest performer on Marathi stage, Naaraayan
Shreepaad Raajhans a.k.a. Baalgandharva.</span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-33897715226657525212011-03-30T11:25:00.001+05:302011-03-30T11:40:58.275+05:30Ind vs Pak today!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ6ZjNxyB0HEhTbz5X6nhGVdVYwqJyXeSzjSqvmVL5UoEICd8NoRrv0wxpz7tkjTbWTZsCCTG_WQSkgo3-nHQtiirzhF8Au5cAOQSpqYf6pOqthaSft9E6BY0yR3-NyLZyS6aPpOdshcq/s1600/India-Vs-Pakistan-World-Cup-2011-Match.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ6ZjNxyB0HEhTbz5X6nhGVdVYwqJyXeSzjSqvmVL5UoEICd8NoRrv0wxpz7tkjTbWTZsCCTG_WQSkgo3-nHQtiirzhF8Au5cAOQSpqYf6pOqthaSft9E6BY0yR3-NyLZyS6aPpOdshcq/s1600/India-Vs-Pakistan-World-Cup-2011-Match.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";">I’ve been
restraining myself from writing anything about the touchy topic of the ICC
Cricket World Cup for last few days. I know that most of the people in this
world have a hard time respecting other people’s opinions if they don’t match
up with their own. They sincerely try to ‘convert’ the others by arguing to the
point where the other gives in and accepts their own opinion. I know that
everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Opinions are just that, they can’t be
right or wrong. So let me say at the outset that whatever your opinions are
about what I’m going to write today, I completely respect them as long as they’re
your own and you stand for them!</span></div>
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</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";">That said, let me
explain the title of this post. It is definitely going to be about today’s
match between India and Pakistan but it is going to be about much more. I’m
using this title as a good marketing gimmick to attract maximum readers because
that’s what the world is about these days, marketing gimmicks. The post is
going to have a lot more questions in it than answers. Because it is going to
mirror what’s been going out in my mind in last few days. I haven’t been
following the media too much (thank God?) but FB does a perfectly good job at
showing us what goes on in the world and in people’s minds. Also, since my
father’s closely involved in the preparations for the final on Wankhede, unfortunately,
I’m privy to a bit more info than others regarding the same. All this input has
triggered many questions, some anxiety and a bit of sadness in me today. So I felt
the need to express myself and hence the end of self-imposed moratorium. For the
most part, I’m writing this post for my own sake and so, if the marketing
gimmick of the attractive title fails to get this post any readers, so be it! Enough
said, to the main points now.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";">Today there’s a
match between India and Pakistan. Yes, it is a match. It is not THE match, a
war, a jihad, a question of anyone’s life and death, or at least it should not
be, in my opinion. Of course, the media has made sure it is made to feel like
all of the above and we, the people, are more than happy to feel so. Every time
there is a cricket match between these 2 countries, what I call ‘the negative definition
patriotism’ of Indians (and may be Pakistanis, I don’t know) pours forth with
all the gusto. Let me explain the term. It means “Its not that we love our
country or anything, but we sure hate those bastards to the core!” In last few
days, I’ve seen all the wiseass, cynical comments about the Pakistan team on
FB, people calling our neighbours Fuckistan and all that jazz! Today I saw that
MaNaSe (it’s a political party in Maharashtra) has built a podium in a street
and is going to have a huge screen put up to show the match live in the street.
Yes, I know this is done in many other countries, especially for
football/soccer matches. What I find objectionable is, why wasn’t this done for
all the matches or at least all the matches India played? Aren’t we ourselves
giving the so called ‘most hated country’ a special status by doing this? This is
sort of like one of the aspects of feminism to me. By imitating the haircuts
and attires of men, aren’t women increasing their importance and implying they
are imitable? How is that supposed to work to boost women’s self-esteem? Similarly,
if we hate Pakistan so much, why do we want to watch them on big screen? “Well,
dummy, because we want to watch India crush them!” I hear you say. But then we
didn’t have so much enthusiasm in seeing any other country being crushed? Notice
that the enthusiasm, in this case, is about watching Pakistan lose than watching
India win! You know that’s true! That’s what I call ‘the negative definition of
patriotism’.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";">So that was about
the cricket. Now let me come to the social aspect. You may or may not know how
many security personnel of all sorts have been arriving in Mumbai in last few
days. There’s the local police, the RAF (Rapid Action Force) and thousands of
them. There are 184 CCTVs installed. There are security drills going on every
day. The personnel concerned with managing the event, the ground staff, the
officials, everyone got their fingerprints taken and photos of their eyes
(irises) taken yesterday. They’re being issued an ID card only after that. They
are to arrive at MCA the day before and stay their overnight for security
purpose. So no coming to the venue on the day of the match for those who have
access to ‘sensitive’ areas. It feels like a freakin’ warzone! Or an emergency!
Or at least, it definitely doesn’t feel like a sporting event! What kind of a
city, country and world are we living in? We need thousands of army men so that
we can enjoy (?) a game? Of course, I’m sure we will enjoy it and call it the
invincible spirit of Mumbai. Does Mumbai even have any spirit left in her? Do
we have any spirits and sensitivity left in us? Do I even want to go to
Wankhede through this entire circus to watch the match?</span></div>
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</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";">May be India will
win the World Cup, Indians will get ever more involved in Cricket, the sponsors
will mint ever more money via these ever more addicted consumers, and we will
get ever more distracted from things that are called life. Because cricket is
our life, we bleed blue and we’re proud of it!</span></div>
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</div>
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif";"></span></b><span lang="EN-US"></span>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-15887857590305935202010-10-06T10:00:00.002+05:302010-10-09T14:33:32.415+05:30Bring Back the Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmmgPbc0EgLSa2E0eWxztHL90lcAOHfDPcW1FB_t0NtIrla7sRtABk4ZnvdvFmVAF7-ZWAojagInYQA9g5h64OCC9AEQ-bPn7M0yzmf_80xsP3yuPSso2ItgVEKO60wRol6we4u9t_Zn6/s1600/Em4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmmgPbc0EgLSa2E0eWxztHL90lcAOHfDPcW1FB_t0NtIrla7sRtABk4ZnvdvFmVAF7-ZWAojagInYQA9g5h64OCC9AEQ-bPn7M0yzmf_80xsP3yuPSso2ItgVEKO60wRol6we4u9t_Zn6/s200/Em4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="intro_txt" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>The guest post below has been generously contributed by <a href="http://www.eco-mentor.com/node/1">Eco-learning Legacies</a>. Founder Candia Lea Cole outlines the mission as follows, “As an eco-visionary, I envision a future on earth in which all people
are conscious of their role in protecting and sustaining the living
ecology of people and the planet and they wholeheartedly embrace the
wisdom for everyday living and learning rituals that honor their innate
eco-intelligence.” Their company is currently in a contest for the best idea to help humanity. Votes can be received up until October 17th. Here's a link to the voting page: <a href="http://www.bestideaforhumanity.com/register.cfm" target="_blank">http://www.bestideaforhumanity.com/register.cfm</a></b></i></div>
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Lately, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the
probability that my children, and my children’s children, will be here long
after me. I’ve been trying to envision how the earth will function in another
20, 30 or 40 years, and whether or not the branches extending from my family
tree will be green and thriving. </div>
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To be perfectly honest, I have my moments of
doubt. I am tempted at times to indulge in the cynicism of our age. Yet, just
as the doubters and critics are about take over, I realize that it is up to me
to determine how I will survive amidst the terror of environmental waste,
pollution, and destruction. It is up to me to find strength. It is up to me to
find resolve. It is up to me to see the hidden blessing that my situation is
bringing me. </div>
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In today’s world, millions of us are feeling the
pain of being imprisoned by our current reality upon earth, where the cries of
hunger can be heard day or night around the globe, and the ice caps are
melting, and the rainforest is burning to the ground.</div>
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It is hard to know where to step next, what to do
next, and how to think about our place and purpose in the grand scheme of life.
Yet what is becoming increasingly clear to me and others, in the face of this
chaos, is that each of us needs to try and remain calm. We just need to take a
deep breath.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknMbp073YR7yzBhuOZn6NCHH2cmuDOmi8yuWUNtna_WiM-GDkeKJwMPw57GM6RX9nAen_5MMZms5rcsVD3SBa0ofVQcV8DHPrZR2sn4UhR92iVePsrwFchMHvCL_768Crxyys9zgWxaf5/s1600/Em3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknMbp073YR7yzBhuOZn6NCHH2cmuDOmi8yuWUNtna_WiM-GDkeKJwMPw57GM6RX9nAen_5MMZms5rcsVD3SBa0ofVQcV8DHPrZR2sn4UhR92iVePsrwFchMHvCL_768Crxyys9zgWxaf5/s200/Em3.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>
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As human beings, we are equipped to handle even
the direst emergencies in our lives. As long as we have faith in each other and
our surroundings, have the loving intention to live well and give ourselves
permission to reclaim the innate eco-intelligence we were born with that guides
us to live well. The truth we must all come to terms with is that we may never
live on a planet that is entirely free of problems and dangers. What is
essential is to not create any more problems, but try to fix the ones that
already exist by living in an eco-intelligent manner.</div>
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<b>Imperfect
Circumstances are Perfect for Our Learning and Growth </b></div>
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There are hundreds of circumstances on Earth
right now that seem less-than-desirable, but actually are perfect circumstances
from which we can all learn about our place and function in life. These perfect
circumstances represent one of the rarest opportunities in our history as a
human species for our growth and maturation. </div>
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They represent one of the greatest opportunities that
our bodies, minds, and souls will ever know for learning about how to function
in greater harmony and balance with the rest of life. It also presents the need
of each and every person to shift their everyday beliefs, actions and choices
in the world, to support an ecology of personal and planetary well-being,
rather than an ecology of disease. In essence, our perfect circumstances on
earth today present us with an opportunity for healing and an opportunity to
“bring back” the earth that we depend upon for our life and survival. </div>
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Though I realize that some people on earth are
set in their belief that our long-term destructive relationship with the earth cannot
be healed, I cannot agree with them. The reason for this is that I have seen and
experienced the power of healing in my own life. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0ShW6SH-9lPVX_FsoKKere8DDnnsiL-hxrqO_8tzvHK85W3Yzb89WaA2ZLmGGR1q18ECvBZLzRn-ylHUYCSgpaD1tswS1olIWMSCSxRIcU3R9ScCstMiCKdbOdEpC6NFhJehyIMuzR45/s1600/Em1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0ShW6SH-9lPVX_FsoKKere8DDnnsiL-hxrqO_8tzvHK85W3Yzb89WaA2ZLmGGR1q18ECvBZLzRn-ylHUYCSgpaD1tswS1olIWMSCSxRIcU3R9ScCstMiCKdbOdEpC6NFhJehyIMuzR45/s200/Em1.jpg" width="158" /></a></div>
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If you’re saying to yourself, “What exactly is
the power of healing?” I can help you to understand what I mean. The power of
healing is the power to “live whole.” It is the power to set right the things that
have become lost, injured, or unsettled in the course of life. It is the power
to focus our energies in a direction that does not dissipate our vital life
force. It is the power to avoid the kinds of internal and external conflicts
that hurt our health and separate us from our true spiritual natures.</div>
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Ultimately, HEALING is about exercising the
ability and willingness to live connected to the greater whole of life and to
cultivate the kind of healthy relationships with the earth. It is about
honoring our innate potential for integrity through eco-intelligence.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b>Eco-Intelligence
Empowers us to Live Well in Today’s Eco-Challenged Times </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
In today’s eco-challenged times, it is our
ECO-INTELLIGENCE that I believe will empower us to live well, because it is based
on the common-sense idea that we are part of a living whole and we are meant to
live in balance and harmony with the whole. Our eco-intelligence represents the
intuition about “why we are here” on earth, and it validates our need to be in
a relationship with life! When we are guided by our eco-intelligence, we stop
believing the lie that there is separation between ourselves, each other, and
all living things. We start to remember that what we do and what we think
affects all life. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEKb-fYJa7ontQojkyZcIdZvBrFckxR8nY_HvdsSHApTrU7nm16MwA-Ub5F4EicrK2dGe1agYT3sp3aFnpDFrlO8TRH2owcYUU1BYrpb6Jh1OlUXrCwsex8ipjpiuAQivt1XTBjX3gL2X/s1600/Em2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEKb-fYJa7ontQojkyZcIdZvBrFckxR8nY_HvdsSHApTrU7nm16MwA-Ub5F4EicrK2dGe1agYT3sp3aFnpDFrlO8TRH2owcYUU1BYrpb6Jh1OlUXrCwsex8ipjpiuAQivt1XTBjX3gL2X/s200/Em2.jpg" width="185" /></a></div>
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When we are guided by our eco-intelligence to
live well in the world, we live with a clear sense of what it means to be
connected to the earth. We live guided by a clear sense of what it means to be
connected to global continents, nations, and cities, as well as people of different
races and religions. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We live with a clear sense that we are not just bodies
walking the planet, but bodies who share a connection with our minds, emotions,
and spirits. By connecting with our innate eco-intelligence, we become aware of
the fact that life is supported by the exchange and flow of positive energy.
Energy is the key to health and the key to life! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-7202037941788019292010-09-21T10:00:00.001+05:302010-09-21T10:00:01.249+05:30Peace Day 2010<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://peaceinourlifetime.org/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtGcQyU40fTBrkfjHU0zhyphenhyphenF16p3uvapQvV4B2HbMAhXf2fZMvoHvkw3dA6TyUUM3xAjgNW2Sx4nI4ubcNwoOorP_qlVjhKLm7sGOQci5Ic5LKEKiDBdod15XKKQRXA8zV2j7bfhSXrkBa/s320/yourcertificate.jpg" /></a></div>
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In the great Indian epic of Mahaabhaarat one of the main characters, Karna, is an epitome of generous donor or a 'giver'. It is said in the epic that Karna possessed a divinely gifted protective layer on his body and pair of ear-wear that made him invincible. In one of the incidences in the epic he ends up giving away these items to a stranger, sherely out of his generosity, eventhough it meant endangering his own life. Although not as selflessly generous as Karna, all of us have done our bit of donating in cash or kind for some cause or the other in our lives. And all of us would agree that there is definitely some kind of innate joy in the process of giving without expecting anything in return. There is a very different kind of satisfaction to know your contribution is going to help another human(s) to lead a better life.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rXK3v3j1VqSUWPfBlwJueGvHR517OLk_DHPnvmhQ5JRBPCScePa9foY14ls0ZGUTzreh3ok3JOLM-h04m2UANv6w0NzOYvZ7L_6z0rkyc_b4UZYpMWDAKiRJJcxT-Juj-dHwMkV9e3Wl/s1600/2010_09_16.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rXK3v3j1VqSUWPfBlwJueGvHR517OLk_DHPnvmhQ5JRBPCScePa9foY14ls0ZGUTzreh3ok3JOLM-h04m2UANv6w0NzOYvZ7L_6z0rkyc_b4UZYpMWDAKiRJJcxT-Juj-dHwMkV9e3Wl/s200/2010_09_16.gif" width="199" /></a></div>
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Based on and appealing to the same ideology a 'Joy of Giving Week' (<a href="http://joyofgivingweek.ning.com/">JGW</a>) was started in India in 2009. Its Wikipedia page describes it as a 'festival of philanthrophy'. Starting
on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, containing October 2 within, this time frame is chosen to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on 2<span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span> October. This year it falls within Sept 26 and Oct 2. The Week is temporarily hosted at GiveIndia till it reaches
critical mass, but several organisations and people including
<a href="http://www.goonj.org/">Goonj</a>, <a href="http://www.schoolriverside.com/">Riverside School</a>, <a href="http://www.jammag.com/">JAM</a>, ISB, <a href="http://abouttoofles.blogspot.com/">Toofles</a>, the various Media
Houses of India, celebrities and individuals have come together to
make it possible. The Joy of Giving Week is 100% volunteer driven and co-ordinated. City level volunteers anchor different
"verticals"- corporates, schools, colleges, media, celebrities,
NGOs and others, engaging with them and helping them plan, execute
and participate in "giving events". One can <a href="http://joyofgivingweek.ning.com/page/register-1">register</a> on their Ning page in order to host an event or to volunteer. You can also find out what events are taking place in which city and what category (corporate, school, NGO etc.) that event falls into. They also update their blog regularly with new information about JGW.</div>
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So go check out their Ning page and (if you're in India) see how you can experience the joy of giving yourself or (if you're outside India) get inspired to do something similar that will make this world a more joyful place! I would like to end this post with an African proverb, <b><i>"If you think you're too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito in it."</i></b></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-78191252625801116302010-09-14T10:00:00.002+05:302010-09-14T10:00:00.830+05:30TED Tuesday: I'm old! ... Really?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_917955203"></span>Rachel Sussman<span id="goog_917955204"></span></a> shows photographs of the world's oldest continuously
living organisms -- from 2,000-year-old brain coral off Tobago's coast
to an "underground forest" in South Africa that has lived since before
the dawn of agriculture.</div>
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Literacy: Ability to read and write [Latin <i>littera</i> = letter]</div>
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Numeracy: Skill with numbers and mathematics [Latin <i>numerus</i> = number]<br />
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<i><b>Wehn yuo cnnaot raed, noe hruendd ftory ccrhaetars mean noinhtg. Hlep ptoorme goalbl latceriy: </b></i><br />
<i><b>http://t.co/SKrsiq4 </b></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenLZWNHJ7ey0AwBk01iDXGt42GiwKGpip9HB3jAAQ3DYFq0iM9cfmFyHQUhLR8Ijz46wWu58WhFA_Hemq4ggg0dI9cU7QkCHutTubq0AQH45UyzZJAlUKYMxab82ra5zxpdDSu-Br7Lif/s1600/Jakrta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenLZWNHJ7ey0AwBk01iDXGt42GiwKGpip9HB3jAAQ3DYFq0iM9cfmFyHQUhLR8Ijz46wWu58WhFA_Hemq4ggg0dI9cU7QkCHutTubq0AQH45UyzZJAlUKYMxab82ra5zxpdDSu-Br7Lif/s320/Jakrta.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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[Image source: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">MSN News</a>] <br />
Many of us who are able to access internet and read blog posts like this one usually come from the section of the society that ensures our children are brought up in a safe environment and are not exposed to many outrageously dangerous circumstances. However not many children from developing countries around the world are as lucky. This fact is sometimes made too clear for comfort to us by <a href="http://green.in.msn.com/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=4226491&page=1">news reports like the one</a> I came across on MSN news yesterday. The images are very telling.</div>
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What surprised me a bit was that only 2 out of the 12 images were from India, my own country which is still considered developing, while most were from far east Asian and African countries. Many a time we are desensitised to the problems of people outside of our country by constant bombardment of the media reports of how badly our own country is doing. I watched image after image of kids from Manila, Kenya and so on playing in extremely polluted environs which they had improvised so ingeniously into a playground. Lot of thoughts came into my mind as I did so.</div>
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First one was more of a realization than mere thought. My reaction to pictures from the Indian subcontinent and Africa and those from around Asia was very different. I was sort of assuming that African, Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi kids <i>would be</i> growing up and playing in such horribly detrimental circumstances. But when it came to pictures from Asian countries like Manila, Viet nam and Jakarta, my first reaction was that of astonishment. For some reason I never imagined that the situation might be worse than that on Indian subcontinent. Then gradually as that fact sunk in the second thought came to the fore. The importance of how a country or its people are represented in media. I know that this is not particularly a “eureka” thought. But I was just made to realise it once again. Countries from Africa and the Indian subcontinent (probably except India) are more often than not spotlighted for their poverty in all senses. Although the poverty and lack in India is also highlighted many a times in the media there are times when it is in the news for its scientific and technological advancements as well. On the other hand, Asian countries are more often than not portrayed as either technological giants (Japan, Korea etc.) or extremely beautiful tourist destinations (Thailand, Malaysia and the like). So when one sees images like those in this MSN news report the initial reaction is that of surprise.</div>
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Of course the main aim behind sharing these images with you is to make you aware of what legacy the previous and current generation of human beings has left for their descendants. It’s not just the planet and the fellow Earthlings that we have affected but our own selves and our offspring. I sincerely hope these images haunt you at least for some days to come ... and may be inspire you to do something about it.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-85484446017524373912010-07-27T10:00:00.001+05:302010-07-27T10:00:00.432+05:30TED Tuesday: Ocean's glory and horrorPhotographer <a href="http://www.ted.com/speakers/brian_skerry.html">Brian Skerry</a> shoots life above and below the waves -- as he puts it, both the horror and the magic of the ocean. Sharing amazing, intimate shots of undersea creatures, he shows how powerful images can help make change. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCinG1_cvOEWu0idBZdh9DB3PVTFiQG1tiG7PFgLb11JsZ1giStngE828WovxjYqiQI29N34-ObJWaslDg7iTGeBLwHNJheeqOXWYT9Qq3VD2ZMohxzgiG0Gv5U7YjCj_Xf6Hm-vpWdI05/s1600/2010_07_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCinG1_cvOEWu0idBZdh9DB3PVTFiQG1tiG7PFgLb11JsZ1giStngE828WovxjYqiQI29N34-ObJWaslDg7iTGeBLwHNJheeqOXWYT9Qq3VD2ZMohxzgiG0Gv5U7YjCj_Xf6Hm-vpWdI05/s320/2010_07_23.jpg" /></a></div>
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[Image source: <a href="http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/201007076478/Entertainment/syria-scholar-composes-music-from-archaeological-ugaritic-cuneiform-tablet.html">Global Arab Network</a>]</div>
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Usually when one thinks of or talks about archaeological discovery the ideas that often come to mind are tombs, graves, foundations of houses, grain houses and temples, roads built, rituals written and pottery shards broken. How many times does one think of musical compositions or instructions for assembling and playing an instrument? Very rarely if not not at all.</div>
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In Syria, a musical scholar has done <a href="http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/201007076478/Entertainment/syria-scholar-composes-music-from-archaeological-ugaritic-cuneiform-tablet.html">something unusual</a>. Ziad Ajjan has composed eight poetry and musical pieces from the musical archaeological cuneiform tablet known as "Hymn of Supplication". This tablet dating back to 1400 BC was discovered in the ancient town of Ugarit, about 260 kilometers north of Damascus, in the early 20th century. The article reporting this rare act of musical composition tells us, </div>
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<em>The tablet contains a complete hymn, both words and music, in addition to detailed performance instructions for a singer accompanied by a harpist as well as instructions on how to tune the harp.</em></div>
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I was not sure if and where I could find the audios of this music tracks. So I Googled "Syria ugarit music" and lo and behold! I actually found something similar but even more interesting. Looks like composer <a href="http://www.malekjandali.com/">Malek Jandali</a> has beaten Ziad Ajjan to it (assuming that Ajjan's composition is a 2010 feat). He has released an album in 2009 named <a href="http://www.malekjandali.com/modules/discography/discography.php">Echoes from Ugarit</a> which consists of 8 tracks based on the oldest music notation in the world which was discovered in Ugarit dating back to 3400 B.C. I listened to a couple of samples of Malek's compositions. The fact that they were played on a piano with accompaniment of other modern instruments known to us made them sound not-so-mysterious as I had hoped music about 5400 years ago would sound. But may be if I could listen to these notes on the original instruments that played it or in the voice of original singers that sang it I might have a different experience. Hhmmm ... time machine, anyone?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-10411570821791745842010-07-11T15:42:00.001+05:302010-09-07T17:33:50.038+05:30Story of ... more stuff<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Its been almost a year since I wrote a blog post about a wonderful initiative started by Annie Leonard called ‘<a href="http://www.storyofstuff.org/index.php">The Story of Stuff project</a>’. I’m sure many of you are familiar with these names by now but may be many of you still aren’t. So I thought of taking this opportunity of writing a follow up post about this project today. A lot has happened since the last post and Annie has managed to really expand her little story into something fairly widespread and influential.</div>
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‘The story of stuff’ (SoS for short, released Dec 2007) was a 20 minute, well-researched and well-presented documentary that showed us the real picture behind our consumerist lifestyle and how it eventually affects us, or more correctly, our children and grandchildren. As the name suggests, it is the story about all the ‘stuff’ that we buy, use and throw away from its cradle to its grave. I will not go into its details here as I have already done so in my earlier post and I strongly recommend you <a href="http://www.watchful-eyes-thoughtful-mind.info/2009/04/sos-distress-call-with-difference.html">read that post</a>. After SoS got an overwhelmingly positive response from the people world over Annie decided to expand on her more than 10 years worth of research.</div>
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To the day she has written a book with the same title as her first documentary SoS and has produced 2 more hard-hitting documentaries, <i><b>Story of bottled water</b></i> and <i><b>Story of Cap-n-Trade</b></i>. To further enlighten us of our irresponsible behaviour and of our responsibilities she’s coming up with <b><i>Story of cosmetics</i></b> in July 2010 and <b><i>Story of electronics</i></b> in Fall 2010. Even though all these documentaries focus mainly on trends and statistics in the US I believe they’re globally applicable as every country is trying to imitate US in their lifestyle. Also it does feature the third world countries as they’re the ones that suffer from the waste produced by materialistic living in the developed countries and their own. So it is a must watch for everyone. And the best part about all these wonderfully informative and thought-provoking documentaries is that they’re all <b><i>available online for free</i></b> for everyone to watch! However I will go ahead and say that they’re definitely worth buying the DVDs so you can have them in your homes to show others and educate them.</div>
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‘<a href="http://storyofstuff.org/bottledwater/">The story of bottled water</a>’ (released March 2010) tells us how the whole world has been fooled into thinking the tap water is not good for drinking and that the bottled water is a better option. It is a great example of <b><i>‘manufactured demand’</i></b>, one of the bigger devils in our consumerist culture. It turns out that not only all bottled water isn't of better quality than tap water but its also much more expensive, tastes worse and its manufacture is one of environmentally most damaging processes. Hardly any of the bottled water comes from those pristine mountains and waterfalls that the labels show. Most of it (if not all) is just plain old filtered tap water. Recycling of those bottles is another scam that just throws your won garbage into someone else’s backyard. Annie found out that the plastic bottles thrown in recycle bins in the US ended up in huge mountains of them in India only to be ‘downcycled’ into some other product that will later end up in landfill anyway. Another interesting fact that the documentary brings forth is the reason why the local water gets polluted in the first place. It is the industries like the bottle water manufacture that are the culprit.</div>
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‘<a href="http://storyofstuff.com/capandtrade/">The story of Cap-n-Trade</a>’ (released Dec 2009) is meant specifically to explain what the so called solution for climate change involves. This documentary was made around the time of the much hyped COP15 summit. I think it does a good job at explaining in layman terms what Cap-n-Trade means, not just on the paper but for the common folk around the globe and for the capitalists and industrialists. It becomes very clear why this is being touted as the best solution to the climate change when it is not. As usual the rich people who govern all the big businesses in the world have much at stake if the real measures are taken. Stopping the use of fossil fuel and finding alternatives is the only way to reduce the ppm of CO<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span> in the atmosphere <b><i>from current 387ppm to the required, safe 350ppm</i></b>. However Cap-n-Trade is being used as a mere quick-fix distraction from these real, long term solutions. As with anything else in consumer goods and services the devil is in the details in this case as well. Annie explains the 3 biggest ones in her documentary. A similar system has already been employed and has failed in the EU. So why would we want to think it will work anywhere else in the world?</div>
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The upcoming ‘<a href="http://storyofstuff.org/cosmetics/">story of cosmetics</a>’ looks at how we’re never given a choice of buying safe products as everything that is on the supermarket shelves is unsafe. And we as consumers are never given any say in the decision of what should go on these shelves. I will simply copy and paste what the website itself says about ‘<a href="http://storyofstuff.org/electronics.php">The story of electronics</a>’. <i></i><br />
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A few documentaries that open our eyes to our own devils but don’t just do the finger pointing. They also give some solutions. And mainly, they show us how <b><i>we all are part of the problem AND of the solution</i></b>.</div>
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<i>The Story of Electronics (working title), expected in Fall 2010, employs the Story of Stuff style to explore the high-tech revolution’s collateral damage—6 billion tons of e-waste and counting, poisoned workers and a public left holding the bill. Host Annie Leonard takes viewers from the mines and factories where our gadgets begin to the horrific backyard recycling shops in China where many end up. The film concludes with a call for a green ‘race to the top’ where designers compete to make long-lasting, toxic-free products that are fully and easily recyclable.</i></div>
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A few documentaries that open our eyes to our own devils but don’t just do the finger pointing. They also give some solutions. And mainly, they show us how <b><i>we all are part of the problem AND of the solution</i></b>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-29976412106678283072010-05-25T16:05:00.000+05:302010-05-25T16:05:54.506+05:30TED Tuesday: We need educational revolution!<object height="405" width="660"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/r9LelXa3U_I&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1">
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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/r9LelXa3U_I&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="660" height="405"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-88567356580785959122010-05-05T07:27:00.001+05:302010-05-05T07:28:41.729+05:30Making 'Abundant Water' a reality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hZvVorB4rtUKhKMz2ifgIM8fzv2aa7QmoF7sbesmBboGh45t6WGkFFTi_aTu1UMT3Kbl4PREJCFETxmrO36rjVOZ2YeivfUqjhhVknnbkY9IBWN9zPdqri8sz4tWmpCEiI67ABTO_neI/s1600/AW1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hZvVorB4rtUKhKMz2ifgIM8fzv2aa7QmoF7sbesmBboGh45t6WGkFFTi_aTu1UMT3Kbl4PREJCFETxmrO36rjVOZ2YeivfUqjhhVknnbkY9IBWN9zPdqri8sz4tWmpCEiI67ABTO_neI/s200/AW1.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div>
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Participating in an online camp<img border="0" height="0" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNzIxOTIzMzU3NjImcHQ9MTI3MjE5MjM2MTI4NSZwPTEwMjI2MSZkPSZnPTEmbz1jOGQxMGExODFmYTU*MjZmYTc5/ZjkzYmMzOGZjODkxZiZvZj*w.gif" style="height: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 0px;" width="0" />aign for Earth Day 40 that was observed on 22nd April, I have met quite a few people who are doing some great work in underprevileged communities for their betterment. One such mother-son duo is Barbara and Sunny Forsyth. Sunny has started <a href="http://www.abundantwater.org/">Abundant Water</a>, a sustainable project to create water filters in Laos. The project involves training the locals, the Lao people, to manufacture simple ceramic water filters to help them provide themselves potable water. After getting to know their work, I felt compelled to interview Sunny and share the brilliant project with my readers. Please click on the link below to listen to the interview.</div>
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<a href="http://www.supload.com/listen?s=6Vd0gj">Abundant Water Interview</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEEezc28X4u4NCsKRnNpBO2dlRZROZKPxjeXjpTNahfppGFBwWhOJqVTqKxolRiKqjOt6n2blXsxtxdPZjCPbtvAf9DpZGOIasbAWJiQTfKsUPgWOcK5RoX8GPQXVSvR5h76eLahtJYIu/s1600/AW2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEEezc28X4u4NCsKRnNpBO2dlRZROZKPxjeXjpTNahfppGFBwWhOJqVTqKxolRiKqjOt6n2blXsxtxdPZjCPbtvAf9DpZGOIasbAWJiQTfKsUPgWOcK5RoX8GPQXVSvR5h76eLahtJYIu/s200/AW2.jpg" tt="true" width="150" /></a></div>
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Babs Forsyth, Sunny's mother, looks after the social media aspect of this project and she's someone who has effectively used various social media platforms to spread the word about Abundant Water. I asked Babs, how has social media helped AW get the word out?</div>
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Her answer to my question was:</div>
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<em>1 year ago I started </em><a href="http://twitter.com/abundantwater"><em>tweeting</em></a><em> for Abundant Water. I had no idea what I was doing or really even why but I kept at it posting updates from Sunny's work In Lao, having conversations with people I only 'knew' through Twitter and spreading the word about AW. </em></div>
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<em>We have participated in a few Twitter Events:</em></div>
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<em>1. Hugh Jackman's Twitter Challenge for Charity with the most votes - didn't win</em></div>
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<em>2. Top10Causes Twitter Challenge for Charity with the most votes - got 3rd</em></div>
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<em>3. Shorty Awards for best in many categories, in our case it was Health, AW was about 13th out of several 100. </em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hIgHe5DJPwzS51JoFmMRiK99ADNv-YrXMbtCgvDONn95CbEHct72y5zM5YU2eRy49wa7zChhBldhYtUqdyzUE_xuk_eE7RoFA8P1Fv-aJ_v_E27Vcs9G0STOsCDcusCa_XLVF8s7KBEg/s1600/AW3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hIgHe5DJPwzS51JoFmMRiK99ADNv-YrXMbtCgvDONn95CbEHct72y5zM5YU2eRy49wa7zChhBldhYtUqdyzUE_xuk_eE7RoFA8P1Fv-aJ_v_E27Vcs9G0STOsCDcusCa_XLVF8s7KBEg/s200/AW3.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div>
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<em>It was in this challenge that I 'met' Michael Q Todd and decided to participate in the 40 Day Social Media Entrepreneurship Training Course he was organizing. </em></div>
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<em>The AW network grew, people from every continent have offered help and this has certainly been accelerated by participating in the 40 Day Course. Sunny has been able to meet Radiance and be interviewed by her. He has also been interviewed on Blog Talk Radio and all of these events have helped to spread the word about Abundant Water. I think there is great potential here that we have only just started to explore.</em></div>
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<em>It is also through social media that Sunny has been invited to talk at TEDxCanberra in October this year. </em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1NbAKvNDPAydHwYpPiBjbkeHw3dqAWZrlKRTWZB35Y4ZhwxjexN00gmU1RNT7t9DPvv3EdD6kjbXDFap4bKyLfQ7e93Atp7q88QJ6ZVZqU0yPELokEWrh2hKgcceo9-ttzmeqBzE7Xo9/s1600/AW4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1NbAKvNDPAydHwYpPiBjbkeHw3dqAWZrlKRTWZB35Y4ZhwxjexN00gmU1RNT7t9DPvv3EdD6kjbXDFap4bKyLfQ7e93Atp7q88QJ6ZVZqU0yPELokEWrh2hKgcceo9-ttzmeqBzE7Xo9/s200/AW4.jpg" tt="true" width="150" /></a><em>We are also looking to get involved with Buy1Give1 or a similar organization to help spread the word and generate fund for the work in Lao.</em></div>
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<em>Parallel to Twitter we are also running </em><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Abundant-Water/77653115755"><em>AW Facebook Page</em></a><em> which helps to keep our friends informed about events both in Canberra and Lao.</em></div>
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<em>Thank you for this opportunity to talk about Abundant Water.</em></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/AbundantwaterDOTORG">http://www.youtube.com/user/AbundantwaterDOTORG</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abundantwater/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/abundantwater/</a></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-84999994221934995992010-04-29T05:30:00.001+05:302010-04-29T05:30:03.717+05:30L'Arche: Spreading compassion<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<strong><em>Guest post generously contributed by Rebecca Happy, a long time dedicated and active member of L'Arche, Canada.</em></strong> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQOGLa5KPWN8AI5JzuOQFXK6JehoXuzvbfQ_g-tR9ZX82ojFYy5w2vR2gmvyiHWxl6K-3b9RUdfQH1r3L99Bhkz1B8DpytqAGQ3n-vZkllAcZVfKvJDkM8W7yBESkTUwTaG_2i10HSjOt/s1600/2010_04_29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQOGLa5KPWN8AI5JzuOQFXK6JehoXuzvbfQ_g-tR9ZX82ojFYy5w2vR2gmvyiHWxl6K-3b9RUdfQH1r3L99Bhkz1B8DpytqAGQ3n-vZkllAcZVfKvJDkM8W7yBESkTUwTaG_2i10HSjOt/s320/2010_04_29.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>
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<strong>Founding Story</strong></div>
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L'Arche is an international community of people with and without developmental disabilities who share life together in a family-like setting of a home. We were founded inadvertently, so to speak, by a philosopher and thought leader from Canada, who was the son of Canada’s first francophone Governor General (the Queen’s representative in Canada) George Vanier.</div>
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In 1964, Jean Vanier was in France visiting a Dominican priest who was the chaplain of an institution that used to warehouse people with developmental disabilities. The institution was shutting its doors and the keys were “handed over” to them. Jean invited 3 men to live with him in a small house he called L’Arche in reference to Noah’s Arc. He knew it was a long term commitment but had no idea how big it would grow. Today, there are over 130 L'Arche communities in 34 countries and on six continents. These communities are all part of the International Federation of L'Arche Communities.</div>
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<strong>Vision</strong></div>
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L’Arche is committed to helping create an open, inclusive and compassionate society where every person is valued and can make a contribution. L’Arche has a unique vision of care-giving in that it fosters inclusion, understanding and belonging. L’Arche believes that people with developmental disabilities have gifts of the heart that are unique and powerful in their ability to change society. When we let go of our stereotypes of people and ourselves, we can be surprised by what people with developmental disabilities can offer us. At the core of the human experience we are all spiritual beings with the same basic needs and desires. To belong, and to love and be loved are certainly amongst the crucial factors that make up our hearts. In spite of the pretence and fictitious rules and regulations we create for ourselves, when pared all away we can receive our common humanity. </div>
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<strong>Life Transformation</strong></div>
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L’Arche members, with and without disabilities, share in decision making in all aspects of their lives. L’Arche believes that meaningful activities whether for work, play or spirit are important for the dignity of all members of society. Every year L’Arche attracts hundreds of young people from around the world to come and share life with people with developmental disabilities. Entering into intimate life-sharing with people with developmental disabilities is transformative and life changing.</div>
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I have been in L’Arche since the late 80’s. Initially I went to a community in France to learn about community and belonging, about faith, to learn to speak French, and to learn about people with developmental disabilities. I never imagined staying for so long.</div>
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I was welcomed unabashedly with open arms into people’s hearts. Most people with developmental disabilities have lived with so much rejection, abandonment and abuse, it is surprising they are not closed and cold hearted. The stats on abuse for people with developmental disabilities is 85% if not more. When people go to L’Arche, they think they are going to help the “poor” and look after “those people”. After you have been there a while you realize that it is the people with developmental disabilities that are actually training you to be more human. They see so many people come and go they have to adapt continually and they do it with amazing grace. </div>
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They have to adapt to people who do not speak their language, who are young or old, who can or cannot cook, who impose their beliefs and culture via food, music, clothing and expected behaviours and it goes on and on. People with developmental disabilities have a huge capacity to overlook and forgive. They accept who they are and thus can accept who you are. There is no attempt to be anything other than themselves. This is very powerful for people when they allow themselves to enter this kind of relationship. This video called “I AM” illustrates will this capacity. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYA6OjG_E4k</div>
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<strong>Transferable Skills</strong></div>
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When I first came online a couple of years ago on the social platforms, I was surprised to hear all the discussions around community building and how the world is changing through the use of technology. A lot of the concepts and verbiage being used, like: “transparency, authenticity, adding value, sharing your gifts, everyone has a place, being grateful, story telling, creating relationships and building community” were things we have been living and discovering and exploring at l’Arche for 40 years. I was excited. </div>
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In learning about social media marketing, I found that creating relationships of mutuality and trust seemed to be a key factor to online success. The very, very first blog I put out on social media was about people-skills learned from a person with a developmental disability. You can read it here: <a href="http://www.rebeccahappy.com/getting-connected-in-the-new-mediascape-with-social-media/">http://www.rebeccahappy.com/getting-connected-in-the-new-mediascape-with-social-media/</a> </div>
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I presently co-ordinate a very small seniors club of retired members of the L’Arche community I belong to. Here is an interview we did with a local news site <a href="http://www.ottawatonite.com/2009/11/larche-artists-art-and-smiles-in-a-thriving-community/">http://www.ottawatonite.com/2009/11/larche-artists-art-and-smiles-in-a-thriving-community/</a> that gives you an excellent sneak peak into the heart of l’Arche. </div>
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For more info on the teachings of the founder Jean Vanier go here <a href="http://www.jean-vanier.org/home.en-gb.116.0.index.htm">http://www.jean-vanier.org/home.en-gb.116.0.index.htm</a> </div>
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For more information about communities near you <a href="http://www.larche.org/home.en-gb.1.0.index.htm">http://www.larche.org/home.en-gb.1.0.index.htm</a> </div>
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To hear about communities in Haiti read here <a href="http://www.larchenetwork.org/en/">http://www.larchenetwork.org/en/</a> </div>
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</ul>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-59814012299385373672010-04-22T05:30:00.000+05:302010-04-22T05:30:04.935+05:30Green Cleaning Products<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<strong><em>Guest post generously contributed by Rae Ann Dougherty, owner of </em></strong><a href="http://greencleaningproductsllc.com/"><strong><em>Green Cleaning Products LLC</em></strong></a><strong><em>. Rae Ann has 35 years experience as the environmental and sustainability leader in multiple large multinational corporations and is now working to implement changes at the individual level. She can be reached at </em></strong><a href="mailto:RaeAnn@GreenCleaningProductsLLC.com"><strong><em>RaeAnn@GreenCleaningProductsLLC.com</em></strong></a><strong><em>.</em></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Green Cleaning Products are now Designed for the Environment</span></strong></div>
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Earth Day began 40 years ago in 1970. Over the past four decades the ambient air pollutants that have been regulated in the United States has significantly decreased.</div>
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Today indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air! While much attention is paid to outdoor air pollution the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U. S. EPA) has found that levels of air pollution inside the home can be two to five times higher (and sometimes even 100 times higher) than outside levels. This is noteworthy since we spend the vast majority of our time (87%) indoors.</div>
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While we have made huge strides, our homes have become miniature chemical factories because of the detergents, degreasers, stain removers and pesticides we use. The problem is exacerbated when we clean in small unventilated spaces such as a windowless bathroom, where levels of cleaning chemicals in the air can be highly concentrated. Cleaning products are everywhere in our homes and get everywhere when we use them – on our dishes, countertops, floors, hands, etc. Many of the chemicals found in our homes are used to make our lives easier, but not necessarily safer.</div>
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While the initial focus of environmental control was towards the industrial operations, today the focus turns to individual actions in our home. I currently focus on educating about the importance of using green cleaning products. While this may not seem like a significant issue, the household cleaning products industry is huge. In fact in 2005 it was a $14.4 Billion industry in the United States alone! Unfortunately advertisements fail to mention that many cleaners (even the green cleaning products) contain chemicals that may actually be harmful to the environment and to our health. It is for this reason that the interest for green cleaning products exists and is growing. No longer are toxic traditional cleaning products such as the once popular “Mr. Clean” considered as the good guys that they once were.</div>
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The chemical ingredients that are found in traditional cleaners (sulfates, phosphates, phenols, bleach, and ammonia) have been found to affect our health. These contribute to aliments such as asthma, reproductive damage, nerve damage, even cancer. Exasperating the situation is that these toxic chemicals have even been found in household dust causing a lingering impact long after cleaning is complete.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikHXZy526ONKa6L6Lh2ojFLdDEyWHXDnmqBgtIWjYvkdeEcarllq9JEOZ4ePKw9Bhdst-pd0Q0YNI6fL2Mx7DE-2BPZBmbsAabXUrUF_cdiA9fKlktr5lSAI9mkV9eRDLhG5B4u2XNq1B/s1600-h/2010_04_29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikHXZy526ONKa6L6Lh2ojFLdDEyWHXDnmqBgtIWjYvkdeEcarllq9JEOZ4ePKw9Bhdst-pd0Q0YNI6fL2Mx7DE-2BPZBmbsAabXUrUF_cdiA9fKlktr5lSAI9mkV9eRDLhG5B4u2XNq1B/s200/2010_04_29.jpg" vt="true" width="167" /></a></div>
Thus the drive to know what is in our cleaners and the search for green cleaning products. This is no longer limited to the consumers, and consumer-protection groups, but has now spread to the governments, and even a few manufacturers! Unfortunately many companies refuse to disclose all of the ingredients in their products. As a result consumer’s seeking green cleaning products must carefully examine the product labels. Cleaners that call themselves “organic” or “all-natural” can and have been found to include questionable and toxic chemicals. </div>
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Green is in … in everything we do, in fact it has grown to be so widespread that we now have greenwashing, the practice of making false or deceptive environmental claims. So common is greenwashing that the U.S. EPA has just (in 2010) introduced a new program known as “Design for the Environment (DfE)/Safer Product Recognition”. Those manufacturers whose products substitute harmful ingredients with the safer ones become DfE “partners” and their products are labeled with the DfE Seal of Approved. (The DfE program also provides a list of those green cleaning products that make the grade.) Look for the label!</div>
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Finally we are able to begin to understand what is in our green cleaning products! The DfE program bases their assessment on a list of “CleanGredients”. CleanGredients provides up-to-date, scientifically credible information about the ingredient human and environmental health attributes. Because the ingredient data are verified by an independent third-party, CleanGredients is recognized as a trusted source of chemical product information. In particular, CleanGredients helps businesses meet the U.S. EPA’s rigorous DfE criteria in order to use the DfE seal of approval. </div>
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Through the nutrition labels on our food we have become accustomed to understand what we are eating. Now we can do the same for our green cleaning products. Look for the DfE label!</div>
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© 2010 by Rae Ann Dougherty<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjdIH8jhY-6PaGwiV0T7NV1qI9mixbyl8eYhF3-4sKJMA4WOL46UGFeTJqZ_vbROJg4U09WdlOYAawtqCFC_huLW46oBQqTeS_Y6DsVd7OnL3rhF0SVJSM0ZWtDgOKjbF8FwYhlBK7Ldj/s1600-h/2010_04_29+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjdIH8jhY-6PaGwiV0T7NV1qI9mixbyl8eYhF3-4sKJMA4WOL46UGFeTJqZ_vbROJg4U09WdlOYAawtqCFC_huLW46oBQqTeS_Y6DsVd7OnL3rhF0SVJSM0ZWtDgOKjbF8FwYhlBK7Ldj/s320/2010_04_29+(2).jpg" vt="true" /></a></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-91665179410897575312010-04-15T05:30:00.001+05:302010-04-15T05:30:01.224+05:30Changent Paul Young<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<strong><em>Guest post generously contributed by Changent </em></strong><a href="http://changents.com/paul-young"><strong><em>Paul Young</em></strong></a><strong><em> of </em></strong><a href="http://www.craftvillageuk.com/site/web/2010/home"><strong><em>Craft Village, UK</em></strong></a><strong><em>, a Fair Trade Company that has started a unique project in Kenya. It has helped the locals increase their income significantly by selling hand-carved, fabulously crafted statues of various popular Simpsons characters!</em></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqhnXZvXWZmyX09AYReST2cmox5MJVIYPMBTVek_1wd81TD7vsWzss_hfd-KynwoScwCc1A3-CLdSoqAeeh6-ZR_QfnL5adQWOfKbpjGOszZCMd7i5u5xr7adDgTeUwqtp-mX7Fjcu3r4/s1600/17.+Group+Leaders.+Master+(back)+Classic+(front).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqhnXZvXWZmyX09AYReST2cmox5MJVIYPMBTVek_1wd81TD7vsWzss_hfd-KynwoScwCc1A3-CLdSoqAeeh6-ZR_QfnL5adQWOfKbpjGOszZCMd7i5u5xr7adDgTeUwqtp-mX7Fjcu3r4/s320/17.+Group+Leaders.+Master+(back)+Classic+(front).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Craft Village UK – a member of The World Fair Trade Organisation- have developed an acclaimed, income generating, animation inspired product series.</div>
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We launched our Kenyan ‘Simpsons Statues’ in February 2009 after 3 years of development working directly with stone carvers in Kenya. Our unique mix of Fair Trade and animation-art has received great reviews; from CNN, The BBC, The United Nations Development Programme, Sir Bob Geldof, Matt Groening and many happy customers!</div>
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Our debut stone product series is hand carved in Tabaka. Like many parts of Kenya, Tabaka suffers high levels of poverty and limited access to basic human needs: clean water; health care; education, sanitation, etc. By harnessing The Simpsons popularity, we are creating vital income for the area. This is trade, not handouts. We provide great products and service at a fair price!</div>
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This exciting collection has strong appeal to two specific markets; the growing Fair Trade market, and the massive ‘Simpsons’ collector’s market, -worldwide 60 million people watch The Simpsons each week. If we can sell just 1 statue to 0.01% of regular Simpsons viewers -it will provide 10 years work for our artisans! </div>
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Developing such a unique project has been a challenge, with many obstacles and false starts along the way. From product development issues, to obtaining a 20th Century Fox license, to packaging and branding problems, we have met each challenge with competence and confidence, and feel very excited about the impact Craft Village can achieve in Kenya, and elsewhere...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBUcgqYNm2tBOYLqK1YskN0qm3J2R6g_mJSbnZKDP5GnTKtSIvqD2Ly0LhKRMzjGWCuSVxD29L9py9X9NsLnX-uQjDHHonAazdlTS9T7vhDV9moQEvZUfJLc7gAdZ3zaVNExrn32zCQ4w/s1600/26.+Washing+%26+Waxing+stage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBUcgqYNm2tBOYLqK1YskN0qm3J2R6g_mJSbnZKDP5GnTKtSIvqD2Ly0LhKRMzjGWCuSVxD29L9py9X9NsLnX-uQjDHHonAazdlTS9T7vhDV9moQEvZUfJLc7gAdZ3zaVNExrn32zCQ4w/s320/26.+Washing+%26+Waxing+stage.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our unique product concept is transferable to many animation and film properties. To date I have met with Licensor’s for Star Wars, Nickelodeon, Aardman Animations and 4Kids Entertainment, all have expressed interest in working with Craft Village to develop fair trade memorabilia for their brands.</div>
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It is Craft Village’s goal to become a genuine innovator within Fair Trade, and attract a new audience to the Fair Trade movement with our contemporary cartoon-inspired statues. We are proud to supply Simpsons’ fans with high quality animation art whilst simultaneously having a positive impact on many families in rural Kenya. </div>
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We recently launched our new website www.craftvillageuk.com which includes a retail platform and lots of images and videos of our producers in Kenya. All enquiries welcome! Contact Paul Young on <a href="mailto:paul@craftvillageuk.com">paul@craftvillageuk.com</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-66949563806526490712010-04-08T05:30:00.000+05:302010-04-08T05:30:02.554+05:30Be Simple ... Apparel<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<strong><em>Guest post generously contributed by Will Bildsten, a 14 year old entrepreneur who wants to make a difference in this world by being simple, founder and owner of </em></strong><a href="http://www.besimpleapparel.com/"><strong><em>Be Simple Apparel</em></strong></a><strong><em>. You can follow and support this simple initiative on </em></strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Be-Simple-Apparel/168420823283"><strong><em>Facebook</em></strong></a><strong><em> and </em></strong><a href="http://twitter.com/BeSimpleApparel"><strong><em>Twitter</em></strong></a><strong><em>.</em></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Being simple to make a difference</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVDi2346JYhmd67fozVCDNNLODZECLwqtThs2j92f_zgueLrt39USqYEo5SLFnwMnKr0AN8b-DjFptpv3P9Lz16qJ3yJ8t7kp8j6qjNtkXqayCUcTzUJO_Y9MaK96ZHy0zviypqv-HJRA/s1600-h/2010_04_15+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVDi2346JYhmd67fozVCDNNLODZECLwqtThs2j92f_zgueLrt39USqYEo5SLFnwMnKr0AN8b-DjFptpv3P9Lz16qJ3yJ8t7kp8j6qjNtkXqayCUcTzUJO_Y9MaK96ZHy0zviypqv-HJRA/s200/2010_04_15+(2).jpg" vt="true" width="200" /></a></div>
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I must admit, I have always wanted things to be simpler. I have bipolar disorder. Life can be a bumpy road for me. Heck, the littlest bumps on the road can really affect me. I have always wanted to be nicer to myself about my mistakes. I have always wanted to handle every day situations like everyone else. I have always always wanted to live life without any erratic bumps on the road. Who knew at age 14, I, Will Bildsten, would start a t-shirt company eventually to be named Be Simple Apparel?</div>
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It was a regular day, and I opened up Microsoft Word. I wrote in a big, sans-serif font: Be Simple. Although I generally try to avoid printing, I decided to print this. I taped it on my bedroom door. I left it there and lived my life. Eventually, I wanted to do something with the idea of being simple. I started sketching. I experimented with different designs to express being simple. I decided that in order to fully express being simple, I needed a color (black) and a symbol (the ying-yang) to add more depth. I changed it a bit and created my final concept. I was able to get Ned, who works with my dad, to digitalize the designs.</div>
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Later on, I started to wonder how I could express this design. I eventually concluded that t-shirts are expressive, therefore perfect for the job. After researching t-shirts, I realized that cotton is full of pesticides, and polyester is technically oil. I needed to find a material that would be green yet comfortable. I weighed three fabrics: hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton. Hemp is environmentally friendly, but it is too rough. Bamboo, in fact, is awful for the environment, due to its manufacturing processes. I concluded that organic cotton was perfect: comfy enough and green enough. Next, I researched suppliers. After searching for hours, I found Organic Apparel: organic cotton tees that are made in the USA. I could print the tees using water-based inks at DSPE (Denver Screen Printing & Embroidery).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveOivXkobtj8QYeNvARuq7zQ_3hTYzkA_4XZPBmopFrCXAD-Cjzmrv23Jc2yfoSM2JuYSVhZcZ0rzfY8wH4psWaNbpc2cQafN8pY219ugb3ejNAh8nobL9WsjWsbH2wcM8EAM3xvL7sqv/s1600-h/2010_04_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveOivXkobtj8QYeNvARuq7zQ_3hTYzkA_4XZPBmopFrCXAD-Cjzmrv23Jc2yfoSM2JuYSVhZcZ0rzfY8wH4psWaNbpc2cQafN8pY219ugb3ejNAh8nobL9WsjWsbH2wcM8EAM3xvL7sqv/s320/2010_04_15.jpg" vt="true" width="320" /></a></div>
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I knew that the t-shirts would be eco-friendly and union-made, but I still had work to do: that legal stuff. I, of course, learned a lot while I was forming an LLC and setting up state taxes. Eventually, I had everything together, but then my dad’s co-workers--working at an ad agency--confronted me that the design needed work. Hence, my new designs were created. And yes, designs. I expanded my line with even more simple messages: be green, be compassionate, be inspired, be peaceful, and be happy. I also changed the design philosophy, resulting in only displaying “be” with a symbol inside the letter b. Each be has its own color, further representing its philosophy. Next, I finished made website and set up all of the social networks. Finally, we set up a charity program to allocate 2% of sales to help relieve Haiti (through the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund). In the end, everything was ready, so we ordered the first 100 tees and planned a launch party for us to introduce and sell our first products.</div>
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The launch party was a success. All of my friends and family came. We (me, my mom, and my dad) properly represented the brand in every way. Next, we would have to fulfill pre-orders at the party and start selling online.</div>
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Now, our second batch of t-shirts came, and I am working to spread the word of Be Simple Apparel. Business is good for a recession, and the business has really helped me to be simple, be green, be compassionate, be peaceful, be inspired, and be happy. This experience has shaped me in so many ways. I am going to have to improve my business in every possible way. I am also going to have to get the t-shirts selling in retail stores. Oh, and I’ll be 15 soon ... darn.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-16268860252070210272010-04-06T05:30:00.002+05:302010-04-06T05:30:00.629+05:30TED Tuesday: Demystifying Autism<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.ted.com/speakers/temple_grandin.html">Temple Grandin</a>, diagnosed with autism as a child, talks about how her mind works -- sharing her ability to "think in pictures," which helps her solve problems that neurotypical brains might miss. She makes the case that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids.<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=watchfeyestho-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1932565728&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=watchfeyestho-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0307739589&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=watchfeyestho-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0038M2AZA&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=watchfeyestho-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0156031442&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=watchfeyestho-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0446671827&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-63960861826994163892010-04-01T04:30:00.000+05:302010-04-01T04:30:04.090+05:30Greenseekers: Green directory for Australia<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<strong><em>Guest post generously contributed by Linda Parker, Managing Director of </em></strong><a href="http://www.greenseekers.com.au/"><strong><em>Greenseekers</em></strong></a><strong><em>.</em></strong></div>
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Greenseekers is a new online platform for all green operators across Australia, offering facilities for Job Search, Volunteering, Training, Contracts and Tenders, a Green Business Directory and a place to find and advertise Green Events for all industries. </div>
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Greenseekers has been created to break down the barriers and open greener employment opportunities to everyone. A wide range of skills are necessary to fulfil all requirements of industry, be it a cleaner, an accountant, tradesman or engineer. Greener jobs can also be found within companies that choose to operate more traditional product manufacturing and services in a more sustainable manner. </div>
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Greenseekers emphasises its ‘for everyone’ ideal, from the strongly dedicated ‘greenie’, to the everyday people making small changes on their way to a cleaner more sustainable future. </div>
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A little about the founder of Greenseekers; Linda Parker – Managing Director</div>
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Having grown up on the land, I have always had a passion for the correct management of the environment. Over the past eight years I have studied and worked within the renewable energy and energy efficiency industry, striving to bring a greater awareness to everyone. During this time I have encountered difficulty finding appropriate, further training, suitable employment, conscious contractors and passionate employees. Noticing I was not alone and that there were a growing number of traditionally skilled people with the desire to work for someone greener, enabling them to go home at the end of the day with a clear conscience, I set out to create Greenseekers with the help of my partners.</div>
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Greenseekers is designed to help everyone save time on searching, by cutting down on having to sift the non- green to get to the green. Leaving more time to get to what is really important.</div>
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<a href="http://www.greenseekers.com.au/">Greenseekers</a> is far more than just a job search website. So why not log on today to see what this new service has to offer you.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-83339307987464093622010-03-30T04:30:00.002+05:302010-03-31T05:27:31.061+05:30TED Tuesday: Exposing invisible<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://www.ted.com/speakers/nick_veasey.html">Nick Veasey</a> shows outsized X-ray images that reveal the otherworldly inner workings of familiar objects -- from the geometry of a wildflower to the anatomy of a Boeing 747. Producing these photos is dangerous and painstaking, but the reward is a superpower: looking at what the human eye can't see.</div>
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<embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="446" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/NickVeasey_2009G-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/NickVeasey-2009G.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=726&introDuration=16500&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=2000&adKeys=talk=nick_veasey_exposing_the_invisible_1;year=2009;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=art_unusual;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=inspired_by_nature;event=TEDGlobal+2009;"></embed></object></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-85966012023766511022010-03-25T04:30:00.000+05:302010-03-25T04:30:03.576+05:30Eco-friendly nappies: My green nappy<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><em>Guest post generously contributed by Charndra Pile, Founder and owner of 'My green nappy' initiative. Charndra lives in Australia with her husband and two sons. Her interest in eco-friendly parenting is explored in several sites, beginning with </em></strong><a href="http://www.tribalbaby.org/"><strong><em>Tribal Baby</em></strong></a><strong><em>, which evolved into 2 </em></strong><a href="http://www.parttimeec.com/"><strong><em>Part Time EC</em></strong></a><strong><em> sites for parents interested in Baby Pottying, and now has grown to include </em></strong><a href="http://www.mygreennappy.org/"><strong><em>My Green Nappy</em></strong></a><strong><em>, an advocacy site about modern cloth and eco-friendly disposable nappies.</em></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">My green nappy: Do YOU have one?</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6I-Q6yinrZsdezlwXUcuur0nNnyoWIRtN7YBR-lf-LYpNpj8ou8tMQNQjQDxbqTIa7brtsl2UH7oQc_tosW7Pezl7tiR-jXx65hQy9Y94gqyauBACiWSIoGt6J_gGoe_ESmP2y7POmXb/s1600-h/2010_04_01+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6I-Q6yinrZsdezlwXUcuur0nNnyoWIRtN7YBR-lf-LYpNpj8ou8tMQNQjQDxbqTIa7brtsl2UH7oQc_tosW7Pezl7tiR-jXx65hQy9Y94gqyauBACiWSIoGt6J_gGoe_ESmP2y7POmXb/s200/2010_04_01+(3).jpg" vt="true" width="158" /></a></div>
My Green Nappy explores the world of modern cloth and eco-friendly disposable nappies, putting you in touch with a wealth of wisdom and experience of nappy makers, sellers and users.</div>
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What makes My Green Nappy unique is that we are all working *together* for our planet, to save you time, money and to promote and encourage eco friendlier choices. It’s an advocacy site educating about environmentally friendlier options in baby nappies, and branches into other areas as well.</div>
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No finger-pointing environmentalism, just gentle encouragement – do what you can, think about where you can add in new ways to be that little bit greener in ways that suit your family right now – more will come naturally in time. The collective resources on My Green Nappy will help open your mind to the many alternatives to disposable nappies and other baby products.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNezGdpQXV01D35IH8KoX8srJTkb8bLnt1DT5EdxgYfDDr3GkHRRNcZ0mfpO0jyYuvErkXeN6HBWOqaq__ih064SlQ9pAPGOoeyoYomp8QZnuaDcS3S25GrGK2jOJgvQwbfXvTGZfjAlU/s1600-h/2010_04_01+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNezGdpQXV01D35IH8KoX8srJTkb8bLnt1DT5EdxgYfDDr3GkHRRNcZ0mfpO0jyYuvErkXeN6HBWOqaq__ih064SlQ9pAPGOoeyoYomp8QZnuaDcS3S25GrGK2jOJgvQwbfXvTGZfjAlU/s200/2010_04_01+(2).jpg" vt="true" width="200" /></a></div>
My Green Nappy’s mission is to see that every baby ‘down under’ has that one green nappy to wear. It’s a simple idea – that for each baby there is the option at any time to use a washable nappy rather than a disposable one – but as we all know, from little beginnings is where change starts. In this case, nappy change!</div>
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Our mission is to strive towards every baby having at least one ‘green’ nappy to wear, keeping a throwaway disposable out of the environment each time it is worn. With over 300 thousand babies born in Australia and New Zealand each year, that one green nappy will make a difference!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfN3cQWmxPY9kfvhQPtlkN8jq7-p-HnsgG9bdTEJFIrDcuNYmtxH1IZAmZhUwwdfHbis74k4KHN5N_CoKyeIIvAehMqnhtRhcNCyZ4cO2aMZkhFFZDt-i3z6RzMpuwArqjh-85ziqkwq7Y/s1600-h/2010_04_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfN3cQWmxPY9kfvhQPtlkN8jq7-p-HnsgG9bdTEJFIrDcuNYmtxH1IZAmZhUwwdfHbis74k4KHN5N_CoKyeIIvAehMqnhtRhcNCyZ4cO2aMZkhFFZDt-i3z6RzMpuwArqjh-85ziqkwq7Y/s200/2010_04_01.jpg" vt="true" width="200" /></a>Members can win a unique "Green Promise Nappy", one of a hundred that will be donated on behalf of the Earth to reduce nappy waste and promote greener nappy choices in our communities. New ones will be on offer each season. This is the ‘100 Green Promise Nappies Initiative’, another of the simple ideas to promote modern reusable nappies and the businesses who offer them to you.</div>
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We want to inspire and encourage you to use washable nappies.</div>
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Washable Nappies benefit you, your baby, your budget – and the Earth – and that’s what My Green Nappy is about – More Green Nappies for the Earth.</div>
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Three resources I’d like you to have a look at are:</div>
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<li> The <a href="http://www.mygreennappy.org/my-green-promise-nappy/all-green-promise-nappies/">Green Promise Nappy Gallery</a> – our first nappies are on display, and will be available to register to win from June.</li>
<li>A <a href="http://www.mygreennappy.org/nappy-resources/modern-cloth-mini-trends/">Modern Cloth mini-trend gallery</a> – these are a great way to see at a glance the wide range of cloth nappies available at some of the 320+ shops listed at the site. Pick a theme, such as ‘Girly Nappies’ and see what is on offer out there! The pictures link to the shops where the nappy comes from.</li>
<li>Some collective wisdom from <a href="http://www.mygreennappy.org/nappy-resources/expert-advice-about-modern-cloth-nappies/">Your Nappy Doula’s</a>. These are unique, info-packed articles with contributions from a wide range of nappy retailers.</li>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-40567697239776923442010-03-23T04:30:00.002+05:302010-03-23T09:29:59.367+05:30TED Tuesday: Kids take charge<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://www.ted.com/speakers/kiran_sethi.html">Kiran Bir Sethi</a> shows how her groundbreaking Riverside School in India teaches kids life's most valuable lesson: "I can." Watch her students take local issues into their own hands, lead other young people, even educate their parents.</div>
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<embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="446" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/KiranBirSethi_2009I-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/KiranBirSethi-2009I.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=735&introDuration=16500&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=2000&adKeys=talk=kiran_bir_sethi_teaches_kids_to_take_charge;year=2009;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=a_taste_of_tedindia;theme=how_we_learn;theme=rethinking_poverty;event=TEDIndia+2009;"></embed></object></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-35970225399455222492010-03-18T04:30:00.003+05:302010-03-19T07:38:18.325+05:30Recycle craft: RetroGrandma Audrey<div style="text-align: justify;">
<em><strong>Guest post generously contributed by Audrey, amazingly talented recycle craftswoman and owner of the </strong></em><a href="http://www.retrograndma.etsy.com/"><em><strong>RetroGrandma</strong></em></a><em><strong> and</strong></em><a href="http://www.retroclassics.etsy.com/"><em><strong> A blast from the past</strong></em></a><em><strong> Etsy stores.</strong></em></div>
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Handmade items have a soul and enrich our lives in a way that mass-produced items simply can’t. Even though I have a professional life and career I value, I love my creative side even more. Crafting for me is not only a hobby, but it’s my relaxation time. My mind is never still. I’m always thinking of what I can recycle and create next. </div>
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I’ve been crafting since I was very young. My mother was an amazing crafter and I just followed her great talent. I made most of my gifts and sewed most of my children’s clothing. Now I create unique items and sell them online. Enjoy the slideshow below to see some of the items I create. </div>
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<embed height="180" src="http://w18.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/vrud/10f1e280.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" wmode="transparent"><a href="http://photobucket.com/slideshows" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" /></a><a href="http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/vrud/?action=view&current=10f1e280.pbw" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn_viewallimages.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" /></a></embed></div>
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I’ve had an ebay store since 2003 with all my collectibles. But then I heard about Etsy “All Things Handmade”. So I decided to <a href="http://www.retrograndma.etsy.com/">open up a shop</a> with just a few of my handmade items in 2007. Etsy is such a friendly community of sellers and buyers. </div>
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My husband is a collector of records and it so it all started with the abundance of vinyl in our house and I decided to melt a few to make some bowls, which are quite popular. Then I came up with a pattern to make a handbag out of the covers. I didn’t want to use rivets (that so many use) to cover the great artwork, so I created my own pattern of sewing vinyl around the covers. The handbags are very strong and durable, yet very soft and light. My daughter uses hers as a grocery handbag and carries a lot of weight in it and it’s still holding up very well. </div>
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From there I found that books can also be made into handbags. They are much more complicated to make than the record purses, but I never get tired of making them. Extra time is taken to choose the right material and accessories to match each book. Each one is so unique and one-of-a kind. I’m addicted to making these handbags. My most popular handbags sold are the Nancy Drew books. Watch heads turn as you walk down the street with one of these whimsical handbags! You’ll be sure to get noticed! </div>
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I have expanded in creating variety unique items by recycling books and records. I make record containers, clocks, and earring holders. From books I create hollow security safes, wallets, and desk clocks. Be sure to spark conversation with any one of these items! They all make such unique gifts. Great for the “hard to buy for” person! One feedback I received from a customer who purchased one of my book handbags was “My mother said this was the best gift she has ever received”. Hearing these comments makes me feel so good inside. </div>
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I never thought my hobby would turn out to be a business. Sales grew and I do many custom orders also. Favourite books have been mailed to me to create handbags. I had a magazine cover once mailed to me and I made a handbag from it. The customer’s friend was on the front page of the cover and she thought this would make a unique gift for her. I’ve done wholesale orders for some retailers also. I have customers from all over the world. </div>
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Good photos are a must when listing an item. This took some time for me to perfect. You need a good camera, good lighting and then a program to edit each photo. I made it to the Front Page of Etsy on 4 different occasions since I opened up shop. It’s an honor to get chosen for the Front Page, so I was extremely thrilled! </div>
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I decided to name myself RetroGrandma because I love the retro era and I’m a grandma of 6 beautiful grandchildren. My family means the world to me. I’m a full time Administrative Assistant at an elementary school, which I’ve worked at for 25 years now. I have four online shops where I sell my items. My husband and I love to seek out treasures at flea markets, garage sales and thrift shops. I also have a vintage shop on etsy – <a href="http://www.retroclassics.etsy.com/">A BLAST FROM THE PAST!</a> Here we share our treasures with the world – toys, games, kitchenware, decorative collectibles, lamps, clocks, & clothing. </div>
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I’m a busy RetroGrandma! But I wouldn’t have it any other way as I can never sit idle. </div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12923506243713357688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648613723511976828.post-47832978514246637162010-03-16T04:30:00.003+05:302010-03-16T08:19:04.088+05:30TED Tuesday: The 'Gandhi' neurons<div style="text-align: justify;">Neuroscientist <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Vilayanur Ramachandran</a> outlines the fascinating functions of mirror neurons. Only recently discovered, these neurons allow us to learn complex social behaviors, some of which formed the foundations of human civilization as we know it. </div><br />
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