We want to send a big THANK YOU out to the cast (including Willie, the dog) and crew of Legally Blonde the Musical (currently at the DuPont Theatre in Wilmington, DE). They made a huge donation of food and toys for the DHA cats and dogs!
DON’T SEND A COW : Animal Gifts Don’t Help World’s Poor
http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/NEWS/pr_veggie/ALL/1420//Judging from the number of holiday gift guides it’s in this season, a colorful, dynamic deck of cards that encourages year-round intentional acts of kindness from Boom Boom! Revolution (http://boomboomcards.com) is proving to be one of the hottest present ideas for 2009.
Retailing for just $9.99, Boom Boom! Cards provide an online and offline “pay it forward” social experience in the spirit of generosity and compassion. Each deck contains 26 beautifully designed cards which suggest actions such as thanking a mentor, stopping gossip, picking up litter, offering genuine compliments, acknowledging exceptional effort or holding the door open for someone. Take a look at what one person learned about the value of forgiveness http://boomboomcards.com/card/83/2388 . The deck is registered online with a unique tracking number and the actions are then paid, or “played” forward. The online social networking component creates a global community where members can connect through sharing experiences, offering comments, collaborating around challenges, a global tracking map, as well as video and photo posts. It’s “pay it forward” for the 21st century! Plus, a portion of the purchase price of the cards is donated to a designated charity chosen by the customer…with Boom Boom! Cards you get to be nice, twice!
“Like a boomerang, we believe that whatever thoughts, actions and words you put out into the world will eventually find their way back to you, but not before covering a lot of ground along the way,” explains founder Mary Beth Campbell, about the evolution of the company. “The quickest and simplest way to communicate that karmic notion is by saying, ‘Boom Boom!’ You get back what you give.”
A huge hit with celebrities at the Emmys and the Teen Choice Awards earlier this year, the “Kindness Kits” are available in both teen and original (geared for adults) editions. The teen pack is great for schools and community groups, empowering students to become “Agents of Altruism.” Parents can engage with kids while doing the cards and make it a meaningful family learning experience.
About Boom Boom! Revolution:
Co-founded by Santa Cruz, CA social entrepreneurs Mary Beth Campbell and Hélène Scott just a few months ago, the company creates fun, engaging products that build community, improve humanity and champion the belief that doing good is not only cool, it’s the thing to do. To see the ongoing adventures of more than 2250 everyday "Agents of Altruism," check them out on their website, on Facebook http://facebook.com/boomboomcards, or on Twitter: @boomboomcards.
Peacekeeper Cause-Metics is the first cosmetics line to give donations to women’s health advocacy and urgent human rights issues globally. Peacekeeper builds a bridge between extraordinary women in the land-of-plenty with extraordinary women who, just by chance of birth, don’t have our resources or opportunities.
Here are the ideals that they pledge to uphold in their business practices:
Slavery Free
Peacekeeper is building a slave-labor free company, so if we think there is any type of exploitation in hours, safety, healthcare, retirement, etc. we are gone.
They are consulting with www.newstandards.com to monitor this.
Fair Wages
Peacekeeper makes sure that the companies we are working with here and overseas pays a fair wage to their employees.
Animal Loving
Peacekeeper does not use any products that have been tested on animals. We also provide vegan products for animal lovers who do not use carmine.
Ethical
Peacekeeper uses the Yamas and Niyamas, which come from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, in its work. They refer to the concepts of exertion and rest and outline the ways in which a Yogi must find an ethical balance in his or her life. Patanjali says that if a person is truly established in the Yamas and Niyamas they gain powers.
When a Yogi practices truthfulness, ultimately anything he or she says will come true. That's powerful! Or, if he or she practices non-stealing/non-hoarding people will feel so safe around him or her that they will reveal unimaginable secrets and treasures. When we are truly living in non-violence then no negative energy or “enemy” can harm us, in the same way Buddhist monks can safely walk through a battle-field. By establishing ourselves in the Yamas & Niyamas, we can face each day unaffected by the negativity in the world.
The practice of truthfulness, non-violence and non-stealing enables a person to know where to step so as not to lose their reputation. It becomes clear to a practitioner that taking something that is not theirs will only weaken them of their fierce power of restraint and will ultimately decide not to make the choice that has toppled so many powerful men. Practicing the Yamas and Niyamas will make people feel safe around you and promote greater fulfillment in all that you do. This is good for you and good for the world.
To learn more about these and other ethical practices visit these websites – Fair Trade: www.transfairusa.org; Eradication of slavery: www.assetcampaign.org; Animal friendly information: www.vegan.org. To learn more about Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra’s visit http://dailyreadings.com/sutras_1.htm, and visit PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics at www.iamapeacekeeper.com.
Although world leaders fail to reach a binding climate agreement this year in Copenhagen, there is still hope and action at the grassroots level. Expert web hosting service, Site5, is doing their part. Site5 has partnered with mokugift to plant a tree for every new hosting account.
“Tree-planting with new accounts is a natural extension of Site5’s existing environmental philosophy. Site5’s business was designed around a remote workforce which is the greenest possible option for a company. None of Site5’s employees drive to work. Virtually all of Site5’s operations is waste free, excluding the last few vendors and partners that haven’t gone paperless yet.” explained Ben Welch-Bolen, CEO of Site5.
The vast majority of the impact Site5 has on the environment is through the electricity our servers and related equipment use. Luckily for Site5, with today's energy prices, being green and being cost effective can go hand in hand. Site5 is constantly working to reduce costs and environmental impact by leveraging new technologies to lower power consumption, using natural DC cooling technology, and using virtualization software to scale efficiently.
Site5 takes a pragmatic approach of eliminating impact where it can and working with environmental organizations such as Mokugift to counter impact areas that are unavoidable.
Mokugift’s enables progressive, fast-moving companies, like Site5, to plant a real tree as a gift for customers at $1 apiece. Mokugift trees are planted by farmers practicing environmentally sustainable forestry and agricultural methods in tropical zones in Central America, Africa and Asia. The plantings not only restock, with native trees, existing forests that have been depleted, but also contribute to more diverse, productive and economically sustainable land-use systems.
An official partner of UNEP, mokugift not only empowers corporations and individuals to participate in the Billion Tree Campaign, it also provides the tools to inspire others to participate. Tree planting is an easy first step towards more environmentally responsible choices, and Mokugift enables every company and individual concerned about climate change to make a difference and inspire others to do likewise. It is grass roots action like Site5’s environmental programs that will show world leaders that the citizens and corporate citizens of our planet demand an environmentally sustainable future.
About Site5
Site5, founded in 1999, provides quality web hosting to individuals, small businesses, and enterprise clients. Our customer service team is 100% in house and we provide guarantees on our uptime and quality of support. Our current hosting philosophy is based on guaranteed performance. While other hosts may try to cram as many accounts as possible on shared servers, we have used our years of experience and the technical analysis performed by our technical gurus to determine exactly how many accounts we should be putting on any given server. In addition, we are continually upgrading our hardware platforms to be among the best in the industry.
We are so confident you will love our web hosting and customer service that we offer a free 30 day trial. Just use the coupon code "FREETRIAL" to try us today!
About UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign
Launched in November 2006 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with the objective of encouraging the planting of at least one billion trees worldwide each year, “Plant for the Planet: The Billion Tree Campaign” is now recognized as one of the UN’s most successful environmental campaigns. To date, UNEP has tracked the planting of more than three billion trees in 166 countries. Now in its second stage, the campaign, which stresses the power of partnerships, has set a new goal of seven billion trees planted before the end of 2009—roughly one tree for every living person on the planet. Every tree counts, and UNEP counts every tree.
For more information on the UNEP’s billion tree campaign, please visit http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/
About mokugift
A social venture focused on customer experience and tangible, positive benefit to the environment and society, Mokugift makes it easy and rewarding to plant trees, for $1 apiece, through online “gifting.” Giving a mokugift tree is similar to sending an e-card, and recipients can proudly display their trees online at Facebook, MySpace, Yahoo!, and 50 other popular Web sites.
An official partner of the United Nations Environment Programme's Billion Tree Campaign, mokugift collaborates with award-winning nonprofit agroforestry organizations such as Trees For The Future and Sustainable Harvest International to plant trees in twelve countries: Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Burundi, Senegal, Zambia, India, the Philippines and Haiti. Using environmentally sustainable methods, farmers in these countries plant mokugift trees to restock existing forests and enable more diverse, productive and economically sustainable land-use systems.
For more information on mokugift, please visit http://www.mokugift.com
PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics is proud to source sustainable organic ingredients for our products from some of the best farmers on earth! One source we use is Sanvardhini Agro located in Satara, India. A professionally managed farm with a standing of over 14 years in business, is known for their pioneering work in using eco-friendly, viable alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are used in traditional farming.
Incorporating years of trade knowledge of traditional herbal remedies with modern analytical techniques enables Sanvardhini Agro to make sure only the best practices are used, ensuring “chemical free” farming. Farming done using their techniques is beneficial to their environment as well as to the overall productivity and health of the community.
On the last visit to their farm, Jody R. Weiss, Founder of PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics realized that the farm-hands living on the farm were living in small “structures” right next to where the farm collected its cow manure. PeaceKeeper is now working with the farmers and the farm-hands on the funding of better housing, schooling support for their children and micro-credit loans for spouses of the farmers to start their own businesses. Please visit PeaceKeeper’s website in 2010 to meet the farmers that actually picked the rosemary and spearmint in the products that you are using.
PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics is an enterprising philanthropic brand which makes donations to women’s health advocacy and urgent human rights issues. PeaceKeeper funds women who have been indentured or who live on a dollar a day. PeaceKeeper sources raw ingredients like rosemary and spearmint from third world farmers and gives micro-credit loans to the families of those farmers.
This is called Beauty For Humanity – Good For You & Good For The World! Now That’s Beautiful™. To learn more about PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics visit them at www.iamapeacekeeper.com.
I am fostering Biscuit, the super cute 1-year-old male poodle in the photos. He has epilepsy :-( and needs special medical care. He used to have seizures daily, but with acupuncture and herbs he only has them once or twice a week now.Voice For The Animals is raising money for his medical expenses. If you know of a vet willing to donate acupunture and services that could be very helpful too! Donations are tax deductible.
Help save sweet Biscuit! PLEASE REPOST!!
Mail a donations with Biscuit's name included to this address:
Voice For The Animals
2633 Lincoln Blvd., #202
Santa Monica, CA 90405-4656
Phone: (310) 392-5153
E-mail: voicefortheanimals@gmail.com
Website: vftafoundation.org
Click here for a list of pets at this shelter
Or you can donate, again including Biscuit's name, by clicking HERE
Biscuit is a little lover and needs to be held and cuddled to be happy. He was found wandering the streets of East L.A. before he was rescued. He could also be adopted by a nice family willing to invest in his medical treatment too. He is very gentle and sweet, good with kids, never barks and is good with other doggies.
Please help Biscuit :-)
Here's a note you may see some of us sharing with you. We're asking for donations to benefit cancer research. Here's why -- and how you can help.
I have decided to join a global movement that is bringing much needed attention to cancers that affect men. I'm doing this by growing a Moustache this Movember, the month formerly known as November. My commitment is to grow a moustache all November and I am hoping that you will support my efforts by making a donation. The funds raised go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LIVESTRONG).
What many people don’t know is that 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime and testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 18-35. Facts like these have convinced me I should get involved.
To make a donation, you can either:
- Click this link http://us.movember.com/mospace/222975/ and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account, or
- Write a check payable to ‘Movember Foundation’, referencing my Registration Number 222975 and mailing it to: Movember Foundation, PO Box 2726, Venice, CA 90294-2726.
All donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation will use the money raised by Movember to fund research to find better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer.
The Lance Armstrong Foundation will use the money raised by Movember to fund:
- The LIVESTRONG Young Adult Alliance program which has the goal of improving survival rates and quality of life for young adults with cancer between the ages of 15 and 40.
- Research initiatives to further understand the biology of adolescent and young adult cancers.
For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please go to http://us.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs.
Thanks for your support. And sympathy for our fledgling mustaches.
Click on the names on the right to donate on behalf of any of the Itchy Lips teammates.
Post Independent (John Stroud) Glenwood Springs, CO - CARBONDALE, Colorado — Friends and fellow Colorado Rocky Mountain School juniors Kelsey Bohannon and JJ Worley recently found a way to help needy people around the world, and keep what otherwise would be trash out of area landfills.
Through the Soles4Souls shoe charity, they collected some 500 pairs of used shoes from throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. The shoes will be sent to a warehouse in Nevada, and eventually shipped to villages around the world where people cannot afford to buy shoes themselves.
“I heard about it and it just interested me as a way for people do something for those in need without sending money,” said Bohannon, 16, who lives in Glenwood Springs.
“Some people don't like giving money, because they're not sure what's really going to happen to it,” she said. “There's not much else you can do with used shoes, though. You know someone is going to be wearing them who needs them.”
Worley, also 16, from Carbondale, looks at it as a “one person's trash is another person's treasure” sort of approach to global charity.
“People really do get tired of donating money. This is a way to get rid of something you'd be throwing away anyway, and for a good cause,” she said.
Bohannon and Worley put up flyers around the valley and set up collection boxes at Summit Canyon Mountaineering in Glenwood Springs and at Dos Gringos Burritos in Carbondale.
“They asked me to come empty the box at Summit because it was overflowing,” Bohannon said. “The shoes filled up my car.”
Once they collected all the shoes they realized it would cost $230 to ship them to Nevada, even after the 80 percent charity discount from UPS. So they approached the Aspen Skiing Company, and it covered the shipping cost.
“We didn't even think about the money part of it,” Worley said. “We really want to thank the Skico for helping us out.”
They received some interesting shoes along the way, including some Go-Go boots, a pair of snowboard boots, and ballet slippers.
“Some of them are pretty fancy shoes, and not very used at all,” Bohannon said.
Miser's Mercantile, a local second-hand store, also donated some of the shoes it had in stock, and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary collected a box of shoes as well.
The students may do another drive in the future, but their collection efforts are done for now. However, Independence Run and Hike, a local running and outdoor gear store, is also a collection location for Soles4Souls.
The store, located in the Gateway Plaza at Highway 133 and Cowen Drive in Carbondale, is collecting “gently worn” footwear and/or monetary donations to help ship the shoes.
The shoes sometimes go to victims of a natural disaster, or who are subject to living in extreme poverty, according to the organization's website, www.giveshoes.org.
“It is estimated that Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unused shoes lying in their closets,” it notes. “The charity can use each and every one of these pairs to make a tangible difference in someone's life.”
Independence Run and Hike owner Brion After said he is glad to contribute, both in the charitable sense and because of the reduced environmental impact of recycling used shoes.
“We believe in taking care of the land that takes care of us,” he said. “Partnering with Soles4Souls enables the local running and hiking community to be environmental stewards and assist those in need throughout the world.” jstroud@postindependent.com
For more information on Colorado Rocky Mountain School please contact lraleigh@crms.org
