Spread A Little Joy, Try This In Your City!
Start With Me
Could you use a push? Some inspiration on where to start? Well Start with this modern parable by Michael Seaton and John Blaise. This story is relatable and could be just what you need to light a charitable fire underneath you or someone you know. Published by Zondervan Publishing. Also check out their Facebook Page with much more inspirational messages.
Inspiration From a 9 Year Old's Imagination
A Unique Way to Raise Awareness..
"Organizer Isabelle Mosca of Ventnor brought bubble blowing to her son Kyle’s kindergarten class in 2003 as a way for the students to find commonality with him. The bubbles also symbolized their hopes and dreams for finding a cure for autism, which is a range of neurodevelopment disorders characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped behavior patterns...."
For You Animal Lovers...
If you love animals and want to do something local for homeless abused or uncared for animals check out this site below. It's an easy 7 step process explaining how to start a local fundraiser for the cute and cuddly. We can''t always give them a home,, but we can do something to improve their quality of life.
Sit back...relax...listen.
Then act.
Something New Under The Sun by J.R. McNeill
The history of the twentieth century is most often told through its world wars, the rise and fall of communism, or its economic upheavals. J. R. McNeill, in his book "Something New Under The Sun" gives us our first glance at our environmental history. In human history, we have refashioned the earth's air, water, and soil, and the biosphere of which we are a part. Based on McNeill's laborious research efforts we are introduced to a "compelling blend of anecdotes, data, and shrewd analysis--never preaches: it is our definitive account." This is a volume in The Global Century Series.
FOOD INC.
An awesome documentary answering the questions about where our food comes from. This documentary provides us with great insight on how to make healthy, smart, sustainable decisions.
A Convicting Read...
In Cradle to Cradle, McDonough and Braungart argue that the conflict between industry and the environment is not an indictment of commerce but an outgrowth of purely opportunistic design. The design of products and manufacturing systems growing out of the Industrial Revolution reflected the spirit of the day-and yielded a host of unintended yet tragic consequences.
Today, with our growing knowledge of the living earth, design can reflect a new spirit. In fact, the authors write, when designers employ the intelligence of natural systems—the effectiveness of nutrient cycling, the abundance of the sun's energy—they can create products, industrial systems, buildings, even regional plans that allow nature and commerce to fruitfully co-exist.
Cradle to Cradle maps the lineaments of McDonough and Braungart's new design paradigm, offering practical steps on how to innovate within today's economic environment. Part social history, part green business primer, part design manual, the book makes plain that the re-invention of human industry is not only within our grasp, it is our best hope for a future of sustaining prosperity.
In addition to describing the hopeful, nature-inspired design principles that are making industry both prosperous and sustainable, the book itself is a physical symbol of the changes to come. It is printed on a synthetic 'paper,' made from plastic resins and inorganic fillers, designed to look and feel like top quality paper while also being waterproof and rugged. And the book can be easily recycled in localities with systems to collect polypropylene, like that in yogurt containers. This 'treeless' book points the way toward the day when synthetic books, like many other products, can be used, recycled, and used again without losing any material quality—in cradle to cradle cycles.
Today, with our growing knowledge of the living earth, design can reflect a new spirit. In fact, the authors write, when designers employ the intelligence of natural systems—the effectiveness of nutrient cycling, the abundance of the sun's energy—they can create products, industrial systems, buildings, even regional plans that allow nature and commerce to fruitfully co-exist.
Cradle to Cradle maps the lineaments of McDonough and Braungart's new design paradigm, offering practical steps on how to innovate within today's economic environment. Part social history, part green business primer, part design manual, the book makes plain that the re-invention of human industry is not only within our grasp, it is our best hope for a future of sustaining prosperity.
In addition to describing the hopeful, nature-inspired design principles that are making industry both prosperous and sustainable, the book itself is a physical symbol of the changes to come. It is printed on a synthetic 'paper,' made from plastic resins and inorganic fillers, designed to look and feel like top quality paper while also being waterproof and rugged. And the book can be easily recycled in localities with systems to collect polypropylene, like that in yogurt containers. This 'treeless' book points the way toward the day when synthetic books, like many other products, can be used, recycled, and used again without losing any material quality—in cradle to cradle cycles.
What's It Like To See "One Day On Earth"?...Let This Trailer Spark YOUR Interest to Watch This Moving Documentary
7 By Jen Hatmaker
"It is no accident that despite the fact that bazillions of dollars are spent telling us we are just consumers, and that's all the story we could ever need, people by the thousands and sometimes even millions are frustrated and looking for a better story. And it is here. Is it any wonder, if you live your life like a baby bird with your mouth open that what gets dropped into it every time is a worm? People will attempt to reshape your worm and convince you that it is extra yummy this time, but it is still a worm. And the story of consumers is still boring.
If you are going to get better than that, we're going to have to participate, and go out and seek new sources and resources and options, we're going to have to replace much of our consumption with rituals of non-consumption. We're going to have to write a good and compelling story with our lives. The good news is that it is a lot more fun to be a citizen than a consumer, and rituals of non-consumption are just as satisfying as retail therapy. The good news is that there are better stories out there for the claiming and the living, and events are conspiring to keep our times interesting. The good news is that we can do better than worms" (177)
If you are going to get better than that, we're going to have to participate, and go out and seek new sources and resources and options, we're going to have to replace much of our consumption with rituals of non-consumption. We're going to have to write a good and compelling story with our lives. The good news is that it is a lot more fun to be a citizen than a consumer, and rituals of non-consumption are just as satisfying as retail therapy. The good news is that there are better stories out there for the claiming and the living, and events are conspiring to keep our times interesting. The good news is that we can do better than worms" (177)