The Fair Trade Story: Doing the Right Thing!
Do you know about fair trade? Fair trade is the only ethical form of trading, helping farmers and artisans develop business skills and sustainability, by creating a global farmer's market! Be fair, be just and be globally minded for all.
Earn Reward Points by Recycling!
Thanks to RecycleBank, you can now do good by reducing your eco-footprint and leave some cash in your pocket. RecycleBank provides homes with a free container to dispose of recyclables. The containers have an RFID chip (radio frequency identification chip) and when picked up, the RFID chip is read, the information sent back to RecycleBank, and then converted to reward points. These points are accrued and then redeemable at Whole Foods, Starbucks and hundreds of other stores. You can keep track of your points on RecycleBank's website.
The service is free for all homeowners; the company generates its revenues by receiving a percentage of money cities save by producing less landfill waste. This enterprising business idea is currently operating in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and will eventually be taken nationally and internationally.
What are your thoughts about this? I really like reducing the landfill but I am not crazy about the RFID chip. Nothing is private anymore.
Waste Recycled for Energy
Where poverty exists one can usually find water contamination and diseases attributed to refuse and extended use of open fire stoves. Now, through biogas, the simple process of anaerobic digestion (without oxygen), energy is created through human waste, animal waste, and/or kitchen garbage. Just think about it - your waste can be used for energy! In the developing world, this is really novel; clean the communities of its refuse while extending life and giving energy!
AIDG (Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group) is currently designing a small-scale biodigester in Guatemala. They are processing pig waste into fuel that can be used like natural gas, propane or fertilizer. This type of processing helps to keep animal waste out of water for drinking and provides an alternative to wood burning.
Around the world, this new form of energy creation is being used for the poor. Environmentally and cost effective, biogas also decreases respiratory and eye illnesses, often the result of using open wood fires year after year.
Now, why can't we fund this type of development instead of senseless wars, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund?
Love Makes Life Better for All
In an ideal world, there would be no poverty, hatred, mean-spiritedness, diseases, wars, sickness, murder, abuse, and other challenges. But we live in a fallen world, an imperfect world, beginning in heart of natural man. When I think of changing the world, one life at a time, I know it begins with love. God is love. Love manifested meets needs, one person at a time. If all of humanity had the love of God residing in their hearts, what a difference our world would be. We are created for good works and to achieve this end, He has set boundaries for us. Whether we choose to abide in His love or not, our actions always have a ripple effect, impacting our own lives and those around us.
It is the callousness of the heart, a rejection of love, that leads to all sorts of evil deeds, including greed, wars, division, slander, and all that is in opposition to God. Evil is not "out there"; it begins with our own hearts. We need the love of God to transform and renew us; only then can we make life better for all.
Let's make the world better through love, by serving, giving and laying down our lives for others. There is no greater love than one who lays down his life for his friend. Indeed, we love because He first loved us.
Fair Trade & Equality for All
I finally got around to adding the Fair Trade Federation member logo on this site, after applying, getting approved and paying my annual dues. I've been so busy with my new day job (as a director for an educational company), that I've not had time to blog or update my websites.
Globally Minded can now be found on the Fair Trade Federation directory. Being a part of a growing movement of socially conscious buyers and consumers is very gratifying because I know fair trade works, improving and empowering artisans and families we support.
Globally Minded fair trade and handcrafted jewelry is available for wholesale and retail. We really prefer to market our jewelry in retail brick and mortar stores. Sales of our products benefits Globally Minded Works, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit, supporting women and children in Guatemala.
Although we live in a world of injustice and inequality, fair trade and equality for all are worthy causes to support. Join our efforts to make life better for all; commit to buying fair trade handcrafts, gifts and products.
Hospitals Going Green
As a result of my Mom's recent battle with cancer, I've spent considerable time in hospitals contemplating many things, including how hospitals deals with waste, toxins and recycling. Although many hospitals have a long way to go, many are already committed to green business practices. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Green Guide for Health Care (GGHC) joined forces to bring green business practices to the healthcare industry. According to Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair of USGBC, "Patients in green hospitals have greater emotional well-being, require less pain medication and other drugs, and have shorter hospital stays." Such findings are not surprising.
In September, USGBC and GGHC agreed to educational programs and other initiatives to promote the greening of health care systems. This is a very important and strategic step in addressing the issues of waste, recycling and more within the industry. By using natural cleaning products, plants that improve air quality, solar energy, natural light as much as possible, recycling, and reducing the amount of toxic wastes, green hospitals can make a significant impact. Clearly, green hospitals are good for the community, medical personnel, patients and visitors.
To identify the top environmentally friendly hospitals, The Green Guide followed the criteria of USGBC's LEED standards, The Green Guide for Health Care, and Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E). Indeed, any and all hospitals should be moving towards the following initiatives to better steward the earth's resources, while promoting better health for all:
1- Location: Was the hospital near or accessible to alternative transportation, utilizing storm water management, sited for urban redevelopment, and reducing its eco-footprint?
2- Water Reduction and Efficiency: Does the hospital use plants and landscaping in an ecologically friendly manner? Does it reduce water usage?
3- Air and Energy Pollution: How is the hospital reducing chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), utilizing renewable energy, reducing energy consumption, and exercising green power and reducing ozone?
4- Resources and Materials: Are recycled building materials, resources, local materials and/or certified wood used in the construction of the hospital?
5- Indoor Environmental Quality: How is the hospital improving its indoor air ventilation? Are they increasing ventilation and incorporating eco-friendly paints, adhesives and materials to avoid toxic fumes of toluene, formaldehyde and other carcinogenic compounds? Are they using any plants and natural lighting?
6- Organic, Healthy Hospital Food: Are fresh, local and organic foods served in the cafeteria and for the patients?
7- Green Education: Is there any instruction for employees regarding environmental best practices, including waste reduction, toxics reduction and recycling?
8- Procurement: Is the hospital using recycled paper, energy efficient equipment, water-efficient laundering, and/or other green products?
9- Contaminants: How is the company reducing toxins, such as mercury and PVC (both can leak toxic plasticizers into fluids of IV drip bags and tubing)?
10- Green and Natural Cleaning Products: Is the hospital using natural cleaning products, free of hazardous chemicals?
11- Waste reduction: Is the hospital segregating medical waste and reducing, re-using and recycling everything else like general waste, furniture, and equipment?
12- Healing Gardens: Is there a garden where patients, employees and visitors can sit and enjoy fresh air and the beauty of nature? Are native plants used to reduce water usage and the use of pesticides?
Winners for The Green Guide's Top 10 Green Hospitals at a Glance:
• Boulder Community Hospital Foothills Campus (Boulder, CO)
• Bronson Methodist Hospital (Kalamazoo, MI)
• Kaiser Permanente (headquarters in Oakland, CA)
• Laguna Honda Replacement Hospital and Rehabilitation Center (San Francisco, CA)
• Legacy Health System Salmon Creek Hospital (Vancouver, WA)
• Mount Sinai Medical Center's Lauder Center for Maternity Care (New York, NY)
• Patrick H. Dollard Discovery Health Center (Harris, NY)
• Providence Newberg Hospital (Newberg, OR)
• Sarkis Gabrellian Women's and Children’s Pavilion at Hackensack University Medical Center (Hackensack, NJ)
• Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute (Atlanta, GA)
RUNNERS UP
For waste reduction, recycling and re-use:
• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon, NH)
• Sparrow Health System (Lansing, MI)
• University of Michigan Hospital and Health Centers (Ann Arbor, MI)
For green building:
• Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Concord Hospital (Concord, NH)
• Mercy Suburban Hospital (Norristown, PA)
For fresh, local and organic hospital food:
• St. Luke's Hospital (Duluth, MN)
• Good Shepherd Health Care System (Hermiston, OR)
• Allen Memorial Hospital (Waterloo, IA)
• Duke University Medical Center (Durham, NC)
• Fletcher Allen Medical Center (Burlington, VT)
It's great to see so many hospitals consider the well-being of a patient and how to to steward the earth. Indeed, I look forward to the time when green hospitals are not an exception, but the rule.
Eco-Friendly, Non-Toxic Paint! Go Green with Color!
Did you know that although a fresh coat of paint may perform wonders to the look and feel of a room it can also be detrimental to your health? Think about the last time you painted a room or house and the trouble you had breathing, especially when the air was stagnant. Indeed, standard paint is toxic for the planet and our bodies. In fact, the nasty effects of paint fumes can impact the body for up to 3 years! With this in mind, the next time you go to paint your room, house, or office, use eco-friendly paints.
Learn more from the EPA and start shopping for eco-paints here.
Here is a video abstract from Season One of PBS television show called "Building Green," hosted by Kevin Contreras, exploring the basics of eco-friendly paints and green brands.
Our Partnership with Globally Minded Works
Globally Minded gives 15% of its profits to Globally Minded Works to help children learn in the Highlands Guatemala. We believe that helping a child to read, write and think opens up new possibilities and opportunities, while alleviating the affects of poverty. We market and sell our fair trade, handcrafted, eco-friendly jewelry via Amazon and when you buy $25.00 or more, your purchases are eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping. Buy our jewelry for you or your loved one today and make a difference in the lives of those struggling in poverty.
To give you an idea of the splendor of Lake Atitlan, here is a clip:
Indoor Plants: The Secret to Clean Indoor Air
Did you know the air in your home may be toxic? Thankfully, there are a host of indoor plants available to clean your air. In 1989, NASA identified a number of indoor plants effective at reducing toxins in the home, including benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and carbon monoxide.
- Benzene - Found in inks, oils, plastics, paints, detergents, synthetic fibers, etc.
- Formaldehyde - Found in plywood, grocery bags, waxed paper, fire retardants, etc.
- Trichloroethylene - Found in inks, varnishes, & adhesives
- Carbon monoxide - Found in unvented kerosene and gas heaters, leaking chimneys and furnaces, tobacco smoke, automobile exhaust from attached garage, gas stoves, & generators and other gasoline powered equipment.
Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifritzii)
Chinese Evergreen (Algaonema modestmu)
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
Janet Craig (Dracaena)
Marginata (Dracaena marginata)
Mass Cane/ Corn Plant (Dracaena massangeana)
Mother-in-law's Tongue (Sansevieria laurentii)
Pot Mum (Chrysantheium morifolium)
Peace Lily (Spathuphyllum "Mauna Loa")
Go shopping, clean your air and live free!