Money Changes Things

Gratitude is Free... and Good for You...

2009-11-25T12:33:00.004-05:00

Here's a great post from Rabbi Brant Rosen's blog, Shalom Rav:

In honor of Thanksgiving, here’s a rundown on the latest findings in the science of gratitude:
Several years ago, Dr. Michael McCollough of the University of Miami and Dr. Robert Emmons of the University of California at Davis conducted a scientific study that charted the benefits of regular, mindful thankfulness. Their findings:
- Those who kept gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events.
- Participants who kept gratitude lists were more likely to have made progress toward important personal goals (academic, interpersonal and health-based) over a two-month period compared to subjects in other experimental conditions.
- A daily gratitude intervention (self-guided exercises) with young adults resulted in higher reported levels of the positive states of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy.
- Participants in the daily gratitude condition were more likely to report having helped someone with a personal problem or having offered emotional support to another.
- In a sample of adults with neuromuscular disease, those who kept gratitude journals resulted in greater amounts of high energy positive moods, a greater sense of feeling connected to others, more optimistic ratings of one’s life, and better sleep duration and sleep quality.
- Children who practice grateful thinking have more positive attitudes toward school and their families.
Interestingly (but perhaps not surprisingly), the study also concluded that gratitude is not religiously dependent:
McCullough says these results also seem to show that gratitude works independently of faith. Though gratitude is a substantial part of most religions, he says the benefits extend to the general population, regardless of faith or lack thereof. In light of his research, McCullough suggests that anyone can increase their sense of well-being and create positive social effects just from counting their blessings. (The Osgood File).
So put that spiral notebook on your nightstand and give thanks.

A Thank You Note to Warm the Socially Responsible Heart.

2009-11-17T23:00:00.002-05:00

Gift-giving, especially to teenagers, is a subject of debate in our house. I like interesting socially responsible donations which somehow make a splash; my husband thinks that's like coal in a Christmas stocking. Though mostly the occasions are Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Having seen how a good deal of my kids' bar and bat mitzvah haul is now being freecycled, as we downsize and they're out of the house - I feel even greater resolve not to send material gifts.

My latest favorite is a Kiva "gift" certificate. The recipient chooses whom to lend the microcredit to, and receives the payments. Eventually when the loan is repaid it becomes cash in the recipient's Kiva account. Then it can be relent (that would make me happy indeed), cashed out (well, at least the third world micro-entrepreneurs got to use it for one loan cycle) or regiven to someone else as a gift.

We recently gave a lovely young lady, Miranda, a Kiva certificate. It took awhile for her to figure out what on earth it was, but when she did, we received a lovely affirmation. And long after the other gifts are shelved, she'll still be getting repayments and an opportunity to reloan the capital. Go, Miranda! You can click on the image to enlarge it.

If you're having trouble reading it - "I'd also like to thank you for the Kiva gift certificate. It is so cool! I just spent it, so a taxi driver, a Fashion Designer, a farmer and a Fruit Seller also say Thank You!"

Equicafe: At Last, FairTrade Organic INSTANT

2009-11-17T09:36:00.009-05:00

OK, I drink instant coffee. In this world of jazzed coffee junkies, I am very down market. Strong coffee has no appeal to me, but I do like a cup of Maxwell House in the mornings.

Enter FairTraded coffee, where the farmers earn living wages. That presumably means (as my son Zach astutely pointed out) that most coffee must be UnFair Trade. Organic is much better for the farmers, too - eliminating their exposure to pesticides and enhancing their land's productivity.

Alas, there's never been any instant FairTrade, organic coffee available. Therefore I was excited to find a new product at Fairway, the New York area's Temple of Cool Food Shopping. Equicafe is not as strong as Maxwell House so you need a bit more for your cup, but hey. You can wake up, drink your coffee & read the newspaper, and feel better about your role in the coffee chain, from field to mug:

"You made a unique choice. This coffee has been grown by indigenous communities in Colombia.
Biodiversity and environmental protection is a legacy of their traditions and way of life.
This coffee is the best example of how organic and FAIR TRADE products can offer a unique choice in quality and taste."

It's not available online yet, but they carry it at Fairway (NYC, NJ, Brooklyn) and at OrganicDirect, which looks like it will ship in the NY area.

CVS & Their #5 Prescription Bottles - Tell Them They Can Do Better!

2009-10-19T17:02:00.003-04:00

Recently I started saving all our #5 orange CVS prescription bottles. The labels come off quite easily, so I figured I would take up the major hurdles of recycling #5's with our local branch. Their response makes sense - it's illegal to REUSE a prescription container, since it could have traces of another medication in it. However, they should take them back. Since it's a chain with over 6000 stores (can you imagine how many plastic prescription bottles they go through, which are almost all dumped in landfill?), they don't encourage local initiatives.

They suggested I write cvs.com, which is exactly what I did. I encourage you to do the same - tell them to do both things written below: 1) switch to #1 or #2 plastic, more commonly recycled, AND 2) start an in-store recycling program. The email is StoreComments@CVS.com - let Kerri know they could do a lot better on this issue!

CVS/pharmacy^®
Thank you for contacting the CVS/pharmacy Web site about recycling our prescription bottles. At this time, CVS does not have a recycling facility or program for the prescription bottles. We are looking into options, including a recycling program or possibly changing our bottles to a plastic that can be disposed of in curbside recycling pick-up.
In the meantime, plastic #5 can be recycled at Whole Foods locations. If there is a Whole Foods location that is convenient for you, we suggest dropping your prescription bottles there when you are in the area. We also suggest removing personal information from the prescription bottles before disposing or recycling.
I appreciate the time you have taken to contact us. Thank you for shopping with CVS/pharmacy. We look forward to your continued patronage.
Sincerely,
Kerri StoreComments@cvs.com
CVS/pharmacy
Customer Relations
07963806

BetterWorld Books: Wendy's New Fav

2009-10-15T20:00:00.004-04:00

My friend Wendy just sent me a letter she received - from a book, purchased through BetterWorldBooks.

(Your book(s) asked to write you a personal note - it seemed unusual, but who are we to say no?)
Holy canasta! It's me... it's me! I can't believe it is actually me! You could have picked any of over 2 million books but you picked me! I've got to get packed! How is the weather where you live? Will I need a dust jacket? I can't believe I'm leaving Mishawaka, Indiana already - the friendly people, the Hummer plant, the Linebacker Lounge - so many memories. I don't have much time to say goodbye to everyone, but it's time to see the world! I can't wait to meet you! You sound like such a well read person. Although, I have to say, it sure has taken you a while! I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but how would you like to spend five months sandwiched between Jane Eyre (drama queen) and Fundamentals of Thermodynamics (pyromaniac)? At least Jane was an upgrade from that stupid book on brewing beer. How many times did the ol' brewmaster have one too many and topple off our shelf at 2am?

I know the trip to meet you will be long and fraught with peril, but after the close calls I've had, I'm ready for anything (besides, some of my best friends are suspense novels). Just five months ago, I thought I was a goner. My owner was moving and couldn't take me with her. I was sure I was landfill bait until I ended up in a Better World Books book drive bin. Thanks to your socially conscious book shopping, I've found a new home. Even better, your book buying dollars are helping kids read from Brazil to Botswana.

BetterWorldBooks is a social enterprise - a new type of hybrid mission-driven for-profit business which shows much promise providing solutions to vexing problems. They make money selling books, and donate an [undisclosed] portion to their literacy partners around the world- some in cash to run the programs, and by donating used book to their literacy partners. The also have an environmental mission, to get unused book back into circulation, and to save books from landfills. They run book drives on campuses and accept donations from libraries. They will send you free shipping labels for book donations, even.

One mystifying aspect - maybe someone from BetterWorldBooks can explain their buyback deal?They say they will pay cash for your books. I input about a dozen books and they all came up as "donation" - meaning, I presume, that they would accept them, but not buy them. These were all relatively new books - quite a few from a class my college student child was trying to resell. So if they don't offer $$ for current books in print, I'm not clear on what they WOULD pay for.

Great concept, though. Surely a good way to purchase books, and support a lot of good initiatives. Wendy is quite sold, for sure!

Join My Village - Clicking for Poverty Alleviation

2009-10-10T20:01:00.002-04:00

Many of you are familiar with The Hunger Site and its affiliates, where you click per day and sponsors donate per click. There is also FreeRice, multiple choice questions which generate food for the hungry. I've come across a new one, where answering 3 simple-minded questions unlocks $1 (you can do this once daily) towards JoinMyVillage. The way I figure, I waste so much time on line already, why not do something worthwhile, even if it seems a little cheesy?

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - What a Story!

2009-10-08T20:00:00.004-04:00

William Kamkwamba is from a village in Malawi, one of the world's poorest countries. At age 14, famine forced him to leave school - his parents couldn't pay for both food and education. William poured through books at a local mini-branch library and, intrigued by a diagram of a windmill, proceeded to build one out of salvaged materials. Now 22, watch his interview with Jon Stewart. He's on his way! Check out his blog. (I didn't have a good label for this story - hope you like my posting it under "handmade crafts" :-)

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Israel's Good News for Bee Colonies

2009-10-06T20:53:00.002-04:00

Over the past few years, bee colonies around the world have been infected with a virus which causes colony collapse, creating a crisis for farmers and generally upsetting the ecology of pollination. Scientists in Israel have come up with an effective treatment, which you can learn more about here. The disorder was first diagnosed in Israel earlier in the decade. Some were calling it Israeli Colony Collapse Disorder, as if Israel were causing it. A quick google search shows that designation has, fortunately, disappeared, as the research has moved beyond the Israeli contribution to the diagnosis.

Geo-Tracking our Stuff... A Techno-Triumph

2009-09-29T22:06:00.003-04:00

The world is full of new compound words, like geo-tracking and techno-triumph. As we become aware of more ways to be responsible consumers, paying attention to supply chains so we know where the stuff that makes up our stuff actually comes from, it becomes ever more complex. In a globalized world, things come from endless amount of places and travel through many stages. Ever shop at the beloved Trader Joe's, where every package says it comes from Framingham, Mass?

Here's a very cool story about supply chain tracking technologies and websites, where you can learn more about this whole process. Hopefully, when carbon is priced and traded, it will raise the cost of shipping things all over the world, and we can become more efficient, lowering emissions and wasting less energy on shipping component parts ridiculously far.

(hat tip to worldchanging.com )

Lazy Blog Post: Admire the Wesleyan Enviro Organization's Tag Sale!

2009-09-23T22:05:00.002-04:00

This is so smart. It solves the problem of what to do with these items at the end of the year if you don't need them, or have no way to ship them home, keeps the stuff out of landfills,and gives the next year's entering class a change to consume lower on the stuff chain, by reusing! And the net goes to charity!

EON Raises $9,000 for Charity with Tag Sale

Sep. 22, 2009 by Olivia Bartlett Drake

Wesleyan's Environmental Organizers Network hosted a Waste Not! tag sale Sept. 5-7 inside the former Moconaughy Dining Hall.

EON collected usable items from students last spring and sold them in the sale.

Students stocked up on clothing, school supplies and furniture for the school year.

EON raised more than $9,000 for local charities.

Students walked away with bedding, books, kitchen supplies, microwaves and rugs.

All unsold items will be donated to GoodWill, Amazing Grace food pantry and the College in Prision Program. Left over electronics will be recycled. (Photos by Olivia Bartlett Drake)

Following David Pogue's Take Back the Beep Campaign re: Cellphone Messages

2009-09-23T17:28:00.005-04:00

A few months ago, David Pogue, tech columnist for the NYTimes (yes, a few journalists are still writing for newspapers) made an impassioned plea for cellphone customers to rise up and protest the stupidity of being forced to waste 15 cellphone billed seconds every time someone wants to leave a message. You know you're forced to listen to a bunch of dumb suggestions, like "If you want to page this person, do yada yada yada", even though no one bothers with pagers anymore? That's all enforced cellphone revenue!
He has a careful list of all the different companies to complain to, for the right to simply leave a message after the beep, without listening to anything. Most everyone who uses phones knows what to do when they hear a beep.
As for me, I mostly use my cell to keep in touch with my adult children. Usually they call back without listening to the messages I've left, anyway. So my new strategy is to stop leaving messages just to say hi. They generally check for missed calls, and since I show up in that list, I've told them to consider a call with no message a Hello-I-love-you. If I DO leave a message, it is because I need to tell them something significant. This cuts down on the time we all waste on cellphones, and the cost, too.

Lend to MicroFinance Clients, but Keep Your Funds Fluid!

2009-09-17T17:03:00.006-04:00

Microplace sent a really interesting offer to my inbox: lend money to the world's poor, hardworking micro-entrepreneurs, at a modest profit - but take your money out when you need it!

Microplace, run by Calvert's socially responsible financial services along with Ebay, has been offering this opportunity to be a mini-microlender for about a year, but this is the first time I've seen the option to do so without locking your money in for a specified time period. I think this is a neat way to stash short-term funds, knowing they're being used by women to help climb out of poverty. (Note that it's still better to invest for a longer time period, so the Microfinance Institutions don't constantly need to chase capital.) If you don't know when you'll next need a sum which can safely put away for awhile, this is perfect.

Generally at Microplace you designate your desired interest rate and chosen time frame. (This is different than Kiva, which pays no interest, though the borrowers do, of course.) To take advantage of this offer, you need to specify "Repayment Anytime".

Laundry: Eco-Strategies

2009-08-31T15:28:00.006-04:00

Laundry is an extremely resource-intensive pursuit: each load we throw in the wash consumes detergent, any additional inputs people opt for, water, electricity to run the washing machine, gas to heat the water (if you don't go with cold water) and ditto for the dryer, which is fueled by electricity and gas. And of course laundry consumes a lot of time, too.

Wash Day was a very literal depiction, in times past. Standards for housework escalated with the advent of "labor-saving" devices across the home, and laundry is no exception. My mother grew up in a prosperous 1920's household where each diner was assigned one large damask napkin FOR THE WEEK; monogrammed napkin rings served as ID's for them. People didn't throw clothes into the hamper just because they'd worn them once or automatically toss towels and linens in after a single use. The easiest thing you can do to save resources and time is simply be more selective about how frequently you wash items.

One of the most liberating things I learned from my mother-in-law (a frugal immigrant from Germany) is that it's fine to change bed linens every other week; she totally goes for the least laborious approach. Changing sheets biweekly does not seem to shorten lifespans or result in the Board of Health citing you for Bad Housekeeping. Likewise, if towels are assigned and freshly showered people use them, who says the towels are dirty?

Now, for the laundry. First, reduce packaging by buying detergent in a large container, and if it's "x2", that means it's concentrated, so use just HALF of what you did with the older product. My experience is that for normal loads, you can use less than they recommend. After all, their job is to maximize the amount of detergent they sell you. I never use fabric softener at all; to me it's just injecting a whole lot more chemicals into the system.

The new front-loading washers use way less water, a worthwhile upgrade if you're in the position to buy one. The clothes are more wrung out, too, so it cuts drying time. They use specially formatted detergent, in even smaller quantities than conventional washing machines, providing for even more resource reduction. I find cold water cleans just fine; other members of my family think that warm water does a better job with specific tasks. Another advantage of using cold water: clothes are less likely come out different colors or sizes than they were when you put them in!

Line-drying takes more time but has many virtues. It consumes no energy other than your own, and it reduces wear and tear on clothes and linens, so they last longer. Some people enjoy hanging their laundry outdoors; since we are paranoid about pollen, we hang everything inside. There are a variety of clever racks and gizmos to accomplish this task, though all one really needs is a horizontal pole and an extra set of hangers, along with some clothespins, perhaps. When the garments or items are mostly dry, but still just a tad moist, I run them through the dryer for 5 to 10 minutes. The wrinkles disappear - NO IRONING!

Clotheslines are actually illegal in some locales; it seems that they look too primitive for the likes of some suburbs and condo associations. If you want to join the fight for line-drying, check out LaundryList.org.

Our New Solar Lamp-Post Lantern: Sustainable Problem Solving

2009-08-18T20:43:00.006-04:00

Most house maintenance purchases are anything but gratifying - repairing infrastructure, for example. How exciting is it to shell out $1000's of dollars, so that your roof stops leaking? Or upgrading your electrical outlets, or replacing dead appliances.... Recently we purchased something which both solved a problem and really tickles my eco-fancy, an exterior solar lamp-post lantern.

The Problem: years ago, when our sewer pipe was replaced, the workers accidentally cut the electrical line to our walkway's lantern lamp post. We put in a string of LED yard lanterns, and just left the post/lantern as a relic. Since we expect to be moving, it needed addressing, but how do you do lights when you are - thanks to worker error - effectively off-grid? We searched the internet for a solar option and voila! A few days later this lovely fixture arrived from Solar Illuminations. My husband simply took off the old lantern and replaced it with this new one.
It is so cleverly designed. The reflector multiplies the light so it really looks like there are multiple reflectors. It charges during the day and emits a blueish light after dark. It's beautiful, so adds both lovely form and sustainable function to the walkway to our house.
Solar yard lights are imperfect - they naturally depend on full sun, and this one is under a lovely spreading tree. But it generates enough light to shine a few hours in the evening and every time the lantern catches my eye, it pleases me. More than I can say for most household repairs!

Unfreezing Your Equifax Score - Thanks, GetHuman.com!

2009-08-10T11:30:00.003-04:00

Two years ago I dutifully froze our credit scores from the Big Three: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Tons of rigmarole, and while I received a free credit report, it cost to freeze our accounts. It's touted as an Identity Theft security measure, but now I'm thinking it's mostly a revenue generator for these companies.

Recently a big transaction we're working on necessitated credit reports; the freeze worked and we needed to thaw them. At none of these sites was there any listed way to talk to anyone. Though I had original documentation of the freezes, directions for lifting them were completely missing from their websites, as was any contact information. You know those circular sites where you input your information and then it rejects you because you're not in their system? I would give them a minus 5 - on a customer service scale of 1-10. Each one sucked up about an hour of time, and then they charge $10 for each account thaw, adding up to $60.

The last one, Equifax, was the worst. In exasperation, I went to a great site, GetHuman, and found Equifax's phone number. HA!!! After a short wait, they directed me to the Equifax Freeze Line: 888 298-0045. Of course the first thing Indian Call Center Guy wanted to know was my PIN # - and of course if I'd had it, I wouldn't be calling. But in ten minutes the problem was solved. The reason for my titling this post "Unfreezing your Equifax Score" is that hopefully search engines will pick it up, and future searches will reveal this post and save people time.

So, is it worth freezing your credit scores, given that it takes time, money, and a huge hassle to undo it?

Style vs. Fashion: A Shopper's Lament

2009-08-02T17:07:00.002-04:00

Since I love well-designed clothes, it’s remarkable to me how few I can find to actually purchase. My advice to the women’s apparel industry, whose sales have plunged as low as this year’s necklines, is to ask women what clothes they’d like to invest in, instead of trying to create clothing fads which will catch on despite a recession. A good garment industry question for us, their potential customers: which clothes do you love? What garments do you take out year after year and enjoy wearing? What are the features of your favorite styles? Garment manufacturers would get an earful!

I have always loved style, but am annoyed by fashion. Style, by my definition, is the cut of a garment, along with its quality, color, fabric, pattern, texture, intended function, and comfort. Fashion is: whatever the stores are selling at a given time.

The garment’s cut: is it attractive? Many clothes are just plain unflattering. Pants which are low-slung, showing women’s rear ends when they sit down and necklines which reveal so much cleavage that onlookers are embarrassed come to mind. Cut also takes sizing into consideration. What a hassle it is to be any size other than what the manufacturers think of as normal! Short, tall, large, small, younger, older – somehow designers think the same clothes should look great on everybody. And of course a very basic question: is it comfortable? A garment cut too high will choke, a garment cut too low will create a lot of anxiety; too tight will never do. That’s probably why capris have remained popular for many years – they are comfortable, flattering, and their length is forgiving. And of course, it’s nice if the cut is predictable, so if you find a brand which fits you well, you can trust another garment in their line will ALSO fit you. (Good luck with that one….)

Color is one of the great delights of clothing. Bright, bold are just right for some complexions; pastels work better for others. Likewise, big bold patterns might suit tall women; short women (and there are a lot of us!) avoid them. Practical shoppers know that there’s nothing easier to maintain than black. Buying a light colored anything, no matter how gorgeous, is asking for a big cleaning bill and a lot of fussing over not getting the garment dirty to begin with. The palette is controlled by the apparel industry, so if you find colors you love, don’t be surprised when they disappear for a few years.

Fabric comes in an endless variety of textures and types. Some are easier to care for than others, of course, and their eco-footprints vary as well. Some are much more comfortable than others. I am a huge fan of bamboo; it is luxuriously soft and grows quickly, requiring less input than cotton. Hemp is another environmentally friendly fabric, though hard to find. Organic cotton is better than regular cotton since it is grown without pesticides, but growing any cotton consumes great quantities of water. Tencel and rayon have lovely drape and are sourced from renewable wood. Polyester is a petroleum product, though some high-end manufacturers source it from recycled materials. Obviously clothing that requires dry-cleaning is costlier to maintain, as well as more polluting to the environment. The addition of lycra to make fabric stretchier, better fitting, and more comfortable is a stroke of genius!

Function is important. So many clothes are simply impractical. Most women I know want pockets to stash a tissue, a key, a credit card, a cell phone. People are lowering the thermostats these days – so why did bulky sweaters disappear from the earth? Why does my raincoat’shood fly backwards when it’s windy, with no fastener to keep it in place? Why doe the zippers to my winter jacket’s pockets scratch my hands every time I reach in for my gloves? And why on a bride’s Big Day are all the dresses strapless, requiring said bride to continually yank up her gown so she doesn’t accidentally expose herself? I do think designers should test drive these clothes.

Lastly, is the style flattering? I find it amazing how similar each year’s fashions are from brand to brand, pretty much all the same, as if we all want to look alike, and would all look good in the same styles. I like t-shirts which are not too tight fitting and fall, in fashion-speak, at high hip. About five years ago I found ones that were perfect and snatched them in four basic colors. They’re schleppy now, but when I went to replace them, whoa! Every single brand I tried had added a few inches of length to their t-shirts and slimmed them down so they are tighter fitting, including the petite sizes. Someone decided that they should all hit snugly at the lower hips this year. Forget it! Am I the only person in America who is not a 5’10” model? Who do they think is out there?

Maybe some smart designer will figure out there is money to be made in orders where we can give exact measurements. There is definitely a business to be made in designing clothes that are beautiful, practical, flattering, consistently sized and responsibly sourced. They would be costly, but well worth it. And of course, if anyone has found such a company, do tell.

Mrs. Goundo's Daughter: A Must-See Documentary

2009-07-29T21:24:00.008-04:00

Mrs. Goundo, a young immigrant to the United States from Mali in West Africa, is faced with a heart-wrenching dilemma: she is terribly homesick for her family and country, but if she brings her little daughter to visit, her family - against Mrs. Gounda's wishes - will snatch her and take her to a female genital exciser. Ritual cutting is illegal in many countries, but far from eradicated, since it is deeply ingrained in local social systems and religious beliefs. Beliefs and myths aside, it causes profound health problems for girls and women, including infections, urine leaking, bleeding to death, pain, and major complications (including higher death rates) in childbirth.
Mrs. Goundo, having lived in the United States for a few years, has learned how dangerous and traumatic this practice is; she also sees that "uncut" women are not evil or loose, as she was taught in her tribal culture. Determined to protect her daughter from it, she must apply for asylum to stay in the United States. The movie makers document this long, tense process, contrasting it with scenes from Mali. The footage includes conversations both with Malian health activists working to eradicate this practice and those who perform it and consider it essential. The Exciser, who brags about cutting 62 little girls in one session, is not a lady you'll quickly forget....
The contrast of the Philadelphia scenes - dreary winter streets, antiseptic offices, nearly empty playgrounds and restaurants - with the lively, colorful Malian street scenes is marked. Mrs. Goundo herself dresses in a black full-body robe while the ladies in Mali dress in a wild, bold, dizzying array of colored patterns. Likewise the kids are playing on the streets and having a great time. Mali is one of the poorest countries on the planet, so probably the kids all being out on the mud streets is related to substandard housing and the absence of schools, but it does evoke the warmth and comfort of life lived in extended, traditional families in a warm climate. The filmakers have captured great beauty in their scenes of Mali, a good balance for a movie which critiques this specific cultural practice.
My two take-aways:

It will be very important to retrain the excisers. Income generation opps are few in Mali, so until these women have alternatives that afford them respect and livelihood, we'll not see the end of female genital cutting any time soon.
People love rituals, especially ones which end with big tribal dances and village celebrations. There needs to be something else in girls' lives to celebrate. I'm sure villages that have eradicated this practice have figured out substitues; I hope they celebrate the girls starting school. If anyone knows how this is handled, please leave a comment.

Do see this movie. It will be on NPR, and also part of the Human Rights Watch Traveling International Film Festival.
Hats off to Janet Goldwater and Barbara Attie, the filmakers. For more information on the work being done to eliminate female genital cutting, check out their site.

Lily's Wool Project - Helping Women in Africa Support Themselves!

2009-07-13T11:33:00.004-04:00

I love to highlight inspiring projects, especially those sparklers among us privileged Americans - people who just see a huge need and decide to do something to make a difference. Like LIlly Glarion, of Boulder, Colorado, who is building on her extraordinary Bat Mitzvah project. Here, in her own words, as reported in Reform Judaism Magazine:

Becoming a bat mitzvah meant I was going to become an adult in my community. Like everyone else, I would practice my Hebrew prayers, prepare a d’var torah, and do a mitzvah project. At first I thought I’d collect canned food for a homeless shelter or do volunteer work—something simple. But when my mom told me about a small group of women in Kenya who wanted to learn how to spin wool and weave cloth to support their families, I decided that a project in Africa was as good as any.

In my mind I said, “Whatever.” I didn’t have clue about what I was getting myself into.

Lilly raised money and in time, the idea that was hatched when her mom sent next to a Kenyan woman on an airplane, became a reality. Spinning adds value to the wool produced near their village, providing employment and greater incomes. When women's earnings increase, they invest it in improved nutrition and schooling for their children, the best bang for your charity buck around. She doesn't describe this as microfinance, because they're giving rather than loaning the machinery, but the ends - self-sufficient livelihood - is identical. Lilly's funds paid for a loom, spinning wheel, and spinning training sessions, setting the women up with a small enterprise to launch their entrepreneurial spirits. I love that they trained a few of the women who in turn teach the others. I also love that this project is a collaboration between Lilly and her mom Susan. What better mother-daughter project can you imagine than making the world a better place by helping third world mothers improve their lives and their children's as well?

Read the whole story here, and learn more about their project at their website, Lilly's Wool Project: Helping Kenyan Women Become Self-Sufficient.

Click here for information on how to donate to this really special project. Their fiscal sponsor, International Peace Initiatives, accepts Paypal or credit cards, if you prefer donating electronically. Susan Dexter of IPI says to just earmark your PayPal donation for Lilly's Wool Project in Kenya. To confirm by email, her address is nomadsusie@frontiernet.net.

Agahoza Shalom is Up and Running!

2009-07-10T16:40:00.009-04:00

This letter from Anne Heyman, the founder of an orphanage/youth village in Rwanda which she founded after hearing of the plight of African orphans, especially post-genocide in Rwanda. She is a philanthropist with vision, and set about bringing it to reality. I blogged about her when the village was still on the drawing board - how thrilling that the kids have no moved in and it's up and running! She is truly one of my heroes!

From Anne Heyman:
I am writing to you from the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda, where last week we celebrated our official opening. As I sit outside watching the sun rise and listening to the cacophony of bird songs that fill the air I think about something one of our children said to me: At Agahozo-Shalom I have found peace for the first time in my life. I feel it here; the gift of life.

What is it about this place that is so extraordinary? It is a beautiful – stunning really – setting, that is for sure. Our “campus” – the farm, the colorful houses, the school and community center – are unlike anything ever seen in this part of the world. But they are not the miracle or the magic of this place. Children who arrived here 6 months ago quiet and shy, who couldn’t look you in the eye and spoke very little English, not only performed skits, gave speeches, sang songs and danced at our opening ceremony, but they planned it all themselves. Songs to their parents, urging them to rest in peace now; to take comfort in the fact that their children are well taken care of. They assure their parents that they have found a new family and home and will be fine. They tell their parents they will do well and live a good life, and look forward to seeing them at some point in heaven. The children performed a skit about a child who comes to Agahozo-Shalom next year desolate and desperate about the miserable state of her orphan life. In the play they tell her that it is different hear at Agahozo-Shalom and introduce her to her new mother and sisters and brothers. When she is not immediately comforted by their words and embraces they take action: they invite her to join them in games, they draw her out and bring her in through leading by example. They had a debate about which subjects they were going to take in school next year and why – what they can achieve, how they can help their community and their country with their education. And the play and debate were all in English!

When you arrive at Agahozo-Shalom you drive through gates that are painted with the words, in English and Kinyarwanda: “If you see far, you will go far” – one of the many constant themes that are part of our children’s daily lives. The huge, colorful mural outside the community center is the next thing that catches your eye – scenes from traditional Rwanda, from life at Agahozo-Shalom, of the path to the future. The philosophy of the Village, which is all about repair, community, taking responsibility for oneself and doing for others is reflected in everything that is done here: the way the children are spoken to, the programs that are offered and they way they are run, even the way the site is physically laid out. And the results, even in such a short time, are tangible. When you sit in the dining hall at lunch you hear conversations amongst our children taking place in English. Knowing that all higher education in Rwanda now has to take place in English they understand that this is key to their future. Kids who had never seen a computer before they arrived here proudly show you the power point presentations they have learned to do. They tell you about what they want to be when they grow up. They are ambitious and determined. And while many still struggle with the trauma of their past they are getting help and moving forward. And they are so eager to share – and in many cases have already started sharing – what they are learning here with others outside our walls.

This week our children are studying for and taking end of term examinations. As their thoughts turn to vacation, ours turn to next year. What are we going to need to be able to provide this gift to another 125 children whose amazing potential will only be realized if they come to live at Agahozo-Shalom? There are additional staff to be hired – house mothers, counselors, teachers, therapists, kitchen staff. We could use another nurse. And of course all new staff need to be trained in our philosophy and methodologies: Everyone at Agahozo-Shalom is expected to be an educator. The physical needs – beds, closets, desks, sheets, towels, personal supplies, dining hall furniture, school supplies and furnishings - are significant too. Our science labs (physics, biology and chemistry) need to be fully equipped; we are certainly going to need many more computers. In the doom and gloom of world news today Agahozo-Shalom is truly a shining light; a beacon of hope for so many. More than that, we are establishing a replicable model, one that soon will become a teaching and training center for others. There is no doubt in my mind that many of our students will be instrumental in bringing this model to many others, who, without a place like ours, would have no future. You can play an important part in making this happen. Whether your gift is large or small, in cash or in-kind, it will make a significant difference in the lives of so many. Please visit us on-line at agahozo-shalom to make your contribution.

As I close this letter I would like to let you know that our visitor houses are nearing completion – and they have hot water! We are putting together a program for short term volunteer groups. If your college, synagogue, church or other organization would be interested in an educational/volunteer experience in Rwanda, please contact tina@agahozo-shalom.org.

From the hills of Agahozo-Shalom I wish you Amahoro – Peace – and I thank you for standing up and being counted amongst those who are truly changing the world.

Anne Heyman

Founder, Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village

Finding the Needle in the Haystack

2009-06-30T18:07:00.004-04:00

Our new verbs like googling, Craigslisting, Ebaying, MapQuesting, facebooking, and freecycling, represent incredibly useful functions for the flow both of information and actual stuff. They connect PROVIDERS to SEEKERS in ways that could not have been imagined even a few years ago. Embracing these techniques provides surprising solutions to heretofore unsolvable problems.

Case in point: my digital camera which dropped from my bag and I unknowingly drove over. Dead. However, I love the camera. Knowing that its parts alone were costly, I set out to replace just the casing. And wouldn’t you know, the same model was being offered on Ebay, carefully warning the camera did not include memory card, battery, or manual…. Bringing that exact provider with this precise seeker – is that not a miracle? We can now find the needle in the haystack!

Fast forward. Today said camera stopped working; instead, a nasty “lens error, restart camera” message appeared. Neither trying that nor taking out and putting the battery back in did the trick. I was all set to just buy a new camera, knowing that repairs cost more than replacements, when I thought to google the camera model + “lens error message”. What popped up was MyBiggestComplaint.com, a blog that collects contributor gvetches.

There were no less than 159 complaints about just this problem. Many of the people had already done the research and reported standard camera site advice was useless. What does work, however, is to bang the camera hard. That didn’t work for mine, so I scrolled through the comments until a different fix was reported: adjust the lens itself, in case it is infinitesimally off-center. Eureka! Thirty seconds later my camera worked, and I’d saved $100. I added my method, so the next person has 160 people chiming in the fix-your-damn-camera chorus. Yup. This is miraculous.

PS - My laser printer stopped working - the paper LED blinked red and all the jiggling and bangin didn't work like it usually does. Thinking I'd need to buy a replacement tomorrow anyway, I googled "Brother HL2040 printer light blinking" and a site full of people's fixes came up. Third suggestion was the charm....

Join ShareOwners.org

2009-06-26T11:56:00.003-04:00

My son Zach recommends joining this new group which works on corporate accountability issues and promotes shareholder activism.

ShareOwners.org is working to help promote market fairness for investors like you and me. This is our chance to have a real voice by working together. We need your help to make this work! Please click here to join the nonprofit and nonpartisan ShareOwners.org now.

Their site has a lot of great resources. Welcome to the fight! And keep your rooting for Congress to pass the Climate Change bill today!

New Homes for Mom's Damask Tablecloths

2009-06-25T16:07:00.004-04:00

I've been on a decluttering tear, anticipating that the bid we have in on a short sale might, might, might be accepted by the mystery bank. Let's hear it for helping them detoxify their assets!
Looking around my home, I am eager to land my eye on things that are so much a part of my life that I never see them. The damask banquet tablecloths are a perfect example. I think they're from my parents, maybe from my in-laws. They are beautiful, formal, and require either professional laundering and pressing, or a chunk of time with an iron and starch. Forget it. I switched to non-wrinkle a few decades ago. I held the line for the seder, though. My cousin and I used to iron the tablecloth a day or two later, making a brief visit to the early 20th century. Gave up on that when I bought faux-damask wash and wear cloths and no one noticed the difference.
OK. I know I will never use these cloths. However, my mother prized them. She died 15 years ago, so I can't just call and ask her if she's OK with this. I was surprised at how aware I was of giving away something that was at one time a sort of family dowry item.
Enter freecycle. Several people expressed interest, and each now has a lovely tablecloth. I doubt I will ever think of the tablecloths again. However! There was a third table cloth, from an aunt. It is cutwork, yellow with white applique, exquisite. I used it once and it was a royal pain to clean, more suited for Versaille than a 21st century home. Way too obscure to put up on Ebay. Instinct said "Keep it", but for what?
Inspiration hit. Repurposed, the cloth could become beautiful window treatments for that mythic new house. On a window, instead of a table, we can enjoy the beautiful handiwork every day. So you don't have to give EVERYTHING away. When you edit, the treasures become more apparent.

Daily Worth: Smart, Wise, Classy and Sassy!

2009-06-18T09:42:00.007-04:00

DailyWorth launched this winter, in the midst of financial storms, and arrives daily to remind its readers - primarily women - that we need to take care of ourselves and be smart about money, ever more so if there is less of it flowing in our lives. We get daily pep talks reminding us that getting our financial life in order requires that we get our heads on straight. No more pretending and denying that our finances are in control if they're not; time to admit that we often sabotage ourselves when we don't make ourselves pay attention to those boring numbers, pesky statements, and annoying details - they can make the difference between abundance and subsistence!

The Daily Worth Duo, Amanda and Cristina, both live on my street. I take great pride in having introduced them - realizing that these two terrific new neighbors both work at home, like me, we had tea one day - our faux water cooler. In truth we never found time to do this again, but when Amanda went looking for just the right writer to bring her DailyWorth dream idea to fruition, lo and behold. That spot-on, talented communicator was RIGHT DOWN THE BLOCK.

It's quick to subscribe to DailyWorth and the fun part, you'll receive a pithy daily suggestion about how to be financially proactive, professionally astute, and develop more backbone, something we all need. The graphics are understated and elegant and the writing sparkles. Hats off to Amanda who birthed Maya right along with bringing DailyWorth from concept to reality and leading the team onwards and upwards. They're a new link on my blog roll.

Now Nicholas, Alexander, Dylan, Maya, and Zuzu - my next door neighbor doggie - know what their moms do all day!

What is the Opposite of Frugal?

2009-06-16T10:17:00.004-04:00

Reading all the media on the New Frugality, I am bemused. The presumption is that the opposite of frugal is luxurious. I disagree with that premise. For me, and many others, the opposite of frugal is wasteful. Why be wasteful, no matter what the economy looks like? Especially given environmental issues and overconsumption of resources.
I also disagree with another common idea - that the opposite of frugal is generous. I maintain that one can be frugal AND generous - in fact, frugality empowers generosity. Being sensibly frugal allows one to allot resources wisely - and generously. And makes splurging for an occasional luxury possible. Frugality is not about deprivation. It's about judgment.

Fidelity Investors: A Change to Vote AGAINST Genocide

2009-06-11T17:28:00.006-04:00

Amazingly enough, Fidelity Investments is recommending that its shareholders vote AGAINST a shareholder sponsored resolution designed to "prevent holding investments in companies that, in the judgment of the Board, substanitaly contribute to genocide or crimes against humanity." If you have a Fidelity account, a proxy ballot will be arriving shortly, if it hasn't already.
Follow their simple instructions and go to
proxyvote.com . All you need to do is type in your unique 12-digit ID which is right there on your ballot, so no password or user name or anything that requires trying to remember anything! Then click on VOTE, and the ballot comes up. There are only 2 things to vote on. The first is whether you are in favor or opposed to the board nominees. What is important is #3, a lengthy list of all its various funds, followed by the wording above. They recommend you vote AGAINST, but what you want to do is vote FOR. I am such a good girl that I don't think I ever voted against a company's recommendations, but in this case, it feels great. You are voting for not being complicit with Chinese petroleum interests in the Sudan funding the Darfuri genocide!
Check out Investors against Genocide for more information. Similar resolutions can be voted in at Vanguard and American Funds.
Good work, IAG!!

Gorgeous image - here's its url -