Give and get happy.

It's carried by Associated Press, talked about on NPR, and blogged about in the New York Times - the news is out: Giving to others makes you happy.

Elizabeth Dunn's research suggests that spending money on others makes the giver happier than spending money on herself. And the level of happiness seems to correlate with the amount of money given.

There's still much more research to be done to fully understand to role of altruism on human emotion, but you can do some experiments yourself. Give your time, your money, your materials. Give generously, give regularly, give selflessly. Now how do you feel? I know how I feel, that's why I strive to make giving a way of life. Try it for yourself and see you you feel.

Happy giving, and happy Spring.

"There is no greater gift to an insecure leader that quite matches a vague enemy who can be used to whip up fear and hatred among the population." - Paul Rusesabagina, humanitarian (b. 1954)

Let an ORCA eat your lunch.

I neglected to bring my lunch to work today so I went to the university dining hall to get some food. On the way in, I was greeted by a slideshow of a new machine the school has installed to reduce food waste. The ORCA is a biocomposting reactor that uses environmentally friendly microorganisms to transform food waste, paper and biodegradable plastic into water and carbon dioxide. In fact, the ORCA produces up to 10 times the amount of water it uses. Imagine what your institution could save in waste disposal costs!

If you are a decision maker at an institution that serves food, look into getting an ORCA or similar machine. You can visit Green Guard Associates to learn more about the ORCA.

The rest of us can do the following:

* Choose less packaging.
* Choose packaging and materials made from biodegradable plastics or paper.
* Try outdoor composting or indoor composting at your home.
* Encourage the higher-ups at your business, school, or other institution to consider getting a biocomposting reactor.

All of this is important because landfills contain more food and paper waste than diapers, styrofoam, and tires - combined. And even though food and paper are biodegradable, they need air and water to facilitate that process. The piles of compacted trash in landfills often don't degrade so they take up lots of space in the landfills. So find a way to compost your waste.

Thanks for the tip, Emory, and for lunch! Happy composting, everyone!

"An acre of performance is worth a whole world of promise." - William Dean Howells

Choose Eco-Palms.

For Christians, this Sunday, March 16, marks the beginning of Holy Week. It will be Palm Sunday, my friend Mawunyo's favorite Sunday. When I was growing up, my church, St. Andrew AME, always had palms for all the parishioners on Palm Sunday (Thanks Rev. Lamb!). I remember those spring days now at Mt. Zion AME where I'll wave my palm high this Sunday (Thanks Pastor Cox!) Unfortunately, those palms were not likely grown or harvested in socially and environmentally sustainable ways. Thankfully, now there are Eco-Palms!

Usually people who cut the palms are paid by volume, so harvesters gather as much at possible without paying much attention to quality. Consequently over 50% of the fronds are discarded, which is bad for the forests and the people and animals that depend on them. Eco-Palms are harvested in a more sustainable way. "Harvesters are paid on the quality of the palms they harvest rather than the quantity, which helps to limit the amount of palms taken from the forest. These communities have taken upon themselves to learn about harvesting practices that minimize impact on the natural forest where the palm grows, and ways to protect this wild species of palm." Using Eco-Palm methods only only 5-7% of the harvested palms have to be discarded. The program also eliminates middlemen for sorting and packing. Instead, community member do the work themselves ensuring a higher wage, and improving their standard of living.

Ready to order? Here's the info you need:

University of MN, Eco-Palms
Attn: RaeLynn Jones Loss
1530 Cleveland Ave N
115 Green Hall
St. Paul, MN 55108
Tel: 612-624-7418
Fax: 612-625-5212
ecopalms@umn.edu

Your church can even order now for Palm Sunday 2009. Just download the 2009 Eco-Palms Order Form and email or fax it in. The 2008 cost is $47.50 for 200 fronds compared to $21 to $23 for common palms.

Each year 300 million palm fronds are harvested each year just for the U.S. consumption, most of them for Palm Sunday. Make sure your congregation chooses palms that reflect your faith. And of course, Eco-Palms are are great for florists too. Check out these articles for more.

Happy Easter to those who celebrate it, and happy Spring to everyone!

"Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Join the Carnival for Change - Booth 2

Welcome to the Carnival for Change where we explore the web for interesting items relating to social justice, health, education, and opportunity.

* Mohammad Yunus, microlender and Nobel Laureate writes for the Christian Science Monitor: How social business can create a world without poverty.

* Subscribe to GOOD Magazine and 100% of your subscription feed will be donated to the charity of your choice. A one-year six-issue subscription is only $20. "Through a print magazine, feature and documentary films, original multimedia content and local events, GOOD is providing a platform for the ideas, people, and businesses that are driving change in the world."

* Fuji Film is holding a photo contest entitled Picture Sustainability. Pictures have to be submitted by March 15, 2008, so hurry!

* Sam Davidson of CoolPeopleCare, has a new book out: New Day Revolution: How to Save the World in 24 Hours. Check it out:


* March 8, 2008 - Saturday - is International Women's Day. Celebrate and cherish the women in your life and our world.

Thanks for visiting the Carnival for Change! If you'd like space at the next booth, send your items to me with "Carnival for Change" in the subject. See you next time!

"A good listener helps us overhear ourselves." - Yahia Lababidi, author (b. 1973)

Play video games.

I don't think I've played a video game since Atari tennis, but they've improved dramatically since Atari and I know there are many others who really enjoy them. Some of these programers and gamers are interested in social change as well, and they've combined their skills and interests to create games for change. Check out some of these games:

* PeaceMaker allows you to "experience the joy of bringing peace to the Middle East or the agony of plunging the region into disaster." It is available in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. Asaf Lubin of Israel writes "I played the game all night last night and found it brilliant and thought-provoking. The concept is of sheer genius and the execution was professional and creative... simply out of this world" and Terry Bowers of the US adds "(My son) has learned more about the conflicts that have been plaguing the Middle East in three hours than I have been able to teach him in many years."

* A Force More Powerful – the Game of Nonviolent Strategy is "the first and only interactive teaching tool in the field of nonviolent conflict." Red Herring writes “It’s like political jujitsu.”

* Climate Challenge is "a game where you are president of the European Nations. You must tackle climate change and stay popular enough with the voters to remain in office."

* Darfur is Dying, from MTV, is "is a viral video game for change that provides a window into the experience of the 2.5 million refugees in the Darfur region of Sudan. Players must keep their refugee camp functioning in the face of possible attack by Janjaweed militias."

* Pax Warrior is an "interactive documentary" that "weaves the tragic story of the UN experience in Rwanda placing the user, first person, in the shoes of a UN Commander trying to maintain peace." They need beta testers!

* Food Force, from the World Food Programme, presents this scenario: "A major crisis has developed in the Indian Ocean, on the island of Sheylan. We’re sending in a new team to step up the World Food Programme’s presence there and help feed millions of hungry people."

* Re-Mission was developed for young people with cancer. "Players pilot a nanobot named Roxxi as she travels through the bodies of fictional cancer patients destroying cancer cells, battling bacterial infections, and managing side effects associated with cancer and cancer treatment."

* Ayiti: The Cost of Life help the player answer the question "What is it like to live in poverty, struggling every day to stay healthy, keep out of debt, and get educated?" It's a project of Microsoft and Unicef.

Many of these games include resources to help you make a real world difference in the situations on which the games are modeled. And player can enjoy gaming while they learn skills and information that is useful away from the screen. So click over, download, and play some video games for fun and a better future. Enjoy!

"I would rather try to persuade a man to go along, because once I have persuaded him he will stick. If I scare him, he will stay just as long as he is scared, and then he is gone." -Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. general and 34th president (1890-1969)

Stop making excuses.

I've been writing So What Can I Do for several years now and I find many people are very supportive of my efforts. There are always a few though, who are convinced I am wasting my time. These folks have so many excuses for why they don't need to become involved, be more generous, work for justice, make the world a better place. Here are the excuses I hear most often, along with a few ideas to help folks stop making excuses start making a difference.

--> Excuse: "______ organization is just a scam." Well, I'm not so naive as to think that there are no scams out there. Certainly there are. But there are many many organizations, businesses, and people who are not trying to scam you. Sometimes people use this excuse because if they believe everyone who says they are trying to make a difference is really trying to scam them, then they don't have to ever do anything. It seems to relieve them of responsibility. Well the responsibility is still there. Try these ideas to stop making this excuse:

*Solution: Use a charity rating organization like Guidestar.org or CharityNavigator.org to determine how the organizations that interest you spend money. These services help you evaluate charitable organizations, so that your donation of time and talent does the most good.
*Solution: Think globally, act locally. When you give time or money to a local organization it should be easy to see the effects. You can check up on them and see the fruits of your donation, and hopefully be inspired to give again.
*Solution: Choose local foods, goods, and services. That way you support your local economy and everyone in your area benefits.

--> Excuse: "I can't participate because I have to work on improving myself first." A few years ago, I read biographies and autobiographies of people I admired: Nelson Mandela, Mohandas Ghandi, Angela Davis, Ida B. Wells, Martin Luther King, Paul Robeson, Malcolm X, and many others. I think I was looking for perfection. Of course, I never found it. Nobody's perfect. If we all waited until we were perfect to start making a difference nothing would ever get done. We're all flawed, but we all can serve. We can all contribute, we just have to find the ways that work best for us. Here are a few ways to get started:

Solution: Click to donate or visit a charity mall. These are fast and easy ways to contribute to the causes you believe in.
Solution: Donate blood, organs, milk, marrow, or hair. You'll make a huge difference in someone's life and you don't have to be perfect (or even near perfect) to donate.
Solution: Improve yourself. Get therapy. Take a class. Learn to read. End your addictions. Do what it takes to be the person you want to be and you'll have that much more to give to others. Just search on this site for these topics and your find more resources to help you get started.

--> Excuse: "____ may not be a scam, but it won't work." Do you have an idea to make the program work better? Then volunteer! Or choose to contribute or serve in ways in which the difference is local and/or immediate. Here are a few ideas:

Solution: Teach someone to read. It works, and you'll see a profound difference in your student's life. The literacy agency in your area has all the materials and resources you need to get started.
Solution: Fight hunger in your community. When you provide food for some who is hungry, they can tell you right away about the difference you've made. It works.
Solution: Volunteer your time. You'll see for yourself the difference you are making.

--> Excuse: "What's in this for me?" I guess we all have to be a bit self-interested, but don't let it get out of control. It helps to remember that no one can make it alone. We need help from someone, even if we pay them. So your concern and care for others can help you too. Here's are some ways to wean yourself from some of that self-interest:

Solution: Be a social entrepreneur. Many people are discovering new and exciting ways to make money and make a difference at the same time.
Solution: Make interest bearing microloans or charitable investments. Not only will you receive interest on your money, but you'll also help make the world a better place.
Solution: Sell your cell phone, reduce e-waste, and get some cash. It make sense even if you don't care about the environment or the health of the people who process electronic waste.

--> Excuse: "I'd love to help but I don't have enough time/money/etc." Even Bill Gates probably wishes he had more of something. If you don't have cash, give your possessions. If you don't have time, give money. If you don't have money, give you time and talent. You get the idea. No excuses.

Solution: Turn off the TV, save your spare change, stop junk mail and you'll have more time and money to give. Think about what's most important.
Solution: Click to donate. You don't need much time or money for that. And since you're reading this, you probably already have the internet connection you need. These have got to be the fastest, easiest, most inexpensive, way ever to make a charitable contribution.
Solution: Try socially responsible investing, and make some money so you'll have more to donate.

--> Excuse: "I'd help but I don't like working with kids/my hands/etc." No excuses folks. There are many ways you can help make a positive difference in our world. Some don't require you leave your home. You can even help without interacting with any other people. Want some ideas?

Solution: Be a virtual volunteer. You'd be amazed at the ways you can help without ever leaving your home. And you can be of service to organizations all over the world!
Solution: Write a letter to let your elected officials, media, and other know about your priorities. The squeaky wheel gets the grease and there's power in numbers!
Solution: Become an everyday philanthropist. You don't have to have a lot of money to make a big difference. In fact, those with the least money often give the most. Just give thoughtfully.

Hopefully by now, you've run out of excuses and a motivated and educated about all the ways we can improve our world. Thank you, in advance, for all you do.

"No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be." -Isaac Asimov, scientist and writer (1920-1992)

Join the Carnival for Change - Booth 1.

Today marks the beginning of a new feature at So What Can I Do: Carnival for Change. Periodically, we will pause to troll the web for interesting items relating to social justice, health, education, and opportunity. The Carnival for Change will differ from other blog carnivals in at least two ways: we'll include items from all over the web, not just the blogosphere, and, at least for now, it will only appear at So What Can I Do. So are you ready to get started? Let's go!

* Britt Bravo over at Have Fun, Do Good has a nice post on how giving can make you happy. Just right for those of us who may be experiencing the winter blues.

* Melanie Seasons sends notice of the Protecting Futures Program from Tampax and Always. "Protecting Futures is a comprehensive care program which will bring puberty education, traveling health educators, nutritious feeding programs, educational support services, a pad distribution program, and significant construction projects to nine schools in the first year." The focus is on Southern Africa. Thanks Melanie!

* Michael Gray encourages us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the peace symbol reminding us that it was designed by Gerald Holtom in 1958 and purposefully never copyrighted.

* Also from Melanie, a word about the HERO Youth Ambassador program in which "twenty-four teens from across the U.S.A. were selected to become Youth Ambassadors and traveled to Namibia and South Africa this summer to work on the Protecting Futures program." Thanks again, Melanie.

* Gary Hirshberg, the Founder of Stonyfield Yogurt (our family's favorite!), has a new book out: Stirring it up: How to Make Money and Save the World. Check it out:


* Heifer International announces a new way to give. Now you can fund particular projects that interest you. Of course you can still give chicks to your children, llamas to your lover, a goat to your grandma, etc.

Thanks for visiting the Carnival for Change! If you'd like space at the next booth, send your items to me with "Carnival for Change" in the subject. See you next time!

"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Mohandas Ghandi

Read, study, learn: OpenCourseWare

I have learned so much from doing the research needed to write this blog. That's a major reason why I do it. But still, I am often interested in learning more about certain topics - globalization, business management, sustainable development (of course). But these days, I like to choose my own classes, learn on my own schedule, and ideally, not pay a lot.

OpenCourseWare is the just the answer. More than 100 universities from all over the world have agreed to put full length versions of their courses on line for anyone to study. That's right, you can use the same materials used in college and graduate level course to learn about almost any topic. Choose classes in public health, engineering, foreign language, film, economics, psychology, you name it. What an amazing resource! And it's all free, though registration may be required depending on the university. Ready to get started?

* Visit OpenCourseWare Finder to find a course that interests you. Follow the links to the course material.
* Visit the OpenCourseWare Consortium to learn more about the program, or to get your institution involved.

That's it! You're ready to go. You won't earn credit, but the knowledge is yours to keep. Whether you want to start your own nonprofit, learn a foreign language, understand complex world issues, or something else entirely, you can learn more about the topics that will help you make a difference in our world. All for free. Happy studying!

"What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Read, and be inspired to action.

I recently visited the Headquarters of Heifer International in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have an amazing Platinum Level LEED certified building that is really in synch with their sustainable development programs. I also enjoyed their gift shop, which has a great book selection. I've certainly been inspired to action by good books and in that spirit offer these reading suggestions:


* The Difference a Day Makes: 365 Ways to Change Your World in Just 24 Hours by Karen M. Jones


* Mentioned previously on So what can I do.
* 365 Ways To Change the World: How to Make a Difference-- One Day at a Time by Michael Norton


* Our Day to End Poverty: 24 Ways You Can Make a Difference by Shannon Daley-Harris, Jeffrey Keenan, and Karen Speerstra mentions So What Can I Do. Thanks for the shout out!


* Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World by fellow Arkansan, Bill Clinton. Learn more about the Clinton Presidential Center and Clinton School for Public Change


* The Revolution: A Field Manual for Changing Your World edited by Heather Zydek was reviewed in So What Can I Do.


* How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas by David Bornstein

Got a book you'd like to recommend? Let me know! And note that when you order through these links (or the ones in the sidebar) you support So What Can I Do. Thank you, and happy reading.

"The way to get things done is not to mind who gets the credit of doing them." - Benjamin Jowett

Read out loud.

We're generally taught to read to ourselves soon after we learn how to read. But there are still many reasons to read out loud, to your children for example. Or for those who are blind or have other disabilities that limit print reading ability. Audiobooks, podcasts, and the like are very helpful, but what about reading text books? The newspaper? A letter from a friend? A menu at a restaurant? Thankfully there are many services available that provide audio versions of printed text, but they all need volunteers to run. Here's how you can help:

* Readers read out loud, narrating the text and describing any visual elements like graphs, charts, and equations. Specialized readers proficient in math, science, finance, accounting, computer science, foreign languages, and other technical areas are often in short supply. So if you have those skills, consider reading out loud.

* Directors guide the reader, operate recording equipment and make corrections to the recorded material when necessary.

* Editors review the audio files and help with production of the final version.

* Scanners use the internet to submit text, modify files and prepare them for audio or Braille publication.

These are just a few of the many ways you can help. Excited? Great! Now here are three organizations you can contact to volunteer or obtain services:

--> Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic is a national nonprofit organization in existence for over 60 years. They provide digitally recorded textbooks "in every subject area and grade level from kindergarten through graduate studies". They have studios nationwide. Contact the national headquarters at 800-803-7201 for more information or visit rfbd.org.

--> Read This To Me is a free reading service for blind and low vision people. It "allows blind and low-vision people (clients) to have printed documents read to them over the phone. All a person needs is a phone line and a fax machine (no computer is required.)" Volunteers only need a few minutes a day and the willingness to make a long-distance phone call. Learn more about volunteering with Read This To Me.

--> Bookshare.org prepares books in audio and Braille formats. The need volunteers to scan books and prepare books for publication on Bookshare. All you need in an internet connection.

Remember you can also make donations, and spread the word about these great opportunities and services. Organizations like the International Association of Audio Information Services have other resources for books, newspapers and other materials available in Braille and other formats. They need volunteers too! Talking books can make such a meaningful difference in a person's life. Happy reading and happy listening!

"He who postpones the hour of living is like the rustic who waits for the river to run out before he crosses." -Horace, poet and satirist (65-8 BCE)

Support pet rescue.

I've written before about the connections between abuse of animals and abuse of people. And just as there are organizations to support human survivors, pet rescue agencies exist to support non-human animal survivors. Enter Lisa Scarbrough of Costal Pet Rescue in Savannah, Georgia. Lisa kindly sent a blog post of hers entitled How YOU Can Change a Life in 10 Minutes or Less. Here are a few of my favorite ideas:

1. Pick up an extra bag of pet food or a toy when you do your monthly shopping for your own pets. (Copy paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies are also welcome.)

3. Send us a donation through PayPal (donations@coastalpetrescue.org). We know how to stretch our funds, and even $10 can help us buy food for a foster pet for a few weeks.

4. Purchase a gift card at WalMart, Pet Supermarket, or Pet Smart and drop it in the mail to us.

7. Use GoodSearch.com for all your search engine queries.

9. Cut out and mail us coupons for free or low-cost pet products (PO Box 30462, Savannah, GA 31410).

Check out Lisa's post for more ideas on how you can help animals rescued from dangerous situations. Want two of my ideas? Use these charitable search engines and click to donate sites. Of course you may want support a pet rescue agency in your area, but you can still stop by Lisa's site to say hi.

Enjoy! And thanks again, Lisa!

"Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." -Elie Wiesel, writer, Nobel laureate (b. 1928)

Participate in America's Giving Challenge.

Want to help your favorite nonprofit raise much-needed money? America's Giving Challenge can help. From December 13, 2007 through January 31, 2008, Parade Magazine is hosting a contest to deliver money to America's favorite charities. There are two ways to participate:

* Champion a Cause and have the chance to get $50,000 for the charity of your choice. The eight individuals whose charity badges attract the most unique donors through the America’s Giving Challenge will get $50,000 for their cause.

* Give to a Cause and help the charity you care about get $1,000. The 100 nonprofits with the greatest number of total donations made to them through America’s Giving Challenge will each get $1,000.

Visit parade.com/givingchallenge to learn more, make your donation, and spread the word. Happy fundraising!

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." - Sir Winston Churchill

Prevent FOG clogs.

When I was growing up there was always a container of grease on the stove. Both my mother and grandmother saved grease and oil from cooking. My grandmother would sometimes reuse clean grease for cooking. She'd use our unedible grease to make lye soap. She used it for everything and gave it away to those of us who valued it. In fact, her last set of Christmas gifts to family and friends was gift wrapped homemade lye soap. How cool!

Nowadays, there's much less grease in my and my mother's homes - healthy eating and all. But every now and again, Kwadjo makes falafel or chicken livers and we have grease. We haven't had any new lye soap since that gift wrapped bunch over ten years ago, so what do we do with the grease? It's a problem for lots of us, particularly in restaurants. Fats, oils and greases (FOG) clogs drains and can cause sewage back-ups and flooding, costing money for repairs and damaging the environment. So here are some tips on how to prevent a FOG clog:

Do not

* Pour liquified fat, oil or grease down the drain. This causes to FOG clogs.
* Use hot water and soap to wash away the grease down the drain. It will harden and clog your pipes.

Instead,

--> Place cooled cooking oil, poultry and meat fats in sealed non-recyclable containers and discard with your regular garbage. FOG is food waste. Treat it as such.
--> Use paper towels to wipe residual grease or oil off of dishes, pots and pans before washing them. Discard the towels in the trash.

Bottom line - if you're not going to use your FOG waste for fuel (biodiesel or WVO) or for soap, put it in the trash not down the drain. Similar rules apply to motor oil except that it should be recycled. So now Kwadjo and I have container of grease under the sink. When it's full we'll trash it. Maybe one day, though, we'll make soap!

"Opinions are to the vast apparatus of social existence what oil is to machines: one does not go up to a turbine and pour machine oil over it; one applies a little to hidden spindles and joints that one has to know." - Walter Benjamin (1892–1940), German philosopher

Make better lives for veterans.

It was really cold here last week (at least by Atlanta standards) so during my morning commute, I traded my usual shuttle bus for a MARTA bus which reduces my outside wait substantially. The number 19 bus stops at the VA hospital (among other places) and many of the folks I rode with were on their way there. The passengers chatted about where they served, their current lives, and much more. Lots of men on canes and crutches, though I assume there were nonvisible injuries as well. So in honor of my fellow bus riders, everyone who interacts with the VA, and veterans everywhere, here are a few ideas for ways to support veterans:

* Disabled American Veterans Voluntary Service has numerous ways people of all ages can contribute to better lives for disabled veterans.

* Veterans Administration Voluntary Service offers volunteer opportunities and other ways to help veterans.

* For more opportunities click here for a previous post on this topic.

So take a bus, ride your bike, walk or drive to your VA hospital or other veterans service agency and see how you can help.

"Within the soul of each Vietnam veteran there is probably something that says 'Bad war, good soldier.' [Only now are Americans beginning to] separate the war from the warrior." - Max Cleland, former head of US Veterans Administration, at the dedication of Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC

Impact your world.

I was trolling CNN for news items that might inspire a post when I stumbled upon Impact Your World. It seems CNN has already done the work for me! Impact Your World challenges readers to "Take action on the news you consume!" The facilitate that work in several ways:

* Click the links associated with the news stories to donate to organizations that make a difference.
* Follow the progress of the Be The Change volunteers. and be inspired to do your own work.
* Visit the Planet in Peril page for tips on protecting our Earth.
* Inspire others to action by sending your story about how you make difference in your community.
* Nominate a CNN Hero and get that person and, more importantly, their cause the recognition they deserve.

Today's front page features ways you can help children in Iraq, people affected by the floods in Bangladesh, and US veterans. Often reading the newspaper or watching the evening news can seem like an exercise in futility. How can one person lessen all the suffering that is reported. Thankfully, CNN's Impact Your World shows us that indeed we can make a difference.

Happy new year, readers! I wish each of your every happiness, every blessing, every joy for 2008.

"Are you a politician asking what your country can do for you or a zealous one asking what you can do for your country? If you are the first, then you are a parasite; if the second, then you are an oasis in the desert." - Khalil Gibran (1883–1931)