Support US microloans and microlending.

Regular readers know that I am a big supporter of mircoloans. There are many benefits of mircolending and though much of the press is about microloans availability outside of the United States, microloans are also available in the US. Here are just a few organizations to consider:

* Grameen America "is a microcredit lender whose mission is to help entrepreneurial individuals, especially women, build credit and defeat poverty." This is a subsidiary of Nobel Larueate Mohammed Yunus' Grameen Bank which really popularized microlending. They are "Bankers for the Unbanked."

* Accion USA makes loans to small business people of up to $25,000 and provides financial literacy education.

* Prosper is a peer-to-peer (P2P) lending agency where almost anyone can request a loan that almost anyone can fund.

* LendingClub is also a peer-to-peer (P2P) lending agency. Again, almost anyone can lend or borrow.

* Virginmoneyus.com is another P2P agency that facilitates lending between family and friends. The loans can be for business, real estate, or personal purposes.

Note that only Grameen and Accion are dedicated to reducing poverty and are purposefully designed to raise standards of living. If you are a borrower, compare your options to see which plan will work best for you. If you are lender, consider your needs: Do you want to make a donation or would you prefer to be paid back? Would you like to earn interest? Do you want to choose who you lend to? Consider the options, then choose the organization that works best for you.

With all these options and ethical goals, maybe Shakespeare's Lord Polonius was wrong when he said "Neither a borrower nor a lender be."

"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway

Donate Blood (An FAQ).

When people find out that I am a regular blood donor, they often have lots of questions. I see of these same questions online, so in an effort to clarify the blood donation process, here are my answers to some questions I am frequently asked:

* How much money do you get to donate blood? None. You won't get monetary payment but they always offer cookies and juice, though. And maybe a T-shirt or raffle ticket. Small tokens of appreciation.

* How long does it take to donate blood? It usually take me a little less than an hour. Not too long to save up to three lives.

* Does donating blood hurt? There's a sting at first when the needle is inserted, but it's not bad and it doesn't last. I notice it less and less nowadays.

* How can I find a blood drive? Visit givelife.org or call 1-800-GIVE LIFE. You can also visit americasblood.org or call 1-888-USBLOOD.

* Do you feel weak after donating blood? I don't. But I make sure to follow the donation center's instructions - no heavy lifting, double water intake, etc.

* Do you do anything special before you donate blood I make sure I've eaten well before I go and drink more water the day before. Nothing big.

* How often do you donate blood? Roughly every two months. Most folks can donate every 56 days.

Got more questions? Check out the Red Cross FAQs on blood, blood needs, and blood donation.

"Next to knowing when to seize an opportunity, the most important thing in life is to know when to forego an advantage." - Benjamin Disraeli

Build a website.

Everyday, more and more people get online. Not just to use email or read an online newspaper, but often to establish an online presence. For example Kwadjo and I both have websites as do many of our relatives and friends. Building a site doesn't have to be hard, but services like Squidoo make it much easier. As they say, "Everyone’s an expert on something!" And here's the kicker, a portion of the money your website makes will be donated to charity.

Squidoo makes money from ads and affiliate links. We give 5% of what we earn, right off the top, to charity. We keep 45% to cover our overhead and stuff. That leaves 50%. That goes to charity or to the people who build the pages. And we leave it up to you to choose one or the other.

You can donate your revenue to any of over 70 nonprofits. If you run a nonprofit consider registering your organization so Squidoo webmaster can donate money to your organization. You may even want to build a page for your organization. What a great way to develop an online presence and make money for your favorite cause! What will you write about? There are sites for selling items, political activism, social activism, and much much more. No wonder over 40,000 people are building sites at Squidoo. See you online!

"Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it." - Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Double your microloans.

You may already know that you can make a microloan through Kiva. The nice thing about Kiva is that when the loan is repaid you get your money back. Donations to other mircroloan agencies (focusing on the US and other countries) may be be tax-deductible.

Now, Kiva and Advanta have joined forces to create Kiva B4B. When you become a Kiva B4B cardmember, every dollar you donate using your card will be matched by Advanta up to $200 per month. That means your efforts will have twice the impact. You'll also get 5% statement credit for donations to Kiva and other nonprofits, and purchases.

So visit kivab4b.org to learn more. (It's a great webpage!) Read the fine print and see if this credit card is right for you. If you is, you'll double your microloans, double the difference.



"We should try to be the parents of our future rather than the offspring of our past." -Miguel de Unamuno, writer and philosopher (1864-1936)

Learn Hands-Only CPR.

I've written before about learning CPR. You can take a class at the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association, or learn at home with with a kit you can use on your own schedule. But what if you haven't taken those classes? Or if it's been a while and you're not confident in your CPR Skills. For those of use who are a bit nervous about using conventional CPR, the American Heart Association now gives another simpler way to save someone's life: hands-only CPR.

Hands-only CPR calls for just two steps:

1. Call 911. Call yourself or better yet, send someone else to call.
2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest. Center your palm between the breast line. Place your other hand on top with your shoulder directly above so you push straight down. The goal is about 100 beats per minute. Sing the song "Stayin' Alive" to keep time.

A few notes:

* Don't be afraid. A person who has collapsed from a heart attack is dying, so your actions can only help.
* Don't use this technique with infants, children, victims of drowning, those who collapse due to breathing problems. These people have less oxygen in their blood and so need conventional CPR with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Check out the hands-only CPR FAQ if you have questions and check out the hands-only CPR video demo. It may be all you need to save the someone's life, perhaps the life of someone you know and love.

Less than one third of people who have a heart attack at home, work or in a public space get the immediate CPR they need. Hands-only CPR can change that. Call 911. Press hard and fast on the center of the chest. Got it? Good.

"An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don’t. It's knowing where to go to find out what you need to know; and it's knowing how to use the information you get." - William Feather

Join the Carnival for Change - Booth 3

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

* The Social Edge Opportunities Page lists numerous conferences, fellowships, award programs, contests, competitions, announcements and other opportunities for those interested in social change and social businesses. If you are a social entrepreneur or want to be, this page is a must click.

* Ideablob is a site where "entrepreneurs and small business owners can share and grow their business ideas – and have a chance to win $10,000 towards fulfilling them." More opportunities for social entrepreneurs. Thanks to No Sweat for the tip.

* The Christian Science Monitor has a great story about city-based scholarship funds and how one is revitalizing the town of El Dorado, Arkansas. Thanks for the tip, Kwadjo!

* Social Change Websites lists over 900 websites dedicated to making a difference. Happy surfing!

* Britt Bravo over at Have Fun * Do Good has a nice post about Bill Somerville's book Grassroots Philanthropy.


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!

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." -Desmond Tutu, clergyman (b. 1931)

Play a game, give a net.

I've written before about the life-saving value of anti-malaria mosquito nets, and I did a recent post on video games for change. Now the the Nothing But Nets Campaign has brought the two together.

Everyone who plays the online game Deliver the Net will have a net sent in their honor, just for playing. Of course you can send additional nets for just $10 each, but it's great to be able to send one for free. So head over to nothingbutnets.net and play Deliver the Net. A few minutes of fun could save a child's life. Sometimes it's great to be a buzzkill.



"Embrace change and avoid the pitfalls of yesterday. Stand on your foundation and do not let anyone or anything sway you from the ability to make your dreams become a reality”." - Kwasi Boaitey

Buy a painting.

I was listening to NPR and heard about two artists who have found an interesting way to make charitable donations. Justin Gignac and Christine Santora paint pictures of items representing donations they want to make. For example, they wanted to donate a cow through Heifer International so they painted a cow and sold it for the amount of the donation they then made.

Visit NeedsForSale.com, and scroll from left to right to view the paintings. 100% of the price is donated to charity, but since you get the painting you don't get the tax write-off. Check out their online gallery maybe you'll find something you like, for your wall or for our world.

"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it." - Lou Holtz

Invest in your community foundation.

One of the sponsors of National Public Radio on KUAR is the Arkansas Community Foundation. I love their slogan - "For Good. For Arkansas. For Ever." but I didn't know much about the work of community foundations. Once I found out, I had to spread the word.

According to the Council on Foundations community foundations are "tax-exempt public charities serving thousands of people who share a common interest — improving the quality of life in their area." They make grants, promote charitable activities, identify current and emerging regional issues, direct resources in ways that address community needs, and help their local area prepare for the future.

Community foundations are found in every state. Just enter your zip code and use this community foundation locater to find one near you. There are over 700 community foundations in the US, so you're sure to find one in your area. Once you do, here's how you can get involved:

* Donate. You will support the work of the foundation, charitable agencies near you, and the life and development of your community.
* Volunteer. Perhaps you can serve on the Board of Directors. Or maybe you can offer your services to the agencies your community foundation supports.
* Apply. If you run a locally focused charitable non-profit, you may be eligible to apply for support from your community foundation. You can then use the fund to improve your community.

So learn more about community foundations and see how you can help. As they say, charity starts at home.

"Our power is in our ability to decide." - R. Buckminster Fuller

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)