Give an inspired gift.

What do you give the person who has everything? How about the knowledge that their gift helped save a child’s life. UNICEF now makes this possible with their UNICEF Inspired Gifts. These are truly amazing gifts – every thing from Plumpy Nut which successfully treats malnutrition to antimalaria bed nets to water purification kits. Gifts are organized into three categories:

• Education and Play
• Immunization
• Water
• Nutrition
• Health
• Emergency

* Honor your favorite teacher with a school in a box and ensure that 80 children can continue their education even in times of emergency.

* Know someone who rides their bike to work? Celebrate their efforts with a bicycle for health workers that will enable workers to reach remote villages and serve the people there.

* Thank your child’s pediatrician with a vaccine carrier that keeps immunizations effective even in hot climates.

These items can make a life-saving or life-changing differences for a child. Want more evidence? Just watch . . .


Watch CBS Videos Online

”To find yourself, think for yourself.” - Socrates

Pull together for change.

The New York Times had a great story yesterday about Katherine Commale. She's the seven-year-old girl who with her mother and little brother's help raised $43,000 for the Nothing But Nets campaign against malaria. She's a great example of someone who saw a need and found a way to contribute to the solution.

The nice thing is that most everyone can find a way to motivate their family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, classmates, and others to contribute to a good cause. Here are two more examples:

* Eric's 25 for Angel's Place - Eric Gamble has pledged to lose 25 pounds in support of the New Orleans charity Angel's Place which "provides a loving and caring environment for children diagnosed with life-threatening illness." Sponsors are asked to pledge $1 per pound in support of his efforts.

* The 2wheels4water is a project by Alison and Tim Lowry. They are riding a Vespa moped through North and South Carolina to raise money for clean water projects around the world. Sponsors are asked to pledge per mile. "Every mile driven on a moped costs just 3.5 cents. Every mile in a typical car costs about 17.5 cents. We’re asking you to pledge the difference: 14 cents for every mile we cover."

These are just three examples of how everyday people, people just like you and me, are making a difference by motivating those they know to pull together for change. What will you do to support the causes you care about?

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do." - Mark Twain

Eat less meat, or none at all.

In my last post I promised to share a small change my family has made to improve our health - we limit our meat consumption. Although meat can be part of a healthy diet, there are many reasons to eat less meat. Here are just a few:

* Health - This was the primary reason I stopped eating mammals since I have a family history of colon cancer. Heavy meat diets are correlated in increased incidence of cancer, stroke, heart disease, and other ailments. On the other hand, plant-based diets are protective and help prevent many of these same ailments. And when you eat lower on the food chain, you're less likely to accumulate environmental toxins in your body.

* Cost - Meat can be expensive, especially when compared to plant-based protein sources like beans. And often meat isn't even necessary - try a loaded vegetarian pizza and you won't even miss the meat. And when you really want to have meat, don't make it the main attraction. Instead incorporate it into soups, stir-frys or casseroles. It's a great way to stretch your meat purchase and save some money.

* Environment - Did you know that livestock are responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions? That's more than cars, trucks, planes, and other forms of transportation combined. And consider the resources it takes to get meat to your table. For example, it takes 2,400 gallons of water and 7 pounds of grain to produces 1 pound of feedlot beef. The average American consumes 97 pounds of beef per year (273 pounds of meat overall per year), so that's a big impact. The numbers are similar for other kinds of meat. And we haven't yet considered the pollution caused by animal waste, processing and transporting meat, etc.

* Animals - I must say, I'd be likely to eat more meat if it were raised in a healthy and sustainable way. Industrial farming practices leave a lot to be desired not only for the people who consume the animal but for the animals themselves. And we have to wonder why most of us wouldn't dream of eating some animals (cats, dogs, parrots, etc.) but are happy to eat others (cows, pigs, chickens). What's the difference? Also, a move from industrial farming which uses loads of antibiotics may help reduce antibiotic resistance.

Now I'm the first to admit that I still eat meat, but it's a lot less than I used to eat. I also recognize that because of supermarket redlining not everyone has access to healthy, fresh foods. That said, one of the easiest things to do is just reduce your meat intake. Instead of two servings of meat, just have one (or none) and an extra helping of veggies, beans, or other non meat items. Increase your the amount of fiber you eat for a full feeling and better digestion. Whole grains are a great way to do that. You may want to check out some of the many vegetarian recipes that are out there. Many of them are so good, you won't miss the meat at all.

Here's to healthy living, for us, for the animals, and for the planet!

"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." - Frederick Douglass (1817? - 1895)

Send a net, save a life.

Back when I was in high school, my grandmother got food poisoning from some bad tuna. After she recovered, she told me, "I haven't been that sick since I had malaria in '37!" I was a bit surprised since, at the time, I didn't know malaria had been a problem in the United States. I remember responding, "You had malaria in '37?"

Well, malaria is no longer transmitted in the US, but 41% of the world's population lives in places where it is (Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America, Hispaniola, and Oceania). Want some more stats?

--> Over one million people die each year from malaria, most of them young children.
--> In some parts of the world where transmission rates are high, there can be as many as 2 deaths per minute from malaria.
--> Life-saving treatments for malaria are relatively inexpensive: $0.13 for chloroquine, $0.14 for sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, and $2.68 for a 7-day course of quinine.
--> "Insecticide-treated bed nets can reduce transmission as much as 90% in areas with high coverage rates."

That's right: NETS SAVE LIVES. And you can too when you purchase a net for just $10 through the Nothing But Nets Campaign from the United Nations Foundation. Just visit NothingButNets.net to make your donation. And check out So What Can I Do - News for a recent press release about their work in Congo. And here's the great thing: because of Ted Turner's gift to the UN Foundation, every cent of your donation goes toward getting the nets to the people who need them. No administrative costs are taken out.

Mom (my grandmother) took quinine when she had malaria, but others won't have to if malaria can be prevented in the first place. So in honor of her birthday today (it would have been her 97th), I encourage all of you buy a net. I bought two. It's that easy: Send a net, save a life. Happy birthday, Mom!

"You go your way and I'll go mine." — Griffin Henry Belk, grandfather of Fanilla Suttles Cobb, grandmother of Karama Neal

Stop buying, stop drinking bottled water.

There is a growing movement against bottled water. All kinds of folks from newspaper columnists to religious groups to city governments are eschewing bottled water.

Here's why:
* 86% of plastic water bottles used in the United States become garbage or litter. That means less than 15% are recycled.
* Transporting heavy bottled water uses lots of oil for shipping. More oil is used to make the plastic for the bottles. That means more air and water pollution, and increased dependence on petroleum products.
* 40% of the bottled water is just over priced, high-falutin tap water. Read the label.

What a waste of money and resources! Not to mention the increased pollution. "So what can I do?"

* Stop using bottled water. Pick up a glass and turn on the tap. Ahh! Good water!
* Order "still water from the tap" at restaurants. Environmental stewardship is nothing to be ashamed of.
* Provide cold quenching tap water at your parties, events and home.
* Promote the passage of a bottle bill in your community. These provide an incentive to recycle and increase recycling rates.


Okay, okay. I know bottled water is convenient. So if you must carry around the plastic, do the following:

* Purchase a heavy duty plastic bottle that will last for years.
* Refill it so you can use it multiple times.
* Recycle it so someone else can use it multiple times.

We need not succumb to the advertising and marketing that would have us believe that there is no good alternative to bottled water. We know that tap water is the better choice for us and in the environment in which we live.

"The night whose sable breast relieves the stark,
White stars, is no less lovely being dark." — Countee Cullen (1903–1946)

Collect and use grey water.

Georgia is in the midst of an historic drought and almost all outdoor water use has been banned. Given these restrictions, there is new interest in the collection and use of grey water. Grey (or gray) water is the wastewater resulting from washing dishes, doing laundry, bathing, and the like. Grey water comprises 50-80% of residential wastewater. So why let all that water go to waste? Here are a few ways to collect grey water:

* Shower with a bucket to collect grey water.
* Save the water used to boil vegetables, pasta, eggs and the like.
* Keep buckets in the kitchen and bathroom to collect water before it goes down the sink drain.
* Collect the dripping water from your air conditioning unit.
* Install collection equipment to harvest the water.

Clearly grey water is not for drinking (except for potlikker), but there many other great ways to use grey water:

* Water your grass and landscaping.
* Flush your toilet - you certainly don't need potable water for that!
* Hydrate your compost pile.
* Water your house plants.
* Treat your greywater and use it to nourish your garden

Clean potable water is a valuable resource. Use it wisely, whether or not there's a drought.

"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed." - Steve Bantu Biko

Play. Pump.

That's all folks will have to do to have clean water when you support PlayPumps. Did you know that

* Unsafe water and lack of sanitation is now the single largest cause of illness worldwide.
* More than one billion people worldwide do not have access to clean water.
* 40 billion hours are lost annually to hauling water, a chore primarily undertaken by women and girls.

PlayPumps is working to change all that. Theirs is an innovative and sustainable system that pumps water using the energy of children at play on an associated PlayPump merry-go-round. What a neat idea! This nonprofit organization installs pumps (and merry-go-rounds!) all over the world helping people have clean water.

Won't you support their work? It's so easy to make a long-lasting difference. Remember, we all need water.

"We are never more discontented with others than when we are discontented
with ourselves." -Henri Frederic Amiel, philosopher and writer (1821-1881)

Consider synthetic oil.

I've written before about biodiesel, hybrid cars, and other ways your fuel and car choice can affect the environment, national economy and more. But what if it's not time for a new car? Even if you are not ready for a new alternative fuel vehicle, you can make a positive contribution to our world by choosing synthetic oil over petroleum-based oils. Here's what you need to know:

When one considers manufacturing and engine use, synthetic oils produce just as much pollution as petroleum-based oils. BUT, since synthetics last three or more times longer than petroleum-based oils, they don't have to be changed as often. That means less total oil is used. That's important since 40% of used oil is dumped on the ground or down the sewer, polluting the environment. Plus, it's more convenient!

Want to know more?

* Learn about used oil pollution. For example, "it is estimated at present that over 240 million gallons of oil are improperly discarded annually. Dumping 240 million gallons of oil is nearly the same as two Exxon Valdez spills each month. How dangerous is used oil? Just one quart can produce a two-acre oil slick. One gallon of oil can make one million gallons of water too foul to drink and 35 ppm of oil will kill fish. Improperly disposed used oil is dangerous."

* Consider this FAQ from Quaker State. It will address many of your questions about use of synthetics, switching to synthetics, etc.

* Read your car owner's manual to see if your car can use synthetic oil. For example, Mazda engines cannot.

* Recycle used oil it when you remove it, regardless of which type you use. "Just one gallon of used oil can contaminate 1 million gallons of water. Recycling your used motor oil keeps it out of our rivers, lakes, streams and even the ground water. In many cases, that means keeping it out of our drinking water, off our beaches, and away from wildlife." There are sites all over that will accept used motor oil for recycling. Consider these in the UK, and the US. In the US, you can call 1-800-CLEANUP (1-800-253-2687) to find a collection center near you. Some oil change companies, like Jiffy Lube, will accept used motor oil for recycling. Never dump oil down a storm drain.

So next time your car is due for an oil change, recycle the used oil and consider replacing it with a synthetic oil. It's better for the environment and easier on you.

"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment." - Benjamin Franklin

Value water.

Today, March 22, 2005, is World Water Day. Many of us take clean, accessible water for granted. But we shouldn't. Here's why:

According to the UN, more than 1.1 billion people around the world lack safe water and 2.4 billion have no access to sanitation. This contributes to over 3 million deaths every year. The Environmental Protection Agency says that risks to the US water supply "include difficult and controversial regulatory problems such as pollutant runoff from agricultural lands and stormwater flows from cities, seepage into ground water from nonpoint sources, and the loss of habitats such as wetlands. Though fisheries have come back, we cannot always eat what we catch because fish flesh is contaminated by the remaining discharges and sources of toxic substances. Microbial contamination of drinking water still presents problems in many communities."

"So what can I do?" Here are five suggestions:

* Skip a beef meal. 18 percent of all water consumption is used to produce feed for livestock. Poultry, hog, and beef factory farms produce large amounts of agricultural waste runoff, which is a major source of water pollution.

* If you live alone or with cooperative housemates, follow this rule: "If it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down." This rule, moderately applied, can reduce household water use by 25% alone. And that means a cheaper bill. Thanks to Whitney for that one!

* Don't waste water. Keep a container handy to collect water that would go down the drain and use it to water plants or pets.

* Recycle motor oil. Motor oil doesn't get wear out, it just gets dirty. Recycled oil can be reprocessed in to other types of fuel. Also, recycling prevents the waste that pollutes ground and drinking water, lakes, rivers, streams and the ocean, and it protects wildlife. (Remember those poor birds after the Exxon Valdez spill?) Click here to find a recycling center near you.

* Reduce, reuse, recycle paper, in that order. Paper production is one of the top five water consuming industries, so even small efforts make a big difference.

So on this World Water Day, and on every day, take small steps (or big ones if you like) to conserve and protect our drinkable and usable water supply. We should all value water; we need it to survive.