Changing the Present

I just wanted to let you all know of a fantastic organisation I just Stumbled-Upon.

I mentioned Kiva.org a few weeks back - where you could loan money to third-world entrepreneurs. Today’s organisation is a charity also - but they focus on ‘changing the present’ - as in changing what we give people as presents.

From the website: “Our gifts are a great alternative to that bath set or novelty sweater you were planning to wrap up this holiday season — just choose “Create A Card” from the shopping cart to send a personalized greeting card announcing each gift you donate in a friend’s name”.

I have seen similar organisations before - this one is great because they actually represent a whole lot of different charities and organisations. If you have a gift you need to give someone - please have a look today. Mum - I think I know where you’re birthday present is coming from this year!

(P.S. to mum - In fact - go check it out, and tell me which one you want me to donate to on your behalf Yes everyone - my mother does read this blog… she really should come out and say hello in the comments some time (hint.. hint…)

The Garnaut Report

Tonight, I turned on the television for the first time in… I don’t know. I almost never watch it. But I’m glad I did. I was heartened to find out about the Garnaut Report - and the fact that climate change is hopefully being taken seriously.

I just hope that the Australian Government has the guts to actually implement it, rather than just giving it lip service and then letting it fall into obscurity. It’s a chance for us to actually send a message to the world - to be leaders instead of followers.

To read up on it, check out this article on the ABC website.

“Without oil everything stops” - Science Snippet

Gee - really? Why is it that everyone is just now realising this?

The title of this post is a line from the feature article in the latest NewScientist. The title of the article is Final Warning, and I think that’s appropriate. For those of us who are interested and engaged with sustainability, peak oil has been an issue we have all known about for a long time.

The article cites a survey from 2007 where industry experts were polled and came to a consensus that peak production would occur in 2010. I think it is only due to the fast rise in petrol prices that ‘normal’ people are finally realising the crisis we’re facing. As the article says: “there is growing realisation that we are teetering on the edge of an economic catastrophe which could be triggered next time there is a glitch in the world’s oil supply” (NewScientist - Vol 198 No. 2662). The article goes on to discuss the major oil supply sites and the supply chain, and how susceptible both are to interruption or damage.

The article concludes by making our choice clear - we have to find alternatives, and fast!

The truth - which many people fail to realise, or simply don’t want to know - is that within my lifetime, oil and petrol will become a thing of the past. I’ll tell my grandkids about a time when we were all completely dependent on this black goo sucked from the ground - how we ran all our cars, planes, trucks on it; how all our plastics were made from it; basically, that it was the thing that kept our society functioning.

I hope I can tell them that from the security of a world that worked out a solution to the crisis in time - rather than one that has fallen apart because of it. Come on, oil companies!! If you want to stay profitable - you need to be at the forefront of new technologies, not holding them back and suppressing them!

This crisis will only escalate if nothing is done on a global scale to overcome it. The price of petrol will only rise. Get used to it - it’s not going to get better, only worse. The ‘good old days’ I remember - when I first started driving in 1998 - when petrol was expensive if it hit 80c per litre, are gone.

We can’t change global and national policy on our own - but we can make small differences in our life to reduce the oil we consume, and to invest our own money in alternative options. As individuals, we hold little power - but as a community, we can make an impact.

‘Green’ - becoming mainstream?

I was in the supermarket the other day - a quick stop on the way home as it was my turn to buy the toilet paper - and as I walked down the aisle I spotted the shampoo. This reminded me that I had almost run out, so I paused to have a bit of a browse. Now, I dye my hair quite regularly (grey hair comes early in my family!) so I usually buy a colour-lock type of shampoo.

Imagine my delight when I spotted - sequestered on the bottom shelf - a new range of products. Each bottle of shampoo and conditioner cost less than $4 - and they were ‘green’. That is, the product didn’t contain any harsh chemicals, was low-sodium and so claimed to be safe for grey water - not to mention the actual plastic packaging was made from plant materials rather than petroleum. AND they had a colour-lock conditioner. I realised at that moment I had found my hair-care products of choice, and grabbed them.

Further along, I picked up my pack of recycled toilet paper, then browsed the meat section quickly. I decided to buy some free-range chicken breast, even though it was a few dollars more expensive than the regular. Now, I don’t often buy organic veggies, mostly because of the price, but I’ll gladly fork over a few extra dollars to know that a sentient being didn’t have to suffer a life stuck indoors - possibly sequestered in a little cage - for my dinner. I still refuse to eat veal since I learned years ago how the calves are kept *shudder*.

So - to the point of this post… I bought all three of these things in a Coles supermarket. It seems that eco-friendly and green products are slowly becoming a part of the mainstream. Of course, the key word there is slowly - but at least it’s happening!

What green products have you been surprised to see in mainstream settings?

Kiva - a fantastic organisation!

I found this organisation on another blog tonight - and given my post of a few days ago, it seemed an appropriate thing to share.

Kiva.org are a charity that brings together entrepreneurs in developing nations with private lenders (i.e. regular folks like you and me). The idea is that I could give $25 or $50, which would then go towards an entrepreneur starting up their own small business - a loan which they then repay over time!

I think this is a wonderful opportunity to give a little bit - and you might even get it back one day… though I doubt many people ‘invest’ with this in mind

One of the most interesting things is that you get to choose who you want to lend to - they have the personal and business details, plus the money raised so far, for every entrepreneur.

So, if you’re looking for a way to give a little back - this looks like a fabulous way to do it!

A Sustainable Economy - How do you give back?

Yesterday I spoke about how the little changes we all make can come together in a ’snowball effect’. I was speaking mostly about our own sustainable practices at home - saving water, composting, recycling, reducing waste. Today, it occurred to me that there is another way that we can all make a difference to the world - by contributing to a sustainable economy.

What do I mean by that? Well, a massive issue in this world of ours is the unfair distribution of wealth. We in the Western countries own a disproportionate amount of the world’s wealth. I’m sure this is something you already know, but it’s easy to forget it in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Now, I believe that capitalism is the best system out there - but an enlightened capitalism, where we make sure no-one in our society is without food and shelter. The system here in Australia is a reasonable example of this - we have generous welfare payments (perhaps too generous in some instances, like the baby bonus) - and a healthy economy with low unemployment.

The core of the capitalist system is the ability to work/run a business to earn money - which you forfeit some tax on for the administration of the country - but are then free to do with as you will. I have been a fortunate person - I grew up in a comfortable home with working/middle class parents (that’s always a tricky distinction for me - there are so many differing definitions out there), and have never wanted for any necessity.

I was able to get a good education, thanks to HECS (Higher Education Loans Scheme - where the government pays for your university education, and you pay them back with no interest out of your tax once you start working). I now have a decently-paid job and a good lifestyle… and as part of this I choose to give back to those people in the world who are not as fortunate as me.

There are many ways you can do this - for me, I liked the idea of sponsoring a child. So, many years ago now, while I was still studying and not earning a whole heck of a lot, I signed up with CCF (now Childfund.org.au) and started sponsoring a little girl in India called Sandhyarani.

This is only a drop in the ocean, certainly. And there are no doubt many people who scoff and say ‘what difference is that really making?’ Well, they may be right. The small re-distribution of wealth that I’m contributing to is very little in the grand scheme of things - especially when the developing world as a whole has such an enormous economic deficit when compared to OECD countries.

However, this little bit is all I feel I can do at this stage of my life. I don’t have control over government policies, nor am I in control of a huge multi-national corporation. I choose to make this contribution, and like to think it is making a difference to someone out there - someone who is, in some way, better off because of me.

So, I’m curious to know what you do to give back? Do you give to charity, volunteer, or sponsor a child of your own? I’m sure some of you do much more than me!