I have always thought that we need to listen to children more. They often come up with solutions to problems that are simplistic, but ingenious. While working in a first and third grade class during my Student Teaching, I was often blown away by what my students had to say. While at a convention last December, I was blown away by one particular child that I know is changing the world.
His name is Alec Loorz. Alec is one child (now young teen) fighting against climate change. To give you a little background, he started his own non-profit organization at the age of 12. He realized that climate change is something his generation would have to deal with and he wanted to do something about it. Using images, Powerpoint presentations and motivating words, Alec is educating his and older generations about climate change.
As the keynote speaker at the Green Schools Summit Convention, he almost moved me to tears with his eloquence and passion. The teacher side of me was so proud that this young man had enough courage to speak to a room of his elders and the “green” side of me was so proud that he gets the importance of climate change. I encourage you to look at his website and watch his videos. http://kids-vs-global-warming.com/Home.html Hopefully, he inspires and motivates you as he did for me. Never underestimate the power of a child.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
If You Eco-Talk, You Should Eco-Shop!
It is difficult to live by your own words in any department of your life, but it can be especially difficult to make environmentally responsible buying decisions on a day-to-day basis. That is why I love it when I find products and companies that are manufacturing and producing eco-friendly products.
I am an avid tea drinker. To put it in perspective for you, my tea drawer (yes, drawer not shelf) is as big as the drawer for my pots and pans. I believe in having as many options as possible. So several years ago I was in the Mecca of sustainability, Boulder, Colorado, and I discovered a not-so-little tea company. From the moment I first tasted their tea, Celestial Seasonings became my tea of choice.
Not only is the tea absolutely delicious, but they are a company that prides themselves on respecting the environment. Every aspect of Celestial Seasonings is geared toward working in sync with the Earth and not harming it. Here are some highlights of my favorite sustainable decisions they have made:
· The tea bags are not individually wrapped and they don’t have strings or staples which diverts 3.5 million pounds of waste from the landfill each year! (This is exactly what Waste Less Living is trying to accomplish! If only more companies started at the production level.)
· Over the past few years, their facility has reduced the amount of waste they send to the landfill by 60%! (Waste Less Living to date has diverted over 16,000 lbs in just two years time!)
· Tea farmers must commit to Celestial Seasonings Ethical Trade philosophy. (Waste Less Living is also committed to doing business with socially responsible and fair trade driven companies. Waste Less Living sources its product line from a manufacturer whose mission is to raise awareness of environmental justice and social justice issues around the world.)
· Celestial Seasonings gives back to their community through various donations and programs. (Waste Less Living, also, plans to institute a give-back program to benefit non-profit organizations working towards environmental sustainability.)
These are only some of the sustainable choices Celestial Seasonings has made. Waste Less Living was founded on similar principals and it is for these reasons that I have chosen to work for the company. I truly believe in the Waste Less Living mission! These companies are living proof that you can have a successful company and maintain a high standard of performance with respect to the environment. I encourage you to check out Celestial Seasonings website and to try their product. It truly is amazing tea! And of course, if you haven't already had a Waste Less Living party, you should sign up for one. They are offering complimentary supplies and composting service for you to host an Eco-Ed Party. You need merely to allocate 30-minutes of the party for a Waste Less Living representative like myself to share some very valuable information on the subject of waste.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
New Job, New Town
When I came on board with Waste Less Living, I was living in beautiful San Diego. However, if you notice, WLL is headquartered in Pasadena. At first you would think, “Oh, that’s not that bad. It is what, only two hours away?” If that is not what you first thought, I did. Yes, granted it is only about 2 hours away from my current residence, but moving is moving. Not only am I moving from one city to another, but I am considerably downsizing. I am going from a two-bedroom condo into a studio. Needless to say, I have an entire room dedicated to Goodwill. I think at this point I could probably open up my own thrift shop.
I have moved many times in my life: one word, college. I became used to moving every year or so, but this time is very different. First, all my belongings no longer fit in the trunk of my car. I have accumulated furniture and other items that I could not afford when I was 18. And second, I am now a working business woman during this move. This presents a challenge in itself. My odometer on my car has sky rocketed in the past month commuting to and from while I find a new place to live. Also, I have gotten to the point that when I am in Pasadena I am in business mode. I am motivated. When I arrive back in San Diego, I revert back to my pre-Waste Less Living lifestyle of sleeping in and enjoying the company of friends. The positive news is I am officially going to be a resident of Los Angeles County come this Friday. I am ready to be motivated and working for Waste Less Living without a 4-hour commute. I can now settle into my position without living, what is feels like, a double life.
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