Healthy and Green Living » Community Service

How to Celebrate Women’s Equality Day

Melissa Breyer — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:00:35 +0000

Many “holidays” that we come across are little more than promotional spots, but Women’s Equality Day is official–as in U.S. Congress designated official. At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug, in 1971 the U.S. Congress declared Aug. 26 as Women’s Equality Day to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting [...]

They Need You! Volunteer Now

Melissa Breyer — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:00:58 +0000

Did you know that doing volunteer work can be as simple as playing with a dog or spending some time on your computer? You might do those things anyway, so why not do a little extra to help out those in need? Here are a few great ways to volunteer that will make your do-good [...]

Climate Change Comes to Credit Cards

Carl Frankel — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:00:40 +0000

For the individual citizen, climate change can seem overwhelming. How can one person make a difference? There are ways, though, like carpooling and swapping out incandescent light bulbs for fluorescents. And now another option is available–the climate change credit card. �Affinity cards�–credit cards that support a green or social cause–have been with us for many years. [...]

How to be an Effective Volunteer

Annie B. Bond — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:00:10 +0000

By the Care2 Staff

If you have a sincere desire to improve the environment and quality of life where you live, why wait? Here are the key steps to becoming an active and effective community service volunteer.

How to Protect Your Neighborhood Land

Annie B. Bond — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:00:24 +0000

Do you have open fields, a wildlife habitat, or a wetland, an especially scenic location or an historic building on your land that you want to protect? Or do you know of such places in your town?

The Responsible Endowments Coalition

Carl Frankel — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:00:32 +0000

As a college or university alumnus, do you know exactly where your money goes when you write your check in response to the annual appeal? As a college student or parent of a college student, do you know how your university manages its often sizable endowment?

Chances are you don't. And why should you? How colleges and universities manage their endowments isn't a subject that attracts much attention. It's a very important issue, though. Our institutions of higher learning manage $340 billion in investment funds.That's a whopping amount of money&#151and money is power. If they chose to, colleges and universities could play a major role in shaping corporate policy, both by favoring green companies over brown ones and by encouraging the companies they own to be more socially and environmentally responsible.

Historically though, our colleges and universities haven't paid much attention to socially responsible investing. More often than not, their approach has been business as usual.

Happy Earth Day!

Terri Hall-Jackson — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:25:09 +0000

Holidays are so interesting to me. Valentine�s Day is the day to show love. Thanksgiving is the day to give thanks. Easter is the day to � paint eggs? Obviously, most holidays are an opportunity to bring into focus values and attitudes that, hopefully, we are learning to express year-round, not just a [...]

How to Erase your Carbon Footprint

Kelly Magill — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:13:49 +0000

Once you've been on the green train for a while, you've got the basics; recycling, sustainable energy, canvas bags, fuel efficient vehicles, and all the little energy and water saving ideas that you can apply daily. Unfortunately, even with all of these eco-friendly practices, you still leave a carbon "footprint". Admittedly, it is significantly smaller than if you didn't make green choices, but you're still creating carbon dioxide, which is intensifying the climate problem. How can you "erase" the remainder of your carbon footprint? Purchasing carbon offsets is one possible solution.

When you purchase carbon offsets, you're essentially donating money to a group that will fund projects that actively decrease the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere. These projects mainly focus on sustainable energy programs, energy efficiency programs and reforestation programs.

Most of the carbon offset companies have a feature on their websites where you can input information about your energy and water use at home and your fuel consumption on the road. You can even include air travel if you fly consistently. It then calculates how many tons of greenhouse gasses you add to the atmosphere annually. It also suggests an amount that you can donate on line that will fund enough carbon reductions to negate your footprint and leave you carbon neutral.

Theoretically, carbon offsets are a great idea, but the actual results achieved by carbon offset companies varies, so it is important if you really want to make a difference, to donate to carbon offset companies that are effectively achieving their goals.

Look for companies that are non-profits like carbonfund.org.

In countries that have already signed the Kyoto Treaty, many carbon reduction and sequestration programs are already in the works and have government funding. Look for carbon offset companies that are donating to programs in countries that haven't signed the Kyoto Treaty since they have less support for these greener measures.

A Greener Gift
Philanthropist Ruth Ann Harnisch helps spread the green message by purchasing carbon offsets from Carbon Fund (a not-for profit organization) and offering to offset the carbon footprints of events and conferences she attends.

Fast Facts
The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that 11 of the past 12 years are among the dozen warmest since 1850.

The Arctic is more effected than other areas of the planet. According to the multinational Arctic Climate Impact Assessment report compiled between 2000 and 2004, average temperatures in Alaska, western Canada, and eastern Russia have risen at twice the global average.

The USA contributes 24.8 percent of the world's emissions from fossil fuels. China is second at 10.9 percent and Russia is third at 6.5 percent.

It is estimated that 1,150 billion tons of carbon is stored in the Earth's forests.

For more information or to subscribe at the introductory price of $10 a year, go to positivelygreen.com . Positively Green magazine launches in 2008. This quarterly women's magazine will cover every aspect of green from eco-friendly vacations to green fashion to green health. With articles that don't just explain the problems, they outline solutions for busy people who want to make the change but don't have the time to research solutions.

Charitable Recycling: Eyeglasses, Printer Cartridges and Mobile Phones

Annie B. Bond — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 04:24:23 +0000

Who doesn't keep old eyeglasses as a backup when they get a new pair&#151and end up with an overflowing drawer of dated glasses we wouldn't be caught dead in now. If you find yourself in a drawer-cleaning frenzy, you might turn to our favorite recycling guide for advice on what to do with that pile of old glasses. We also stumbled across what to do with printer cartridges (also in a drawer) and mobile phones (yes, they usually have a drawer too). Read here for tips on how to recycle eyeglasses, printer cartridges and mobile phones&#151those junk drawer items it just doesn't feel right to throw away&#151and learn how to contribute to charity at the same time.

Ways to Serve Your Community

Annie B. Bond — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 02:52:39 +0000

If you want to be an active part of improving your community but you�re not sure where to go or how to get started, check out these great websites: