Are You a Rebel with a Cause?

Image by Blondi000 via Flickr

In times of economic turmoil, non-profit organisations need their supporters more than ever. When there is less money to go around, there is usually more need - and when you put that together with the fact that donating to charity is often first to be cut from the budget when money gets tight, you can see how charity organisations are caught between a rock and a hard place in the midst of recession.

Supporting the cause that you are passionate about isn't just about giving money. There are plenty of things you can do that can help your favourite non-profit out that won't cost you anything but a little of your time. Not that some financial support isn't needed - but if you are not able to give that just now, try some of the things below. You can make a difference!!

1. Become an expert
If you want to become an effective advocate for your cause, you need to be informed.

Read widely, talk with people who understand the cause you support, talk with people who have differing opinions from yours so you are aware of all sides of the issue - even if you disagree wholeheartedly!

The more you know the better you can answer other people's questions, counter other people's arguments and spread awareness about the cause you are passionate about.

2. Spread the word
Most charities don't have a ton of money to spend on marketing (and are often condemned if they are perceived as spending too much money on advertising) so they appreciate the work of their supporters bringing awareness to the cause!

3. Donate things you no longer need
You may (or may not) have spare cash to donate, but charity organisations need more than just money. You can donate clothing and other items to your local goodwill store, material scraps to your local school or pre-school, outgrown toys to the women's refuge . . .

4. Vote with your wallet
Be aware where your money goes. You may not be able to give money to support your cause - but by spending mindfully you can make sure you are not supporting companies and industries that go against your values.

5. Volunteer
If you have some time on your hands, consider volunteering for your favourite charity. Even if you only have an hour or two a month, you can make a difference. Volunteers are the lifeblood of most non-profit organisations.

6. Find ways to give for free
There are plenty of great opportunities to support causes you believe in online that cost you nothing. From Care2's Click to Donate, to Better the World, to Everywun . . . not to mention all the Facebook applications that donate money to charity.

Related articles by Zemanta

• When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Volunteer (winetalent.blogspot.com)
• Don't Donate Money To Charity (bargaineering.com)

Shop Local - Think Global

Image by lumierefl via FlickrIf you have aspirations to Make a Difference, but are hamstrung by indecision about where to start, who to support or how to put your money where your mouth is, consider starting local.

Supporting your community, neighbourhood and local economy makes a huge difference, and the effects don't just stop at your backyard, by keeping your focus local you can have a global impact. See the list below to find out how living local can positively impact you, your community and the world:

1. Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
   Goods that are locally made or grown don't have to travel so far to get from the producer to you. According to the World Watch Paper "Home Grown: The case for local food in a global market" a basic diet consisting of imported ingredients can use around four times the energy, and generate four times the greenhouse gas emissions, of an equivalent diet from local ingredients.
   
   
2. Keep your Money Local
   A study by the Independent Business Alliance in Austin, Texas found that for every $100 spent at local businesses $45 went back to the community. By comparison, for every $100 spent at a Chain Store, only $13 stayed in the community. This money helps to create jobs, supports local producers and raises local incomes.
   
   On a global scale, for developing nations, a focus on local production and local markets ensures that people are fed, that precious foreign exchange stays in the country, and that they are not so dependent on fickle international markets.
   
   
3. Reduce Waste & Pollution
   Products that travel long distance need extra packaging for the journey. Food is treated with preservatives and additives so it lasts the distance. Local products don't need this extra, and locally grown food is fresher, tastier and healthier.
   
   Industrial agriculture is chemical and energy intensive. It pollutes our land and our water ways. Greedy global corporations focused on profit exploit workers in sweatshop conditions. Local producers working for local markets are more accountable to their communities. They are not focused on constant growth, and work within a more sustainable economic model.
   
   
4. Encourage Crop Diversity
   Industrial farms like economies of scale. Its easier and more 'efficient' to grow one variety of carrot than half a dozen. Its much easier to just grow carrots instead of carrots and potatoes and broccoli and tomatoes. Industrial farms growing for export grow food that will travel well and still look the part when it gets where its going, and that isn't necessarily the best tasting or most nutritious variety.
   Image via Wikipedia
   Local farmers producing for local markets can grow what their customers want to buy. They can grow varieties of fruit or vegetables that suit local conditions, which reduces the amount of chemicals used on the crops. According to Home Grown "diverse organic and ecological farms, which rely less on purchased inputs and more on taking advantage of the ecological processes in the field, cost less to maintain and make more efficient use of land, nutrients, energy, and otherinputs, than do chemical-intensive monocultures."
   
   
5. Fair Made-Traded-Grown
   Producing for the local market cuts out the middlemen that eat into producers income. In America studies have shown that farmers only get 20 cents of each dollar Americans spend on food. The other 80 cents is gobbled up by packaging, transportation, processing and advertising. So buying local, from local farmers, businesses, and producers means they get a fair price for their hard work - and you still get things cheaper!!
   

Related articles by Zemanta

• How to Start a Community Market in your Neighbourhood
  
• Eliminate 40% of manufacturing-associated greenhouse gas by getting rid of packaging
• Stock Up On Sustainability: Five Tips to Shop the Final Farmers Market and Eat Local All Winter (Recipe Included)
• Growth in Local Foods
• The Idea of a Local Economy
  
• Global Crop Diversity Trust: the Search for 'Climate-Proof' Food
• Questioning Corporate Agriculture
• Freakonomist Gets Local Food Wrong Again

5 Reasons to Stop Buying Products Made using Palm Oil

Want to make a difference and help save the Rainforest? Then stop buying products made using palm oil!

If you're not sure what exactly it is that's so bad about Palm Oil, you need to take a look at the list below (thanks Friends of the Earth):

1. Demand for palm oil is the most significant cause of rainforest loss in Malaysia and Indonesia.
2. Palm oil plantations destroy biodiversity and are associated with human rights violations and worker exploitation.
3. The industry could drive the orang-utan to extinction within 12 years.
4. In Indonesia, the area of land occupied by palm oil plantations has doubled in the last 10 years. This threatens species, such as the Orang-Utan & Sumatran Tiger, with extinction.
5. Serious environmental pollution is associated with palm oil processing.
   

Palm Oil is found in a surprising number of everyday supermarket products. Everything from chocolate and bread, to lipstick and detergent.

So, take the time to be a conscious consumer and avoid supporting companies that support rainforest destruction!!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Orangutan's Fingers Mutilated by Oil Palm Plantation Workers, More on the Ape-Palm Oil Connection
• Malaysia and Indonesia To Expand Domestic Palm Oil Biodiesel as Commodity Price Drops
• Indian oil firms eye land in Paraguay, Uruguay and Myanmar to grow crops
• Hands off palm
• Deadly Palm Oil in Your Shopping Trolley
  
• Palm oil boycott will not protect rainforests

Lets Take Responsibility

Image via Wikipedia Lately I've been hearing a lot of people complaining about the state of the world today. About the rising costs of petrol and groceries, about increased crime and violence, about environmental degradation, about unemployment, how their neighbourhood isn't what it used to be, about the crazy traffic on our roads . . . now don't get me wrong, its not that I don't think these things warrant a grizzle. Its just that the majority of people I hear complaining are blaming it all on someone else - Government, big business, immigrants, terrorists, the rich and powerful - as though they have no personal responsibility for the problem and therefore no responsibility to contribute to the solution.

Its so easy to blame McDonalds for making us overweight rather than accepting responsibility for our own poor diet choices. Or to blame credit card companies for drowning us in debt rather than accepting responsibilty for our own bad spending habits. Or to blame the loss of local jobs on big business rather than on our lack of support for locally made goods

Its time to take a look at the choices we make as individuals and consider their consequences. If we choose to buy overpackaged products, then they will continue to be made. If we choose not to support our local economy, it won't thrive. If we choose to live outside of our means, we will get into debt. If we choose to support businesses that pollute our environment, they will continue to do so.

Its up to each one of us to start making informed and mindful choices about how we live our lives rather than sitting back and waiting for 'them' to fix things for us. Its up to each one of us to start now instead of sitting back and waiting for everyone else to do something - someone needs to be first . . . why not you??

Related articles by Zemanta

• Consumers fall further behind financially, study reports
• American's Becoming More Obese During Economic Slow Down

5 Ways to Make a Difference With Your Money

Image by emdot via Flickr

I sometimes feel powerless to effect real change in the world, it can be so demoralising when the problems are so big and I am just one person. At times like this I remind myself that while this may seem to be true, as a consumer I wield the ultimate power. The power to choose who I do business with, to choose which businesses I recommend to my friends and family, to choose where I spend my money or even IF I spend it at all.

If we think carefully about how we use our money and recognise the power that it represents to us as consumers, we really can begin to use it to maximum effect to make a positive change in the world.

Here are 5 ideas to make your money work to change the world:

1. Spend Money on the Basics
Keep yourself, your home, your car . . . in tip top condition. Spending small amounts of time regularly to maintain your assets means you don't end up with an expensive repair bill later on.

By keeping your home maintained you will keep it warm and healthy - which in turn keeps you warm and healthy and makes sure your possessions inside the home are kept in good order too. You will spend less on heating in the winter - which keeps your bills (and your carbon footprint) down.

The better you take care of your assets the longer they last and the less money you need to spend on costly repairs, or even costlier replacements. In today's throw away society this is indeed a revolutionary act!!

2. Decide on your Values
Its not enough to just want to save the world. You really need to do some deep soul searching so that you have a strong set of values to help guide your spending. If you have thought about the things that are important to you, if you have decided what is enough for you then it is much easier to make values based decisions when it comes to money.

3. Do your Research
Before you part with your hard earned money make sure you do your research. Is the company you plan to buy from one that shares your values? Is the company you plan to invest with one whose products and practices you can support? Do they use child labour? Sell products that are harmful? Treat employees with respect? Care for the environment? . . .

Use your spending power to full effect and choose carefully who gets your money!!

4. Think Carefully Before you Buy
Is the product (or service) in line with your values? Do you actually need it? Can it be recycled? Do you need to buy new or will secondhand be just as good? Is there an alternative with less packaging? Could you borrow or hire it instead?

5. Don't Forget to Share
The most obvious way to make a difference with your money is to donate to non-profit organisations that support causes that are in line with your values. My family chooses our Charity (or Charities) to support at the beginning of the year and we put aside an amount we can afford each week and give our gift at Christmas.