One Million Acts of Green, a direct partnership between CBC and Cisco, launched on October 21 on The Hour on CBC-TV. In just over four weeks, almost 370,000 acts of green have been logged, representing a reduction of over 17,000,000 kg of greenhouse gas. The Hour has also united with other CBC programs to 'go green,' with content appearing on CBC News, Kids’ CBC, Steven & Chris, Living, and CBC Sports. With the power of technology and the “Human Network” Cisco is able to illustrate the connectedness of the OMAoG challenge. The collective goal of the campaign is to help connect people, and to encourage them to make practical and measurable changes in the way they live and treat the environment.
It’s not about overhauling your life, but one act at a time really can amount to our goal of one million acts.
As we’ve already seen, Canadians have heartily embraced OMAoG. Daily national and international blog posts have propelled the campaign forward and news stories appearing from all around the country reflect the support and praise for the campaign on a truly grassroots level.
This week, a Facebook application has launched in tandem with the already user-friendly social networking space of the OMAoG website. The Facebook application becomes available when either English or French language users add a new act of green. It offers the option to post the most recent act activity and the application to the users Facebook profile page. It also allows the ability for Facebook friends to add the application to their profile pages, provides a link back to the OMAoG site, and allows everyone on Facebook to get involved in adding their acts.
Based on user feedback from those already using and registering acts on the OMAoG website we’ll soon be adding additional acts to the site. Holiday/seasonal acts will be added for the month of December. Check the OMAoG site frequently to catch new additions. More information, is available where you add your acts, at: www.onemillionactsofgreen.com and at www.unmilliondegestesverts.com.
One Million Acts of Green. One act at a time.
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Monday, December 1, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
How can you make any difference?
There was a young man walking down a deserted beach just before dawn. In the distance he saw a frail old man. As he approached the old man, he saw him picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea. The young man gazed in wonder as the old man again and again threw the small starfish from the sand to the water.
He asked, "Old man, why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time."
The old man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun. "But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish!" exclaimed the young man. "How can you make any difference?"
The old man looked at the small starfish in his hand and as he threw it to the safety of the sea, he said, "It makes a difference to this one!"
--Author unknown
He asked, "Old man, why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time."
The old man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun. "But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish!" exclaimed the young man. "How can you make any difference?"
The old man looked at the small starfish in his hand and as he threw it to the safety of the sea, he said, "It makes a difference to this one!"
--Author unknown
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Grow Your Green Thumb with GreenDrinks!!!
GreenDrinks London in partnership with City Farming Project is proud to present…
GREENDRINKS GARDENING CLUB 2008
Who: Anyone interested in learning how to grow their own fresh, organic produce. (This years selection: 32 varieties of tomatoes, swiss chard, chinese and green beans, leeks, peas, beets, green onions, lettuce, spinach, white radishes, herbs etc.)
What: A working/teaching exchange were participants have the opportunity to come out to the farm and get their hands dirty. There will be a variety of jobs from light to strenuous, so you choose the activity level you feel most comfortable with.
When: Every Thursday evening starting May 29th, 2008 from 7pm to dark (or when you are done).
Where: 1350 Wharncliffe Road S just past Southdale on the same side as Bad Boys and the old Home Depot. There is a long drive with lots of 'for sale' signs everywhere and beautiful pines down the driveway. The garden is to the left.
How:
Carpooling
We will arrange to meet at 6:30pm at 5 meeting points throughout the city. When deciding who will drive, I recommend that each group create a rotation cycle. (Once headcount is confirmed I will send out more specific meeting point details.)
Carpool Locations:
1. Central - Downtown
2. East - Argyle Mall
3. South - Whiteoaks Mall
4. North - Masonville Mall
5. West - Westmount Mall
What to bring:
- gardening gloves – “PRIZE” for the most original pair
At present the farm is in need of:
- yogurt lids for labeling tomatoes
- pie plates or other shiny tins to hang on deer fence
(a great way to keep ‘em at bay!)
RSVP’s REQUIRED***************************************************
In order to get an accurate headcount for carpooling and class size.
For more information or to confirm your spot contact Tiffany at greendrinks.london@gmail.com.
GREENDRINKS GARDENING CLUB 2008
Who: Anyone interested in learning how to grow their own fresh, organic produce. (This years selection: 32 varieties of tomatoes, swiss chard, chinese and green beans, leeks, peas, beets, green onions, lettuce, spinach, white radishes, herbs etc.)
What: A working/teaching exchange were participants have the opportunity to come out to the farm and get their hands dirty. There will be a variety of jobs from light to strenuous, so you choose the activity level you feel most comfortable with.
When: Every Thursday evening starting May 29th, 2008 from 7pm to dark (or when you are done).
Where: 1350 Wharncliffe Road S just past Southdale on the same side as Bad Boys and the old Home Depot. There is a long drive with lots of 'for sale' signs everywhere and beautiful pines down the driveway. The garden is to the left.
How:
Carpooling
We will arrange to meet at 6:30pm at 5 meeting points throughout the city. When deciding who will drive, I recommend that each group create a rotation cycle. (Once headcount is confirmed I will send out more specific meeting point details.)
Carpool Locations:
1. Central - Downtown
2. East - Argyle Mall
3. South - Whiteoaks Mall
4. North - Masonville Mall
5. West - Westmount Mall
What to bring:
- gardening gloves – “PRIZE” for the most original pair
At present the farm is in need of:
- yogurt lids for labeling tomatoes
- pie plates or other shiny tins to hang on deer fence
(a great way to keep ‘em at bay!)
RSVP’s REQUIRED***************************************************
In order to get an accurate headcount for carpooling and class size.
For more information or to confirm your spot contact Tiffany at greendrinks.london@gmail.com.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Help send Dan Hammond to Antarctica
Dear Tiffany,
My name is Daniel Hammond, I'm graduating high school in June here in London and will be sticking around at Western in September. I pride myself on being quite the TreeHugger and having a strong influence on everyone around me. I've been accepted to go on an environmental learning expedition to Antarctica in February 2009. I couldn't be more ecstatic about this once in a lifetime opportunity, but seeing as I'm a student and Antarctica is very far away, I will need to raise some funds to be able to go.
Here is some information about my trip --- because I think it's SOOO coool! and have no doubt that you will as well!
Students on Ice: http://www.studentsonice.com/U09/index.htm
Youtube videos: http://youtube.com/watch?v=BHsL6wh2Afc&feature=related
Let me know what you think.
Peace,
Dan Hammond
e: scalpitch@hotmail.com
My name is Daniel Hammond, I'm graduating high school in June here in London and will be sticking around at Western in September. I pride myself on being quite the TreeHugger and having a strong influence on everyone around me. I've been accepted to go on an environmental learning expedition to Antarctica in February 2009. I couldn't be more ecstatic about this once in a lifetime opportunity, but seeing as I'm a student and Antarctica is very far away, I will need to raise some funds to be able to go.
Here is some information about my trip --- because I think it's SOOO coool! and have no doubt that you will as well!
Students on Ice: http://www.studentsonice.com/U09/index.htm
Youtube videos: http://youtube.com/watch?v=BHsL6wh2Afc&feature=related
Let me know what you think.
Peace,
Dan Hammond
e: scalpitch@hotmail.com
Sunday, May 18, 2008
SEEDFOLKS: a book by Paul Heischman
The book Seedfolks by Paul Heischman is a story of one person making a difference. In this case, it is a little girl who inadvertently inspires a community garden in a vacant lot in inner-city Cleveland.
While everyone else is sleeping, this little girl tiptoes out of her apartment, armed with a water thermos and some lima beans, and bravely plants the beans in the trashed and vacant lot nearby.
A woman living above the lot witnesses this and tells her neighbor. The idea begins to spread, and other people start planting their own little plots between the trash.
Eventually the trash is removed, and the garden begins blossoming. It turns into a community.
The universality of gardening breaks through barriers and instead of lugging big buckets out to water the gardens, a little girl suggests that garbage cans could collect rainwater from the surrounding buildings' spouts.
"Seedfolks" is in fact "a hymn to the power of plants and people", as it is described on the front flap. I recommend it as it is an uplifting and quick read, vignettes of different gardeners. Though it is fiction, it is based on actual community gardens created from vacant lots.
The author explains, "We recognize that contact with nature can heal… This was the marvel of the community gardens I visited. They were oases in the urban landscape of fear, places where people could safely offer trust, helpfulness, charity, without need of an earthquake or hurricane. Television, I'm afraid, has isolated us more than race, class, or ethnicity. Community gardens are places where people rediscover not only generosity, but the pleasure of coming together. I salute all those who give their time and talents to rebuilding that sense of belonging. It's a potent seed. 'I have great faith in a seed," wrote Thoreau. "Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.'"
While everyone else is sleeping, this little girl tiptoes out of her apartment, armed with a water thermos and some lima beans, and bravely plants the beans in the trashed and vacant lot nearby.
A woman living above the lot witnesses this and tells her neighbor. The idea begins to spread, and other people start planting their own little plots between the trash.
Eventually the trash is removed, and the garden begins blossoming. It turns into a community.
The universality of gardening breaks through barriers and instead of lugging big buckets out to water the gardens, a little girl suggests that garbage cans could collect rainwater from the surrounding buildings' spouts.
"Seedfolks" is in fact "a hymn to the power of plants and people", as it is described on the front flap. I recommend it as it is an uplifting and quick read, vignettes of different gardeners. Though it is fiction, it is based on actual community gardens created from vacant lots.
The author explains, "We recognize that contact with nature can heal… This was the marvel of the community gardens I visited. They were oases in the urban landscape of fear, places where people could safely offer trust, helpfulness, charity, without need of an earthquake or hurricane. Television, I'm afraid, has isolated us more than race, class, or ethnicity. Community gardens are places where people rediscover not only generosity, but the pleasure of coming together. I salute all those who give their time and talents to rebuilding that sense of belonging. It's a potent seed. 'I have great faith in a seed," wrote Thoreau. "Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.'"
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Happy EARTH DAY Everyone!!!
What a beautiful day we've been given. I thought I would share a little something I wrote many moons ago to mark this occasion.
what it means to be green.
It means choosing to live simply, knowing that like the best vacation, the journey is always richer when we travel light. It means detaching from the rat race and living in balance with what is most important to you. It means taking time to connect with nature, allowing it to embrace you, heal you. It means connecting with your community, both local and world, and making decisions that are in the best interest of the whole.
It's about making common sense, common practice.
Tiffany
what it means to be green.
It means choosing to live simply, knowing that like the best vacation, the journey is always richer when we travel light. It means detaching from the rat race and living in balance with what is most important to you. It means taking time to connect with nature, allowing it to embrace you, heal you. It means connecting with your community, both local and world, and making decisions that are in the best interest of the whole.
It's about making common sense, common practice.
Tiffany
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
WiserEarth: Organizing a Movement
One of the great thinkers of the green movement, Paul Hawken, in his latest book, Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came Into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming, explores the fragmented world of environmental and social justice organizations, from giant multinational NGOs to four-person internet-based activist groups. Hawken's theory is that these organizations, taken collectively, represent the largest social movement in the history of the world. Though fragmented, he says it's highly effective.
With no leader, center, organizing system or ideology, the movement Hawken identifies in Blessed Unrest grows organically, crossing borders, class and ethnic differences. It's driven mostly by the desire for a common good. Trying to organize the movement, as well as documenting it, Hawken has created WiserEarth, a collection of wikis that serve as an umbrella for the millions of organizations he has identified and provide a platform for discussion and information sharing.
http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/news/2007/08/hawken_qa
With no leader, center, organizing system or ideology, the movement Hawken identifies in Blessed Unrest grows organically, crossing borders, class and ethnic differences. It's driven mostly by the desire for a common good. Trying to organize the movement, as well as documenting it, Hawken has created WiserEarth, a collection of wikis that serve as an umbrella for the millions of organizations he has identified and provide a platform for discussion and information sharing.
http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/news/2007/08/hawken_qa
Monday, August 6, 2007
The Shift...it's happening
Watch this quick video http://theshiftmovie.com/index2.html
and decide...what will you do?
and decide...what will you do?
Thursday, July 12, 2007
The World's Largest Social Movement
The world's largest movement has no name, no leader, and no ideology, yet it involves more than 100 million people. Paul Hawken, in his inspiring speech at Bioneers, says, "The movement can’t be divided because it is atomized - small pieces loosely joined. It forms, gathers, and dissipates quickly. Many inside and out dismiss it as powerless, but it has been known to bring down governments, companies, and leaders through witnessing, informing, and massing." The prominent scholar and author adds, "This movement is not burdened with a syndrome of trying to save the world; it is trying to remake the world."
INSPIRATION: Watch this inspiring video @ Karmatube
http://www.karmatube.org/?id=171
INSPIRATION: Watch this inspiring video @ Karmatube
http://www.karmatube.org/?id=171
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