“It’s only once in a generation, that a generation gets the chance to completely ruin things for the next generation.”
—From “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” on the Debt Crisis
July 2011
24 posts
ACT: Tell Congress to Help Now →
rescue.org
One of the worst humanitarian crises is unfolding right now as famine and severe drought ravage Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and the surrounding region in Africa. Without rainfall, 11.6 million people have been affected by this natural disaster as water dries up and crops and animals perish. People continue to be uprooted from their homes by drought and hospitals and camps overflow with refugees.
Urge the United States Congress to provide emergency funding to help victims of the drought and famine. Ask your legislators to keep this devastating famine from becoming a forgotten crisis.
Where Has All the Sanity Gone? →
blog.sojo.net
She took the words out of my mouth—Rev. Jennifer Kottler:
Trust me, I get the fact that these people only care about one thing — defeating Obama. At this point, I could care less about that. I care about the fact that the number of people coming to my church is multiplying and my capacity to help them is shrinking. And I’m sitting here on Park Avenue in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in one of the wealthiest cities in the world. It’s also one of the most expensive places to try and make ends meet if you are on the wrong end of the income spectrum. I can only imagine what my ministry colleagues are facing in other places.
So I’m pleading with whatever sanity remains in Washington to not take our country down over your political agenda. Give Obama the courtesy to do what he needs to do to run the country. You’ve got another 15 months to make your case that you could run things better. And if you think we’ll forget about this, you’re wrong. The people in need will keep coming to my door. I wish I could send them to yours.
Play
It's Market Season! →
allrecipes.com
Since I started cooking seasonally, summer has become my favorite season. Here’s some tips, guide to what’s in season, and recipes from allrecipes.com :)
It’s market season! Good cooking starts with good ingredients. Make the most of your bumper crop with these recipes in which fresh fruits and vegetables play a starring role.
Engineers Without Borders →
ewb-maseno.org
EWB-USA supports community-driven development programs worldwide by collaborating with local partners to design and implement sustainable engineering projects, while creating transformative experiences and responsible leaders.These projects are completed in partnership with local communities and NGOs.
EWB-USA helps create a more stable and prosperous world by addressing people’s basic human needs by providing necessities such as clean water, power, sanitation and education. EWB-USA’s strength comes from its over 250 dedicated chapters, including university chapters on 180 campuses in the United States.
Helpful Tips for Meat Eaters →
breakingnews.ewg.org
Highlights:
- Eat less meat and dairy overall
- When eating meat, choose “greener” meat (grass-fed or pastured-raised meat)
- When buying seafood, make sure you consult the Monterey Bay’s Guide first; and/or do what I do: I stick with Whole Foods for my fish and seafood, because of their strict adherence to the Monterey Bay standards.
“If you eat one less burger a week, it’s like taking your car off the road for 320 miles or line-drying your clothes half the time.”
—Environmental Working Group’s “Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate Change and Health,” p. 12
Monday Morning Inspiration
Loving this sketch by Freddrick Kiesler, a De Stijl artist. Apologies, I just found this post saved from a while ago, I forget where I got the image from.
RE: What to do with compost
You could start a container garden. You could 'guerrilla compost' spreading compost around local trees, bushes, planters, etc. You could give it to a friend that gardens. You could sell it on Craigslist.
As a fellow apartment dweller, I had good results with vermicomposting. Unfortunately, I had a fruit fly outbreak, and I had to scrap my worm bin, and I've yet to start over, but it was producing great looking vermicompost for several months.
Thanks for the great suggestions!
EPA's guide to composting - "Composting 101" →
epa.gov
Currently, I am researching how to compost as an urban apartment-dweller. I don’t mind the composting part (I read that there are filters for smell reduction/elimination), but I don’t have a garden nor do I intend to have one, so I don’t know what to do with the compost.
14 Justice documentaries to Watch (From World Vision) →
worldvisionacts.org
A great list. Which have you seen? Thoughts?
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”
—1 Timothy 6:17-18
VolunteerMatch →
volunteermatch.org
A great starting point if you’re looking to volunteer for a day, weekly, or whatever you choose. A great way to meet new people, learn new skills, enrich others’ lives, and even grow your professional network.
“A squirrel dying in your front of your house may more relevant to your interests right now than people dying in Africa.”
—Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook, on the importance of FB Newsfeeds.
(Quoted in Eli Pariser’s TED Talk).
(Quoted in Eli Pariser’s TED Talk).
“Knock knock… Who’s there?… Unlimited union and corporate [election] contributions… That’s the thing, I shouldn’t have to tell you.”
—Stephen Colbert Superpac
