Click and Give

"Give to me, give to me.. Care for me, care for me, you said you'd care for me." -Lauryn Hill

(I might have covered some of these previously, but a reminder is always good!)


GoodSearch.com: The idea behind GoodSearch is straightforward - Use it's search engine, powered by Yahoo, every time you browse the Web, and the site will make a donation to the charity of your choice. The donation is just a penny per search, but if 1,000 people search twice a day, every day, that would add up to $7,300 in a year. Eligible charities include local day-care centers, animal shelters, the Sierra Club, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. TIP: If you don't see your favorite nonprofit, complete the sign-up form and look under "add a charity."


GreaterGood.com: You click on one of the listed charitable causes and then press "click here," and the GreaterGood Network of web sites will make a donation. The site is funded with ad revenue, which is divvied up among 15 nonprofits. Although you don't see how much money each click generates, the site says one click is worth 1 to 2 cents. Total donations in the 12 months ending June 30, 2008 came to $2.7 million. The money went to such charities as America's Second Harvest food bank and the Petfinder Foundation. TIP: Spread the word. Each of the sites allows you to send e-cards that count as clicks and generate more donations.


eBayGivingWorks.com: This little-publicized section of eBay lists thousands of items for sale by private sellers who agree to donate all or part of the proceeds. You can find the usual eBay products - used books, collectibles, toys - as well as VIP packages for concerts and gift certificates for movies. As with any eBay transaction, check seller ratings and pay with plastic to protect yourself in case something goes wrong. TIP: Watch where you're going when you're on the site. Clicking "home" brings you to the regular eBay home page.


GoodShop.com: Click on any of the 500-plus participating online stores, shop as you normally would, and any purchase you make will generate a donation to the cause of your choice. Donation amounts vary by retailer. There are literally thousands of organizations you can help, from local schools and health clinics to large national foundations. TIP: Also check BuyForCharity.com. It has fewer stores, but it works the same way, and the donations might be bigger.


ThePetitOnSite.com: Click on a category such as human rights or corporate accountability, look at the petitions, and decide whether to add your support. Petitions under "environment and wildlife," for example, support protection of gorilla habitats in Congo or call for limiting oil exploitation in the Arctic. To add your name, fill out a form. If you don't want your identity made public, check the "don't display my name" box. TIP: Look at petition sponsors. Some are reputable organizations; others are private citizens with an ax to grind.

Recycle Anything

"Time to re-up gotta recycle the flow (Cycle the flow)." -Young Jeezy

Real Simple has a great feature on "How to Recycle Anything." An A-Z guide to use as a reference for recycling those everyday and not so everyday items that you don't know how best to get rid of. Also, see my post "A Bit of Give and Take" for more ideas on how to reduce waste!

A Bit of Give and Take

"You want it, I got it." -T.I.

Freecycle: Join communities working toward landfill extinction. Post things you don't need and scroll for stuff you don't have. Membership is free, as is everything on the site.

Swaporamarama: Where old clothes become art. Join up, trade unloved duds and learn from local artists how to make them hip.

Throwplace: Do good without having to do much work. List items you want to "throw" to any U.S. or international charities; interested recipients can contact you about pickup.

Opt Out

"You can't see me through websites, but I still got 'computer love'." -Spice 1

Get rid of unwanted junk mail: http://www.greendimes.com/ is a website that helps remove your name from mailing lists and eliminates those unwanted catalogs. Also, I found www.worldprivacyforum.org/toptenoptout.html as a place to opt out of many types of unwanted mail. From there, you can also get to http://www.donotcall.gov/ for the National Do Not Call Registry.

Also, there is the Catalog Choice website where you can eliminate the catalogs you receive in the mail.

Just found two more: dmachoice.org and optoutprescreen.com

Scientific Thoughts

"You best flee, because I've come with the science..." -Gang Starr

Great article in Time on intelligent design and evolution.

Harvest of Fear - Must read!

"There is so much trouble in the world." -Bob Marley

Whoever provides the world's seed controls the world's food supply. If you have not yet heard about this company and their practices, please take a few moments to read this. Monsanto already dominates America’s food chain with its genetically modified seeds. Just as frightening as the corporation’s tactics–ruthless legal battles against small farmers–is its decades-long history of toxic contamination.

Vanity Fair article on Monsanto's fierce reputation for enforcing its patents and suing anyone who allegedly violated them.

Organic Beauty

"Logo organic, herbal fresh, hypoallergenic." -RZA


Origins by Dr. Andrew Weil: His remarkable integrative approach features highly effective proprietary blends of various organic items. I was mostly interested in the Weil Bee-ings Honey - supposedly great for using in tea and on pb&j. I also use a mixture of aloe vera and honey for a face mask sometimes and was thinking I would use this honey. I'll let you know as soon as I do.


Linden Leaves USA: "Combines the very best of local New Zealand and international ingredients to create a pure bodycare." I was most interested in their Gold Family. - supposedly great for the skin. Have yet to try it though. Man I'm a slacker.


Another Gold product I've wanted to try is the Guerlain 'Lor' Radiance Concentrate.

Blab Savorites: Enviro-Glam

"But it's hard when that environment you live in ain't healthy." -UGK

Read Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life by Sophie Uliano.

The Green Office: Recycled, biodegradable and sustainable office supplies.

Care2: Global network for organizations and people who Care2 make a difference.

Envirosax: "The original designer reusable bag."

The Freecycle Network: Trade with people in your community. Get stuff, and give stuff, for free!
Delight.com: Enviro-glam gifts.

Sigg: Bottles your way. Stop throwing away your plastic water bottles after one use. Invest in one of these. Eco-friendly and stylish.

Bee's

"While, I'm sippin herbal teas, verbal bees plant fertile seeds." -RZA

If you have not heard yet, our bee population is dwindling. "Across the 24 U.S. states affected by the mysterious phenomenon, losses have ranged up to 90 per cent" (Lester 2007). Called the colony collapse disorder, it is of huge concern to our agriculture.

Go to the Pollinator Partnership to find out how you can help and contribute to the solution.

Journey of the Bee Collection: This collection was created as a tribute to the bee. A matte black glass is adorned with a gold bee, then hand poured with a high-quality beeswax blend. Burns 80 hours.