Today’s suggestion is about avoiding chocolate that is made with input from child slavery. This was something I wasn’t aware of and is something I will be taking personal action on.
Don’t buy chocolate made by companies that buy their cocoa where there is child slavery. How can you do this? Check the web site below:
http://vision.ucsd.edu/~kbranson/stopchocolateslavery/
A response to reading ‘365 Ways to Change the World,’ by Michael Norton
Today’s suggestion is probably one that most people wouldn’t think a great deal about these days. In the Western World, the issue of AIDS is probably somewhat on the backburner so to speak, though that would depend on the community you live within or deal with on a daily basis.
Though AIDS remains a major health threat in Western countries, the real frontline is in the Third World, where entire countries are under serious threat from AIDS/HIV and/or the consequences of the disease on the economy, the community, the family, etc.
So helping to prevent AIDS and to assist in the provision of treatment for AIDS/HIV, as well as caring for those left in it’s wake are all very important.
Some web sites with valuable information:
A response to reading ‘365 Ways to Change the World,’ by Michael Norton
Today’s suggestion is one I really do like – it is about supporting the local people of isolated rural villages, especially in Third World countries (not that the book really makes that distinction).
To do this, the suggestion is to buy products produced by local artisans via the web. This is a great suggestion and one I think I will try and support from time to time. It is a great way to assist people in difficult situations.
Some useful websites:
A response to reading ‘365 Ways to Change the World,’ by Michael Norton
I never expected to agree with everything that ‘365 Ways to Change the World,’ by Michael Norton, suggested. So it comes as no surprise to me to find a suggestion with which I have an issue – so to speak.
The suggestion for today is about buying Palestinian olive oil as a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people and their plight. However, I am loathe to do this.
Why? Is it because I support the Israeli oppression of the Palestinians? No, I do not support the oppression of the Palestinian people. But neither do I support the anti-Israel rhetoric that seems to be continually doing the rounds.
I would love to see an end to the occupation of lands captured during the 1967 war and do not support Israeli settlements in these areas. However, one does need to remember the fact that Israel did not start that 1967 war and the surrounding nations have largely set an agenda since the birth of the modern Israeli state to crush it. There has also been an unending campaign of terror against the Israeli state and Israel has a right to defend itself.
It would be great to see lasting peace in Palestine and for that to happen both sides need to address the important issues I have mentioned here and others. But it is both sides that need to do it – not just Israel and not just the Palestinian people. It is both sides. That is what I support here.
A response to reading ‘365 Ways to Change the World,’ by Michael Norton
Today’s suggestion is to support what is basically the freedom of the press and/or personal expression via the written word especially.
Anyone who has followed my Blogs would know that there have been cases where a Blogger has been imprisoned for his/her views. This has been so of Christians in Islamic countries for example.
Supporting the right of expression via the written word is something I do via my Blogs. I report news of Christian Bloggers and those who witness for Christ that are persecuted.
See also:
A response to reading ‘365 Ways to Change the World,’ by Michael Norton
Today’s suggestion is about doing something about the many children throughout the world that receive no education or very limited education. This can be especially true of many girls in some countries and seems to be more so in some strict Islamic communities and regions.
It is difficult to know just what can be done in this field by the ‘average Joe,’ so to speak. Whereas individuals may not be able to do a lot personally, they may be able to contribute by being part of a larger organisation that is able to bring pressure to bear on governments around the world.
It is also possible to be part of a humanitarian organisation that seeks to assist people to receive education and/or by donating money to such a group.
For some ideas on this particular suggestion have a look at:
www.campaignforeducation.org & www.unicef.org
A response to reading ‘365 Ways to Change the World,’ by Michael Norton
Today’s suggestion is about supporting the ‘Buy Nothing Day’ initiative. Buy Nothing Day is usually held at the end of November. The aim of the day is to raise awareness of our world’s dwindling resources and our preoccupation with unnecessary things.
I like the sound of this day and will try and support it, as well as being more aware of what I buy and why.
www.ecoplan.org/ibnd/ib_index.htm
A response to reading ‘365 Ways to Change the World,’ by Michael Norton
Today’s suggestion was about self defence and was especially aimed at females – which makes sense because women are attacked more than men, which greatly concerns me.
I’m not particularly interested in taking a self-defence course myself, but I certainly would encourage women to do so.
A response to reading ‘365 Ways to Change the World,’ by Michael Norton
Today’s suggestion is to get involved in the Open Directory on the World Wide Web by applying to be an editor for the directory. The idea is to assist in manually categorising web sites submitted to the directory
For more information on the Open Directory visit:
I have enough work in maintaining and adding to the many web sites, blogs, etc, that I own. So I’ll opt out of getting involved in this project, but none-the-less think it is a very worthwhile one.
The suggestion for today was to try and save water and electricity by remembering to turn off the light switch, a power point, a tap, etc. Because we forget these things the book suggests making stickers to place next to a light switch for example.
This is a somewhat simple solution to a possibly costly memory issue, in that forgetting to flick a switch/turn off a tap costs money by way of the bill, as well as costing more in terms of environmental costs.
I have found myself being far more efficient in these areas in the last little while and hardly ever forget to turn off a light when not needed, turn off a tap when brushing teeth, etc. It did however take a lot of self-discipline and I can see how stickers/post-it’s, etc, can be handy for some people.
A response to reading ‘365 Ways to Change the World,’ by Michael Norton
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