Machias, New York, a town of 2,300 people, has rallied together to help meet the needs of two children. Vicki and Webb Eisenhardt are parents to sons Dalton and Wyatt, who are both in a battle with a rare genetic disorder. The community has raised money to help with medical costs and is now going one step further.

After the family was turned down by the ABC show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition because they did not own their home, the town decided to take matters into their own hands. Machias gathered support from various community organizations to build a house suited for Dalton and Wyatt. Local companies, the American Legion and religious organizations are now working together to construct a new home for the Eisenhardt's, where the family can live rent-free for as long as the boys require medical assistance.   Read more...

Don't like the look of solar panels? There is a new option on the market for people who want to save money on their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint through the use of solar panels. SRS Energy of Philadelphia has developed a solar panel in the shape of popular clay roof tiles, allowing a portion of a roof to be tiled with the solar panels while the rest is covered in regular clay tiles.

The solar tiles are dark blue, recyclable and are scheduled to be available on the west coast this fall, and nationwide in the spring of 2010. While many enjoy the look of sunlight-converting traditional solar panels, if you prefer the tiled look the Sole Power Tile has several more colors and styles planned.   Read more...

Success happens when all opposing sectors join for a common goal.

Earth Aid educates, rewards, monitors and reminds consumers of new trends in energy efficiency. Partnering with government energy offices and local businesses, Earth Aid offers tips on ways to save electricity, conserve water, save gas and the overall environmental benefit of being energy efficient. In addition, local diverse businesses have joined Earth Aid to offer discounts for members who are successful in lowering their energy use.   Read more...

My last posting was about shopping with my new found friend Okada-san. Well it was about two months since I had seen her, when I met her coming out of the dry cleaners.

"How was the meal?" I asked. "Fantastic!" she said. " In fact, it has lead to a whole new life for me." "Oh wow! Do tell me." I replied.   Read more...

Inventor and water-treatment expert Michael Pritchard watched the devastating 2004 Asian tsunami and hurricane Katrina in 2005 leave many without clean drinking water in the wake of horrific natural disasters, leading him to develop the Lifesaver bottle.   Read more...

Experience has taught me that everything happens for one of two reasons. Those reasons are that we either have something to learn or something to teach, often both. I may not know the reason or understand why things occur and I don't have to. Just trusting that there is a reason helps.

The real prize is that I or we get to decide what that reason is. It is up to us to find, create or associate a value to life's circumstances. Why did someone lose their job? Why did someone have to die? Why do I have multiple sclerosis? I can answer that last question.   Read more...

"And when one is thinking lovely, kind, beautiful thoughts of course one has no time to become lonesome."

Simple wise words for children (and adults) from a father to his daughter long ago. How similar in philosophy to spiritual teachers from around the world addressing parliaments, mass audiences, authoring countless books, or presiding over a simple gathering of families looking for just a bit of wisdom to carry into the following week. Yet, this father, Johnny Gruelle, was an author and illustrator from Arcola, Illinois in the early 1900s.   Read more...

A new renewable energy resource for the home has been developed by UK-based The Power Collective called RidgeBlade, a rooftop wind turbine. The home wind power system is designed to be visually unobtrusive and is designed to maximize energy potential even when there is little wind available, according to Springwise.

The RidgeBlade sits on the ridge line on the top of buildings where wind is forced over the surface, pushing air through the turbine to generate electricity.   Read more...

Yesterday, another Nobel Peace Prize winner was in Washington, D.C. On a slightly overcast day with rain drops sprinkling from the sky, the Dalai Lama visited Adas Israel Congregation to meet with the community.

Following the seven days of the Festival of Sukkot, it was only fitting that on this holiday of Shemini Atzeret, Rabbi Steinlauf spoke of how love is timeless and spaceless. He asked the congregation to imagine someone they love, there with them, what they looked like and what they would say. With tears, many would realize that their loved one was indeed there with them in their heart whether they lived far away or had passed away. In effect, the Rabbi was preparing the community for the visit of the Dalai Lama.   Read more...

To mark Botswana's Independence Day (30 September), and 18 months since Ian Khama came to office, Survival International has released a cartoon by an anonymous artist from Botswana depicting the President trying to sweep the Bushmen under a carpet.

President Khama (a board member of the non-governmental organization, Conservation International) has done nothing to undo his predecessor's pernicious policy of making the Bushmen's life in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve impossible. Indeed, he has called their way of life an "archaic fantasy".   Read more...