Caroline Zilk

When the latest snow storm hit the UK’s capital city last week, most people’s first thought wasn’t, “Wow, this is a great marketing and advertising opportunity!” While most Londoners trudged begrudgingly through the snow and the ice, the Curb media company based in central London set out to place over 3,500 imprints in the snow. According to a Springwise report, the company used laser-cut stencils to leave the sharp imprints for one of their clients.

The unplanned campaign is part of a broader trend in the advertising business called low impact branding. Many advertisers are using graffiti and other types of street art and even gardening to catch the attention of the consumer on the street. Curb has deemed this practice “cleanvertising”.   Read more...

What’s the best way to fight childhood obesity? The Welsh have decided that it’s to get their kids back out onto the streets...but obviously not in a negative sense. They want to see more children playing outside and being active. Organizations like Sustrans and Play Wales plan to work with the UK planning authority to improve and create new housing that will allow children to play outside. They believe this will boost the quality of life for everyone involved.

Play Wales Assistant Director Marianne Mannello said, “Play Wales recognizes the rising concern over children’s health. Time, space and freedom to play outside may have diminished but the contribution these factors can make to children’s self-reliance, emotional and physical resilience, and their sense of inclusion and participation in their own community remains unchanged.”   Read more...

"Loesje wants to conquer the world with creativity and posters," her website boasts. Every month, her organization publishes a series of posters that reflect on current events and world issues. The text is usually positive and avoids moralistic, dogmatic sayings.

With her posters, Loesje hopes to inspire people to take a stand in areas like human rights and democracy, international peace, environmental issues, and personal development and daily life. Loesje shared these thoughts with President Obama in a letter dated January 12.   Read more...

You search and they grow trees. That's Ecocho's philosophy on their status as the "first green search engine".

Their website says, "Ecocho is a new search engine trying to make a difference for climate change. For every 1000 searches users make on Ecocho we'll counter balance or "offset" a ton of greenhouse gases. We do this by sponsoring two trees via advertising on the site."   Read more...

Vegawatt is a brand new state of the art technology currently being used in restaurants that converts waste oil into electricity and hot water. It was developed by the Owl Power Company in Massachusetts and launched in January 2009.

"The unit, which is about the size of a refrigerator, is placed outside the building the same way central air conditioning units often are. It hooks up through one electrical cable to the electric system. There is also a hot water feed and return system. Your hot water heater won't have to work as hard now because the water has already been partially heated by the system," their website explains.   Read more...

This is an in-depth look at the astonishing mental capabilities of Daniel Tammet, born in Britain, and from a young age able to do extraordinary calculations in his head. Skeptics have thrown a number of challenges at him, for instance testing his ability to recite to 22,500 decimal points the calculation of Pi, as well as learning a language in a week. Tammet, in his gentle unassuming way, has passed all the tests and offers this concluding statement about the phenomenon of savants: "The line between profound talent and profound disability is a surprisingly thin one."   Read more...

The Catalog for Giving of New York City started 15 years ago as a nonprofit that supports children and youth throughout the city. They believe they are making a difference especially at a time when our nation is "...poised to answer President Obama's call to service."

They say their mission is to transform the lives of New York City children. Many of the youth they work with have lives that are severely limited by poverty, crime, drugs, and violence.   Read more...

Barbara Warmsley may look like a sweet, old woman but she's serious about helping you save money and the environment. She isn't the only one, though. Oxfam recently recruited a team of Green Grannies to offer advice and tips on all kinds of subjects like how to stay warm at night without turning on the heat.   Read more...

A muddy, green patch of mud and plants might usually be overlooked. However, workers at Playa Viva find it nothing short of amazing. The green sprouts in question are "...an essential element in the delicate coastal ecosystem and one that is increasingly endangered all along the Pacific coast," the organization says.

The little green plants are important for the little green animals they serve: sea turtles. Playa Viva is a sustainable resort and turtle sanctuary located near Zihuatanejo, Mexico. It was founded to protect turtles from predators and poachers. The sanctuary is staffed by a team of local residents. The organization offers regular events so community members and visitors can take part in turtle releases and other exciting opportunities.   Read more...

Kathleen Ridihalgh says she started the website ecobly.com to help consumers find the greenest goods out there - those made with locally sourced, sustainable materials.

"My mission is to encourage people to look in their own neighborhoods, cities, counties, states and regions for the stuff of everyday life - from counter tops to toys to envelopes - to find out what they can buy from local producers," Ridihalgh said. "Before going to the big box stores, go ecobly first! For example, in the vicinity of my neighborhood of Ballard (a Seattle 'hood), I can find glass tiles, couches and coffee tables, wooden shelves, envelopes, and a slew of consignment, used goods and antique shops. All made with things right from my area

Coca Cola is the largest producer of bottled soda and beverages in the world, and is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable brands worldwide. They are estimated to own over half of the world's beverages.

Now, the Coca Cola company is setting an example for the industry by doubling the size of its hybrid electric deliver fleet to 327 green trucks on U.S. and Canadian roads. This means the company will be adding about 185 hybrid electric trucks. It will also be launching a new vehicle that is much larger than those in the current fleet.   Read more...

As a kid, did you ever want to quit school and join the circus? Well in St. Louis, Missouri, kids have the option of attending "circus school" at the city museum, a museum / playground built from recycled "trash" and art from the city.

Jessica Hentoff is the director of the extra-curricular circus school. She's been involved in several state-of-the-art projects including "Circus Salaam Shalom", a workshop for circus training with Jewish and Muslim children at the same time.   Read more...

The United States Senate website contains everything you need to know about Inauguration Day. There, you can learn about the events of the day, the theme of the 2009 Inauguration, as well as information, tips and restrictions if you plan on being in the Nation's capitol for the big event.

However, if you're like most Americans you probably won't be in D.C. for Inauguration day. That's okay, because undoubtedly, there are a lot of exciting events going on across the country and the world to commemorate the change the U.S. is about to experience.   Read more...

Mellat Park // Northern Tehran from brianna olson on Vimeo.

American artist BriAnna Olson started the project "Send Love to Iran" after the 5th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center. She stood with a sign that said, "Unconditional Love is Global Security." The project is an attempt to help others see the Islamic Republic of Iran through the eyes of someone like her - a contemporary American artist.   Read more...

The United Nations announced in December that world-wide Measles deaths have plummeted by 74 percent worldwide since 2000. The number of people dying from Measles every year has dropped from an estimated 750,000 to 197,000 between 2000 and 2007 mostly due to improvements in routine immunization activities.

The Eastern Mediterranean region (including countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan) has cut measles deaths from 96,000 to 10,000. Hussein Abdel-Razzak Al Gezairy of the UN World Health Organization credits those countries' governments policy changes regarding Measles initiatives.   Read more...

Chalk4Peace began in 2008 in Arlington, VA. At the start of the project, the organization was a Sunday sidewalk chalk project for children and was recognized by the Arlington Arts Commission and the Washington D.C. Commission for the Arts and Humanities.

Through the years, Chalk4Peace has expanded through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers including teachers, parents, and community outreach coordinators. On July 16, 2005 Chalk4Peace made the move to expand the project to the rest of the world.   Read more...

Anshul Tewari cites March 2008 as the time he realized something had to be done to create awareness about the degradation of Indian society. That's also when he started blogging about issues of national and international importance.

Now, less than a year later Tewari has a dedicated team of individuals working together towards creating awareness and inspiring youth of all ages to participate in national re-building.   Read more...

A Kansas State University study found that gardening can benefit the health of the elderly just as much as other fitness regimes. The study followed 14 gardeners between the ages of 63 and 86 years of age and reported an average of 33 hours of gardening a week in May and 15 hours each week in June and July.

The study found gardening helps elderly people meet the recommended 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day through the gardening process: weeding, cultivating, watering, trimming, etc.   Read more...

Freshbrain.org is a beta release of a website aimed at high school students with the goal of giving them the opportunity to learn by doing. The website provides tools and ideas for students to learn new skills and gain experience and grow creatively in an online environment.

The creators of the website say that because technology is evolving so quickly, it is difficult for public school systems to keep up and provide a solid education in that area. Therefore, students are not educated properly in this area and may not be encouraged to "explore, engage and create." FreshBrain wants to fill that gap.   Read more...

The Food Chain is a UK based organization that provides help (including diet and nutritional service) to those suffering from chronic illnesses as a result of HIV related illness.

Recently, the organization won Optimist World's Charity Christmas Competition 2008 for their work during the holiday season.   Read more...

You've gotten the memo that red wine is good for you, right? When consumed in moderation, wine contains antioxidants that are beneficial to good health. They're known to prevent high cholesterol..and maybe even diseases like cancer.

Instead of getting a little tipsy on one or two glasses of red wine a day, you can check out Embodi. Emodi is "Specially designed to give you all the benefits of red wine without the alcohol." Their website says, "All natural Embodi is the only healthy drink to take advantage of the full antioxidant power of the red wine grape." They say their product is perfect for those who want to get more out of life.   Read more...

ARK is a new line of clothing fresh from Northern Ireland. It was created by an 18-year-old boy with the idea of inspiring people who wear the clothes to be kind to others each time they wear the brand...to commit one "Act of Random Kindness".

The ARK website unassumingly states, "So I have this idea. I'd love you to join me in it. I've started a clothing line with a purpose other than profit. The name, the movement, is ARK - Acts of Random Kindness." Cameron suggests the following ways to help someone while you're wearing an article of ARK clothing: "by someone a coffee, give up your seat on the bus, help a drunk home."   Read more...

Earth911.com writes, “Between 30 and 35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. each year.” They say that 93 percent of those trees are being recycled through more than 4,000 treecycling programs.

Treecycling is a simple way to put your tree (a renewable natural resource) back into the environment instead of in a landfill where decomposition rates are slow or burning your tree which can release harmful toxins into the air and creates fire hazards.   Read more...

If Santa brought your family the purrrfect pet this Christmas, we’re sure you want to give that pet the best care possible. One important thing to take into consideration is your new pet’s diet. What will your new puppy or kitty friend be eating this holiday season?

It seems organic pet food is the way to go. It’s better for your pet, better for you, and better for the environment. Organic pet food is produced without petroleum-based pesticides or fertilizers and uses meat from animals that are raised humanely and fed well.   Read more...

Good news rarely makes the headlines... except in Ode. To celebrate 2008 - and anticipate more good news to come in 2009 - here are Ode's 10 most positive stories from the year that was.   Read more...

Fly2help is a charity lifting the spirits and horizons of people suffering from life threatening and chronic illnesses, families who have suffered tragedy, and those who are working to recover a sense of self-worth.

Established in the UK in 2006, the charity offers flight lessons to individuals, groups and like-minded charities. They say their core focus, however, is disadvantaged youngsters, "...with whom we aim to inspire imagination, determination, self-esteem and confidence."   Read more...

Citizen space takes the best elements of a coffee shop and a workspace and melds them together to create a place where you can get work done and socialize with other visitors. They rent desks in their San Francisco location for $425 a month and hold events in the space as well.   Read more...

Are you having trouble finding the perfect thing for that special someone on your gift list this holiday season? Looking for advice? Who better to call than the jolly guy himself - Santa Claus.

I am St. Nick is a new website created especially for this holiday season. After plugging in the phone number of your loved one and your email address, Santa will give them a personal call to find out what they want this Christmas. Santa will then email the results.   Read more...

SingleSpotCamping allows people to share land with each other. Their website says, "The idea is: anyone who owns land (it can consist of your garage entrance) and would like to welcome one or a couple of camping guests are welcome to connect."

The site allows people to register and list their camping-spot which could be a farm, a back yard, or even - like they said - the entrance to your garage. They say the benefits of SingleSpotCamping include a wide range of camping sites to choose from, opportunities to camp spontaneously, cheaper than paying for a camp-site, and many more.   Read more...

Farm Forward is a nonprofit group advocating Americans to transform the way our nation eats and farms. They oppose the method of "factory farming" which began in the 1920's and is now prevalent in the meat, dairy, and egg industries. New farming technology has not been used positively and instead is promoting factory farming and destroying rural life.

Their website boasts their many accomplishments saying, "From years of innovative efforts to improve conditions on farms and in slaughterhouses worldwide, we have built a unique network of strong relationships with animal welfare experts, food retailers, nonprofit animal advocacy organizations, religious leaders, scholars, small farmers, and writers concerned about farmed animal welfare. This unprecedented network and our tight focus on rolling back factory farming allows us to enhance the effectiveness of existing organizations and implement comprehensive new strategies that are unavailable to other groups."   Read more...

Google is now allowing its users to create themes that showcase the change they are helping to create with an application called iGoogle for Causes.

You can choose to support organizations like Heifer International, Oxfam America, Ashoka, Doctors without Borders, Save the Children, charity:water, and Conservation International.   Read more...

Ma'o Organic Farms is located on the island of O'ahu. They exist to help people who live in the Wai'anne region. Residents there have struggled due to scarce resources. Ma'o Organic Farms says the youth are struggling to achieve their socio-economic goals.

"The statistics suggest a bleak future for many native Hawaiian youth with the State’s highest rates of teen pregnancy, school suspensions, incidents of substance abuse, and juvenile arrests. In addition, Wai‘anae is recognized as the most food insecure region of Hawai‘ with native Hawaiians having the highest rates of preventable disease including diabetes, heart disease and some cancers."   Read more...

Have you ever thought about how much ink you waste? Think of your ink consumption on a daily basis...or the ink consumption of your office - just one office in one city in one country in the world.

SPRANQ creative communications was concerned about ink consumption and decided to be proactive. They created a new environmentally friendly font called "EcoFont".   Read more...

After walking past street musicians outside subway stations and seeing the emotional impact they often have on even the most passive commuters, Mark Johnson decided to highlight this engaging form of music.   Read more...

We Media and Ashoka have teamed up to present the We Media Changemakers $50,00 Challenge. The challenge is called, "The Power of Us," and aims to find and help launch the best new ideas for inspiring a better world through media and technology. The contest invites entries from all fields. There will be two categories, one for business ventures and one for non-profit ventures. The award will be up to $50,000 in seed funding. The contest is funded by a grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation. Entries can be received until January 21, 2009.   Read more...

You might carry a gym card, a video rental card, a subway card, a store-loyalty card. But a Taxi card? Unheard of.

What if instead of shelling out cash for every taxi ride, you were able to use a card, or to pay one flat rate for unlimited rides?   Read more...

We often hear what is wrong with the environment, and the truth is that we do need to clean up our act so that we don't find cities like Venice - which has experiences recent record flooding - under water completely in the next few years. But there are small victories for the environment every day, and there were at least 10 big ones in 2008. Check out Plantetsave's top ten list here for more info.

1. EPA Required to Regulate CO2 Emissions
2. California’s Proposition 2
3. Sumatran Elephant Sanctuary Expansion
4. 320,000 Acres of Montana Forest Protected
5. Greenpeace Activists Acquitted in the UK
6. Sea Shepherd’s Migaloo Campaign
7. Incandescent Light Bulb Bans
8. Stronger EPA Regulations on Diesel Ships
9. Removal of Two Maine Dams
10. The election of Barack Obama   Read more...

The new initiative Fresh2o says that one child dies from dirty water every fifteen seconds. To reduce this statistic, they have designed a campaign to raise awareness of this problem. And since a picture is worth 1,000 words, the UK not-for-profit is using images to inspire others to become educated about water cleanliness.

A photographer named Candice has created a powerful series of underwater portraits designed to, "...connect, engage and motivate consumers worldwide, altering the globe to the fresh water crisis." Many celebrities have joined the cause and have had their underwater portrait taken for the charity. This includes actors, singers and other personalities such as Will Smith, Keira Knightley and Natalie Imbruglia.   Read more...

Playing for Change: Peace through Music is a global collaborative musical project with the goal of uniting people of different cultures, ethnicities and regions. The film and music will be available in 2009.   Read more...

Encore Careers was created for people who want personal fulfillment combined with social impact combined with continued impact. It was created for passionate people who are looking to make a career switch or come out of retirement and do something really meaningful with the rest of their lives.

Their website says, "The Encore Careers campaign is a project of Civic Ventures, a think tank on boomers, work and social purpose. Other initiatives that are part of the Encore Careers campaign include The Purpose Prize, which invests in social innovators over 60; a community college initiative to develop pathways to encore careers; an awards program for employers of people in encore careers; and a pilot fellowship program for boomers in the Silicon Valley."   Read more...

Egyptian blogger Tarek Amr said he was extremely distraught over the negative news he was finding online. “I was on a verge of a nervous breakdown because whenever I read any of the Egyptian blogs, I find nothing but torture, harassment, demonstrations, etc," he wrote. "Later on, when I started writing for Global Voices, I was required to select and translate blog posts into English for the world to read. At this point I fell in the clutches of a breakdown, it was almost impossible to find that little light at the end of the tunnel, the light that would make the Egyptians feel that Egypt is a beautiful country not a swamp.”

Instead of complaining and continuing the negativity, Amr decided to discuss an initiative with his fellow bloggers and friends. They now dedicate one day of every month to showcase a positive image about their country.   Read more...

Iqbal Mashih was a Pakistani child-laborer in a carpet factory. Hadijatou Mani was a Nigerian slave. Simon Deng was a child soldier in Sudan's Arab militia. Somaly Mam was a Cambodian brothel-worker and Given Kachepa was sold into slavery in the United States after moving from Zambia with a child choir.

Each one of these former slaves has their own grave story. However, instead of being released and seeking a life of quiet-comfort after so many years of abuse, these people have become activists, hoping to rid the world of such evils and improve the quality of life for others.   Read more...

Ingida Asfaw came to the United States from Ethiopia on a cargo ship when he was sixteen. The two-week-journey was worth the wait. Today, Asfaw is a world-renowned surgeon based in Detroit. However, he always believed he would return to his homeland to improve the lives of his fellow Ethiopians.   Read more...

The World Food Programme and local NGOs are helping Nepalese villagers grow herbs to supplement their incomes. Specifically, they are growing the chiretta plant, which is known for its medical qualities and can be exported for use in other South Asian countries like India. The herb is used to ward off fevers, skin diseases, intestinal worms, and bronchial asthma. It has also been used to heal burns, regulate the bowels and cure hiccups.

"The plant used to be plentiful in the nearby forests and we would pick it for our own consumption and to sell," said Sal Bahadur Rawal, supervisor of the nursery. It is a real income earner. While a kilo of millet costs 20 rupees (about 26 US cents), a kilo of chiretta costs 200 rupees (US$2.66), 10 times the amount.   Read more...

Kraft Foods has been warming up bellies for generations with their warm, delicious dishes. Now, they are warming up bus stops in Chicago to promote their new Stove Top Quick Cups.

Kraft has posted ads in 50 bus shelters that say, "Cold, provided by winter. Warmth, provided by us". It's a good night for Stove Top." Kraft hopes that residents of Chicago will first enter the heated bus stops to enjoy shelter from the cold, and then decide that eating a Stove Top Quick Cup would be a good idea.   Read more...

December 5th is International Volunteer Day, as designated by the United Nations beginning in 1985. The UN says the aim of this activity is to thank international volunteers for their efforts and increase public awareness of their contribution to society. International Volunteer Day is marked by many non-governmental organizations, including Red Cross, scouts and others. It is also marked and supported by United Nations Volunteers.

Organizations like Nabuur.com honored their volunteers. Nabuur is a website aimed at connecting people who want to make a difference all over the world from where they are. They explain that you do not have to travel abroad to be an international volunteer. Nabuur allows communities in need to sign up for the site. They then assign a volunteer facilitator who guides and coordinates efforts of volunteers all over the world.   Read more...

The World Economic Forum announced on Thursday that Lemnis Lighting is one of the visionary companies selected as Technology Pioneers 2009. The company is being recognized for its accomplishments in energy efficient and low carbon emission lighting as well as for its sustainable business model designed to solve global problems outperforming existing alternatives, while protecting and preserving the environment.

The Technology Pioneers award recognizes companies at the forefront of technology and innovation.  Lemnis Lighting’s inclusion as a Technology Pioneer recognizes their achievement in creating life-changing lighting alternatives that have the potential for long-term impact on business and society.     Read more...

300,000 families in Paraguay lack adequate housing. Entrepreneur Elsa Zaldivar has decided to help those people with some unlikely materials. Recyclable homes are now being made from a mix of loofah, the cucumberlike vegetable that is often dried into scratchy sponge, and corn husks. Loofah, which are readily available in Paraguay, are used to make lightweight panels which can be used to build furniture as well.

The panels are extremely lightweight, which makes them easy to handle, and also gives the homes a better chance of withstanding earthquakes and other natural catastrophes. If they happen to be destroyed, the materials are fully recyclable.   Read more...

If North Korea is known for its self-imposed isolation and absence from the global economy, perhaps Sweden should be known for being peaceful and all inclusive because this past year, a group of young Swedes launched a project to forge connections with North Korea through a company that will be the first to produce jeans in North Korea and export them to the rest of the world.

The three young Swedes come from a PR background and are currently operating as Noko Jeans. They say the company is an attempt to approach and get closer to North Korea. They have met with North Korean government officials last summer and secured an manufacturer.   Read more...

The holiday season is now upon us. For Americans, this means that we are buying presents for our loved ones, spending time with family, and decking the halls. Outdoor home decorations have become louder, brighter and more obnoxious in the past few years, bu this holiday, instead of purchasing your seven-foot-tall, blinking, light-up Santa Claus from Wal-Mart take a moment to consider the implications.

Everything we do has an impact on the earth, even during the holidays. While some Christmas-light-enthusiasts might call you a Scrooge, the abuse is probably worth it when you're helping to save the planet.   Read more...

When Silicon Valley entrepreneur Heidi Roizen turned 50, she decided it was time to lose some weight, so she decided to do what she does best: start a company.   Read more...

100 Friends in Kham from 100 Friends on Vimeo.

Gandhi said, "Whatever you do may seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it," and Marc Gold took this lesson to heart in 1989 when he started the 100 Friends project. "The idea is very simple," he says. "Every year many people contribute to the project and I take the money to Third World Countries and look for the neediest people I can find. I then put the money to work in the most compassionate, appropriate, culturally compatible, constructive and practical manner possible. You put the donation into my hands and I put the funds directly into the hands of the needy individual or family, or a small trusted grassroots organization helping them."   Read more...

Dogs are often conversation starters. But what if you could meet other dog lovers online instead of on walks through the park? Boston-based SNIF Tags is doing just that: allowing pet owners to forge new connections with fellow dog-walkers online.

The SNIF Tag is a small RFID device that attaches to a dog's collar to record his or her daily movements and social encounters. the tag emits a signal that can be picked up by other SNIF Tags in the area. The dog's owner can then log on and view the profiles of the owners of the dogs their pet has come into contact with.   Read more...

The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) has announced the launch of its new "growing organic" page. The page focuses on information that is practical in the organic sector. They provide information for everyone from grassroots organizers to advocacy groups to encourage the growth of their movement. The page has tools and information from all corners of the organic world and wants to be a community resource designed to represent and serve global organic movements.   Read more...

The Hippy Gourmet says it is "a weekly, 30-minute public television series that airs nationally on PBS, Dish network channel 9415 (FSTV), syndicated television and globally through YouTube. The show is based in the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco, but travels the world highlighting organic, sustainable agriculture, alternative energy, and people making a difference for a better world.   Read more...

A soon-to-be-published study by The Archives of Internal Medicine shows that some forms of cancer may under some circumstances go away without treatment. Doctors say if their findings turn out to be credible, it could change the way we approach the disease. Women diagnosed with breast cancer, for example, might be advised to opt for “watchful waiting,” whereby a tumor is monitored, rather than immediately removed, to see if it might shrink without treatment. The New York Times reported on this story and said, "At the moment, the finding has no practical applications because no one knows whether a detected cancer will disappear or continue to spread and kill."

Doctors say that if the theory turns out to be credible, this could turn into a huge point of interest within the medical community. Women diagnosed with breast cancer could be allowed to opt for a watchful waiting process, monitoring a tumor within the breast to see if it grows before deciding how to treat it.   Read more...

The Green MicroGym in Portland, Ore. is stocked with more than just hand weights and power bars. The workout rooms are filled with generators, which are linked to various machines and equipment like stationary bikes and treadmills. When gym members come to work out, they are not only keeping their bodies in shape, they are keeping the gym running.

The gym currently relies on the solar panels to cover about 40 percent of the operational energy. They are attempting to increase that number. They have a calculated need of 240 hours a day on the equipment to reach the goal of the gym being 100 percent self sustainable.   Read more...

Australian based outdoor outfitters, Northland Professional recently began a marketing campaign using billboards that give away free merchandise. Northland attaches samples of caps, gloves and scarfs on 50 billboards throughout the city of Ganz. They call the campaign, "Free love". It will run through the end of November.   Read more...

The economy is hurting big businesses, but what about the little guy? The guy with socially conscious ideas and new developments in the works? They're getting together and sounding off at a place on the web called Ideablob.com. The website is a community and sounding board for social entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Instead of continuing "non-disclosure agreements", the website encourages entrepreneurs to share ideas and tips to success while promoting new ideas and fresh visons. Each month the website wards $10,000 the best new small business idea, which is voted on by ideablob.com users.   Read more...

Do you walk for half an hour a day? On the way to work? From your parking spot downtown to the cafe? Or maybe around the block on a cool, crisp fall evening? If you do, you could unknowingly be reducing your risk of cancer.

New research shows half an hour of walking at least five days a week can help prevent cancer, and slow down the progression of the disease if you already have it. This is because exercise lowers insulin levels - the hormone that causes most of the body's cells to process glucose in your blood.   Read more...

The Creators Inn is a new venture from the creators of the Swedish clothing brand Elvine. It offers people who consider themselves creative types a free place to stay with no strings attached. The project is funded by various independent donors throughout the city of Gothenburg, Sweden where it is based, but mostly by the Elvine clothing brand itself.

Creators Inn is located near the city center of Gothenburg. The center is just a ten minute walk. Foreign visitors are given priority for rooms, but all writers, artists, and creators are welcome.   Read more...

The video above is a representation of some of the ideas that are being thought up as a result of the competition sponsored byNike and Ashoka's Changemakers. The goal of this contest is to create more opportunities for women in the world of athletics, and to recognize women in their communities who are contributing through athletic endeavors.   Read more...

Starbucks customers in Loveland, Colo. are paying it forward by paying it backward. People are showing up to the drive-through and coffee counter to find that the person in front of them has footed their bill.   Read more...

The Free Hugs program began four years ago in Sydney, Australia. SInce then, there have been hundreds of Free Hugs campaigns throughout the world, and now, Free Hugs has a new goal.   Read more...

About 30 Indian teenagers have started putting together their own newspaper called The Yamuna. The paper is printed in New Delhi and features articles of social relevance. The girls launched their project in 2007 as part of the Gandhi Media Literacy Program (GMLP), a group whose aim is to help develop writing skills of India's youth and encourage them to raise their voices against social injustice and concerns.

The newspaper's printing schedule is set in accordance with the examination schedules of the students involved. The large editorial staff has a variety of interests and opinions, allowing them to create interesting longer feature stories, interviews and even cartoon strips. The students keep in touch through email and talk about journalistic principles like good news judgment and what stories will be included in upcoming issue.   Read more...

It's true that sometimes things aren't as they seem...but that is not the case with Jens-Peter Jungclaussen, founder of Teacher With The Bus. Jungclaussen is exactly that. He is a teacher...with a bus.

There are two buses, actually. One is a mobile venue used to "drive kids to learn, naturally," and the other is a sustainable school bus with 52 seats, wi-fi, and a state-of-the-art sound system to take kids kids out to nature. After all, with the Teacher With The Bus," Everything is a field trip".   Read more...

Geocaching says it is the sport where you are the search engine. The goal of the "sport" or "game" is to use your own personal GPS device to locate hidden containers called geocaches outdoors and share your experiences with others online. This is a new activity for people of all age groups, "with a strong sense of community and support for the environemnt."

Geocashing.com encourages everyone involved in the project to share their experiences with each other and to be mindful of the environment. Their program, "Cache In Trash Out" holds annual events and smaller community events to educate geocahcers about the environment. They also always encourage geocahce searchers to bring trash bags with them when they go out hiking and searching.   Read more...

What would you think if you saw a massive oil spill? Would you think, "Oh no, this is horrible," or "What can I do to help?" If you're a man named John Francis you might think, "I'm going to give up motorized transportation..."

That is exactly what Francis did in 1971 after witnessing the oil spill in the San Francisco Bay. For 22 years, he gave up driving and riding in cars all together. Francis did not let his new found dependence on walking constrict him at all. He took treks across the United States and South America hoping to inspire others.   Read more...

You've tried everything to cure your cold: medications like tylenol, home remedies, staying in bed all day and drinking plenty of Vitamin C. Have you tried smiling? If not, Sheldon Cohn, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Carnegie Mellon University thinks you should.

New research shows that a positive attitude brings fewer cold symptoms. Cohn's research included interviewing 334 volunteers three evenings a week for two weeks to assess their mental state. Volunteers were given a squirt of rhinovirus, the germ that causes the common cold, and were checked for five days afterward for signs of infection.   Read more...

AlertMe is a security system...but not just any security system. This new technology, released in January of 2008 can monitor doors and windows without the annoying wires and drilling before hand. Instead, AlertMe uses small sensors placed at strategic points throughout the home.

How about your energy-saving needs? AlertMe has taken care of that too. In September, they announced a new application that will use an energy monitoring SmartPlug, which will allow users to control devices automatically from remote locations.   Read more...

You've heard the expression "raining cats and dogs", but for one central California woman, the part about cats is almost literally true....It looks like a storm of cats rained down upon Lynea Lattanzio's 12-arcre ranch where she feeds and cares for over 600 feral and abandoned cats. Lattanzizo keeps the cats alive and healthy in hopes of having them adopted to good homes.   Read more...

Christians...Muslims..Jews, and people of all different faiths are coming together to write a document called the Charter for Compassion. Throughout the next four weeks, the Charter will come together with the help of participants all over the world who speak many different languages. Many religions leaders from all over the world have already lended their voices and support to the Charter, but anyone is allowed to participate. The goal of this document is to inspire religious people to focus on what brings them together with those of different faiths, instead of what divides them. The final document will involve all major world religions and will be released in 2009.   Read more...

Dr. Binayak Sen is a public heath specialist, and national Vice-President of the People's Union for Civil Liberties in the Chhattisgarh state of India. He has won awards for his promotion of human rights and has helped poor people in India maintain health care.

On May 14, 2007 Dr. Binayak Sen was arrested on charges of supporting the Maoist party (for drawing attention to the unlawful killing of several indigenous tribal people in his region).   Read more...

Midwestern grocery store cashiers have looked at me, dumbfounded while I tried to purchase a thorny, green, pine cone-shaped vegetable. Well, for the grocers out there, that vegetable is PLU code 4084. And for the rest of us, it's just an artichoke.

The artichoke is a member of the thistle family and originated in northern Africa, southern Europe and the Mediterranean. The Dutch introduced the British to this amazing plant in the 1500's, although it was not brought to the United States until the 19th century.   Read more...

America Recycles Day will take place on November 15th, and the National Recycling Coalition wants you to be involved - even if it's just a little bit.

On their website, they write, "It all comes back to you. Even a small shift in your attitudes and actions, multiplied many times over by others accepting this challenge, can change the world. Maybe you'll throw those soft drink cans into the recycle bin, or buy recycled-content products..."   Read more...

At this juncture in human history, urgent global crises challenge us to learn to live sustainability, in harmony and gratitude with one another and with the living universe. The changes required of humanity are broad, deep, and far reaching. Only by acting swiftly and creatively can we birth a planetary culture that will bring well-being to every form of life in the Earth community.

The good news is that a compelling new story of our potential as a whole human species is emerging, a story of collaboration, citizen action, dialogue and new understandings propelled by unprecedented levels of democratic freedom, multicultural exchange, and access to communication technologies. It is nothing less than the story of our collective evolution.   Read more...

"Girls living in poverty are uniquely capable of creating a better future," says the Girl Effect, an organization that advocates education instead of poverty, business advancement instead of arranged marriage, and hope instead of desperation.   Read more...

When you think of Nepal, you might think of images of the Himalayas and decorated child goddesses. The Western media often does not focus on what is going on in this small country nestled between China and India. Perhaps they should. Nepal is doing the opposite of the Western media today. While the western media scales back on hiring and funding, media outlets in nepal are hiring new reporters, editors and broadcasters left and right. Newspaper readership and radio participation has taken a huge jump. This more effective flow of communication played a vital role in recent pro-democracy movements.   Read more...

Eighteen is a big birthday for kids in the United Kingdom. Most kids enjoy hitting the pubs legally for the first time. However for his eighteenth birthday on October 1 of this year, Charlie McDonnell decided to go for an upper instead of a downer and raise money for cancer research.

Charlie asked people to donate money to the charity, Cancer Research UK. It helped that Charlie is somewhat famous on YouTube. His channel has over 92,000 subscribers. On the eve of his birthday, Charlie hosted a live show on the live-video blog website BlogTV for his friends and loyal YouTube fans.   Read more...

DreamBank believes that gifts are important...but only if they are something you really want...a dream! The site allows its users to sign up and post a dream. These range from global awareness causes, to people asking for funding for trips and vacations, to building their dream homes. Other users can contribute money via PayPal to make dreams come true.

Mostly, users donate for causes posted by people they know, but there is no rule against contributing to a dream you happen to stumble upon. You can contact the organization if you have a question about a particular dream. They also keep a blog to keep you updated on the most recent goings-on at DreamBank.   Read more...

This election day, with online tools like Twitter and Google Voter Info, it is easier than ever to stay connected, stay informed, and voice your opinion.

Twitter
While TwitterElection has been going strong for months, TwitterVoteReport is designed to keep information flowing and give everyone the most up to the minute information on November 4th. By adding #VoteReport to the end of your "tweets," or updates on Twitter.com you can share your experience at the polls. Reports will be available to anyone who wants to read them via TwitterVoteReport.com or specific mobile programs and widgets.   Read more...

Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra has been a long-time advocate for embracing life's possibilities. Recently, he spoke a the audience at a Pop!Tech conference where the audience watched, amazed as Zander performed a transformative music lesson with a 15-year-old cellist.   Read more...

13.23 million people joined the Stand Up And Take Action mobilization in Bangladesh by pledging to fight against poverty. The mobilization is in accordance with the Millennium Developmental Goals.   Read more...

Ode magazine has been nominated for one of DivineCaroline.com’s “Love this Site” awards. You can vote for Ode here. DivineCaroline.com is an online community for women that allows its members to submit thoughts and stories.   Read more...

The mission of the website Nabuur.com is to connect people they call neighbors: people that want to take action and benefit people in developing countries with Villages: people in need of knowledge, contacts, and new ideas to improve their quality of living. The "villages" are all over the world: Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.   Read more...

For those looking for a nontraditional and unselfish gift for a friend or family member, the nonprofit organization, Changing the Present may be the place to look.

Changing the Present offers gifts in the form of donations that will help change the world. On their website, instead of purchasing traditional holiday presents, you can make donations to nonprofit organizations and specify exactly what you want your donation to do.   Read more...

With gas prices high, many commuters have downgraded from four wheels to two and started riding bikes to work. To help these commuters, Congress passed the Bicycle Commuter Act, which will make bikers eligible for a $20-a-month tax-free reimbursement from their employers for bicycle-related expenses beginning in January.

The League of American Bicyclists say they have been pushing for this legislation for about seven years. Now, the organization is obtaining guidance from the IRS about how employers can set up this type of program.   Read more...

Video Volunteers is a non-profit organization working in the villages and slums of India to create content relevant to issues in the area for the people living there. Many in the villages being covered cannot read or write.   Read more...

MicroPlace says their mission is to help alleviate global poverty by enabling everyday people to make investments in the world’s working poor. It allows customers to purchase investments on MicroPlace from security issuers. The security issuers use the funds to support loans to lending borrowers. Borrowers use the loans for their small businesses. Their profits help repay their loans and also go to help improve their families living conditions.

Tracey Pettengill Turner was inspired to start MicroPlace when she returned to the United States from Dhaka, Bangladesh with the belief that microfinance could be a powerful tool to alleviate world poverty. She loved that microfinance combined capitalism, human dignity, and hard work. In 2006 MicroPlace partnered with eBay who believed MicroPlace could be an opportunity to but their assets to work in a way that could change the world.   Read more...

On their website, the Happinness Foundation says it is an “alternative to traditional philanthropy.” They provide pro bono consulting services to Nonprofit Organizations. All workers are volunteer business experts who want to help Nonprofits increase their impact on society and the world.

They say their purpose is "...to inspire and enable people to make other people happy by giving of themselves, improving the quality of life for everyone envolved.”   Read more...

On December 24, a train full of 350 of India’s most highly motivated youth, age 18-25, will set out on a journey called Tata Jagriti Yatra to meet a handful of unsung heros on India.

There will be six televised debates at key stops through the journey to increase awareness and participation. Their aim is to encourage entrepreneurship within India’s youth and to inspire community leadership.   Read more...

Ratrian, an extremely poor village in north Pakistan has only the necessities of survival. Villagers have limited access to electricity, and occasionally are able to use a hand pump to get water. But help may be on the way for Ratrian.

Prince Rafeh Malik inherited the village from his father on his 18th birthday. While sitting with a friend in a cafe' in Islamabad, he decided to apply eight basic targets for developing countries (called the Millennium Development Goals by the United Nations) to Ratrian - just one village - in hopes to improve the quality of life there. Rafeh says it will be difficult to sell the idea to his father, King Malik Atta Mohammad, but he is prepared to do so.   Read more...

K.S. Saleeka began her political career in India has a panchayat head, and is now the only Muslim woman MLA in the Indian state of Kerala. She also makes up less than one percent of Muslim women in Indian parliament.

She hopes her determination will be an inspiration for many other Muslim women to become involved in politics. However, it seems that many women do not have the knowledge they need to jump into the political sphere.   Read more...

The 2008 Right Livelihood Awards were founded in 1980, and are sometimes called the Alternative Nobel Prize. They are awarded to individuals who offer practical answers to challenges facing the world. This year's awards ceremony will take place on December 8 at 8 at Sweedish Parliament in Stockholm.

The awards are supported by individual donors. Winners receive approximately $300,000 USD (210,000 EUR). This year’s award is shared between four recipients. The organization believes these four people care champions of independent journalism, peace-building and social justice.   Read more...