Craigslist, what a sharing world

My friend Linsey directed me to one of the nicest craigslist ads.  This ad is an endearing example of how we thoughtfully make the world better: less stank in your fridge after vacation and healthy food in anothers tummy.  This particularly looks like a sweet arse veggie soup finished off by a grilled pineapple dessert.  Yum!

What's your footprint?

So, I know you see these things all the time, but it's always good to get a little reminder. Here's a really fun carbon footprint calculator from earthday.org:

http://http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.html

I used all the advanced options and, even though I think I'm doing a really great job, I'm consuming 3.5 planets. Although, they don't give you extra brownie points for composting, rainwater harvesting, or having your own garden.

Lets turn on Disposable Culture

We are a disposable culture. Can you find room to disagree?

While it can be a pain to bring with you everything you might need in one day, its our responsibility to at least try to be aware of the things we are throwing away, that really we don't need to be using or tossing in the first place.

Eating out is a large instigator of this culture: aluminum foil, plastic/styrofoam containers, wax paper, plastic sporks, paper/plastic bags all for one meal? Well, lets turn our daily coffee and lunch into a saving grace.

Things like To-Go Ware can make this choice easier; as this cute as a button flatware set, simply rolls right up and slips into your bag. The cutlery is made from bamboo, and the pocket is made from post consumer recycled plastic bags. This company has other things to reduce the impact of our to-go culture as well, like stainless steel containers and cotton carriers.

What else can we do to be plastic free? I had a list of my own, but I found another blogger who agrees.

Remember, reducing our impact on the earth can certainly be a feat. If you take little steps every so often, you can begin changing our collective not-so-awesome way of doing things and make it a better place. Drop by bit, everyone, drop by bit.

The One Percent: Calling all designers!

The One Percent is an organization launched by Public Architecture in 2005, to allow designers and architects to give their time, creativity and care to non-profits in need of costly design services, pro bono.  

"1% of an 8 hour work day is 4.8 minutes.  Over the course of a 2,080-hour traditional work year, it amounts to just 20 hours per person per year." 

Considering that that's the amount of time you spend brushing your teeth, it makes sense that you can also help a brother, lady, doctor, patient, teacher, kid...out.  

Even if this isn't for you, I am positive that we were all inspired this week by President-Elect Obama's victory, and I see much more do-gooding coming to an everyone near you.

(this pie chart is 1% of your time in a year)