tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41237862011-04-21T22:32:42.473-05:00<b>RESOURCES FOR MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE</b><br> .......giving, volunteering, working, living, traveling, advocating, learning, and more <br> <br> Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comBlogger621100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1099286447430093202004-10-31T23:20:00.000-06:002004-10-31T23:31:50.593-06:00

According to this voting guide you can register to vote on Election Day (Tuesday, November 2) if you live in the following states: Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming...Categories: Advocating.

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1096608697496510152004-09-30T23:31:00.000-05:002004-10-01T00:35:58.053-05:00

Celebrate Kerry's debate victory tonight. Go to www.johnkerry.com and donate dollars or register to donate your volunteer time. Moveon.org always has lots of stuff you can do to make a difference, including calling people in swing states and urging them to vote for Kerry.

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1094007042628543452004-08-31T21:50:00.000-05:002004-09-02T03:05:37.410-05:00

"Republican Switchers" shows how many Republicans and conservatives are choosing Bush over Kerry in this election. It's a choice that's consistent with the values of GuideforGood!

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1091267021826400432004-07-31T04:43:00.000-05:002004-07-31T04:43:41.826-05:00

Supporting Mercy Corps is a simple and effective way you can make a difference in the lives of the many who are horribly suffering in the Sudan.

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1088656133988636952004-06-30T23:28:00.000-05:002004-06-30T23:28:53.986-05:00

I like Michael Moore because he is one of the few in the media who is sufficiently outraged at the injustice in our country. But I also think he has taken cheap shots in his first two films. Because of that, and because of criticism I've read, I was sincerely skeptical about his latest film, Farenheit 9/11. I was proved wrong. I saw it tonight and was very moved. He does a masterful job of

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1085984376040699902004-05-31T01:19:00.000-05:002004-05-31T01:19:36.040-05:00

NetVocate is a blog that aggregates various causes and campaigns that progressive people will want to participate in. You can subscribe to the site or browse by category, e.g., civil rights, the environment.*********************Categories: Giving, Volunteering, Advocating.

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1083363265012095942004-04-30T17:14:00.000-05:002004-05-01T17:59:45.903-05:00

CultureforKids.com has a fabulous catalog of books, toys, and games--some that focus on a particular country or culture; others that celebrate many. Pre-school teachers, day camp directors, elementary and high school teachers, and youth group leaders will all find something here to enrich their work. Even if the kids in your care are not from diverse or multicultural backgrounds, the world they

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1080621752285950912004-03-29T22:42:00.000-06:002004-03-29T23:12:09.466-06:00

MoveOn.org's 50 Ways to Love Your Country: How to Find Your Political Voice and Become a Catalyst for Change is a guide for good that's not just for liberals. The reviews on Amazon.com show that many Republicans like it, too. All royalties go to support MoveOn.org, a wonderful organization that offers us hope that we can reclaim our country. Categories: Giving, Volunteering, Working, Living,

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1077843223797657362004-02-26T18:53:00.000-06:002004-02-26T18:56:31.670-06:00

Tolerance.org is the Web site of the wonderfully informative Teaching Tolerance project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. The site offers many practical and educational activites for kids, including an interesting program on creating welcoming schools, "Mix it Up." One of the newest additions is a curriculum on Vietnamese Americans. All the resources are highly recommended.******************

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1073279608346092822004-01-04T23:13:00.000-06:002004-01-06T17:56:55.966-06:00

The Very Rich, It Now Appears, Give Their Share and Even More says an article from the New York Times (free registration required) quoting a study from the New Tithing Group. GuideforGood featured New Tithing's calculator in our second-ever post in January 2003* even when the group seemed to be "hiding" the calculator from visitors to its Web site. A note at that time said that they were

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1070859531202328212003-12-07T22:58:00.000-06:002003-12-08T00:26:26.733-06:00

If you're buying presents this season, consider catalogs and Web sites that benefit kids, families, and communities. For example, seventy-five cents of every dollar spent on the beautiful gifts and cards from UNICEF goes to support programs that promote the health and welfare of low-income children around the world. Another site to check out is Musee.com (musee is French for museum), which

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1069314551461738832003-11-20T01:49:00.000-06:002003-11-20T01:56:26.013-06:00

Youth Action Net is an all-around excellent Web site about involving youth in positive change. It offers awards on social entrepreneurship, profiles of young change makers, ideas for getting involved, and much more good stuff for young people and their parents and teachers.********************Categories: Giving, Volunteering, Living, Traveling, Advocating, Learning.

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1066370166628053872003-10-17T00:56:00.000-05:002003-10-17T00:58:18.236-05:00

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a great way to teach kids about giving and service. This site has ideas and resources for kids, youth leaders, parents, and educators.**********************Categories: Giving, Volunteering.

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1064466170191038022003-09-25T00:02:00.000-05:002003-09-25T00:11:01.946-05:00

Matters of Race on PBS is a new series that comes highly recommended by a diversity expert whom I greatly admire, Linh Song. Linh runs MamNon.org a wonderful organization and Web site for Vietnamese adoptees and adoptive families of Vietnamese children.**********************Categories: Advocating, Learning.

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1063264973215391672003-09-11T02:20:00.000-05:002003-09-23T17:27:45.640-05:00

One Day's Pay is a national organization that advocates for individuals, families, schools, places of worship and other kinds of communities to take some time to perform acts of voluntary service, charity, and compassion on this sad anniversary. May we all also perform acts of peace, as taught by the venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk and activitist who was once nominated by Martin

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1062474773626908402003-09-01T22:52:00.000-05:002003-09-02T00:32:56.230-05:00

This Labor Day, take a few minutes to review 21st-Century Slaves, an excerpt of the current issue of National Geographic. I heard about this through a newsletter I receive from one of the groups that helped with the article, Free the Slaves (www.freetheslaves.net). As it said in the newsletter, "The article and the photos are so captivating and heart-wrenching that National Geographic Magazine

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1061417719444275402003-08-20T17:15:00.000-05:002003-08-22T00:09:20.770-05:00

I've been referred to this site by a brilliant librarian who says that it "checks out legit" (which is often not the case on the Web). It looks like a great resource for gifts, decoration, coffee, and food. As it says on the site, "the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) is an association of fair trade wholesalers, retailers, and producers whose members are committed to providing fair wages and

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1059890568590615522003-08-03T01:02:00.000-05:002003-08-20T17:44:11.876-05:00

In my work and personal life, I meet so many people who have concerns about the nonprofit boards that they serve on or that they "staff" as nonprofit employees. The board volunteers are glad to serve, and the nonprofit employees are grateful for their board members, but almost everyone laments that their board isn't operating as efficiently or as effectively as it could. The single best source

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-1059549103963955852003-07-30T02:11:00.000-05:002003-08-04T23:30:58.236-05:00

ItsDeductible may be missing an apostrophe, but according to the vendor and media reviews that I've read, the software could help you gain financially. Use the software to determine and track donations of used goods: clothes, bikes, books, and more. The value of such donated goods is often much more than many people realize, and may result in tax deductions that are greater than what the items

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-960084122003-06-25T02:24:00.000-05:002003-08-05T00:13:39.536-05:00

Progressive Resources Catalog sells, well, progressive resources.*********************Categories: Living, Advocating

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-958497402003-06-19T22:29:00.000-05:002003-08-05T00:15:23.333-05:00

The article Warehousing Our Children is a thought-provoking examination -- by the Christian Science Monitor -- of the reversal toward institutional care.*********************Categories: Living, Advocating

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-955792382003-06-12T00:40:00.000-05:002003-08-21T23:14:43.146-05:00

Another great summer activity: volunteer your time (why not involve the whole family?) to build a playground through the highly esteemed nonprofit organization KaBOOM! And if you're thinking of starting a playground project with your neighbors, school, or place of worship, KaBOOM!'s great online playground planner can guide you through the process, helping you manage volunteers, donors, contacts

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-954931012003-06-10T00:15:00.000-05:002003-08-04T23:36:26.426-05:00

Planning to travel this summer? Check out Business Enterprises for Sustainable Travel (BEST) at www.sustainabletravel.org. Be sure to see How to Be a Civic Traveler. Sustainable traveling, or being a civic traveler, has been defined differently. One definition is suggested by BEST's vision statement: "...simple-tourism can benefit destinations by providing better livelihoods for residents,

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-953008142003-06-04T16:14:00.000-05:002003-08-07T12:46:37.193-05:00

After many years in the nonprofit field and several years as a parent of a school-age kid, I know that "writing grants" is a task that many educators would love for parents and other volunteers to take on. I haven't reviewed it thoroughly, but this site, SchoolGrants.org, seems like a good resource for folks who'd like to help their schools obtain grant monies for various projects. It's run by

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-951755832003-06-01T22:44:00.000-05:002003-08-21T23:17:32.263-05:00

In a touching column on her niece's "live" donation of a liver, the fabulous Maureen Dowd of the New York Times (quick, free registration required) discusses the urgent need for people to not only sign a card indicating that they would like to be donors but also to inform their families of their wishes. Unfortunately, surviving family members often nix the decision of the deceased would-be donor

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-951122842003-05-31T01:28:00.000-05:002003-08-04T23:38:52.870-05:00

The Great American Bake Sale: End Childhood Hunger in America is a fun, national event sponsored by the esteemed not-for-profit anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength and Parade Magazine (which does a great job year-round of publicizing human, community, and societal needs and promoting volunteerism and activism to meet those needs). Simply hold a bake sale, and send in your proceeds by

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-946149732003-05-19T22:43:00.000-05:002003-08-04T23:39:14.826-05:00

According to The Better World Handbook, these are the top ten things an individual can do to, well, create a better world: *Buy a Low Emission, Fuel Efficient Car *Limit Your Work Time *Buy Less Stuff *Buy Products From Socially Responsible Companies *Make Time for Loved Ones *Eat Less Meat *Open an Account at a Socially Responsible Bank or Credit Union *Conserve Energy and Water *Watch Less TV

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-935593272003-04-30T17:56:00.000-05:002003-08-04T23:42:14.603-05:00

The Stanford Social Innovation Review is a new quarterly publication from that university's graduate school of business. It's targeted to people interested nonprofit management, philanthropy, and corporate citizenship. I haven't studied the site, but some of the content is free (meanwhile, a subscription will cost a hefty $69 for four issues.) Funny, because, as soon as I saw it, I thought of

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-927381502003-04-16T16:20:00.000-05:002003-08-04T23:44:36.810-05:00

Charity Begins at Schedule A, from yesterday's New York Times, is a brilliant proposal -- by Ian Ayres and Barry Nalebuff, Yale professors and Forbes columnists -- for increasing charitable giving in this country. Basically, it's a line on every tax return that would allow all taxpayers to see what percentage of their income goes to charity. With their awareness raised, the argument goes, many

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-922747422003-04-09T01:33:00.000-05:002003-08-04T23:45:11.143-05:00

Looking for work? Too many people are. ExecSearches.com bills itself as the Web's premier executive jobs and senior management employment site for nonprofit, public sector, and socially conscious organizations.*********************Categories: Working

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-916879552003-03-30T23:01:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:45:44.226-05:00

For an excellent survey of the anti-war movement, see this New York Times article (quick registration required). As the article mentions (and as proof of the points I made in my earlier posts about an anti-war position not being the same as an anti-troop position), one of the mainstream peace groups, Win Without War, is urging supporters to write supportive e-mails to the troops.****************

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-912584622003-03-23T22:06:00.000-06:002003-08-07T12:45:36.810-05:00

As Michael Moore points out in a letter to President Bush (parts of which he repeated on stage tonight when accepting his Oscar for Bowling for Columbine), "Of the 535 members of Congress, only ONE (Sen. Johnson of South Dakota) has an enlisted son or daughter in the armed forces! If you really want to stand up for America, please send your twin daughters over to Kuwait right now and let them don

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-912110582003-03-22T23:01:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:47:25.773-05:00

I'm totally baffled by those who charge that anti-war protestors oppose the troops. Are those who make the charge really that simple minded? Can they not see that those who oppose the war do so because they believe that sons and daughters are being sacrificed for no good reason? I see anti-war protest as the highest form of support for the troops. For an eloquent, pro-troops, anti-war

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-910471402003-03-20T02:15:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:47:51.900-05:00

War has begun. You can begin your response by signing MoveOn.org's Citizens' Declaration.*********************Categories: Advocating

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-908408342003-03-17T00:18:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:48:19.623-05:00

If you want to do something small but significant, assemble and donate a health kit (soap, shampoo, etc) for suffering people -- many of them kids -- in Iraq and nearby countries. Their extreme living conditions are worsening with the threat of war. According to the American Friends Service Committee, which is sponsoring the drive, "The Iraqis have lost everything. The middle class has been

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-908401432003-03-16T23:57:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:49:02.473-05:00

Did you light a candle tonight? See the photos from the candlelight vigil that took place (many in addition to marches) in hundreds of cities across the world. Said Archibishop Desmond Tutu, "May our candles rekindle the light of reason and hope so that war will be averted in Iraq and peace will prevail in the world." Reason is surely what we need now. So much of the debate in this country has

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-906373192003-03-13T01:12:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:50:03.403-05:00

Learn how you can help tens of thousands of girls in Africa who are abducted, held captive, and raped. Oprah's show today, Women Held Captive in Africa, is summarized on her Web site. Two of the groups through which you can contribute: Witness, which uses video and technology to promote human rights, and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The Oprah show featured an amazing 28-year-old

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-905723812003-03-12T00:31:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:50:38.723-05:00

John Mellencamp has an anti-war song, "To Washington," that you can download free. According to an article in the New York Times about the song, it is based on a Woody Guthrie tune that is based on a Carter Family song. A verse: And he wants to fight with many And he says it's not for oil He sent out the National Guard To police the world From Baghdad to Washington With a similar message,

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-903846762003-03-08T22:17:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:51:04.383-05:00

Sign the Iraq Peace Pledge.*********************Categories: Advocating

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-900402472003-03-03T02:38:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:52:21.380-05:00

One of the most interesting sites I've come across in a while: Reuters AlertNet is designed to offer news and information to people and organizations that work in international development and humanitarian aid. But it's a great digest for anyone interested in world affairs from a humanitarian perspective. Among many other things, check out the country profiles (great summaries for adults; a

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-898865482003-02-28T00:15:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:54:11.926-05:00

As my friend Esme wrote today, the world is a different place without Mr. Rogers. He was truly a "guide for good," one of the world's best. He helped millions of children feel loved and care for, and helped millions of adults love and care for the children in their lives. In his honor, I'm reposting an excerpts from two previous entries in the last few weeks: "The Giving Box from Mr. Rogers..

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-897647532003-02-26T01:58:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:54:46.666-05:00

From the MoveOn.org Web site: "MoveOn.org is hosting the online headquarters for the Virtual March on Washington on February 26th, sponsored by the Win Without War Coalition. Please join us NOW for the march. So far, more than 200,000 individuals have signed up to make more than 400,000 phone calls and send 100,000 faxes to Washington -- to their Senators and the President." "Hundreds of

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-895877092003-02-23T00:53:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:55:29.156-05:00

As a parent, I know how hard it can be to help kids cope with current events and issues such as terrorism and war. I've scanned lots on the Web and found these sites to be among the most comprehensive and helpful: *AboutOurKids.org is a child and adolescent mental health and parenting resource of the New York University Child Study Center. This is packed with great information. Note

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-893538852003-02-18T23:01:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:56:21.930-05:00

Are you an upstander? Someone willing to stand up to those things that are terribly wrong in the world (say, a war in Iraq)? You might find yourself a more inspired one after reading the Swarthmore College 2002 commencement address given by Samantha Power. Power recently wrote a book, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide. Here's an article about Rwanda that she wrote for the

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-891751102003-02-15T23:53:00.000-06:002003-08-05T00:31:02.050-05:00

No War in Iraq: Millions marched around the world, thousands of them in Chicago, carrying signs with slogans such as "Bush, play golf, not war!" Interestingly, as of early Sunday morning, I could find no articles online from either of the city's two dailies, though I did find a report from ABC7Chicago.com and, best of all, there was a very descriptive article in the New York Times. The Times

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-888839762003-02-10T19:31:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:58:06.476-05:00

The last few days have seemed overwhelming. Aside from the mundane pressures of work and parenting, there's the specter of war in Iraq and the threat of terrorist attacks in the U.S. And it's all twisted: I have no doubt that we are more vulnerable to an attack as a result of our march to war, but at the same time, it's hard to believe that the government isn't overstating the threat as a way

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-887819932003-02-08T21:32:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:58:48.093-05:00

Teaching kids to be generous and compassionate is one of the best things we can do to promote a just and peaceful world. The Money Savvy Pig (tm) is a new transparent piggy bank with four marked compartments for your kids' cash: saving, investing, spending, ...and donating. It comes with tips on how to teach kids to manage money wisely. The site also sells a curriculum for teachers and youth

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-886952862003-02-07T02:11:00.000-06:002003-08-04T23:59:30.850-05:00

Polls show that support for the war has gone up since Colin Powell's speech. Has your anti-war voice been heard? Contact everyone -- the President, your U.S. Representatives, and your U.S. Senators -- through firstgov.gov and contact them in every way you can: phone, fax, e-mail, and letter. Depending on the medium, the pols figure that for every message they receive, an additional x number

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-885771652003-02-05T00:38:00.000-06:002003-08-05T00:00:16.153-05:00

While searching for an e-card for the Lunar New Year, I came across www.care2.com, which bills itself as the "Yahoo" for people who care about the environment. It offers free e-mail, e-cards, access to a store with eco-friendly products, tips, news, petitions, and alerts. Some of the content was not strictly eco, but it was in keeping with a progressive agenda. It was a refreshing combination

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-884626742003-02-03T02:19:00.000-06:002003-08-05T00:01:15.846-05:00

Our hearts are with the families, friends, and colleagues of the crew members of the space shuttle Columbia. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. St. Francis of Assisi ********************

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-883676122003-02-01T00:49:00.000-06:002003-08-05T00:03:00.926-05:00

Chuc Mung Nam Moi! Happy Lunar New Year! Many people call it Chinese New Year, but since it's celebrated in countries other than China, it's actually more accurate to call it the Lunar New Year. In Vietnam, the Lunar New Year is known as Tet Nguyen Dan, which literally means the first morning of the first day of the new year. Tet is a celebration of spring, a time of hope and optimism, and

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-883020112003-01-30T20:19:00.000-06:002003-08-22T00:56:02.353-05:00

Read a response to President Bush's emergency plan for AIDS relief in Africa from DATA, the organization co-founded and championed by the band U2 and its star Bono. DATA stands for Debt, AIDS, and Trade in Africa. It receives funding from, among others, the foundations of George Soros and Bill and Melinda Gates. As DATA reports, "only urgent action can prevent AIDS from leaving 25 million

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-882513262003-01-29T23:22:00.000-06:002003-08-05T00:04:51.753-05:00

Even big business supports affirmative action, so says an article in the business section of the New York Times, Some Companies Back Michigan's Affirmative Action Policy, which reports that the likes of Exelon, Microsoft, Bank One, Steelcase, and PepsiCo "plan to tell the Supreme Court that universities should be allowed to consider race as a factor in admissions because future employees need

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-881449052003-01-28T01:18:00.000-06:002003-08-05T00:06:27.410-05:00

Global Exchange, a reputable and "international nonprofit human rights organization aimed at forging closer ties between North Americans and grassroots groups working for democracy and social justice around the world," offers Ten Things You Can Do to Stop the War on Iraq. While you're at the Web site, take a look at some of their other admirable activities.******************** Categories:

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-880717262003-01-26T19:56:00.000-06:002003-08-05T00:05:19.383-05:00

Does the sorry state of the environment ever seem overwhelming? Don't despair; you can Turn the Tide with nine simple actions prescribed by the friendly and sensible Center for a New American Dream:    1. Skip a car trip each week. 2. Replace one beef meal each week. 3. Skimp on shrimp, i.e., don't eat it. 4. Stop junk mail through an online service. 5. Replace four regular light bulbs

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-880282262003-01-25T20:11:00.000-06:002003-08-05T00:06:53.913-05:00

More anti-war days of action ahead: United for Peace and Justice has issued a National Call to Action, asking us to "Represent and Respond on January 27, 28 and 29, 2003."********************Categories: Advocating

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-879886432003-01-24T20:42:00.000-06:002003-08-05T00:31:33.803-05:00

Planning a spring or summer vacation? (I read somewhere recently that you should plan your summer vacation now, before things get booked up. Dreaming of warmer climates and days has been quite easy this week in below-zero degree Chicago.) Check out the Ecotourism Explorer, an online database of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), a not-for-profit organization that defines ecotourism

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-878895022003-01-23T02:34:00.000-06:002003-08-05T00:08:40.536-05:00

When job seekers, especially recent graduates, tell me they're looking for a job in the not-for-profit sector, I always send them to the "Career Center" at Idealist.org. It's probably the single best Web guide to careers in not-for-profit organizations, but there are other features to explore, too. Check out the resources for children and teens, teachers, and potential volunteers.**************

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-878553842003-01-22T13:36:00.000-06:002004-01-04T23:37:54.996-06:00

As supporters of reproductive rights rally today in Washington on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, like-minded folks can add their voices through NARAL Pro-Choice America's activist links, which make it easy to take important actions on behalf of reproductive rights. Of interest, perhaps, even to those who don't consider themselves "pro choice": some opinions of the Republican Pro-Choice

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-878154722003-01-21T20:02:00.000-06:002004-01-03T01:28:51.640-06:00

Without diminishing their lifestyle, most people could donate more money to charitable and social causes than they currently do. See how much more you can contribute with this private, online PrudentPal giving calculator from an organization called New Tithing. *********************Categories: Giving

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-877669632003-01-20T22:52:00.000-06:002003-08-05T00:10:49.056-05:00

"Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4123786.post-876734642003-01-19T02:49:00.000-06:002003-08-05T00:11:24.530-05:00

In honor of the rallies this weekend, here's a link to one of the most comprehensive peace groups (and Web sites): United for Peace and Justice (which just added "and Justice" to its name). It has tons of links to other peace and justice groups, including the influential MoveOn, which has become a leader in online advocacy for good causes.*********************Categories: Advocating

Celestehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12423539622191649771noreply@blogger.com