Green Ideas: Green Business Network August 8, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Nature, Sustainable Living.comments closed
In 2008, the Weather Channel aired an inspiring show, Forecast Earth, on Sunday nights.
Since cancelled, the show touched upon the severe weather changes we face from global warming, specifically an increase in the frequency and intensity of coastal erosion, drought, tornadoes, wildfires, and heatwaves.
It also focused on solutions, like planting roof top gardens in urban centers to minimize heat build-up.
In the remaining segments, Forecast Earth featured innovators in the world of Clean Tech (i.e., Green Technology):
(1) Worm Poop ~ an organic fertilizer packaged in recycled soda bottles.
The 25-year-old founder of the business, TerraCycle, got the idea while growing marijuana in his basement in Canada. The plants grew lush and tall and potent due to the regular application of worm poop.
Wanting to capitalize on the idea, he and his smoking buddies tried to borrow some venture capital, with no luck ~ they couldn’t find a bank who wanted to loan money to college drop-outs who watched worms poop while smoking reefer. Determined to move forward with their idea, they lowered production costs by packaging the worm poop in recycled 2 litre soda bottles.
Success!
The company is thriving and expanding its innovative product lines to include: kid’s juice boxes turned into shopping bags and pencil cases, and plastic grocery bags turned into colorful handbags. TerraCycle: Outsmart Waste
(2) Green For All ~ after graduating from Yale Law School, a “green jobs evangelist” moved to Oakland California to focus on justice, peace, and opportunity for all.
His company, Green For All, trains inner city residents for green collar jobs ~ such as the increasingly marketable skill of solar panel installation. The founder, committed to creating a new, green economy, is confident that “a green wave will lift all boats.”
(3) After Katrina, Charlie Daniels (an environmental engineer, not the singer) saw the need for an inexpensive and quick way to build temporary housing after storms. He developed just such a product using . . . pressed wheat grass.
Instead of building a house with lumber, by clearing an acre of trees which won’t regenerate for 25 years, he is able to manufacture panels for an entire house with just 6 acres of wheat grass, which can be regrown each year.
The housing structures, which snap together quickly (250 man hours, from foundation to furniture), are completely recyclable and non-combustible.
(4) Eco-envelopes ~ an innovative business woman created an entire line of reusable envelopes for businesses and consumers. Her product, which is catching on, has the potential of eliminating 81 billion separate return envelopes, many of which end up in the trash, each year.
If you’ve got a Green Business Idea, learn how to promote and market it by joining Green Business Network:
Become part of the nation’s oldest, largest, and most diverse network of socially and environmentally responsible businesses.
Human Nature? Or Learned Behavior? August 8, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Life Balance, People.comments closed
Often, the most powerful and persuasive “comments” use images, not words:
Quote: If the whole world followed you, would you be pleased with where you took it? – Neale Donald Walsch
Cindy’s post and readers’ comments: Powerful, Had To Share
For more: Child Friendly Initiative
Child-Friendly Initiative (CFI) is a grassroots, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children. CFI members are working to transform their neighborhoods and communities into places that honor and respect children and support families.
Aphorisms from Aa to Zz: Oo August 8, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Gratitude, Happiness, Magick & Mystery, Mindfulness.comments closed
Obiter Dictum
Set priorities: if someone throws you a ball, you don’t have to catch it. ~ Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
Get comfortable not knowing.
Make peace with imperfection: will this matter a year from now? ~ Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
Smile at strangers, see the innocence in others, and let others be right (most of the time).
Be grateful when you’re feeling good, and graceful when you’re feeling bad. ~ Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
To become a better listener, seek first to understand.
Obstacles
Obstacles are opportunities in disguise.
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. ~ Teddy Roosevelt
Between the wish and the thing, life lies waiting.
The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it. – Moliere
Freedom lies in being bold. Do one thing every day that scares you.
Although the chance of stubbing your toe increases the more you walk, it is always better than going nowhere by standing still. ~ Robin Sharma, in The Top 200 Secrets of Success and the Pillars of Self-Mastery
The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter. ~ Chinese Fortune Cookie
Hardship is inevitable, misery is optional.
The butterfly, emerging from its cocoon, strengthens its fragile wings, then soars.
Think of your problems as potential teachers.
In uncertainty lies all possibility.
Just start and the way will appear. ~ Ancient Wisdom
Om
When the world recedes, we hold infinity in our grasp.
Don’t believe everything you think! ~ Bumper Sticker
Meditate on the still, silent spaces in your mind.
An open mind learns more in an hour than a closed mind learns in a year.
You must empty yourself of the past, in order to receive the present. ~ Zen Parable
Chase away idle thoughts, and see the world as it is.
Optimism
A pessimist sees the obstacles in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunities in every obstacle.
An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out? ~ Michel de Saint-Pierre
Those who can, do. Those who can’t, try to tell us why we can’t do it either.
Cultivate optimism. Become the most positive person you know.
Whatever you face in life . . . there are many possible solutions. Check them out before concluding it’s something you must accept, rather than change.
Rebel against the stranglehold of negative thinking.
When you focus on the positives, the negatives start to fade away. Soon, you’ll find yourself ignoring minor set-backs that used to throw you into a downward spiral, and your glass will never be half-empty again.
People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~ Maya Angelou
Master your thoughts . . . master your life.
Want to feel younger, happier, and healthier??? Change Your Attitude.
When we retrain ourselves to focus on the positives, we are happier and have more energy. Optimism fills us with the creative enthusiasm and inspiration we need to live the life of our dreams.
Just begin . . . with a big grin . . . and the way will appear.
Ordinary
There are no ordinary moments. ~ Socrates, Peaceful Warrior
Every moment is a celebration, a miracle, a mystery.
This is my life. I’m not going to have this moment again. ~ Bernie Siegel
SMILE = See Miracles In Life Everyday!
We don’t have an eternity to realize our dreams, only the time we are here. ~ Susan King Taylor
Rather than allowing our thoughts, emotions, and past experiences to dictate our re-actions to new events, we can view life with alert curiosity.
You must take your chance. ~ William Shakespeare
Look for the extraordinary in the ordinary
There are only so many tomorrows. ~ Michael Landon
When we let go of our automatic responses and begin to live spontaneously in the here and now, we uncover the joy and happiness within.
We might as well live. ~ Dorothy Parker
Present moment, wonderful moment.
Spirit Lights The Way 