Here in Mexico Valentine’s Day bears a different name: Día de Amor y Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship). While it could be a clever marketing strategy to expand the pool of people for which you can potentially present valentines, I enjoy that the 14th need not be a day only celebrated by the romantically entwined.  I think my cohorts here at HarmonyWishes would say the same. You don’t need a reason to reach out and let the people most important to you know you care; but a day of love and friendship certainly is a good pretext.

So whatever reason you have to celebrate the day, let us help you send a message that is personal, thoughtful and creative.  We’ve got some new images up just for the occasion. So stop by the galleries and look around!  Or take a quick tour here:

Con cariño,

Megan

Have you ever wondered how microfinance organizations like Kiva work?  Well, one part is their Fellows program.  It’s an unpaid volunteer position designed to increase Kiva’s impact in the field.  You need to be able to commit a minimum of three months in another country.  It offers a rare opportunity to travel abroad and witness the impact and realities of microfinance.

The latest group of Kiva Fellows has just finished training and are ready to embark on their various assignments in different parts of the world.  They definitely rock in more ways than just musically, but even in that area they are impressive!

If it sounds like something that might be right for you, check out the Kiva site for more details.

Blending the creation of visually engaging pieces and computer technology was the impetus for Newmediasoup, LLC nearly ten years ago.  Joel is constantly learning about the ever-changing new media and how he can apply it to the business’ services.  In his free time, and when he is not underwater capturing stills or video, Joel enjoys perfecting the art of barbeque, music and snowboarding in the winter.

Having many different careers from Exercise Physiologist to General Manager in Restaurant & Hospitality (and more in between), Jen now focuses her time working with Joel on various projects, and handling the administrative side of their business.  In addition to underwater photography, she enjoys cooking/baking and snow skiing in the winter.

Q:  We’ve been following your work for quite a while now…with each successive dive trip your images keep getting stronger.  How did your interest in diving originate?

A:   (Jen) Thank you!  We’ve only been diving for a little over three years, and I blame it all on a very close friend (ha-ha!).  Once we received our scuba certification, our interest really peaked by all of the wondrous underwater life that we could view.  Scuba diving quickly became a passionate hobby for us.

(Joel) Prior to learning to dive, snorkeling was an activity that was prevalent on tropical vacations, so it just made sense to take that next step. Getting scuba certified was something Jen and I did together, spurred on by a good friend, and it’s something we continue to love to do together.

Q:   As difficult and physical as diving is by itself, you’ve added another layer of complexity by adding photography to the equation.  What made you want to take that next step?

A:  (Jen)  Initially, I didn’t want to have anything to do with an underwater camera.  I was enthralled with the underwater world and just wanted to dive.  But things do change.  In June of 2008, I started diving with a point and shoot system.  Since then, I’ve progressed to a DSLR system and haven’t looked back!  Now I wouldn’t imagine diving without a camera!

(Joel)  I’ve always been interested in photography, and it’s an associated service that my company offers, so it was a natural extension that I take a camera underwater with me from the very beginning.  Shooting underwater is very different  from shooting on land, and my first photos were just terrible.  The perfectionist in me was the motivating force to learn how to take underwater photos that portrayed what we were really seeing down there.

Q:   When we look at your images of the undersea world we see a lot of beauty, but there can be a degree of danger.  Have you encountered some uncomfortable or dangerous situations while photographing?

A:   (Jen)  First and foremost, one should be a sound diver prior to adding underwater imaging gear to the mix.  The diving really needs to be second nature since your focus is all on setting up for your intended shot.  We adhere to the buddy system and safety is always the first priority.

(Joel)  Having good buoyancy control is key when trying to capture stills or video underwater.  Other than experiencing very cold water temperatures, poor visibility and ripping currents, we have been quite fortunate so far and have not encountered anything dangerous.  We do our best to keep our scuba skills current so that in the event of an emergency, we are as prepared as we can be.

Q:  We’ve heard that underwater strobes can agitate sea life and certain species of  sharks especially.  Have you had any encounters?  If so, what  species and where?

A:   (Jen)  Since we haven’t been diving that long, we haven’t been to that many dive destinations (yet).  On the few encounters we’ve had with sharks, all reef  sharks, there has been no issue with strobes.  Actually, they are very skittish and usually don’t hang around.  I personally look forward to the opportunity to shoot the more predatory species of sharks and other pelagics!

(Joel)  At different dive resorts, we have been told by the dive staff that some critters are sensitive to extensive flash exposure, namely pygmy seahorses and frogfish.  Being a responsible diver is like being a good guest in someone’s home… you don’t disturb the habitat in any way, take a few photos of your intended subject, then move on to find another interesting critter.

Q:   To most of us, the underwater world seems very surreal.  What has been your most enduring underwater revelation? (peak experience)

A:   (Jen)  Wow!  I don’t think I can pinpoint a peak experience, because I don’t think I’ve experienced it yet.  The underwater world is so amazing!  In Monterey, there’s kelp forests, metridium fields, huge decorator crab and sea lions.  In Hawaii there’s colorful reef fish and turtles - Oahu has many wrecks from WWII, The Big Island has mantas.  Indonesia has muck diving - incredible, weird-looking creatures living in the black volcanic soil.  Every area has something different to see.  We are slowing crossing locations off of our list!

(Joel) I really like the rock formations, swim-throughs, and anything really BIG! When I’m underwater, I’m always trying to capture the Wide Angle shots. They are the most challenging, but I love it. When the water visibility is just right, and there is abundant life, I experience a “peak experience”.

Q:   Underwater photography is essentially a form of landscape and wildlife photography.  Do you think it is possible to develop a unique style or is it mostly trying to position yourself and deal with the technical issues to get the best image?

A:  (Jen)  After viewing some of my recent images, a girlfriend proclaimed that my underwater photos had a distinct woman’s perspective.  I’m still not sure how she came to that conclusion, but since most of the successful underwater photo and video pros are men, maybe I’m carving out a niche for myself (ha-ha!).

(Joel)  Jen and I will usually shoot the same set-up, but wide angle is always my preference. Even though we may be shooting with the same lens, we approach subjects differently and see different things to frame, so at the end of the day, we have totally different images than the other person.

Q:   Ultimately what would you like your underwater work to achieve?  (Education, conservation, other?)  Where do you want your work to end up?  Educate, entertain, inspire?

A:  (Jen)  For the present, I just want to improve my underwater imaging skills.  You don’t plan this, but to a certain degree, once you are passionate about the underwater world, you become an ambassador for conservation.  When you share your images with friends and family, not only are you educating them about the beauty and wonder of the sea, but you are also making them aware of how precious a resource our oceans are.

(Joel)  I would like it to entertain and inspire, be it on their wall in the form of an art print, or in a publication they may be reading and just have to stop and soak in the image for its beauty or amazement.

Q:   Are there any underwater photographers that particularly inspire you?

A:  (Jen)  In the short time that we’ve been diving, we’ve been very fortunate to become friends with some of the industry’s leading imaging pros.  They are always helping us get to the next level.  Their wealth of knowledge and experience is invaluable to us, and we’re so appreciative of all the tips and tricks that they’ve passed on to us. Additionally, I’m always inspired by my peers when we’re on a photo trip.  There is always something new to learn from other divers, and watching them set up for a shot shows you a perspective that maybe you didn’t have.

(Joel)  Diving with more experienced shooters motivates me to continue to improve my skills, whether it’s shooting a common subject in a different way or using lighting in a creative way to set a certain mood in the image.  Some of the underwater photographers that started back in the days of film really paved the way for those of us today that are honing the craft like David Doubilet and David Fleetham.  Some of the pioneers of the digital age who have raised the bar of underwater imaging with their overall knowledge and experience are Berkley White, Eric Cheng and Dr. Alex Mustard.  I strive to continue learning from them and others like them in the industry to improve my underwater imaging, both stills and video.

To see more of Joel and Jen’s images:

http://www.newmediasoup.com/underwater

To learn more about their multimedia services:

http://www.newmediasoup.com

“Women hold up half the sky” ~ Chinese Proverb

With that introduction, you get a sense of what Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn share as a perspective on the economic and moral resource that women around the world provide. What their book “Half The Sky” delivers, however, goes so far beyond that simple statement. Through their reporting for the New York Times, they have traveled through Africa and Asia and have witnessed much of the most heinous oppression towards women in the developing world.

While painful to read at times, it is simultaneously uplifting as they recount stories of women who have fought back against human trafficking, honor killings, mass rape, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS and have emerged as victorious in varying degrees.

Rather than just throw a bunch of statistics at you, each chapter takes you to a different part of the world and tells a story. I don’t think anyone can read this book and come away not wanting to do something to help.

The subject of help is what I find most fascinating about these stories – how well-intended foreign aid often can have unforeseen consequences when applied in settings that don’t fully contemplate entrenched customs and attitudes. The stories often illustrate how an NGO can go into a region with a specific solution only to find it produced a totally unexpected result (and often not a good one). The overwhelming message is that flexibility and persistence are what ultimately makes the difference.  And that the education of women is the most reliable way out of poverty and toward a more peaceful society.

As we enter 2010 I hope we do so with a renewed sense of optimism, an unflagging belief in the inherent kindness of people and a passion to make a difference.

Below you will find links to some of the NGOs mentioned in the book. I encourage you to check them out, find one that speaks to your heart and act.  And please…read the book.

“Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

Afghan Institute of Learning; www.afghaninstituteoflearning.org ~ works to improve the health and education of women and children in a country ravaged by three decades of war

American Assistance for Cambodia; www.cambodiaschools.com ~ fights trafficking and has a program to subsidize poor girls so they can remain in school

Apne Aap; www.apneaap.org; battles sex slavery in India

Campaign for Female Education; www.camfed.org ~ supports schooling for girls in Africa

Central Asia Institute (Greg Mortenson’s organization written about in Three Cups of Tea); www.ikat.org ~ provides education in Pakistan and Afghanistan

Edna Adan Maternity Hospital; www.ednahospital.org ~ the only teaching hospital in Somaliland, a country with one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world

Girls Helping Girls; www.empoweragirl.org ~ founded in 2007 by a 15 year old girl, it builds relationships between girls across continents and supports education and health initiatives

Hunger Project; www.thp.org ~ focuses on empowerment of women to end hunger

New Light; www.newlightindia.org ~ provides education and shelter to high risk children and women in Kolkata, India

Pro Mujer; www.promujer.org ~ supports women in Latin America through microcredit and business training

Tostan; www.tostan.org ~ one of the most successful organizations in overcoming female genital cutting in Africa

Whether you support through monetary donations, time volunteering (many of these organizations accept interns on the ground in country) or simply spreading the word, everything helps.

Peace and blessings,

Meg

A new documentary was released in September, following a writer and his family as they attempted to live a full year without making a large impact on the natural world around them. No electricity. No toilet paper. No imported foods.  Check it out.

The journey for Colin Beavan and his family continues on his blog.  There you can read about some of his observations and ideas concerning climate change, community, health, you name it!  And if you’re interested in taking a gander at the full length film, the No Impact Project has partnered with the Center for a New American Dream to draw attention to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.  They are screening the movie in communities nationwide, followed by a discussion on “to talk about the impact of holiday spending on [our] lives and the environment.”  You can check out the screening dates and locations here.

Why not send your circle an e-card to remind them about the UN Climate Change Conference this year from December 7th through the 18th?  It’s always a good time to start thinking green!

I love the guys over at GOOD who have been busy making some amazing materials!  By their own definition, “GOOD is a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward. Since 2006 we’ve been making a magazine, videos, and events for people who give a damn.”  GOOD’s videos can all be found on their website, or many are featured on their YouTube channel here.

I think GOOD does some of the best work around on making statistical information about our world come alive–which is so important. Much like a powerful image, what use is information if it can’t tell a story?  So, in honor of the approaching holidays, here’s a video they made last year on the origins of much of our Christmas products.  Check it out!

I was totally shocked when I saw this video the first time.  It made me wonder from where much of the other things I typically purchase come.  It can be pretty difficult these days to track the origins of what we consume and own–as so much is outsourced globally.  However, the folks over at MIT’s Media Lab, are creating an incredible tool to help us with that very problem. It’s called the SourceMap.

As the MIT folks posit, “Some things have vast supply chains that stretch across the world while others are completely regional. Understanding the reach of our sourcing is fundamental to improving economic, social and environmental conditions.”  The Sourcemap is a tool for use by individuals, or business owners, to understand the impact of the supply chain of which we are a part. It’s a pretty empowering instrument–because it compels us to consider how we make an impact globally with what we consume–giving us the tools we need to make informed decisions.

“[The] site is a social network where anyone can contribute to a shared understanding of the story behind products.” And the MIT developers have made it accessible to all, even creating easy-to-use embed tools so you can use Sourcemap on your own site, for the packaging of products, in your business, anywhere! Go over and take a look.

There’s so much positive energy going into projects like the Sourcemap, or the media work from GOOD. It’s truly inspiring!  Do you have a favorite project that is doing something for the well being of the planet?  Well, tell us about it.  We would love to know!

Saludos,

Megan

The season for giving is approaching. We here at HarmonyWishes are acutely aware of the wake that the giving cycle leaves behind. Did you know that, “according to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans, on average, increase their garbage amount by 25% between Thanksgiving and Christmas?”

And wrapping paper, which is commonly made from virgin materials is a large part of that outflow—not to mention greeting cards. The folks over at Recycle Works say “we buy 2.65 billion Christmas cards—enough to fill a 10-story football stadium.” Woah.

Given that, perhaps it’s a good time to consider downsizing what we consume and send on. I can’t think of a better gift to someone this holiday season, than a greener, less-cluttered tomorrow! Of course, we would love to see a lot more people take a second look at HarmonyWishes come this holiday season, and consider how our service can help diminish that 10-story football stadium-sized dent. Afterall, it was a concern for a lighter holiday footprint that propelled our founder to start this business.

What if every holiday season was another chance to reconsider what we buy and what we toss away?

In the spirit of that question, allow me to introduce you all to a worldwide project called Freecycle. We’re not just fond of Freecycle’s initiative because they share a similar slogan to that of HarmonyWishes —we also just plain love what they do. Freecycle is a grassroots, non-profit community of people with the mission to “…build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.” Freecycle has a series of listservs, divided by location, that act as a central place to post items up for grabs. Think Craigslist, but focused on gift giving, and totally free! Freecycle started out in 2003 when a small Arizona non-profit was providing recycling services to downtown businesses. Rather than see perfectly good items get tossed into a recycling truck to be hauled away, the group ended up calling around to local non-profits to see if the items could be of use. Founder Deron Beal thought, “There must be a better way.” And Freecycle was born!

Freecycle now hosts some 4,852 groups with over six million members around the world. It’s a totally volunteer-driven operation. And in the past year alone, Freecycle claims to have saved over 500 tons of garbage a day from landfills—that’s five times the height of Mt. Everest if the garbage trucks were stacked on top of each other. Double woah.

As Freecycle states it, “By giving freely with no strings attached, members of The Freecycle Network help instill a sense of generosity of spirit as they strengthen local community ties and promote environmental sustainability and reuse.” Not a bad theme for this holiday season, eh? Generosity of spirit, strong local communities, a sustainable environment…sounds like just the kind of thing the holidays are about.

So, go take a look at their site. You can search your own area by zip code.  I was surprised to find a Freecycle Network even down here in Mexico.  And while you’re at it, zip over to our gallery of cards right now and send on with wild abandon! With an unlimited number of card deliveries and a myriad of original combinations, you can make a creative effort towards a green holiday season. Or take a moment to mention our lighter footprint option to your circle. Remember, it’s a conscientious gesture without scrimping on the thoughtfulness of your gift.

May you enjoy a truly green holiday season!

Cheers,

Megan

I don’t know about you, but I always find the time just before the holidays a challenge. You know, it’s that time in November where you can glimpse the weeks ahead unfolding into a series of events–work, family, dinners, friends, cold, and of course, the shopping frenzy. It feels a bit like I am poised at the top of a roller coaster. I can hear the gears of the tiny metal car click clack clicking beneath me, and I know we are about to plunge over the side. Just at this moment, right at the top, before the descent, my mind goes somewhere else. It escapes just for a moment. That’s what my bookshelf looks like at the moment—an escape. So bear with me, and the fun and frivolous group of books I have to offer this round.

Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther

Saffron Kitchen tells the dual journeys of a mother and daughter, one caught in a loss decades old, and never resolved—the other is enmeshed in a current tragedy, that is mysteriously intertwined with her mother’s secret past. The mother, an Iranian-born woman, traveling and marrying in England after the Shah’s fall from reign, must return to her homeland to recover a life that seems only half-lived in her adopted home. The central mystery keeps the narrative moving, as peeks at Iranian culture and traditions are revealed. This is a great airplane book (I hope the author will forgive me for saying). I mean it in the best way. It’s engaging, a fluid read, and best yet, compact!

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz

A great book. An uncommon and hopeless hero. An unexpected narrator. A wonderfully odd glance at the lives of first generation Dominican children, and their families. In turn funny and tragic. A surprising book. Hmmm, is there a pattern here? I’m reading lots of first-generation-immigrant-family books, eh?

The Serpent’s Tale (Mistress of the Art of Death, #2) by Ariana Franklin

This is the second in a series of mystery novels by former British journalist Ariana Franklin, set in Medieval times. The first book I read ages ago—enjoying its central, brainy heroine, strange cast of characters, and quick pace. It always nice to return to beloved characters that you came to know in a first novel. However, the mystery of Serpent’s Tale is a bit more predictable in this go round, than the first novel. Still enjoyable. A great departure from the day-to-day.

I Am Legend (And other stories) by Robert Matheson

Okay, okay, I have fallen victim to the latest vampire craze, I suppose, and picked up I Am Legend. Though, in my defense this vampire book was written in 1954, and has nothing to do with star-crossed lovers. Many perhaps know the title from the movie starring Will Smith. The original story itself is quite different. Our hero is not the key to a cure, and the salvation of human kind; he is the lone survivor, and hold out against an evolving species. This book had my mind twirling, wondering what it must be like to be the last vestige of a species, fighting against the tide, unable to face that the world has changed, and there is no room for you in it any longer. Chilling in a totally different way than the typical creepy vampire novels. Sometimes sited as the first modern vampire novel, I Am Legend and Matheson first popularized the notion of a disease apocalypse. And both are credited by director George Romero (Night of the Living Dead) and Stephen King as being fundamental influences on their work.

It’s no secret that times have been a little tough of late for many around the world reeling from the effects of a struggling economy and a precarious tomorrow. Small businesses, the retail industry, homebuilders—all are poised, hoping that things will rebound quickly, and that their businesses will have more work soon. On the other end of the market, we as individuals, or as a part of families, all feel the squeeze. Many are making some difficult decisions about where to cut back in expenditures. We’re all being a little more conservative about what we need today, and what can wait for tomorrow. That can be a really daunting choice, I think.

So I have a question for you, the HarmonyWishes community: Can you live well without sufficient money?

That’s a big question, I know. It taps into our opinions and ideas on well being and happiness. And it may be a particularly sensitive issue right now for many of us struggling to make ends meet. For that very reason, it’s worth contemplating. I’ll offer an idea on the subject…

Down here in Oaxaca there are many living well below the poverty line in some shockingly marginalized communities. And yet, some of those with little access to resources, have found a way to survive, and even grow, under pretty tough circumstances. That is partly due to a practice called tequio. Tequio is work organized for a shared benefit. Members of a particular community can contribute work hours or materials for a collective project. So where a small village might lack the resources to hire someone to build a school, repair a highway or protect and maintain a forest—they can accomplish those tasks by asking each member of the community to contribute his/her part.

I visited a youth recreation center in a tiny village north of Oaxaca City, called Yalalag several months ago. Many of the homes in this small hamlet have aluminum rooftops or lack indoor plumbing; it’s a humble community.
And yet, two years ago they built an amazing cultural center for their children—complete with library, computer lab, instruments for a band, a radio and tv studio, and more. Certainly they received donations and investment from outside sources to help pay for materials, like the computers.

However, they did build the entire building–a three-story edifice sitting on the edge of a cliff, with unbelievabe views of rolling, green hills–using only the labor of community members. They had it built within three months of receiving the first donation. It’s amazing what people can accomplish collectively!

Recently, I came upon a kind of tequio-like platform that exists around the United States and other countries. It’s called a Time Bank. Have you heard of these? I found the concept so interesting; and wondered if it might have relevance for some of us given today’s reality. The organizers explain it this way: “At its most basic level, Time banking is simply about spending an hour doing something for somebody in your community. That hour goes into the Time Bank as a Time Dollar. Then you have a Time dollar to spend on having someone doing something for you. It’s a simple idea, but it has powerful ripple effects in building community connections.” There are many Time Banks around the United States that operate through a central website. There you can post a service you have to offer in the online database; or you can earn Time Dollars by responding to requests listed by others.

“It connects you to the best in people because it creates a system that connects unmet needs with untapped resources.” A cool idea, no? Just going online you can find an electrician offering his services, a piano teacher offering classes, someone looking for help painting their living room, or a request to help plant a community garden. And all of these requests will be asked and answered without the use of money. It’s people helping people—connecting and getting things done together.

Could a Time Bank, or something like it help you attain something you need in your home or work space? I must confess, I’m looking around my house right now and starting to make a list. What talents or resources could you offer others in your community? Perhaps you are short on extra funds now; or maybe you just need another set of hands to get something done. Could a Time Bank help? Or perhaps you would find it easier to set up an informal “time bank” amongst your friends, neighbors or family members. It only takes a few to make it work! And it seems like a great excuse to gather people and build momentum towards getting things done, without the need of extra money.

Since our formal, money-based economy seems to be in a coma right now—how about we foment an Informal-productive projects-exchange of services and support Economy? Some people call this the Love Economy. But I like to think of it as the Practical Person’s Economy. I’m interested in imagining the possibilities. How about you?

Greetings All…

We’ve got a new round of images up today - Nina E. Hauser’s work ranges from quirky (ok, who wouldn’t want a card with a bunch of sheep?) to contemplative. HarmonyWishes art director contributions include one that is just plain fun (check out the ubiquitous yellow and green auto rickshaws from India). For you car collectors, there is “Vette Mirror” and for those with an architectural bent, the beautiful “Lincoln Glow”, both by Martin Heavner.

Check out the rest at HarmonyWishes. Enjoy, send and tell your friends! The holidays are approaching and HarmonyWishes is the best way to keep in touch with friends and family.

Help change the world one ecard at a time…

Staying in touch has never been so creative.

Cheers!

Meg