Well folks, the fourth of July approaches. In the United States that marks a day to celebrate America’s Independence from England.  While here in Oaxaca, July 4th is Election Day in the state.  These occasions can inspire both celebration and ire, depending on where you sit.  For me, since the date can invite consideration for my history, civic work or the role of governments and citizens, I prefer to take this July 4th to reflect on myself and my actions as a citizen of the world.

How am I affecting the world I live in?  What is my role as a part of civil society?  What can I do to have a positive effect on my immediate surroundings? How can I be a good citizen even when I live outside my own home country?

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the misdeeds and shortcomings of our governments and elected officials on days like the fourth. What they do changes our lives in a myriad of ways, often not for the better.  So much so, that I can sometimes get mired down in feeling inert or helpless to affect a change. But the truth is, there are SO many people doing amazing things on the small, micro levels that do have a tremendous impact, even if only in one small space of the world.  And it’s that civic work that I want to think about on the fourth of July; it’s that work that that I want to celebrate.  Let me give you an example from my life…

For the last year I have been working with a small group of tireless people here in Oaxaca to set up a space called The Hub.  The Hub is a global network of spaces and communities that inspire and support imaginative and enterprising initiatives for a better world. They are places that borrow from the best of a member’s club, an innovation agency, a shared office and a think-tank, to create a new kind of space for social change–supporting social actors directly in their areas of work. Here in Oaxaca, we have been setting up a local Hub with a mind towards our regional context. Oaxaca is a majority indigenous area; it’s economically poor, and rural. It is often described as the line between the industrialized North and the traditional indigenous communities to the South. Our Hub, Hub Oaxaca, is a community concerned with well being, sustainability and the open exchange between communities–traditional and emerging–here in Oaxaca.

Every day that I work at the Hub I meet new people who are doing amazing work at a small level to change our world for the better.  A guy starting a bicycling initiative to inspire alternative and eco-friendly ways to commute around the city.  A therapist who uses art to transform the lives of the children with whom she works. Artisans who are laboring to start a training school for apprentices, so that artisanal traditions and crafts are not lost, but where innovations are also encouraged. It’s inspiring to see!

Who is working where you live, or work to make a positive change?  Are you affecting your surroundings in a constructive way (even if just in a small, personal approach)?  Who are you as a citizen of the world, wherever you are in the world? Make a list.  Put pen to paper to recognize what you’ve done as a neighbor, a parent, a friend, a co-worker.  Maybe you vigilantly recycle, or you planted a garden in your community. Perhaps you’re attentive to keeping a peaceful mindset and a compassionate demeanor. Or maybe you listen attentively to a colleague, an elderly neighbor, a friend. It doesn’t have to be big to make a difference. And what is it that you want to accomplish before the next Election Day or celebration of independence in your home state or country? What steps could you take in the year to come?

And if you can’t find examples where you live of positive work, then take a look here. This is a great site called Philanthropist.org.  Philanthropist.org allows people  like you and me to become philanthropists. As a donor, even in small amounts, you can support entrepreneurs and volunteers working on exciting projects around the world by contributing a small loan or donation. Often times it is difficult for small social actors to receive financial support; the majority of funding is funneled towards institutions. Philanthropist.org supports small social actors who are not a part of large charitable institutions, or those that have not formed official non-profits (a costly process) to get the financial support the need to make an impact at the micro and macro levels.  Check them out.

There are tons of initiatives around the world, like Philanthropist.org, working to support and celebrate the actions of the myriad people interested in making a difference.  Surf around on the web, scroll the bulletin boards at rec centers or churches, or just look around your community, or inside your own home for a good example.  You might be shocked to see how much good work is going on.

Cheers,

Megan

There’s been a lot of press over the last two years about the state of the world economy, and the corporate concept of ‘too big to fail’. I’d like to turn that statement on it’s head and propose that in today’s world, we need to focus on the fact that our critical thinking should address the concept of ‘too small to fail’. In other words, for the most stable and peaceful global economy in the future, we need to provide individuals with the tools to lift themselves out of poverty and to succeed. One of those tools is microfinance.

If you are familiar with some of the microfinance organizations like Kiva, their mission is focused on providing micro loans to adults in developing countries. There is a new movement, which takes it a step further and focuses on the next generation and their college level education – Vittana.

Did you know that in most countries student loans do not exist? Vittana provides the avenue for people like you and me to participate in the student loan process and fill that void. Vittana works in developing countries – Vietnam, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Peru – with local microfinance organizations who develop the selection criteria based on their knowledge of local culture and the job market.

Loans are given to students in their final year of college or those in short term vocational programs to assure the highest rate of success. It’s estimated that by finishing their education, they will improve their income earning potential by 200-300%.

Vittana’s business model is one of student loans, not scholarships. Once the student graduates, they begin a repayment schedule which is outlined on the website along with the profile of the student. As with all microfinance, this is a hand up, not a hand out.

The dignity that comes with the ability to make a living, support yourself and your family is invaluable and a currency that we all need to trade in for our successful future. I hope you will check out Vittana and make a student loan today.  Feel free to join the HarmonyWishes community and be a part of our lending team or create one of your own!

I read an interesting article recently from one of the New York Times blogs about an environmental program geared towards harnessing the immense energy and tenacity of children.  It’s called Green My Parents.  As they state on their site, GMP, “is a movement that activates & enlists kids to lead their families in measuring & reducing environmental impact at home & ‘challenge’ their parents to share savings with kids.”  The effort was just launched this past Earth Day, and now has a presence on Facebook and Twitter, trying to spread the word to young people and their parents all over the globe.  I love the way the GMP empowers kids to take a more assertive role in decisions at home, leading the way for their families.  Sometimes we need the optimism and creativity of the next generation to help push us towards the innovative and oft-traveled paths.

Many of the GMP tips are focused on countries like the U.S., where infrastructure allows for many of the changes they suggest.  However, a few tips are applicable for other contexts. I would love to see GMP chapters pop up in other countries around the globe, adapting the format for local and regional needs and opportunities.  It could be a great global community project, all pioneered by kids!

This same blog also brought me to the TED site again to watch a short speech given by young dynamo, Adora Svitak.  Svitak is no stranger to speaking in public, despite her young age (12 years old).  In this TED video, she posits that adults need to encourage “childish thinking”: “bold ideas, wild creativity and, especially, optimism.”  Unhampered by past experiences, Svitak points out that kids tend to dream big; and perhaps our job as adults is to (1) learn from that example, and (2) create environments to encourage and incubate those big ideas.

Spring is a great chance to foster your child-like dreams, or those of a child you know and love.  The weather is warming up and new energy is in the air.  How can you take that natural vitality that Spring has to offer and approach a task with “childish” optimism and ingenuity? Or can you enlist a young person you know to collaborate with you in a personal project, or one in your community?  You might find the exploration rejuvenating! 

Cheers,

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.

“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

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?

In our continuing series on images that tell great stories, I’m adding to the mix two distinct organizations this round; one is an NGO, the other a multi-media publication and consultancy. Both utilize images in dynamic ways to tell oft-untold stories. Take a look!

Charity:Water – Charity:Water is a non-profit organization that sets up freshwater wells, rainwater catchments and sand filters in communities in need across the globe. As they say on their site, “We are not offering grand solutions or billion dollar schemes…[but] for about $20 a person, we know how to help millions of people.” Charity:Water began when photographer Scott Harrison, unhappy in his lucrative career, asked himself, “What would the opposite of my life look like?” Months later he found himself as the ship photojournalist on one of the Mercy Ships surgery boats, documenting the work of volunteer surgeons, meeting the people of West Africa and witnessing up-close the  very real inequity and need across the ocean from his home. And thus, his project was born—helping give access to fresh, potable water for villages in Asia, Africa and beyond. Harrison states on his site: “[Charity is] taken from the word ‘caritas,’ or simply, love. In Colossians 3, the Bible instructs readers to ‘put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.’… I love the idea. To wear charity.”

Simple ideas can have great ripple effects. And I think the great success of Charity:Water is how well they communicate the stories of those they affect, those who have taken part in the effort, and the numbers that shape their success. Harrison is a photographer by trade; so clearly he knew that his images could tell a strong story. Likewise Charity:Water’s website, with a mixture of graphs, photo essays, videos and stories—helps take that message further.

Can you remember the last image that had a great impact on you? Share it with us!

Onto our second find…

MediaStorm – MediaStorm is a multi-media consultancy and online publication that utilizes “animation, audio, video and the power of still photography, to publish the diverse narratives that speak to the heart of the human condition.” I am a great admirer of MediaStorm’s archive of work from talented photographers and audio producers. MediaStorm stories aren’t your mom’s media stories. We’re used to our news in 1-minute sound bites, with text scrolling underneath the newscaster, and quick edits to keep our eye moving. But MediaStorm’s pieces take their time. They are the stories that journalists are never given the opportunity to tell; and yet, they are infinitely fascinating and important. They are the stories that take place in small towns, or urban high rises—but are absent from the news. I encourage you to go over to their site and take a look. Two of my favorite pieces are Common Ground, a photo-audio essay created by Scott Strazzante that follows the transformation of a cattle farm to a subdivision—juxtaposing photos taken over the course of several years; my second favorite is Iraqi Kurdistan by Ed Kashi, using original music and thousands of still photos to create a (literally) moving story—you’ll forget you’re not watching an actual video.

Enjoy!

Megan