In 2004 Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize for her commitment to Kenya and the planet. In 1977 Wangari created the The Green Belt Movement Kenya and later Green Belt Movement International. Its vision is to create a society of people who consciously work for continued improvement of their environment and a greener planet. Its mission is to mobilise community consciousness for self-determination, equity, improved livelihoods and security, and environmental conservation. It is guided by the values of volunteerism, love for environmental conservation, pro-action for self-betterment, accountability, transparency, and empowerment. On receiving the news of being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, 2004 Wangari said, ?It is evident that many wars are fought over resources which are now becoming increasingly scarce. Continue reading ‘wangari maathai’
Monthly Archive for December, 2006
wangari maathai
Via Financial Times:- The world’s oldest newspaper according to the World Association of Newspapers has decided that it will publish only digitally. Formed in 1645 the Post-och Inrikes Tidningar of Sweden is leading the pulp-less revolution by now only producing an online edition. Could this be the destiny of many more newspapers around the world?
shelter in a cart
According to Unicef there are an estimated 750,000 people living on the street in the United States and a further 3,000,000 in Europe. Tackling the issue of how to address urban homelessness has been a constant thorn in the side of the design and construction industry. Earlier this year the website Designboom addressed the issues by hosting the ?shelter in a cart? competition as their 2006 Social Awareness Award. The response was incredible ? over 4246 designers from 95 countries participated. Designed by ing-tse chen from China, the street cart named survivor is multi-purpose assembled tricycle inspired by the sceneries of typical street lives in China. Since the retail price of a new manual cargo tricycle is less than AU$60, this tool is very popular among migrant workers, low-income famlies and elder people who don?t drive. The SURVIVOR is composed of one foldable box with shading system installed on a regular tricycle to fulfill the basic needs of a city nomad: self-transportation, storage for private belongings and goods for sales, a simple taxi for local communities, at last, a little privacy and protection from weather at night. It doesn’t take much to think laterally, just the heart to want to!
2007 must see film
If you haven’t yet seen An Inconvenient Truth - you must and now you can with the DVD. The more people who can spread the word the better. This recently-released DVD includes an interview with Al Gore who updates the film with the latest available research about Global Warming. The more people that see this film the closer we get to understanding how to help our planet. Al Gore says, “The DVD is a vital way for us to continue the conversation about global warming, as more and more people understand what’s at stake, they become a part of the solution, and share both in the challenges and opportunities presented by the climate crisis.” Global Warming is a real threat and everyone can do their part just by keeping the conversation alive. If you wont do it for yourself at least do it for your kids. Order the DVD at you local store.
2007 must read book
The good folks at Worldchanging.com have compiled a resource book full of great ideas for anyone ready to help change the world. Worldchanging: A Users Guide for the 21st Century is a groundbreaking compendium of the most innovative solutions, ideas and inventions emerging today for building a sustainable, livable, prosperous future. These ideas are easy to obtain, it’s all around us - you just have to tap in! From consumer consciousness to a new vision for industry; non-toxic homes to refugee shelters; microfinance to effective philanthropy; socially responsible investing to starting a green business; citizen media to human rights; ecological economics to climate change, this is the most comprehensive, cutting-edge overview to date of what’s possible in the near future - if we decide to make it so. It doesn’t take much to change the world, just a collective consciousness of thoughtful players. Need some inspiration? You can buy the book locally at Cherry Blossom and get some inspiration for your 2007 resolutions.
