This post is written in association with MSM Energy/Plastic Bottles

Philippino homes are given one million Liters of Light

If you had the choice between a light bulb you’d have to compare electricity prices and pay for, and one that came with no electricity bill, no batteries or, in fact, no consumable energy source whatsoever, and it would have a shelf life of years, not months, which would would you choose?

The founder of My Shelter Foundation, Illac Diaz, has announced an initiative he’s named ‘A Liter of Light’ (otherwise known as Isang Litrong Liwanag in Philippino), with big plans afoot, for millions of Philippino homes to be given one million liters of light.  Here is an example of how his Liters of Light plan works.

Philippino lives are transformed by Liters of Light from two liter soda bottles

First developed by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the two liter bulb, made from soda bottles, caught Diaz’s attention, when he recognized that it had the potential to instantly transform the lives of millions of impoverished Filipinos, who are living without an electricity supply and in virtually constant darkness.

Invention

A Brazilian mechanic and inventor called Alfredo Moser, has been hailed as the energyless light bulb creator. It’s said that he came up with the idea, when he wanted to find a way of saving on his own energy bill, back in 2002.

Phillipino homes are seeing Liters of Light from water filled two liter bottles

Moser, decided to cut holes in the roof of his workshop.  Then he set Read the rest of this entry »

Fair Trade Shopping

Fair Trade Shopping is a wonderful way to give a gift that keeps on giving. Now, that gift-giving season is in full swing, I’d like to give you a sneak peak at Fair Trade USA’s ultimate holiday gift guide. See the full guide here.  In a prior post I wrote on October 29th, called Help Support Fair Trade , you will learn about Fair Trade, and how it helps lift many people out of poverty.

Image via Wikipedia

Fair Trade Shopping- share the idea

Fair Trade Shopping, is a wonderful caring and sharing gift giving opportunity. The hope is that you share with your friends, the fair trade shopping idea and content provided in the holiday gift guide. Fair Trade Shopping will help you share and spend your holiday dollars wisely, while making a huge difference in the lives of others.  The Fair Trade Shopping gift guide offers suggestions for fun, high-quality, (and often delicious) gifts that truly make a difference in the lives of farmers and workers around the world.  Don’t for get the fairtradefinder app here.  It will help you find Fair Trade Shopping merchants in your area.

I’m sure you’ll agree, that when a chocolate bar helps send a Ghanaian child to school, or a bar of soap brings clean water to a village for the first time, the word “giving” takes on a whole new meaning. Please help spread the word about Fair Trade Shopping and the Fair Trade USA holiday gift guide, this holiday season. Just a small purchase can do a whole lot of GOOD!

Fair Trade Shopping stretches your buying power

Thank you so much for all of your support of Fair Trade Shopping and the Fair Trade USA holiday gift guide.  This is how YOU can truly make a difference this holiday season. YOU, can play such an important role in showing your friends and mindful consumers around the globe, how they can make each and every purchase matter, for themselves and for others. By Fair Trade Shopping, you are stretching your buying power, and really impacting someones life, somewhere else in the world.  What a great feeling, to know you are giving gifts that keep on giving, year round by Fair Trade Shopping.

Pesticides in our Food

Recently, a new infographic was  produced for ecomom.com , on the unexpected  pesticides in our food and health risks associated with the use of these pesticides. At a time when we are all looking for ways to eat healthy, and save money, I wanted to be sure and share this valuable information with you.  I think you will enjoy this visual guide to uncovering the truth about pesticides being used on common fruits and veggies, we usually eat. It may give you cause to ditch these pesticides and health risks associated with pesticide use in our food, and go organic.

You will want to visit and read ecomom’s full size  infographic article entitled 

Unexpected Chemicals in Your Food: The Health Risks of Pesticides

Pesticides in our Food- a good visual look

Once you are at the ecomom.com site, just click on the infographic, for an easy to follow full size chart of how much pesticides are in many of the foods we eat. It is a good visual look on the amount of pesticides that are in the foods we regularly consume, and how to avoid pesticide health risks, to the food you eat and purchase for your family.

Also, be sure to click through on any of the graphics, anywhere on the chart, for this article or pertinent information on how pesticides effect our everyday lives and health. There is much to learn at ecomom.com, besides the graphics on the chart.  We are all effected by what is in our food, and products we use regularly.  Perhaps, most at health risk to pesticide exposure, are our children and grandchildren.

I found this to be a very eye opening chart, on how pesticides are in our food and much of what we eat.  Yes, it may take a bit of getting use to, when it comes to buying organic, and or wholesome whole foods and non processed food items. However, your health and that of your children and family, is most important.  Therefore, organic is the safest option to avoid the risk of pesticides in your food.  It is safe to say, that the less we are exposed to pesticides in our food, the healthier we will all be.

Pesticides in our food is a cause to go organic

When it comes to our food and our health, it makes sense to know what is in the food we eat, especially when is comes to how much pesticides are in that food. Perhaps, it is time to consider going organic, because even washing of the fruits and vegetables, is not enough to remove the pesticide residue that causes risk to our health.

If you are short on space, or unable to grow your own fruits and veggies, consider making the switch to organic, or frozen options.

While, many local farmer’s markets are closed now, there are some areas that are trying to have fresh local grown fruits and vegetables available year round. Be sure to check your local newspapers and markets, for what is available in your area.  Remember, when at all possible, organic and fresh is best and safest for your health!  Here, also are other articles on the topic of pesticides and the risk of pesticides to our health.

Related articles

• What are the effects of pesticides on human health (wiki.answers.com)
• How pesticides affect in food chain (wiki.answers.com)