The Summer and Winter Solstice
December 22, 2008 by admin · 2 Comments
The time around December 22 is a very important day for our planet and its relationship with the sun. December 22 is the summer solstice, marking the beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere, and the winter solstice, marking the beginning of winter, in the Northern Hemisphere.
Positive News Links
December 9, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Positive News 6.01.09
Encountering Peace: How will it end? - There was a real possibility to return to a cease-fire, but Israel rejected Hamas’s terms of ending the economic siege. Israel was no longer willing to accept the growing empowerment of Hamas and its continued accumulation of more sophisticated weapons and missiles. The question is now whether Israel will be able to accept the consequences of the war.
The Cycle of Conferences - Earth Stewardship & the Middle East Peace Process (Geneva Accord)
Source: The Advertiser, December 30, 2008
The Euro turns 10 years-old on January 1. After initial forecasts of doom for the grand experiment of the Euro – combining the currencies of 11 European countries into one new currency, the Euro has proven a success. It has given the now 16 countries involved a greater sense of security and stability, according to French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde. And now countries like Sweden and Britain, who initially held out over joining, are re-considering the wisdom of their ways.
Source: The Advertiser, December 30, 2008
Increasing numbers of restaurants and hotels in South Australia are supporting local producers by embracing the “100 mile” diet philosophy. Known as Locavores, people who choose to eat within 100 miles/160 kilometres of their home do so for nutritional, accessability, ecological and political reasons.
Food grown locally is generally fresher and so better for you in terms of vitamins and minerals; easier to access especially if its grown in your backyard or by growers close-by; better for the environment because fuel is saved, and gives people the chance to keep their dollars circulating in their local community.
The Hilton Adelaide’s chef Simon Bryant, and Barossa Valley cook Maggie Beer helped to pioneer the trend in South Australia. Now Clarion Hotel Soho’s Decant Restaurant, Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island and the The Locavore Stirling, all source their produce locally as much as possible, as do a growing number of cafes in and around Adelaide.
Source: The Advertiser, December 30, 2008
In Germany dogs are queuing up for food hand-outs in Berlin’s first soup kitchen for pets. A discussed night school has been converted into a safe place for pensioners and welfare recepients can receive free pet food. According to Julie Raash, head of the animal’s soup kitchen, 400 people and their pets which include dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and budgerigars, have been helped.
Source: The Advertiser, December 30, 2008
South Australian households have saved an average of 50,000 litres of water each in 2008. That’s equivalent to the volume of an in-ground swimming pool.
According to SA Water, householders are using an average of 191 kilolitres, which is 50 kilolitres per household less than in 2006-2007 financial year. Average daily water use in 2007-2008 was 345 litres per person.
Well done South Australians.
Source: The Advertiser, December 22, 2008
Some of Australia’s most high flying executives are teaming up with the principal of an under-resourced high school in a disadvantaged area.
Why? To improve the image of business by becoming more involved in community activities and to benefit students in areas of need.
The outcome? The executives discovered the four-year program is improving their employees’ commitment to their organizations, and the students now feel empowered to do something more positive with their lives.
Source: The 7.30 Report, 16/12/08
http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/2008/12/04/20081204ar-comedyman1129.html
Robert Wagner has been writing and performing comedy since he was a teenager known as Robby.Wagner said he doesn’t do off-color jokes or pepper his routine with blush-inducing tirades or derogatory language. He admits his method is somewhat unusual in the comedy-club world of raunchy humor.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27828393/
A monarch butterfly has a chance at completing its species’ famed migration to central Mexico thanks to some tiny cardboard splints, a bit of contact cement and a trucker from Alabama. The insect’s broken wing was painstakingly splinted by an upstate New York couple who then helped it hitch a ride south after the weather in the southern Adirondacks turned cold.
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/fleetwood-news/Caring-Lisa-is-an-inspiration.4771634.jp
Lisa Anderton , 14, has a massive caring job looking after her poorly mother as well as her brother and sister. But she still manages to get good results at school.
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2008/12/04/choosing-fuel-for-your-career-journey.html When it comes to your career journey, how do you fuel up? Do you fill your mind with a high-octane, positive perspective or do you pump it full of toxic sludge? Is what you put into your brain positive and inspiring or negative and demoralizing?
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Hearts-touched-by-inspirational-youths.4767743.jp
INSPIRATIONAL young role models from Peterborough touched the hearts of judges at the YOPEY awards ceremony.
It was an emotional evening which brought men and women to tears and a standing ovation was awarded to all the young people who took part in this year’s Stagecoach Young People of the Year (YOPEY) awards.
http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8722358&nav=menu498_8_7
We are looking for inspirational families that America can really root for,” says Casting Director, Quintin Strack.
What does it take to be picked for an Extreme Makeover? Strack says, “we are in search of real heroes…people that have amazing strength and who have put their own needs aside to help someone else.” In addition, to heroics, the producers are looking for families whose homes are in dire need of help. “We don’t want to tear down a nice looking house. We want to see houses that look like they might fall down on their own!”
The Locavore Wine Bar & Restaurant
December 8, 2008 by admin · 5 Comments
“It was when my partner Suzanne Pfitzner, 43, and I were in France, that I discovered I was a locavore,” says Chris March, 40. It was 2005 and Sue wanted to have her fortieth in Paris. “You’re not considered a woman until you turn 40,” she told me.
What Does it Mean to Be Spiritual?
December 8, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
When the census asks you your religion and you choose ‘spiritual’, what do you mean? For many of us the word ‘religion’ does not describe how we frame our beliefs about why we’re here, what we’re here for, or how we find meaning in our everyday lives.
Win/Win Ways We Can Make Our Homes More Environmentally Sustainable
December 7, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Here are three ways we can make our contribution to improving the environment and our own standard of living.
Hemp Hemp Hooray! Skin care
December 7, 2008 by admin · 3 Comments
“When I walk into a shop with my product and explain that it’s made from hemp oil and the owner says, ‘Can I get high from it?’, I know there’s still work to be done on hemp’s image in the marketplace,” says Teresa McDowell.
Founder of hemp hemp hooray!, Teresa, is passionate about hemp and educating people about the wonderful qualities and benefits of this humble yet amazing plant. At 42 she is feeling, “fully alive and committed to her business and helping the hemp industry flourish and grow.”
Barefoot Initiative
December 7, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
In 2004, my husband Sunil, 38, my brother Aidan Glasby, 27, and I, went to Ethiopia. We’d been there before and were returning with the $12,000 we’d raised, planning to build a school, says Kyra Glasby, 25.
The Healing Power of Your Pet
December 5, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
When your feeling tired and stressed you may just want to flop down in a chair and push away the dog or cat with a “leave me alone.” Yet studies have shown that our faithful pet wants to help us, sensing when we’re in need of some love and healing.
Creative Parenting
December 4, 2008 by admin · 3 Comments
How to Parent Creatively and Still Have Your Child’s respect
When your six-year old comes home from school with a rip in her jeans do you:
a) explode in anger and yell
b) cry and say, “how could you they cost $x”
c) think awful thoughts and bite your bottom lip
d) say, “Wow, you must have had an exciting day.”
Being a creative parent means being the parent we always wanted, but never had.
Grow Your Own Organic Vegetables
December 2, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Dig up a piece of your backyard, put in a raised bed, or just pop them in between existing plants – whichever way your choose, you can be eating home-grown organic vegetables from your garden within weeks.
Some gardening books and TV programs can make growing your own vegetables as complicated as the Kama Sutra makes lovemaking. But growing food to eat is innate in us all.
Just trust your instinct, follow these basic rules with a willingness to learn what your garden has to teach you about itself, and you’ll feel the thrill that happens when you pick your own succulent produce and proudly prepare it for your friends and family.
