New Ways to Value Work

According to a recent report by the New Economics Foundation, hospital cleaners in England are worth more to society than City bankers, because many low-paid workers increase the wellbeing of the nation more than the high-flying and much better-paid financial-sector staff.

The report found that those who work as advertising executives, tax advisors destroy value, while hospital cleaners, childcare workers, and staff in the waste-recycling industry gave more to the country than they took out.

The Foundation calculated how much someone whould be paid in relation to the value they create by measuring things like conventional economic returns and environmental impacts. The report argues that high pay is often generated by businesses that destroy other parts of the economy or fail to pay the full costs of their activities.

source:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/dec/14/new-economics-foundation-social-value as quoted in http://conscious-capitalism.blogspot.com/search/label/Mindful%20economy

Haitian Pizza Parlour Feeds Starving Survivors

Since the massive earthquake on 12 January 2010 laid the Haitian capital, Port-Au-Prince, to waste, an upmarket pizzeria has been feeding the survivors.

In the smart suburb of Petionville, the Muncheez pizza restaurant’s kitchen staff, homeless themselves, now cook up1000 meals a day to feed the starving people free of charge.

As the lines of hungry grew, neighbours donated food and thousands of dollars flowed in from friends and family in the US. The US Agency for International Development gave Muncheez a truckload of rice, beans, corn meal and cooking oil.

The restaurant’s co-owner, Gilbert Bailly distributed 10,000 blue bracelets he’d been saving for carnival parties. “One bracelet, one meal. It’s random, but I know somebody ate. That’s the most important thing to me,” he said.

Source: The Weekend Australian Jan 30-31, 2010

The Will to Simplify

As we approach the Copenhagen conference (December 7 - 18, 2009), what do we see in the media? On the one hand, there is a picture of complex negotiations about a range of technological and economic solutions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This process is motivated by complex climate change models. Complex arguments are made for or against various lines of action. On the other hand, simple headline figures emerge from this mass of complexity: 6 degree rise in global temperature; 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide; 1 metre rise in sea level. But this apparent simplicity only masks the underlying complexity - for it is very difficult for the average person to work out how these figures have been derived from the models and arguments. So it is no wonder that the general public remains confused and conflicted about the whole issue.

Yet at heart, the issue is simple, if only we could exert the will to see it.

Read more

A New Look at an Old Dilemma

How do I create positive social change?

How can I change a little part of the world, or maybe a big part of it? What can I do to leave the world a better place for my being here?

Resonate with any of these questions? Quite likely. Because if you’re here - other than as an accidental ‘bounce’ - then it’s because you like the sound of creative change.

I’m reading a book called, “Social Change 2.2″ (2009) by David Gershon. Please visit again in a few days and have a look at the article I’m writing based on this book. It’s called “How To Create Social Change”.

Caroline

The Power of Free

The internet has set information free to anyone who desires it. Intellectual property is going to soon become a thing of the past.
I believe the next step for the internet to help create a better global society is for a commerce managing database/search engine to be created where there is no currency and things are traded on the basis of desire. jobs are created on the basis of necessity. Everyones skills and interests are known by this database, and they will be suggested tasks or jobs based on where there is a necessity for their work.
Until we break away from the controlling and negatie power of an arbitrary money system (the people who control money supplies control the world), we will never be free.
This is a direct quote from creativity pool at http://www.creativitypool.com/creativitypool.php?cat=Society

Unusual Facts

Most of us love finding out about our world and the creatures in it.

Here is some dinner party trivia on things that are the only one of its kind or unusual:

The bat is the only mammal that can fly.

Swans are the only birds with penises.

Teeth are the only parts of the human body that can’t repair themselves.

The bloodhound is the only animal whose evidence is admissible in an American court.

The only country in the world that has a Bill of Rights for Cows is India.

The only lizard that has a voice is the Gecko.

Uranus is the only planet that rotates on its side.

The number 4 is the only number in the English language that has the same number of letters in its name as its meaning.

Australia is the only country that is also a continent.

If you would like to add your unusual facts please drop me a line and I’ll post them in this section:

caroline@creativechangemakers.com.au

Source: http://www.corsinet.com/trivia/only.html

Cows With Names Give More Milk

Drs Catherine Douglas and Peter Rowlinson of Newcastle University, UK, have recently won Harvard’s annual Ig Nobel Prize for showing that cows who have names give more milk than cows that are nameless.

They showed that the way human’s behave with animals influences the quality of the human-animal relationship. Many scientific studies have demonstrated that cattle’s fear-response to humans affects their productivity, behavior, and welfare. In the scientific literature it is believed that fear of humans is the predominant relationship on dairy farms. Read more

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton at Grass-Roots Level in Africa

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, toured seven African countries recently to talk with women about their impoverished and harsh lives.

She found out about female chicken farmers in Kenya, rape victims in eastern Congo and housing projects for poor women in South Africa.

Her goal was to press governments in these countries to step-up and crack-down on the sexual abuse, and re-vamp US aid programs to put more emphasis on women’s issues and needs.

She also hopes that as a result of her trip she has connected with women at the grass-roots level, and that together they can develop platforms empowering the women to change their government’s priorities.

Source: The Age 15.8.09

It’s the Nomadic Life For Me

On August 22, 2009, Catherine Johns will set off on a journey through the centre of Australia. But Catherine won’t be driving a car or riding in a train, she’ll be sitting with reins in hand, travelling the old way - in her traditional Vardo caravan.

Catherine, 60, is from a long-line of Romany gypsies and she says that travelling by horse and cart keeps her body, soul and heart together. “I really love life and advice you to follow your dream,” says Catherine who’s also known as ‘Red’ because of the colour of her hair.

Born of Australian parents, Catherine’s grandmother was Irish Romany and her grandfather was Welsh. The Romanies are a nomadic ethinic group believed to originate from India. “We have always suffered persecution for our different beliefs and lifestyle,” says Catherine. “We are nomadic people who’re the caretakers of the world.”

Catherine loves animals and her three-month journey will take her along the Old Ghan rail route from Angas Valley to Alice Springs. Catherine’s caravan will be pulled by her faithful Clydesdale horse Tigger, while her three dogs will also keep her company. The trek is to raise awareness of animal cruelty. “We can live with the animals in co-operation, not exploitation. This means that we can all learn to think and live more ethically,” she says.

Oxfam Raises One Million

A Million Raised By Oxfam

The Oxfam Australia bookshop in Adelaide, South Australia, has just raised $1 million. The bookshop, staffed by volunteers, will donate the money to developing countries for projects like supporting HIV orphans in South Africa.

Source: The Advertiser 23.7.09

What is a Bokashi?

The Bokashi Bucket transforms kitchen waste into a nutrient rich soil conditioner.

Using the Effective Micro-Organism (EM) the Bokashi creates ideal conditions for anaerobic composting bacteria.

Manufacturers say that you can compost almost every kitchen food waste in your Bokashi Bucket - fruit and vegetables, prepared foods, meat, dairy and even tissues.

Once full just bury the contents of the bucket and the manufacturers say it will compost in the soil (not in the bucket). Bokashi Buckets can be purchased online or at retail outlets.

Next Page »