Deforestation, respiratory disease, poverty.

Three words we shouldn’t have to know.

Nearly half of the people in the world cook over open fire, which leads to: Deforestation, Respiratory Disease, and Poverty (http://www.theparadigmproject.org/why-stoves)

For $40 you can buy a Rocket Stove for a family. One Rocket Stove equals:

• $280 of income saved
• 1,300 hours of time saved
• 33 trees saved
• 60% reduction in smoke which stops 7.5mt CO2e from reaching the environment

What’s a Rocket Stove?

Used for cooking purposes in many third-world coutnries, the rocket stove achieves efficient combustion, ensuring a good draft into the fire, controlled use of fuel, complete combustion of materials, and efficient use of the resulting heat.

Why a Rocket Stove?

Cleaner burning, more efficient, simply better stoves reduce wood consumption and toxic smoke. This leads to a better life, a brighter future and social, environment and economic change.

More than 3 billion people in the world still cook over an open fire, leading to respiratory diseases, the deforestation epidemic and compromised safety and overall well-being. Over 2 million women and children die each year due to respiratory problems caused by cooking over an open fire. These respiratory illnesses are the #1 killer of children under the age of 5, more than Malaria or AIDS. (from Paradigm Project press release).

Read more about the Rocket Stove here: http://www.theparadigmproject.org/the-stove or check out this video:

Episode 3: Meet the Makers from The Paradigm Project on Vimeo.

Follow Greg and Austin around the world on out mission to 5 million stoves. In this episode you’ll meet the makers of the locally produced “JikoPoa”, which means the “cool” or the “right stove” and see the value that local production can add to reaching 5 million stoves.

The goal of the Paradigm Project is to deliver 5 million stoves by 2020, already 28,973 stoves have been delivered. It’s easy to help. Donate today!

Pick a campaign and donate any amount: http://www.theparadigmproject.org/donate

If $40 is too much, how about just one latte, or $5. We can all skip one trip to Starbucks can’t we?

Click image to see this full-size

My water bobble arrived the other day and I excitedly unboxed it and tried it out. For those that don’t know what a water bobble is, it’s a water bottle that filters the water as you drink. By using a water bobble you don’t contribute to the insane amount of plastic water bottles tossed into landfills. Roughly 50 billion bottles end up in US landfills each year. That’s nearly 140 million bottles each and every day. We can do better.

After unboxing my water bobble I filled it with water then I gently squeezed some water out. The water comes out with the black dust you normally see when dealing with carbon  filters (in aquariums for example). After a few squeezes the water was clear. Tthen I refilled the water bobble and took my first sip.

The water was warm because it had just come out of the tap, but it didn’t have the straight from tap taste. Yay! The water bobble is awesome.

The water bobble isn’t double-wall vacuumed insulated like my other drinking containers so I place the entire water bobble in the fridge to keep it cold. Once out of the fridge the water turns warm rather quickly.

To learn more about the water bobble check out http://www.waterbobble.com/.

“Starting tomorrow, August 19, I am going to fast for two days. How many of you who have plenty of food will ‘sponsor’ me and donate $10/day to help the terrible famine in the Horn of Africa? I’m talking logging on to Unicef and dipping your card for twenty bucks. That ain’t much, and your word is good enough for me. Holler back, link to this page, and please share, ’cause I can’t wait forever.”

These were the words that sparked my interest. I know Mark, in fact, you all should know Mark. His audio prowess is amazing, simply stunning. Mark did the audio for our game, Sushi Star and has an impressive biography.

Mark’s started a Facebook page to raise awareness to the children in the Horn of Africa. Drought, famine, rising food costs, and a refugee crisis. The drought is the worse in the area in 60 years.

Mark is fasting for two days, starting tomorrow, August 19th. Mark’s not being paid, he’s not sponsored. There is no financial gain, but he is PASSIONATE about this cause.

I had the chance to ask Mark some questions before he starts fasting tomorrow:

1. Short bio

Creative Director/Owner @ Suite Spot Studios in Cherry Hill, NJ. Born + raised in Lancaster, Penna. Graphic Arts major at Penn State and Recording Engineering major at Temple U. Started career recording actual vinyl albums! in and around Philadelphia; rock of the ’80′s … six years as Senior Sound Designer at Nickelodeon in the ’90′s and ten years mixing national commercials for Mad Men in NY. Now a video editor, graphic designer, music producer, sound designer…

(See I told you right? Freakin’ amazing body of work).

2. What gave you this idea?

I was raised in a family that supported Food Banks and carried food to needy families in Lancaster. Throughout my life I have tried to contribute to food banks wherever I have lived. I have been aware of this tragedy in the Horn of Africa for a few months … growing more concerned each day.

3. Have you fasted before? Anything you’ve done to prepare, learn, research, etc? Or cold turkey?

(I) changed my diet this year kind of majorly: no bread, no cakes, no pies, switched to soy milk, smaller portions, and I now weigh less than I did in high school. I have always felt our portions are way too huge, and Americans are poster children for over-eaters. No I have never fasted for more than about ten hours.

4. What makes you passionate about this cause?

I am passionate because all my life I have had every convenience and opportunity, and so many people have nothing but woe; the imbalance is galling.

5. What’s next, anything in the works to fundraise for other worthy causes?

I support other friends who run, bike, and walk for their important causes, and will continue to do so. My wife and I support St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. If anything I will look for ways to contribute more to charities as I grow older.

6. What, if anything, inspired you specifically for this?

I have spent too many years looking at life selfishly. I don’t want to live that way.

I am inspired. Check out Mark’s Fast for Famine Facebook page.

Visit the official UNICEF page to learn more or donate.

Two million children are at risk of starvation in Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. The worst drought in 60 years is compounded by rising food prices and a refugee crisis, creating a true children’s emergency in the Horn of Africa.

UNICEF urgently requires additional funds to maintain critical lifesaving services for children who face malnutrition, disease and death.

Use this form to make a secure, tax-deductible donation to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. If you prefer, print a form to send your donation by mail or call 1.800.4UNICEF (1.800.486.4233) to donate by phone.

Funds raised in excess of immediate needs in this disaster will be used to assist children in other emergency situations.

Hi everyone! Here’s a great one for us skip-a-lunchers! Purchase a limited edition bobble from www.waterbobble.com and 50% of the purchase will be donated to The Nature Conservancy. What’s a limited edition water bobble you ask? Designed by Sophia Bush, these limited edition bobbles are reusable water bottles that filter water as you drink. How cool is that? Recently Sophia Bush ran the San Francisco Marathon and managed to raise $50,000 through Crowdrise to support The Nature Conservancy. Wow. $50,000. Amazing stuff.

Why support The Nature Conservancy? Here’s their mission statement:

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.

Check out www.waterbobble.com for more info. I should be receiving mine soon and will follow up with a review of the water bobble. The limited edition bobble is only $12 and comes in my favorite color, green! Slightly more than the cost of a lunch, but 50% of that is a donation and you walk away with a cool water bobble!

So how does it work?

Bobble has an activated carbon filter which has a slight electro-positive charge, making it attractive to chemicals and impurities. As the water passes over the positively charged carbon surface, the negative ions of the contaminants are drawn to the surface of the carbon granules.

Carbon filters require very little maintenance, and are perhaps the most powerful chemical absorbents known to man. bobble’s carbon-based filter removes organic contaminants from regular municipal tap water and meets or exceeds NSF International Standard 42 for chlorine, taste and odor reduction.

For best results we recommend changing your filter after 2 months or 40 gallons/150 litres. Filter for use with bobble only.

WARNING: Do not use where water is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality.

How do you use it? Simple, check out this diagram:

Hi readers, sorry its been awhile since my last post. This past week I registered with the Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry at the Ward Starbucks and had the pleasure of speaking with Ferdie Gabat. He explained some of the hardships and funding changes that will severely impact the registry. The registry is trying to raise funds and has a golf tournament fund raising event in September. They’re looking for sponsors, prizes, and players.

Sponsorship Packages:

Platinum – $5000

• • 2 complimentary teams with carts
  • Name branding
    • On banner at registration table
    • On banner at banquet room
    • Name/logo on all media releases/materials (radio, print, tv)
    • Premium display at your company’s hole on the course
    • Additional branding throughout tournament
  • Mulligans
  • Marketing opportunity to distribute company product giveaways and information in golfer bag
  • Verbal sponsor acknowledgement at post event banquet

Gold – $3500

• • 2 complimentary teams with carts
  • Name branding
    • On banner at registration table
    • On banner at banquet room
    • Name/logo on all media releases/materials (print)
    • Premium display at your company’s hole on the course
    • Additional branding throughout tournament
  • Mulligans
  • Marketing opportunity to distribute company product giveaways and information in golfer bag
• Verbal sponsor acknowledgement at post event banquet

Silver – $2500

• • 1 complimentary team with cart
  • Name branding
    • Name/logo on all media releases/materials (print)
    • Premium display at your company’s hole on the course
    • Additional branding throughout tournament
  • Mulligans
  • Verbal sponsor acknowledgement at post event banquet

Bronze – $1500

• 1 complimentary team with cart
  • Name branding
    • Name/logo on all media releases/materials (radio, print, tv)
    • Premium display at your company’s hole on the course
    • Additional branding throughout tournament
  • Verbal sponsor acknowledgement at post event banquet

It was interesting to read the following information provided by Ferdie:

Currently, there are 9 million donors in the registry and Caucasians make up 74 of percent of all donors.  Ethnic groups such as: African Americans, Hispanics and Asians combined, make up 23 percent.  Alarmingly, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and Multi-Ethnic make up only 3 percent.  This makes Hawaii, a state with many Ethnic and Multi-Ethnic groups, a prime location for finding and registering more potential donors.

To learn more about the registry and to contact them regarding prizes, sponsors, or golfers for the September fund raiser, contact them at:

Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry

HBMDRgolftournament@gmail.com

2228 Liliha Street
Suite 105
Honolulu, HI 96817-1651
(808) 547-6154
(877) HI-DONOR

*** UPDATE: The military isn’t allowing the transport of the donated items so ORLS will no longer be able to accept donations on Friday. ***

Our Redeemer Lutheran Schools will be taking in donations on Friday from 8 am to 12pm at their cafeteria for the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami relief efforts. Rather than accepting money, the focus is on non-perishable items. We’ll be donating socks, blankets, and canned foods. An ORLS student’s father is part of a military search and rescue team leaving for Japan and he graciously offered to take our donations with him to Japan. This is a great way to make a direct impact to those in need right now. Let’s all pitch in and do our part to help. I am positive we all have warm clothes or blankets, socks, or food that we simply do not need. Contact at school: Michele Zane (First Grade Teacher) or Karen Dote (Office Manager)

The school is located at: 2428 Wilder Ave., Honolulu, HI 96822

View map

Some folks may not have the time to swing by on Friday, if that’s the case I’d gladly meet you somewhere in town between now and Friday morning to take your donations down for you. Email me at brian@skipalunch.com …. Let’s do what we can. Thank you!

The Skip-A-Lunch team.

From: http://jasonkelly.com/helpjapan/

Socks for Japan
Here’s a way you can help Japan, directly and meaningfully.

Hundreds of my readers in the United States and other parts of the world have asked me how they can help the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Japan on March 11. There are many places to donate money, and that’s a wonderful thing to do, but direct aid is also cherished by victims.

My office location is perfect for managing a direct-aid operation because it’s close enough to the primary damage zone that we can physically get there to help, but far enough away that mail delivery is working. So we quickly set ourselves up to run this operation, called Socks for Japan.

Hi readers, I’m sure you all know the devastation happening in Japan. I’d like to compile a list of donation options for relief efforts so please comment on this post with any info or suggestions.

Our hearts and thoughts go out to all affected.

Edit:
Here’s a local one for us:
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – First Hawaiian Bank has established Japan-Hawaii Relief Fund to assist the survivors of the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11. 

First Hawaiian Bank has donated $100,000 to the fund. 

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=14236269

The LitWorld team is ramping up for this years World Read Aloud Day on March 9th, 2011. They’ll be posting tips and resources on their blog and you can read more on their website. You can check out the Facebook Event here. Last year was the first World Read Aloud Day with 35 countries and 40,000 participants. This year let’s reach more countries and more people.

Across the globe nearly 171 million children could be lifted out of poverty if they left school with basic reading and writing skills. Quality literacy education is the difference between life and death, prosperity and despair. This is literacy for survival.