Search Results for: green living social consciousness

Green Coffee

If you are like many people, you were drinking coffee this morning. You may have made it at home or driven through Starbucks to get it. Either way, as you enjoyed your hot beverage on this cold day (as it is in most of America), you may not have thought about the environmental and social issues behind that coffee. It is estimated that Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee each day. The only thing in higher worldwide demand than coffee is petroleum. It keeps us going on long days and some studies have shown that it may prevent heart … Continue reading →

Going Green, Social Consciousness, and Our Kids

We are being inundated with green issues such as global warming and new products that will help us be “greener,” but sometimes we forget another aspect of being green – social consciousness. You have probably seen me write about the three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle. But what about remember, as in remember those less fortunate than us. Is there any better lesson to teach your children? Social consciousness starts at home. What better way to teach our children to make the world a better place than to volunteer and take them along with us? Food banks always need a … Continue reading →

Anti-Slavery: Today’s Fight for Tomorrow’s Freedom

As I said once before in a blog, when many Americans hear the word “slavery,” they think of African Americans being freed after the Civil War. But unfortunately, slavery is still very much a part of the world today. While researching the SlaveryFootprint.org website, I ran across the Anti-Slavery website. Anti-Slavery points out that although slavery was prohibited by the UN in 1848’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, slavery still exists today. Modern slavery includes many different things – prostitution, bonded labor, trafficking, slavery by descent, child labor, forced labor, and forced marriage. The site estimates that as many as … Continue reading →

Extreme Couponing

Last night, my husband and son were gone, so I took the opportunity to do what any woman finding herself alone in the house would do – I watched “Extreme Couponing.” I am both fascinated and appalled in some instances by this whole concept. I’ve always used coupons, if I have them for something I need. But, on last night’s episode, there was a single mother of two who couldn’t work. She and the kids were living at her parent’s house. Since she couldn’t work (I don’t think she ever gave the reason why), she used her extreme couponing acumen … Continue reading →

Peter Jackson Wants Justice for the West Memphis Three

I blogged about Damiel Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, known as the West Memphis Three, a little over a week ago in my Green Living category. I explained that this particular subject falls between pop culture and green living because celebrities have been involved trying to free these men but, it is also a case of social consciousness because a lot of people think they were railroaded into a conviction. Now, director Peter Jackson, known for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the upcoming The Hobbit series, has come on board to try and bring true justice for … Continue reading →

West Memphis Three Freed – Part 1

Sometimes I think of a blog to write, but the category it belongs in may be a bit blurry. Many blogs I write could fall both within the Pop Culture and Green Living blog. Such is this blog about the West Memphis Three. In 1993, three teenagers – Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin – were accused of committing a horrible crime just across the river from my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Three eight-year-old boys – Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers – were found murdered. The three teenagers were convicted in what many later called a “witch … Continue reading →

The Global Soap Project

Soap is something I take for granted. If I don’t have any, I can easily and fairly cheaply go to the store and buy some. Heck, if I were extra resourceful, I could even make my own soap like some friends do. But, while many of us may take soap for granted, it isn’t that way in many parts of the world. Soap is a simple and essential part of fighting diseases, yet many communities are without it. Derreck Kayongo, a Ugandan war refugee, understood the importance of soap and formed the Global Soap Project. Now Kayongo is not only … Continue reading →

Teaching Kids about Earth Day

I have always said that it is important to teach green ways and social consciousness to the kids. After all, they are the future! So with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, you may want to start teaching your children to be green with a few of these ideas: * Teach children to turn off electronics such as the computer and television when not in use. * If you live near stores, take the children for a walk there instead of driving. * Teach children to turn off the lights when they leave the room. * Start … Continue reading →

The Salwen Family Downsizes Their Lifestyle

Yesterday, I was flipping through my latest PEOPLE magazine, when I saw a book review that caught my attention. “The Power of Half: One Family’s Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back” tells the story of the Salwen family. This family of four was living the good life. Their 6,500 square foot in Atlanta had three Viking stoves, an elegant dining room, Portuguese inlaid tile, an elevator, and a $2 million price tag. Then one day, something happened. No, dad Kevin didn’t lose his job as a writer and entrepreneur, there was no major family catastrophe for mom Joan, … Continue reading →

Celebs Offer Haiti Relief

Mary Ann and I have blogged about social consciousness as a part of green living and following the horrific 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, several celebrities are stepping up to help. Definitely putting their money where their mouths are (or in this case, their hearts) is Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. While I would expect Brad and Angelina to donate – they definitely have a history of being an altruistic couple – I was very happy to read that they donated $1 million dollars to Doctors Without Borders. This team of medical professionals has dispatched staff, including surgeons, to Haiti to … Continue reading →