Rethos.com - tapestrycommunity's Global Feed

Environmentalist Preaches Conservation as Chaos Engulfs Eastern Congo

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:46:25 -0500

Environmentalist Preaches Conservation as Chaos Engulfs Eastern Congo

November 4, 2008, Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo: With little more than a motorbike and a mission, Clement Kitambala has been spreading news about environmental issues in remote communities of the war-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo.

Amid renewed fighting that has displaced more than 130,000, ongoing food crises and rampant sexual violence, his newsletter, Tunza Mazingira ("Conserve the Environment" in Swahili), has provided a steady voice for conserva...

A Message of Hope, Love and Light

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:12:50 -0500

Dear AOKW Luminaries and Friends,

I cannot help but comment on the profound shift of consciousness that has just occurred as a result of this US election. It cannot be described in any other way but this: Awakening. Humanity has just been Awakened to the possibility of a New World Order; one that may now be built upon a foundation of Open Dialogue, Cooperative Collaboration and Equal Fellowship!

However, I feel that the road ahead will be quite a challenging and perilous one. The events that occur in the week ahead may test our collective determination and resolve.<...

Former UN Representative and Nepal Specialists Join Advocacy Project Board

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:15:24 -0400

October 27, 2008, Washington, DC: Soren Jessen-Petersen, who served as the United Nation's Special Representative in Kosovo during the run-up to the country's independence, has joined the Board of The Advocacy Project (AP). Suvash Darnal, a prominent advocate for Dalit rights in Nepal and Devin Greenleaf, a former AP Peace Fellow in Nepal, have also joined.

The selection of three new members, each of whom represents an important AP constituency, signals an increased role for the Board as the organization prepares for 2009. Mr Jessen-Petersen will explore synergies wi...

Blogging Connects Women Across the World

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:56:54 -0400

Advocacy Project (AP) have launched a blog group to connect professional women in the Washington area with young American women volunteering for human rights overseas.

This innovative use of information technology was developed during the summer, when eight Zonta members in Washington decided to follow the blogs of graduate students serving as AP Peace Fellows in Serbia, Kosovo, Uganda, Jordan, El Salvador, Nepal and Kenya.

"This is a fantastic program," said Heather Dolstra, a Zonta member and Washington travel agen...

Nicaraguan President Ortega Not Welcome at Salvador Summit, Women Activists Say

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:21:36 -0400

Advocates for women's rights in El Salvador are calling on their government to bar the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, from attending an upcoming presidential summit because of his attempts to repress and intimidate women in his country.

In an Oct. 5 press conference, advocates from CEMUJER, a leading Salvadoran women's group, joined other human rights groups in expressing solidarity with Nicaraguan women. They urged Salvadoran President Antonio Saca to tell Mr Ortega he is unwelcome at the XVII Presidential Summit, a meeting of Central American leaders tha...

Traveller Community Center Faces Demolition as Eviction Threat Looms in the UK

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:27:12 -0400

September 26, 2008, Basildon, UK: Local authorities are threatening to demolish a community center built by the Dale Farm Travellers, creating new tensions as the long-running eviction battle over Dale Farm heads back to court.

The Saint Christopher's Centre, which opened in May, has become the latest target of the Basildon Council as it seeks to remove about 90 Traveller families from their homes in Southeastern England.

"They're turning up the terror to make us leave," said Richard Sheridan, president of the Dale Far...

Credit Card "Insiders" Speak Out About Abusive Practices

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:36:25 -0400

Earlier this year, former employees of MBNA and Bank of 
America contacted AFFIL looking for a way to speak out about 
disturbing sales practices they were trained to use as employees. Their stories confirm what
we've long suspected: that credit card companies extend credit
to those who can't afford it, and engage in a "tricks and traps" 
business model designed to max out cardholders and keep 
them on a debt treadmill as long as possible. Watch the video 
and listen to what Cate Colombo
and Jerry Young have to say.

Disabled Refugees Face Inaccessible Services and Food Shortages in Ugandan Camps

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:35:26 -0400

September 23, 2008, Gulu District, Uganda: Refugees who have been disabled by the war in Northern Uganda are confronting food shortages and inaccessible public services in government-run camps. At the same time they are under growing pressure to return home, even though they lack the resources to resume a normal life.

This warning was issued recently by the Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU), an advocacy group. It comes at a time when the Ugandan government is stepping up efforts to empty the camps, which still house more than half a million internally displaced pers...

Micro-credit to empower persons with disabilities: an approach to development

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:19:06 -0400

Fruitful Micro-credit at BERDO (Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organization)

Many people talk about micro-credit as an approach to development and they mention how organizations are being creative in minimizing the operating costs in an effort to provide credit to the poor. Well, BERDO's creativity lies in the way they incorporate different services into the community-based rehabilitation (CBR) program while providing micro-credit to the poorest people in the community - the disabled persons...

Employing Disabled Persons - Bangladesh

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:10:53 -0400

Disability at BERDO

For all pictures visit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26685510@N08/

Ten out of thirty five BERDO's employees are disabled. Two of them tell me about their life with disability and what lead to these conditions. These stories also give me a sense of what happens to other 650 million people in the world who live their life with disability.

Firoza Khatun faces disability due to poliovirus

National Organizer, Focus the Nation 2009

Description:

In January 2008, Focus the Nation events reached close to one million people in a day of education and civic engagement on global warming solutions taking place at 1,900 locations in all 50 states. 64 members of Congress and 15 Governors’ offices participated in the events along with hundre...

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:01:54 -0500

According to her… she heard the noise but couldnt figure out what it was, to her it sounded like the problem was in the basement. Also she was spending too much time at work to worry about it. It was the toilet at the front of the house on the ground level. It is more outside the house than inside and she almost never used it.

According to the water company she used almost enough water to fill a commercial swimming pool.

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:02:33 -0500

Yay, there I am. This comment and the previous 3 are all mine. I’m done now. All fixed.

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:01:50 -0500

hmm… am I me yet?

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:59:01 -0500

hmm strange. I guess I accidentally created two profiles at some point. Christopher Howse is me. The creator of this post.

About the $2000 dollar water bill… Does that mean he was not home to hear his toilet running for 3 months? I don’t get it. When a toilet is running it is not silent.

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:53:09 -0500

Treehugger.com hates this post I guess, but I still think it is a great hack for most toilets. Thanks for all the positive responses people. I guess Iâ€™ll add that if you have a new model toilet that only uses 1 and a half gallons to flush, you should leave the rod alone. It is already low flow, and you may end up having problems getting it all down. Therefore, you may flush twice. That kind of makes the whole hack pointless. My toilet is olive green, aka, old as hell.

Enter Title:

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:05:59 -0500

Aboriginal Cultural Celebration and Kevin Annett Speaking About Genocide on Native Americans

On February 1, 2008, at 17:30 there will be an Aboriginal Cultural Celebration followed at 19:00 by Kevin Annett showing the documentary Unrepentant and speaking about Canada’s Genocide of Native Peoples at Café Art & Thé, 2055 Bishop St., Montreal, QC. The Aboriginal Cultural Celebration will be a display of Native art, with artists and performers To Be Announced. Kevin Annett, B.A. Anthropology 1983, M.A. Political Science 1986, M. Div. 1990, and Graduate with ...

Support Darfur, Earn Money & Help a Student at the Same Time

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:51:33 -0500

OneBigU (http://www.onebigu.com) allows users to help a struggling student, earn some money, and support a Darfur Charity at the same time.

OneBigU (for One Big University) helps Darfur in the following way:

- Person answers a question asked by any student around the world

- Person gets a little amount of money for every accepted answer

- Person sends the money to a partner Darfur charity, unless he/she wants to withdraw the money

OneBigU is partnered with Help Darfur Now (HDN), a US-based student charity in support of Darfur. All d...

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:41:27 -0500

If you must play with itâ€¦ take a screwdriver and adjust the level screw never bend the rod. Due to the pressure of the water on the rod it will slowly rotate and eventually go to a point higher than the original. This can make the toilet run constantly. My brothers ex was hit with a $2000 water bill (over a 3 month period) due to a toilet that kept on running. Other than that it is a great way to save water!

New comment - 'Critical Mass' Acts to Promote Urban Bicycle Transporation

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:24:33 -0500

Nathan, It really depends solely on your perspective. You say that CM is not fighting for equal rights. Why? People who support CM say they are doing just that: equal rights for bicycle riders who are forced alone to be subjected to “back of the bus” status. CM supporters believe that this an important right to fight for. They do not believe they are “implying that they are above the law” anymore than the busriders were so implying by breaking the law in Selma. Believe me, there are unfortuantely plenty of people who believe that the Selma bus riders felt they we...

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:42:29 -0500

Willow:

Why would your friends find it strange that you use the bathroom? hehe

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:47:40 -0500

That’s an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing! My friends will all be wondering why I suddenly start making trips to their toilets…

New comment - 'Critical Mass' Acts to Promote Urban Bicycle Transporation

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:55:22 -0500

Hey Alec,

Thanks for the response.

While I understand the importance of civil disobediance, there are certain examples that you can give to support it, though many examples, especially nowadays, hardly do the tool of civil disobediance justice.

The selma bus riders were breaking a rule that in no way benefited society because it was founded on a belief system that upheld racial differences. Breaking rules such as our traffic light system? How is that going to make anybody want to invite more cyclists to the city?

In other words, the selma bus rid...

Be a Solution Pioneer - the Sustainability Symbol Anniversary February 1, 2008

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:49:16 -0500

Almost one year ago we introduced the 3 Finger Sustainability Symbol (Peace Plus One) to the HK Environmental Protection Association. http://www.dragonpreneur.com/images/3fingerPhotos/EPA_0228.jpg http://www.dragonpreneur.com/images/3fingerPhotos/EPAgrp_0256.jpg

Since that time, the Peace Plus One Sustainability Symbol, representing a balanced THINKING considering SOCIETY, ENVIRONMENT and ECONOMY has been shared by hundreds (maybe thousands) of people around the world.

DragonTHINK – h...

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:08:52 -0500

Not a toilet safe in Oslo this christmas!

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:52:13 -0500

Christopher!!! You are my hero!!!! Vandalism that benefits us all!!! Hooray! I will do this to every toilet I use if the tank cover can be removed!!!!! Yipee!! Look out Gas stations in California here I come! Beware restaurants I’m on my way…..OOOOHHHH yes I’ll get you at the beauty salon too!!!!!! lol lol lol lol lol

New comment - 'Critical Mass' Acts to Promote Urban Bicycle Transporation

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:25:16 -0500

I wish I could join the ‘critical mass’! However, I’m in Montreal and we have snow already… too bad. Well, all I can say is ride on!

New comment - 'Critical Mass' Acts to Promote Urban Bicycle Transporation

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 22:55:56 -0500

blushing

New comment - 'Critical Mass' Acts to Promote Urban Bicycle Transporation

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 13:47:33 -0500

Alec: As usual your writing inspires me – your purposeful prose is so highly intelligent, yet so wonderfully readable. Its as if your words choose you, lending themselves to your literary pursuits. I am as always enviously in awe. You inspire me greatly. Congratulations on participating in such a wonderful ride. I will look forward to hearing more of your friday night biking escapades.

Alliance Accepted! - Technology For People Group Inc.

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 13:45:48 -0500

New comment - 'Critical Mass' Acts to Promote Urban Bicycle Transporation

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:29:11 -0500

Sorry! I meant “desegregation” not “segregation”.

New comment - 'Critical Mass' Acts to Promote Urban Bicycle Transporation

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:26:30 -0500

Nathan, Thanks for the input. As I state in the article, Critical Mass has come under fire for some of its tactics. I have so far only taken the one ride with them but the thing that struck me as quite odd was the fact that motorists everywhere seemed to encounter us with a totally positive attitude even when some people were “corking” intersections.

Your comment is a restatement of an age old debate about civil disobedience: does one work within the existing parameters to try to effect change or does one intentionally violate those parameters to force change in a j...

New comment - 'Critical Mass' Acts to Promote Urban Bicycle Transporation

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:04:48 -0500

I’m as big a cycling enthusiast as anyone. I ride my bike everywhere (work, school, service endeavors, and for travel means) and rely on it as my primary means of physical fitness, as competitive cycling and triathlons crown my list of passions. However, though Critical Mass is theoretically a great idea, some of the things that you describe in your first critical mass ride are exactly why legislators and city officials fail to support movements for bike-friendliness in major cities such as my hometown of Pittsburgh.

Whenever you join together hundreds of cyclists at on...

Ally Request - Nicki Langewis

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:50:05 -0500

Ally Request - Jeff Wiedner

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:49:03 -0500

Alliance Accepted! - Rachel

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 10:26:51 -0500

Ally Request - Amanda Bice

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:41:00 -0500

Alliance Accepted! - Martha Runnette

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:13:04 -0500

Ally Request - Shandra Forrest-Bank

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:39:52 -0500

Ally Request - Laurie Walker

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:38:27 -0500

Ally Request - Courtney

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:37:58 -0500

Alliance Accepted! - Ryan Garrett

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:28:11 -0500

Ally Request - Dylan

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:36:19 -0500

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 09:29:43 -0500

genius

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:22:58 -0500

@ Jerry…

And while we’re convincing the farmers, let’s not be hypocritical and make sure we don’t waste so much water ourselves.

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:18:10 -0400

Dugg on Digg.com. Go here to Digg it yourself and move it up in the rankings.

http://digg.com/environment/Save_Water_Hack_Your_Friends_Toilets

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 09:31:14 -0400

I don’t believe it is a good idea to go screwing around with other peoples toilets. Besides, household use accounts for only 15% of water use (agriculture 70%, industrial 15%) so if we get farmers to stop growing rice in the desert (because of access to cheap plentiful water) then we could save more water than messing around with a million friends toilets.

Write for Celsias - Climate Change Site

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:35:25 -0400

Celsias is rapidly becoming the â€œgo toâ€ online destination for emerging and seasoned writers to showcase their passion for the environment, sustainability and global warming.

Get published alongside world’s climate change thought leaders
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RedLight Children/Priority Films Internship

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:39:47 -0400

Who we are: Priority Films, a New York City based film production company, is looking for highly motivated interns (both part time and full time). We will be focusing on the release of a highly acclaimed film in the US this fall â€“ Holly. Holly is a full feature narrative, starring Ron Livingston (Office Space, Sex In the City), Virginie Ledoyen (The Beach), Udo Kier (Dogville), the late Chris Penn (Reservoir Dogs), and introducing Thuy Nguyen. Holly is not just a movie – it is the cry for help of millions of voiceless, sexually exploited children world wide each d...

RedLight Children/Priority Films Internship

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:38:58 -0400

RedLight Children/Priority Films Internship

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:38:25 -0400

Echoing Green Fellowship

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:45:41 -0400

What is the EG Fellowship?

Through our two-year Echoing Green Fellowship program, we provide start-up capital and technical assistance to help new leaders launch their organizations and build capacity. We offer:

â€¢ A grant of up to $90,000, paid in four equal installments over two years â€¢ A health insurance stipend â€¢ Conferences led by organizational development experts â€¢ Access to technical support and pro bono partnerships to help grow your organization â€¢ A community of like-minded social entrepreneurs and public service leaders

W...

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:48:26 -0400

Am I the only one who doesn’t want my friends fucking with my toilet?

Please come to Los angeles for Darfur Rally

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:07:10 -0400

Monday October 15 in Downtown LA 12 noon!!!

Help to stop American Investment in Darfur! Join me in downtown Los Angeles for a rally!

Click here to sign up

Alliance Accepted! - Americans for Fairness in Lending

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:35:21 -0500

New comment - Jesus Camp

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:54:10 -0400

That movie scared the hell out of me. I am not a believer, and I found it astounding that so many young children are programmed to believe rather than to think critically

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:29:25 -0400

love it! i am so in…Bryan…prepare to be toilet abused.

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:52:48 -0400

Great! A toilet hack!

My wife and I don’t flush after every use. It’s pretty obvious when the toilet actually NEEDS to be flushed, and then this tip comes in handy, especially if you live in an apartment and have an old, wasteful toilet you can’t replace.

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:33:49 -0400

Those toilets with the half flush option were all over Australia when I was there, and I have never seen one in Canada.

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 20:47:21 -0400

Why the heck aren’t toilets just designed with this kink in place? You do see some modern toilets with the ‘half-flush’ option, but surely all modern toilets shoulds be designed to work at the most effective standard.

What is the actual policy on flushing: ‘if it’s yellow let it mellow’ – is this best? Is it best to avoid flushing even in other people’s homes? Obviously it’s not so bad for us guys…

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 12:45:58 -0400

not many people know that water companies often have to pump the fresh water to homes. So using less water actually reduces energy use as well .

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:31:23 -0400

Wow, what a great idea! I will definitely be linking to these sites from EarthThreat.org in the near future, and when I have a place of my own I will certainly install a system such as these.

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:13:33 -0400

Great hack! here is something that I found long time ago.

The Aqus system collects the water from a bathroom sink and filters and disinfects it before it gets re-used as flush water for an adjacent toilet. It saves between 10 and 20 gallons of fresh water per day for two person bathrooms with normal activities. This represents between 3,650 and 7,300 gallons of fresh water saved per year. An equal amount of wastewater cost is also saved.” This would mean an annual savings of $40.88 to $81.76 (based on an average rate of $5.60 per 1,000 gallons) from using a device like th...

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 16:51:52 -0400

Haha! Good man. I’ve already attacked a hand full my self! Why stop now?!?

New comment - Abuse Your Friend's Toilets

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 12:28:16 -0400

Great tip, can’t wait to start hacking away at my friend’s toilets.