Traditional employee management techniques are out of sync with human nature. Get ready for a renaissance of self-direction. http://www.odemagazine.com/doc/69/workplace-autonomy/

Conservationists say rate of new species slower than diversity loss caused by the destruction of habitats and climate change. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/mar/07/extinction-species-evolve

I’ve cut my electricity use because I can measure exactly how much I’m using. I want to do the same for heating oil, but …By Daniel GrossPosted Wednesday, March 3, 2010, at 6:16 PM ET http://www.slate.com/id/2246738/

For this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight we’re asking the nation to join us in The Big Swap. For two whole weeks we’ll be asking you to swap your usual stuff for Fairtrade stuff. Your usual bananas for Fairtrade bananas, your usual cotton socks for Fairtrade cotton socks, and your usual cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa. Whenever you pop to the shops, you can use your wallet to make a stand. http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/thebigswap/about_the_big_swap/

Dismissed initially as a good storyteller but nothing more, environmental historian Poul Holm has mapped the history of marine animals in such detail that it is having profound impacts on our current understanding of the oceans. http://www.theecologist.org/investigations/natural_world/

The Unreasonable Institute’s first Finalist Marketplace is now online, giving donors the chance to put their money where their passions are and vote for inspiring social entrepreneurs who are vying to become Unreasonable Fellows. From a project aimed at ending Pakistani honor killings by economically empowering women to a nonprofit toilet paper company that supports water sanitation projects in the developing world, 42 stirring ventures are all explained in the Marketplace. The first 25 activists that can raise $6,500, the cost to attend the Institute, will join the inaugural class of Unreasonable Fellows.

Based in Boulder, Colorado, the Unreasonable Institute is a social-change incubator that was founded by a group of visionary young leaders. Their mission is to attract international social entrepreneurs and hone their skills in a 10-week intensive, interactive program where they connect with other driver peers, network with angel donors and are given the skills and background to ensure the success of their ventures. To become an Unreasonable Fellow, applicants must have an idea of how to improve the world that is sustainable, will scale beyond its original country within three years and reach the needs of 1 million people. Vote now with your dollars for the most deserving entrepreneurs on the Marketplace! http://www.odemagazine.com

Warnings of a crash in oil production are no longer limited to a prescient few individuals – major British companies and oil CEOs are now sounding the alert. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2010/feb/10/oil-crunch-peril

Brazil has approved the controversial construction of a giant hydroelectric dam in the heart of the Amazon, defying a 20-year protest by indigenous and environmental campaigners who say that the project will devastate the surrounding rainforest and threaten the survival of local tribes. The Belo Monte project on the Xingu river, an Amazon tributary, was started in the 1990s but abandoned amid widespread protests at home and abroad. The rock star Sting led a campaign against the plan with tribal leaders, and revisited Brazil in November last year to urge the Government to consider the impact of deforestation on greenhouse gas levels and global warming. More follow http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7012769.ece

The Pentagon sees global warming as a destabilizing force, adding fuel to conflict and putting US troops at risk around the world, according to The Quadrennial Defense Review, a major strategy review by the US Department of Defense that was presented to Congress yesterday. The review notes that “climate change, energy security, and economic stability are inextricably linked” and it directs military planners to keep track of the latest climate science, and to factor global warming into their long term strategic planning. “While climate change alone does not cause conflict, it may act as an accelerant of instability or conflict, placing a burden on civilian institutions and militaries around the world”, says the review. http://www.odemagazine.com/blogs/

Thankfully, the natural instinct of the global community is “How can I help?” when disaster hits. As we grow through this current disaster in Haiti, perhaps the question should develop into, “How can I invest in Haiti?”

The question is, how can the international community really help especially after the television cameras disappear to cover the next crisis. The international community can invest in new buildings, energy efficiency, reliable and relevant health care, educational systems and new technology. I would propose that anyone doing business in Haiti, whether it is a government organization, a non-governmental organization, a non-profit/charity; a religious organization, an individual donor – basically any enterprise that has any dealings with Haiti – take an oath of fair business.

In a business way of thinking, if success is not being accomplished, then plans can change and be adapted to a new formula for success. Isn’t the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? In business, there is a reality; either it is working or it isn’t. If it isn’t working, a new plan for success is created.

My suggestion is to integrate fair business principles to lead good governance, economic opportunities, education for all and basic health rights.

For Haiti, thinking out of the box is vital. Aid dollars need to be invested differently now. I emphasize investment because financial support is an investment in the future capabilities of Haiti. Investing in charities only builds charities and is not creating self-sustaining opportunities.

Investing in a transparent, socially responsible, accountable organization is vital to changing the dynamic on the ground. With a little bit of broadminded thinking, purchases and donations become growth opportunities. Rebuilding Haiti is the opportunity for a 21st century Marshall Plan. Why? Because it is the right thing to do.

An easy option is to purchase items made in the crisis country be it art, furniture, produce, clothing, machinery, etc. If it says “Made in Haiti” buy it.

In addition, a multitude of investment options are available. Options include investing in health care, education, refugee support, loans, housing, green building, energy efficiency and venture capital funds. Think outside of the box. Ask questions. Invest in building the nation up not rebuilding the status quo.

Some organizations to consider:

ACCION International – Microfinance

Calvert Social Investment – Loan fund

Catholic Relief Services – Microfinance

Developing World Markets – Bank

Emergency Liquidity Facility – Venture Capital Fund

Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA International) – Microfinance

Fonkoze – Microfinance

Freedom from Hunger – Microfinance

Habitat for Humanity International – Housing developer

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) – Venture Capital Fund

Oikocredit – Loan Fund

SERRV International – Social Enterprise

Businesses have a powerful role to play in any society. It is time to think out of the box when a crisis hits and invest in for-profit enterprises to create jobs, stability, health, security and start to leverage the talents of the community.

Make a difference, invest in Haiti.

By Keri Douglas, writer/photographer, Washington, D.C.

Touch is the first sensation we feel when we come into this world. A child’s mental, emotional and physical well-being initially depends a lot on a tender touch. Doctors insist on a newborn baby being placed immediately on the mother’s bosom to feel her heartbeat and to experience the gentle touch of her arms around the body. This helps the child gain a profound sense of security and it later helps in developing their self-esteem, as an adult.

Touch is a very important sensation for human beings to gain a sense of healthy emotional responses later in life. Every child learns the sensation of love and tenderness first with his mother’s touch. Even plants and animals respond to touch. They grow well, feel nurtured and cared for when they are touched. We bring animals into our homes and call them pet. The word pet is all about petting, touching, indulging and caring. Touch is the nourishment for our soul. Touch releases the endorphins in the brain and essentially helps us feel good.

Ever wondered how a quiet touch conveys a lot to a grieving person than many words of solace? Personally speaking, I feel absolutely at loss with words when I come across a grieving person. I feel that how could words, no matter how right they are, calm the heart torn asunder with grief? However, I have found on few occasions that just placing a quiet hand on the shoulder or gently caressing the hand of a person broken down with emotional pain, calm the sobs to a great extent. It sends across the silent message that you care and empathize with them in their pain. I have experienced that they almost always become quiet in their wailings and give in to a more healthy response of shedding quiet tears. And Psychologists say that to give yourself the permission to cry heartily is to bless your body with the benediction of healing. When a person is frozen with grief and shock, a touch brings on the healing response. They begin to cry, and it lifts them off the dry rocks of their sudden distress. Touch calms anger, grief and aggression. It brings on healthy tears, stops unchecked and hysterical tears and helps a person gain a balanced perspective on many difficult situations. No words are required when touch is used to convey messages of compassion.

It is observed that more often than not those who are acting hysterical respond to a quiet touch. Though, generally speaking, we as people stay away from such a person. Feeling that they might react violently, but unless a person is medically declared a psychotic, most aggression changes into quietness with a gentle touch. We all are inherently programmed to receive and give touch to each other. Without touch, relationships fail to blossom, not just among lovers, but between parent and child too. We all know how a crying child responds instantaneously to the touch of his mother and becomes quiet immediately. How we are told to hug our children to help them grow into emotionally healthy and caring persons in life. Most failing marriages lack the right touches and need a right touch to set it right Often when Psychoanalysts talk about troubled childhood and children having grown up with baggages that are at times too hard a burden to carry for their inner world, it is about the lack of proper nurturing and touching as children. Often neglected by a distant father and unloving mother the boys grow up without love and affection for a woman and are unable to commit fully to other relationships in their lives later.

Without getting into the convoluted discussion of troubled childhood and its impact on an adult, lets just sum it up and say that it is the lack of touch, hug and caress in the childhood that creates an intense sense of separateness in a child and they grow up feeling a deeply disturbing loneliness almost all through their lives. Mother Teresa discovered the power of touch when she said that more than hunger, poverty and physical suffering it is the lack of love, which make people die everyday. She used to touch the lepers and bathe their wounds with her own hands. It is hard to be Mother Teresa as she was a noble soul, but we could all realize the power of touch and just give it out freely to our fellow human beings only to share with all humanity the feelings of brotherhood and equality. Let’s, begin from home. Let’s just reach out and hug our child or our parent today, and watch that sunny beam spread on their faces, to warm the cockles of our own heart. Go hug! Posted by Nazia Mallick on 1/19/2010 12:11 pm

Scientists believe a ban on certain catches, including cod and plaice, could allow populations to recover, but their calls have been dismissed by the fishing industry http://www.theecologist.org/News/

The gap between rich and poor in the UK is wider now than 40 years ago, a government-commissioned report says http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8481534.stm

So 2010 has started as we mean to go on i’ve shared my dream for The Green Marine animation series on the world stage, both in a commercial sense and also social enterprise and things are starting to happen…with the help of my world class script writing team (Paul Larson and Laura Beaumont) and Sliced Bread Animation http://www.thebestthingsince.com/ i’ve just commissioned the 45 sec trailer and will be working with DandyTV http://www.dandytv.com/ a BAFTA winning co-production team to help produce the trailer yay, so very exciting times. In addition this week i’ve started the ball rolling with regards to exploring licensing and marketing opportunities for The Green Marine brand, associated merchandise and social enterprise initiatives with the help of Nic Jones http://www.jammyrascals.com/  so all systems go and more news about the series and characters to follow…as The Green Marine says “the time is always right to do what is right”. We have the power!

1. Ready the nursery

Creating a safe haven for your little one starts with the nursery. In her book Living Green: The Missing Manual, a comprehensive resource with practical eco-friendly advice, Nancy Connor writes that new baby furniture can give off vapors like formaldehyde, which can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and even cause allergic reactions in little ones. Formaldehyde is found in pressed wood products made with adhesives; pressed wood is often used to make cribs, dressers, and even toys. Connor suggests buying used baby furniture because the vapors will have already been given off, and to select natural flooring for the baby’s room. The environmentally-conscious writer also suggests buying organic bedding and using low-VOC paints. (10 more ways to go gaga for green)

2. Solve the nappy dilemma

According to Adria Vasil, author of Ecoholic: Your Guide to the Most Environmentally Friendly Information, Products and Services, Americans throw away about 18 billion diapers a year (that also equals 3.5 billion gallons of oil and about 250,000 trees that go into making the diapers). Worse, disposable diapers contain carcinogenic dioxins, dyes and other synthetic chemicals that can cause diaper rash and potentially harm your baby. Vasil suggests greener disposables (if cloth diapers are out of the question) from Seventh Generation, Tushies or Nature Babycare. Greener diapers are chemical-, fragrance-, and chlorine-free.

3. Use gentle baby wipes

Along with all those diapers comes billions of baby wipes, which can be harsh on your baby and the environment. Connor warns that many commercial wipes contain chemicals, such as propylene glycol, parabens and perfumes, that can irritate your baby’s tender skin. She recommends making your own: Combine a teaspoon each of aloe vera gel and olive oil with a tablespoon of liquid castile soap and a cup of water in a spray bottle. Simply spray the mixture on a soft cloth and wipe.

4. Better baby bottles

Your baby may be drinking the toxin bisphenol-A (BPA) along with your breast milk (if you pump) or baby formula. “BPA is a known estrogen mimicker that is used in the production of plastic,” says child safety expert Dr Alan Greene, pediatrician at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. “BPA has been proven to cause developmental and neurological problems if it leaches from plastic…and can be potentially harmful for babies.” Dr Greene, who has teamed up with BornFree, a leader in environmentally-safe baby products, suggests BPA-free containers. “Whatever you store, heat and prepare food in for children should be BPA-free,” he advises.

5. Slather safely

From baby shampoos to lotions, many baby bath and skin products contain formaldehyde, phthalates, dioxins, and artificial dyes and fragrances. A February 2008 study in Pediatrics found that reported use of infant lotion, shampoo, and powders was associated with increased urine levels of phthalates, which may cause hormonal changes, allergies and other health problems, particularly in infants because their skin is more porous and absorbent than adults. Connor recommends baby products that carry the USDA Organic seal and are free of fragrances and dyes.

6. Clothe wisely

Those adorable little PJs certainly keep your baby warm but they are also made to keep her from getting too warm. Many synthetic materials, particularly polyester, melt at high temperatures and, thus, have flame-retardant chemicals built right in, says Vasil. However, that doesn’t mean you have to clothe your baby in a hemp sack. Vasil suggests organic outfits from Sprout, Babysoy, Kate Quinn Organics, Fig Organic Kids Fashion, and Twirl’s and Twigs. “Easy one-stop online shops like GreenEdgeKids.com sell many of these labels and more under one (virtual) roof, though hand-me-downs and secondhand shops are the greenest,” she adds. (What celebrity moms are doing to go green)

7. Clean green

Keeping your home clean is part of keeping your family healthy, but using chemical-heavy cleaning products can actually pollute the air that your family breathes. “Hidden behind claims of streak-free floors and whiter whites are some of the worst chemicals in your home,” says Vasil. The Toronto-based journalist for NOW Magazine recommends Seventh Generation’s kitchen cleaner for lightweight jobs and Citra Solv’s cleaner and degreaser for heavy messes. (You can also skip the store-bought brands and make your own eco-friendly cleaning products.)

8. Green the air

Dr Greene warns that since toxins can be breathed in through the nose, parents should improve the air quality of their home. He advises, “Open windows to allow fresh air in [and] bring in house plants. These green plants filter toxins out of the air.” (More ways to improve your indoor air quality)

Greening your home will not only benefit your baby’s health, it will also improve the home environment for your entire family, and it will lessen your impact on the earth.

…and a $100m to all of Haiti, mmmmmmm!!!

Among those who work on and care about the preservation of nature’s plants and animals, the word “endangered” is an absolute touchstone. Endangered species will in general have more conservation resources devoted to them. There may be political or community or scientific action aimed at saving them, the most extreme examples being captive breeding programmes or seed banks. This approach hasn’t been drawn up as some master plan – it’s just evolved, a natural tendency to devote resources in situations where some kind of danger is clearly evident. But is it sensible? Why wait until species become endangered? Why not intervene at an earlier stage, devoting resources to keeping ecosystems intact and keeping common species common rather than allowing them to become rare – to give a medical analogy, favouring prevention rather than cure? Read more of Richard Black’s blog here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/richardblack/

It was immediately obvious that Tuesday’s quake in Haiti would be an appalling natural disaster. Reports suggest that in this latest event, the surface along the fault may have been offset in places by a metre or so.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8456233.stm

 • Don’t take shortcuts on pathways or surfaces that may not be salted or shoveled. • Slow down, take shorter steps and use your feet as probes to determine the degree of slipperiness. This will also give you time to react to condition changes. • Keep your posture straight and point your feet slightly outward to maintain your center of balance. • If railings or other stable objects are available, hold onto them to keep from falling. • Wear stable shoes with non-slip soles. Your footwear should fit snugly and comfortably, be slip-resistant with a good tread, and be in good condition at all times. Soles should have a raised tread pattern on heal and sole with a leading edge in many directions. For example, a cross hatch, or similar design. • During the day, wear sunglasses for better contrast to improve your ability to determine the condition of the walking surface.

It’s that time of year when hear the word ‘detox’ creep into conversation. It’s easy to dismiss ‘detox’ as a fad, as some product claims are exaggerated. But detoxing, as a practice, has been around for centuries. For some, a detox means giving up booze for a few weeks in January. For others, it means colonic irrigation, supplements, super healthy food and/or juices and saying ‘no’ to meat, dairy, wheat, sugar and caffeine and other substances considered ‘toxins’. Read more http://www.theecologist.org

We are more likely to catch a cold or flu during winter. Cold weather can also cause other serious health problems like pneumonia. It is essential to keep warm in winter and there are some simple things you can do to keep warm and stay healthy. You could also get financial help with your heating bills and for home improvements. Keep warm at home

During the day:

• set your thermostat at around 21ºC (70ºF) and heat all the rooms you use in the day
• if you can’t heat all your rooms make sure you keep your living room warm throughout the day and heat your bedroom before going to bed
• set the timer on your heating to come on before you get up and switch off when you go to bed
• in very cold weather, rather than turn the thermostat up, set the heating to come on earlier so you won’t be cold while you wait for your home to heat up

During the night:

• try to keep a temperature of above 18°C (65°F) in your bedroom overnight
• if you use a fire or heater in your bedroom during winter, open the window or door a little at night for ventilation
• an electric blanket or a hot water bottle will help you keep warm but never use them together as you could electrocute yourself
• if you have an electric blanket, check what type it is – some are designed only to warm the bed before you get in and should not to be used throughout the night
• if you use an electric blanket make sure it is safe to use by getting it tested every three years. The Fire Brigade, Trading Standards and Age Concern can test your electric blanket for safety

Dress well

• wear plenty of thin layers, rather than one thick one
• put on a coat, hat, scarf, gloves and warm shoes or boots when you go outside
• wear clothes made of wool, cotton, or fleecy synthetic fibres
• stay warm in bed with bed socks, thermal underwear and a nightcap or headscarf

By following some simple energy-saving tips, you can reduce your bills:

• shut outside doors and close curtains at night
• boil only the water you need rather than filling the kettle completely
• let food cool to room temperature before you put it in the fridge or freezer
• don’t leave appliances like televisions in stand-by mode as they still use electricity; instead, switch them off properly at the set’s ‘off’ switch

http://keepwarmkeepwell.direct.gov.uk/keepwarm.html

Bone chilling temperatures have gripped much of the country and it pays to be safe and prepare as much as possible. Many are looking to cut down on expenses when temperatures drop and home-heating costs rise. “We usually experience an increase in home fires at this time of year because of the use of candles and space heaters,” said John Wright, Emergency Services Director for the Savannah Red Cross.  “There are steps people can follow to reduce their risk of starting a fire in their home, and still cut down on their heating bills.”

HEAT YOUR HOME SAFELY

All heaters need space! Keep things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment, fireplaces and stoves. Place portable space heaters on a hard, level, nonflammable surface.  Do not put space heaters on rugs or carpets, near bedding or drapes, and keep children and pets away.  Look for a model that shuts off automatically if the space heater tips over.  Do not use heating equipment to dry wet clothing. Never use the stove or oven to heat your home. Never leave portable heaters, wood burning stoves or fireplaces unattended.  Turn them off before leaving or going to bed. Keep the fire in the fireplace by using a glass or metal screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.

CUT DOWN ON YOUR HEATING BILLS

Eliminate drafts. Use either insulating tape or caulking strips to surround windows and door moldings.  Cover your windows with plastic sheeting.  If you have storm windows or storm doors, get them up to keep the cold out. Make sure heat vents aren’t blocked by furniture. Turn down the thermostat. Close off any rooms that aren’t in use and close heat vents or turn off radiators in those rooms. Insulate your light switch and outlet plates with foam pads. Cold air can seep into the house through them. Use heavy curtains to keep cold air out.  Open them during the day to let the sun help warm your home and close them at night.  Use fabric snakes or old carpets in front of windows and doors to help eliminate drafts. Turn off vent fans in the kitchen and bathroom when they are no longer needed.  Set ceiling fans to blow air down.

DON’T FORGET FIDO AND YOUR NEIGHBOR

Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing. Don’t forget gloves or mittens, and a hat, preferably one that covers your ears. Wear waterproof, insulated boots to keep feet warm and dry and to maintain footing in ice and snow. Don’t forget pets – bring them indoors.  If that’s not possible, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they can get to unfrozen water. Check on people who require special assistance such as elderly people living alone, people with disabilities and children.

The natural world is totally incredible. Check out these jaw dropping pictures of Humpback Whales feeding in Alaska http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2010/jan/05/humpback-whales-feedling-alaska?picture=357605564  

Photograph: Duncan Murrell/Steve Bloom Images / Barcroft Media

What’s your eco-resolution for 2010? What do you plan to do for the earth this year it could be personal, political, local or global. Any action you can think of that moves us closer to a sustainable future? Me personally, “what do I want?” I want to connect and unite young people around the planet using The Green Marine Animation series and Super Kid Agency.

Never under estimate the ability of one individual or small group of individuals to make change happen. Anita Roddick once said “If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito”. I remember the day back in 2005 when I made a commitment to identify, create and develop solutions from vision through to execution to some of the most challenging economic, ethical, social, health, transportation and environmental issues individuals, organisations and Governments face. I’ve still got some way to go but I firmly believe that you can transform your life and those around you by doing something you really believe in, we all have the power of collaboration and creativity. Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting: “Holy ****…What a ride!”