Manufacturers Cook The Dinner, But Should Consumers Be The Only Ones Cleaning The Dishes?

I recently read an article on a very debatable topic with regards to recycling. The article, Waste Not, Want Not: Extended Producer Responsibility Would Require Manufacturers to Collect and Recycle Packaging, gave me a closer look at what recycling looks like today.

I was surprised to learn that recycling today in America is inefficient. Of materials that can be recycled and are in high demand, about $11.4 billion worth of it ends up in our landfills. So wasteful!

People have certainly recognized the inefficiency of the U.S.’s recycling system and an idea has been proposed to help improve it. The policy is called Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR. This policy pushes manufacturers, rather than just taxpayers and municipal governments, to take responsibility for post-consumer packaging by collecting it and recycling it themselves. Extended Producer Responsibility hopes it will motivate manufacturers to reduce the amount of packaging they produce and to find new cost-effective and efficient ways of recycling those materials. If all goes according to plan, this will increase recycling rates in the U.S. and increase profits.

Now, beverage companies have taken some responsibility for the fate of their plastic bottles and cans, but many companies in the grocery industry have side-winded this responsibility. That doesn’t seem very fair; I think it’s everyone’s responsibility to take care of our environment. It’s like what my mother always says, “You live here too so you have to contribute.”

I think that all grocery manufacturers should be required to uphold to the EPR policy. The more people we have on board, the better our recycling rates will be and the lower our nation’s costs.

Do you think manufacturers should be required to collect and recycle post-consumer packaging? Should there be exceptions?

Information from this post also from: http://www.asyousow.org/sustainability/eprreport.shtml

Tampa Bay Is Bringing People Together: It’s Just How They Swing!

How can we help our community? For two creative young men in Tampa Bay, the answer is ‘swings of coarse.’

Cofounders Reuben Pressman and Hunter have launched a new philanthropic venture, a community building organization called Swings Tampa Bay. Their motive? “Get people together, together.”

This organization works to hang one-of-a-kind, handcrafted swings around communities. What is admirable is that their acts are of a spontaneous, creative sort. Whether it’s in a park or inside a pedestrian overpass, a swing shall be swung. They have taken a great past time, added an artistic twist, and made it viral. So far it’s working; Tampa Bay residents love the swings and are getting involved by hand painting and hanging their own swings throughout the community. The organization’s “Let’s Paint Swings” events give everyone in the community an opportunity to become engaged in the project, while simultaneously bringing people together to work on a common cause.

Now you might think, ‘why swings?’ Behold the power of the swing. Think about your past experience on a swing. Were you swinging beside someone else chitchatting about life or gazing at the beautiful world around you as you swung? Or were you like me, trying to do a 360? (hey, it could happen!). The organization’s theory behind the swing is that it can foster new friendships in the community. Hanging swings around the community creates a warm environment that speaks, ‘hey let’s get together.’

Why is fostering interaction and friendship important to a community? First off, (this is where I bring in my two cents of psychology) humans are innately social creatures. It has been shown that in times of stress and hardship we prefer to be with others rather than be alone. And second, tackling problems in a community cannot be done without teamwork. Why wait until something traumatic happens or a social need arises in the community for people to start getting to know each other? We all live together after all, and building relationships now can only assist in overcoming current or future community issues.

It’s organizations like Swing Tampa Bay that challenge this question of ‘why wait?’ Let’s get to know each other for the sake of getting to know each other, for building deep relationships and connections, and for making our communities stronger.

If you like what Swings Tampa Bay is doing, give a hoot here or share with friends. And if you’re just too excited, make and hang your own swing!

 

 

 

Got Feminism?

 

“A woman is like a tea bag—you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water”—Eleanor Roosevelt

I have recently been inspired by a campaign launched by the National Council of Women of New Zealand called the ‘Who Needs Feminism?’ campaign . This campaign wants people to speak out about why they need feminism, hoping to bring its importance into the spotlight.

Staying on topic, I just read an article from the Washington Post, which quite frankly, left me feeling upset. The title of the article pretty much explains it all: Women earn 91 cents for every dollar men earn–if you control for life choices. Considering the enormous advances our nation has made in the years in technology and medicine, it’s sad and astonishing to know that discrimination still exists.  So we can create weapons and find treatments for various diseases, but we can’t pay women and men equally for equal work? This seems ridiculous am I right?

But this is no laughing matter; it says something very important about our society. Women are still valued less than men. There is still a voice out there that says men are stronger, men are the leaders, men are smarter, men are more deserving, a voice that is meant to maintain men’s position at the top and to prevent women from threatening that position. How will women ever reach their full potential if we don’t shut this voice up?

Now you might think factors such as maternity leave and the fact that women are more apt to enter lower-paying fields and professions due to societal norms may explain the gender gap. But, according to the article, a little less than half of the gender gap is unaccounted for after these factors are considered.

One particular piece of information from the article infuriated me, as it was very relevant to myself. It claimed that studies have found that women earn five percent less than men one year after college graduation.

I must be honest, learning this sent me over the top. Women have a right to earn equal pay for equal work. There are no ifs or buts about it. I have worked hard since day one in kindergarten and have done everything in my power to give myself the best opportunities in life so that I can reach my full potential. Now if I can’t reach my full potential simply due to the fact that I am a woman—now that is completely messed up. I wish to be judged by my character and efforts and not my gender. This is why I need feminism.

Why do you need feminism?

 

The Moody’s Foundation’s Take on Philanthropy: Lets Perplex Our Nation’s Math Students

Being a student myself, I’m all for what Moody’s Mega Math Challengeis bringing to America’s education table. Now you may have never heard of this challenge that is getting high school students’ creative, mathematical juices flowing. Well here’s the scoop.

Moody’s Mega Math Challenge highlights the power of mathematics

The birth of the challenge can be traced back to the philanthropic work of Moody’s Corporation. Moody’s Corporation is a company that provides services in credit management and finances. Through its two divided sectors, Moody’s Investor’s Service and Moody’s Analytics, Moody’s Corporation provides credit ratings, research, credit risk assessment and related software, and data and analytical tools, making the company a vital element in today’s capital markets.

This company is known for more than raking in big bucks (a whopping $2.3 billion in 2011), it’s also known for its philanthropy through its active employees and the work of The Moody’s Foundation. The CEO of Moody’s Corporation, Ray McDaniel, explains how the company is engrained with a sense of social responsibility to support communities. Moody’s Corporation employees are active in their communities, whether it is individually or a part of the corporation, through volunteering. The corporation has recognized the positive impact their philanthropy has on the communities they are a part of and interact with, which in turn influences the success of their business.

The Moody’s Foundation, headed by its president Frances G. Laserson, helps carry out the corporation’s commitment in supporting education. Its focus: illuminating the power of mathematics, finance and economics. The Foundation also supports other areas such as health and human services, the arts and culture, and programs for civic and economic development.

Its venture that seems to be all the rage across the nation’s high schools: Moody’s Mega Math Challenge. The challenge gives junior and senior high school students the chance to apply the math they’ve learned in the classroom to help solve real-world problems. Teams are divided up into groups of three to five students, which will have just 14 hours to solve an applied mathematical problem. Why high school students are up for the challenge: those teams who place in the top six in the challenge will receive anywhere from $2,500 to $20,000 toward their higher education.

I think Moody’s Mega Math Challenge is a creative venture by the Moody’s Foundation. It pushes students to take what they’ve learned in school and apply it toward a real-life issue. I think that America’s education system today does not offer students very many opportunities to do this; the goal of the semester in many classrooms is simply to get through all the units and ensure students meet standard on national assessments.

The Moody’s Foundation has certainly recognized a need in America’s education, and is inspiring and encouraging students in the process. It is my hope that the challenge brings to students’ attention the rewarding feeling of being able to apply years of schooling to practical problems and to be able to produce an outcome.  If students continue to show passion and eagerness to apply their knowledge in this way, I think it will start to shift education in America for greater good.

If you think you’re up for the challenge, check out the instructions on how to participate in Moody’s Mega Math Challenge.

Running Meets Philanthropy: Girls Find Their Inner Strength Through Running

 ”Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it’s all about.” 
-PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

When I first joined long distance running my freshman year of high school, I had a 7:45 mile time. I must admit I was a bit scared to commit to this track event—it seemed way out of my league, and running was, well—painful. My friend, who had convinced me to join the team, had a 6:00 mile time, a time that seemed impossible for me to ever achieve.

But boy was I wrong. After just a few short weeks of track practices, that 6:00 mile was a thing of the past, and I was onto much bigger accomplishments. A few years and a couple stress fractures later, I finished my senior season with a 5:02 mile.

I never thought I could do it. Not in my wildest dreams. But that is the beauty of running. It reveals a strength you never thought you had. You learn the power of your mind—that your mind, not your body, determines your limits.

I discovered this inner strength in the last lap of many of my races. When the bell rang signaling the final lap, something triggered inside me. It was battle time. I would ask myself, “Do you want this?” My answer was always yes. I’d dig deep inside me and find my strength to beat that girl in front of me, to finish quicker than the last time, to finish number one.

Running has helped me understand myself. I’ve learned to dream big, and that I, and only myself, can set limits on what I achieve. I have taken what I’ve learned from running and applied it to other areas of my life, including my academics. You could say that running has helped shape the individual I am today.

So what does this have to do with philanthropy? I present to you an amazing nonprofit organization called Girls on the run that has found the same values in running that I have. This organization has creatively intertwined running with teaching young girls valuable life skills.

For 12 weeks, groups of young girls will meet up with running buddies to hone their running skills in preparation for a final 5k event. Each practice acts simultaneously as a lesson. Through the course of the program, the girls learn the power of teamwork and how to set and work toward goals. Each girl will gain a better understanding of herself and her underlying potential. The core lesson of Girls on the run: to teach young girls that they can. They can achieve anything they want to achieve, and they can change the world.

Now a 5k for girls at elementary and middle school age may sound pretty challenging. It is! And I’m sure for these young girls, whose running experience has hasn’t extended much beyond the playground, this may seem like a nearly impossible achievement. But that is the point of the program—to teach girls that nothing is impossible to achieve. Finishing the 5k helps reveal an inner strength and power they never thought they had.

I think what Girls on the run is doing for young girls is amazing. The life skills that they will take away from this program will undoubtedly stay with them for the remainder of their lives, impacting the dreams they pursue and the way they approach challenges.

Like what Girls on the run is doing? Like, share, and spread the word of this great program!

Green Philanthropy: To Bring a Bag or Not to Bring a Bag—It’s No Longer a Question

Once upon a time, while living in Seattle, I accidently mixed a few non-compostable items in my compost. I was caught red-handed, and served a punishment—my compost was never picked up. I’ll tell you this was not a pretty sight. Compost piled high to the sky, and my kitchen reeked for a week. Needless to say, since then I never forgot to check before I tossed.

I recently came across an excellent blog post in Green Sustainable Futures.  Florian wrote in his blog post, China: sustainability lifestyle trumps Western consumption, that sustainability can no longer be viewed as, what he calls, an “eco-dream.” He claims that in order for our society to function properly, sustainability is a must.

I am 100 percent in agreement with this, and after reading the post I thought, why are there so many ways not to go green? In my town, if I don’t compost or if I throw a few cans in my garbage, no one is going to come around and scold me. This may seem dramatic, but perhaps, in order to preserve our beautiful world, some one needs to do just that.

Plastic builds up in our oceans and is harmful to wildlife (image from Earth Observer)

In agreement with Florian’s opinions, naturally I’m supportive of the plastic bag ban in Seattle.  Look at this picture. It’s atrocious. Would you want to live here? If your answer is no, then ocean wildlife won’t want to either. Plastic debris in the ocean can trap sea life, leaving them defenseless and unable to swim or find food—which can lead to death. Also, plastics are made up of chemicals that, if ingested by sea life, can poison them. Since plastic debris often look like their food, the build up of plastic in our oceans is bad news for the survival of these animals.

Prior to plastic bag bans, shoppers essentially had a choice: either help the environment or harm it. But no one consciously sits in their car with their reusable bags deciding whether to bring them into the store. The decision is simple. It’s all about remembering to bring the bags and getting into a habit or routine of using them. Once a shopper leaves their bags at home, in the car, and yes even in the shopping cart, the decision has already been made.

This is where the plastic bag ban comes in. Now people cannot forget. It’s either bring your own bags (BYOB!), pay a fee to use the store’s bags, or walk out of the store with your items cradled in your arms. This new ban reflects the “sustainability is a must” attitude. This may be one reason why Seattle is known as one of the greenest cities. My (dreadful) experience with the compost was an example of Seattle’s tough-love, but hey it worked on me! Perhaps some tough-love is all that people need in order to create green habits.

I think that due to the initiation of the plastic bag ban, more laws ensuring sustainable practices will be put into action. It is my hope that someday the green way will be the only way.

 

Kids Put Spunk In Philanthropy By Taking Action On Social Problems

“Big Man Donates Buckets of Money to Blank University.” This is a mock headline of what I frequently see in my morning scrolls through news articles. Not to say the generosity of these donors is not a good thing, they most certainly are—and I’ve have written blog posts on them. But society seems to be forgetting to recognize one innovative, compassionate, and giving group of individuals: children.

I recently discovered a great program called Youth Venture. This program is hitting philanthropy right in the nose. This program is one of many examples of how adults are not the only ones stepping out and helping make the world a better place.

In learning about this program, I realized what a huge social impact children make with their philanthropy. Youth have the most innovative and fresh minds! They are also passionate and open-minded. I should know; I was involved in giving to my community through Builder’s Club in middle school. But somehow through my years of college, being surrounded by adults for days on end, I forgot that there are children out there who are extremely passionate about helping others.

I wish I had known about Youth Venture as a child. This program encourages kids to take action on social problems. By providing them with mentors and helping them plan out and launch their ventures, kids can have confidence in making their ideas a reality.

I think this program provides exactly what youth need to take initiative and kick off their ideas on how to make the world a better place. Taking on such a big leadership role at that young of an age can be intimidating, and by supporting these children’s ventures, I think the program makes philanthropic work more within their reach. The fact that the program inspires youth to combine their interests with a need they see in the world is an excellent way to gain participants—it makes volunteering all the more fun!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the Youth Venture program.

Getting on Track With Philanthropy

Have you ever become so stressed and busy that you feel you’ve lost sight of the important things in life? I do. If there was one thing I regret about college, it would be not finding a balance; a balance of a social life, school, and allowing myself to enjoy simple things like treating myself to a good read. Looking back, I wish I hadn’t allowed myself to become so wrapped up in getting that 4.0.

So what does this all have to do with philanthropy? I am sure I am not the only one who has woken up one day and realized, ‘what have I done in the past years to help others?’ I used to volunteer in my community frequently in high school through various club events. But now, in college, I feel the pressure to get good grades has risen, and volunteering my time has been pushed to the bottom of my priority list.

Last summer I recognized the dangerous road I was headed down—but only after a volunteering experience opened my eyes. My decision to help out as an art teacher in a program called Circle of Friends For Mental Health was one of the best life decisions I ever made.

My experience as an art teacher was not what I expected at all. I developed amazing friendships with my students. We would paint, draw, and create while talking about life. I was granted a lot of freedom in this position. Suddenly I was not the student anymore, I was the teacher. I was allowed to express myself creatively, and, with the help of my students, came up with fun art projects each week. Helping others through this volunteer experience brought me great joy, and I wonder how I let myself go two years without giving back to my community.

I’ve learned that it’s not all about me, my grades, and my future. Reaching out to others not only makes the world a better place but it can also bring happiness to one’s life. How have your volunteering experiences moved you? What have they taught you?

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: A Cost-Effective Approach to Philanthropy

Learn and grow: measuring and altering our tactics in philanthropy can lead to positive change.

Bill Gates puts his money where is mouth is. His approach to philanthropy is one that is met with disapproval by some nonprofit leaders. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has built itself upon the idea of analyzing the efficiency of its tactics and its outcomes. The foundation learns from their mistakes and successes and uses them to improve current methods in creating positive world change. The Gates foundation is also known for taking risks, often putting time, money, and effort into new ideas.

Bill Gates’ thoughts on university productivity in the article Bill Gates Says He’ll Stick to Giving Priorities Until “Something Dramatic” Is Achieved, are certainly a reflection of the values of the foundation. I was astonished to learn from the article that there are some universities in America with a 7 percent completion rate. With this fact in mind, he made an astute observation about higher education, one that I myself had overlooked.

He presented the notion that the prestige and value of a college is frequently judged by the competitiveness of admissions.  I agree with Gates when he says universities are evaluated on the wrong criteria. I think U.S colleges should be judged by not only their completion rate, but the employment rate of its graduates. Gates has made a very important point—it’s the individual that emerges from college rather than the one that enters that matters most. The point of college is to create and nurture intelligent, well-rounded individuals. In other words, one’s skills should improve and be refined over the course of college—if not, then perhaps the college is not doing its job.

So how can we judge whether colleges are doing their job? This is where the foundation’s methods of measuring and analyzing have great value. In my opinion, the concept is logical and cost-effective. If the goal of higher education is to produce intelligent, well-rounded individuals, we must discover the factors that support and bring us closer to those goals, and the ones that hinder progress. By means of measuring, we can identify these factors and strategically plan where our time, money, and effort should go. And walla, more bang for our buck.

I think the foundation’s approach is important, not just for improvement in America’s education, but also to our pursuit in ending hunger, lifting people out of poverty, and improving health. This approach is also a wise one; with limited funds, it makes sense to put careful thought and analysis into where money is allocated. What do you think of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s approach to making positive global change?

Community Runs and Walks Raise More Than Funds, They Bring People Together

Thousands of men and women walk 60 miles in the fight to cure cancer (from CBS St. Louis)

On September 16, 2012, the city of Seattle will be bombarded by a swarm of women and men dressed head to toe in pink. Fueled with the desire to fight, you might think the city of Seattle is under attack—but no, these women and men are fighting to eradicate something that affects thousands of women every year: breast cancer.

I think road races and walks that support various diseases and cancers bring something to the table that donations do not. These races bring the community together. In effect, I think community road races instill a hidden message: the fight against various diseases and cancers is a team effort—we fight together. Not only do these events raise funds for research, community education, and outreach programs, but they also offer support for those who have been affected by diseases and cancers. These events also commend those who have battled such diseases and cancers, and give survivors and family members the chance to share their stories.

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day is an event that does just that. Beginning September 14^th, thousands of men and women, each having raised $2,300 or more, will walk a total of 60 miles in 3 days. But this event is not just a walk, it’s a celebration. Participants have fun and get creative; they dress flamboyantly in pink attire, design outrageous tents, enjoy entertainment, and eat delicious food along the way.

The 3-day is just one example of many community events that go on around the U.S. that bring people together who are committed to helping others live long, healthy lives. If you are looking for a fun way to give back, I highly encourage participating in community events like the Susan G. Komen 3-Day—you may find the experience rewarding yet eye-opening.