First, Jan over at Unique Baby Gear Ideas wondered if the bags were machine washable, and indeed, the website says that the bags are machine washable, with a food safe liner that also wipes clean.

Jan also wanted to know if the bag would hold the food snugly, and I thought perhaps a different photo might show off the closed version a bit better.

With the fold and the velcro closure, it looks to me like the sandwich inside is going to stay put!

Anyone out there with any personal experience with these bags, feel free to chime in!

Thanks for the comments, girls!

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I know that disposable diapers can sit in landfills for over 500 years, but I just can’t bring myself to do cloth diapers. Even if I could, the chemical detergents used to wash the diapers can be almost as harmful, right?

Apparently there’s now a third option — has anyone besides Julia Roberts checked out gDiapers?

According to their website,

gDiapers are truly the Third Option – the first new diaper to come along in 40 years.

The Flushable can be flushed, home-composted, or tossed. Because gDiaper Flushables are made from natural cellulose and wood pulp, they readily break down when flushed and will not harm sewage treatment facilities.

Not only do they seem good for the planet, I love these great colors!

gDiapers promises no chlorine, no perfumes, no inks or dyes, no plastic layer, no latex and no garbage!

I may need to talk my husband into trying something new this time around…

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Admittedly, I went in expecting to be more than a little annoyed by a teary, Sally Struthers-esque presentation on Darfur. Instead I came out moved and grieved by the relentless violence that continues to plague the lives of the people in that region, and impressed by the efforts of Ms. Farrow to lend her own voice to a people that the rest of the world seems to have forgotten.

All photos courtesy of MiaFarrow.org

Mia Farrow’s website dedicated to the genocide in Darfur, MiaFarrow.org, recently reprinted an article written by Nicholas Kristof at the NY Times which I think is worth reading in its entirety, but here is just a bit:

The Beijing Olympics this summer were supposed to be China’s coming-out party, celebrating the end of nearly two centuries of weakness, poverty and humiliation.

Instead, China’s leaders are tarnishing their own Olympiad by abetting genocide in Darfur and in effect undermining the U.N. military deployment there. The result is a growing international campaign to brand these “The Genocide Olympics.”

This is not a boycott of the Olympics. But expect Darfur-related protests at Chinese Embassies, as well as banners and armbands among both athletes and spectators. There’s a growing recognition that perhaps the best way of averting hundreds of thousands more deaths in Sudan is to use the leverage of the Olympics to shame China into more responsible behavior.

The central problem is that in exchange for access to Sudanese oil, Beijing is financing, diplomatically protecting and supplying the arms for the first genocide of the 21st century. China is the largest arms supplier to Sudan, officially selling $83 million in weapons, aircraft and spare parts to Sudan in 2005, according to Amnesty International USA. That is the latest year for which figures are available.

Sudan feels confident enough with Chinese backing that on Jan. 7, the Sudanese military ambushed a clearly marked U.N. convoy of peacekeepers in Darfur. Sudan claimed the attack was a mistake, but diplomats and U.N. professionals are confident that this was a deliberate attack ordered by the Sudanese leaders to put the U.N. in its place.

Another possible sign of Sudan’s confidence: an American diplomat, John Granville, was ambushed and murdered in Khartoum early this month. Many in the diplomatic and intelligence community believe that such an assassination could not happen in Khartoum unless elements of the government were involved.

Other countries also must do much more, but China is crucial. If Beijing were to suspend all transfers of arms and spare parts to Sudan until a peace deal is reached in Darfur, then that would change the dynamic. President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan would be terrified — especially since he is now preparing to resume war with South Sudan — and would realize that China is no longer willing to let its Olympics be stained by Darfuri blood.

DreamforDarfur.org has several easy steps for you to take action to help pressure China into using its leverage to stop the genocide in Darfur. Click here to petition the UN Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, Mr. Adolf Ogi, to ask him to make the issue of Darfur central in these upcoming Olympic games.

Better yet, click here to send a message to the corporate sponsors of the Olympic Games — Coca Cola, Johnson and Johnson, Adidas and GE, among others — reminding them that your patronage comes at the cost of their social responsiblity.

And if you want to give financially to reputable organizations who are working in the Darfur region, check out Charity Navigator’s list of 3- and 4-star rated charities to ensure that your money is getting to the people of Darfur.

Don’t let the overwhelming statistics or the overwhelming distance be a reason for failing to act. Tonight I go to bed humbled and reminded that with knowledge comes responsibility.

Know better. Do better.

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It’s a little frightening when China jumps ahead of us in environmental policy, isn’t it? Why not be a little ahead of your time and check out these chic alternatives to those ugly plastic bags?

Pretend you’ve just come from a sunny country farmer’s market and check out this fabulous tote from Sur la Table sold for $34.95.

Or perhaps you’re more of a city girl? These bags from Baggu are so very urban — perfect whether you’re headed to the Union Square Farmer’s Market or the San Francisco Ferry Building. Just $22 for a pack of three!

Finally, here’s a grocery bag you can feel truly good about. Offered exclusively at Amazon.com, your purchase of the UN World Food Programme’s FEED Bag will help the UN feed and educate a child for one full school year.

It’s obviously a bit pricier at $59.95, but isn’t that the best fashion statement of all?

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Brown bag lunches may be a great way to give your kids healthier food choices at school, but the brown bag part, especially with the plastic sandwich baggies, isn’t especially green.

The folks at I’m Organic have some really cute options for your eco-conscious student — how cute is this bag made out of 100% certified organic cotton?!

It also come in brown for boys.

And as far as the plastic ziplock bag problem is concerned, check out this clever solution from ReusableBags.com.

According to the website,

Simply fold around sandwiches, veggie sticks, cookies and other goodies, fold the cotton wrapper closed, secure with the Velcro closure, and they’re ready to go. To top it off, these smart reusable sandwich wrappers unfold into placemats! The FDA-approved, food-grade PEVA lining easily wipes clean after every use and is certified by the manufacturer to be totally lead-free.

Time to bring your brown bag lunch into the 21st century!

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Along the way, I found this amazing organic blanket made by Nui Organics and thought I would share it with you!

From the Tiny McSmall website,

NUI Organics baby blankets are crafted from the finest purest wool in the world - 100% certified organic New Zealand Merino.

They use no dyes, just all natural colors. The rich deep cocoa in the Grid blanket is from a black sheep. You will find no chemical dyes or bleaches in NUI Organics™ blankets to greet your newborn.

The blanket is a pricey $148, but it looks so luxurious that this one might be worth a splurge!

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It turns out that a recent test conducted by the Times of some of New York’s swankiest sushi restaurants showed levels of mercury so high that the FDA could take legal action to have the fish removed from the market.

A mere six pieces a week could exceed the levels recommended by the EPA.

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According to the NY Times,

“No one should eat a meal of tuna with mercury levels like those found in the restaurant samples more than about once every three weeks,” said Dr. Michael Gochfeld, professor of environmental and occupational medicine at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, N.J.Six pieces of sushi from most of the restaurants and stores would contain more than 49 micrograms of mercury. That is the amount the Environmental Protection Agency deems acceptable for weekly consumption over a period of several months by an adult of average weight, which the agency defines as 154 pounds. People weighing less are advised to consume even less mercury.

Here’s the kicker - it turns out that the more expensive the sushi, the more likely it is to contain higher levels of mercury because of the size of the fish it comes from. The bigger the bluefin, the longer it has been swimming and eating other mercury-contaminated fish, the more ends up finding a home in your tissues.

Pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers and children are obviously at higher risk, and are recommended by the City of New York not to eat any kind of mercury-rich fish sources, including the sushi grade bluefin tuna.

Yes, Mom, you were right and I was wrong.

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Sold on the New York Public Library website, the beautiful and reusable gift wrap comes in five different fabrics with a Japanese flair and sells for $12.95.

According to the library shop website,

Based on Furoshiki, a square cloth traditionally used in Japan to wrap shopping purchases and embellish important gifts, Furochic is made of 100% cotton and measures 27″ X 27″. Furochic comes with a full yard of tying ribbon, a matching card and illustrated instructions for wrapping techniques.

Next time you’re unsure about the gift you’re giving, why not wrap it in something so beautiful the gift itself is merely an afterthought?

And check out more of the amazing posts over at Rare Bird Finds — you’re guaranteed to find something to fall in love with!

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In addition to the No Salt, No Sugar version for purists, the offerings include Slightly Salted, Slightly Sweet, Cinnamon Sugar and even Chocolate!

The butters are peanut-free, tree nut-free, gluten-free, certified organic, vegan AND kosher, so whatever your particular dietary hangup, these soynut butters are bound to fit the bill.

To be honest, I just can’t wait to open my pantry door and see these adorable jars sitting on the shelf! Now I just need to find the perfect jelly…

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According to an FDA ruling issued today, however, cold medicines for children,  especially children under the age of 2, can be potentially life threatening.

According to MSNBC,

Thursday’s advisory marks the government’s first ruling on the issue: Don’t give the drugs to children under 2. And it comes now because the FDA is worried that parents haven’t gotten that message despite all the publicity last fall.

They may still have infant-targeted drugs at home, or they may buy drugs meant for older children to give to hacking tots instead, said Dr. Charles Ganley, FDA’s nonprescription drugs chief.

“We still have a concern,” Ganley said. “It falls out of people’s consciousness. We’re still in the middle of cold season right now.”

Time to head into your medicine cabinet and throw away all of those boxes of children’s cold and flu meds!

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According to the NY Times,

“This one is special,” he said. “You have the Clintons, a powerful dysfunctional family — remember they were the ones that spoofed ‘The Sopranos’ — you have this out of nowhere handsome stranger in Obama that is straight out of ‘Heroes.’ John McCain, left for dead in a previous episode, roars back to life, and Mitt Romney, who is a dead ringer for John Forsythe. And I am not the first to point out that Mike Huckabee is Jim Nabors.

“And then it all ends in this amazing ‘American Idol’ big episode on Super Tuesday. How can you not watch that? My wife had some minor surgery the other day and the nurse asked her if she wanted to just lay there in the recovery room and rest a little bit. And she said, ‘No thanks, I have to get home and watch ‘The Situation Room.’ ”

All of this is great, but what are we going to do after the season finale on Super Tuesday?

Please, Mayor Bloomberg, enter the race and keep the show going until November!

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Well, this YouTube video is less about doing good, but after my years spent in the first round of the Internet bubble, it does remind me that we should all know better.  Plus, it’s just kinda funny.

Enjoy!

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With the endless media discussion of who cried and who didn’t, who is most likeable and who is most electable, do you really know where your candidate stands on the issues? Will they vote the way you would?

Check out the Select a Candidate Quiz sponsored by news station WQAD:

Obviously, this particular set of issues doesn’t capture the universe of reasons to vote for a candidate, but I have to admit that I took the quiz with some surprising results!

Have fun with it and remember to get to your state primary!

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The Senator did such an amazing job that quite a few of my Republican friends — including my Republican husband! — have asked me about switching their party affiliations so they can vote for him! (Note the plethora of exclamation points there. This is no small thing, my friends!)

If you feel like now might be the time to switch your party affiliation or you just want to register to vote, check out the League of Women Voters’ Voter Registration Page.

With a quick and easy online tool, you can answer a few simple questions, print out the voter registration form and mail it in to your county registrar. It’s that simple.

Democracy is a big responsibility — make sure your voice gets counted!

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According to the article,

Members of the panel said their review of the data led them to conclude as a group and individually that reductions in greenhouse gases had to start immediately to avert a global climate disaster, which could leave island states submerged and abandoned, African crop yields down by 50 percent, and cause a 5 percent decrease in global gross domestic product.

The panel, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last month, said the world would have to reverse the growth of greenhouse gas emissions by 2015 to avert those problems and others.

Time to start washing those clothes in cold water!

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The national climate campaign known as C3 (Carbon Conscious Consumers) is challenging each of us to wash 80% of our laundry loads this year — 4 out of 5 loads — in cold water. By doing the majority of your laundry in cold water you’ll cut 72 pounds of CO2 emissions this month alone!

According to their website,

U.S. energy consumption is a major cause of climate change and, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute, water heating accounts for approximately 19 percent of total home energy use. Today’s more efficient clothes washers and laundry detergents make it possible to get both white and colored clothes clean in cold water. Unless you are dealing with extradordinarily tough stains, washing in hot water is more likely to clean out your wallet than your apparel.

If you’re willing to take the pledge and tell your friends, register here today. Not only are you helping to save the planet, keep the pledge up for a year and you’ll save more than $60 in energy costs too!

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With a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, DonorsChoose.org provides students in need with resources that public schools often lack.

Here’s how it works: Teachers from schools all over the country can submit project proposals for materials or experiences needed to help their students learn. Concerned individuals, who they call “Citizen Philanthropists,” can choose projects to fund, and once again we are reminded why we thought the Internet was a good idea in the first place.

From their website,

Proposals range from “Magical Math Centers” ($200) to “Big Book Bonanza” ($320), to “Cooking Across the Curriculum” ($1,100). Any individual can search such proposals by areas of interest, learn about classroom needs, and choose to fund the project(s) they find most compelling. In completing a project, donors receive a feedback package of student photos and thank-you notes, and a teacher impact letter.

Whether you fund a whole project or just contribute your small part, whether you choose a school in your own community or reach out across the country to a community far from home, you can make an impact in the educational life of a child.

For more ideas on how to help bring resources to students in struggling classrooms, read more!

(more…)

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Dubbing themselves “Couture with a Conscience,” Shabby Apple is partnering with Unitus to give 5% of its net profits to microfinance projects.

According to their website,

For many women in the developing world, life is a constant struggle against poverty and hardship. Limited economic opportunity leads to a downward cycle of malnutrition, illiteracy and poor health - a cycle that traps each new generation. Through access to microfinance - financial services such as microcredit loans, insurance, savings and other products - women can overcome poverty and provide a better life for their children.

Every $100 donation provides at least 20 women with access to financial services - and the chance to live a life without poverty. Plus the dresses are super cute!

This flirty black satin holiday dress, “Sabrina,” is one of my favorites at just $98.

In addition to the dresses, Shabby Apple also carries a line of accessories, and you can expect to see Shabby Baby in February!

Now go do some guilt-free shopping!

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So just what are LEDs?

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Even if your baby isn’t quite the designer kind, you might want to check out GagaGear.com for some really cute (and organic cotton!) baby carriers.

From their website,

The Ellaroo Mei Tai is a versatile, sturdy, all-around baby carrier that can be worn on front, back, and side. Because the shoulder and waist straps are tied on however you like, the pack can be easily shared between parents of very different sizes. All color choices are reversible to solid organic canvas. Features of the Ellaroo Mei Tai include organic cotton batting, high-quality fabrics, and supportive straps and body piece for long-wearing comfort. It sells for $85.

Perhaps you need a dressier version for that holiday party? This 100% cotton Ellaroo Lightly Padded Baby Sling is beautiful in sky blue and chocolate and sells for $99.

Keep your baby close and still look like a fashion plate!  What an incredible holiday gift!

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What began as the “$100 Laptop” has edged up almost 2x in cost, but the idea is basically the same: design an ultra-cheap laptop that uses minimal power with maximum wifi range and put it in the hands of kids around the world.

In connection with the company’s “Give One, Get One” promotion which begins on November 12th, I was privileged several weeks ago to be able to meet with Walter Bender, OLPC’s Chief Operating Officer, to take my own test drive of the tiny laptop with the Apple-esque design.

Here is my take:

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Detail from one of the amazing palaces in Marrakesh.

The spice markets in the souks are amazingly beautiful.

My favorite part — the dunes of the Sahara.

More photos after the jump!

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Morocco was a fantastic experience. Mountain Travel Sobek, and specifically our trip leader, Kristy Larsen, did an outstanding job of showing us the beauty and the complexity of the country and its people. We could not have done it better if we’d planned it ourselves.

The people of Morocco are divided into two main ethnic groups — Arabs and the native Berbers. While the Arabs tend to be clustered in country’s northern cities, like Fes, the Berber people live in the remote mountains and deserts in much the same fashion as their ancestors for generations before. The Berbers themselves are divided into three distinct ethnic groups and speak a variety of dialects, none of which is a written language.

On one of our hiking days through these remote mountain villages, we were privileged to visit in the home of a Berber family. The woman of the house generously invited us in for sweet mint tea and Berber bread, freshly baked in the village communal oven.

Though many of the village children never complete primary school, this particular family proudly showed off one of their sons who was attending school in a nearby town. He was one of the few to make it that far.

We also visited a local village school where, on that particular day, the children were attempting to study French. The teacher explained to us, however, that beyond the school building itself the government didn’t supply any of the schoolbooks or papers or pencils required for learning. The twelve students were sharing three French books among them. Any school supplies had to come from their own homes, and it was quite obvious that the children’s families didn’t have money to spare. And yet they continued to attend class, even if only for a few years of education.

It’s difficult to describe all that we saw without falling into a cliche of some kind — either a Sally Struthers-like plea for money or some patronizing discourse on the dignity of the poor. Perhaps it suffices to say that every time I leave the abundance and luxury of the United States to spend time in a place where people manage to survive on less — a lot less — I am humbled. As one of my fellow travelers so aptly put it, sometimes the most generous people you meet are the people with the least to give.

We’re glad to be home! Happy Halloween!

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We’re traveling with a group from Mountain Travel Sobek, going on their Morocco Camel Trek!

From their website,

The kingdom of Morocco is one of the most exotic of travel destinations, made even more romantic by the sensuous mud-and-clay architecture of kasbahs, the ambiance of palace-filled medieval cities like Marrakesh and Fès, and the spell cast by the mystical landscapes of the Sahara. With trip leader Kristy Larson you’ll experience it all, from meeting Berbers in remote villages and four-wheeling remote back roads to taking an adventurous four-day camel trek across the sands of the Sahara.

This is a true camel trek with all the magic of the Sahara, but with options to ride in vehicles or proceed on foot. Cobalt-blue skies, squash-colored sand dunes, lush fertile oases, and serrated mountain summits fill the vistas, and with the grand solitude and silence of the Sahara, and nights spent under a luminous starry sky, you’ll feel the mysterious power that the desert has always had over the human soul.

It sounds good on paper, at least! Wish us safe travels, and I’ll be back online soon!

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The new fall line, like all other speesees products, is made using all organic cotton manufactured under Fair Trade Practices and Principles and comes in beautiful fall colors like pumpkin, peacock, pollen, earth and eggplant.

I especially love this new bear jacket made out of 100% organic sherpa cotton — the perfect solution to a chilly Halloween night! It’s $46 and comes in sizes 0-3.

And if you order before October 31st, enter the code “together” and receive 15% off your fall order! speesees just wants to remind us that “we’re in this together.”

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According to CNN,

Every year, doctors write approximately 65 million prescriptions for drugs not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency that regulates prescription drugs.

These drugs, some of which the FDA admits could be dangerous, slip through a “black hole” in the drug approval system, according to one U.S. congressman.

“There’s a regulatory black hole that makes it possible for the pharmaceutical companies to get these drugs to the stores that sell them without the FDA being able to monitor it,” said Rep. Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts.

Dr. Walter over at Highlight HEALTH has an interesting solution — check out iGuard, which claims to be the fastest and easiest way to get personalized safety alerts and updates about your medicines.

According to their website, iGuard is a powerful communication tool designed to:

Alert you and your doctor (if you choose) about important safety information for the drugs you are taking.

Distribute risk ratings that help you understand drug risk today, and in the future as new safety information emerges.

Facilitate communication between you and your physician about medication risks and monitoring.

Provide an easily accessible summary of your medicines and conditions for your own records and to use in coordinating care across all your physicians.

Help researchers identify safety problems faster.

Support family members and caregivers who are responsible for dependents in monitoring safety.

It’s fast, it’s personalized, and best of all, it’s free. Five minutes of registration could save your life — click here to sign up today!

Thanks for the tip, Dr. Walter!

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American Public Media — producer of public radio programs like “Marketplace” — has put together a light-hearted little game called Consumer Consequences that lets you “find out if you are living a sustainable life.” (Hint: you’re not.)

Select your avatar, select your neighborhood, and Consumer Consequences asks you a series of questions about your lifestyle — do you recycle? do you take public transportation? do you fly first or economy? As you play, it will show you how many “Earths” of natural resources it would take to sustain all 6.6 billion humans if everyone lived like you.

Once you find out what a resource hog we all are, the game gives you a chance to modify your choices and reduce your footprint.

According to the website,

Consumer Consequences is built using data that represents average U.S. consumer habits. When you answer the questions, you increase or decrease your score, which is expressed in global acres.

If you divide the number of global acres by the number of people on the planet (6.6 billion), then each human’s fair share is 4.5 global acres. So, if your lifestyle requires more than 4.5 global acres, you’re using more than our planet can sustain.

I gave up when halfway through I found out I had already blown through 6.1 Earths. I must admit that it’s a bit self-defeating when you see how much you (I) consume and realize how hard it is to make the lifestyle changes that are really necessary in order for life to be sustainable.

But enough wallowing in self-pity! Get on over to Consumer Consequences and remind yourself why you feel guilty enough to read my blog!

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From the TOMS’ website,

Inspired by a traditional Argentine shoe and challenged by the continent’s poverty and health issues, Tom’s was created with a singular mission: to make life more comfortable. TOMS accomplishes this through its unique shoe and commitment to match every pair purchased with a donated pair to a child in need.

Just a few days remain before the 2007 South Africa Shoe Drop! Help them surpass their goal of 50,000 shoes and order yours today!

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According to the Seattle Post Intelligencer,

Water and fruit may be important, but the building blocks of a healthful lunch are carbohydrates, not the white kind, but the complex ones, according to Berkeley’s Cooper.

Then parents can load those grain breads and pitas with healthy peanut butter, other nut butters, turkey and other protein sources. Of course, nutritionists suggest tossing in fruits, vegetables and dips.

What goes between the bread is critical, says the UW Medical Center’s Simon. She encourages people to focus on buying quality meats and chicken, then using it in sandwiches, rather than slapping in lunchmeats.

Fat isn’t always the enemy, Simon says, noting that there is good fat in nuts and hummus.

And next time you head to the grocery store, don’t forget to take along the EWR’s free guide to Pesticides in Produce! It turns out that conventional apples — a lunchtime staple for my mom’s brown bag lunches — have the second highest pesticide load of any fruit or vegetable except peaches.

Leaving an apple for the teacher suddenly got a lot more complicated…

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As an adjunct to the book and part of the Clinton Foundation’s Global Initiative, they recently launched MyCommitment.org, which is dedicated to helping ordinary citizens find a way to make a difference.

There’s almost too much information on here, with literally hundreds of ways for you to make a difference, but it’s all excellent stuff. I could probably post on just one of these things every day for a year!

From their website,

No act of giving is too big or too small. Whether it’s hosting a potluck to raise money for your favorite cause or volunteering with your church group once a month to clean a local park—everyone can give something. Inside this My Commitment 101 Kit you’ll find everything you need to get started on your commitment, including a database of volunteer opportunities available in communities worldwide, downloadable charity badges to post on your blog or website, 50 tips for improving the world, lists of organizations and groups you might want to join or buy from, and more!

Being a former president seems a bit like becoming a grandfather — without the constant pressure of making sure you raise the kids right, you can become a softer, gentler version of yourself. I liked the old President Clinton, but I think I like the new one even better!

Check out all the options and pledge to make a difference — one action at a time!

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The story recounts the death of a 16-year-old Syrian girl named Zahra al-Azzo who was raped at the age of 15, imprisoned to protect her from the revenge of her family, and finally married to a sympathetic cousin at age 16. Just a month after her wedding, Zahra al-Azzo’s 25-year-old brother stabbed her as she slept in an attempt to purge the disgrace brought upon the family by her rape.

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Though the theology behind honor killings is slowly coming under criticism from prominent Islamic scholars, apparently the ancient practice continues, taking the lives of an estimated 5,000 women annually around the world.

The NY Times explains:

Some advocates claim that Syria has an especially high number of honor killings per capita, saying that the country is second or third in the world. In fact, reliable statistics on honor killing are nearly impossible to come by. The United Nations Population Fund says that about 5,000 honor killings take place each year around the world, but since they often occur in rural areas where births and deaths go unreported, it is very difficult to count them by country. Some killings have been recorded in European cultures, including Italy, and in Christian or Druse communities in predominantly Muslim countries. But it is widely agreed that honor killings are found disproportionately in Muslim communities, from Bangladesh to Egypt to Great Britain.

Yet there are signs of change. In Lebanon last month, Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, the top Shiite cleric and spiritual leader of Hezbollah, issued a fatwa banning honor killing and describing it as “a repulsive act, condemned and prohibited by religion.” And earlier this year, Egypt’s grand mufti upheld a fatwa stating that Islam permits a woman to have her virginity “refurbished” through hymen surgery, which would allow her to marry and would eliminate the need to cleanse the so-called stain on her family’s honor. He even appeared on national television to advise Egyptian women considering the procedure. Although the ruling has been assailed by conservative scholars, it has been welcomed by those who hope it will prevent future honor killings.

The Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organization is calling for a repeal of the Syrian laws that permit these types of “honor killings.”

To support the campaign (which has over 10,000 signatories already from within Syria) please send an email with your name, address and organisation to nesasy@gmail.com with the subject line “Stop honor crimes!” You may also contact the Syrian Embassy to ask for this vital change in the law.

It may be too late for Zahra, but perhaps her story can save another woman’s life.

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Not to be outdone by their corporate friends over at Dyson, Ford Motors is partnering with Kelly Clarkson to sponsor Warriors in Pink — Ford’s custom fashion line dedicated to the cause of breast cancer awareness.

From the Ford website,

Ford is proud of its 13-year National Sponsorship of the Komen Race for the Cure. To date, Ford has dedicated more than $90 million to the cause. Our commitment runs well beyond raising funds. We know that awareness leads to early detection and early detection saves lives, so we are also working to increase breast cancer awareness–last year creating over one billion media impressions. We also encourage our employees to participate. More than 50,000 Ford employees have participated in The Race and thousands of our dealers support the race in their area.

So even if Fords aren’t necessarily your cup of tea, the cause is a good one and the fashions are fun. Kelly can even show you how to “Rock Your V-Neck” to make it customizable! (Okay, the whole Kelly Clarkson tie-in is a bit silly, but you can’t argue with the fact that 100% of the net proceeds are donated to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.)

Here are a couple of my favorites –

Heather Brown Jersey Bella Mustang Tee for $20:

White Baby Doll T-Shirt With Contrasting Pink Cap Sleeves for $20:

For information on how to sign up for the Komen Race for the Cure in your area, visit their website or call 1-888-603-RACE.

Now go rock your baby-doll T!

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Last weekend I picked up this beautiful pink Dyson vacuum cleaner.

Target is selling the legendary vacuum cleaner for $399, and $40 from the sale of each DC07 Pink will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation which currently funds over 100 researchers throughout the world working to prevent and cure breast cancer.

And yes, in case you’re wondering, that photo is exactly the way I look when I vacuum my house…?!

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What is Pangea Day? Watch this trailer and find out:

According to their website,

Pangea Day was created by award winning documentary filmmaker Jehane Noujaim after she won the prestigious TED prize. Pangea Day’s mission is to create a worldwide network of caring and concerned citizens who are making a difference. Our first action is an upcoming global film event called Pangea Day.

Sites in New York City, Rio, London, Dharamasala, Cairo, Jerusalem and Kigali will simulcast a program of films, speakers and music.

So even if you don’t get one of your films chosen for the program, maybe you should mark your calendars anyway!

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Because the World Bank estimates that $17 billion a year is spent on inefficient and polluting light sources, such as kerosene, they are turning loose the private sector with a competition and the promise of cold, hard cash (something that’s always alluring to aspiring entrepreneurs!).

Ten to 20 winners will receive grants of up to $200,000. More than 350 companies have already expressed interest.

According to the article,

Working with its private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, the bank intends to develop market conditions for the supply and distribution of non-fossil fuel lighting products.

These products can include fluorescent light bulbs and light-emitting diodes for use in rural and urban areas not connected to an electricity grid. Power would come from the sun, the wind and mechanical devices such as pedals.

Perhaps some of you out there have a good idea to throw into the mix? The prize might be small, but the reward is immeasurable!

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Covering this summer’s International Development Design Summit, the Times gave a great overview of the mechanics of the summer program, as well as Amy’s heroic efforts to promote truly meaningful design at the university.

As the article nicely puts it,

M.I.T. has nurtured dozens of Nobel Prize winners in cerebral realms like astrophysics, economics and genetics. But lately, the institute has turned its attention toward concrete thinking to improve the lives of the world’s bottom billion, those who live on a dollar a day or less and who often die young.

I’m sure the multitude of Amy’s fans just continue to grow…

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According to their website, here are just six of the great reasons to dry clothes on a line:

1. Save money (more than $100/year for many households).
2. Conserve energy and the environment.
3. Clothes and sheets smell better.
4. Clothes last longer.
5. It is physical activity which you can do in or outside.
6. Clothes dryer fires account for about 15,600 structure fires, 15 deaths, and 400 injuries annually.

And from now through October 31st, if you purchase a 14″ X 11″ print of this image at $90, the artist will donate $50 per print to Project Laundry.

For a bunch of other online green laundry accessories, click here.  Why not step outside and get some fresh air?

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The folks at Taggies know how important a security blanket can be — and more importantly, which features matter most!

According to their website,

Julie, a young mother, recognized that her infant was often more interested in the satin tags on toys and clothing than the object itself. An early childhood teacher, she took the idea to a new level by creating a soft security blanket with assorted tags adorning all four sides. It was the first Taggies!

Since then, the company has added the colorful satin tags to books, bedding, toys and pillows, and the result is a line of very cute, very functional baby items.

And the best part? Taggies Cares!

Next time you’re shopping on the website, just select an item you would like to donate (most items are in the $20 range) and Taggies will match it with another of the same item. Taggies will then donate both of your gifts to a children’s charity of their choice. Click here for a list — they’re all very worthy recipients. You might even get your name posted on the website as a thank you!

What better gift to give a child than a little bit of extra added security?

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Mountain Travel Sobek has just published two new tours — both led by one of the original company founders — for folks who want to combine their adventure vacation with a unique opportunity to do some good.

The first is an exciting trip through Egypt:

It’s a fascinating journey exploring the Nile through the lens of Sobek (yes, our Sobek!), the crocodile god that influenced so much of dynastic Egypt, and of the crocodile itself, which through poaching, pollution, and the blockage from the Aswan Dam has disappeared from the Egyptian Nile. Traveling to temples and active dig sites not included on any other itineraries, you’ll witness the art and architecture influenced by the great god Sobek, as well as many other great icons of Egypt. And, you’ll “make a difference” by taking one of the many live poached crocodiles at Aswan and releasing it back into the waters of the Nile, where through efforts like this it might one day thrive and reclaim its place as “Lord of the Nile.”

The second trip is through the north and south islands of New Zealand:

If you’re the kind of person who likes to get the most out of your vacation, you’ll love this trip! The itinerary is very similar to the one Mountain Travel Sobek co-founder Richard Bangs designed for the PBS series Adventures with Purpose, and it’s an action-packed discovery of both the South and North Islands of New Zealand. Go canyoneering in the spectacular canyons of the Matukituki Valley; try your hand at ice climbing at the Fox Glacier; swim with dolphins; sea kayak on a vast crater lake (with volcanoes looming on the horizon); and ever so much more, including meeting a Maori elder who will share his people’s perspective on history and natural geography. And, you’ll make a difference, by spending time on volunteer community projects that benefit New Zealand’s people and their stunning environment. More than just a vacation, this is an adventure with purpose.

I traveled with a MT Sobek group a few years ago on a sea kayaking expedition in Baja California and had an amazing time. The guides were fabulous and the other people on the tour were interesting and friendly. If we weren’t already on our way to North Africa, I just might be convinced to change my plans!

Why not check out the tours and clear your calendars!

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