I love it when people find new, easy and innovative ways to be a better human. TOMS Shoes gives away a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair you buy. Please have a mooch onto their website, treat yourself and help someone else at the same time! Lovely!

TOMS Shoes

ONE FOR ONE
TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about.

OUR STORY
In 2006 an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by caring TOMS customers. Since our beginning, TOMS has given over 400,000 pairs of shoes to children in need through the One for One model. Our ongoing community events and Shoe Drop Tours allow TOMS supporters and enthusiasts to be part of our One for One movement. Join us.

WHY SHOES?

Most children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or just getting around, these children are at risk. Walking is often the primary mode of transportation in developing countries. Children can walk for miles to get food, water, shelter and medical help. Wearing shoes literally enables them to walk distances that aren't possible barefoot. Wearing shoes prevents feet from getting cuts and sores on unsafe roads and from contaminated soil. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected. The leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted parasites which penetrate the skin through open sores. Wearing shoes can prevent this and the risk of amputation. Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential. There is one simple solution...SHOES. Of the planet's six billion people, four billion live in conditions inconceivable to many. Lets take a step towards a better tomorrow.

I've been feeling terrible recently when I've forgotten me material Waitrose bag so when I have I've attempted to carry as much as I can in my gangly arms so I can use less plastic ones. It's another way we can get involved and make a difference and Unpackaged in London is at the forefront of changing our way of shopping...check it out Article by Weheart.co.uk

Beginning life as a market stall in 2006, Unpackaged is a unique and brilliant concept that is so simple it hurts, especially considering the sheer amount of packaging waste that is ridiculously filling our planet’s landfill sites. Within the beautifully designed shop, organic whole foods, dried fruit, nuts and seeds, herbs and spices, even refillable oils, vinegars and wines are all available to place straight into your own containers, that you will have brought along with you… if you haven’t then reusable bags are available. Daily fresh bread, wonderful locally produced cheeses and other general high on quality, low on waste groceries are available too… again with the same simple concept… that food packaging is generally a pretty dumb idea and we, or more appropriately, the supermarkets, need to reeducate ourselves and reconsider the way we view unnecessary packaging in the 21st Century. We also love the charming graphic design from top agency, Multistorey, especially the fliers with gold leaf printing on bits of old cereal boxes…. artistically capturing the shop’s ethos, character and charm.

Hi Guys,
I hope you are all having a lovely day. I just signed up as an organ donor, took less than 60 seconds and it's a really easy way to make a difference to someone's life.

Click here for form

Hugs Emily x

Haiti Earthquake Response
By Eric Fichtl.


On Tuesday, Haiti was struck by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake and dozens of aftershocks. Initial reports indicate widespread destruction, with high casualties expected. Many survivors require immediate assistance with shelter, food, water, and medical attention.

The Caribbean country, sharing an island with the Dominican Republic, is already chronically impoverished and many of its people depend on foreign aid. In the aftermath of the disaster, the situation will grow more desperate.

Aid agencies, governments, and people around the world are mounting a rapid response. Here are a few ways to contribute to it:

Donate to relief efforts

• CNN has compiled a list of relief organizations seeking donations in order to deliver vital aid and logistical expertise to Haiti
• http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact/
• National Public Radio is also putting a list called "Haiti – Some Ways to Help."
• http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/01/haiti_earthquake_how_to_help_a.html?sc=fb&cc=fp

Volunteer

• Read Idealist’s article about disaster volunteering—remember that you can help the victims without even leaving your own community.
• http://www.idealist.org/volunteer/disaster.html

Further details

• Beyond the media outlets, visit ReliefWeb’s page on the Haiti earthquakes for continuing coverage of the disaster response.
• If you're a Twitter user, follow a list such as CNN's @BreakingNews/haiti-quake list or The New York Times' @NYTimes/haiti-earthquake

Do you have a band, dance troupe or other live act that would like to perform to 3000 people at Crusaid’s Walk for Life 2010? The HIV and AIDS charity Crusaid are looking for acts to entertain walkers along the route and after the Walk for Life on the main stage of our event village. Fantastic way to get INVOLVED with good work. If you might be able to donate your services, please contact Hugh Wright on 0207 539 3896 or email hughw@crusaid.org.uk

Hi Guys, Here's a link to download The Prophet by Khalil Gibran for free. http://www.downloadebooksnow.com/product.php?products_id=89
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this short book thought you might too.

Love and hugs Emily

Amnesty International supporters have used the power of words to demand freedom and justice for countless human rights defenders around the world. Our words are proof that you stand up for human rights, you never stand alone.

Amnesty International supporters have used the power of words to demand freedom and justice for countless human rights defenders around the world. Our words are proof that you stand up for human rights, you never stand alone.

“So you think I’m courageous?” she asked.
“Yes, I do.”
“Perhaps I am. But that’s because I’ve had some inspiring teachers. I’ll tell you about one of them. Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, ‘Yes, I’ll do it if it will save Liza.’
“As the transfusion progressed, he lay in a bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. he looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, ‘Will I start to die right away?’

“Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give her all his blood.
“Yes, I’ve learned courage,” she added, “because I’ve had inspiring teachers.”

Dan Millman, Author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior

I just wanted to make a little note on a great website that I've downloaded lots of free mp3s from.

"LearnOutLoud.com is your

one-stop destination for audio and video

learning. Browse over 20,000 educational audio books, MP3

downloads,podcasts, and videos."

I know a lot of the time we feel too busy to read a book or learn something new but Learn Out Loud is great. Download a couple, if there is a book you want to read download the audiobook of it, or if there is a subject or language you want to learn or even improve your current skills or partake in some personal development.

Whether your working out, having a bath, driving cycling or walking to work, use that time where otherwise it would normally be wasted.

Trade your knowledge of your English (or other native language) with people around the world who want to learn, and learn and practise languages you want to learn from native speakers through email, IM, Skype, etc.

I have used this a bit and traded my English with native speakers of Spanish, the people I have met through this site have been very nice and eager to learn and share. When you're learning a language one of the hardest things to practise is speaking and listening as you would in natural situations, so to be able to do it for free, to help others and to get help yourself, and meet interesting new people all at once is a proper bonus!

http://www.myhappyplanet.com/

Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?page=2&aid=-3&id=509141386#/group.php?gid=3167276410&ref=ts 

The Global Oneness Project is exploring how the radically simple notion of interconnectedness
can be lived in our increasingly complex world.







Since 2006, we've been traveling the globe gathering stories from creative and courageous people
who base their lives and work on the understanding that we bear great responsibility for each other
and our shared world.
Our living library of films is available for free from our website, through select broadcast outlets, and
on DVD. Through events and educational materials we offer opportunities for people to deepen their
experience with the different facets of oneness we are exploring.
We hope that by showing the diverse ways oneness is expressed—in the fields of sustainability,
conflict resolution, spirituality, art, economics, indigenous culture, and social justice—others will be
inspired to create solutions to personal and community challenges from their own lived understanding
of oneness.

Oxfam Outreach



Volunteer a few hours of your time each month to help spread the word about Oxfam's
campaigns, and get to see the latest gigs and bands for free.
What is Oxfam Outreach?
If you think that music makes the world go round then volunteering with Oxfam Outreach
might just be right for you. You're probably well aware that many big names in the music
industry regularly show their support for Oxfam, but what you might not know is that every
week, up and down the UK, Oxfam activists are campaigning at music events - talking to
gig-goers about the causes of poverty and what can be done about it.
Spare a few hours each month to help out with Outreach and you'll:

• Get to see great bands, gigs, DJs, and go to your favourite club nights all for free.
• Become involved with the music-scene in your area, and promote a good cause while you're at it
• Receive the training and support you'll need to get involved 
• Meet interesting and like-minded people

For more information and to sign up please go to:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/activists/outreach.html

Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.

Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend to unique entrepreneurs around the globe. 

Since its birth Kiva has grown from a small personal project to one of the world's largest microfinance facilitators, connecting entrepreneurs with millions of dollars in loans from hundreds of thousands of lenders around the world. 

PLEASE take the time to watch this video and see how easy it really is to change someone's life.

A Fistful Of Dollars: The Story of a Kiva.org Loan from Kieran Ball on Vimeo.



Now let us explain what microfinance is.

"Microfinance is the supply of loans, savings, and other basic financial services to the poor." (CGAP)

A microfinance institution (MFI) is:

an organization that provides microfinance services, ranging from small non-profit organizations to large commercial banks. "The World Bank estimates that there are now over 7000 microfinance institutions, serving some 16 million poor people in developing countries. The total cash turnover of MFIs world-wide is estimated at US$2.5 billion and the potential for new growth is outstanding." - Data Snapshots on Microfinance - The Virtual Library on Microcredit

Please check out the KIVA website.

For all of you currently aboding in the UK, tap in your postcode on this PAGE to see where and when you can donate locally.

You can even arrange for them to come to your work so that you and your colleagues can all donate together.

Yesterday it was reported that there was a blood shortagehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8432350.stm and so it is one of the many ways where you can really make a difference. Let me know if anyone near me wants to go and we can do it together!

Emily Involved Age

How nice is this, people freely offering their skills and assistance. Help to improve yourself is out there if you want it and you can really help others out there through who you are, what you can do and what you have learnt.
Sharing is caring x

Horsesmouth - Online Coaching and Mentoring Network

Freecycle, if you guys don't know of it yet is another really inspiring movement where people worldwide give 'stuff' that is no longer of use to them to strangers who need/want the items... for FREE. See sharing's caring!

INFO
The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,871 groups with 6,853,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up please visit:

http://www.freecycle.org/