Please Do Not Tap On the Glass

Please contribute to the Wildlife Direct Fuel Wood for Refugees campaign! We need $20,000 to buy fuel wood for refugees of the Congo war to prevent further destruction of Virunga National Park and the gorilla habitat by charcoal traders!

My friend, MsOrganicLady, recently posted in her blog about “The Story of Stuff” by Annie Leonard.

The site features a fast-paced, 20-minute video hosted by Leonard that explains the “materials economy” – where our stuff comes from, how it’s produced and the waste that’s created, what happens to it after we buy it, how we dispose of it, and how the production of our stuff affects other countries.

She specifically mentions “coltan” mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Congo war that ended in 2003 and caused the deaths of 3.8 million people was sparked by the exportation of coltan. According to Leonard, 30 percent of Congo’s children drop out of school to work in coltan mines. They’re paying for your electronics with their futures and biodiversity.

What’s coltan, you ask? You got a cell phone, DVD player, computer, or game console? Then you’ve got coltan.

WATCH THE VIDEO. You’ll learn a lot of new facts about the global effects of American consumerism, the toxic chemicals in your home, and how the rape of our planet for STUFF affects everything.

After the video be sure to read “Another Way: 10 Big and Little Things You Can Do. Here’s the list without the added info so CLICK THAT LINK!

1. Power down!
2. Waste Less.
3. Talk to Everyone About These Issues.
4. Make Your Voice Heard.
5. DeTox your body, DeTox your home, and DeTox the Economy.
6. Unplug (the TV and internet) and Plug In (the community).
7. Park your car and walk … and when necessary MARCH!
8. Change your lightbulbs…and then, change your paradigm.
9. Recycle your trash…and, recycle your elected officials.
10. Buy Green, Buy Fair, Buy Local, Buy Used, and most importantly, Buy Less.

GET BUSY.

s.

Filed under: conservation, environment, global warming pollution, green living