Blog Action Day

Today is Blog Action Day!

Today thousands of bloggers around the world are blogging about the environment.

I know issues surrounding our little green planet can be contentious to say the least. I am sure many people find the concept of global warming confusing and insurmountable.

What can we do? Is there anything TO do? Is this all one colossal conspiracy to get Al Gore in office?

So today...the lights are going off and the veggies are coming out at the Acting Responsible household. We area going to work on minimum electrical power, turn down the heat and eat a low footprint meal containing organically grown local produce for dinner! YAY US!

Here are a few fabulous resources that not only help you make your OWN decision on climate change and global warming, but will help you to do YOUR part to keep our planet happy, healthy and here for a long long time...

What are YOU going to do???

We Can Live Green
A fantastic portal for all things you may need to go and live green. From cosmetics to food to travel, the folks at We Can Live Green have put together an amazing list of resources!

Greentech Media
Have some money burning a hole in your pocket that you need to invest RIGHT NOW? The folks at Greentech Media have your back!

DeSmogBlog
The folks at DeSmogBlog are aiming to clear the PR Pollution that clouds climate science. Not really sure what to believe? The pr pundits at DeSmogBlog can help you find all the information you may need on BOTH sides of the debate!!!

A-List-Defective Yeti

One of my favourite bloggers is Defective Yeti. This blog is penned by Matthew Baldwin, a brilliantly erudite writer from Seattle, Washington with a fabulously biting sense of humour.

His posts range from random poetry, to photoshopped sillies, to posts on his autistic son "The Squiggle".

His blog post from a few days ago doesn't even come close to showing his writing chops, but I appreciated the title and the content. Its a regular "series" by him...well regular in that he has done the "Bad Review Revue" a few times...but nothing you can set your clock by.

I give you...Defective Yeti! Explore him...read him...send him treats (well, I don't know about the treats..I know I like treats, but he may not feel the same way. Just send me treats then)

The Bad Review Revue

The name is Bun...James Bun

I am a HUGE James Bond fan. My fiance bought me a tattoo for my birthday last year (which I still haven't gotten...yes, I am bad...) and the tattoo I want is a caricature of myself as a Bond Girl. Fab.

For your Tuesday viewing pleasure, I give you the Angry Alien Productions 30 second Bunny Theatre presentation of a James Bond Bunny Mini-Medley. I love the 30 second Bunny Theatre productions-my favourite was A Christmas Story, that has now been replaced by the ode to Bond.

Joyous rapture...with bunnies!

Its a time wasting Friday

I don't want to work today AT ALL!

I have written so many requests and grants the last few days my fingers and brain are cramped. Why oh why is there no money fairy that can fly down and hurl funds at my small and worthwhile non-profit...why???

I am feeling a bit "social activitst" today, so bear with me. I have included some fun ones as well for web exploring pleasure...

Meet the world
Icaro Doria is a 25 year old Brazilian artist who is part of a team of artists that produced a unique and moving flag campaign. The artists researched relevant, global, and current facts and, thus, came up with the idea to put new meanings to the colours of the flags. They used real data taken from the websites of Amnesty International and the UNO. There are eight flags that portray very current topics like the division of opinions about the war in Iraq in the United States, the violence against women in Africa, the social inequality in Brazil, the drug trafficking in Columbia, Aids and malaria in Angola, etc.

Ceres
Put your money where your mouth is! Ceres is a coalition of investor groups, environmental organizations and investment funds engaging directly with companies on environmental and social issues. Ceres companies seek to attain long-term business value and to improve management quality through stakeholder engagement, public disclosure and performance improvements.

Breathing Earth
Oy!

Imagine Canada
Canada is second only to Holland in the amount of non-profit organizations that exist within the country. Millions of Canadians work in the non-profit sector, yet a very tiny percent of BIG MONEY Canadians or corporations donate to or support any non-profits-yes, many participate in United Way giving campaigns, but few see outside that box (yes, that is my own personal soap box...I appreciate all the United Way does but many companies won't support or sponsor small organizations BECAUSE they give to the United Way-an organization my small non-profit gets no funding from). Imagine Canada focuses on getting non profits, philanthropists and businesses working together through great programs like the Caring Company program and providing low cost access to foundation databases.

Raising the Roof
Raising the Roof is Canada's only national charity dedicated to long-term solutions to homelessness. They:

• Build awareness about homelessness and what can be done.
• Raise funds for community groups working to alleviate homelessness.
• Give corporations, organizations and people from all walks of life ways to develop and join in strategies to address and prevent homelessness nationally and in their own communities. This includes providing the opportunity for local agencies and communities to learn from one another and share action-oriented prevention strategies.

AND the toques they sell are FABULOUS! I wear mine to football practise!!!

Tastespotting
A webportal of food blogs, fabulous kitchen websites et al. ITS FOOD PORN PEOPLE! I am SUCH a foodie and one of my secret aspirations is to be a fabulously wealthy personal chef or own my own extremely hip restaurant...sigh...if only I was made of money...

Knitty
In addition to being a foodie, I have a secret love of crafting and knitting. If only there were 87 hours in a day and I had an attention span longer than a squirrel...

Etsy
See above...but this way, other people do it for me! I got an incredibly cool ring from there made out of a Guiness beer can on sterling silver. It lets me wear my Irishness/booziness with pride!

Adero Design
I cannot describe how much I want this chair/couch/chaise thingy...I also cannot describe how much my fiance would HATE it!

Enjoy...

Greening the planet-Links to love

In honour of Valentine's week, lets LOVE OUR PLANET!

Here are some great links and resources to help you be more responsible, sustainable, Gore-able, and earth friendly!

Alternative Consumer
The Alternative Consumer is for the next wave of smart consumers … chic, savvy shoppers who want to integrate more “green” into their shopping lives. Promoting cutting-edge design, progressive initiatives and wise alternatives that stimulate a positive impact on the environment — one purchase at a time! This site is great for those who want to make informed buying decisions, and pursue more responsible, eco-conscious lifestyles.

Ready Made Magazine
I love this magazine. All about repurposing those items in your home you just don't know WHAT to do with. One of this month's project is making a coat rack out of wooden hangers. It looks fab and is a great space saver. They provide excellent green resources and really encourage a recycled living attitude. AND encourage you too look hip, fab and stylish while doing it!

Green Communities Canada
Green Communities Canada is a national network of community-based non-profit organizations that deliver innovative environmental programs and services, with a focus on household and community action. Green Communities Canada supports member organizations in working together to achieve environmental sustainability, including healthy ecosystems and communities, sustainable resource use, and clean air, water, and soil.

Green Options
Green Options provides great tips, tools and options for Greening the Good Life. With a blog, discussion forum, Green Life Guide and all the cool swag you can get your hands on that are green, useful and practical! They are an excellent guide through all the green websites and items that have popped up over the years.

David Suzuki Foundation
You can't beat the Doc when it comes to environmental responsibility. This guy ROCKS! This website provides some great tips and tools for being more green in your life. And seriously, if you can EVER go see him speak DO IT! He is a fantastically enigmatic speaker-there is a reason he is in the top ten as the GREATEST CANADIAN (and I still can't believe Don Cherry was on that list...Terry Fox, Tommy Douglas and DON CHERRY? Canadians have some serious hockey issues)!

One Day Vancouver
One Day is a web portal about taking small steps to reduce energy use, at home and on the road, to make Vancouver the cleanest, greenest, healthiest city in the world.

HR MacMillan Space Centre
Okay...I know what you are thinking. HUH? The Space Centre? Thats right...the Space Centre. The Space Centre is moving in a new direction and is looking at how to better "our space in space". The Sustainable Spring Break Event promises to be very cool...I hear rumours of great prizes!

Enjoy! Explore! And give a little bit o' love to that big old globe we call home!

Web adventures for the week

Its the most Fridayish Friday EVER! I have a cold, I am having a REALLY bad hair day, and I so don't want to work.

So...lets explore that wild and wacky world wide web!

Dance Sister Dance
You can star in your OWN Scissor Sisters Video! Add a picture of yourself, choose the outfit and accessories and there you go! OH THE FUN TO BE HAD!!!

Ian's Shoelace Site
I really don't understand this. Its an entire site dedicated to tying shoelaces. This confuses me to no end. I thought a shoelace was just a shoelace. I am most concerned. But it gets worse...

Snkr Frkr Magazine
Another site dedicated to shoelaces and the sneakers that hold them. The owner of this site interviews sneaker customizers and gives mad shout outs to "Professor Shoelace", whom I have linked to above. I don't understand any of this.

Things My Boyfriend Says
The affianced and I want to hang out with this couple. They are eerily similar to us. They may be the pint sized version of us on the other side of the country. I think its the French Canadian male thing-odd perverse senses of humour and fear of spiders.
I quote from her site...this conversation could have happened in my home...

me: I think it's funny and cute that I get into bed and put my cold feet on you to warm them up and you frown but you don't say anything.
e: That's because I'm busy thinking loudly about hating you

Save the Ta-Tas
My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago-and she kicked its ass I am proud to say. Because of this, I have become alarmingly aware of all breast cancer related merchandise and feel the need to purchase it instantly. It is only through sheer power of will and fear that my affianced may kill me if I bring home any more chatckes that I restrain.

I am shocked and appalled that I didn't find these t-shirts sooner. I would have worn one CONSTANTLY during mom's surgery and treatment and at all of her Dragon Boating events (and yes, if you go to the site, you will notice that my mother and all of her boating buddies will be in a feature film. How cool is THAT?). Five percent of EVERY sale goes toward breast cancer research. AND they have shirts for boys too! WOO HOO!

Web adventures for the week

THANK GOD ITS FRIDAY-WOO HOO!
Time to break out the mouse and search for entertainment

A4 Papercut
This is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Beautiful paper cut art...love it.

Mark Jenkins
Mark Jenkins is an artist in the states that does really interesting street installations, many of which involve people/animals made of tape. A bit weird, but cool too!

Threadless
Worlds best t-shirts. Seriously. AWESOME! Threadless is an ongoing t-shirt design competition where the web community is the judge. The winning designs are printed weekly and are available only as supplies last! Winners also receive over $2000 in cash and prizes. Between the affianced and I, we own about 10 t-shirts! LOVES IT!

Movie a Minute
Let's face it. There's a lot of movies out there and very little time to watch them in. Well sit back and relax, because your troubles are solved! The good folks at Movie-A-Minute have come up with a solution. They've taken several classic and contemporary movies and extracted the important stuff, cutting out all the filler. What a bonus!

The Sarcasm Society
These people are my new best friends. I may have myself a card printed with this web address to hand out to people when they are confused by my unique blend of sarcasm. Joyous!

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
The Church of the FSM was first brought to light in an open letter to the Kansas School Board in response to the school district hearings to decide whether or not Intelligent Design should be taught as an alternative to evolution. These guys have also developed some interesting theories on the rate of global warming vs the number of pirates. It seems there is a direct correlation between the present lack of pirates and our tragic state of climate change. WHO KNEW!!!