Thursday, October 15, 2009

Teaching Kids About Climate Change

Things are definitely heating up, including the Earth! According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average Earth temperature has increased by 1° Farenheit in the past century and is predicted to increase a further 2-6° in the next. Global warming can result in severe climate conditions across the planet, including extended droughts in some areas and coastal flooding in others.

Simple changes to your own lifestyle can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere and help to reduce the effects of global warming. If you have children, you can make it a fun family project to learn about climate change and global warming. And, just like 14-year-old Alec Loorz (see below), your kids can become advocates for change.

Here are some fun sites to get your kids interested and involved:

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

October is World Fair Trade Month

The simple act of buying fairly traded products can make an enormous difference in the lives of disadvantaged families all over the world. Fair Trade ensures that artisans and workers in developing countries receive a fair and living wage for their work.

Buying fair trade products means that:

  • a child can go to school instead of going to work
  • a single mother can support herself and her children
  • enironmentally sustainable practices are used
  • employees work in a healthy and safe environment

At Mindful Hands, we purchase many of our products from the Tibetan exile community, living in India and Nepal. After losing their country to Chinese Communist invasion in 1959, the Tibetans have since been in danger of losing their unique culture. Our support of these communities ensures that Tibetan families can support themselves and also helps to preserve their cultural heritage by bringing traditional handicrafts to American markets.

To learn more about the Fair Trade movement, check out these resources:

To learn more about Tibet and the Tibetan exile community, check out: