Are some words so dangerous they must be locked away?

The world needs heroes and it’s better they be harmless men like me than villains like Hitler.

- Albert Einstein

The question is currently an issue of fierce debate in Germany where a leading historian has called for Adolf Hitler‘s anti-Semitic screed Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”) to be published openly for the first time since 1945. It is available for sale in Britain and the US, as well as through the internet, yet many people still object to the idea of it appearing in bookshops in Germany, the birthplace of Nazism.

It’s an understandable concern, but misplaced. Banning Mein Kampf only lends it a glamour it does not diserve. Making it freely available would remove its mystique and enable more Germans to discover for themselves quite how appalling this book is.

It’s not only evil, but badly written, repetitious, anti-factual, rambling and turgid, the testimony of a furious, self-pitying failure with a slender grasp on reality. Publishing Mein Kampf would demonstrate that Germany has reached the point where it can look on the evil of Nazism with a confident disdain instead of a lingering fear.

What you can do

Read Mein Kampf. Make-up your own mind, however realise that:

Democracy and censorship have never been happy bedfellows. Freedom of the press and freedom of speech are democratic principles intrinsically linked to a functioning egalitarian society.

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An interesting post over on Zen Habits prompted me to dig out my occupational psychology notes, specifically those to do with effective learning.

Leo is an advocate of the “just do it approach”, but that may not always be appropraite.

Consider, for example, the David Kolb model based on Experiential Learning Theory, as explained in his book Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development

Our learning style is a based on your preferences in approaching a task and how you respond to the experence.

So do you prefer gaining new information by thinking, analyzing, or planning (‘abstract conceptualization’ – ‘thinking‘) or through experiencing the ‘concrete, tangible, felt qualities of the world’ (‘concrete experience’ – ‘feeling’)?

Then do you prefer to watch others involved in the experience and reflecting on what happens (‘reflective observation’ – ‘watching’) or just  ‘jump straight in’ and just doing it (‘active experimentation’ – ‘doing’)?

According to Kolb’s model, the ideal learning process engages all four of these modes in response to situational demands. For learning to be effective, all four of these approaches must be incorporated.

As individuals attempt to use all four approaches, however, they tend to develop strengths in one experience-grasping approach and one experience-transforming approach.

The resulting learning styles are combinations of the individual’s preferred approaches. This adds additional dimensions to the basic cycle presented:

Learning Styles

These learning styles are as follows:

1. Converger;
2. Diverger;
3. Assimilator;
4. Accomodator;

• Convergers are characterized by abstract conceptualization and active experimentation. They are good at making practical applications of ideas and using deductive reasoning to solve problem
• Divergers tend toward concrete experience and reflective observation. They are imaginative and are good at coming up with ideas and seeing things from different perspectives
• Assimilators are characterized by abstract conceptualization and reflective observation. They are capable of creating theoretical models by means of inductive reasoning
• Accommodators use concrete experience and active experimentation. They are good at actively engaging with the world and actually doing things instead of merely reading about and studying them^.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Diverger

Strengths

• imaginative thinker
• uses own experience
• looks at situations from many different perspectives
• brings coherence to a mass of information
• sees relationships between things, grasps the whole picture
• wide-ranging interests
• good at listening and sharing
• likes to get involved in the experience/information directly and then reflect on it
• enjoys brainstorming and generation of ideas/altematives
• likes social interaction/discussion/group work
• aware of people’s feelings
• wants to see the whole picture before examining the parts

Weaknesses

• frustrated by action plans
• waits too long before getting started
• easily distracted
• can be too easy going
• sometimes indecisive
• cannot see the trees for the wood
• forgets important details
• only works in bursts of energy

Assimilator

Strengths

• precise
• good at creating theoretical models
• very thorough
• sets clear goals
• enjoys ideas and thinking them through
• analytical, logical
• interested in facts and details
• applies theories to problems/situations
• good at bringing different theoretical viewpoints to critique a situation
• examines facts carefully
• likes collecting data
• sequential thinker
• specialist interest
• avid reader
• uses past experience constructively
• sees links between ideas
• thinks things through
• well organised
• plans in advance
• enjoys didactic teaching
• happy to rework essays/notes
• works well alone

Weaknesses

• needs too much information before starting work or giving opinion
• reluctant to try anything new
• likes to do things in a set way, lets go of the past reluctantly
• gets bogged down in theory
• does not trust feelings, trusts only logic
• needs to know what the experts think
• overcautious, will not take risks
• not very comfortable in group discussion
• does not make use of friends/teachers as resources

Converger

Strengths

• practical application of ideas
• decisive
• integrates theory and practice
• enjoys solving problems in a common-sense way
• likes to try things out
• feels happiest when there is a correct answer/solution
• draws references from experience
• good  at using skills and tinkering with things
• focuses clearly on specific problems
• able to see where theory has any practical relevance
• moves from parts to whole
• thorough
• works well alone
• goal setting and action plans
• strategic thinking
• knows how to find information
• gets things done on time
• not easily distracted
• organises time well
• systematic notes/files
• reads instructions carefully

Weaknesses

• intolerant of woolly ideas
• not always patient with other people’s suggestions
• resents being given answers
• tends to think their way is the only way of doing something
• needs to control and do it alone
• details get in the way sometimes, cannot see the wood for the trees
• not good at suggesting altematives/lacks imagination
• getting the job done sometimes overrides doing it well
• not concerned very much about presentation of work
• needs to know how things they are asked to do will help in real life

Accommodator

Strengths

• testing experience, trial and error
• committed to action
• very flexible
• wide-ranging interests
• enjoys change, variety
• willing to take risks
• looks for hidden possibilities and excitement
• not worried about getting it wrong by volunteering/asking questions
• gets others involved
• learns from others, quite prepared to ask for help
• gets involved in something which sparks their interest
• uses gut reactions
• often gets right answer without logical justification
• wants to see whole picture before examining the parts

Weaknesses

• tries too many things at once
• tends not to plan work
• poor time management, leaves things till the last minute
• not very interested in details
• does not check work or rework it
• jumps in too quickly without thinking things through
• sometimes seen as pushy.

Which learning style are you?

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• Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the most productive of them all? (academicproductivity.com)
• Learning at the Speed of Change (knowledgefordevelopment.com)

Image via Wikipedia

Interpersonal relationships are dynamic systems that change continuously during their existence. Like living organisms, relationships have a beginning, a lifespan, and an end. They tend to grow and improve gradually, as people get to know each other and become closer emotionally, or they gradually deteriorate as people drift apart and form new relationships with others. One of the most influential models of relationship development was proposed by psychologist, George Levinger.

This model was formulated to describe heterosexual, adult romantic relationships, but it has been applied to other kinds of interpersonal relations as well. According to the model, the natural development of a relationship follows five stages:

1. Acquaintance - Becoming acquainted depends on previous relationships, physical proximity, first impressions, and a variety of other factors. If two people begin to like each other, continued interactions may lead to the next stage, but acquaintance can continue indefinitely.

2. Buildup - During this stage, people begin to trust and care about each other. The need for compatibility and such filtering agents as common background and goals will influence whether or not interaction continues.

3. Continuation - This stage follows a mutual commitment to a long term friendship, romantic relationship, or marriage. It is generally a long, relative stable period. Nevertheless, continued growth and development will occur during this time. Mutual trust is important for sustaining the relationship.

Image via Wikipedia

4. Deterioration - Not all relationships deteriorate, but those that do tend to show signs of trouble. Boredom, resentment, and dissatisfaction may occur, and individuals may communicate less and avoid self-disclosure. Loss of trust and betrayals may take place as the downward spiral continues.

5. Termination - The final stage marks the end of the relationship, either by death in the case of a healthy relationship, or by separation.”

Here are the quotes:

“The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships.”
Anthony Robbins

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one”
C.S Lewis

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”
Anais Nin

“People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.”
Joseph F. Newton Men

Image via Wikipedia

”It is of practical value to learn to like yourself. Since you must spend so much time with yourself you might as well get some satisfaction out of the relationship.”
Norman Vincent Peale

“As you think so shall you be! Since you cannot physically experience another person, you can only experience them in your mind. Conclusion: All of the other people in your life are simply thoughts in your mind. Not physical beings to you, but thoughts. Your relationships are all in how you think about the other people of your life. Your experience of all those people is only in your mind. Your feelings about your lovers come from your thoughts. For example, they may in fact behave in ways that you find offensive. However, your relationship to them when they behave offensively is not determined by their behavior, it is determined only by how you choose to relate to that behavior. Their actions are theirs, you cannot own them, you cannot be them, you can only process them in your mind.”
Wayne Dyer

Image via Wikipedia

“It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting.”

Epictetus

“Some of the biggest challenges in relationships come from the fact that most people enter a relationship in order to get something: they’re trying to find someone who’s going to make them feel good. In reality, the only way a relationship will last is if you see your relationship as a place that you go to give, and not a place that you go to take.”
Anthony Robbins

“Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.”
Swedish Proverb

“Never idealize others. They will never live up to your expectations. Don’t over-analyse your relationships. Stop playing games. A growing relationship can only be nurtured by genuineness.”
Leo F. Buscaglia

Got a relationship tip? Leave a comment below.

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But you don’t need to build a zero-carbon home to make an impact or even feed some cows of garlic to have a reduce this and save thousands of dollars too. Here’s 10 easy steps that make a real difference:

Image via Wikipedia

1. Use the web to switch to a green energy supplier

Effectiveness Rating: [rating:4.5]

Currently UK suppliers are only required by law to buy green energy as 3% of their total spend but, of course, you can always buy more:

• Check which tariff suits you best at Green Electricity Marketplace
• Find out how you can make the change and still save money with uSwitch.com
• Use the Yahoo energy calculator to calculate your current electricity spend and find out the cost of switching to a green plan: Compare green electricity prices with Yahoo

2. Change your lightbulbs to Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs)

Effectiveness Rating: [rating:4.5]

Lighting accounts for up to 50% of your electric bill. The International Energy Agency estimated last year that lighting accounts for 19% of total global electricity production, resulting in emissions equal to 70% of global car emissions.

Many retailers have already pledged to stop selling inefficient light bulbs by 2011 but some have gone even further – Habitat will phase them out by 2009 and Currys have already stopped placing orders for fresh stock.

Fluorescents are a better choice. They last longer and will save about 5% on your monthly electric bill. LED’s are even better, but currently a little harder to find. While we are talking about lights, turn them off when you leave the room.

CFLs use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. They also use about 75 percent less heat, so they’re safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.

You don’t have to compromise on style when switching – energy efficient bulbs now come in a range of shapes and sizes including traditional globes, candle bulbs and reflectors:

• Try Pro Eco low energy bulbs.
• Help Tesco meet their target of selling 10 million energy saving light bulbs in the coming year: half-price energy-saving light bulbs are now 3 for 2!
• Sign-up to http://www.banthebulb.org a campaign to save money and help the environment by using energy efficient light bulbs.

3. Use less hot water

Effectiveness Rating: [rating:4]

Heating hot water makes up around 40% of an average power bill (for households using electricity for space heating and hot water). Small improvements can result in big savings.

1. Lowering the temperature setting: The ideal temperature setting at the hot water cylinder is 60 C (or 140 F). Higher temperatures only increase your power bill and can scald children (it only takes one second at 70 C). You will find the thermostat under the protective lid on the side of or underneath the cylinder. It can usually be adjusted with a screwdriver. Many thermostats are not very accurate. Test that the water comes out of the tap within +/- 5 C (+/-12 F) of the temperature setting.
2. Tempering valves: A temperature setting below 60 degrees Celsius can increase the risk of Legionnaire’s disease. A plumber can install a tempering valve to automatically mix hot and cold water to a safer temperature, saving heating costs.
3. Water saving shower heads:A water saving, or low-flow showerhead uses less than 6-10 litres of water a minute, compared with 10 – 20 litres for an ordinary showerhead. Most new showerheads for sale now are standard low-flow showerheads. A low-flow showerhead costs approximately £12, is easy to install and can be used on all pressure systems. To test what type of showerhead you have: turn the shower on at normal shower temperature and put a bucket under it for one minute. Record the number of litres in the bucket. If it is more than 6-10 litres per minute, it is not a low-flow showerhead.
4. Take showers not baths: Showers use less hot water than baths. An average bath takes 300 litres of water, while a 10-minute shower uses only 60 litres with a low-flow showerhead (100 – 150 litres with an ordinary showerhead).
5. Leaky hot water pipes and taps: Leaking hot water pipes and taps can account for higher power bills. Fixing the problem is much cheaper than paying a higher power bill.
6. Cylinder wraps: Hot water cylinders that are not A-grade cylinders (check if there is an ‘A’ sticker on the side of the cylinder) will benefit from extra insulation. The older the cylinder, the more it will benefit, as insulation levels have increased over the years.
   A cylinder wrap costs less than $100 and saves up to $65 a year. It is easy to install yourself. It is much more economical to dry clothes on the line or in the clothes dryer than to use the heat of the hot water cylinder.
7. Hot water pipe lag: Hot water pipes lose heat rapidly before they reach the kitchen, bathroom or laundry taps. To prevent the heat loss you can simply wrap them with pipe lagging material along the whole length of the pipe. The lagging will also shorten the time you have to wait for hot water to get to your taps.If the pipe is not accessible, wrap at least the first metre of hot water pipe coming out of the hot water cylinder. Don’t forget to wrap wetback connections as well.
8. Gas heating:Half of the power used for electric hot water cylinders is used for maintaining the right temperature. Gas hot water heating only heats the water on demand.When you are looking at gas for space heating, check if gas hot water heating is a good option for you.

4. Don’t leave your appliances on standby

Effectiveness Rating: [rating:3.5]
One million tonnes of greenhouse gases are pumped into the atmosphere every year by appliances left on standby in the UK. When it comes to our myriad electrical appliances, off doesn’t really mean off. Those little red lights or clock displays are still sucking out energy.

Just because that cellphone charger doesn’t have a phone attached to it doesn’t mean it’s not drawing energy. Devices such as televisions with standby modes can use up to half the power they would draw when turned on. Don’t just turn something off: unplug it.

Buy a power strip to plug everything into so that you can turn everything off at the mains with just the one switch. And if you’re really in to high tech solutions, you can try the Intelliplug which automatically powers off your computer peripherals (monitor, speakers etc) when you switch off your PC.

You could also build your own timers for around £1.50.

5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Effectiveness Rating: [rating:3.5]

You can recycle most things and it’s is beneficial in two ways:

1. it reduces the inputs (energy and raw materials) to a production system, and
2. reduces the amount of waste produced for disposal.

On average every person in the UK throws away their own body weight in waste every seven weeks. We all know we should recycle more but we can’t always be bothered – and where do you put the stuff that’s not going in the bin?

Did you know that:

• 1 recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours.
• 1 recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes.
• 1 recycled plastic bottle would save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 3 hours.
• Up to 60% of the rubbish that ends up in the dustbin could be recycled.
• The unreleased energy contained in the average dustbin each year could power a television for 5,000 hours.
• On average, 16% of the money you spend on a product pays for the packaging, which ultimately ends up as rubbish.
• As much as 50% of waste in the average dustbin could be composted.

Reduce

• don’t buy heavily packed goods
• buy ‘loose’ food rather than pre-packaged
• stop junk mail and faxes through the Mailing Preference Service
• cancel delivery of unwanted newspapers, donate old magazines to waiting rooms
• use your own shopping bags when visiting the supermarket or use the doorstep delivery service
• grow your own vegetables. Many varieties can be grown in small gardens
• use a nappy laundry service, and save disposable ones for holidays and long journeys
• take a packed lunch to work or school in a reusable plastic container

Reuse

• reuse carrier bags. Each person in the UK uses an average of 134 plastic bags each year
• reuse scrap paper for writing notes, etc
• reuse envelopes – stick labels over the address
• rent or borrow items you don’t use very often – e.g. party decorations and crockery. Some supermarkets hire out glasses for parties, saving on disposable cups
• donate old computer and audio visual equipment to community groups or schools
• buy rechargeable items instead of disposable ones e.g. batteries and cameras
• buy things in refillable containers e.g. washing powders
• buy concentrated products which use less packaging
• take old clothes and books to charity shops, or have a car boot sale
• look for long lasting (and energy efficient) appliances when buying new electrical items – ensure these are well-maintained to increase product life cycle

Recycle

• choose products in packaging which you know can be recycled
• compost – lots of kitchen waste can be composted. Contact your local council for details of local composting schemes and details of any compost bin sales. Click here for further advice on composting in your garden
• buy products made from recycled materials. Most supermarkets now stock a wide range of these items, click here for some examples
• find out where your nearest recycling facilities are by clicking here

6. Use a smart meter

Effectiveness Rating: [rating:3]

A smart meter is a little device that takes the electricity meter out from under the stairs to tell you how much electricity you are using as you are using it. It has found a permanent home on the kitchen worktop and I can now tell which appliances and lights are on around the house just by looking at it. the information provided by the devices can revolutionise the way households consume energy, and can reduce demand by up to 10%.

Smart meters, which measure your energy consumption, are a great way of keeping track of how much energy you’re using. When you can actually see how much carbon you’re wasting every time you switch on the TV or make a cup of coffee, it will make you think twice. The Electrisave and the stylish DIY Kyoto are portable monitors you can take from room to room to see at a glance which appliances are devouring the most electricity.

7. Go easy on the air conditioning

Effectiveness Rating: [rating:3]
Although not as acute a problem here in the UK as, for example, the USA, where according to the Edison Electric Institute (EEI):

60% of a typical summer electric bill is devoted to air conditioning, and that could jump to 75% based on the weather.

In other words, the hotter it gets from climate change, the greater the significance of air conditioning to the total power bill.

You could buy a energy-saving air conditioner or just make one yourself for around £17

In any event, air conditioning filters can get dirty in a matter of days. An air conditioner with a clogged filter has to work harder, which means higher power bills and the creation of more greenhouse emissions. Running clean, you can save up to £80 each year. You’ll also enjoy the benefit of fewer allergy causing particles in the air, and a more comfortable home or office.

8. Give up your car

Effectiveness Rating: [rating:5]

Via ::The Economist

Driving is an addiction like smoking and drinking, but seemingly much harder to give up. It may be that the alternatives are just too awful to contemplate.

Despite congestion, the rocketing cost of fuel and the dire warnings of environmentalists, we are just as dependent on our cars as we were more than a decade ago, according to a report from the RAC Foundation. Half of us have never used the bus.

Car dependency has increased steadily since 1993, except in London. The distances travelled by car have increased by 17 per cent.
Three quarters of us have a driving licence, up from two thirds just over a decade ago.
Nearly two thirds of women drive, compared with less than half in 1993, while in the same period the proportion of men behind the wheel has risen from 75 to 80 per cent.

Experiment with giving up your car, you may find it easier than you think. Our cars produce 11% of the country’s carbon emissions so there are big savings to be made here.

Try “Lift sharing“, “ride-sharing”, “car-sharing” or “[tag]carpooling[/tag]” -it doesn’t matter what you call it, it boils down to the same thing – two or more people sharing a car to get from A to B rather than driving alone. The benefits are numerous both for yourself, your family, your community and the environment. You save money on running costs, you save time looking for parking spaces and you help to save the planet by reducing your carbon footprint.

If everyone who drives on their own to work every day were to catch a lift with someone just once a week, the commuting car journeys would reduce by 20%! And both parties would save money!

Car Preparation

• Weight - reduce weight, and fuel consumption, by simply removing unnecessary items from your car that do not need to be there for a particular journey. These can include buggies, golf clubs, tools, footwear and so on.
• Remove roof racks – the wind resistance dramatically increases fuel consumption.
• Tyre pressure - ensure that you have the correct tyre pressure. Every 6psi the tyre is under-inflated the fuel consumption increases by 1%.
• Maintain your car – check that your engine is properly tuned as this improves performance and limits fuel consumption.
• Refuelling - avoid overfilling the tank as spilled fuel evaporates and releases harmful emissions.
• Check your windows and lights – ensuring that your windows are clean and your lights are working will make your journey safer.

Journey Planning

• Consider planning as many jobs as possible in one trip – Aim to get as much as you can out of the journey. Five jobs in one trip is better for the environment than five trips! Use the following journey planners:
  • http://www.transportdirect.info/
  • http://maps.google.com/
  • http://www.uk.map24.com/
• Do not use the car for short journeys - if your journey is less than half a mile then walk or cycle.
• Avoid congested areas – and so reduce travel time.
• Only travel in the rush hour – if you absolutely have to.
• Time shift your journey – a twenty minute >delay could make all the difference to time in the car.

During the Journey

Where possible drive with the windows up - to reduce drag and make your fuel consumption more efficient.

• Try not to be in a hurry – Stressed driving can be erratic and is uneconomical. Simply relax and try to enjoy the trip.
• Try not to beat the lights – The chances are that if you hit a red light and then try to beat all the following lights, you will rush but miss them anyway. If you drive at a more sedate speed you will usually find that by the time you reach the next light it will have turned green again.
• Air conditioning should be limited - as it uses more fuel.
• Switch off the engine – if you think you will stationary for more than two minutes.
• Keep your speed down – as driving at 50-60 mph means your emissions will be lowest. Driving over 70mph will rapidly increase your emissions. It can cost you up to 25% more in fuel to drive at 70mph compared to 50mph.
• Avoid unnecessary revving – or idling of the engine as this uses more fuel.
• Harsh acceleration – and braking can use up to 30% more fuel and can cause increased wear and tear on the vehicle.
• Control your speed – as travelling at less than 15mph creates the most pollution. As your speed increases up to 60mph your level of pollution decreases. Travelling over 60mph increases your level of pollution again.
• Careful motorway driving - will improve safety and traffic flow. The concertina effect caused by one motorist breaking sharply often results in traffic slowing to a near stop due to the delayed reaction of drivers behind. If we try to observe the car three or four ahead and give ourselves some distance from the car in front we can anticipate and judge the necessary speed. When you see a car break up ahead, simply remove your foot off the accelerator. By the time you get close to the car in front the chances are that they will have speeded up. You can almost make yourself responsible for stopping the concertina.

Buying Cars

• Buy nearly new – Try not to buy a new car unless you absolutely have to. Be aware however, that newer vehicles pollute less and tend to be more environmentally efficient.
• Buy infrequently as the second-hand car market is very imperfect – It is best to choose a car where you know its history. It is even economic to spend more repairing a vehicle than its market value. Reliability is the key. Once a vehicle becomes unreliable sell it.
• Size is important – Buy as small as you can for your day to day needs. You may decide you need a big car because you have relatives that live over 400 miles away. If you only visit them twice a year however, and most of your driving is done in a 50-mile radius a big car may be inefficient. By buying a smaller car for the majority of driving and renting a bigger car for the long trips you will save money.
• Consider sharing a car between the family instead of running two or more cars.
• Buy a fuel-economic car – The fuel economy of similar sized cars using the same type of fuel can vary as much as 45%. The ETA’s Car Buyer’s Guide gives an accurate assessment of all cars on the market.

Green Driving Products

• Fuel Saving Tyres – Firestone have applied design and engineering to create these fuel saving tires for most types of car. Click here for more information.
• Environmentally Friendly Batteries – Varta Automotive are not only the world experts in car batteries, they also go to great lengths to adopt a green approach where possible through out all stages of development and production. The ETA recommends Varta as the greenest battery around. Click here for more information.
• Friendly Car Polish – Zymol Cleaner Wax is not just a 1st class product for cars, vans and motorcycles, its natural formula has no harsh chemical solvents, it is water-based and blended without hydrocarbons. Contains carnauba wax, beeswax, vitamin E, aloe Vera, banana and coconut extracts and almond meal to produce a superior shine and durability. Click here for more information.

9. Buy fair trade

Effectiveness Rating: [rating:4.5]

Fair trade is an organized social movement which promotes standards for international labour, environmentalism, and social policy in areas related to production of Fairtrade labelled and unlabelled goods. The movement focuses in particular on exports from developing countries to developed countries.

Despite the criticism, fair trade is having a major global impact on pay and conditions. Here are some of the companies that are market leaders in this fight:

• Edun - socially conscious, high-end fashion for men and women; www.edun.ie
• People Tree – Fairtrade and environmentally friendly fashion; www.peopletree.co.uk
• American Apparel – sweatshop-free casual clothes; www.american apparel.net
• Terra Plana – artisan footwear company; www.terra-plana.co.uk
• Kuyichi - Fairtrade denim from the Netherlands; www.kuyichi.com
• Farmers markets – to find your nearest suppliers of locally produced food, go to www.farmersmarkets.net
• Co-op - supermarket chain with strong ethical policies; www.co-opfairtrade.co.uk
• Waitrose - strong supporter of Fairtrade; www.waitrose.com
• M&S - making an effort to supply Fairtrade goods where it can
• Cred Jewellery – the only Fairtrade suppliers in the UK; www.cred.tv
• Asda, John Lewis, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Somerfield all sell some Fairtrade flowers
• Body Shop – clearly labels fairly traded products with a “Community Trade” stamp
• Oxfam - some stores sell Clean, a range of Fairtrade handmade soaps

10. Get active

Effectiveness Rating: [rating:3.5]

The public generally has quite a defeatist outlook on the issues which confront us. They seem so huge, so difficult to deal with that it’s hard to believe that anything we do will have a meaningful impact. We have a sour cynicism about politics and life in general. Perhaps, the biggest factor may be the internet. Instead of gathering to interact in massive rallies on the street, today’s activists fire off emails or update their blogs – like me!

Blogs might reach a lot of people, but they siphon away energy and indignation into angry words, instead of action visible to all. The vastly improved communication potential of blogging is actually taking a bit of the life out of political activism. Nevertheless, much of the work to combat climate change needs to be done at a national and even an international government level.

• Get an overview of environmental activism here or here.
• If you want a personal carbon footprint reduction action plan, along with further recommendations about how you can help tackle climate change, the Act on CO2 calculator is a great start.
• I Count is the campaign of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, the ever-growing coalition of more than 50 organisations, has over 700 years’ experience working for a safer, fairer world.

I hope you can put at least some of the above tips into practice to reduce your carbon footprint and begin to save some of your hard earned money?

What’s your tip? Leave a comment below.

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Why Chinas environmental and human rights record has a long way to go.

How the world’s priorities have changed over China: not so long ago the US Congress was earnestly debating China’s human-rights record. Today all anyone cares about is that China’s economic wheels keep turning, so it goes on filling its shelves with our goods. Far from worrying about China’s repressive regime, foreign politicians are mainly concerned that it keep a lid on the discontent caused by widespread official corruption. That’s why the outside world got a graphic glimpse of the rioting in Hunan. The crackdown on the 20,000 or so demonstrators was incredibly vicious, yet remarkably, a BBC TV reporter was allowed to film it. You can be sure that was no accident. Hu Jintao‘s regime is the most media savvy in China’s history: it wanted to show the world that, fine words about justice aside, it has the situation well under control, even if it means sending in a couple of thousand baton-wielding troops and declaring martial law.

photo credit: Zebra Pares
It’s a pity China wasn’t as tough on curbing the terrible price exacted by the steep economic growth. Once sleepy rural towns are now boxed in by factories and power plants belch acrid smoke. Even with a face mask it’s hard to breathe when you go outside. The sky is black – cars always drive with their headlights on; the soil is chemically contaminated (vegetables that grow there are covered with ugly black patches); and people are getting sick from skin infections, breathing disorders and cancers. Drinking water is the biggest worry: 90% of China’s water is now seriously polluted.

Europeans also make things worse by sending China all their supermarket packaging and plastic bags. Britain alone dumps around two million tonnes of waste in China every year. What can’t be recycled is melted down in acid baths, or burned, creating noxious fumes and appalling health problems for the locals.

However, China’s main problem is that most of its growth is fuelled by coal. Within a few months, its emission of greenhouse gases will exceed that of America: in 25 years, if left unchecked, it will be twice that of all developed nations put together. Yet China’s leaders remain reluctant to take any steps to stem it, fearing that to curb growth would be to invite social unrest which is crazy since pollution itself is now a prime cause of public anger. Two years ago, there was rioting when four million people had their water cut off following a chemical spill in the Songhua River. Other such accidents, albeit on a lesser scale, occur every other day, and it’s local politicians and businessmen, putting careers and profits before environmental safety, who are blamed for them.

photo credit: Orange And Milk

Chinas leaders used to blame the West for global warming, pointing out China has contributed less than 8% of CO2 emissions since 1850. But now they’ve signalled that they’re ready to engage in international negotiations on global warming. Beijing might well commit itself to binding caps on emissions (thereby robbing the US of its key excuse for not doing likewise). Better still, it aims to raise energy efficiency by 20% in four years – mainly by greater reliance on renewable sources and cut-backs in iron and steel production. This is ambitious as these targets far exceed those set by Western countries. Still, there’s an encouraging precedent. In the Sixties, Tokyo and Osaka were as polluted as China’s cities are now, but thanks to tough policies, Japan is now more energy-efficient than any other country. Let’s hope, for the world’s sake, that its neighbour can pull off the same trick.

__________________

“Approximately 80 % of our air pollution stems from hydrocarbons released by vegetation, so let’s not go overboard in setting and enforcing tough emission standards from man-made sources.”

Reagan, Ronald
__________________

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Should fat people be blamed for conributing to global warming?

No diet will remove all the fat from your body because the brain is entirely fat. Without a brain, you might look good, but all you could do is run for public office.

- George Bernard Shaw

We all know that drinking alcohol is both big and clever but it does sometime provoke a wee bit of violence, which doesn’t matter as long as you can fight, but it ultimately leads to weight problems. Think darts player.

Fat people can’t catch a break these days in a society that prizes thinness above all. We make the obese the butt of our jokes, berate them for running up health care costs and treat them like modern-day lepers. And we’re even blaming them for global warming. A new study estimates that America‘s cars burn a billion gallons of extra petrol a year, just to lug around the extra pounds of their lardy bodies.

Image via Wikipedia

Another study estimates that commercial planes burn another 350 million gallons of fuel for the same reason. People will apparently seize on any ammunition, however tenuous, to scapegoat the fat and get them to change their dissolute ways. Subjecting the obese to a non-stop diet of criticism is not just cruel – it’s also counter-productive. A researcher recently asked 3,000 fat people how they responded to stigmatisation and discrimination. Almost everyone said they ate more. Perhaps they should jog more, mind you look at what happened to Jim Fixx.

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Here are my top 50 Nelson Mandela quotes which provide inspiration everyday:

Book cover via Amazon

1. A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.
2. [A] new society cannot be created by reproducing the repugnant past, however refined or enticingly repackaged.
3. After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.
4. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
5. As a leader… I have always endeavored to listen to what each and every person in a discussion had to say before venturing my own opinion. Oftentimes, my own opinion will simply represent a con-sensus of what I heard in the discussion. I always remember the axiom: a leader is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.
6. As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself… Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.
7. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
8. Communists have always played an active role in the fight by colonial countries for their freedom, because the short-term objects of Communism would always correspond with the long-term objects of freedom movements.
9. Does anybody really think that they didn’t get what they had because they didn’t have the talent or the strength or the endurance or the commitment?
10. Don’t, call me, I’ll call you. [on his retirement]
11. During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realized. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.
12. Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
13. Extremists on all sides thrive, fed by the blood lust of centuries gone by.
14. For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
15. Freedom would be meaningless without security in the home and in the streets.
16. I cannot conceive of Israel withdrawing if Arab states do not recognize Israel, within secure borders.
17. I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man.
18. I did not enjoy the violence of boxing so much as the science of it.
19. I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.
20. I dream of the realization of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent. I dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses.
21. I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all! I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands.
    

    Image via Wikipedia

    I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment

22. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
23. I was called a terrorist yesterday, but when I came out of jail, many people embraced me, including my enemies, and that is what I normally tell other people who say those who are struggling for liberation in their country are terrorists. I tell them that I was also a terrorist yesterday, but, today, I am admired by the very people who said I was one.
24. If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.
25. If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.
26. If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.
27. In my country we go to prison first and then become President.
28. It always seems impossible until its done.
29. It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.
30. Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so glorious a human achievement.
31. Let there be justice for all. Let there be peace for all. Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all. Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfil themselves.
32. Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.
33. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.
34. Money won’t create success, the freedom to make it will.
35. Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another.
36. No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.
37. Only free men can negotiate; prisoners cannot enter into contracts. Your freedom and mine cannot be separated.
38. That was one of the things that worried me – to be raised to the position of a semi-god – because then you are no longer a human being. I wanted to be known as Mandela, a man with weaknesses, some of which are fundamental, and a man who is committed.
39. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
40. The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
41. There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.


Image by Getty Images via Daylife

42. There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.
43. There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.
44. There is no such thing as part freedom.
45. There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.
46. True reconciliation does not consist in merely forgetting the past.
47. We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.
48. Whatever the sentence Your Worship sees fit to impose upon me for the crime for which I have been convicted before this court may it rest assured that when my sentence has been completed, I will still be moved as men are always moved, by their conscience. I will still be moved by my dislike of the race discrimination against my people. When I come out from serving my sentence, I will take up again, as best I can, the struggle for the removal of those injustices until they are finally abolished.
49. When the water starts boiling it is foolish to turn off the heat.
50. We are really appalled by any country, whether a superpower or a small country, that goes outside the U.N. and attacks independent countries. No country should be allowed to take the law into their own hands.

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Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter.

I’m not a big fan of “dieting” — a word that conjures up images of hunger and chewing on celery or doing some kind of fad diet — but I do believe in trying to eat a healthier diet.

Don’t diet, but do stick to a healthy diet, in other words.

But that’s easier said than done, as we all know. The healthy diet goes out the window around the holidays, for example, or when there’s a family party or a function at work full of unhealthy food, or when we go out to eat with friends, or when we go to a ballgame or amusement park or the beach, or when … well, you get the idea. There are lots of ways to get off a diet.

And there are just as many ways to stick to your healthy diet.

I’m not perfect, by any stretch of the imagination, and I often will give in to temptations. But I’ve gotten better over time, partially because practice makes perfect and partly because I’ve learned a lot of great tips, from my fellow bloggers and from you, my favorite readers in the world.

So today we’re going to look at a few of the tips and tricks that I’ve found useful in sticking with a healthy diet.

1. Know your motivation. I have a friend, Jerry, who is getting healthy so that he’ll be alive and well to see his 3-year-old son grow up. When he gets tempted by evil junk food, he asks himself whether he’d rather eat the sweets or see his son grow up. When you have a powerful motivation like this, and remember what choice you’re making whenever you face temptation, it’s easier to be strong when you’d otherwise cave in.

2. Take it in gradual steps. You don’t have to overhaul your diet overnight. I highly recommend changing your diet in small steps — just drink water instead of soda, for example, or eat fruit instead of candy or chips. Once you adjust to this small change, make another a week or two later, and so on until you’re eating much healthier a few months later. This small and gradual process makes it much easier to stick with a healthy diet.

3. Don’t be drastic. I’ve seen fad diets like the Cookie Diet, Atkins, the Banana Diet, and different cleansing fasts — and I don’t recommend a single one of them. They’re drastic, and very few people can last with them for a long time. And the fact is, while you might lose a lot of weight with a drastic diet in a short amount of time, as soon as you get off the diet and go back to eating unhealthily, you’ll gain the wait back. Don’t do anything drastic — make long-lasting changes.

4. Choose foods you love. This is incredibly important. If you hate eating salads, don’t make salads a key to your new diet. I happen to love salads, but everyone has different tastes. Don’t eat foods just because they’re good for you — eat them because they’re healthy AND you love them. For me, that means berries and almonds and oatmeal and salads and yogurt and cottage cheese and tofu, but for others it might be salmon and lean grass-fed beef and asparagus and walnuts. Find the foods you love that are healthy, and you’ll stick with the diet much longer.

5. Pack food. Always bring healthy food with you, wherever you go. Sometimes this just means packing snacks if you’re going on a few errands (I like almonds and fruit), other times you might want to pack more substantial meals and pack them with ice to keep them fresh. Packing your lunch to work is a great idea, along with a bunch of snacks to keep you satisfied all day without eating the donuts someone brought in.

6. Eat before you go. If you’re going out to a restaurant or party, eat a small healthy meal first. That way you won’t be starving and won’t need to eat a huge amount of unhealthy food. You can get by on a salad or some fish and steamed veggies or an appetizer or something like that, and still enjoy the company of your friends and loved ones.

7. Don’t get hungry. When you allow yourself to starve, you will often binge, because your blood-sugar levels are so low that you crave instant sugar (or refined flour). When you’re starving, you are more likely to indulge in donuts or cake. So eat snacks throughout the day, or small meals, so that you never get super hungry.

8. Choose healthy when you eat out. If you go to a restaurant or party, look for the healthy choices. I love a good salad bar, but you could also choose a lean cut of meat, grilled not fried, with steamed veggies, or some black bean or lentil soup, or something like that.

9. Indulge in little bits. I don’t believe in going extreme and not allowing myself to eat treats such as … mmm, chocolate cake. But the key is to eat healthy most of the time, and when you do indulge in a treat, do it in small amounts. Two or three bites of cake or ice cream, for example, won’t kill your diet but will satisfy your sweet craving. Eating a whole tub of ice cream? Not recommended.

10. Eat small portions when you go out. If you go to a party with lots of food, try for small portions. Just eat until you’re slightly full, then have some water and talk with people without eating for awhile, then when you get hungry have another small portion, and so on. Try for the amount of food that will fit in your hand. If you space out several small portions over the course of a couple hours, you’ll feel satisfied but never take in too much.

11. Have tasty substitutes for your weaknesses. When I feel like eating something sweet, I’ll often have berries or fruit. My sister Kat likes to mix berries with almond butter, chocolate protein powder, and water — a weird but satisfying treat. Whatever your weaknesses, find a substitute that will satisfy your cravings when they inevitably come up.

12. Clear your home of unhealthy snacks and foods. If you have junk food in your home, you’re more likely to give in at some point and eat it. But if you clear your home of these foods, you won’t have that temptation. Clear your fridge and cabinets of candy, baked sweets, fried foods, foods made with refined flour, fatty and greasy things like chips and fries, and so on.

13. Bring your own healthy food to a party. If it’s allowed, bring a dish to a party you’re planning on attending, and make it a healthy one. I like to bring a couple of my favorites: Leo’s chili, and my Best Soup Ever.

14. Fill yourself up with water, fruits, veggies, and lean protein at a party. Lots of parties will have at least a couple of healthy options — some fruits or veggies, maybe some lean protein that’s not fried. I will fill myself up on these, even if they’re not entirely a meal, and then eat a healthy meal later.

15. Don’t stuff yourself. Make this your ultimate rule. Even if you break down and get fatty, fried food at a restaurant or party, just don’t eat until you’re stuffed. Try the Okinawan rule of eating until you’re 80% full. This way you can eat the unhealthy stuff and still limit the damage.

16. Don’t starve yourself. This might sound like the “don’t get hungry” tip above, but it’s bigger than that — don’t eat so little that you’re starving. For most women, that means don’t go below 1,200 calories a day — for men, it’s 1,500. But even those are too low for many of us. You only want to cut a moderate amount of calories from your diet — if you starve yourself, you’ll lose muscle, you’ll get unhealthy and you’ll end up falling off the diet eventually.

17. If you indulge, burn it off. Sometimes all of the strategies above will fail. That’s OK. Don’t beat yourself up about it — just get back on the wagon, back on track. Look at it as a small bump in the road. And better yet, get outside and burn off the calories by running, walking briskly, playing sports, whatever it takes. Then start eating healthy again.

What are your favorite strategies for sticking with a healthy diet? Share in the comments!

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“You can only get what you want, if you help enough other people get what they want.” – Zig Ziglar

One way to help other people is to empower them because by empowering them you could literally change their lives for the better.

Empower means “to give somebody power or authority” and also “to give somebody a sense of confidence or self-esteem”.

People always feel motivated and inspired when they feel empowered. And when they feel motivated and inspired by you, they’d be more than happy to help you achieve whatever you want.

Once you’ve mastered this ability to get people to help you voluntarily, it will make you a more powerful, effective and successful person.

I have listed some of the methods which you can adopt to empower other people.

1. Show More Appreciation

To empower someone, you have to make the person feel good about himself/herself. And the simplest way to achieve that is to express your appreciation for everything that person does for you, large or small.

Every one of us has a deep desire to feel appreciated and a sense of self-worth. If you could satisfy this craving of any individual, he/she would go to great lengths for you.

The most direct and also the simplest way to show your appreciation is simply to say – sincerely and honestly – “Thank you.”

So often in life, we have taken things for granted – especially towards those who are close to us – that we fail to say those two simple little, yet powerful words for the things that they have done for us. Instead, we often complain about the things they’ve not done for us.

It is time for us to start looking more deeply into the good of other people and tell them, “Thank you. I really appreciate that.”

By doing so, you’ll be helping yourself garner the greatest support from people to help you get to where you want.

2. Show Your Genuine Interest in Other People

Why do you think most people love dogs? Simple. Because dogs are born to be genuinely interested in people.

They’re always happy to be around you. They’d wag their tails, lick you, and jump around you to show you just how excited they are to have you here.

This showing of genuine interest in people is something we have to seriously learn from dogs. Yes, you heard me right. Learn this from dogs.

Everybody loves some attention, even though they may not seek attention openly or publicly. This is because attention shows us that somebody actually care about us. It shows us that our existence is not being ignored and neglected. It proves that we’re worth being taken notice of.

A genuine show of interest can do wonders in nourishing a person’s sense of self-worth. So, if you want to empower other people and help yourself at the same time, show your genuine interest in other people.

3. Show The Other Person He or She is Important

To blossom a person’s sense of self-worth to the ultimate, we have to always seek to make the other person feel important.

Sincere appreciation and recognition are the keys to making someone feel important. Take note that the keyword here is sincere because nobody wants to listen to cheap and insincere flattery. Insincerity will only backfire.

The first step to making a person feel important is to STOP TAKING HIM OR HER FOR GRANTED. And show deep appreciation.

If you want to make your team members feel important, you can try something like this:

“Ally, thank you for the great job done. Without your help, the project wouldn’t have been such a great success. You’ve proved to be a very important and worthy team player. And I hope you’d continue to offer this great support to help us move forward together.”

Or if you want to make your kids feel important, try this:

“John, thank you for being such a wonderful son. You’ve been the best gift to mum and dad. We’ve always been very grateful to having you in the family. We couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

And remember, when showing appreciation; always start with a simple “Thank you.”

4. Show Respect

Ego is a fundamental element of the human nature that, which if upset, can cause a major emotional upheaval.

Ego, in other words, means your self-concept. It is made up of two components, namely your self-esteem and your self-image.

Human beings will always strive to raise their level of self-esteem and self-image, or seek to protect them from being impaired by other people and circumstances.

Whenever you need to point out somebody’s fault, remember to show respect to his/her pride by doing it in a discreet manner so that he/she will not feel embarrassed.

By allowing their ego to remain intact, you’re in essence giving them a chance to remain empowered. One rule you need to adhere to in order to empower someone is to first not do anything to dis-empower him/her.

If you find someone that you could look up to, you can always go up to the person to tell him/her how much you respect what he/she has achieved or handled a dire situation or overcome an adversity.

Nevertheless, do remember the key to empowering a person is to be sincere and honest with your words and actions.

5. Give Encouragement Instead of Criticism

Now this is a common one. Whenever your kid, your spouse, or your employee makes a blunder or slip up in their responsibilities, how would you react?

You’d probably fly into a rage and make all sorts of crude remarks. No? Ok, maybe you’re more refined and well mannered that all you’d do is reproach them for committing the mistakes.

However, in spite of the placidness of the criticism, it is still not an empowering approach.

Perhaps you could try an approach like this one:

“Honestly Lesha, I’m disappointed that we didn’t manage to clinch the deal this time round. However, I do believe you’re a bright young lady, and I’m very confident that you have what it takes to clinch us the next deal. You would do whatever it takes to secure it for us, right? Correct me if I’m wrong.”

Now, that wouldn’t sound harsh, would it?

Every one of us has the magic power of empowering other people simply by generously giving praise and showing encouragement to help them realise their underlying potential.

“Abilities wither under criticism; they blossom under encouragement.” – Dale Carnegie

Now that you’ve learnt how to empower other people, so when and where should you apply each one of them? The answer is: all the time, everywhere.

Have you got any other suggestions on how we can empower other people? Please share them in the comments section below.

Mark Foo is a Personal Development Blogger @ TheBigDreamer.com  where he writes about success, personal finance, wealth creation and entrepreneurship to help people become better, wiser and richer.

In his movie debut, Ambition to Meaning, Wayne Dyer explores the spiritual journey in the second half of life when we long to shift from ambition to meaning and find the purpose that is our unique contribution to the world.

“I’ m more proud of this film than of anything I’ve ever done before.” – Wayne Dyer

Visit AmbitionToMeaning.com to watch the trailer and music videos or to order the DVD.

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