This is a very interesting discussion about environmental design by William McDonough -  an architect and designer who champions "cradle to cradle" design that considers the full life cycle of a product, from its creation with sustainable materials to a recycled afterlife.

He and his colleagues start their design with this question: "how do we love all children of all species for all time?"

Their goal? "A delightfully diverse, safe, healthy and just world, with clean air, water, soil and power - economically, equitably, ecologically and elegantly enjoyed."

I have always loved feeding people. My grandmothers have been excellent role models in this respect. There is something very wholesome about the act of baking or cooking for those you care about. So last week's We Are What We Do action was Bake Something for a Friend. I have actually done quite a bit of baking in the past couple of weeks. I sent Peanut Butter Cookies out to Toronto for my "better half". I got no rave reviews. I made some Double Chocolate Cookies in-house for the family. They turned out to be very... good for your teeth. Had they not been chocolate, they would have gone to the dogs. 

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with baking. It is an exact science - and with the exception of Grade 10 Biology, I've never had an aptitude for science.  That said, there is ONE thing I can bake well - Chocolate Chip Banana Bread.  My most recent batch of banana bread was food supply for a Saturday morning meeting with some folks from the Leadership Winnipeg community. I should add - as if you couldn't have already guessed it - that this banana bread is vegan and best made with organic and fair trade ingredients. The recipe is below. Hopefully, you will be inspired to bake a loaf for friends, family, co-workers or community members. Bon appetit!

In keeping with my commitment to implement We Are What We Do actions, I elected to write about Action 020 - find out how your money is invested - featured in Change the World for a Fiver.  This was largely prompted by 1) a recent New York Times article Gas Emissions Rarely Figure in Investor Decisions and 2) a visit with my investment advisor a couple of weeks ago. Now I actually know how my money is invested because approximately 4 years ago I made a choice and switched my investments to funds that met both my ethical and performance criteria. I continue to learn more about responsible investing and the global economic impact we each have the potential to make. There are lots of very good and current resources including Corporate Knights 2007 Investment Issue  (go straight to p.38 for the SRI fund ranking). When I think about putting my money to work for me, it is merely a means of allowing me to do good things with it that adds value to the world. So investing responsibly ensures that I am not generating personal wealth at the expense of the earth or others' quality of life (such things can no longer be considered externalities.)  The world is definitely moving in this direction. In fact, major financial institutions such as Royal Bank of Canada  have launched a series of socially responsible funds geared toward those clients who wish to see green and be green all at the same time. :-)

This is a little animated short from Alan Wagenberg and the folks at GoodBrand & Company in celebration of their 10th Anniversary. I met Alan at the Hub in London this past August. GoodBrand & Company helps members of the private sector become model corporate citizens. This video is a great teaching tool for anyone who wants a simplified explanation of how incorporating environmental principles can help your business thrive.

If the fate of the world rested solely in my hands and it comes down to guessing at ‘rows' or choosing between ‘columns', which would you want me to choose? As it turns out, the fate of the world is in my hands and yours, so what do you feel is the responsible choice?

Interested in leading the way to a system response? Check out Climate Change Action Guide for Manitoba Citizens and spread the word!

Over the course of my quarter century on the planet, a few people have taught me what it is to be truly fearless. In a world where so much of human behaviour is driven by fear, I often feel the need to revisit what I have learned. And reinforce it in practice.

Smile.

Not just any smile plastered on your face for the sake of others. A real smile from within - the kind that makes your eyes crinkle at the edges. Like you are enjoying your own little inside joke.

Believe.

That things will go your way. As Winnipeg-based artist and designer extraordinaire, Kal Barteski, once wrote in her LoveLife series: "Give more than you think you are and the world conspires in your favour."

Liberate yourself.

From worry, doubt, expectation, anger, judgement - self imposed or other.

Take risks.

When you get to the edge, just leap. Both successes and lessons can be gained. Either way that is a great return.

October 31st is nearing and you know what that means - Halloween! It is my favourite holiday - dressing up in costume, carving pumpkins, decorating your home with creepy crawlies and candy! But when it comes to Halloween candy, there is nothing scarier than impoverished cocoa farmers and child labourers. Halloween is one of those holidays when children (in particular but not exclusively) are free to be creative, imaginative and have fun. Let's help to ensure that all children around the world are afforded the same opportunity.

Go fair trade this Halloween! Global Exchange can get you started with their Fair Trade is Boo-tiful Kit. The kits will be shipped this week so get your order in now!

If you are searching for retailers of fair trade bite-sized chocolate to hand out on All Hallows' Eve here are a few options.

In Winnipeg, you can buy: Cocoa Camino minis (25 cents ea) at Organza Market. Eat It on Wall Street also stocks Cocoa Camino minis (30 cents ea or 200pc box for $51.00).  Aviva sells EccoBella squares (50pc for $19.95).  If you are into insects, Caulfield's Organic Market (Humboldt's Legacy) sells Endangered Species Bug Bites (79 cents ea) or buy Ladybugs at Organic Planet Worker Co-op (50 cents ea). They also have Cocoa Camino minis (30 cents ea).

In Toronto, you can buy: Bug Bites and Chimp Mints from the Endangered Species brand (59 cents ea) at Noah's Natural Foods, Organics on Bloor and Karma Co-op. Ten percent of profits go to animal and conservation causes. Green & Black's organic mini-chocolates are available (29 cents ea) as are organic lollipops (19 cents ea) at Big Carrot on Danforth.

Happy Halloween!

One of my passions is children's environmental health and I have been working with this Committee since last fall on their efforts to protect children's health and development. I encourage everyone to attend this film screening or check out the film! 

----

The Social Planning Council of Winnipeg - Environment Committee invites you to the screening of Toxic Trespass, a new documentary. It is the story of a mother and daughter looking for answers after being part of a Canada-wide study measuring persistent, man-made toxins in our bodies. It relates the knowledge scientists and community activists have uncovered on these chemicals, and the serious repercussions they post to human health.

Executive producer and principal research consultant for the film, Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg MES PhD will discuss her work, along with local panelists, following the film.

Co-sponsors:

Manitoba Federation of Labour - Occupational Health Clinic

Sustainable University Now, Sustainable Earth Together

University of Winnipeg Students' Association

Environmental Studies Department, University of Winnipeg

Time: October 29, 2007 at 7:00-9:30pm

Place: Eckhardt-Grammatte Hall, 3rd Floor Centennial Hall

University of Winnipeg

Admission: Free to the public!

In 1989, the year my little brother was born, there were two important events aimed at entrenching the basic right of children to an adequate standard of living. The first occurred on November 20 of that year and was the international agreement known as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.  The second was a unanimous all-party resolution put forth by the House of Commons on November 24, 1989 which resolved to "achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000." Almost 18 years later, 1.2 million children live in poverty (approximately one in six children) compared with one in seven children in 1989.

Based on Statistics Canada Survey of Labour & Income Dynamics (2004), 19.2% of Manitoban children live in poverty. Winnipeg Harvest, a community-based organization which distributes food to those who struggle to feed themselves and their families, estimates that 18,126 children receive food from them each month.  Ten years ago that number was 5,512.

The good news is that Canada recently racked up a $14 billion surplus which put us in a great financial position to take needed action. That combined with public support toward spending on poverty reduction might have offered the perfect push to finally make good on this promise. But there is no adopted poverty reduction strategy, no political will and no more surplus - instead, it has gone to pay off the debt for the sake of future generations. Figure that one out!

Yesterday, on World Food Day, Winnipeg Harvest, Canadian Food Grains Bank, and Manitoba Food Charter hosted a Right to Food Conference on the theme of "Respect, Protect and Fulfill". Winnipeggers have also been invited to participate in a World Record Food Drive. Collect canned food and take it to Winnipeg Safeway stores in preparation for the 24-hour World Record weigh-in period from Oct 20 to Oct 21.

Meanwhile, go check out Canstruction - a cool exhibit of food-related contemporary art at Polo Park Shopping Centre. The sculpture exhibition runs from October 12 - 20 and the public can vote for their favourite with cans of food.

These are all great initiatives but they provide only short-term relief to those in need. We must do better than this. Send an email to our political leaders and demand that real action be taken.