CML's Blog (14)

Instead of paying my parents for the gas and insurance that I usually pay for every month, I negotiated a deal with them. Rather than paying in American dollars as I normally do, I agreed to do various jobs to pay off the cost this month. To pay my insurance charges ($40), I washed and detailed my mother and father's cars. I justified the cost by reasoning that it would have cost them $20-25 per car if it had been professionally done. I then paid for my gas charges for the month by running…

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There are lots of charity projects in several third world countries that are working to help those less fortunate to make money to support their families and be able to save up money, for example, the HOPE bracelete project. These charity groups help poorer families by teaching them how to make somthing, like a bracelet or a basket, from the natural resources that they have around them. The finished products are then sold and the profits are used to help purchase necessary items, like food,… Continue

In 2020, energy sources should be cleaner and better for the environment as well as more efficient. At a celebration in 2020, newer technology using the sun's heat should be used to cook healthier foods without using a gas or electric-powered stove. Things like music and lighting can be powered by solar energy collected through solar panels. Homes and businesses can be heated by geothermal sources that take heat directly from the earth and don't create any negative by-products.

To make something I use everyday more efficient, I changed all of the light bulbs in my room to compact flourescent bulbs. Each one uses less energy than an incandescent light bulb, and saves an average of $30 worth of electricity in their life.

The company Sustainable Energy Solutions has a good solution to the problems associated with current methods of providing energy. Their three main focuses are on reducing the cost of cleaner and more efficient energy sources, espcially wind and solar, making them available to more people, and making these sources more reliable. They have already begun to implement their ideas in less fortunate places, especially in Africa.

In the future, the over-processed foods that are so common in America today should be scarce. There should be more of a focus on where our food comes from. Nutrition should also be more important. Americans today have to take supplemental vitamins because we don't get as many vitamins and nutrients from our food as we should. More foods in the future should be made from natural and organic fruits and vegetables, free of pesticides and potentially harmful chemicals. Our protein sources should be… Continue

I became a fan of the page "Community Food Security Coalition" on facebook to help spread the idea of developing sustainable sources of natural and nutritious food sources. I also commented on their fan page and contributed my ideas concerning food sustainability and the importance of finding more reliable and permanant sources of healthy foods.

One of the biggest problems with food security near my town is being able to afford a steady and nutritious diet. Just from talking to people that I work with, I know that it's difficult for people to afford healthy foods for their families and children. It's difficult for people to pay for necessities, like a home or apartment, a car, and clothing, and still have adequate money to purchase healthy food supplies. People end up buying proccessed foods that are loaded with unhealthy preservatives… Continue

Ten years from now, I want to be working somewhere in the medical field, most likely in trauma or emergency care. I would like to be able to participate in the various medical trips to third world countries that surgical groups participate in, like Hands Across the World (handsacrossworld.com). Hands Across the World is a non-profit group of surgeons that make a 1 week trip every year to a poor village in Ecuador. They do hundreds of surgeries and provide free services and any medical attention… Continue

I joined the facebook group "Global Water Challenge". This non-profit group is helping people around the world who don't have access to adequate drinking water. The group sells merchandise with their logo on it and also takes donations and holds charity walks to raise funding for their project. This group is devoted to helping solve the problem of insanitary water supplies across the globe.

"What you have matters more than what you lack (If you’ve got a bicycle, consider what you can build based on that, rather than worrying about not having a car, a truck, a metal shop.) "

This was my favorite idea because it can be applied to almost any situation. There is almost always one method that will work for a given problem, regardless of the limitations and restrictions that exist. Sometimes it may take longer to figure out a solution, and it may not always be simple,…

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A challenge is a very good way to inspire people to take part in an event that they might feel doesn't apply to them. Social networking sites can really help to spread the word about an event that can be as simple as a two hour block of time to try to get as many $1 donations as possible. With a few volunteers that would be willing to put in a few hours of time on social networking sites to set up a fanpage or group on facebook and an event for the donation time. Corporate sponsors who would be… Continue

The Global Water Challenge is a great organization that is helping to solve the problem of water contamination in several countires. They provide information and resources about how to reduce the amount of wasted water and various ways to help their efforts. They have a group on facebook that has a lot of their information and links to great resources.

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The Living Machine is a great example of new technology being used to solve the problem of unsanitary water sources. This system can clean a water supply while avoiding the use of harsh chemicals that can harm the environment and also without the high cost. The Living Machine cleans water so that it can be reused or returned to the environment, and is very practical once its been set up because it takes up very little space and is efficient and cheap to run. Continue