I also wanted to share these practical solutions that the Blog Action Day team sent:
Water solutions:
The good news is that there are great organizations working on solutions and new tools that empower people to do their part to address the water crisis.
Building Wells: Organizations like Water.org and charity: water are leading the charge in bringing fresh water to communities in the developing world.
Technology for Good: Do you want to measure how much water it took to make your favorite foods? There's an app for that. More Info »
Conservation Starts at Home: The average person uses 465 liters of water per day. Find out how much you use and challenge your readers to do that same. More Info »
Keeping Rivers Clean: We can all take small steps to help keep pollution out of our rivers and streams, like correctly disposing of household wastes. More Info »
Drop the Bottle: Communities around the world are taking steps to reduce water bottle waste by eliminating bottled water.More Info »
When I first registered for Blog Action Day 2010, I had no idea what to write about. I knew that I wanted to be a part of this great effort, but I didn't know what I could say about the issue of clean water. I could not think of a way that I am personally connected to this issue. It wasn't until watching the first of the Chilean miners rescue that I remembered that feeling of worldwide unity that I felt during September 11th, the Haitian earthquake and other tragedies. During these times of extreme tragedy we come together for an immediate response, and we remember how we are in some way connected.
It was then that I realized that I am in some way connected to this issue of clean water and I just have to figure out how. After reading some of the startling statistics about the effects of the lack of clean water, I became overwhelmed with gratitude that I live in a place where clean water is accessible. I couldn't even imagine a life without clean water. I immediately thought of all the things I use water for. That was it. That is how I (and everyone who is fortunate enough to have access to clean water) am connected to this issue.
I learned about the idea of "water footprint," which pretty much refers to our water consumption. Waterfootprint.org gives a more thorough explanation of what the water footprint and how it varies in different regions. From what I gathered, we (especially in the United States) consume too much water and it would be helpful if we reduce our water footprint. I was most excited about the page that gave specific ways to reduce your individual water footprint, including:
using water-saving appliances, like toilet and showerhead
turning water off while brushing teeth
I also thought about how I could conserve water when washing dishes by turning down the water pressure or soaping all of the dishes while the water is off and then rinsing them all at the same time.
There are certainly ways to conserve water when it comes to laundry as well. It could help to only wash clothes when there is a substantial load as opposed to washing just a few things.
Limiting shower time is another great way to use less water. Waterfootprint.org also shares ways to reduce water footprint through the types of food that we eat, things we buy in the supermarket, etc. It's so interesting how everything we do has an impact on our environment, and with a few conscious decisions we could make some changes.
How are you connected to this issue of clean water? What can you do to help?
This is one of my all time favorite photos because it turned out way better than planned. I posed but the little boy (who I met that day) is what makes this picture so special. Isn't he precious?
Here is the message Blog Action Day wants all registered users to share: I wanted to let you know about an important online event I’m taking part in on October 15th, called Blog Action Day. Each year bloggers from more than 100 countries come together and blog about a single important issue, and this year’s topic is clean water. The event includes thousands of blogs – including the White House blog and The Official Google Blog – and they’re looking for as many blogs to participate as possible, regardless of their size and focus.
I hope you’ll think about joining me for this event. If you want more information, check out the Blog Action Day site at http://blogactionday.change.org/.
I just might become the new poster child for She Creates Change. Since starting the program I have seen some interesting progress in my life, and I'm excited to see how it continues to unfold. I cannot even express how much I would recommend a program like this to anyone looking for a change.
So in this life transformation that I am going through, I have decided to redo my bedroom. My mission is to create a space that I get excited about every time I'm in it; one that is reflective of my personality, allows me to relax, and recharges me.
I remember first getting excited about creating this space when I read Chapter 10 of Amy DuBois Barnett's book Get Yours! How to Have Everything You Dreamed of and More. When I made the decision to take on this makeover project, I reread the chapter to get some extra motivation to get started. Since starting the project I've found A Slob Comes Clean, a blog about a woman sharing her journey to an orderly home. It has been comforting to read some of her posts that express EXACTLY how I feel about how hard it is to maintain a completely clean environment in the midst of an otherwise demanding schedule. I feel like as soon as I clean my desk, I get another pile of unwanted things in the mail; or when I'm trying to clean, I run into a bunch of things that I don't know exactly where to put. However, I've accepted that it is a process and it will take some new habits to tackle this problem. What I need to do is include organization time in my schedule on a regular basis. I just found the March 2010 Issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, which addresses the theme "De-Clutter Your Life." I've already found some great articles in it, and I'm going to keep it on my desk (in a neat corner, of course) to guide me on the rest of this journey.
Operation: Room Transformation (work in progress)
Phase 1: Cleanse
-recycle excess unwanted paper
-remove unwanted furniture
-vacuum
-miscellaneous trash
-donate clothes to: Salvation Army, Dress for Success, etc.
Phase 2: Research
-feng shui
-HGTV
I picked the colors that I want for my walls. So my next step is paint shopping. Yay for progress!
Since starting Her Journey, I've learned a few things about networking. One thing I've learned is to have a goal or two set prior to the event. This helps me prepare for the event and ensure that I am productive in some way. Here are my goals for the Bloggers Social:
-Use Flip cam (I forgot to take it to the soiree) -get at least 5 tips from other bloggers -share 5 tips with other bloggers
I'm also really excited about playing the Keep It Real Game. I got a little glimpse of it at the Soiree, and I'm looking forward to playing it again.
Here are my top 5 things from the Bloggers Soiree: 1. I met Alexis, the winner of the IAAS.com competition that I entered earlier this year. It was a surreal experience, and what was most exciting is that she was sooo pleasant. 2. Playing the Keep It Real Game. It was a very interesting game that gives you the opportunity to really think about yourself and even discover things about yourself and those you're playing with. 3. Hearing the funky sounds of Alexis Foxe. My favorite line from one of her songs was "My grandpa always said 'the early bird eats breakfast twice'" LOVED that! LOL. 4. The tremendous support that went to Restore NYC and raised awareness about sex trafficking. 5. Seeing how Desiree planned this event with undying determination was inspiring and stretched my own ideas of planning an event.
