Help Japan

It's hard to find the right words.
For too many in northeastern Japan, this Sunday is a devastating one.

If you are able, consider helping with a donation.

// American Red Cross
// Doctors without Borders
// The Salvation Army
// Oxfam
// Global Living
// Care
// ShelterBox

// More ways to help (The New York Times)


This great poster was designed by James White. James is donating 100% of sales proceeds to help relief efforts in Japan. Buy here.

I'm Loving:: Art4Heart

An absolutely awesome initiative by Beth-Emily and Kelly Smith is Art4Heart: a collaborative art auction to help raise funds for the Premiers Flood Relief Appeal.
Every item has been kindly donated by its creator and there is a wonderful assortment of illustrations, prints, jewelery and much more to auction away, all made by an impressive line up of some of the brightest young Australian artists.
The auctions are being run until January 27th. Check up here for the exact schedule.


Some more:
** For lots and lots of art related efforts and other great things that are happening now around Australia, check out Daydream Lily.
** If you are located in South Australia, check out Adelaide Now's list of events and ways to help.
** Last but not least: This absolutely made my day: Foxes Lane Flood relief auction (would you?...)

Queensland Floods: Etsy Love

Sometimes, in a big crisis, a little ray of light brings new hope.
For the last couple of days we see so many people, communities, and organizations, who come together to lend a helping hand with the flood crisis in Queensland and now also in NSW and Victoria.
It is heartwarming to witness the great work the so many volunteers are doing - cleaning, preparing and delivering food, and donating goods and money.

As in many times before, the warm Etsian community have stepped up to do their bit for the people affected by the destruction; The DUST Team (Down Under street team) have set up a new collective shop - 'Etsian Australian Flood Appeal' with so many wonderful items that have been donated by different Etsy sellers. The BrisStyle Etsy team also has an appeal to help raise donations for flood victims.
All proceeds from the Flood Appeal shop and The BrisStyle appeal go to the Queensland Premier's Relief fund. It is a wonderful way to contribute in an easy, simple way.


** So many other great things and efforts are happening at the moment, Pip of Meet me at Mikes had compiled a great list of other ways to help. Check it out as well.



Some of the great items that had been donated to the Flood Appeal shop and The BrisStyle appeal: /// Chocolate Moose Kisses 5 Gift Tags by 3GIRLS and a goat /// Titanium Ring Two Curls by Marjon Scheffer, /// Storybook Orange Paper Garland by 3GIRLS and a goat /// Screen Print (Gocco) - Stuff No. 1 by Magic Jelly for the Etsian Australian Flood Appeal /// Polaroid Camera Brooch by Hungry Designs /// Swimming staple blank notebook by Geritom71 for the Etsian Australian Flood Appeal /// Rock n Roll Retro Ladies Note Paper Set by Jellygnite

Friday Finds:: Hope for Haiti

Following yesterday's post, This week's Friday Finds is about Hope for Haiti at Etsy.
More and more sellers at Etsy are donating proceeds to the different organizations who help in Haiti. The Hearts For Haiti Collective, for example, was able to raise more than $8,500 already which is absolutely fantastic!

This is a great and easy way for you to donate but of course you can also check here for more ways for you to help.

From upper left corner: you plus me sitting in a tree by Kojo Designs, Love Cloud by Claudia Pearson, Le manege by Serpentine, i HEART you, Spring '10 Heart of Gold peasant top by Georgia Grace Designs, Misty Mountain Hop by Eeeniebean, Wine Cork Wreath by JennerationFix, HELP HAITI Super Big Fluffy Peony Flower Hair Clips Fuschia Hot Pink Magenta by My Belle Boutique, Urban Scrawl - Set of 4 Ceramic Coasters by Coasting Along, Zip It Up -- Zipper Leaf Brooch by Bogate, Big Bang Soap - scented with Clary Sage EO and made with organic ingredients by Smells and Bells, Ellie by luckylife, PRINTABLE POSTER / heart / calligraphy by bubbo, Black Vanilla Glycerin Soap by The Queer Etsy Street Team Collective, Irish Crochet and How To Make It by Wee Designs, Out on the Town Flashy Cuff by Hearts for Haiti>


Happy Friday everyone!

Hope for Haiti

Haiti always seemed to me like a magical place, the kind of dream vacation-island with white beaches, clear blue waters, coconut trees, colorful houses and happy beats of music in the streets.

It should have been like that but in reality, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

It's been over a week since a 7.0 major earthquake struck southern Haiti. The biggest need now is money. Money to buy basic and medical supplies, money to restore damaged hospitals and schools and money to rebuild the many many homes that were destroyed.

There is a long list of organizations who help Haiti such as Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health and so many others. Take a minute to check out who's doing what and how you can contribute, volunteer or donate supplies.

Many artists, craters and designers are holding fundraisers, auctions or donating portions of their sales to these efforts.

Here are some of the greatest opportunities for you to donate and stand for Haiti while embracing the craters and artists:

The Charity Print Auctions group on Flickr are a group of photographers who will donate 100% of the highest bid on their artworks to the Red Cross. The beautiful seagull photo above is one of the great photographs you will find there.

Indiefixx is coordinating a silent auction of items that have been donated by indie crafters and artists with 100% of the profits to go to the Red Cross International Response Fund.

Many Etsy sellers, including ourselves, are donating portions of their sales to different organizations. There are so many so it is hard to mention everyone. Victoria of sfgirlbybay published a great list of the many of sellers. Check it out!

Photographers For Haiti published a special fund-raising collection of captivating images to benefit the people of Haiti. Your purchase price will be donated in full to the American Red Cross

International Response Fund for Haiti relief.

I know there are many many other beautiful acts going on so if you know of others donating, please comment with your information. Thank you, and please spread the word!

Photograph: Haiti Appeal: Pigeons & Shadows by LJ

Not Done Yet

The UN climate talks in Copenhagen (COP15) are over and it is now clear that it was a total failure. The expectations were great, but the disappointment even greater.
Much was said, some decisions were made and even some lessons were learnt, but still, the simple fact is that a fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement that millions around the world hoped the world leaders gathered in Copenhagen would deliver, remains far away.

Until the next conference, COP16, that is planned for Dec 2010 in Mexico, there are still actions we can take which will show our power and let our voice be heard.
You probably remember the International Day of Climate Action as part of 350.org campaign.
Now, more than 250 partner organisations have come together to form an unprecedented alliance under the TckTckTck banner – including development, human rights, environment, religious and youth groups, trade unions and scout teams. Over three days of global action, these partners have mobilized unprecedented numbers of people campaigning for urgent action on climate change. In Copenhagen on December 12, one hundred thousand people marched in a powerful manifestation of this unity.

On March 27, 2010 at 8:30pm you will be able to simply yet powerfully demonstrate your Vote for Earth by turning your lights off for 1 hour.  Earth's hour.
There's time until March, and be sure I'll be here to remind you.
In the meantime, you might like to join the tcktcktck campaign and take some time to read about the subject:

• tck tck tck message - Not Done Yet

• New York Time's Climate Change Conversations - an interactive way for you to debate and share your interest and thoughts on the international conference on global warming, and also a good resource for understanding the timeline of Science and Politics of Climate Change.

• Time Magazine's full list of resources on Climate Change, including How Global Warming Could Change the Winemaking Map

• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on wikipedia
  

• Last one is an easy 'reading' for the ones who don't like reading: Climate Change: The Cartoon

Here are some photos from last week's Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (as usual, please click the photos for full credit and more info)

The handover of TCKTCKTCK petition with more than 10 million signatures
on the opening day of the Copenhagen summit, by tcktcktck



Over 100,000 people gathered in the streets of Copenhagen for a
candlelight march in the largest climate protest to date, by Carl Ganter/350.org




The March of the Peoples, Copenhagen, Dec 12th, by KimImago.



The last days of COP15 - Watching anxiously the negociations, by Haja Nirina.



Aliens attended the summit prep meeting in search of EU climate leaders
and a “Real Deal” in Copenhagen, by Avaaz Climate Action Factory - Europe.



Copenhagen Candlelight Vigil, by kk+.

Grow it, Flow it!

How's going fellas?
2 and a half weeks into Movember and i hope you are all cultivating your mustachios nice and wild!

Here are some of my favorite Flickr's mustachios as a little inspiration for you!

Mustache & Mustache May, by Jay B Sauceda, Chuck Wagon Cook by charliestout, lord of the moustache by flamed, Nr. 12 - The Traveling Moustache & Papa Moustache, by mevrouwmikmak, hello there by lomokev

Wine Soaked Moustachios

Hey bro's!

I know you are all quite busy, so I'm here to propose you some time-effective solution. Stop shaving!
I am growing a moustache for Movember this year and am looking for recruits to join my team Wine Soaked Moustachios !

You are supposed to know about Movember already but if you missed the last posts - Movember is about raising much needed funds and awareness for men’s health – specifically prostate cancer and depression in men. You know it is important when you learn that close to 3,000 men die of prostate cancer each year in Australia and one in eight men will experience depression in his lifetime - many of whom don’t seek help.

The more people I can get onboard, the more awareness and money will be raised and so I am asking you to join my team and either grow a moustache as a Mo Bro, or sign on as a Mo Sista and help out with raising funds.

To join my Movember team click here and follow steps. Once registered you’ll be sent all the information you need to get donations and get growing as part of my Movember team.

We're going to have some cool stuff for our team members (including, well, you can probably guess, soak our mo's with wine..! (-: )
Hope to welcome you to my Movember team shortly! (drop me a line once you're aboard will ya?)

Cheers,
Alex

Gentelmen, Start Your Mo's!

Hey ya, Do you remember the last photo from my last post?
So if you were curious (I know you were!) what was it all about, here is some info.

I have decided to support Movember this year by signing up as an official Mo Sista!

During Movember (once known as November), men put down their razors for 30 days and grow a moustache with the aim of raising funds and awareness for men’s health – specifically prostate cancer and depression in men. The role of a Mo Sista is to support the Mo Bros in their life – friends, brothers, boyfriends, dads, uncles, cousins, husbands – and help them to raise funds.

What many people don’t appreciate is that close to 3,000 men die of prostate cancer each year in Australia and one in eight men will experience depression in their lifetime - many of whom don’t seek help.

Movember is now in its sixth year and, to date, has achieved some pretty amazing results by working alongside men’s health partners The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCFA) and beyondblue: the national depression initiative. Check out further details here.

Here a little style guide for you to start with. Choose your desired mustachio and I'll be back soon with more details and ideas of how can you support Movember.

International Day of Climate Action - eMail from Bill McKibben of 350.org

You know I get excited easily, but today I'm much more than excited. And I'm so happy. It is just fabulous to see the excitement spreads all over the world and to realize that there are so many people who care and care enough to go out and show it in the most creative way.

I thought I'll share with you the public eMail I got from Bill McKibben, Co-founder and Director of 350.org along with some pictures.
It is not too late to find your own way to support!

Subject: It's just beginning...


Friends,
I can hardly believe my eyes.
16 hours ago, citizens in New Zealand gathered before dawn next to a wind turbine on a mountaintop. As local elders said prayers to bless the global event, banners and signs were held high to to greet the planet's first rays of sunlight on this most incredible of days.

Citizens rally on the Te Henga beach in New Zealand

The Cairo Cyclist club rallies for 350 at the Great Pyramids of Egypt

Sydney speaks out!

As the sun continues across the planet we've been receiving photos and video of rallies in Ethiopia, bike rides in Wellington, SCUBA divers in Australia, organizers planting 350 trees in Thailand, hundreds of students marching in India and Nepal and Mongolia. And we're getting reports from 350.org offices around the world that the phones are ringing off the hook with calls from the media who want to cover the story.

The day is just beginning and already it's larger, more powerful, and so much more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. I've been a writer my entire life and yet words truly cannot describe what you have accomplished already. To truly grasp today, please stay tuned to our website as more and more photos come in from across the planet, and especially our evolving photo slideshow.

And the best news of all? The day has just begun!

Bill

Maldives for 350



350 Flag on Antarctica's Highest Peak



Faraya, Lebanon

P.S. Have a photo to contribute? Just send a decent-quality picture to photos@350.org and make the subject "City, Country" and make sure that the body of the e-mail contains a description of the photo, any necessary photographer credits, and any other information you think we'll need. So many thanks.

350 Bicycle Ride in Mumbai



"We are for 350" - Kazakhstan, Almaty

If you've missed the sideshow link on Bill's eMail, here it is again.
Believe me, you don't want to miss this one. Great, great photos of great people from all around the world.

International Day of Climate Action

Hello dears!
I hope you are all remember that today is the International Day of Climate Change and that you already made your plans to participate in one of your local events!

We just came back from GALLERY 139 where we chose a cool T shirt design (made by cul-de-sac design place and Nest Studio) and got our picture taken along with other happy shiny Adelaideians for the photographic collage that will be sent later today to 350.org.

It was a beautiful way to start our weekend and we had such a jolly good time! Thank you
cul-de-sac design place, Nest Studio & GALLERY 139 for organizing this great event!

Looking forward to hear from you guys, where have you been and how did you enjoyed your International Day of Climate Action!