Bill McDonough

Bill McDonough features in 'The 11th Hour", the new film by Leonardo DiCaprio that is discussed on TED.com blog. He is an architect who is tackling sustainability with intelligent design. TED is a great place to watch amazing thinkers from all over the globe.

"The 11th Hour" Trailer

Leonardo DiCaprio's feature length film "The 11th Hour" will be released August 17th in US. What you see will concern you, in much the same way as 'An Inconvenient Truth' did. This film urges you to Take Action now and there are suggestions for how on the site. Hope is Free. I hope....

Planting Trees

It feels so great to do something practical. We took 50 kids from our school out to a park today and planted 900 trees. I am exhausted tonight, but I feel satisfied. The kids really threw themselves into it. When we asked for volunteers, my entire class immediately volunteered and brought their forms back the next day to ensure they got to go. There were plenty of kids in the school who wanted to go, so we had to make it a first in best dressed arrangement. Kids were rushing into the office before school to try to be the first and the cut off occurred before homeroom started.

If you were cynical, you could say it was just about having a day out of the classroom. I believe 80% at least though want to do the right thing. They want to make a difference and are quick to jump to opportunities to do so. I see many kids doing amazing volunteer work in my community and I will tell you more about some of the things they do soon. Today it's the tree planters day.

We could harness this enthusiasm and good will more often. If only we had the energy to keep up and keep it safe!

Human Rights and Poverty

Free Body Lotion - Forget It!

Today I received an advertising email offering free body lotion. I would actually prefer it if they took some of my body lotion away. It would be more enticing. I am having a day where materialism is sickening me. I feel that I want to shed most of my possessions because they are just a drag. We all just accumulate too much. What is it all for?
I actually cried today over an exhibition of rampant materialism as I perceived it, but I think I am feeling quite unwell at the moment so am possible more sensitive.
My year 9 class is studying poverty right now, so I wonder if this is having an effect on me. I have naturally been discussing the Millennium Goals with those around me. When we had the conversation in our curriculum team, some of the adults complained they were impossible and ridiculous. They didn't believe it was possible. This is why I love teenagers. They were optimistic and enthusiastic about it. They wanted to know what they could do to make it happen. They felt certain it was achievable and it was important to them to make it happen.

An Inconvenient Truth

Al Gore is in Australia. This is the trailer of the film referred to in the latest newsvine feed:

GENI - Global Energy Network Institute - International Electricity Transmission - Renewable Energy Resource Interconnections - Sta

Introductory Page - GENI - Global Energy Network Institute - International Electricity Transmission - Renewable Energy Resource Interconnections - Stable Sustainable Development Solutions

This is the GENI I was wondering about last night. So in answer to my question that I was most curious about, yes they do still exist and it seems they are still plugging away at the Global Enerery Network. Phew!

An Inconvient Truth - Watch this trailer - Important

I hope this film comes soon and makes a difference.

Happiness At Work

I read this blog last night. I totally agree with what the author is putting forward here. Work is such a central part of our life and if we aren't happy there it can be bad for our health. I love Riccardo Semler's books and I have also enjoyed Anita Roddick's writing on this topic as well as everything she writes.
I think happiness is always our own responsibility, yet having said that as an employer there are ways to encourage it and not. I look forward to reading Alex's book on this and watching his process as well.

I have lots to do today and normally this kind of workload would make me groan but I can't help feeling happy for lots of reasons.

Easter

All religion aside, I find Easter to always be a very sacred time of the year for me. No matter whether I have been away camping with friends, celebrating togetherness with my family or having a restful and recuperative time, as I am this year, I always gain some inner knowledge or healing. I am more aware of it now and I look forward to the season. It has usually come as a string of realisations or one of those aha moments when I see my life or purpose with fresh eyes.
Being part of a school community has already made Easter special this year. Our school had our students walk to the local creek and get water to raise awareness and empathy with those who don't have water as readily available to them. It was a powerful experience for us all and I appreciate these things. It is always freeing for me to reflect on all the blessings I have. It is when I take things for granted that my life becomes mundane and I feel dissatisfied.

Fairy Floss

Today we had a fete at school to raise money for Project Compassion. It was fantastic to see the year nine students enthusiastically presenting it to the school. The students really supported the event and the fairy floss was a big hit with lines continuing until the end of lunch bell rang. There is something really pretty about fairy floss. Who can resist?