Janet Larsen has a good article on how the vacuum of leadership in Washington has actually encouraged mayors in America to stand up and try to fight climate change. The White House still denies that climate change is a reality, but the citizens of the United States seem to know better.
Author: Adam Clare
Coke Curbed in Class
Wow.
I must admit that I never thought that I would be writing this: Colas will not be sold in American schools and the largest soda manufactures have agreed to this.
“The nation’s largest beverage distributors have agreed to halt nearly all soda sales to public schools, according to a deal announced Wednesday by the William J. Clinton Foundation.
“This is a bold step forward in the struggle to help 35 million young people lead healthier lives,” the former president said at a news conference. “This one policy can add years and years and years to the lives of a very large number of young people.” “
eTUKTUK
The eTUKTUK project is a small vehicle that is a mobile telecentre that operates in rural Sri Lanka. It is equipped with a battery powered computer, printer, camera, telephone and scanner.
From the India Times:
“It is a project of the Kothmale FM Community Radio Station, located in Mawathura, which is about 25 km southwest of Kandy. Mawathura is primarily a rural region with tea and rice being the dominant plantation crops.
Since 1999, Kothmale Community Radio has been serving as an interface between rural communities in the central hill region of Sri Lanka and new communication technologies.”
Teddy Bear Bullets
A paint ball gun manufacture has become a bit more cute. They are making guns that fire teddy bears that descend onto suspecting crowds attached to a parachute.
Great way to Communicate
t e l e k o m m u n i s t e n is a hosted voice over IP phone service that is worker-run that uses profits to fund international aid and development efforts. This is such a good idea!
From their website:
Worker Owned and Operated
telekommunisten is controlled by it’s workers and committed to staying that way, we believe we can serve our customers best and at the lowest cost by remaining focused on meeting the needs of our employees and customers, not on profits for outside shareholders. Being worker-owned means that all the money you spend on our products goes directly to the maintenance and improvement of the service you receive.
Dedicated to International Development and Aid
The founders of telekommunisten are committed activists and have contributed to numerous projects in North America, Europe and Africa, from setting up Independant media convergence spaces in Canada and working with refugees and migrants in Europe, to co-ordinating relief efforts in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. When you employ telekommunisten, you support our work.