Elle's Good Stuff

My Favorite GoodTube Videos

noreply@blogger.com (elle) — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:53:00 +0000

This Video is from an organization called charity:water, they raise money to build wells in Africa. Waterborne diseases are common in Africa and people spend hours aday trying to get water. Clean water is an essential piece in creating a better Afria.

This organization is called PlanetRead, it encourages literacy throughout India using popular Bollywood movies and stars.

This is a music video from the Bahamas, it encourages conservation to save the beautiful Bahama Parrot. It will make you laugh as well as introduce you to a beautiful animal that needs our help to conserve its habitat.

Few people realize that there is a third world with in the USA, it is the Navajo Nation. The two organizations below are working to help the Navajos survive while preserving their heritage.

Adopt a Native Elder is an organization that helps Native American elders survive while also being true to their rich culture. The organization travels to the Navajo Nation amongst the stunning red rocks of Southern Utah. While there they provide supplies and healthcare to the elders.

http://www.goodtube.org/video.php?organization=97&l=Adopt+a+Native+Elder

Navajo Santa is a group of people that travel to the Navajo Nation to give gifts and supply.

http://www.goodtube.org/video.php?organization=2&l=Profiles+In+Caring

These are just some of my favorite videos and organizations. For more ideas on giving back visit www.goodtube.org and search through our video library.

Celebrate National Women's Health Month

noreply@blogger.com (elle) — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:04:00 +0000

May is National Women's Health Month. Women's health is an important issue worldwide. Women need to stay healthy in order to keep their family healthy. Cervical cancer, breast cancer and nutrition are all important topics in women's health.

This year, instead of talking about vaccines and test for women, I am going to take this month and bring attention to organizations that are working to improve women's health all over the world. Especially organizations working to improve pregnancy health.

Now, imagine living in a country where women have 300 percent higher chance of dieing during childbirth than in the United States. Tibet has the highest infant mortality rate in the world. 95 percent of women in rural villages often give birth at home alone. Luckily, there is an organization educating the Tibetan people about giving birth safely. I saw the following video about the organization, One HEART, that works to save Tibet "one birth at a time."

There is a second part of this video here

One HEART is an amazing organization, and has been successful because it teaches the local people about health as opposed to just bringing in doctors once in awhile. They also respect the culture of Tibet and work to preserve the culture while also improving women's health.

If you know any great women's organizations let me know.

noreply@blogger.com (elle) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:52:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (elle) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:58:00 +0000

World Health Day

noreply@blogger.com (elle) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:07:00 +0000

Today is World Health Day and The World Health Organization (WHO) selected "Protecting Health from Environmental Changes" as the theme this year. I personally never considered how our health is impacted by global warming, so I did some reading and this is what I discovered.

- The atmospheric concentration of Carbon Dioxide has increased by more than 30 percent since pre-industrial times. The increase of carbon Dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere traps heat thus causing temperatures to rise. As temperatures rise and become more erratic, the number of heat related deaths increase. In 2003 there was a record spike in heat related deaths in Western Europe, 70,000 more people died from heat related deaths than in the previous years.

- Increasing global temperatures affect levels and seasonal patterns of both man-made and natural air-borne particles, such as plant pollen, which can trigger asthma. About 300 million people suffer from asthma, and 255 000 people died of the disease in 2005. Asthma deaths are expected to increase by almost 20% in the next 10 years.

- Rising sea levels are another outcome of global warming. As the sea levels rise coastlines across the world are at risk of flooding. Flooding can cause injury, property damage and illness. Flooding increases and spreads water borne viruses increasing infection.

- Water is a main source of illness in a number of developing countries. Global warming isn't helping either. As the Earth is heating up rain patterns are changing and the lack of fresh, clean water is making people sick. However, there is an organization that is helping bring clean fresh water to developing countries. charity:water is a great organization that is working to build wells throughout Africa. Improving lives and health.

I know these facts can be depressing and a little overwhelming. But the fact is that there are more organization like charity:water that are working to improve health and the environment.

We can all take small steps toward a more Green lifestyle. Try any one of these things today in honor of World Health Day:

- Change your old light bulbs for energy efficient light bulbs. Track your city or states progress at 18seconds.org

- Buy local, the less miles your food travels the fewer greenhouse gases get released. The food is also fresher and your money is helping your local economy. Check out a Farmers Market in your home town.

- Check out Tree People as they educate children on the importance of the environment.

- Go to the "Green Guide" for weekly tips, articles, buying guides and a blog dedicated to Green living.