Sometimes Facebook can actually be useful and productive. A case in point: I recently reconnected with a friend from Northfield High School. David Narum is a partner with Greenway Partners in Arcata, California, promoting and using regenerative design to go “beyond sustainability”. It’s great to find like-minded people working to reconnect people and the planet. Read more about David's company...

Environmental consulting firm Greening Sports LLC has gone live with a new web site built by Charles Buchwald and Friends. Although the company, and the site, are in the early stages, significant work has been done. Soon, a web survey will allow visitors to contribute to a survey of sports teams, and more features are currently under development. The site features the sports photography of Pallavi Shah, as well as a fresh, clean template design customized by CB&F.

Our latest, greatest project went live recently! ChildHonouring.org is up and ready for you. Please visit and check out all the wonderful information on Raffi’s transformative philosophy, including free book downloads, free songs, and lots more. CB&F has been thrilled to be a part of this effort, even so far as to donate 10 percent of our fees back to the Centre in the form of pro bono work. So, please spread the word about this site and these fascinating, world-changing ideas!

Saturday, 24 October 2009, is the Global Day of Action for Climate Change. If you haven’t heard about it yet, please visit 350.org for just a few minutes, and read about the thousands of events around the world organized to bring attention to the threat of climate change, and to ask our leaders to carry the people’s message of concern and call to action to Copenhagen.

CB&F will be at the Salt Spring Island event to donate event photography and post the official photo. Check back to see the photo! Here’s the photo:

Climate Action Day on Saltspring Island, Canada

Here’s what Shoshanah Ray Waxman wrote about the event:

A critical mass bike ride and community rally was held on Salt Spring Island, BC with the theme “Ganges Underwater.” People are dressed up in snorkels, wetsuits and flippers to represent the result of climate change and rising sea waters on our island’s main village. A new water line was mapped out and marked with signs showing which local  businesses and landmarks would be submerged if waters rose 5 meters. Gathering at the high school gymnasium, we heard music from local artists, including a sing-along to a specially composed song “Be the Change” by Phil Vernon. The Raging Grannies graced us with their might, and high school student Geoff McFarlane shared a song titled “Let my World Revolve.” Child entertainer Raffi sang a world premier of “Sustainability”—a song form his forthcoming album “Communion”. We also introduced the idea of a Transition Initiative to make our community more self-reliant and carbon-neutral. Our message to our government is “Don’t let us sink at Copenhagen!”

Here’s more on the day and events, directly from 350.org:

On October 24, 2009, millions of people around the world will take action to spread the number 350, the safe level of CO2 in the atmosphere measured in parts per million, and make sure world leaders are on course to reach that target.

I’m attending a 350.org event near me because I want to be part of the solution. Please check out http://www.350.org to find or start an October 24 event near you.

It’s urgent that we act together and build a movement that will solve the climate crisis and ensure a safe and just future for the world. Please join me, and help build this movement at 350.org

350.org is an international grassroots campaign that aims to mobilize a global climate movement united by a common call to action. By spreading an understanding of the science and a shared vision for a fair policy, we will ensure that the world creates bold and equitable solutions to the climate crisis. 350.org is an independent and not-for-profit project.

350.org needs your help! To support our work, donate securely online at http://www.350.org/donate

Here’s the official 350.org Flickr page.

I saw this in the paper, but forgot about the online version.

I went “car free” for five days a while ago, and earned $50 for my trouble. The current thought is to use this as seed money for a “yellow bike” sharing program for Ganges, here on Salt spring Island. Recent work has put a hold on plans for such a program, but my intention is to develop it a bit more over the rainy season, then get it rolling in the Spring.

I recommend going “car free”. Walking is great way to get some exercise and connect to the neighbourhood and the nature around us.

CB&F is proud and excited to announce that after a lengthy selection process, we have been selected to develop the web site for the new Centre for Child Honouring. The Spirit of ONE Campaign is a fundraising effort to establish the Centre here on Salt Spring Island, and the web site is one of the first outward efforts. Working with Raffi, the Centre staff, and a select group of subcontractors the development process is already underway.

If you don’t know about Raffi’s recent efforts, here’s what Wikipedia has to say about them:

In recent years, Raffi has devoted himself to “Child Honouring”, his vision for creating a humane and sustainable world by addressing the universal needs of children. His “Covenant for Honouring Children” outlines the principles of this philosophy.

In 2006, with Dr. Sharna Olfman, he co-edited an anthology,Child Honouring: How to Turn This World Around, which introduces Child Honouring as a philosophy for restoring communities and ecosystems. It contains chapters by Penelope Leach, Fritjof Capra, David Korten, Riane Eisler, Mary Gordon, Graca Machel, Joel Bakan, Matthew Fox, Barbara Kingsolver, and others. The book’s foreword is by the Dalai Lama. Resisto Dancing: Songs of Compassionate Revolution is the companion music record album for that book.

In a 2006 speech, Iona Campagnolo, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, referred to Child Honouring as a “vast change in the human paradigm.”

For a bit more, check out Raffi’s Troubadour Music and What is Child Honouring?, as well as our local newspaper, the Gulf Islands Driftwood, and this recent editorial piece, Child Honouring Urgently Needed.

One of the lovely things is that the philosophy encompasses both social and environmental responsibility and sustainability, so that the efforts are inherently green, community-building, and peacemaking.

CB&F are seeking pro bono donations from highly qualified web professionals; please contact us if you are interested in participating in a world-changing movement!

Chris Anderson, Wired Magazine’s Editor in Chief, has written a thought-provoking article for the latest edition of said magazine. Tech Is Too Cheap to Meter: It’s Time to Manage for Abundance, Not Scarcity presents views from his latest book about how the falling prices for information technology have the potential to change our thinking and feeling.

The central premise is that most of our business and organization thinking is based on promoting scarce materials, products and ideas. But falling tech prices present a different paradigm, where it’s our thinking and creativity that are the main limitations. This chart was very helpful:

Note that the audio version of the book is currently available for download within the body of the article.

What do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know!

The computers that run all of our hosting here at Charles Buchwald & Friends can use a lot of energy. Despite the fact that the hardware we use is Energy Star compliant, it’s still a lot of heat and energy required to keep them running around the clock, every day. Now our servers are 130 percent powered by wind energy!

How can it be more than 100 percent? Carbon offset credits are purchased for that much more of the energy used. We’re doing our best to contribute to efforts to limit the generation of greenhouse gasses and other harmful side effects of energy production.

If you have more ideas about how to improve our service or our environmental footprint, please leave a comment!

As one of the first of a number of new charity sites sponsored by buchwald.ca, the Salt Spring Farm and Barter Network has gone live. Although in it’s early stages, the network is planning to raise awareness and funds with an event for Earth Day. The Earth Day Cabaret and “Happy bEARTHday” Variety Show will take place at the High School Multipurpose Room on 22 April. There are a number of events planned, including entertainment. Learn more.

I stumbled across this blog a while ago. This couple decided to see what it would be like to eat on USD $1 per day, and they wrote about it every day for a month. It was such a simple thing, but powerful. Maybe reading it all at once won’t have the same impact, but I recommend it. Really makes you think about what so many people struggle with every day. I guarantee you will look at your next meal differently. It’s here: One Dollar Diet Project