I just got my Peace Fleece today!
Peace Fleece is a company set up in the eighties to foster relations and help defuse the threats between the USSR and the USA.
Today they have links with shepherds in different countries, including Israel and Palestine.
After the start of the Iraq war, they developed a wool - Baghdad Blue -which is a vibrant colour - "as bright as the Baghdad sky". All profits from the sale of this wool goes to support Neve Shalom/Wahat al Salaam - an international community in Israel.
The wool is beautiful - at first it looks just blue- then you see the specks of purple through it - and really affordable. I can't wait to knit with it!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Kiva
I guess I should start with the beginning.
The first step in my quest to change the world, was to make a loan through Kiva.
What is Kiva?
Well it's pretty simple really.
This is all done as transparently as possible - you know exactly which microloan organisation is working for the borrower, you even get blog updates. There is a low default rate, but US$25 is a nice little donation if that is the case.
I highly recommend a loan to someone at Kiva - I've made one loan already and I'm hoping to make regular loans as money is available.
The first step in my quest to change the world, was to make a loan through Kiva.
What is Kiva?
Well it's pretty simple really.
Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.Basically, you put forward a loan from as little as US$25. You decide who gets this loan. Along with a number of other people, you raise the money, the person gets the loan - usually to expand small businesses - and slowly pays it back. You can either get your money back, or loan it to someone else.
(From the Kiva website)
This is all done as transparently as possible - you know exactly which microloan organisation is working for the borrower, you even get blog updates. There is a low default rate, but US$25 is a nice little donation if that is the case.
I highly recommend a loan to someone at Kiva - I've made one loan already and I'm hoping to make regular loans as money is available.
Intro Post
So, what made me, a 20-something teacher from Queensland, Australia, want to change the world? I suppose I've always had it deep inside me, the urge to do something. Then I found Bill Clinton's book Giving for cheap at the local QBD.
Inside the book there were hundreds of ideas, links and stories about how to give back to society. One of these ideas stuck with me for a full day - kiva.org . I ended up making my first loan to support a furniture builder in Lebanon.
But that wasn't enough, there was still a nagging feeling that there was more that could be done. So I bought Michael Norton's 365 Ways to Change the World. And I got myself some blog space. And here I am, chronicling the ways I can change the world.
If you want to join me on this journey, set up your own blog and let me know the link!
Inside the book there were hundreds of ideas, links and stories about how to give back to society. One of these ideas stuck with me for a full day - kiva.org . I ended up making my first loan to support a furniture builder in Lebanon.
But that wasn't enough, there was still a nagging feeling that there was more that could be done. So I bought Michael Norton's 365 Ways to Change the World. And I got myself some blog space. And here I am, chronicling the ways I can change the world.
If you want to join me on this journey, set up your own blog and let me know the link!
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