As it is the holiday season, I thought I would spotlight some excellent organizations that go above and beyond the spirit of giving. Consider supporting these organizations...
Practical Action uses the "small is beautiful" philosophy to aid developing communities in Latin America, East Africa, Southern Africa and South Asia by incorporating new technologies, creating jobs and improving health and livelihoods. In these countries, Practical Action works with poor communities to develop appropriate technologies in food production, agroprocessing, energy, transport, small enterprise development, shelter and disaster mitigation.
StyleWillSaveUs is an independent digital magazine that promotes "all things super-stylish, organic, eco-friendly, vintage, recycled and sustainable" such as beauty, fashion and gourmet items that are fairtrade or made from organic and sustainable materials. Also advertised are homes and lifestyle features that enable reduced energy consumption, nnd/or are made from sustainable, organic, biodegradable, recycled or recyclable materials.
One Planet Living partners with relevant local or regional government authority, local community representatives, developers, architects, engineers, financiers, and providers of key infrastructure and services related to transport, energy, waste and food to create, develop and build sustainable communities. Building upon learnings from their award-winning BedZED urban eco-neighbourhood in London, UK, OPL's next-generation design process integrates sustainable lifestyles, green building standards, bioregionalism, and eco-footprint analysis.
The World Resources Institute, an environmental think tank, goes beyond research to create practical solutions to both protect the Earth and improve people's lives, building bridges between ideas and actions, "meshing the insights of scientific research, economic and institutional analyses, and practical experience with the need for open and participatory decision-making."