Week 21-Go Green Week, Day 5-Your Ride

Gas seems to be doing that thing is usually does this time of year.  Going up, up, and away with all of our spending money.  We are in the thick of spring with summer’s temptations of longer days and endless nights starting to pop up more often than not.  So more of us are trying to figure out if we can walk to work, bike to work, or at least get in on a carpool with some folks.  I used to love the show Pimp My Ride, which had sadly gone off the air, but these days people want someone to green their ride.  Thankfully that’s all something we can do ourselves.  It’s as easy as walking a little further, biking a little longer, and being a little smarter.

Who didn't love Xzibit?

While it’s true that making our transportation a little more green can put a lot more green back in our wallets, we also get by with a little help from our friends at the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy.  ITDP works with communities worldwide to come up and implement sustainable transportation solutions that overall improve our quality of life.  Founded 25 years ago ITDP is the go-to non-profit for cities in developing countries that want to cut greenhouse emissions, reduce poverty, and increase equitable transportation.  All that is great for the city, but you may be wondering how they are helping us little people.  Well, they are also working to initiate bike share programs, car free days, build safer streets for pedestrians and bicyclists, and improve the overall quality and affordability of bikes.  ITDP is big enough to make real changes, and small enough to touch the lives of individuals.  Walking is great but sometimes you need a jet plane to get where you need to go.  Angel Flight West is a great charity that makes sure money never prevents a child with cancer from getting treatment, or a father from being reunited with his family after being separated from them because of a natural disaster.  AFW has flown over 40,000 missions since they first began their goal of providing free flights to deserving individuals back in 1983.  All of the AFW volunteer pilots donate their time, aircraft, and fuel for every mission they fly and give hope back to someone who needs it most.  Red Bull may give you wings, but Angel Flight West gives you your life back.

Institute for Transportation & Development Policy Donation

Angel Flight West Donation

So here’s to your ride!  No not that gas guzzling SUV you own, those two feet on the bottom or your legs or that bicycle you have stashed out in your garage.  You are what really moves us from place to place and we’re starting to realize that you’re not only greener and good for us, but you also save us a whole lotta dough.  Now’s the time to lace up those tennis shoes and pump up those tires, cause we ain’t getting no younger and gas sure ain’t getting no cheaper.

I don't know about you but I can't afford those prices!

Week 20-Social Networks, Day 3-YouTube

Today when I was walking to work it hit me like a ton of bricks that YouTube is also a social networking site.  I hadn’t even really considered blogging about it before, but it turns out that there’s more to this video uploading site than crazy twin babies and Rebecca Black.  Founded back in 2005 YT became an overnight sensation.  After only one year 65,000 videos were posted a day, and today more than 24 hours of video are posted every single minute of every day.  Viral videos are quickly becoming the best thing since sliced bread, and charities and non-profits are getting in on this high exposure social network.  Thanks to YouTube you can broadcast yourself for good.

I’m not a huge YT buff so I did just a simple search with the word charity today and found some really amazing causes.  World Bicycle Relief was one of those causes.  Their cool intro video really caught my attention as I was trolling for ideas.  We use our bicycles here in America for a nice afternoon ride, to compete in races, or a few of us use them to get to work when the gas prices get really high.  In rural Africa a bicycle in the hands of a girl changes everything.  Owning a bicycle means freedom, education, confidence, knowledge, and power.  Fewer girls attend school in Zambia because of the risk of a long commute to school, early marriages, and poverty, but bicycles are changing all that.  They are able to travel up to four times the distance they would on foot, and reach their goal of getting an education.  WBR is stopping the cycle of poverty with cycles of hope.

Help finish this sentence...

I would be fibbing a little bit if I said I found this next charity on YT first, because I discovered their YT channel after they started following me on Twitter this afternoon.  A Broader View makes it as easy to volunteer as it is to tie your shoes.  ABV was founded by Sarah and Oliver Ehlers after they returned home from a trip Chile, South America, because they were so moved by the difference volunteers were making at local orphanages.  When they started researching volunteer programs it quickly became clear how expensive and restrictive most of the opportunities were, and they were determined to change that.  ABV has over 180 customized volunteer programs in 21 countries that last anywhere from 1 to 24 weeks.  You choose when, where, and how long you want to volunteer and they help you make it happen.  In case that wasn’t enough to sell you, all of the program costs and the airfare are all tax-deductible!  Still not inspired?  Watch this video on their YT channel.

World Bicycle Relief Donation

A Broader View Donation

So here’s to you YouTube!  Because of you we can watch music videos, talking dogs, live concerts, and tutorials on how to fold origami elephants out of a dollar bill.  You have helped us broadcast our best and worst moments over the past five years.  You help us be in two places at once, and see and experience things we could only dream of.  You spread comedy, news, joy, technology, knowledge, and encouragement all over the world.  Thanks for helping us tune into what really matters and channel our inner giver.