Dawn is just cresting the mountain ridge as you hike silently up to your favorite spot, a perch where you can see – unseen by other hikers. Here, you position yourself to meditate. The golden rays paint the rocks, and trees glisten with their own energy. You reach out to embrace the view. Suddenly, it feels as if your spirit leaves your body and becomes a part of all around you. Then, just as suddenly, you are back inside your own skin wondering what just happened.

You had a transcendental experience, leaving this “mortal coil” to join with all that is the universe, to become one with creation. It is an awe-inspiring experience that may last for only an instant but leave its impact for a lifetime.

If you are lucky enough to have had an experience similar to this, you have had a vision of the world as it truly is…where everything is connected to everything else. As Martin Luther King said, “we are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny…” This is the core tenet of sustainability, understanding that we humans are not the masters of the Earth.  We are part of and connected to everything that exists.  When we understand this most basic concept, all that we do to pursue sustainability becomes almost self-evident.

The Need for Thinking Sustainably
Why do we, at this time in history, need to be concerned with sustainability? For many scientists, economists, and sociologists, there is mounting evidence that humans have been sowing the seeds of their own extinction. Many believe that, unless immediate corrective actions are taken, civilizations and humanity itself are headed for global catastrophes.

According to the World Resources Institute, at least 3.5 billion people, more than half of the world’s current population, are expected to experience water shortages by 2025. As the population continues to soar, the world’s fisheries and agricultural productivity are in decline. Global heating is threatening to raise sea levels and dry up water resources all over the world. Meanwhile, the warming atmosphere spawns highly variable weather with devastating storms, snows in the South, heat waves in the North and the paradoxical possibility of a new Ice Age.

Economic disparity is also growing worldwide. Today, a few hundred billionaires control more wealth than all the people in the 45 poorest countries.  Political upheaval, religious fanaticism and ongoing conflicts destroy the environment, lives and communities. While these are not new phenomena, technology has made them global in their impacts.

As the Chinese curse states, we now live in interesting times. And that is why there is a renewed interest in sustainability spreading across the planet.

To Be or Not To Be…Sustainable
Apparently, there seems to be some controversy and misunderstanding about the term, sustainability. It is becoming politicized, primarily by those who either do not understand what it means or who feel threatened by its concepts.

Simply put, sustainability means the ability to last, to continue existing in one’s chosen state. To be sustainable, you must appreciate the conditions in which you live and limit the demands your chosen life makes on those conditions. To be sustainable, we must take only what we need and preserve the resources and capabilities needed so future generations can thrive.

We must work together to create strong economies, healthy communities and a preserved natural environment. Are we living within the carrying capacity of the Earth?  Are we taking only what the Earth can continually provide? Are we contributing positively to our communities and the natural environment?  The answer to those questions will determine what kind of future we are leaving to those who follow us.

There are lessons in sustainability to be learned every day…if one pays attention to the natural world around us.

Learn from Nature
All life as we know it on Earth lives within a “closed system.”  Nothing enters Earth’s system in any measurable quantity except sunlight. The seeds for all new life come from existing life. All plants, animals, insects and humans gather their food and water from what exists on Earth. At the end of each life, everything must cycle back to the Earth to sustain the future. That is the Cycle of Life, and it is bound by physical laws that cannot be broken.
The Cycle of Life links all living things together. We depend on each other, on all living things, for our survival. Yet, knowing that we need a healthy natural environment and an ongoing Cycle of Life, we humans are the only species that actively works to break the Cycle of Life.
To build our modern societies, we take resources out of the natural environment, use them and then dispose of them as wastes. During the course of that linear process, we generate all sorts of pollution. The result is that, unlike other species in nature, we deplete natural resources, destroy natural habitats and, consequently, threaten our own existence.

Seeking Balance: Economy, Community, Environment
In Nature, organisms strive for balance or homeostasis within their ecosystems. Take the time to sit and observe a tree, a stream or any small natural area. You’ll find it rich with life, even in desert areas. Within a small ecosystem, you can see the interdependency of life in action. Plants grow together helping each gain water and minerals from the soil. Insects, birds and animals find food and shelter among the plants. You’ll notice there is no waste. Everything serves as food for everything else.

Everywhere you look there is a natural balance that continues until some external forces upset it. Then, each system, together with its living components, works to regain that balance. To become sustainable, we must think holistically and work collectively to find balance within ourselves, our families, our economy, our communities and the natural environment.

Let’s start with economy. Notice that it has the same root word, ECO, from the Greek for home or where we live. Economy means managing where we live. It means thoughtful use of resources to sustain life. In today’s society, we consider economy in terms of the flow of dollars. That is not our economy. It is only one inaccurate way to measure our economy.

Genuine Progress Indicators measure how well we are doing. To learn more, visit Redefining Progress at www.rprogress.org.

So to begin to gain balance with our economy, we need to think about it differently and measure progress differently. How do we know when our economy is improving? Certainly, it is not by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that only tracks the flow of dollars. We know it by measurable improvements in our quality of life.

Are children healthy and doing well in school? Does every child have access to a good education? Are people who work earning livable wages? Is good housing affordable for all? Is the air clean and healthy to breathe? Are the elderly and infirm well provided for? Is the water abundant and safe to drink? Are communities healthy and safe from crime and war? Are more people working using less energy and materials to create more value to society?  In each of these questions lie fabulous economic opportunities. When the answer to these questions is “Yes,” then we are beginning to produce a healthy, balanced economy.

Connecting, Engaging, Supporting
Strengthening communities begins with understanding our connections to each other. We are all more alike than we are different. Knowing this allows us to celebrate our differences in ways that enrich all our lives. Knowing that we all share a “single garment of destiny” can lead us to overcome old antagonisms and work for the common good. Together, as good neighbors, we can conceive a collective vision and develop the will to achieve it.

Creating healthy, balanced communities requires engagement. We need to be involved with others at different levels in our society, depending upon our interests and our talents. Some of us may be great at arranging neighborhood gatherings. Others may feel the need to volunteer at the local school or with a civic group. There are the natural politicians among us who can represent us at the town council. All of us can become informed and vote.

Restoring and preserving our natural environment is fundamental to sustainability. Learning the lessons of nature, we can more closely integrate ourselves into the Cycle of Life where everything contributes to the whole and nothing is wasted. We can all do simple things.

Eat lower down on the food chain. Locally produced fruits, vegetables and grains take less from the Earth than processed foods. Take shorter showers. Get out of your car and walk or bike. Form carpools and use public transportation when you can. Become knowledgeable about ways to conserve and lead simpler, more rewarding lives.

Stay in Contact
Our modern lives have disengaged us from our communities and the natural world. We have the opportunity and the need to re-engage for our own well-being and that of everyone on the planet. Connected, each one of us can do our part, and as we do, the whole becomes stronger and more vibrant.

So take the time. Make meaningful contact with those around you. Support those in need. Share your feelings about the issues of today and your dreams for tomorrow. Contribute your talents and good works to the true economy that benefits all.

Go to Nature. Learn from her. Find that special place for yourself where you can reach out to become one with everything around you. There you can awaken within yourself the power of your sustainable spirit.

sofcomead.com sponsored by: Allergies in Infants | Earthworm Farm | Get Rid of Piles Disease | Ellen Currie | Defeat Hemorrhoids | Green Tea Extract Weight Loss | Get Rid of Tinnitus | Turkey Marinades

I read a story in the paper yesterday about a 92 year-old who was in his teens during the Great Depression. He remembered his dad taping up value-less stocks on the wall and telling him “never buy stocks”. They lost their home and all of their possessions, as many did during that time.

And yet, this gentleman went on to build a fortune, create a loving family, and at his age, teaches tai chi to others in his assisted care facility. He has lived a vibrant and full life. He made it through those dark days because he kept a perspective on what was valuable: his family, his passions, and his purpose in life.

There is a lot of fear being peddled in the news these days, and although many people I know are doing their best to keep their vibrations at a high level, the relentless bad news is hard to completely tune out. As people listen to the dire predictions and see their savings disappear, it’s having an impact on lives and livelihoods around the world.

The simple truth is that no one knows what is going to happen in the next days, weeks, and years. Assuredly, the recovery is not going to be overnight. Our financial system will likely never be the same, and many people will lose all their material wealth. But what will come out of the ashes will be a stronger, better future, if we proceed with persistence, care, and vision.

There is another simple truth we can focus on during these times that will be critical to our sustainability: Our relationships with self, our families, our communities, and our clients.

I have written many times about using your writing to create relationships with your readers, whether it’s an information product you are selling, a newsletter you are writing, or an article you are submitting. Sharing your values, your perspective, and your voice will do more to build your business than any marketing copy, sales letters, or lead generation strategies.

Thomas Leonard, the “Father of Coaching” used to say that “if you give information away, you will be rewarded in ways you can’t imagine”. When I stopped doing that for awhile in my business, the effects were not good.

The more you give, the more you’ll receive, and sustaining your relationships is a top priority.

Look at strategies you can use to build your relationships with your readers.

Brand New Hot Selling Diet/Weight loss Program. $1000 / Day earning Potential in a Multi-Billion Dollar per Year Market. Free Keyword Lists, Audiences, Sample Ads, Selling Angles, Website Templates @ www.StripThatFat.com/Affiliates.php
Strip That Fat – $39/Sale

This is a World of Warcraft guide designed to take advantage of Blizzard’s Recruit a Friend program. It shows you step by step how to level 1-60 in under one day! The guide includes maps and links and shows you exactly what to do to level fast!
Redwin’s World of Warcraft Horde Recruit a Friend Leveling Guide

In this section we deal with renewable resources, solar plants, heating and air conditioning

We start from the sustainable resources that are mainly the biomass; this means the combustion of heat and electricity by cogeneration; the wind that is the Aeolian electricity source; the solar thermal radiation, useful to produce electric and thermal energy. Also the waterfalls, generally understood as hydroelectric source, the marine streams and the tides belong to sustainable resources. Solar plants are energy plants that generate power through solar energy. Generally speaking, we can divide plants as photovoltaic plants and thermal electric plants.

In the first case, some particular modules, called photovoltaic modules, are used, with the task to turn solar light into electric energy through the photovoltaic effect. The thermal electric plants, instead, work through the use of solar panels that will turn the solar light into a particular liquid. This liquid should reach the boiling point until it becomes a gas. The gas will be collected in a turbine that through an alternator will be transformed in mechanical energy. This process will produce electric energy. As regards heating through solar energy, it is not so easy, this is because the presence of the sun, exactly in the most necessary period, is not at the maximum of its brightness. We can say that new technologies are able to get from the sun beyond 60% of its rays. To be able to use this kind of heating, we need to have some panels under the floor and in any case a system to keep the water temperature fix at 50° degree. The panels that will be installed, should be absolutely vacuum-packed, this way they could be really active during the cold season (this is just why a proper pump is used)

If, on the contrary, you want to switch to this kind of heating but still have some common radiators in your house, regarding saving money, you will not go beyond the 30% of total expenses. But how much does this kind of system cost? Everything depends on the apartment length. For insurance, to heat about 150 m2, the price is around 8-10 thousand euro. Regarding air conditioning, always in a domestic environment, there are various solutions. We can suggest the fixed air conditioner, as split system, which is made of one internal and one external unit. There is also the portable air conditioner, always split type, also in this case is made of two units, one internal and one external. But there is also the portable Monoblock system, which are very comfortable because they can be very easily moved from one room to the other. All the air conditioner spare parts and Monoblock spare parts, instead, are made of one single unit.

Most of them also have the dehumidification function. Prices are very variable, depending on model and brand. To install them it is better to call a sector expert.

This article was written by Martina Meneghetti with support from components for air conditioning . For any information, visit hvac design tools or surfing on-line transition fittings and flanges .

Selling Online? Are you interested in selling more and working less? Consider selling Books, DVDs, CDs, and Video Games on Amazon’s Fba Program. You send your products to them, and they handle the packing, shipping, and customer service.
Selling on Amazon’s Fba (Fulfillment by Amazon) Program

Modeled after military fitness methods, our workouts will push you to the next level giving you the best full body workout you’ve ever had.
Military Style Fitness Program

Straining Our Capacity To Feed The World

A topic that is increasingly raised these days involves the resources required to raise livestock for providing meat, dairy products and eggs, as well as the strain on our oceans from over fishing, and the question often asked is whether or not the practice of eating meat and fish is sustainable over the long term. At what point can the planet no longer support the population?

Time for a disclaimer – I’m not vegan, though I do try to limit my meat and fish consumption to a moderate amount and focus on whole grains, fruits and vegetables in my diet. That said, cheese is the one area that I have the hardest time with. I’ve often thought that I could live without meat, and possibly eggs, but giving up cheese is not something I’ve ever considered. (The magic of bread, cheese and wine is too much for me to sacrifice.)

But I often run into people who are vegan, especially here in Southern California, and the truth is that my son-in-law is vegan, so it’s only natural that I would be curious about what it all means. Checking out the Vegan Action website:

A vegan (pronounced VEE-gun) is someone who, for various reasons, chooses to avoid using or consuming animal products. While vegetarians choose not to use flesh foods, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs, as well as fur, leather, wool, down, and cosmetics or chemical products tested on animals.

Veganism, the natural extension of vegetarianism, is an integral component of a cruelty-free lifestyle. Living vegan provides numerous benefits to animals’ lives, to the environment, and to our own health-through a healthy diet and lifestyle.

My assumption had always been that the choice to go vegan was made for either health reasons, reduced chance of disease, or out of respect for animals, believing that it is unnecessary to kill animals for food. While this is has proven true for the vegans I’ve encountered, another reason mentioned more frequently over the past few years is sustainability.

The Price Of Eating Meat

What is clear from reading about the process of raising animals for food (meat, milk, eggs) is the level of strain such practices put on the environment. The amount of land required, the significant use of water and the volume of feed that must be grown all take their toll on the planet.

Can veganism solve this problem? Such a lifestyle is often credited with lowering the risk of colon cancer, heart attack, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, prostate cancer, and stroke when contrasted to diets high in fats and sugars – but lately the drumbeat has grown louder that as our population continues to increase the planet is becoming less able to support demands placed on both natural resources and the food supply.

Founded in Britain on November 1, 1944, by Donald Watson, the Vegan Society has been very vocal on the environmental aspects of including animal products in our lifestyle…

Now available to the public, Situational Leadership(R) 101! Used by 70% of Fortune 500 Companies. Proven results for over 50 years. Affiliates make 50% Commission with a proven product! Learn more at: www.situational.com/AffiliateTools
Success in a down market w/ Situational Leadership, Over 14m Trained

Mexico pledges once again its commitment to sustainable tourism by introducing new market-driven, economic opportunities that support conservation and community development. The Mexico Tourism Board and other Mexicans governmental tourism entities, in conjunction with the World Heritage Alliance (WHA), Expedia, Inc. and the United Nations Foundation, have initiated an educational partnership program for Expedia representatives and members of local communities in Mexico to ensure the protection of the delicate biodiversity, while empowering the rural communities through entrepreneurship.

Earlier this year, Expedia employees traveled to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to work with Community Tours Sian Ka’an (CTSK) — a local, predominantly Mayan- owned tourism cooperative working to ensure protection of the delicate mix of coral reefs, mangroves, clear deep water pools, and forests, which are increasingly drawing tourists southward from nearby Cancun and the Riviera Maya.

“We are very excited and proud of the benefits that our small local communities are receiving,” commented Mexico Tourism Board CEO, Francisco Lopez Mena on the Community Tours Sian Ka’an. “CTSK is a perfect example of how we can empower a local community with the right entrepreneurial skills, while at the same time protecting the environment and offering visitors a rich and fulfilling experience,” stated Lopez Mena.

A representative of CTSK, Manuel Quezada IX, was recently a panelist during the United Nations’ Dialogue for the Future: Indigenous Entrepreneurship Forum organized with Aveda, Inc., to discuss issues related to indigenous entrepreneurship, opportunities and challenges. Satisfyingly, CTSK has experienced revenue growth of more than 125 percent, and it was recently recognized with the prestigious Equator Prize, given biannually to the world’s most innovative community sustainable development project initiatives.

“Tourism is fundamental for creating a constituency for conservation,” said Mexico Tourism Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo, “It is important for us as leaders in this industry, to empower our local communities and bring significant changes, financial and environmental benefits for all to enjoy,” added Elizondo.

In 2006 and under Elizondo’s leadership, Mexico became a member of the World Heritage Alliance (WHA), as the first national tourism secretariat to ever join an organization as such. By signing an agreement with the WHA, the country reiterates its commitment to the promotion and preservation of Mexico’s 26 World Heritage sites.

Mexico is ranked first in the Americas and eighth worldwide in UNESCO sites, a distinction given to places of historical, cultural and natural relevance to the world. The country’s islands and protected areas in the Gulf of Baja California, declared a World Heritage Site in 2005, are the most recent addition to Mexico’s impressive list.

Pueblos Magicos Initiative

Another initiative undertaken by the Mexican government is the Pueblos Magicos Program. Mexico’s Tourism Secretariat’s (Sectur) Pueblos Magicos program helps increase tourism to towns located near large cities or other tourist sites, reasonably accessible via roads and that are of particular historic or religious value. Founded in 2001, the Pueblos Magicos program coordinates local, state and federal efforts, channeling funds so the towns may diversify and improve their tourism infrastructure and help inhabitants economically.

While the primary focus of Pueblos Magicos is to develop cultural tourism, other segments, such as eco tourism, adventure tourism and rural tourism also fall under the program’s canopy. As the towns develop the products offered in the different segments, sustainable tourism is cultivated. The program empowers the townspeople, who must initiate and manage the process. Once a town is declared a Pueblo Magico, it receives funds to support the modernization of the micro, small and medium regional businesses related to the tourism industry, such as handicraft shops and restaurants. These grassroots efforts contribute to the tourism sector’s vitality and creativity as well as promote the entrepreneurial spirit.

About the Mexico Tourism Board

The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

# # #

Erick Laseca

Mexico Tourism Board

312-228-0571 ext14

erick.laseca@bm.com

http://www.visitmexico.com

Sustainable Fashion: Polyester Vs Cotton

You might think you know which fabric is superior; you may even have debated the issue. But do you know which is better for the environment? The confusion lies in the fibre itself. Cotton is natural and polyester is synthetic. Natural has become synonymous with green and clean. So cotton is better, right? Not entirely.

Let’s be honest textiles are toxic to produce, energy consuming and water intensive given the raw materials required to produce them.

Cotton can be replanted and is therefore renewable but this doesn’t count for much if it is not grown sustainably. Cotton production contributes to an inconceivable amount of global pesticide and insecticide use. Organic cotton is fantastic in that does not use these but it is still incredibly water intensive, often diverting water away from communities. Cotton irrigation is a major contributor in the depletion of the Aral Sea.

Polyester requires less water but is more energy intensive requiring wood and oil to produce, thereby contributing to global warming from harmful greenhouse gases. Polyester however, is 100% recyclable and in some countries, like Japan, garment recycling is possible through recycling centres. This will hopefully be undertaken by many more countries, until perhaps recycling our polyester clothes will become as commonplace as recycling other paper and plastic products. In addition to being recyclable, polyester fibres are now starting to be produced from post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials.

Combining all these factors it is easy to assume that there is no clear winner for the environment in terms of production and perhaps there isn’t. But a garment’s ecological footprint does not end once it is produced. To derive a meaningful evaluation the life-cycle of the product must be assessed. For apparel this can include low-impact maintenance, as it is the energy and water consumption expended over the lifetime of a garment that must be considered.

Polyester is more stain-resistant. It can be washed in cold water and dries quickly. Cotton garments waste energy. They must be washed more frequently as they are less stain-resistant, often require hot water to remove stains and need to be tumble-dried to dry in a comparable time frame. Synthetic fabrics like polyester do not lose their shape like cotton and therefore increase their wear life, further reducing environmental impacts.

The nature of clothing and seasonal fashion means that the textile industry is a major contributor of global warming. The industry needs to become eco-conscious and as with all solutions there needs to be a multi-pronged strategy. Until manufacturers and growers are required to factor in environmental costs, products that do less damage will cost more. It is up to us as consumers to dictate demand. The real challenge is not people switching from natural fibres to synthetic ones as we have been wearing polyester for decades now. The real challenge lies in convincing the consumer to pay for more ecologically sustainable clothing. Would you?