The Story of Stuff: Toxic Cosmetics

Posted on April 29, 2011 by zoeweil

The Story of Stuff website continues to create short, animated films about the hidden effects of our everyday purchases. This one, on cosmetics, examines the toxic ingredients in our personal care products. Take a look, and then check out the other films at storyofstuff.org:

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

Like my blog? Please share it with others, comment, and/or subscribe to the RSS feed.

Filed under: consumerism, critical thinking, marketing, media literacy, systemic change, videos | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Buy Change: Vote with Your Dollars

Posted on April 27, 2011 by zoeweil

At Green Fest San Francisco, I met Jono Korchin, and we talked about the power of our purchases to create change. As a humane educator, I’m frequently telling students that even though they can’t vote in elections until they’re 18, they vote every time they spend their money. Each dollar is a vote that says, “Do it again.” While promoting consumerism and spending may not be the best way to create positive change in the world (although it does increase job opportunities), promoting the right kind of consumerism can definitely create positive changes. We all buy stuff, so in addition to the message to live more simply and less materialistically, it’s important to simultaneously promote the idea of MOGO (most good) purchases.

Jono and Season Korchin share some products on an episode of The View, which demonstrate how choosing a certain salad dressing, paper, soap, and handbag, can actually make an enormous difference. Take a look:

Shop MOGO,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

Like my blog? Please share it with others, comment, and/or subscribe to the RSS feed.

Filed under: changemakers, consumerism, MOGO (Most Good), systemic change | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off

Let’s Save a Trillion Dollars: Reducing the Deficit By Improving Our Diet

Posted on April 22, 2011 by zoeweil

Mark Bittman, food columnist for The New York Times, wrote an opinion piece, “How to Save a Trillion Dollars,” that I believe we should all read and heed. Many humane educators have been urging what Bittman suggests for a couple of decades now, and finally these ideas have become a “most emailed” piece in The New York Times. It’s about time.

As politicians continue to argue in Washington over budget cuts, perhaps a bit of sanity, perspective, and solutionary thinking is in order. Thanks to Bittman, we have a great article to share with our legislators, school administrators and teachers, hospital cafeteria food purveyors, and everyone else who might be in a position to create meaningful change around what we eat.

Bon appetit,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm and Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

Like my blog? Please share it with others, comment, and/or subscribe to the RSS feed.

Filed under: food and diet, food policy, humane education, politics | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Humane Education in Action: Sustainable Living Roadshow

Posted on April 20, 2011 by zoeweil

At Green Fest San Francisco, I had the opportunity to meet and interview Cee, from the Sustainable Living Roadshow. I love what these folks are doing: Bringing sustainable living on a green bus tour to college campuses and festivals and using entertainment and education to inspire sustainable choicemaking.

One of the ideas that has been a perennial suggestion for ways in which humane educators can do our work is humane education centers, where people can gather, learn, buy green, fair trade, humane, reused, and recycled products, and eat sustainable and humane foods. These centers might be hubs for afterschool programs, humane education talks and workshops, film and discussion events, and much more.

The Sustainable Living Roadshow is akin to a roving humane education center, and the energy that they bring to their work is infectious and exciting. Check them out.

Cheers,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm and Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

Like my blog? Please share it with others, comment, and/or subscribe to the RSS feed.

Filed under: Environmental Preservation, humane education, MOGO (Most Good) | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off

Look Beyond Either/Or to the Both-And

Posted on April 18, 2011 by zoeweil

I’m swamped with our new graduate programs right now, so here’s a repost from 7/20/09 that I hope you’ll enjoy.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the ways in which we humans seem to gravitate towards “either/or” choices. Either we protect Northern Spotted Owls or people’s logging jobs. Either we invade Iraq or not. Either we pull the troops out or stay. There are more. Either we trust our minds or hearts. Either we are Christian or Muslim. Either we are Republican or Democrat.

Yes, there are people who want to protect owls and jobs, think beyond either/ors and work creatively to come up with the wisest choices in Iraq, trust both their minds and hearts, see the connections between all religions, and consider themselves Independents. But it seems to me such people are the minority.

Among activists, the either/ors are sometimes cast starkly: either someone (or some company or industry) is good or evil. The CEO of Altria (formerly Philip Morris), of Exxon-Mobil, of Monsanto –- they must be evil, while the CEO of Working Assets/CREDO must be good.

It’s just not this simple. But complexity is, well, complex. Commitment to seeing both-ands instead of either/ors demands more from us. It may at first even appear wishy-washy, as if you’ve lost your passion and your commitment if you don’t immediately “take sides.” It shouldn’t. Instead, a commitment to both-and is a commitment to problem-solving at the deepest level. A realization that people have the capacity for dangerous, unwise, unhealthy choices, as well as compassionate, kind, and brilliant choices means that we can try to influence the former, rather than call people names and divide the population into us and thems.

There will be many times when taking sides is exactly what you need to do, but let’s not let side-taking become a knee-jerk reaction to everything that is presented to us in either/or terms. You’ll find either/ors everywhere. Listen for them. And then see if you can determine a more nuanced both-and…and a solution that works for all.

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm and Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

Like my blog? Please share it with others, comment, and/or subscribe to the RSS feed.

Filed under: critical thinking, third side thinking | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Humane Education & Star Trek: Envisioning a Better World for All: My Interview on Conversations with Maine

Posted on April 15, 2011 by zoeweil

I’m delighted to share my interview with Frank Ferrel, host of Conversations With Maine, which recently aired on the Maine Public Broadcasting Network. We talked about humane education, the MOGO Principle, my family, Star Trek, the work that I do on behalf of the Institute for Humane Education, and the challenges and joys of making choices that do the most good and least harm for all:

If you enjoy this interview and think it’s valuable, please share it with others so that they can learn more about humane education and the power in the choices that we all have to create a better world. I welcome your comments, as well.

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm and Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

Like my blog? Please share it with others, comment, and/or subscribe to the RSS feed.

Filed under: animal protection, citizen activism, critical thinking, Environmental Preservation, human rights, humane education, Institute for Humane Education, Interviews, mindfulness, MOGO (Most Good), systemic change, videos, Zoe Weil appearances | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Rubbing Elbows with Solutionaries: Green Festival San Francisco

Posted on April 13, 2011 by zoeweil

I’ve just returned from California where I had the opportunity to speak at the University of California at Berkeley (a MOGO talk) and on the main stage at the San Francisco Green Festival (a humane education talk). In my absence the ice melted (finally) from our pond, and the crocuses bloomed. Much can happen in just a few days.

While the pond was thawing and the crocuses were blooming, I was talking to scores of people interested in creating a better world. There were so many ideas from so many solutionaries, and I’ve come home with a stack of cards from people I want to work with and learn from. I even got to interview a few of them for Treehugger (and you can watch some of these interviews on Treehugger.com starting here). In the next several blog posts I’m going to talk about these different people and groups and share their ideas, so that together we can expand our reach and efforts.

I’m grateful for the opportunities I had this past weekend, and I’m also grateful to be back in Maine. My first flight home was delayed so I missed my connection in Detroit and had to spend the night at a Detroit hotel. While at first I was frustrated and negative, I realized just how lucky I was to have a bed to sleep in and food to eat, even if I got home a day late. Lessons like that are important, especially after a weekend in the city walking by dozens of people huddled under blankets on the streets; especially when the crises we’re trying to avert claim the lives of millions; especially when I’ve been privileged to do work that helps, surrounded by amazing changemakers.

Stay tuned for more,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

Image courtesy of Green Festival.

Like my blog? Please share it with others, comment, and/or subscribe to the RSS feed.

Filed under: changemakers, Environmental Preservation, humane education, MOGO (Most Good), Zoe Weil appearances | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Words Do Hurt…And Help

Posted on April 11, 2011 by zoeweil

There are two powerful and important videos circulating on YouTube produced by youth. The first is a brave and moving film from a vulnerable 8th grader who confronts her bullying by sharing it with us with a plea for awareness that words hurt:


The second is a beautiful, powerful, and loving response from a 20-year-old who reaches out:

What’s revealed in these two, short videos is the power of words to both harm and heal and the power of communicating to make a difference. As these films go viral, which I’m sure they will, I expect that we’ll begin to see the power of this medium not simply to inform, but to transform, in ways that our bullying prevention programs have yet to accomplish.

Thanks Alye and Erika.

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm and Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

Like my blog? Please share it with others, comment, and/or subscribe to the RSS feed.

Filed under: changemakers, compassion, compassionate communication, courage, integrity, youth activism | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

A Powerful, Crucial Vision for the Future of Schooling: Teaching 2030

Posted on April 8, 2011 by zoeweil

Teaching 2030: What We Must Do for Our Students and Our Public Schools… Now and in the Future is perhaps the most cogent, reasonable, clear, and yet visionary book about educational reform in the 21st Century. Written through a collaboration of twelve teachers/teacher-leaders and changemakers, Teaching 2030 steers clear of rhetoric, either/ors, political side-taking, and focuses on what we need to create for a future in which all our children are well-educated for the changing world. It is a brilliant book, written with clarity and practicality, and it would not be difficult to implement every one of their suggestions. This book has the capacity to truly transform schooling, and I’m excited to include it as required reading for the students in our M.Ed. and M.A. programs in humane education.

It might appear that such a book is just for teachers or educational reformers and policy-makers, but it is one of the most important books that each of us could read this year simply as citizens. Schooling serves as the bedrock for our future, and each of us has an enormous stake in its success and relevancy.

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

Like my blog? Please share it with others, comment, and/or subscribe to the RSS feed.

Filed under: books, changemakers, education, learning, systemic change, third side thinking | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Save the Shoes: An Inspiring Call to Ordinary Heroism

Posted on April 6, 2011 by zoeweil

In this 4-minute TED talk, volunteer firefighter Mark Bezos, offers a funny, inspiring, and simple call to action: don’t wait to make a difference:

After watching this video, before sharing it on Twitter or your Facebook page and moving on, consider pausing long enough to reflect on this simple, but powerful and important call to action. Really introspect. What talents, passions, and skills do you have that you could use to make this world or others’ lives better? What makes you come alive and how can you turn this into a gift to others? What service would make a real difference while utilizing all that you have to offer? How can you give best? Please consider sharing these reflections on your Facebook posts and Twitter feeds (along with Mark’s talk) and in your communities, because you can inspire your friends and neighbors too. I welcome your responses to Mark’s call to action.

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

Like my blog? Please share it with others, comment, and/or subscribe to the RSS feed.

Filed under: changemakers, citizen activism, community service, courage, heroes, MOGO (Most Good) | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Next Page »
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 438 other followers