Local Versus Global, Consumerism vs. Simplicity

I was reading an article in the July/August issue of Ode Magazine titled, “If you’ve got it, spend it: How consumer spending can help create a fairer, richer, greener and more stable global economy.” The article is an edited excerpt from Philippe Legrain’s book Aftershock: Reshaping the World Economy After the Crisis. Unfortunately, it’s edited [...]

Dyeing One’s Hair…Gray?

When I was younger I was certain I would never dye my hair when I began to gray. After all, I already eschewed shaving and managed to stand tall (well, as tall as I could at 5’1”) even in a bathing suit surrounded by women who shaved every bit of hair they were told to [...]

MOGO Gift-Giving #2

Making gifts is really fun. Even if you think you’re the least creative person in the world, there are things you can make that will be better received than any store-bought item, in large part because you took the time to make it. Below is a list of gifts I’ve either made and/or received from [...]

MOGO Gift-Giving #1

Gift-giving season is upon us. In my next few posts, I’m going to offer MOGO gift-giving tips. I’m hoping this sparks your creativity and turns this gift-giving season into a truly pleasurable experience! My friend Patty loves when the Christmas tree has lots of presents under it, and I can totally relate. Somehow, a tree [...]

Before You Support Causes, Even Good Ones…

Last weekend I participated in a breast cancer walk-a-thon. What I appreciated so much about this particular walk-a-thon was the choice of charities to which we could contribute. For years I’ve been asked to support breast cancer walks, and I always ask what organization the money is going to. Often it’s an organization that supports [...]

Kindle Versus Paper Books: A MOGO Choice

Last month I bought a Kindle. I decided to get a Kindle for several reasons, and below you’ll find the pertinent information that led to my decision: 1) I read about 100 books every year – most are from the library, but often the books I want to read aren’t at my library, and I [...]

Daniel Goleman’s Ecological Intelligence

I’ve been reading Daniel Goleman’s Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything. It’s a great book, and I highly recommend it. It’s so helpful to the MOGO-inclined, not only because it spells out the impacts of everyday things, but also because it articulates so well the need for [...]

Walmart’s Sustainability Label: A Chance to Show the True Price of Products

In a recent WorldWatch article Ben Block writes about a new Walmart initiative to create a “sustainability label” that will be determined through extensive assessments of suppliers of products. It’s hard to to greet such news without enthusiasm. It’s also hard to not to be mighty skeptical. If ever there was a company that could [...]

How Do We Change?

Note: Zoe’s on vacation this week, so this is a repost that was originally posted 6/30/08. Artist and changemaker Chris Jordan asks several questions in his fascinating presentation at the TED conference. Through his powerful photographs of human behavior and mass consumption, Jordan attempts to make our unconscious societal choices conscious so that we can [...]

What Is Ethically Justifiable Consumption?

I was kayaking on the bay where I live this morning, enjoying the bobbing seals who didn’t seem to mind my presence, and breaking a line through the thick carpet of spruce pollen that floated on the ocean. When I turned around to return home, I was struck by several newly constructed mansions on the [...]