Palm oil pods and seeds

Exploring the True Price of Palm Oil

by Marsha Rakestraw Last updated 1/31/19 Look in your shopping cart, and you probably see soap and other beauty products, baked goods and other processed foods, perhaps some cleaning products. What you don’t see is that about half those products contain palm oil, which means they are contributing to the destruction of forests and communities,…

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books

14 Must-Read Books for Activists

by Marsha Rakestraw We become activists when we learn about an issue or challenge and are inspired to take positive action. Teenager Natalie Warne learned about child soldiers when she watched a documentary in class. She was inspired to become an intern for Invisible Children and help get an important law passed. Economist Muhammad Yunus…

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dog in costume

9 Tips for Horrorific & Humane Halloween Costumes

by Marsha Rakestraw Dressing up on Halloween isn’t just for kids. According to the 2011 National Retail Federation survey, almost half of adults plan to don costumes for Halloween this year, and more than 1 in 10 pet guardians will adorn their furry friends. Americans are expected to spend $2.5 billion on Halloween costumes this…

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ants

Cultivating Compassionate Kids: 10 Children’s Picture Books

by Marsha Rakestraw One of the deepest wishes of many parents is that their children will grow up as thoughtful citizens, showing compassion for people, animals and the earth throughout their lives. Reading and discussing children’s picture books is a great tool for helping children embrace compassion for others. Here are 10 suggested titles: 1….

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factory pollution

Teaching About Environmental Racism: Four Activities

by Marsha Rakestraw We enjoy our cars, our homes, our stuff, and the wastes and the toxic chemicals and pollutants used to create — or which are a result of — our shiny stuff go “away” somewhere that we don’t really have to think about. But there is no “away.” The waste processing plants, the…

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MOGO page

Most Good, Least Harm

by Zoe Weil I wanted to share an excerpt from my book, Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a Better World and Meaningful Life. My book, Most Good, Least Harm, “is based on a very simple premise: when we do the most good and the least harm through our daily choices, our acts…

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kids

10 Tips for Helping Create a Humane School Experience

by Marsha Rakestraw Backpacks, bells, and bus schedules are taking center stage as millions of kids, parents, and teachers jump into a new school year. If you’re a parent, it’s a great time to integrate humane choices into your child’s school experience and to inspire others. If you’re a teacher, the fresh start of a…

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