By Cassie Walker •
December 18, 2008
As if you need more reasons to ditch single-use plastic bags, today marks Heal the Bay’s second “Day Without a Bag” in Los Angeles County. The environmental organization is supporting the cause by handing out free reusable shopping bags at locations county-wide.
If you remember, in July the LA City Council announced an all-out ban on the ubiquitous plastic bags, which will take effect in 2010. In LA County, large grocers were threatened with a ban unless they reduced the number of the bags used by 30% by 2010 and by 65% by 2013. Of course, the companies that make plastic bags are fighting the measures, putting forth the argument that stores and consumers will use paper bags instead, which they claim are worse for the environment. I guess that they have missed this whole reusable bag movement, huh?
By Jennifer Kaplan •
December 2, 2008
Tis’ the season to donate and if you’re so inclined there are lots of folks trying to help you do it. Facebook has jumped into the game with an application to give Facebook Charity Gifts. Through the app, you make a donation as a gift in a friend’s name and your friend receives a nifty icon on their Facebook page. Sounds like a great proposition, right? The problem is that Facebook did not do its homework on all these nonprofits.
A quick check on Charity Navigator reveals that only seven of the twenty-one nonprofits (33%) were given 4-star ratings: American National Red Cross, One Economy Corporation, Heal the Bay, Islamic Relief, MERCY CORPS, Humane Society of The United States and United States Fund for UNICEF. One group earned 3-stars (”good”), two groups earned 2-stars (”fair”), two are hospitals (and not 501c3 charities)[CORRECTION: the hospitals are both in fact 501c3s] and seven groups were not even rated, including one group with no website [CORRECTION: LOVEFUTBOL does have a very nice website], no HQ and listed “c/o” someone who apparently lives around the corner from me. I should add that looking at the rating is not always enough. As a reader named David pointed out in a comment to the post last week, notwithstanding its 4-star rating, UNICEF has its own questionable practices.
By Cassie Walker •
August 14, 2008
Although we’re all feeling the pinch of a “down economy” coupled with high food and fuel prices, nonprofit organizations might among the hardest hit. With American belt-tightening comes a decline in donations, putting the squeeze on those protecting the environment. If you’re among the many who would like to support these organizations, but are having trouble making ends meet, there’s a new way to contribute, and it won’t cost you a penny (and no, I’m not advocating volunteering, though that is an excellent way to contribute!)
I’m talking about GoodSearch.com. It’s a search engine, like Google or Yahoo, but with a twist: for each search conducted on the site, money is donated to the charity of your choice. Its sister site, GoodShop.com, operates on the same principle, donating a percentage of every purchase made from 700 online retailers. Doesn’t that make you want to sing, “Ya-hooooooo-oo!”?
