giveandgo’s posterous

War Child is a UK organization that works with children affected by war, poverty, and conflict.  In February, they are releasing an album with 15 exclusive covers from various artists including Lily Allen, Estelle, Rufus Wainwright, and Franz Ferdinand.  Proceeds from purchasing the album will be donated to War Child to help protect children living in the most dangerous war zones.  Find out more:  http://www.warchild.org.uk/

This is a Lily Allen cover of the Clash's Straight To Hell:

President-elect Obama asks us to renew America together.   In the spirit of MLK day which was originally intended as a day of service, he is asking citizens to join him in serving our communities.  A great man, Gandhi once said, "Be the change you wish to see."   

Find out how you can take up Obama's call to service on January 19, 2009:

http://www.usaservice.org/

On the site, find local events from food drives to blood drives, clean-ups to trainings – so many ways to volunteer and contribute to nationwide change. 

Nalgene and Brita team up and ask you to pledge at FILTERFORGOOD.  http://www.filterforgood.com
Too many wasted water bottles.   Help the earth and refill!

As we approach Thanksgiving, let's take time to not only be grateful for the people we love and what we are blessed with, let's also remember to give to those who may not be as fortunate as we are. 

Non-profit organizations that help the homeless often host Thanksgiving meals and can often use a helping hand.  You can always help volunteer this Thanksgiving at your local community shelter or mission.   Or why just limit it to Thanksgiving?  Donations are welcome throughout the year whether it is monetary, food, or even used clothing and goods.  

Help Feed America:  http://feedingamerica.org/

Or research some of the local organizations in your area to find out how you can help give to others.

Yesterday, I was complaining to Jasmine about how so many of the current drinking water sold today are laced with that disgusting artificial wanna-be fake sugar.  Anything with splenda, sucralose, whatever I simply will not consume. I felt duped recently, because I had bought a refreshing light apple juice cocktail, and when I came home to enjoy it, I spat it out.  I realized I missed the microscopic print on the label, "with sucralose".  Ugh, such a disappointment.

Jasmine poked at her own thoughts, and asked me if I ever drank this refreshing sparkling water back in the day that had a hint of fruit.   A hint of fruit?  And then it hit me, like when you try and solve a math problem for hours and the numbers start making sense out of the blue. Yes, Clearly Canadian!

There was a period in the 90's when Clearly Canadian was like the best drink ever.  My family doesn't preach soda around the house, simply because my dad's one of those health-conscious people who shuns extra unwanted calories.  But the two exceptions he allowed while I was growing up, was Perrier and Clearly Canadian.  I could reason with him that they are sparkling water which clearly does not qualify as a soda.  I remember that crisp cool refreshing bite after your first sip - the oh-so-fruity goodness (without that artificial nasty aftertaste a lot of the current fancy fruity waters leave behind on your palate).  But for whatever reason, maybe they stopped selling it locally, I have not enjoyed a Clearly Canadian in 10 years. 

So after doing a little research today, I discovered it still exists!  Hooray!   And they also give back!  For every Clearly Canadian beverage sold, a percentage of their funds are donated to help communities who need safe water supplies through projects to create needed wells and water sources.  http://www.clearly.ca/files/global-water.php

My quest to find a bottle nearby begins.