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In a follow up to Danwen’s last post about Al Gore’s energy challenge to the public, I’m posting a video of the highlights of Al Gore’s speech.

To quote one of the best parts of the speech,

“we are borrowing money from china to buy oil from the persian gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet, every bit of this equation needs to change”

You can also read about Al Gore’s other efforts to fight Climate Change.

Former Vice President Al Gore set a goal yesterday to switch from coal and other harmful energy sources to alternative fuels by the year 2018. He believes this would solve the energy crisis that we face today, as well as eliminates the problem of global warming and our economic downturn.

“The answer is to end our reliance on carbon-based fuels,” Gore told a packed auditorium in Washington’s historic Constitution Hall. “When you connect the dots, it turns out that the real solutions to the climate crisis are the very same measures needed to renew our economy and escape the trap of ever-rising energy prices.”

Presidential candidates John McCain and Barrack Obama, as well as Bob Barr, a former Republican Congressman who is the presidential nominee for the Libertarian party, also agree with Gore in his stance on America’s dependency on foreign and fossil fuels. They all agree that in order to make these changes, “political leaders must move beyond partisan divisions.”

To read more about Gore’s plan in making these energy changes, click here. I feel like this is an important step in solving our biggest issues–by investing in the technology that could reduce our dependence on fossil fuels as well as funding clean fuel or fuel saving technologies that will let us do our part individually in saving the planet and improving the wealth of the nation.

This quote is brought to you at the good folks at the Foundation for a Better Life. This quote is about compassion. Enjoy!

“Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.”

- Frederick Buechner (b. 1926), educator, writer, theologian

There is a little over a month of summer left, but the sun is still shining brightly. Many will be cramming in as many beach trips as possible into this last month to make up for the lack of sun they received earlier in the summer…at least I know that’s what I’m doing. But an important thing to remember, is that using sunscreen is very important when laying out. What most of us don’t know, is that there are two kinds of sunscreen: reflecting damaging sun rays by means of chemicals absorbed into the skin, or creating a barrier between the skin and the sun using mineral agents.

This article recommends a few sunscreen with natural, organic ingredients that help the skin and the earth, because most of the sunscreen from our bodies end up in the ocean, which in turn can affect plant and animal life. And if you’re fair skinned, lathering on large amounts of chemicals on your body everyday can harm your skin instead of protecting it. Now you can enjoy the sun and protect the environment at the same time.

As promised , for as long as I post to the PosiPeople blog I will each Monday highlight one non-profit program which is meeting one of societies greatest challenges with a better solution. Although I will highlight one program, Wall Street Without Walls, it will only stand as an example of a genre of non-profits which have taken a market concept - putting people to work where they can add the most value. Other stand out organizations in this area include Doctors Without Borders, and Engineers Without Borders. It is impressive what can be accomplished when the allocation of human resources are optimized.

Wall Street Without Walls, since it was first established in 2000, has through volunteer investment bankers, helped community-based development organizations access an additional $1 billion of private capital. It would require a fundraising juggernaut like World Vision, or a high revenues non-profit like the Newton-Wellesley Hospital or the requisite charitable distribution of a $3 Billion foundation over 8 years to achieve such a feat. There are roughly only 89 hospitals, foundations and public charities that have directed more money into non-profit work over this same time period. I wonder how many for-profit companies can claim such an achievement?

Michael Porter sheds some light on what I am trying to explain in the following 1.5 minute video clip: http://www.bigthink.com/philanthropy/8566

So what is the main message of this blog entry: If you really want to have impact - volunteer your expertise.

Ever wish there was a better solution to break away from the workout norm? Now there’s Zumba fitness. It’s a cross between aerobics and dance to the saucy sounds of Latin rhythms. It’s actually been around for quite a few years, but mostly concentrated in gyms and fitness centers on the West coast. Now, you can find Zumba classes pretty much anywhere, even in Europe and Asia.

I’ll be the first to admit that this seems like just another fitness trend. It will peak and decline as people move on to another new fad. But if you’re like me, and hate the monotony of running, ellipticizing (that’s not a word), and the same old aerobics cardio routines, then this could be perfect. So if your New Year’s resolution was to be healthier, but haven’t found a way to do it yet, check out Zumba’s official website. There, you can search for Zumba classes in your area, purchase Zumba dance DVDs, and learn more about it. The site also provides real stories of people who have lost weight from the program, so you can forget all about changing to an unfamiliar routine and just hope to get results.

Exercising doesn’t have to be a chore. I recently started dancing again, and I can tell you firsthand that it is so much better than any machine you can find in the gym. So go check out your local fitness center or dance studio, and find a class (or two) that’s high intensity, fun, and fits your mood. I highly recommend some kind of Hip Hop, Latin ballroom (Salsa, Merengue, Samba, etc), or Swing. And remember, fitness isn’t all about being skinny, it’s about being healthy.