Happy New Year!

Cheers to 2017!

c/o Google

c/o YouTube

https://www.facebook.com/facebook/videos/10155278547321729/

c/o Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy/videos/1560139330693586/

c/o Upworthy

Tesla/SolarCity Powerwall 2 & Solar Roof Launch

https://www.tesla.com/energy

http://www.solarcity.com/residential/solar-roof

Fortune Article: http://fortune.com/2016/10/28/tesla-solar-roof-battery/
LA Times Article: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-agenda-solar-20161031-story.html

[UNIVERSAL TRUTH POST] TAKE ACTION: It's FRIDAY and we're still ALL responsible for this planet...

Full credit for this reality check goes to: http://www.complex.com/life/2016/09/enjoy-earth-while-it-lasts-atmospheric-carbon-levels-pass-point-no-return

TAKE ACTION!!!!

We all must each take action immediately...

• How Stuff Works Science
• Real Simple
• wikiHow
• GREATiST
• EPA.gov
• IFAD
• EarthDay.org
• Footprints Conservation Society

My personal list to take action:

1. Use a reusable water bottle everyday.
2. Use a mug, instead of paper or compostable cups for coffee/tea.
3. Take the bus, walk or ride my bike to work everyday.
4. Help plant trees (and send digital certificates when I do).
5. Pick up trash when I see it on the ground around me, especially foil products.
6. Use reusable grocery/tote bags when shopping/traveling and in general for carrying items.
7. Use digital resources as much as possible, instead of paper (i.e. sporting event and concert tickets).
8. Carpool with friends and family whenever possible (...the more the merrier!)
9. Support and donate to conservation organizations by being aware and volunteering my time and money to help.
1. www.arborday.org
2. http://replanet.com/
3. www.worldwildlife.org
4. www.billionacts.org/
5. www.globalcitizen.org/en/
6. www.nrdc.org/
7. www.change.org/
10. Encourage others to do these things through word of mouth and actively engage in asking others what they are doing to help so that I can learn and do what they are doing, too.

SHARING IS CARING and 
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

We all need to get on board. 

Credit: Michael Jackson - "Heal The World"

Let's get the discussion started and 

actually take action to back it up!

I'd love to hear your personal list! Post a comment with what you do to help make this planet a better place for yourself, others and our future generations.

• Sandi Valentine and Michael Plybon's list

They Thought They Saved a Puppy Covered With Dirt – But They Got Quite the Surprise at the Vet

Full credit for this rescue story and the photos goes to: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/baby-fox-rescued-after-being-discovered-at-construction-site/

Leonardo DiCaprio and Google launched a free tool to crowd-spy on illegal fishing from space

Full credit for this story goes to: http://qz.com/783395/leonardo-dicaprio-and-google-launched-a-free-tool-to-crowd-spy-on-illegal-fishing-from-space/

Additional resources:

• Global Fishing Watch for the public
• US State Department’s Our Ocean 2016 conference
• SIGN UP for an account and GET STARTED!!

The Obama Administration Temporarily Blocks the Dakota Access Pipeline

Full credit for this story goes to: http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/09/the-obama-administration-temporarily-blocks-the-dakota-access-pipeline/499454/

Photo Credit: Andrew Cullen / Reuters

Full credit for this video visual goes to: https://www.facebook.com/ajplusenglish/videos/795113653963477/

Fact Sheet: President Obama to Create the World’s Largest Marine Protected Area

Full credit for this legislation goes to: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/08/26/fact-sheet-president-obama-create-worlds-largest-marine-protected-area

 photo credit

photo credit

 photo credit

 photo credit

photo credit

photo credit

Giving Back: E-40 Donates $25,000 In Backpacks, Other Supplies to Vallejo Middle School

Full credit for this video and story goes to: https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/08/23/e-40-donates-25000-in-school-supplies-to-his-vallejo-middle-school/

Sports Post: Olympics Games in Rio Kick-off Today!

Full credit for this event goes to: https://www.rio2016.com/en

Video Credit: United Airlines

Video Credit: USA Olympic Swimming Team

Political Post: Welcoming Singapore to the White House!

“We draw strength from our people, two societies built on multiculturalism and merit. In the United States, we call ourselves a 'melting pot' of different races, religions and creeds. In Singapore, it’s rojak—different parts united in a harmonious whole. We’re bound by the belief that no matter who you are, if you work hard and play by the rules, you can make it.” —President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcoming Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Mrs. Lee of Singapore for an Official Visit to the White House: go.wh.gov/zDrrgh

Full credit for the quote above is courtesy of: The White House LIVE on Facebook

Full credit for this story goes to: https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/08/02/after-30-years-president-obama-welcomes-singapore-white-house

Pop Culture Post: Pikachu and Pokemon GO

PHOTO CREDIT

PIKACHU! I'm not sure what this whole Pokemon GO is all about, but it seems to be taking up a lot of attention, with a HUGE focus on cell phone use. From my understanding it is just a game, so please remember to keep a balanced approach in all that you do, you know, all things in moderation and keeping in mind the important things in life like: lending a helping hand when you can, telling the truth, loving and looking out for one another, picking up stray garbage because we all litter with or without meaning to and spending quality time with those that we love (aka our friends and family). Cell phones shouldn't take over our own human to human interaction. Honesty, love, respect, kindness and a positive perspective go a LONG way. Peace and Love, always. <3

 <3 <3

Personal Post: The Parents Creed

My universal truth: The Parents Creed.

This has hung in the kitchen of my house since I was born and I agree with every single sentence of it, whether as a child or as an adult. Even though we may not all be parents, I believe it is our duty to protect the children of our communities. We are all ONE.

A wise woman named Aaliyah once said: "Age ain't nothin' but a number" and I believe that regardless of our age, or if we have parents in our lives, we should live by these principles and share the wisdom that comes with our life lessons with one another to be good and do good, always.

Please consider these principles and share. Peace & Love above all. <3 <3 <3 <3

"Peace is our gift to each other." - In Loving Memory of Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986.

Full credit for this image goes to: WIN MCNAMEE/GETTY IMAGES

___________________________________________________________________________

“For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to bear witness for the dead and for the living. He has no right to deprive future generations of a past that belongs to our collective memory. To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.”

(CREDIT: "Night" by Elie Wiesel, first book originally published in 1958 - access to quote online via goodreads.com)

"I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."

(CREDIT: The Nobel Peace Prize 1986 - Acceptance Speech)

"Indifference to me, is the epitome of evil. The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference. Because of indifference, one dies before one actually dies."

(CREDIT: Interview with Alvin P. Sanoff, “One Must Not Forget,” U.S. News & World Report, October 27, 1986, 68.)

"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest."

"Peace is our gift to each other."

(CREDIT: Nobel Lecture - Hope, Despair and Memory - December, 11 1986)

"When a person doesn't have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude." 

(CREDIT: Interview with O! The Oprah Magazine, Nov. 2000 - actual quote on page 2)

___________________________________________________________________________

For more information on "Night": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_(book)

For more quotes:

• https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Elie_Wiesel
• https://www.google.com/?ion=1&espv=2#q=Elie+Wiesel+Quotes
• http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/elie-wiesel-quotes-survival-spirituality-humanity-article-1.2697132
• http://time.com/4392252/elie-wiesel-dead-best-quotes/

For more related, yet unaffiliated information:

• Reference to "Have You Learned The Most Important Lesson Of All?" by Elie Wiesel
• NOTE: This page was compiled and edited on behalf of Elie Wiesel. 
• "We Choose Honor" by Elie Wiesel (via Parents Magazine, Sep. 2001)

Summer Solstice and Strawberry Moon

Full credit for the information about this event goes to: 

• http://www.almanac.com/content/strawberry-moon-june-full-moon-phases-2016
• NOTE: the almanac states that "a rare event, indeed, that hasn’t happened in nearly 70 years."
• http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/summer-solstice-2016-when-is-it-date-longest-day-what-why-strawberry-full-moon-stonehenge-a7089941.html
• NOTE: this article claims that "The two events coincide once every 70 years."
• http://www.cnet.com/news/google-highlights-solstice-strawberry-moon-tie-up-with-doodle/
• NOTE: this article states that "the last time these two phenomena coincided was back in 1967, and it won't happen again until 2062."

Ringling Bros. elephants perform last show

Full credit for this story goes to:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/01/us/ringling-bros-elephants-last-show/



Do you know what elephants are capable of? Check out this video, which is unrelated to the article and video above, yet shows how amazing elephants truly are. If they can pick up displaced trash to help out, so can we!

Help clean Flint's toxic water!

Full credit for this goes to: Help clean Flint's toxic water! -- This supports passing legislation to clean toxic lead from America's drinking water.

Mountain of the Butterflies Google Doodle

Full credit for this goes to:
https://www.google.com/doodles/41st-anniversary-of-the-discovery-of-the-mountain-of-the-butterflies

Let's shine more light on the good news in the world.

Full credit for this story goes to:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-pope-media-idUKKBN0UE16N20160101