Lake Chapala Green Group Nov. 2 Meeting

Tony Targa will speak on "Save Energy, Save Money."
November 2, 2010, 3 pm at LCS Patio. Everyone is welcome!

See Announcements for details.

Microlending: Crash at the Corner of Ideal and Real

by Bob Craft

   

Starting to be able to think again after an illness, I took a trip around the internet to educate myself about "microfinance," those small loans to the poor that seem like such a great idea. The concept keeps coming up as we in the Green Group think how to help local folks finance, for example, aquaponics "fish farms" to feed and support their families.

I started with Jessica Jackley's Ted Talk on "Poverty, Money—and Love." Watch this. You will be moved and inspired by this smart young woman. Then, as I did, you might click to Jessica's Kiva.org—it links microlenders and borrowers in such a compelling way that you may find it hard not to send $25 or more to the deserving folks pictured there. All in all, it seems like a very good thing.

I always have to peek behind the curtain though, and there are a couple of things in the dusty corners of Kiva that you might want to take a look at.

Click to read more ...

III. How Can I Play?

This is Part III of a Series on Contributing to this Website.

Writing for a blog or website like this one is sometimes called being a "citizen journalist" and, honestly, it's not that hard. If you can write a lucid email, you can write a post. If you can take a photo, transfer it to the computer, and send it in an email, you can improve your post. If you can take a video and email it, you're a multimedia producer. If you have an iPhone or other smart phone and can use them to do these things, your'e an Internet Publishing Genius. At first, you'd probably just want to email your material to me. That way we can see how much editing you need, avoid any technophobia you have, and satisfy my inner control freak—I have one, like any editor. (If you can't do all these things I can probably teach you, if you have the tools, and I'll be especially motivated if you are a passionate Greenie who can really write.) That takes care of the technical part.

What Can I Do?

Click to read more ...

Free Movies Beginning October 11.

See Announcements for details.

Photos: Solar Home Tour and 350.org's 10/10/10 Global Work Party

The recent Lake Chapala Solar Home Tour, organized by JSun Mills of eSun Solar Energy and LEED Architects Don and Pia Aitken with the American Solar Energy Society, was a great success. Many of the installations were made by eSun. Projects by MetroEnergia and e2 Energias were also shown. About 125 guests toured the homes and enjoyed the party after. See the Tour photos here.

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Ajijic's participation in 350.org's 10/10/10 Global Work Party included efforts by the Lake Chapala Green Group, Green Transition in Action's EcoTianguis/Organic Market, Love in Action, and Jason Sherborn's Ajijic350.org advocacy group—thanks to Jason for initiating the process. See this Flickr page for a slideshow.