Do Some MASSIVEGOOD ... You'll Feel Much Better

When we get asked to support causes, we do our best to get the word out. It takes people to help a cause and to make a change in this world. With that said, there's a new guy in town called MASSIVEGOOD. A coalition that was created by using the power of social media to help stop the millions of preventable deaths from HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Their goal ....to help increase maternal and child healthcare in the developing world.

MASSIVEGOOD is committed to innovative spending on the ground and to do this; they are hoping that you will make a $2 micro-contribution towards major global health causes every time you buy a plane ticket, reserve a hotel room or rent a car.

Available in the USA since early 2010, MASSIVEGOOD has created a social network for those committed to building a healthier world. To ensure that all travelers can make a difference, leaders in the travel and tourism industry have joined with global health organizations to support MASSIVEGOOD in an impressive
private-public coalition. It’s an easy way to do good and connect with others that are doing the same.
Just click on the button.

If you are not a traveler and still want to participate, you can still give to the "cause" by donating directly on their site. It only takes a few minutes and you'll feel better about yourself when you do participate. It's a "real" coalition that has a real goal of reducing the prices of medications and providing affordable care for those who need it.

Affordable Memorial Stones and Benches

Spring is coming and so is touching up the yard, grave site or adding a memorial to your garden. Came across this great little shop called Exterior Accents that sells benches, plaques, stones and medallions that are very, very reasonably priced. Benches under 200.00 and stones under 50.00 I'm posting for those of you who are looking for an affordable memorial option! They sell other yard things as well .....

Personalized Forever Remembered Small Memorial Bench This memorial bench will provide a tranquil resting spot in your garden. Verse reads: "Forever remembered, Forever missed". Personalization will be centered on the cast bronze plaque shown. Up to 3 lines 18 characters or spaces per line maximum. Crafted of cast stone for a rich texture and year round durability. Sturdy support legs and weatherproof adhesive included. Easy assembly. 14"H x 29"W x 12"D. 89 lbs.

Death Leaves a Heartache Memorial Stone The beautiful verse on this garden memorial stone reads: "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal." Crafted of cast stone for a rich texture and year round durability. 12" x 12" x 2.5". 16 lbs

The Cove ... Behind the Dolphins Smile - Dolphin trade and slaughter

Just watched the trailer for "The Cove"; a new documentary by actor, director and producer, Fisher Stevens. He produced "The Cove," an Oscar-nominated film that won the best documentary award from the National Board of Review in 2009. It's timely, with the recent horrific tragedy that occurred last week at SeaWorld in Orlando, Floridawhere Dawn Brancheau lost her life doing the job that she loved.

"The Cove" is a wide eyed view on the dolphin trade and slaughter. Fisher said, " I assumed like many others that dolphins and orcas enjoyed living at Sea World and other marine parks. They always seemed to be smiling, jumping merrily around their tanks, eager to put on a show for human spectators. However, when I met Ric O'Barry, my perspective changed. O'Barry was the man responsible for capturing Kathy -- the original "Flipper" -- from the wild and helping to create the language used to train dolphins to do tricks and flips. When Cathy died in his arms some years later, O'Barry realized the whole process of capturing and training dolphins was wrong."

O' Barry co-wrote the book "Behind the Dolphin Smile: A True Story that Will Touch the Hearts of Animal Lovers Everywhere" where he explains that the smiles you see on dolphins are not the reflection of happiness. In actuality, they hate to be enclosed in their holding tanks and are often not fed until it is time to perform their daily routines. During his time as a trainer, O'Barry learned dolphins had true feelings -- they would get depressed, stressed out, even suicidal. In some parks, the trainers have to give the animals Maalox and Tagamet. Read an excerpt here.

O'Barry realized that the dolphins, whom he made perform tricks for treats, had just as much right to their lives as he did to his. Instead of feeling clever, he felt that he’d been callous. From that moment on, O’Barry dedicated his life to freeing dolphins that are held hostage around the world. Instead of working for the billion-dollar dolphin captivity industry, he now liberates exploited dolphins – he “un-trains” these intelligent marine mammals and returns them to their natural habitat.

The Cove is also going to take you to Japan where they capture, slaughter and trade dolphins.

Check out the trailer and info page and their blog on how you can help save the dolphins.

Source: CNN