Monthly Archives: May 2010

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Putting a Price on Success: The Case for Pricing Carbon

Third Way’s report, Putting a Price on Success: The Case for Pricing Carbon, assesses the impact of a carbon price on the United States economy. After reviewing more than two dozen academic, private sector, financial, and government studies on carbon pricing policies, the report contends that all 50 states will experience job growth. The report also finds wide agreement that a carbon price would save consumers billions of dollars in reduced energy bills, serve as a catalyst for capital investment in the United States economy and reduce the flow of U.S. dollars overseas to purchase foreign oil.

The actual report is eight pages (plus 12 pages of references).

(via)

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International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) – dayagainsthomophobia.org

In 2008, sexual relations between persons of the same sex were punishable by death in 7 countries and considered to be some form of crime in more than 80 others. In most countries in the world, people from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual, intersex, queer, … community are being denied their fundamental human rights as defined, inter alia, by the Universal Declaration of Human Right, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The Day has been launched with the idea of creating a worldwide community of activists and committed people, sharing the ideal of a world without homophobia nor transphobia in which everyone can freely live their sexual orientation and the gender identity they wish to live in.

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International Day Against Homophobia – homophobiaday.org

The International Day Against Homophobia, held on May 17 every year, is a rallying event offering an opportunity for people to get together and reach out to one another. Fondation Émergence promotes, mainly on a pan-Canadian level, the International Day Against Homophobia and encourages organisations and individuals to highlight this event in their environment.

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Socio-Economic Caste Systems

The difference between a caste system and a socioeconomic class system is that in the latter we worship a rhetoric that says individuals can purchase their way into the privileged class. This is our core mythology, the linchpin of the socioeconomic caste system.

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“Classes” are the the “castes” of democracy. Put it this way: democracy is a “wiki-caste” system by which we categorize and define each other collectively in economic, racial and other various terms. The result is a social hierarchy that we can claim is not a caste system because it lacks formal designation or enforcement.

Mind grapes blown. Read the whole thing (it’s short), as they say.

(via Patrick Rhone)

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Get Fresh Detroit!

Get Fresh Detroit is a group of young individuals who love fresh food and want to share it with the world. We look forward to serving in any way we can to make the world a healthier place to eat, live, and play.

Our Mission:

  • To increase access to fresh and healthy foods in under-served communities of Detroit.
  • To demonstrate the benefits and feasibility of fresh living and healthy eating in Detroit.
  • To transform the retail of fresh and healthy foods into a viable and sustainable business opportunity for liquor and convenient store owners in Detroit.

A little more background on the concept.

This idea from University of Michigan students won a business plan competition in a Social Venture Creation class (more here and here) and hence got a little bit of funding.