Beautiful web sites ALL of them!

Better late than never!
Probably I need to subscribe to Cris Brogan’s issues, there’re lots of thoughtful readers.
I for the first time met such resource like KIVA, the positive example of SN/SM really can be useful.
Changing the world together by taking some action, seems the easiest thing these days.

I woke up this morning with the thoughts on the depleting energy resources(a dream triggered by a blocked tub drain). On my mind all day, in around laundry and such, was how my instincts are taking to basic survival skills and how i am trying to ensure my children have those skills. I am wondering if my instincts are originating from the inniment down fall of capitalism as we know it, the insustainability of natural resources..so maybe we have been approaching stuff the wrong way. We need to go back to where there was no oil, electricity and re-establish those basic survival skills. So, I can understand the message behind Kiva’s mission and i agree with it somewhat, it is a good cause. But the skills of those who do live in poverty, I think, are far more valuable than what most of us realize and i would hope our values are not indoctrinated into a society that is already rich. Does this make any sense at all, it barely does to me…

It is funny, when I am out camping, going a few days without a bath is whatever, I still feel good, At home, going a whole day without one makes me feel gross. *shrugs*

back to my housework…

again, that you introduce me another interesting project david. thank you so much.

i know how to spread the words to the people around me who have been participating in many kinds of donation. this one is very interesting. micro lending? im checking out how it works.

I heard of this before after watching Oprah awhile back. I checked it out and thought it was great! Sadly, I have forgotten about it but thanks to you, I am reminded once again.

Kiva is truly awesome. A perfect way to use the web to help people less fortunate. The genius part is that you are lending money and it generally gets paid back so whatever you put in can be used over and over again.

I signed up recently and will make 4 $25 loans to start and grow from there. If you are reading this, just go register and browse the entrepreneurs to see if something catches your eye.

David, looking forward to seeing you at the Akoha launch on Thursday.

So cool! Thanks for sharing. Funny, was chatting with a client about this as they have a strong presence in Africa and loans there have interest rates starting at 30%!! 30%!!! Crazy. Anyhow we were talking about Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace prize winner from 2006 as he started the first micro-loan bank - Grameen bank. Amazing to see other companies taking his cue!

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/10/061013-nobel-peace.html

I finally made my first loan on Kiva. Don’t know what took so long … it is incredibly simple. I made a loan to the United Women’s Group in Paraguay. I plan on picking 3 more entrepreneurs or groups and will loan out the proceeds once the loans are repaid. There is just no reason not to do this … none. You can loan as little as $25!

What is extra cool is that you can see and connect with others that have donated to the same group which is a cool way of connecting with other socially concious people all over the world.

Hey David,

Got to your blog through the Akoha website. Standout Jobs (which Austin helped start) let me take a two month leave this summer to ride my bicycle from Vancouver to Mexico to raise money for microcredit.

I got to visit the Kiva offices in SF, and it was neat.

You can check out the non-profit that runs this project at http://www.globalafc.org

Cheers!