Day 8: Coffee Me Home

I am spoiled, I admit. I currently have three bicycles at home. They all do different things but not one of them is used as much as a tool to live.

As I struggle to balance and justify my current way of life, I find it a humbling experience for me to sit down and write my 13 Days to Thanksgiving blogs. I have to keep reminding myself that we are born to be different, to do different things and to accomplish different goals. Collectively, because we are different, we create this 'World'. So, again, to all my readers, strangers or friends, please continue to do the great things that you do and enjoy the benefits of your hard work. Shall you have time left from your responsibilities, then let's go out there and make a difference for deserving others.

Project Rwanda is one the smaller bicycle related projects aiming at helping the Rwandan people through the utilitarian of a Coffee Bike. The project was created by Tom Ritchey after his visit to the country in 2005. I chose to write about this because there are stories within stories that could easily be made into a few movies. Some people in this project found redemption through it and many discovered it a life changing experience. I can ... write on and on about Tom and how he incorporated experiences of this project into how he runs his successful company but I won't. I will just leave you with this short documentary that touched me deeply after I watched it. It's created by Jacob Seigel-Boettner. You are more than welcome to contact me and we can talk about this at length. Until next time ...

Pascal's Bike from Jacob SB on Vimeo.

Day 7: The Next Joe

"The United States consumes one-fifth of all the world's coffee, making it the largest consumer in the world. But few Americans realize that agriculture workers in the coffee industry often toil in what can be described as "sweatshops in the fields." Many small coffee farmers receive prices for their coffee that are less than the costs of production, forcing them into a cycle of poverty and debt." - Global Exchange

Since the seems-to-be-simple start of my 13 Days to Thanksgiving project, the task itself is starting to weigh on me. There are so many organizations out there worthy of our support. The task of sifting through and picking the '13' is a bit harder than I thought. But, I am trying my best to look for causes that take the least amount of effort to make the biggest difference possible.

I drink coffee. I enjoy coffee ... in its varieties and uniqueness of beans from each origin. More often than not, these delicious beans are farmed and harvested in lesser developed areas. One of the ways we coffee drinkers can make an impact and create a more loving and less conflicting world is by supporting 'Fair Trade Coffee'. I really believe that a more balanced, less oppressed world will lead to a more peaceful world.

Last night, I stopped by Folklore Coffee & Company and bought two 12oz bags of coffee from them.  By doing so, I successfully supported 'Fair Trade Coffee' (spot the logo on the bag) and two local small businesses at the same time because these are roasted locally by Square One Coffee! This is so easy to do. Will you join me?

Day 6: Tariku

To some of you, what you will be seeing below might be unheard of. For me, I have seen this before...in person.

My friends know that I am struck with 'happy feet' syndrome in that I seem to be traveling all over the world in weird places. Only a few were shared of the reasons why I travel. I am blessed to be surrounded by many doctors, nurses and kindhearted people who are always looking for ways to give back. Being able to travel and volunteer my time with the World Surgical Foundation is definitely something that I hold very close to my heart. From just one mission I was with the team, I witnessed the heartbreaks, fears, the blank stares of dry hope, the tears of joy and the instant gratification of being a part of saving one's life. Experiences I gained from the mission play a large role in shaping the course of my life, my conviction and the person that I want to be.

I am not suggesting that you have to follow my path exactly. I am just asking you to watch two short videos below about Tariku and reflect upon it a little bit. For me, this is one of the reasons why I decided ... out of the blue, of course ... to write my 13 Days to Thanksgiving series.

Day 5: Power Up Gambia

I struggled for words...... For about two minutes, my mind was full of sadness and negative thoughts. The thoughts that babies are not given a fair chance to survive and come to this world because the hospital does not have electricity to operate horrified me.

Then, I am reminded again by the hard work and forever optimistic of one of my uncles who has been all over the world in different conditions surgically saving lives one child at a time. I am uplifted again.

It's true that doctors and nurses can still operate many procedures on patients without equipments requiring electricity. But, the chances for those patients and babies are very limited. What if you have to have an emergency procedure to deliver your baby at 2AM and there's no electricity?

This is a story about what 'one' person can do to make a different. Kathryn Cunningham Hall saw it and made it her mission to make a difference. So, please join me on my fifth day of 13 Days to Thanksgiving to be thankful for the wealth of basic amenities we have in this amazing country. Check out the quick video below and her Power Up Gambia project.

Day 4: Vicktory

'47'

11/16/10 - That's the number of Pit bulls 'saved, being rehabilitated or adopted' from the 51 dogs retrieved from Bad Newz Kennel. The key here is to focus on the positives and show you how many organizations are out there working to help these beautiful dogs. Because as many of us were all wondered when this news broke "What are they going to do to those dogs?". The video below is your answer.

BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit bulls) and Best Friends Animal Society were largely responsible in saving these dogs and did an amazing job. There is also, Lang Foundation that is committed to saving homeless & abandoned pets and preparing them to be adopted into a loving home. Lang Foundation is also rated number 1 on the Top 10 Charities Worth Watching by Charity Navigator.

My challenge to you on day 4 of my 13 Days to Thanksgiving is to look at these charities along with ASPCA and all other smaller adopt-a-pet organizations first before you rush to find your new loving companion at a for-profit kennel. Because, not counting respectable kennels, this is the best way to stop those 'Puppy Mills' from their existence.

Day 3: Leave No Trace

11/15/10 - Leave No Trace. "What a cool name?!?!" I thought to myself when I discovered their website. The third installment of my 13 Days to Thanksgiving covers our social responsibility to our environment. Love the world we are living in. Let's all be responsible and take care of our mother earth. Leave No Trace is a great organization aiming to educate us how to live and enjoy the outdoors with the least amount or no impact at all.

The website is well designed with abundant of educational articles and programs that we can all learn from. Hey kids! How about a Bigfoot Challenge?

We could all use outdoor activities at some point or another. Overnight trip in the Grand Canyon? We week long adventure in Yellowstone? Or how about a stroll along the beach watching the sunset with that someone? Did you ever wonder what kind of impact you left behind? Challenge yourself to be 'untraceable' and leave the beautiful world ... as is.

Day 2: Run for Something Better

11/14/10 - So, I was inspired by my sister who recently ran Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco with Team in Training in honer of her friend Heather. Additionally, somehow, I still do not know exactly how it happened, I agreed to my TNT runner friends to ..... eh ..... run a marathon in 2011.

Ok, enough about 'me'. The second 13 Days to Thanksgiving brought me to this wonderful organization, ING Run For Something Better. It's a known fact that obesity is a huge problem not only here in America but the whole world. Here in the US, 2007-2008 NHANES report stated that obesity affects 17% of our children and adolescents. It's important to encourage our kids to spend more time outdoor with sports that they can enjoy well into their adulthood.

Though I am a cyclist, I have to admit that nothing could be simpler than a sport of running. Plus, there are several studies similar to this one suggesting that we are 'born to run'. So, let's get our kids running (with joy)!