Magazine
Who needs banks anyway?
In the new age of austerity, communities are coming together to finance and run their own projects and services. Loren Berlin | December 2011 Issue With reporting by Karin Wesselink in Beneden-Leeuwen, the Netherlands The organic therapeutic farm Henricus Hoeve in the Dutch town of Beneden-Leeuwen Read More...
Courage in action
Ode to Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International Robin Fasano | December 2011 Issue On a bright morning in Baghdad, Iraq, teacups clank as 20 women in head scarves sit in a circle on a carpeted floor inside a small, white building. They are intently discussing daily life in their Read More...
Homeward bound
How telecommuting increases productivity, improves job satisfaction and enhances work-life balance. Adam Smith | December 2011 Issue Like many new mothers, Pamela Ferrill prefers not to be far from her baby. And like many parents, she has to balance that instinct with her responsibilities. Happily Read More...
Christmas trees are not just for Christmas
Diane Daniel | December 2011 Issue Fair-trade holiday gifts might include coffee, chocolate and handmade crafts. But what about the Christmas tree? Danish tree farmer Marianne Bols made an unpleasant discovery when she and her husband, Lars, started the Bols Planteskole nursery and began to grow Read More...
The flip side of getting
Giving is what you do when you realize just how much you’re taking. Rabbi Rami | December 2011 Issue One way to understand the nature of giving is to talk with those whose lives are devoted to asking. Panhandlers and charity fundraisers will tell you it’s all about guilt. Prosperity preachers Read More...
The helper’s high
Why it feels so good to give. Sander van der Linden | December 2011 Issue For a significant part of human history, giving to those less fortunate has been regarded as a desirable behavior. One obvious reason, of course, is that even a small sacrifice may make a world of difference to someone else. Read More...
Shopping for good
An innovative website blends charitable giving with online shopping. Elizabeth Kelsey | December 2011 Issue Those hoping to fit shopping and charitable giving into their holiday budgets this year may find a solution in goodshop.com. Founded in 2007 by siblings Ken and J.J. Ramberg, the website Read More...
I’ll drink to that
A new supplement offers the mood-boosting properties of chocolate in a healthier, liquid form. Ursula Sautter | December 2011 Issue Chocolate makes you happy; we all know that. Unfortunately, it’s also rich in fat and sugar—so if you eat lots of it, you’ll feel pretty chirpy but pile on the Read More...
Beyond novels and neckties
It takes self-awareness and creativity to give presents people truly want. Why not try an intangible gift instead? Hanny Roskamp | December 2011 Issue There’s a giant vase in my living room. It is made out of magazines that are rolled up together like bamboo stalks. This is a lovely idea, and it Read More...
The art of trying
Trust the universe, and look forward to surprising yourself. Paulo Coelho | December 2011 Issue Pablo Picasso once said, “God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant and the cat. He has no real style. He just keeps on trying other things.” When we start Read More...