Change The World Wednesday

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (CTWW). If you are new here please click on the tab at the top of this page for more information.

Let's jump right into this week's challenge:

For this week's challenge, please participate in Blog Action Day and post something about water, on your blog, on Friday, October 15th. For more information and to register your blog, please visit the Blog Action Day site HERE.

Or ... If you prefer not to formally join Blog Action Day, please write a post about water ... water pollution, reducing water usage, why it's an important subject, etc.

Or ... If you'd rather not write a post, please comment here with your water saving ideas.

So what do you think ... doable?

Okay ... last week we tackled plastic bags. When my family shops, we rarely remember to bring our reusable bags into the store with us. So, we simply ask the cashier not to bag anything ... just to put everything back into the cart. Then, we wheel everything out to the car where we load up our reusable bags. In the beginning, cashiers and bag people looked at us funny. But now we usually get a "thank you" from them because it's less work on their part. It's another Eco-friendly win-win situation. I should say that on occasion we are stopped at the door and asked to show our receipt, which we always keep handy. It's never much of a bother and the extra minute is a small price to pay for not adding plastic to the environment.

Our twitter honor society tweeted about our challenge using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're on twitter, these are wonderful folks to follow:

@whopaysthepiper
@TheNewAuthor
@DPixel
@Mike_Pere
@myzerowaste
@itsformybaby
@rewinn

Now let's see how our other honorees did:

EcoGrrl joined us and offered some additional ideas for avoiding plastic. I especially liked her suggestion to bring a reusable bag to the mall. It's a place which we often don't think about when thinking about reusable bags. Great suggestion EcoGrrl!

Shauna came by. I was browsing her most recent giveaways and she has several "green" contests going on. Thanks, Shauna!

Hanna stopped in. She found us through the Wednesday Green Blog Hop (which is listed in our side bar and which, if you have a "green" blog, you can join ... right here on Reduce Footprints). Hanna has a great blog! Browsing around I found recipes and giveaways and cute pictures of her little one! Thanks for swinging by, Hanna!

Argentum Vulgaris wrote a wonderful post for our challenge. You can read it HERE. AV makes an excellent point ... the cost of "free" plastic bags is too high! Thanks, AV!

Last week Kris found us through the Blog Hop, joined our challenge and wrote a wonderful post (read it HERE). Yay, Kris! Her post combined a reusable bag review and her personal experiences. I won't be a "spoiler" but just let me say that Kris had a total "success" and set a great example. Thanks, Kris!

My Baby's Green (another new follower who found us through the blog hop) says that she uses reusable bags all the time. Yay! She even sells them at her store. From her blog one can enter "green" giveaways, access her store and get a lot of information.

Shannon dropped in. She also found us through the blog hop (hm ... I'm seeing a trend here). In the opening lines on Shannon's blog she says "My new blog about trying to live a more Eco-friendly life whilst trying NOT to lose my mind ...". And that sets the tone! :) Check it out!

I'd like to welcome Jen who ... yep ... found us through the blog hop. Jen wrote some articles about composting Sun Chip bags ... they were really interesting. Hop over and check it out! And while you're there, check out her post about "drawing the line" when choosing an employer. It's a thought-provoking post!

My friend, Priti.Lisa, is a brilliant artist. But what I didn't know is that she is also living a "green" life. Yay, Lisa!! She likes using reusable bags because no one can see what you've purchased. By the way, if you love beautiful, unique art, you'll love Lisa's place ... it is candy for the eye and fuel for the soul. Go ... go now! :)

Another new friend from the blog hop is Kathy. Kathy has a blog called Living Out Loud where she hosts giveaways, writes reviews and shares coupons. She does something else ... she donates all the proceeds of her blog to ending hunger. So ... swing by and follow her blog so that sponsors will search her out ... it's for a good cause! Thanks, Kathy!

Sprout5 ... yep a new friend through the Wednesday Blog Hop ... dropped in. I enjoyed visiting Sprout's Green Family blog ... she shares great information including, if you live in New York, fabulous activities for fall.

Jacqie stopped in. She wrote a wonderful post entitled "What's In That Reusable Bag?". Here's a hint ... no plastic pumpkin for this Eco-friendly mom. Thanks, Jacqie!

Our friend, Ann, came by. In this POST she shares one of our Change The World Badges and talks about saving women. It's an important post!

Sara dropped in and says that when it comes to plastic bags, she could do better. And this week, she promises to do so. Thanks, Sara!

Our friend, Kelli, came by. And oh my goodness ... Kelli posted a great video on her blog about ... our challenge. She offers a lot of information so ... click HERE and check it out! Thanks so much, Kelli ... it was great to see your face ... and Connie is a doll! :)

My brilliant author friend, Kat Magendie, came by and joined the fun. Even though she forgot her reusable bag on a recent shopping trip, she vows to remember it next time! By the way, Kat is a published author and has books on the market. I've read them and I can tell you that they are truly great "reads". Check out her blog and then ... buy her books!! Thanks, Kat!

Our friend, Ange, made a brief stop-over, here, on her way to begin an ethical art project in India. Wow! You can read all about it HERE. Best wishes, Ange ... we can't wait to hear all about your experiences!

REWinn, another long-time change the world Wednesday participant, joined us. In an article entitled Bag It, Bread It and Blog It, he talks about his reusable bags and their stories. You'll read about "Old Blue" and his current bag which came from Dave's Killer Bread. Be sure to watch the video about Dave ... it's an amazing, inspirational story! Thanks, REWinn!

Mrs. Green stopped by. She's also a long-time change the world Wednesday friend. In this POST she talks about plastic bags finding their way to our oceans. It is a sobering reminder that plastic bags are lethal to many ocean species. Thanks, Mrs. Green!

Wow ... what a fabulous list of environmentally-conscious people. Thanks to all of you for everything that you do!

Just a reminder ... if you wrote a post in support of our challenge, it has been Stumbled and Tweeted.

Okay ... that's it for this week. Ready for our mantra? All together now ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!