Live Earth

On July 7th, over 24 hours on 7 continent, more than 100 musical artists will plays concerts to spur on a global movement to solve the climate crisis. The details are here.

Barefoot Beach Rescue

This one is an event sponsored by a California winemaker, which almost disqualified it, but then we thought, why not? Why not encourage this kind of civic-mindedness?

The idea is to cleanup a beach (seven have been selected across the country) and then have a party afterwards. Sounds good to us.

Aid to Artisans

Cambodian basket weavers. Woodcarvers in Mozambique. Haitain potters.

The mission of Aid to Artisans is to provide practical assistance to artisan groups worldwide -- improving livelihoods, sense of tradition, and of community.

You can make a donation or purchase one of the striking artisanal products here.

Save the Whale Week

This is Save the Whale week -- join the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society to protect the endangered species. Japan, among others, wants to get the rules protecting whales relaxed -- a terribly shortsighted proposal and one that should bring shame to that country. More info here.

Blue Planet Run

20 international runners,
24 hours a day,
95 days
15,200 miles,
26.7 million strides

Why? To raise awareness that, incredibly, over a billion people live without safe drinking water. Here is what you can do to help.

Charity Navigator

Before you go giving away your millions (or your tens), it's a good idea to check with Charity Navigator.

They evaluate the financial health of over 5,000 charities -- which will help you decide if a charity you're considering will spend your money wisely.

RAWA

The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, founded in 1977, is the country's oldest political action group.

They need at least 20 digital cameras (3 mexapixels or greater) to help in the cause. Details are here.

True Colors Tour

The True Colors Tour, starring Cyndi Lauper, Margaret Cho, Debbie Harry, Erasure, and some fun special guests, has just launched its 15-city tour starting in Las Vegas. In support of the Human Rights Campaign Fund, Lauper says, "We should all have the right to live with the same diginity, opportunity, and safety. It shouldn't matter what anyone's sexual orientation is."

Volunteer Vacation

There are quite a few organizations now that will facilitate a vacation in which you do volunteer work.

One of them is Global Volunteers International, an organization which has been around since 1984. Among the things you can do: teach conversational English, care for at-risk children, and build, repair, and paint buildings.

It's a vacation that will stay with you.

Eyes on Darfur

This is an extraordinary website from Amnesty International.

Eyes on Darfur uses technology -- in this case, satellite images -- to offer evidence of the atrocities being committed there. You can see with your own eyes which villages have been destroyed and which are at risk. And you can take action here.

THE Bulb

The use of compact fluorescent light bulbs is 75% more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, last 10 times longer, and using them creates 75% less CO2 emissions.

Makers of THE Bulb also offset the CO2 emissions from their light bulbs with a donation to the www.Carbonfund.org Foundation.

If You Care Products

The If You Care line of environmentally friendly coffee filters and baking paper, now produces aluminum foil.

It's 100% recycled, 95% less energy is used than when producing primary aluminum, and it can be recycled indefinitely.

Leave Out Violence

Leave Out Violence (LOVE), which started in Canada, has helped send the message of non-violence to over 40,000 teens in that country.

The program has now become part of some New York City schools -- many more are on the waiting list to get LOVE. Donations make it possible.

Plant a Tree For Me

Computer maker Dell has teamed up with The Conservation Fund and Carbonfund.org to promote a tree-planting program called Plant a Tree For Me.

You can offset the carbon produced from electricity used to power your computers (in their average lifetimes) by making a donation. Offset a notebook with a $2 donation. Offset a desktop computer with a $6 donation. You can offset yourself (or the estimated total one-year carbon impact of an average American citizen) by donating $99 to the program.

100% of the funds go toward planting trees.