Kiva loan to another Julia in Peru

Julia Maria Pereira Rengifo is in Peru and is looking for a loan to improve her restaurant. It looks like she has some happy customers and makes great food.

Julia Kiva loan while I'm in Europe

I have been in Europe for the last week and have not been able to post. I will be returning on Friday.

Today I did relend a Kiva credit to a Julia in Peru who wants to add photocopier and a public telephone to her store. This will help the community a lot, and shows how Kiva helps beyond what is measurable.

Green Peace

I sent in my 2008 membership dues to Greenpeace today, to help them with their environmental projects. I also signed a letter to Speaker of the House Pelosi, asking her to focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Can't wait till Obama is president.

Amnesty International

I sent in my 2008 membership for Amnesty International.
Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. AI’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. In pursuit of this vision, AI’s mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights.

Co-op America & Fair trade Coffee

I am re-newing my membership in Co-op America. Just digg their mission - to harness economic power - the strength of consumers, investors, and businesses - to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. I have personally found a lot of very interesting things on this page, including the fair trade coffee that I get delivered each month. I have the co-ops guide to fair trade listed on the left of the website. Its always a good place to start shopping.

My coffee comes from Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie , located in Washington state. They believe that the small act of buying coffee beans can be part of the giant act of positive change in the world. They tell you exactly where your beans came from. I get monthly deliveries and I have received OUTSTANDING service from them, including free pounds of coffee! And personal notes saying 'thinking of you we just roasted your favorite blend'. The coffee is the best and freshest you can buy. And its FAIR TRADE.

Hats on Kiva

Did a search on 'Julia' and found a great loan - a Peruvian lady wearing a hat. My sister loves those hats. And sure enough, she is also on the loan. As are a few other friends.

I am still in a fantastic mood because of the election results. I can't believe we went against the largest political machine in American history, and won. We were supposed to get knocked out of the race, and now we find out the other campaign is in serious financial trouble and we can raise millions in hours. I have been told by so many people for so long that she was inevitable, and it just feels so wonderful that the candidate of the people is doing so well. We really are going to win, and change the way politics works in this country. Obama will bring dignity and respect back to the White house, which hasn't been there for decades. YES WE CAN!!!!!

Still FIRED UP and READY TO GO

Volunteering at UCLA for Obama

Kiva and countdown to super Tuesday

I haven't recorded all the things I have been doing on the Obama campaign, because I have been too busy doing things for the campaign. But soon we will vote, and my (almost) year long efforts will be over.

I used a Kiva credit to make a loan to Guatemala, to the Brisas del lago Panajachel Group.

Sharing Foundation

One of my facebook friends sent this and I donated today, and added a widget for this cause to the side of my blog. In her words:

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon with the Sharing Foundation's founder, Dr. Nancy Hendrie, a retired pediatrician in her seventies to work on the final phase of the our America's Giving Challenge fundraising campaign. Dr. Hendrie has been working tirelessly on this campaign using her social networks (mostly offline and email) Yesterday, I had to chance to show her some online social networks like Twitter and Facebook as well as some tools like video blogging. She made made this video with my son, Harry.

Ten years ago, she didn’t want to spend her retirement years on the golf course. Instead, she started Sharing Foundation, an organization that cares for over 1,500 disadvantaged children in Cambodia every day.

Dr. Nancy is an inspiration! She's a shining example of never ending activism and a reminder that you're never too old to change the world. She told me yesterday she might too old for Facebook, so I wanted to show her the power of social media to make a difference.

• Donate $10 or more to the Sharing Foundation through Global Giving Fundraiser by January 31, 2008



• If we get the most unique donors, we'll win $50,000 for the Sharing Foundation as part of America's Giving Challenge. With $10 you can help improve the lives of over 1,500 children in one of the world's poorest countries.

Kiva

I used some Kiva credits (88 of my loans have been repaid so far) and made two loans, to groups.
Juana Claudia Coras De Auccapuclla's Group in Ayacucho, Peru is mostly doing agriculture, and Las Costureras Group in Guatemala who makes clothing. I really want to support Guatemala clothing. I wear it all the time.

Lending to Julia's

So I found a Julia to lend to, and she seems to be engaged in activities I wouldn't do. I don't eat animals and haven't for years. But I have accepted that they are a necessary part of some cultures and not everyone has the luxury, like I do, of being so selective of what they eat.

Kiva loans

These days it seems I'm making loans inbetween doing things for Obama. We are having a grand opening of an Obama office in my hometown tonight, I came home for powercords and made a kiva loan.

The loan was to Kossi Jacques Djoka for his motocycle transport business.

I made a loan yesterday to Kamuli C1 (e) Group of women. Very little description, their loan is taking a while to get funded.

Peru

I made a loan to Cetty Saldaña De Salas in Peru today. "Cetty is a very hard working woman and even though she does not have the support from her couple, she does not think this is a handicap to succeed." I''m sure. Anyone who can handle 8 kids can run a successful business.

I choose this loan because its in Peru, and I have a colleague who I like very much who lives in Peru. I'm starting to work with him on the genetics of epilepsy and neurocycosis. 4.4% of my Kiva loans are from Peru.

Helping Maria in Nicaragua

I bid on the only loan in Central America - to Maria for her used clothing business. She has been working in the market since she was 10.

I find it an interesting cultural note to see how female clients often feel they have to explain why they are in businesses. e.g. Her husband's income was not enough to cover their household costs, so Maria Elena decided to invest in her own business.

kiva

Sheela Noreen's Group is mostly about tailoring in Pakistan. There are a few ladies in it who want money for various businesses.

But what its really about is people like me chipping in with a bunch of people like me to lend them money that we don't really need and will significantly change their lives. Economic justice you could say.

Blacksmith

Quick Kiva loan - to a blacksmith in Nabatieh, Lebanon called Hassan Aanayssi. Some of my friends are blacksmiths, so this one is in memory of them.

Breaks and Kiva

I realize I have been slacking on posting. Its not because I no longer care, its just that life is getting a bit busy right now. Besides the election and the new Kiva office and the book chapters and papers I am working on, I am also working on the financial books for my hobby business. I finished enought to say I generated about $65,000 of income to others last year - I guess that's my job creation.

Made a Kiva loan today. They haven't had many so I've been trying to hold off to let others have a chance. But I"ve had Kiva credit that's been there a while, and its been so long. So I made a loan to Holmurod Haknazarov for his farm in Khuroson, Tajikistan.

New Blog, Shopkeeping in El Salvador

Popped on to Kiva and found a loan in Central America. Marta Lorena Landaverde has a shop in El Salvador and wants capital to expand. With stores, its real easy to understand how more capital translates into more profit and a better life.

El Salvador is a beautiful country. I have only flow in and out of it many times enroute to Teguigalpa, but the route is over the country in the morning and we fly in a little plane pretty low to the ground. Hopefully someday soon I'll visit the countryside on the ground and visit Marta and her store.


So the new blog I am doing is for Kiva in Second Life at the Non Profit commons, it will have all info related to that there. I am going to try to build up the volunteer group and see what wonderful things come about. So far we've done quite a bit, including raising money for 30 loans.

We're having our opening party tomorrow. It will be the first event I've hosted in Second Life. Hope people come! We invited some newsfolk and they have already blogged about us.

Obama's lost 2002 War speech. As told by the people.

Last night, we put a new face on America and changed the world.



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First Kiva loan of the year

Woke this morning and there were finally some Kiva loans, and I found one for my husband. He likes cars.

Hussein is in Lebaon and wants to buy out his partner and own the cell phone business. He also works as a mechanic. He has 7 kids.