The story of stuff

The Story of Stuff Project’s mission is to build a strong, diverse, decentralized, cross-sector movement to transform systems of production and consumption to serve ecological sustainability and social wellbeing. Their goals are to amplify public discourse on a diverse set of sustainability issues and to facilitate the growing Story of Stuff community’s involvement in strategic efforts to build a more sustainable and just world.

Click on the link below for more information.

www.storyofstuff.com

The boy who harnessed the wind

When things don't go the way you want, sometimes it's good to do it yourself, a beautiful story about a malawi teenager relying on himself to make a change ! 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8257153.stm

Propolis, the natural antibiotic made by bees

Propolis is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory medecine. It is is a resinous mixture that honey bees collect from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources. For centuries, beekeepers assumed that bees sealed the beehive with propolis to 

protect the colony from the elements, such as rain and cold winter drafts.
Propolis is now believed to prevent diseases and parasites from entering the hive, and to inhibit bacterial growth prevent putrefaction within the hive. Bees usually carry waste out of and away from the hive. However if a small lizard or mouse, for example, found its way into the hive and died there, bees may be unable to carry it out through the hive entrance. In that case, they would attempt instead to seal the carcass in propolis, essentially mummifying it and making it odorless and harmless.

Although this doesn't sound very appealing, I recently tried propolis here in Bolivia where it is very popular (and cheap!!) and it worked wonders. Propolis comes in various formats (gum,lozenges..) but I brought it in liquid format. All you do is put 30 drops in a glass of lukewarm water with a bit of honey for the taste and then drink it.
I used it for a dodgy stomach and the effects were felt straight away but propolis can be used to treat various ailments. Basically it helps you create antibodies. It is also believed to promote heart health, strengthen the immune system and even reduce the chances of cataracts.

I highly recommend it to everyone. There are various websites you can buy it from, or
try your local health store or I can bring some back with me, but do try it !

Click here for the health benefits of bee propolis explained