Just when you think a good idea can’t get any better… Kiva, the king of micro lending websites, recently launched Kiva Green Loans. Green Loans allows Kiva lenders to find businesses and individuals transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. The energy saving theme includes recycling, re-purposing used materials, minimizing pollution, and reducing energy expenditures. Kiva.org’s mission, to alleviate poverty by allowing lenders across the world to make microloans for as... [Read more]

I’ve made my fourth Kiva loan! Miraculous. This means I have been reimbursed in full three times by third world farmers, and people who don’t own shoes, while receiving not one (NOT ONE) piece of junk mail from Kiva or an affiliate. I’m so pleased I’m damn near speechless (as demonstrated by pic). Luckily I can still type. To put this accomplishment by developing world businesses in context… Roller coasters have more stability than the US stock market, which continues to plunge and climb... [Read more]

Dirty, Tiny Kitten There are advantages and disadvantages to being thegoodmuse. Advantage – people come and ask you to help them like you are a superhero. Disadvantage – people come and ask you to help them like you are a superhero. Couple thegoodmuse reputation with the fact that I’ve gained a certain notoriety, in my circle of friends, for fixing minor animal maladies and the result is when an animal in distress is found within a 10 mile radius I get the call. Often, I think I should just... [Read more]

I love Kiva.org. I do! It’s the gift that keeps on giving.  Over a year ago, for Episode 38, I loaned $25 through Kiva to help a group of women in Uganda who wanted to start a used clothing business.  They paid me back in a matter of months.  Then I loaned to a young woman in Lebanon who owned a farm and wanted to improve her crops.  She took a bit longer but paid me back none the less.  Now I have passed the loan on to a woman in Ghana who wants to sell used cloths. The cycle continues!... [Read more]

Here is a simple way to help Japan for shop owners across the US. Whether you sell services (like a spa) or goods (like a bakery or a toy store) you can donate a service or item for raffle, charge your patrons $1 to enter, set up a box at checkout in which to collect all the tickets (tickets can be purchased at office supply stores), donate earned raffle cash to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund or The Salvation Army “Japan Earthquake Relief.” Both groups are on the ground in Japan... [Read more]

Okay Okay Okay Okay Okay.  I can admit when things don’t go according to plan. I organized a Food Drive in Beverly Hills. We did get donations, don’t get me wrong, but for Beverly Hills… the turnout was lackluster.  Here’s what went right and wrong. Location, Location, Uggg Cliched Location Throwing the Food Drive in Beverly Hills seemed to be a stroke of genius.  I partnered with a prestigious family owned spa named Verabella located right in the center of the Golden Triangle... [Read more]

Somaly Mam The following conversation actually occurred.  It happened because I told a friend that approximately 27 million people live in slavery today – more than during the entire history of the transatlantic slave trade. Friend: So you’re saying the African slave trade was not as bad as slave trade today. Me: I actually wasn’t comparing the two they’re both horrendous. Friend: But you said that there are more slaves today, so it’s worse. Me: I don’t think we should compare bad.... [Read more]