Posted 05/01/08 by Ryan Morris
In a previous blog post I mentioned that Americans toss almost 38 billion water bottles in the trash every year. To combat this environmental waste, Brita (you know, the folks who make those cool water filtration products for your home) and Nalgene (check any college student's backpack for one of their fashionable water bottles) teamed up to create the FilterForGood campaign.
The success of the campaign is determined by the number of disposable water bottles saved from ending up in your local dump. The environmentally conscious endeavor requires participants to pledge to reduce bottled water waste by using a reusable water bottle (Nalgene, encouraged) or filtered water (this is where Brita's pitchers and faucet mount filters come in.)
I was very excited when I learned about the pledge, so naturally I signed it online and began taking steps to become an active participant. The FilterForGood folks were stoked too and sent us some reusable water bottles for the staff to use along with a few faucet-mount filtration systems to give away.
Get Free Stuff, Save the Planet
Leave a comment at the bottom of this entry describing ways you plan to get the word out about reducing disposable water bottle use. The top three comments will receive a Brita faucet-mount filtration system. Oh, if you're wondering who will be judging the comments, look no further than Razoo's celebrity panel of super heros and rock stars, of course. ;-)
To track the success of the campaign you can view how many water bottles have been saved by using an interactive map on the campaign Web site.
Links of Interest
Posted 04/22/08 by Ryan Morris
It is estimated that Americans toss almost 38 billion water bottles in the trash every year. To combat this environental waste, Brita and Nalgene teamed up to create the FilterForGood campaign.
Gauging it's success by the number of disposable water bottles saved from ending up in a landfill, the program requires participants to pledge to reduce bottled water waste by using a reusable water bottle (Nalgene, encouraged) or filtered water (this is where Brita's pitchers and faucet mount filters come in.)
I'm so excited about this campaign I signed the pledge and am in the process of making sure everyone in the office has a reusable water bottle. You can get involved by taking the pledge and joining the cause on Razoo today.
To see how many water bottles have been saved, you can view a really cool interactive map on the campaign Web site. So go on, take the pledge, help the planet and enjoy a greener, healthier earth.
Happy Earth Day!
Posted 04/02/08 by Ryan Morris
Jason, Razoo's Creative Director, worked really hard on improving the look, feel and organization of the home page for Razoo. We made these changes based on member feedback, best practices and what some Keebler elves told us.
Also, you will notice we got rid of the splash screen located at http://beta.razoo.com and had it redirected to http://community.razoo.com. The beloved video on Razoo has been moved to the home page Jason freshened up, so you can still show it off to your friends for a little inspiration.
Posted 03/06/08 by Jenn Fraher
It's been a long 6 weeks since the Good Travels contest ended, and we've been drawing names and confirming our winners. Today, we're happy to announce the full list of official winners from among the many people who entered. Over the past few months, we've heard from hundreds of you about the places that you want to visit and the difference you would make in those places through those trips. You can read through some of the ideas in the Good Travels group. We're thankful we didn't have the pick the best entry- we wouldn't have been able to choose only one!
Without further delay, here are the winners!
First Place: A Trip for Two Anywhere in the World
Ryan Trout:
Here's a little bit about Ryan: Currently I am an AmeriCorps member working for a community mediation center in Maryland. Before I became involved in mediation, I travelled to Rwanda as a part of a Human Rights Delegation. In May 2007, I graduated from college with a BA in Political Science. While in college, I helped run voter registration campaigns and worked for two lobbying groups, the Maryland Catholic Conference (I'm not Catholic) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina (I'm not greedy and I want universal health care) so needless to say neither worked out over the long term. I want to love whatever it is that I do. I'm debating between Diplomacy and International Relations or Film School.
What he told us about Good Traveling: I would like to travel through the North and South Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I want to travel there because the country could be on the verge of war and I'd like to learn about the people and help those in need in the region.
Second Place: A One Laptop Per Child Laptop
Georgina Asiamah
Alison Boucher
Cynthia Casazza
Kendra Goffredo
Sarita Hartz
Third Place: A 1 GB Flip Video Ultra Camcorder
Samson Akweson
Anna Cembrola
Jessica L Davidson
Jaime Garner
Carol Martinez
James Njoroge Gitau
Kate Shannon
Amy Taylor
Kathryn Tinsley Anderson
Heidi Turner
Top Recruiters
Eugeniu Graur
Sarita Hartz
Congratulations to everyone who won and thanks to everyone who participated.
Posted 01/15/08 by Rebecca Carpenter
As you've probably heard, the Good Travels contest is coming into the home stretch, with the offical end this Friday, January 18, at midnight. We've ben really excited about this contest, as it combines several of our favorite things: doing good, having fun, and traveling the world!
If this is the first you've heard about it, here's the ten second overview: Razoo is offering a trip for two, anywhere in the world, to "put good into action." We've teamed up with great partners like the National Peace Corps Association, ResponsibleTravel.com, Student Movement for Real Change, and One World, because we collectively believe everyone can make a positive difference, not only at home, but while on the road as well. We're also giving away five XO Laptops (from the One Laptop Per Child project), and ten Flip Ultra Camcorders. You can get more details here, and enter the contest here.
One of the most inspiring things to come out of this contest has been our members sharing where they want to travel and how they'd like to "put good into action." I never cease to be amazed and impressed by how many good people there are in our world. Here are a few samples:
Sara C: "I want to go to Ecuador, to work with Manna Project International, and to work with a Kiva partner for microfinance, and to learn hands-on about the process. While I'm there, I would also want to hike and go rock climbing in the Andes."
Lindsay L: "I want to go to Uganda to visit the friends I made while living there two summers ago. I want to teach communities about hygiene and sanitation so that they can keep their water safe and clean."
Justin H: "I want to go to Japan to support anti-human-trafficking NGOs. I am actively involved in raising awareness of trafficking through my blog, and Japan has an active sex industry that allows trafficking to flourish."
Krystal L: "I'd love to go to Iceland. Engineers there are currently working on a whale-watching boat that uses absolutely no fossil fuel, and the only by-product of energy after using the boat is water. Who doesn't want to be around that kind of innovation?"
Sheila S: "I would like to go to Bucharest, Romania, to work with street children there. I am starting a non-profit to do this very thing long term."
Stacia H: "I'd like to go to Guatemala, to see how natives have maintained and adapted their culture, and to ask what different generations think about the changes that have taken place among their people, including from external influences. I'd like to see what they seem to need, from their eyes and mine."
Nat R: "I dream of traveling to Lesotho in Southern Africa to work with a group called Touching Tiny Lives, that provides medical care for orphaned newborns carrying HIV/AIDS. I will combine the business resources of my Project Pyramid cause for a positive change."
This is just a small sample of the thousands of good people who have entered the Good Travels contest and are eager to make positive change in our world. You can see more of their inspirational ideas here, or share your own story of where you'd like to go to put good into action by entering the contest.
Good luck, and good travels!
Posted 12/13/07 by Rebecca Carpenter
We know it's good to give. But is there more to gift-giving than an Amazon giftcard? You betcha. We did some digging, and discovered a whole
bunch of creative ways to spread the good this season. Here are a few of our favorites:
Adopt a Golden Lion Tamarin. The National Zoo offers a program called Adopt a Species, which offers the opportunity to help save endangered animals around the world. (Tamarins not high on your list? No problem, choose your favorite endangered species... there's plenty to go around.)Great for kids of all ages who love stuffed animals... give them the real deal instead.
Get back to basics. Help save a life by offering health, hope and nutrition through Project Concern International. As a leading international health organization, Project Concern saves the lives of children and families around the world by preventing disease and providing access to clean water and nutritious food. The perfect gift from someone who has everything, to someone who has nothing.
Give one, get one. The team of folks at the One Laptop Per Child
initiative have launched the Give One, Get One campaign, just in time for the holidays. For the first time, their revolutionary XO laptop is available to
the general public, so take advantage of this unique opportunity (which ends 12/31/07). For a donation of $399, one XO laptop will be sent to empower a child in a developing nation and one will be sent to the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. Perfect for the technophiles in your life.
Become a micro-financier. Microloans are the new black. Get in on the action by giving a Kiva gift certificate, which enables the recipient to start making loans that change the world. The perfect gift for your favorite banker.
Give life, give livestock. Heifer International offers the opportunity to
give the gift that truly keeps on giving. You can buy sheep, cows, llamas and more to give to rural families in developing nations. In return, they pledge to give the offspring of their new livestock back to the Heifer program. Perfect for the animal lovers in your life.
Help make a movie. Instead of giving DVDs or movie tickets this year, go a step further and be part of the drama. The good folks at Eleho are making a film called "The Road," about the atrocity of genocide in Burma (aka Myanmar), and they need support to finish the documentary. You can help them get the word out about what's happening in this little corner of the world. The perfect gift for the aspiring filmmaker on your list.
Become a virtual volunteer. Got some skills to share? Nabuur.com will link you directly with people around the world who can benefit from your expertise. And you don't even have to join the Peace Corps! All you need is a computer, a little free time, and the desire to make a difference. Perfect for the experts in your life.
Support a soldier. Remember all our servicepeople abroad with a gift from AnySoldier.com. They make it easy to send gifts anywhere our soldiers are stationed. While it's always good to remember the service these good folks offer up on our behalf, it's especially meaningful at this time of year, when they're not able to be home with their families. Perfect for anyone who appreciates their freedom.
For more unique gifting ideas, check out Oxfam America Unwrapped and The Case Foundation's Guide to Good Giving.
Happy Holidays!
Posted 11/12/07 by Rebecca Carpenter
Dolphin conservation in the Greek Islands. Trekking with hill tribes in Thailand. Studying glacier melt in Iceland. Exploring archaeology in Egypt. Coaching children's soccer in Ecuador.
These are just a few of the endless possibilities to do good in our world. And thanks to Razoo's new Good Travels contest, you and a friend could be on your way to this goodness in the very near future.
Razoo has just launched the contest, to encourage us all to be good travelers. What is a good traveler, you ask? Well, it probably means something different for each of us, but it might encompass things like an open mind, curiosity, an eagerness to experience new things and meet new people, a desire to learn and to grow, and a willingness to give back while we're visiting new places.
Here's a quick primer...
How does the contest work?
It's quite simple -- there are four steps to complete on Razoo.com, which takes about 10 minutes. And then you're entered to win -- it's that easy! Get started here.
Are you really going to send me anywhere in the world?
Yup. The grand prize winner and a friend can choose a "good travels" trip from among the thousands of offerings on ResponsibleTravel.com, and Razoo will make it happen. (See our official contest rules for all the details.)
Are there any other prizes involved?
You bet. And they're pretty awesome, too. Five 2nd prize winners will receive the new XO laptop, from the One Laptop Per Child intiative. Today the OLPC team launched their "Give One Get One" campaign, so not only will our five winners get a laptop, but five laptops will also be donated to children in developing nations, in the winners' names.
Ten 3rd prize winners will receive the new Flip Ultra
camcorder. This is the perfect travel companion -- a pocket-sized way to document your journey.
Who else is involved in this contest?
Razoo has teamed up with a great group of partners to offer this contest. Our team includes The National Peace Corps Association, ResponsibleTravel.com, Student Movement for Real Change, and One World.
I'm sold, how do I enter?
Check out our contest information on Razoo.com, and get started right now. Good luck, and good travels!
Posted 10/19/07 by Rebecca Carpenter
After a long and exciting race, we're excited to announce the winners of our Change Your World contest.
It came down to the wire, as the top contenders battled it out until midnight on the final day of voting this week. The first prize of $10,000 was awarded to Students Helping Honduras (SHH), a young non-profit started by college students that sends groups of students to Honduras throughout the year to engage in service projects.
SHH co-founder and CEO Shin Fujiyama has informed us that they "will be using the funds to build a school in Honduras and purchase seeds for the indigenous people of La Misquitia where their crops were completely destroyed by Hurricane Felix. Without these seeds, thousands of people would face famine next spring and relief organizations would have to spend tens of thousands of dollars sending food. We have to think ahead and prevent, instead of acting when it's too late." Justin Simeone, the Chairperson of the Board of SHH also shared how "SHH is incredibly proud of the continued hard work and dedication of its members at UVA, Virginia Tech, Georgetown, William & Mary, and Mary Washington. Their efforts have continually proven what can be possible when passionate young people come together for a good cause. We are also tremendously grateful to all of our additional supporters who helped us make change possible during the course of Razoo's "Change Your World Contest."
The second place prize of $2,500 went to Leadership Initiatives, an organization that seeks to enable university students worldwide to turn their ideas into sustainable community development projects. Leadership Initiatives held a number of Razoo sign-up parties across the US and Nigeria in their creative efforts to win this prize. "We're excited about mobilizing people around some great causes and contributing to the work of these organizations," said Razoo CEO Sebastian Traeger. “We're pleased to be able to give individuals an opportunity to support an organization without needing to reach into their own pockets."
We were also happy to recognize the valiant efforts of two other groups, Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), and Saving Shelter Pets, by awarding them with $1500 honorable mention prizes. LinK will be using the prize money to support their network of underground shelters for North Korean refugees and expand their underground railroad. Saving Shelter Pets plans to use the funds to support the launch of a new program that will to provide much-needed pet-care services to low-income residents in Murray County, Georgia. We also awarded a $1,000 Lucky Draw prize to March of Dimes, an organization working to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
Thirty-four different non-profit organizations qualified for the contest by creating a group on Razoo.com and recruiting 100 members by October 1, 2007. From October 1st to October 15th, the Razoo community voted from among the qualifying groups to determine which organization was most worthy to win the contest. This was an opportunity for nonprofits, student groups, and other social cause organizations to win money for their work while increasing their reach and impact in the online world.
Deputy Director Hannah Song of Liberty in North Korea summed it well in saying: "Razoo's vision and tremendous efforts will change the way groups like ours are able to more effectively and efficiently mobilize grassroots efforts and encourage others to similarly take on passions, expend their resources, take actions, and ultimately change the world - because change IS possible!"
With the conclusion of the Change Your World Contest, we're now planning the launch of our next big contest... stay tuned for news in the next couple weeks.
Posted 10/19/07 by Ryan Morris
Our little community has been growing slowly, but surely over the last two months. I remember back in July we had around 500 members. With over 20,000 members today, it feels great to know there is an ever-growing amount of people who want to do something about social issues in our world.
Of all those members, there are 25 we would like to recognize for their contributions on the site and overall, well, awesomeness. Around Razoo HQ, we've called these folks everything from "super-user" to "über active" member. So, without further ado, here are the Top 25 Members (in no particular order) who recently rocked our world:
Jeremy Foreman
Tom Rowan
Lars Hasselblad Torres
Emma Vick
Samson Akweson
Brad Byrne
Jamie Vijay
Jonathan Wiles
Linda Nowakowski
John Powers
Cory Richardson
Christina Jordan
Roshani Kothari
Elizabeth Garcia-Gray
Matt Newsome
Kate Sands
Lisa McCandless
Stephanie Horter
meadowlea withlove
Dominique Beyens
Michael Maranda
Jean Russell
Rebecca Chojnackli
Dwan "Diane" ABC
All members in our Top 25 will receive a gift from Razoo; one of our little ways of saying, "thanks."
Also, rather than just calling these members Top Twenty-Fiver's, we've invited them to one of the more prestigious groups on the site (in my opinion anyway). Officially, they're known as Razoo Ambassadors, and they are one of the ways I know our site is going to help change the world.
The Razoo Ambassadors are an elite squad of social do-gooders -- people who don't just stand on the sidelines and hope good things happen, but get their hands dirty helping others and the world around them. Their passion is contagious. They are the “glue” of social good and they are helping Razoo create a platform to inspire and empower others to enact change.
Becoming an Ambassador is not a popularity contest. Designation is granted at the sole discretion of Razoo based on merit and activity within our site. So, just because you're interested in becoming an Ambassador doesn't mean you'll become one. You have to earn those stripes, ya know?
Congrats to all for your effort in changing the world. You rock!
Posted 10/10/07 by Rebecca Carpenter
In this morning's New York Times, Thomas Friedman writes about being both "baffled and impressed" by today's 20-somethings. Impressed by their optimism and idealism, and baffled by their non-radical nature and lack of political engagement. He has dubbed them "Generation Q," as in, The Quiet Americans, for their propensity to pursue their idealism quietly.
As someone who came of age in the radical 60s, Friedman's discontent with this generation's apparent acceptance of authority is understandable. Friedman challenges today's 20-somethings to do more than join a Facebook group or click a link to "sign" a petition. He believes that outrage is a mandatory component in making change, and that "they have to get organized in a way that will force politicians to pay attention rather than just patronize them." (Wall Street
might have something to say about the organizing abilities of Generation Y, given the recent mumblings of a $10 billion Facebook valuation.)
Perhaps utter discontent with the status quo is at the root of revolution. However, is one generation necessarily less altruistic, motivated or effective because they choose to make change using different tactics? Who's to say that children of the digital age won't be more effective than previous generations at making broad impacts, given their savvy understanding of how to use the internet to reach, inspire and activate people across distance, class, race and
age?
Friedman claims that "activism can only be uploaded the old-fashioned way -- by young voters... face to face, in big numbers, on campuses or the Washington Mall." What do you think? Is virtual activism real activism? Can today's generation effect change from behind their computer screens and through their iPhones? Or does it have to be done the "old fashioned" way? Tell us...
