04Jul 2016 by Leah Feor No Comments

How to Think and Act Globally for the Greater Good

Do you think and act globally in your local community? Years ago, I caught on to the practice of fair trade. Knowing deep down free trade is not fair for many global citizens, I looked for a different way to do business. It was through the fair trade movement that I was able to breathe new life into Simply Sustainable, and connect with communities near and far. Back in 2010 when I was making a major shift, I invested in a small batch of handicrafts from a neighbouring community in Guatemala, where I was living at the time. I packed a duffle bag full of goodies, and set forth for the North where I would exhibit them alongside my handmade jewelry at fairs and festivals during summer months. For me, it…

16Jun 2016 by Leah Feor No Comments

Still Wondering Why to Invest in Sustainability?

All Posts, Featured, Sustainable Development Goals

Have you ever noticed that people who promote sustainability are optimistic? Perhaps it's because we know that the true benefits of sustainability go beyond going green, they also make economic sense. Speak to a skeptic, they might tell you it costs too much. Either way you look at it, environmental initiatives across the globe may cost you today, but tomorrow’s payoff is well worth the investment. We’ve reached Sustainable Development (SDGs) Goal 9 in a series of blogs that I’ve been writing to break down the targets, and share my insight. Steps to Sustainable Development Going through each topic has been a great exercise for me, and I hope it’s been beneficial for you as well. Together we are taking a closer look at what it really takes to make…

01Jun 2016 by Leah Feor No Comments

Why a Restorative Economy Is Worth Investing In

All Posts, Sustainable Development Goals

Have you ever read work by an author that moves you? It was a chapter in a book edited by Darian Rodriguez Heyman that first opened my eyes and mind to Paul Hawken. "Welcome to the Movement" His words jumped off the page, and I breezed through the chapter. I needed to learn more, so I looked him up online and found that he is a seasoned writer with a variety of books covering the sweet spot where ecology meets economy. It’s been over ten years that I have felt a calling to bridge the gap between the environmental and economic world. Hawken has been doing it for much longer. What an inspiration. Through his books, I found a teacher. He introduced the term restorative economy to me for the…

01Mar 2016 by Leah Feor No Comments

Why it’s Vital to Celebrate Women Every Day

All Posts, Sustainable Development Goals

Do you celebrate International Women's Day on March 8th every year? Perhaps it is Global Goal 5: Gender Equality that offers one of the biggest opportunities for this to happen. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets are interconnected, and there is a lot of potential for cross pollination. If we want to move forward together, we can’t leave half of the population behind. If we neglect to embrace and empower females across the globe, we are at risk of doing just that. March 8th brings the issue of equality to the forefront, and gives the globe a chance to celebrate the progress to date. Gender equality isn’t a two sided issue though. It is very profound, and we need to look at a situation as a whole rather than…

02Feb 2016 by Leah Feor No Comments

Is Health and Well-Being the Heartbeat of the SDG’s?

All Posts, Sustainable Development Goals

Have you ever considered the importance of your own health and well-being when it comes to achieving sustainable development? If you’re wondering where the question comes from, take a look at Global Goal 3 on the UN website. Once you’re on the page, you will notice that there is an area that reads “Click to See Targets”. That will take you to a list of 13 specified targets that have been identified as required to meet the overall goal. In total, the SDGs layout 169 targets to cover the 17 Goals. We’re not talking identical numbers here, but it’s not really a stretch to compare the collective SDGs to the human body which is made up of organs and systems that keep us alive and well. Awareness of Interconnection The above comparison…

26Jan 2016 by Leah Feor No Comments

Working Towards Global Goal 2: Zero Hunger

All Posts, Sustainable Development Goals

Do you think it's possible to feed our world's population with the global resources we have? Global Goal 2: Zero Hunger. That’s a big one, but not impossible. The problem has been identified: “…extreme hunger and malnutrition remains a huge barrier to development in many countries.” Perhaps we can even edit that to state that it is a huge barrier for development in every community since people all over the world are negatively affected by hunger. Seeking Solutions A child that does not eat properly faces health problems; much like an adult that consumes more processed food than vegetables is not in a healthy state. I could go on for a long while about the problems – because let’s face it – there are plenty. Instead, I prefer to focus on…