Socially Conscious Investing

High school and college youth are actively making a difference worldwide by bringing clean water to villages saving lives and breaking the cycle of extreme poverty. Chapters are opening across the USA and Walks4Water are successfully supporting the goal of 500 villages by 2015. Learn how simple it is to participate and have fun doing it.

Unite-to-Light designs and distributes solar-powered LED lights in areas of extreme poverty where 1.5 billion people do not have direct access to electricity. Instead, they rely on kerosene, candles or firewood for lighting – all of which are relativity expensive, provide inferior light for reading not to mention the danger to health from kerosene fumes, fire and smoke. Listen to hear about the new technologies and how education, communication and light is making a difference worldwide.

Permaculture is providing an impact investment vehicle that simultaneously produces multiple revenue streams and a forecast ROI of 6%. Besides the monetary reward as an investment, it provides social impact by developing local food production and distribution. Communities are only 9 meals from famine. By mimicking natural systems in sustainable agriculture, a project named Regenerative Earth is producing ecological, economic, social and cultural benefits rolled up together into “natural capital.” Listen to hear detail.

The only fair trade factory in Africa is saving lives while bringing business to Africa, the new continent for outsourced savings. Liberty and Justice, a textile firm, is growing 10X over the coming 3 years. In addition to the community work of the employees who own 49% of the business, the co-founders are involved with an organization that saves girls from prostitution and provides education instead. Vote before December 4, 2012, to help. Listen to learn why serious investors need to include Africa in their portfolio.

Nathalie Gensac, a 2008 Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the year nominee, shares an international program designed to connect youth at risk in countries around the world, educate, develop entrepreneurs, share cultures and grow a new generation of leaders. Listen to learn how you can participate.

Is the Mayan calendar right? Will the world end this year in 2012? Learn how the Maya and other indigenous people are helping save our world's richness, connect us to the planetary transformation and promote environmental stewardship.

The United Nations’ REDD initiative of carbon credits is helping build jobs, education and conserving wildlife while combating global warming. By using market-based methods to protect biodiversity, saving forests and conserving wildlife rather than “fence and shoot” wildlife conservation, WildlifeWorks is creating jobs and stopping poaching. Hear how you can participate.

The United Nations’ REDD initiative of carbon credits is helping build jobs, education and conserving wildlife while combating global warming. By using market-based methods to protect biodiversity, saving forests and conserving wildlife rather than “fence and shoot” wildlife conservation, WildlifeWorks is creating jobs and stopping poaching. Hear how you can participate.

Only 15% of India's preschoolers can afford to attend school. A high drop-out rate results, and only 20% get beyond 10th grade. An innovative new social business is building affordable preschools for the poor that build a love for learning through new curriculum and methods. One third of the world's poor live in India. Listen to hear how Sudiksha is changing India's future.

Support a people who are listed as one of the most endangered in the world, Joe Demin founded Yellow Leaf Hammocks to help the Malabri tribe in Thailand. Instead of relying on slash and burn agriculture that destroys the land and poisons the water shed with chemicals that physically endanger the people, and instead of their children having to work in urban sweat shops to help the family, the Malabri can now focus on their beautiful weaving skill to survive and maintain their family focused-culture. And you can help by simply enjoying the beauty of a hammock. Listen to learn more.