Vandana Shiva is a leading figure in today’s world environmental and ecology movements. Born in Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand, India, Shiva is the founder of Navdanya, an organization dedicated to saving native seeds, teaching native farmers how to protect and improve their crop, and empowering women to continue to feed families and communities from the earth. Among its list of achievements, Navdanya has trained over 5,000,000 farmers in sustainable agriculture, set up 65 community seed banks, and organized the largest fair trade organic network in India.

Author of over 20 books and 500 papers published in scientific journals, Shiva received a Ph.D. in physics, and later a Ph.D. in philosophy. She has assisted in developing Green movement projects in Africa, Asia, Austria, Ireland, Latin America, and Switzerland, against the genetic engineering of crops.

Shiva’s work has drawn attention to the plight of native farming populations falling victim to the dangerous practices of foreign corporations. In a BBC radio talk called “Poverty & Globalization,” Shiva shared, “it is now time radically to re-evaluate what we are doing. For what we are doing in the name of globalization to the poor is brutal and unforgivable. This is specially evident in India as we witness the unfolding disasters of globalization, especially in food and agriculture.”

Shiva has spoken out against the heavy use of pesticides in farmland in places like Punjab, India, that has killed pollinators like bees and butterflies. This practice has left large stretches of countryside barren… an ecological and social disaster that has contributed to a wave of farmer suicides in recent years.

Shiva also calls attention to the plight of farmers lured into buying hybrid seeds engineered by companies like Monsanto, with the promise of becoming millionaires. Instead, farmers have become penniless, as their crops die and wither from seeds that are vulnerable to pests and can’t be saved – and instead, must be repurchased every years at higher and higher prices, creating financial impossibilities for the duped farmers. She has also brought attention to the dangers of “water-mining”  — which is also causing severe droughts, as underground water sources in already arid areas have been drained to water “thirsty cash-crops” rather than the natural “water-prudent” crops that grow in these regions.

Passionate about the wisdom and ability of women to feed, nourish, and teach people and communities to create sustainable practices and lifestyles, Shiva has been called an eco-feminist (read about Navdanya’s Diverse Woman for Diversity project). But as she fights to educate communities and nations about a more natural and earth-friendly way of life, Shiva embodies the spirit of a humanist — who believes in the original, powerful ability of our earth to sustain our needs…without artificial means and greed-based practices.

Photo Credit: Ajay Tallam

A friend of mine likes to joke that dying will be a relief because it will put an end to the heavy burden of judging. She says she envisions herself lying in a hospital bed and, in the moment before death, noticing the nurse’s uniform and thinking, “What a hideous green.”

Here’s a modest proposal: Vow that for the rest of the day, you won’t judge your friends and you won’t judge any strangers you happen to see. This would include a friend who’s a non-stop talker. It would include a friend who’s always complaining about his life. It would include the strangers you pass on the street or see in a waiting room.

I call this a modest proposal because I’m only asking you to refrain from judging friends or strangers you happen to see today. If you’re like me, it’s likely you won’t make it past a few minutes! So, why not just “judge away?”

To answer that, let me start by drawing a distinction between judgment and discernment. Discernment means perceiving the way things are, period. Judgment is what we add to discernment when we make a comparison (implicit or explicit) between how things or people are and how we think they ought to be. So, in judgment, there’s an element of dissatisfaction with the way things are and a desire to have things be the way we want them to be.

Take that talkative friend. To think or speak in a neutral, purely descriptive tone, “She can talk non-stop for 15 minutes,” is an example of discernment; assuming the description is accurate, we’re just stating the way things are. On the other hand, to think or speak in a negative tone, “She can talk non-stop for 15 minutes,” is an example of judgment because that negative tone reveals our dissatisfaction with how she is and the implied desire for her to be different.

The same analysis applies to the complaining friend. If we say, “He complained about this life the entire evening,” depending on our tone, it could be a neutral observation (discernment) or it could reflect our dissatisfaction with him and our desire for him to be different (a judgment).

Now think about strangers. If you’re like me, there’s almost always a subtle judgment waiting in the wings. “She could stand to lose some weight.” “Doesn’t he know how to pick a tie that goes with a shirt?”

So, again, why not just “judge away”? Recall that in judgment, there’s an element of dissatisfaction with the way things are and a desire to have things (in my examples: people) be the way we want them to be. So, judging others is just a recipe for suffering: start with our dissatisfaction over how a person happens to be and mix in our desire for them to be otherwise.

It doesn’t mean we have to hang out with someone who talks more than we’d like or who does nothing but complains about his life. But we can decide whether to be with them or not without judging them. When we do, it feels good; it has that freeing and peaceful quality of letting go of clinging to the way we want people to be.

As for those strangers, maybe the woman I saw has a medical condition that results in weight gain. Perhaps the man was wearing the only tie he owns. Judging them did nothing to ease their suffering and it certainly didn’t ease mine.

Now try this experiment. Think about a couple of friends who annoy you in some way. Can you let them be the way they are without desiring them to be otherwise? Sticking with my two examples, can you open your heart to her talkativeness or to his constant complaining?

Walt Whitman said, “I contain multitudes.” I like to think of the world as containing multitudes. I do this by consciously thinking: “This world is big enough for both the talkative and the untalkative; for both the complainers and the non-complainers.”

Judging others is such a well-ingrained response that I hardly notice when I’m doing it, so I know I have a lifetime of conditioning to overcome. But it’s worth it because when I don’t judge others, I feel the benefits in both my mind and my body: I feel as light as a feather.

I truly hope I can shed that heavy burden of judging before that moment in the hospital bed when I’m staring at that nurse in her green uniform.

Toni Bernhard is the author of the How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and their Caregivers, winner of the 2011 Gold Nautilus Book Award in Self-Help/Psychology. Learn more about Toni at www.howtobesick.com.

“Work” and “independence” can often seem to be two very different things. We often struggle with finding the balance between our home life and our work life. We crave more freedom of self-determination in the work we do; we want to define our work according to our dreams, and wonder how we can find financial stability and independence from just another “J.O.B.” How often have we considered leaving our jobs, but have stayed due to necessity? We may think, “It would seem selfish to leave a position in the current economy, when so many others are struggling for work.” Yet, as time continues to pass us by, that search for independence seems further and further away.

As a tenured member of the CareerBuilder team, Carisa Miklusak, current CEO and owner of tMediaStrategies, an independent transmedia firm, has seen her fair share of hardships and 18-hour days. “I decided to get into transmedia because I believe that communication is the most important thing — not only in our business life — but also in our personal life. Today, with the number of different platforms and mediums, or cool tools that we have to use to communicate, we have a better opportunity now than we’ve ever had before to share our passions and values, and also, our business opportunities and services, with individuals.”

Transitioning from a salaried position at a high management level to opening your own company can be seen as a big risk — and it is – but, as Miklusak points out, passion behind your business is the key factor in finding true success. Understanding your strengths is essential in developing a business plan and strategy that will be able to sustain a healthy and profitable bottom line.

The statistics are growing in women’s favor — with 40% of all private companies now being launched and owned by women. With the economy slowly improving, grants are also becoming a good source of potential start-up capital. Financial analysts also recommend having a good credit relationship with your bank. Check to see what kinds of options are available to you — and if you can bring some of your own start-up capital to the table, a business loan will be easier to come by.

As a successful business owner who began in the world of internet start-ups, Miklusak understands that every day is a challenge. “What I’m passionate about is helping people communicate their message to their target audience.” Knowing your target audience is key for any business owner, and while that core group could take time to establish for any business, as an aspiring entrepreneur, it should be one of the core principals of your business. If you know your product, and you know who wants to buy it – whether it’s handmade soaps for friends and family, or a creating or repurposing technological applications for the digital industry (as Miklusak did) — sticking to those original core ideas will keep you from spreading yourself too thin.

While the whirlwind of real life may prove daunting at times, Miklusak has never lost her spark for creativity. Whether meeting someone on a plane, chatting with a server at a local restaurant, or in a training meeting for her staff, for Miklusak, proper communication has always been key. And without a doubt, she believes it’s a great time to be entrepreneur.

“Today, with the number of different platforms and mediums, or cool tools that we have to use to communicate, we have a better opportunity now than we’ve ever had before to share our passions and values — and also, our business opportunities and services — with individuals.”

For more information visit http://carisamiklusak.com/, and http://www.tmedia.com/.

Nadya Vlassoff is an avid entertainment and fashion writer who has interviewed a variety of artists, from singers to television personalities to fashion moguls. She focuses on writing thought-provoking articles on media-related issues impacting women of all ages.

There’s no better time than the beginning of a new year to get your financial house in order. Here are five steps to help you take control of your finances in 2012!

1. Create a budget based on realistic numbers and information.

Use previous receipts to create a budget that reflects your actual spending over the last several months. Using this approach will factor in unexpected expenses such as home repairs, health expenses, and car repairs — as well as the normal, predictable expenses, such as utilities and groceries.

2. Plan ahead for big-ticket items. Discipline is the key here.

Think of what you just spent over the holiday season — starting at Thanksgiving, and on through New Year’s. These expenditures require significant outlays of cash, in addition to your day-to-day expenses. Now is the time to factor in upcoming large outlays of cash for necessary and foreseeable purchases. Many stores have after Christmas sales, so watch for white sales, summer sales, etc. — and take advantage of these sales to purchase next year’s Christmas gifts, upcoming birthday gifts, or electronics and appliances for your home. You will be able to save money on items purchased, and spread the payments out over the year.

3. Make sure insurance coverages are adequate.

Unexpected home, car, and health care expenses can wipe you out. Make sure that you have adequate insurance in all these areas — and that the deductibles are set at a level that, if you have an emergency and need to pay it immediately, you can afford it.

4. Reduce Your Debt.

Lenders typically use a formula that includes a total debt load of no more than 36 percent of income. This will include your rent or mortgage, which will typically hover around 25 to 28 percent of your net income. This means that you need to get monthly payments on other items such as car loans, credit cards, and student loans down to about to 8 to 10 percent of your monthly income. It is also advisable to watch your credit card debt. Interest rates on these cards are quietly inching upwards — so pay attention to the monthly statements, and try not to carry a balance from month to month.

5. In 2012 Make Saving A Priority!

This cannot be emphasized enough. If you do not have savings or a financial back up plan, you are basically flying without a financial parachute. You will need savings to cover unexpected expenses — and to protect yourself against job loss, or long term illness. You probably know how much you spend on static costs — such as rent, mortgage, utilities, food — but little expenditures add up quickly. This is a good time to write down everything you spend money on for 60 days. You will get a clear picture of what you are spending, and where you can save — from the daily Starbucks run, to eating at home more often, to making fewer movie rentals.

The New Year is a great time to organize your finances. Be dedicated to the long-term financial principles of budgeting and saving…and you will reap the rewards in no time!

Jennifer Streaks is a finance expert, multi-platform journalist, empowerment speaker, and financial author with an edgy voice on practical tips to thrive in today’s economic climate. Continue the financial conversation by following her on twitter @JStreaks.

“Bullying” is a word we heard only occasionally only ten or fifteen years ago. At one point, without a true definition for the behavior, it might even have simply fallen into the category of “teasing.” Unfortunately, this seemingly benign behavior has grown into something bigger – and much more dangerous.

What is bullying? Many people still don’t understand what it is — and until we get a clear consensus in our culture of what it is, we will continue to suffer from its painful, brutal, and sometimes fatal repercussions and effects.

Bullying has been a major issue in the media. We hear about people bullying on social networks, — and sometimes it hits as close as home. Bullying is a widespread and serious problem that can happen anywhere. It is not a phase children have to go through — it is not “just messing around”…and it is not something to grow out of.  Bullying can cause serious and lasting harm.

Although definitions of bullying vary, most agree that bullying involves:

• Imbalance of Power: people who bully use their power to control or harm, and the people being bullied may have a hard time defending themselves
• Intent to Cause Harm: actions done by accident are not bullying; the person bullying has a goal to cause harm
• Repetition: incidents of bullying happen to the same person over and over by the same person or group.

Bullying can take many forms. Examples include:

• Verbal: name-calling, teasing
• Social: spreading rumors, leaving people out on purpose, breaking up friendships
• Physical: hitting, punching, shoving
• Cyber bullying: using the Internet, mobile phones, or other digital technologies to harm others (http://www.stopbullying.gov)

According to BullyingStatistics.org, 71% of middle school and high school students report a daily on-going issue with bullying. They are being abused — verbally and socially — by their peers…and it’s on the rise. We are losing our kids to suicide because of this disease. As adults and authority figures, it’s our responsibility to do what’s necessary to educate ourselves — and our kids — about bullying. When we become educated about something we can beat it.

Bullying is a word with very real repercussions — and it affects thousands of children daily. More and more schools are starting to monitor bullying more, by creating rules and are enforcing consequences. Schools are beginning to implement Bullying Programs, recognizing that — because children are with them at least 6 hours of the day — it’s wise to partner with parents in dealing with the issue. Teachers are being educated on how to recognize the signs — and to act.

As a Teen Counselor who focuses on bullying, I have witnessed it first hand, and worked to educate school officials, parents and children about the issue. If we educate ourselves about it, we can make a difference in the lives of not only the children being bullied, but in the lives of those who bully as well. The sooner more schools, parents, and governmental agencies work together with our kids to combat bullying, the sooner we will find SOULutions™ that work.

Dr. Jeanelle Marshawn-Lanham specializes in counseling for families, teens and parents; she is a counselor and life coach who has dedicated more than twenty years to helping teenagers discover who they are, accept who they are, and ultimately love who they are. Join her next time for Part Two in Hope’s series on bullying prevention.