I challenge you to save the world. No, I'm not saying you need to don a cape, learn to fly, and stop crime (though that would be pretty freakin' sweet). The things I'm about to suggest to you can be done from the comfort of your own desk chair while you check your e-mail, aimlessly Facebook, or while pirating some new tunes. I present to you my 12-step program for making the world a better place.

1. My unsurprising first challenge to you is to watch the documentary "Invisible Children". I own a copy, so if anyone would like to borrow it or watch it with me, please let me know and I'll be happy to oblige. If you'd prefer, it's available on Google videos at Google videos.. It's not quite an hour long and it's extremely well-done and fast-paced, so please check it out if you never have before.

2. Next, take a look atFree Rice.. Not only will you get smarter, you'll lend a hand in helping to end world hunger (and right now, this is of the utmost importance due to the extreme food shortages the world is experiencing). Please, take ten minutes a day to play this game. It's seriously addictive and a great way to do some good.

3. The Hunger Site. is one of my favorite websites. Just by clicking, you can donate to six separate charities! Plus, they have online stores filled with many beautiful (and affordable) items. My peace sign necklace was purchased from there, and with it 25 cups of food were donated!

4. Razoo. is another great website. There are tons of people on there with amazing ideas for good that can be done. I start my day by hopping on there for a few minutes and soaking up the positivity.

5. Find out what kind of impact you make on the environment by going here..
The results are pretty shocking and may inspire you to take some steps towards decreasing your negative impact in favor of the positive!

6. Cut down on your meat consumption by about half. One of the biggest contributers to global warming is the meat industry. And even if you're not a big believer in global warming, a meat-free or minimal-meat diet can greatly reduce your risk for heart disease, cancer, or stroke. Besides, your mom will be so proud when you ask for seconds on your veggies!

Side note: I know giving up meat is hard. I've been and on-and-off vegetarian/vegan/pescetarian/omnivore for years. However, I've officially sworn off meat and intend to keep this as a permanent decision. I found after two weeks of not eating meat that I felt so much healthier, and I even lost some weight without changing any other habits of mine! So if you'd like some information about vegetarianism (or just some help with suggestions on food substitutions), hit me up and I'm happy to help.

7. If you're not using it, turn it off. It's the simplest way to cut down on your energy output (and costs).

8. Use an eco-friendly light bulb. Yes, if they break there is a slight danger, but I've been using these bulbs exclusively for a while now and I've never had a break. So don't panic. The best part about them is that while they cost more to buy, they will ultimately save you a good bundle of money. And they last for ages! If you use them for three hours a day, they can last for up to seven years! Quite a helpful statistic when considering a college budget.

9. Substitute one or more of your shopping items with something that's fair trade. For me, I choose coffee. Here in Richmond, there is a wonderful store in Carytown called Ten Thousand Villages. Everything there is fair trade and they have some amazing things for even more amazing prices. I buy a lot of gifts (and treats for myself, I admit it) from there...especially their delicious coffee! There are always free samples of the coffee for you to check out. For more information about fair trade, please go here..

10. If you're a fan of chocolate and endangered species, try my new favorite chocolate bars: Endangered Species Chocolate.. They have tons of delicious flavors, from white to milk to dark and everything in between. My personal favorites are Extreme Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate with Cherries, and Dark Chocolate with Cocoa Nibs. They can be found at Ukrop's and For the Love of Chocolate, and Elwood Thompson's here in Richmond.

11. Be nice to people. Yes, I'm serious. Make eye contact and smile at the guy who hands you the coffee at Starbucks. Hold the door for the girl behind you. Compliment someone. Give a "just because" card to your grandma. Bake cookies for your friends for no reason. Pay the toll for the car behind you every now and then. These little things can really brighten not only your day, but the days of everyone they impact. The butterfly effect isn't just a theory when it comes to karma.

12. Spread the love! Watch "Invisible Children" with a group of friends. Buy fair trade items as birthday gifts. Cook a vegetarian meal for your family. By sharing the information you learn as you start your 12-step program towards saving the world, you will ultimately make this goal even more achievable. It's so easy to look at our world and think, "Well, there it goes. Nothing I can do. We're totally screwed", but it takes a lot stronger of a person to look at our world and think, "Well, there it goes. I'm going to bring it back".

I encourage you to post your own 12-step program illustrating the things most important to you when it comes to saving the world. Write a note similar to this one and tag twelve people, just as I have done. If twelve of the people I've tagged did that, 144 people would be reached. And if the cycle repeated just twice, then 20,736 people would learn of ways they can contribute!

Defy apathy and start your own 12-step program today!

Much love,
Caroline