globalbriefs of Birmingham
Repair and Reuse
Mending a Throwaway Culture
Therma-Scan Reference Laboratory is the best choice for your breast health • Over 40 years of experience and over 1,000,000 studies analyzed • Each study is reviewed by the leading thermology specialist in the country • Certified by the American Academy of Thermology (AAT), the only recognized national organization • Imaging Clinic On Site • Your images are read and analyzed on-site • Low cost • FDA listed as an adjunctive modality for non-invasive breast screening Your breast health is our primary concern. Early detection saves lives.
34100 Woodward Avenue, Suite 100 Birmingham, Michigan 48009
(248) 593-8700 phone Learn more at www.thermascan.com
facebook.com/thermascan
l s ca or a! Lo ruct Are st r In You in
Music Lessons for All Ages
TakeLessons, America’s premier music lessons provider, has been connecting music students in your area with the best local music teachers since 2006. Wherever you are on your musical journey – from a beginner to a seasoned pro – we’ve got safe, certified teachers who can help take you to the next level, no matter what instrument you choose!
Get One Free Music Lesson when you sign up with TakeLessons*
Call today to find a local TakeLessons Certified Instructor: 888-929-4347 Use promo code MB1
*Customer must buy a minimum of 3 lessons to be eligible. Offer is valid for new students only. Offer expires 3/31/13.
18
oakland, macomb, livingston & st. clair, mi
Countries can learn much from each other, and people that know how to fix things now have another model for benefiting their community by reducing the burden on landfills. Conceived three years ago in Amsterdam as a way to help reduce waste, the Repair Café concept—in which citizens gather one or more days a month to socialize while mending clothes and broken household items like coffeemakers and vacuum cleaners—currently operates in more than 30 locations throughout The Netherlands. The effort in sustainability has been bolstered by a government grant, support from foundations and small donations that pay for staffing, marketing and even a Repair Café bus. “In Europe, we throw out so many things,” says Martine Postma, a former journalist who initiated the idea after attending an exhibit on the benefits of repairing and recycling. “It’s a shame, because the things we throw away are usually not that broken.” “I think it’s a great idea,” says Han van Kasteren, a professor at the Eindhoven University of Technology, who works on waste issues. “The social effect alone is important. When you get people together to do something for the environment, you raise consciousness, and repairing [something] gives a good feeling.” The forum harbors two other positive aspects: It’s a way for handy retirees and others to ply and mentor skills that may have been dormant and also saves families the cost of buying a new product, a common occurrence as repair shops vanish along with handymen that make house calls. The Repair Café Foundation provides lists of tools, tips for raising money, marketing materials and helpful insights for interested groups. To date, Postma has received inquiries from Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, South Africa and Ukraine. www.naeastmichigan.com