January 2, 2013

White Dog and The White Dog Army
Wonderful World Wednesday
White Dog has come over the past few days of conversation to understand the importance of humans celebrating a new year and the significance of an unwritten 365 days still ripe with hope and potential. The WDA knows that there are reasons every single day for gratitude and that heroes do not just appear on January 1^st. But for humans to be reminded this time of year that this is wonderful world full of people working to make it better seems to recharge human spirit and to inspire. So tonight we share this story of the future being shaped by the future generation; Young Wonders already hard at work changing the environment, helping those in need, creating innovative solutions to build a better world…

'Young Wonders' stepped up, changed the world

By CNN Staff  updated 12:11 PM EST, Fri December 21, 2012

Cassandra Lin

Cassandra Lin is changing the world one french fry at a time.

Four years ago, at the age of 10, she decided she wanted to do something for the environment and help the less fortunate in her Rhode Island community. She gathered her friends and created Project TGIF -- Turning Grease Into Fuel. The organization collects used cooking oil from restaurants and homes, refines it and then distributes a percentage of it to families who can't afford to heat their homes.

So far, Cassandra and her team have collected 130,000 gallons of used cooking oil and donated $81,000 for the purchase of biofuel. This has amounted to 21,000 gallons of BioHeat distributed to 210 homes. These efforts have also offset 2 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions from the environment.

Last year, the group helped draft legislation that makes it mandatory for all businesses in Rhode Island to recycle their used cooking oil. The bill went into effect January 1.

"I was trying to talk about biodiesel and just could not get anywhere with it," said Caswell Cooke, a town councilor in Westerly, Rhode Island. "And (Cassandra) came along and did it, to get restaurants to recycle their grease. ... The fact that it was coming from kids made it hit home a lot harder. 'The child shall lead them' sort of thing."

Cassandra's next goal is for the program to be implemented throughout New England.