young women from having to decide: dinner or pills? A legislative error made the price of birth control skyrocket for low-income and college-age women. It was an unintended mistake, but Congress has been slow to fix it. Contact your representative through www.ppaction.org/campaign/birthcontrolprice/.

ahead while you run errands. On the walk to lunch, in your office window, or on your bike ride home your phone or iPod is ripe for rejuvenation. www.Noonsolar.com sells tote bags with solar panels stylishly incorporated on the outside to catch the sun’s rays and convert them to iPod juice. The bags are made of sustainable materials and are hand-dyed using natural pigments.

your Senators to support the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. It’s already passed the House, but Senate Republicans prevented the bill from moving forward. Afterwards, Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), said, "Women of America: Put your lipstick on, square your shoulders, suit up… The revolution starts tonight." Start our revolution at www.nwlc.org/fairpay/.

mail-order catalogs that you’re only using to line the bird cage. Sign up at www.catalogchoice.org and they’ll get the message to the mailbox busters that you’re not particularly in need of metallic man thongs.

state-sponsored censorship by publishing fragments of censored material on your blog. Irrepressible.info is an Amnesty International campaign to protect freedom of expression. Internet repression occurs in countries like China, Vietnam, Tunisia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria, and IT companies like Yahoo! have become compliant in handing over users’ private data.

your own business or nudge a friend toward realizing her dream.  The South Carolina Women’s Business Center offers classes for would-be entrepreneurs and women business owners throughout May.  Find out more at www.scwbc.org.

women in developing countries sustain themselves, their daughters, and others.  More than 70% of the world’s poor are women.  Heifer International uses your contribution to promote gender equity, enabling women to be equal partners in family farms.  www.heifer.org

a cup with women across the country on Saturday, May 10, and host your own Blue Hydrangea Tea Party.  This nationwide event originated in Columbia to support ovarian cancer research and prevention.  Get the tea party how-to online and register your event at www.bluehydrangeateaparty.org.

your foot down to stop the number one killer of women.  The Providence Heart & Sole Women’s Five Miler brings mothers, daughters, sisters and friends together to raise awareness of heart disease and raise money to fight it.  May 17 at Finlay Park; to get involved visit www.provhosp.com.

to run a marathon and help patients with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.  Team in Training can help you get ready in time for the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco this fall.   Informational meetings are set for May 1 & 2 in Columbia.