The following is a guest post by Jacob Schmalzle. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Global Exchange. — MADE IN CHINA…Or Is It? The Outsourcing Rabbit Hole As the founder of my church’s Fair Trade mission, I’ve witnessed untold billions of dollars wasted on ineffective programs to alleviate poverty. Without belittling these [...]
By: Julie Fahnestock Part 2 of a multi-series post The majority of consumers who consider themselves “ethical shoppers” are most likely to be familiar with the term, “fair trade.” An ethical consumer is also likely to know about the history of exploitation of small farmers behind the coffee, bananas, sugar and tea industries. The average, ethical consumer, however, is unlikely [...]
By: Julie Fahnestock Part 1 of a multi-post series. You’ve learned about the slavery behind food, apparel and well, almost everything you consume. You’ve decided to make some lifestyle choices and invest into more expensive, ethical products. You’ve heard fair trade ensures equitable wages for farmers. Whole Foods is down the street and you know they offer multiple fair trade products. [...]
By Lauren Brock April is Earth Month. It’s the perfect occasion to brush up on your recycling and composting, plant a tree, ride your bike, and replace your light bulbs with the spiral-shaped energy-efficient ones. Here’s some good news: You can also add stocking up on Fair Trade Certified products to that list. You might already be familiar with how [...]
By: Stephen Crane, World Next Door, Inc More often than not, real love ain’t pretty. It doesn’t fit into a neat little box. It isn’t defined by grandiose gestures and stirring proclamations, despite our culture’s false depictions. Real love is painful. It demands sacrifice and surrender. Pride must be swallowed, and ego must be fought at every turn. The needs of [...]
By: Jessica Marati Think you’re supporting a small business when you make the more “natural” or “organic” choice at the supermarket? Think again. A big reason these brands are available in such a mainstream environment is because they’re part of larger corporations — you know, the ones behind the sugary, preservative-filled brand name option right over there. While doing research for [...]
When the founder of ThirstTees, Kyle Morrow, traveled to Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2006 he spent time in the slums working with street kids, some of whom were wrapped up in prostitution and drugs. “While working with these kids we had the opportunity to visit their homes and meet their families. The living conditions were terrible. Most families had shacks [...]
By: Cyclerecycle In 2004 there were 105 million bicycles manufactured globally; thats one for every 67 people on the planet. A truly amazing statistic. More interestingly, these bicycles were produced by China, India, the European Union, Taiwan, and Japan (87%). These statistics raise more questions than they answer, and in some respects, are a cause for concern. Firstly, your brand [...]
Looking at the Sak Saum table covered with bags and purses the focus isn’t just the beautiful handmade bags, but the stories from girls in Cambodia that make the bags. Thoughts, talents and love had been put into each one and the outcome is stunning. Every women walking by the Sak Saum booth at The Justice Conference couldn’t resist stopping, touching and complementing. The volunteers [...]
A team of Australian women are not being afraid to get their hands dirty. These women are dedicated to serve other women and to make a difference during their 12 trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Get an insight from their trip: What cultural experiences have you gain from your trips? We visit the poorest of the poor villages in Phnom [...]
