What if there was a solution? A way to enjoy gift-giving, to teach your friends and family a valuable lesson about helping those less fortunate, and to actually save lives while you do it.
Before I explain how you can save lives, I need to first explain why there are lives that need saving. To some extent, most of us are aware of the poverty in other countries. Some of us sponsor children and some of us fill shoe boxes every year so these children can open gifts on Christmas. We do this and we feel good about ourselves before we indulge in our materialistic traditions. But we need to give beyond the poor kids who open shoe boxes. I'm talking about making a conscious effort to help those who don't even know if they'll make it through Christmas day alive; due to hunger, rape, murder, wild animal attacks, diseases, slavery, etc.
There are people living in situations you can't even imagine in your worst nightmares. I've read stories of women who watched all of their children get brutally raped and murdered at the hand of their country's own militia, and of orphans who get eaten by hyenas and wild dogs on a regular basis because they have no shelter. If that's not bad enough, many of these people end up being sold into some form of slavery. And here is the slap, or better yet, punch, in the face: the slave labor is completely funded by people like us.
By people like me.
Unfortunately, by my spending decisions, I support modern day slavery. I support children working 19 hours a day, 7 days a week with little or no pay. I support these same children getting beaten when they can't keep up with the work load. I support adults working impossibly long hours in fields with nothing to show for it.
When I started doing research I was shocked. Many of the retailers I shop at use suppliers who are most likely involved with slave labor practices. To name a few: Walmart, Abercrombie & Fitch, Skechers, Lacoste, Hollister, Roxy, Kindle, LeapPad, LeapFrog, Forever 21, & Barbie. If you're interested in seeing the entire list of companies and how they're graded based on numerous criteria, visit Free2work.org.
There are more slaves today than in any other period in history. It is estimated there are 27 million slaves in the world. Let that sink in for a moment.
Then take this quiz, http://slaveryfootprint.org/, to find out how many slaves work for you. I took it, and it turns out I have thousands of slaves working for me. THOUSANDS. You want to know what the biggest culprit in my house was? Children's clothing (Osh Kosh, Carters, Garanimals). So while I parade my children around in their adorable Sunday best, I am parading around items made at the hands of suffering children. This is an issue we need to make ourselves aware of. By purchasing and supporting these products, we are just as guilty as the slave owners themselves.
I had two options. To boycott clothes and let my children run around naked, or make my own clothes, and just like Sweet Brown says, "ain't nobody got time for that". Thank goodness I discovered a third option.
Fair Trade.
There are so many AWESOME businesses and organizations created to give a life to those who would normally have nothing. These organizations have rescued people out of slavery, and have rescued those who couldn't feed themselves or their families. Fair trade employees get fair wages and health care. They work in quality environments making beautiful accessories, clothing, home decor, gifts, coffee, chocolate and other food items. When you buy these products, you are paying for the product AND a chance at life, a chance they normally wouldn't get. With their profits they are able to support themselves and their families, some even getting the chance to attend school!
Here is a screen shot from Krochetkids.org, telling the story of one of their artisans:
So this Christmas, buy your friends and family items that really will save a life. By purchasing a fair trade item: you are no longer supporting slave labor, you are providing income to those in poverty, you are giving these businesses and organizations more money which means more opportunities to rescue and hire, and of course, you'll still be getting gifts for your loved ones. It's a win-win-win!
This Christmas I am making a decision to stop supporting slavery and to start supporting a chance out of poverty and oppression. I am vowing to do my research and do my best to only buy fair trade products. Join me and do the same!
If you own a business, you can make a difference as well! Many of these companies will sell wholesale products to retailers. My sister, owner of Backwoods Beauty Salon in Richland, NY, has already signed up to sell fair trade women's accessories from one of the companies listed below. It was as easy as sending an e-mail. You can also host a home party through many of these organizations. They'll mail you the supplies, and you just send back what you don't sell! The more fair trade products we buy, the more lives we can save!
Here is a list of some great places to start your shopping!
Local:
Agape Shoppe, Watertown, NY
Fair World Marketplace Syracuse/Dewitt, NY
Spiritual Renewal Center, Syracuse, NY
Bolivia Fair Trade, Syracuse, NY
Photos from the Agape Shoppe in Watertown, NY.
Worldwide:
This is just a short list. Put Google to good use and you can find any fair trade product you're looking for!
http://www.greenheartshop.org/
http://www.tukula.org
http://www.maliadesigns.com/
http://www.oxfamshop.org.au/
http://www.globalgirlfriend.com
http://www.krochetkids.org
https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/
http://www.spiralfoundation.org/
http://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/
http://www.solerebels.com/
http://31bits.com/
http://shopwithmeaning.org/featured/fair-trade-gifts/
http://www.onevillage.org/welcome.htm
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