Filed under Educated Consumer …

Are You Supporting Sweatshops?

When’s the last time you wrote a letter to a store you shop at asking that they pay fair wages to their employees? We don’t want to support stores that own sweatshops, but I think this is an area that many of us told a blind eye. Because of convenience. Or price. Because who can … Continue reading →

How to Talk to People about Injustice

There’s something very awkward about bringing up modern day slavery and human trafficking in regular conversation.  Have you ever tried?  Has someone ever brought it up with you?   I want this to be something that I non-judgmentally bring up in normal conversation, but I always struggle with it and I feel like I say the wrong thing. Here’s an example: … Continue reading →

Is Starbucks’ Coffee Fair Trade?

Recently I told a friend that I haven’t been going to Starbucks as often as I used to because I had decided to buy fair trade tea and coffee and make it at home.  I knew it would cost me more, so I decided to forego the occasional special drink at Starbucks and instead, spend … Continue reading →

Baking with Fair Trade Chocolate

When I first discovered that most of the world’s chocolate was being produced usually child and/or slave labor, I felt disgusted.  I knew that joining the fight against human slavery would mean that I would need to make sacrifices.  I had two options: forego chocolate or find fair trade options.  Because I need to pay … Continue reading →

Are Slaves Making Your Tea?

Having just returned to the States after two years abroad, I am suddenly able to find FAIR TRADE products.  I couldn’t be more excited.  I’ve posted several times before about giving fair trade products as gifts, but what about products that we use every day?  I’m on the search for teas that I can feel … Continue reading →

Are Slaves Making Your Chocolate?

Here is a sobering thought: those cute Hershey Kisses and colorful M&M’s are made with slave-labor. I used to love popping M&Ms in my mouth or placing a Hershey Kiss in the middle of my peanut butter cookies.  Fighting slavery means that we sacrifice what is comfortable and easy for the sake of the lives … Continue reading →

Hershey Makes $10 Million Pledge

I’m so pleased to be able to write that Hershey is making a $10 million pledge to improve their trade and combat child labor.  Well done, Hershey.  I can’t remember the last time I bought a Hershey project (I’ve been overseas!) but I will make an honest effort to support their fair trade products in … Continue reading →

“Fair Trade Products Are Too Expensive” and Other Myths

Relevant Magazine just posted an article debunking some of the excuses we often make about not buying fair trade products. http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/mission/features/28128-qfair-trade-products-are-too-priceyq It’s obvious that fair trade clothing is more expensive than other clothing and there’s also an obvious reason: those cheaper clothes are made with slave labor!  And eventually, you have to ask yourself, “Which … Continue reading →

Slave-Free Shopping this Christmas

Isn’t it great to know that the products you are buying are not supporting unfair practices?   I know it can feel really time-consuming to have to research each brand and store that you shop at, so I’ve found some more places that you can feel good about shopping at this Christmas.  I’m excited about … Continue reading →