We had wanted to have something special for New Year’s Day 2015 (1/1/2015). Here is a photo of our lovely, midday snack…
Details of our yummy, holiday snack:
Kimberly drank Numi Tea Organic Rooibos; Ian drank Zhena’s Gypsy Tea Organic, Fair Trade Chocolate Chai
They shared Driscoll’s organic raspberries from the regular grocery store and chocolate which was a delicious gift from a family member.
What will be our 2016 treat?
I was sitting in a class on how to build support for making social change, and one of the discussions we had is a comparison of the differences between the civil rights era environment and today’s civic environment. This made my mind leap into making a list of a score of dozen ways to be an empowered citizen and an empowered consumer.
Writing this post, I realized that this list is a micro version of Gandhi’s Constructive Program. In the period between civil Disobedience Campaigns, Gandhi kept his followers engaged and progressing by building a sustainable community-based economy to replace the imperial system which oppressed them.
Shopping makes us part of a circle with the people who make our goods, and with the system that profits from our money.
In Bangladesh, over 100 factory workers died in an unsafe clothing factory over the weekend. On Monday, there was another apparel factory fire, thankfully, with no deaths.
These factories exist to make the clothes that we purchase here in America. One of the factories made clothes which were ultimately sold to Walmart (through a complicated supply chain)[ADN]. Other factories in Bangladesh make clothing for brands such as Tesco, JC Penney, H&M, Marks & Spencer, Kohl’s and Carrefour [CNN]. Many of these factories have unsafe conditions. We should support reforms for the workers in Bangladesh, and try to purchase clothing that is Fair Trade or union made.
We can also add our concern, thoughts, and prayers to the people of Bangladesh tomorrow, Tuesday, 27th, when there will be a national day of mourning. CNN notes: Continue reading On Tuesday 11/27/12, Americans should have a day of reflection, in sympathy with clothing factory workers in Bangladesh
Black Friday for some people means lining up for bargains at the doors of big corporations. Though, people who want our country to be more sustainable, and less dependent on war money, have often asked people to “Buy Nothing” on the day after Thanksgiving.
This year, there are several ways to celebrate the empowerment that is Buy-Nothing-Day:
-Make sure you do not buy anything on Friday, November 23, 2012
-On all the other shopping days leading to Christmas and Chanukah…shop local, union, Fair Trade, organic, natural, and/or sustainably when possible. [See our Peace Couple website for Kind Shopping ideas.]
-Join Occupy Wall Street in your area, as they protest at Walmart, in support of striking Walmart workers.
An anti-Black Friday shopping video at Youtube: here and below.
An excellent (archival) speech by Reverend Billy about Black Friday, Consumerism, and Buy Nothing Day: here.
An example of a local Occupy Black Friday Demo at Walmart: Continue reading Black Friday: Buy Nothing! Demand Peace! Support striking Wal-Mart workers!
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Please help us celebrate kind/compassionate shopping, and get a way to carry around action ideas, by purchasing our new, stylish “Shop With Compassion Tote”: here. It includes a graphic of the Kind Shopping Action Star Mandala above!
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About The Star Graphics Above: Continue reading Kind Shopping Tips and Links
Duchess Susanna writes: Did you see the rude headlines? What a waste of time. “Pippa wears see-through dress to Wimbledon”. Hope you did not get fooled. It was a black, crochet dress, that looked like something my Grandmother might have knit and/or worn.
I have been contemplating why everyone cares so much about what Pippa Middleton and Duchess Catherine wear. I guess it can be fun and sociable to dress like other women. Though, don’t we all have other women in our lives to emulate?
Fashion is such an important part of our selves and our cultural identity. I am more excited about fashion choices that can protect the earth, create justice, and celebrate peace and nonviolence. Instead of $1,300 leather purses, like the fancy one Duchess Catherine has been wearing, I prefer bags made from cloth or straw. (And, straw is “in” this season, too.)
The Best Ways To Get A New Outfit Continue reading Royal Fashion for Peace and Justice
