Anti-Trafficking events

Last year I was working on the Mercy Rising book project and came across an almost unbelievable story of a family who lives in East Asia. The parents both work all day and all night in sweat shops while their children live with their grandparents. Both parents send almost all their money to their family to keep them all alive. What haunts me most is that the parents get to see their children one day a year. On Easter.

This stuff shouldn't happen - how can we make it stop? Besides changing our purchases, find out more at these great events.

"Break the Chains of Human Trafficking", is a student-led community-wide event held in Marion, Indiana on April 10, 2010. In addition to bands, food, and other entertainment, including the DK Bicycles world class BMX stunt team, they are hosting former George W. Bush Senior Advisor, Laura Lederer. The Mercy Rising book tour will be there. I hope to see you as well.

Other anti-trafficking events:
Call and Response
4/10/2010 Berkeley, CA
4/12/2010 Greenwood Village, CO
4/14/2010 Cheboygan, MI
4/15/2010 Hammond, IN
4/14/2010 Durham, NC
4/14/2010 Wilmington, NC
4/16/2010 Chapel Hill, NC
4/22/2010 Spokane, WA
4/23/2010 Redwood City, CA
4/24/2010 Lac La Biche, CANADA
4/24/2010 Edmonton, CANADA
4/24/2010 Calgary, CANADA
5/4/2010 Missoula, MT
5/5/2010 Palatine, IL
5/16/2010 San Rafael, CA
5/22/2010 Beaverton, WA
5/22/2010 Danville, CA
5/22/2010 London, UK
5/23/2010 Pompano Beach, FL
6/4/2010 San Jose, CA

Halloween Candy, Fair Trade?

As a kid, I remember that one house in our subdivision - The loony people who gave us apples instead of candy at Halloween. The fun of candy and treats were just lost on those weird people.

This year, I stared down aisles of candy for two weeks in a serious quandary what to do about chocolate. On one hand I know stuff about cocoa fields and child slave labor that is more chilling than any haunted house. I don't want to support companies that are hurting children.

On the other hand, I don't want to be the lady with a "cause" on Halloween.

So after a couple weeks of research I find myself on the side of the consumer. It isn't easy to get your hands on individually wrapped fair trade chocolate candy pieces. Online purchases are mainly what we have right now, and I hate to pay for shipping. I probably need to brace myself to be inconvenienced. Just a bit grumpy and selfish today.

What can we do?

1) No Nestle products. Labeled as one of the top ten worst companies in the world when it comes to ethics, human rights, etc.

2) Most major chocolate brands you see on the shelf are participating in child labor for cocoa - consider fruit snacks, play-doh, or other alternatives. It ranks decently on the good guide rankings for toys.

3) Order fair trade candy online.

Call and Response Rockumentary

Get educated, hear some great music, and find others in your area concerned about ending modern slavery.

Did you know that slave traders make more $ than google, nike, and starbucks combined?

Find a viewing in your area

9/26 Holland, MI
9/26 New York, NY
10/6 Abilene, TX
10/8 Portland, OR
10/9 Orlando, FL
10/17 Seattle, WA
10/17 Ellensburg, WA
10/21 Tulsa, OK
10/22 Australia
10/29 Santa Barbara, CA
11/3 Orange City, IA
11/5 Ardmore, PA
11/6 Ardmore, PA
11/8 Ardmore, PA
11/13 Fulton, MD
11/13 Honolulu, HI
11/20 Calgary, Canada

World Humanitarian Day - Do Something

Today (August 19th) is World Humanitarian Day established in 2003 to remember those who lost their lives working around the world to help others.

We often forget that those who go in and feed a village, dig a well, or educate others are putting their safety and sometimes their lives on the line.

These educators, doctors, and community developers are motivated often by deep waters of faith. Some are killed or imprisoned in countries where freedom of religion does not exist.

Got 5 minutes?
Got a stamp?

Send a letter to someone imprisoned overseas.

1) Choose a few phrases
2) Let the computer translate it.
3) Print
3) Send letter to the prisoner, their family, or government

Each letter sent helps draw attention to human rights violations and often pressures the authorities to release prisoners unjustly treated.

Clean Clothes Update

(News update from clean clothes campaign)

"Polo Ralph Lauren, the upmarket US-based fashion giant, continues to ignore union repression and bad working conditions at one of its suppliers in Indonesia. The Mulia Knitting Factory near to Jakarta. The fashion house simply refuses to respond to the plight of workers who produce its garments.

Tommy Hilfiger, another buyer at the same clothing factory, has claimed that they have discussed the problems with the supplier, but the company has yet to take decisive action.

Support these Indonesian workers in their struggle. Send letters to Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger today and forward this message to your
friends."

....and more results

Laundry Soap
Best
Ecos Ultra Concentrated - 8.8
Wisk Laundry Detergent - 8.1D
All Ultra Laundry Detergent - 8.1D
Surf Detergent with Active Oxygen 8.1D
Citra Solv Citra Suds 7.4

Worst
Xtra All temperature 2.2
Delicare Fabric Wash 2.2
Arm and Hammer Heavy Duty 2.2
Xtra Mountain Rain 2.2
Clorox Bleach 2.7D

Dish Soap
Best
Citra Solv Dish Natural 7.4
BabyGamics Foaming Dish Soap 7.2

Worst
Palmolive Ultra, Dry Skin with Aloe 3.6D

Liquid Hand Soap
Best
Tom's of Maine Liquid Glycerin 9.5D
Dr. Bronner's Magic 18-in-1 9.1D
EO Hand Soap Rosemary 8.2

Worst
CVS Antibacterial Melon 3.3
Walgreens Antibacterial Liquid 3.5

(D or R denotes companies that support mainly the Democratic or Republican parties)

mercyrising does not support or endorse any products. Please check goodguide.com for more information.

(pix-stock.xchng)

Real Justice for Black America

Yesterday was the 36th anniversary of Roe-v-Wade. March for Lifers gathered in Washington to speak loudly against the injustice of abortion for the smallest citizens who have no voice. Where was the news coverage? Did you see any?

While blacks make up 13% of the population, 33% of the abortions in America are African-America; a very skewed proportion.

Just a few days after grand celebrations in Washington DC, what is real justice for blacks in America? Grand speeches and promises, or the end to abortions that take a high percentage of African-American life? There also is a question of justice for the poor, minorities, and single-moms who have a high percentage of abortions.

What you can do?
5 minutes - subscribe to Primetime America's podcast - get a more balanced reporting on the news -

10 minutes - sign a petition to end Roe v Wade

30 minutes - write a letter to the editor of your local paper

1 hour - visit and support abort72.com

2-3 hours - help your child enter and complete a poster, essay, or poetry for the next March for Life in 2010.

Weekly - mentor families in crisis - a stable family is preventative medicine for abortions

Volunteer at your local crisis pregnancy center.

(pix-stock.xhng)

Better World Shopping Guide

A better shopping guide from your I-POD?

Pretty brilliant! You can also purchase the book guide - which is super user friendly.

Just look up an item (like chocolate) and see which companies get good ratings for things like business ethics, worker compensation, etc.

Go to betterworldshopper.org to check out the ratings, download a guide, and see who made the top ten list of offensive companies.

The guide is continually updated so the website is a great way to check out the lastest scoop.