What Color Green are You?

One of the top five questions I get about justice would be,

"What do you think about the whole going green thing?"

I rarely answer, just sigh...

In my world it's a loaded question that gets off into questions about global warming and the carbon footprint of my to-go dinner. It seems like we are arguing about the insignificant stuff (to me) and are missing the bigger picture of stewardship. Taking care of precious gifts: nature, resources, and each other's health.

If someone is looking for more I point them to the Cornwall Alliance or Tracey Bianchi whose book Green Mama was released from Zondervan on March 1st, 2010. I had the privilege of meeting her and she is the real deal. Green Mama is similar to Mercy Rising that it is helping us find simple, everyday solutions to larger than life issues.

FREE BOOK! ALERT!

What do you think? Green Mama asks, "How green are you?" Light pale aqua? Dark Forest Green?
Post a comment and I will draw one winner to win a copy of this amazing book.

Chain Store Reaction

Did you know that there are 15 million child slaves in the world? Some are involved in sex-trafficking but many more are involved in domestic labor, agricultural jobs, restaurant and hotel work, and in factory labor. They live a life few of us can imagine. Some are paying off loans made by their great-grandparents for around the amount of $25-$50.

I really want to change some of my shopping habits and join the movement to end cash flow to human rights violators. I hate having to form new buying habits, but with just a little effort, I can find similar products from companies trying to do the right thing.

One really cool website - ChainStore Reaction is doing just that. Use their easy color-coded system to see what companies are doing to end ties to slave labor. The website also has easy links to email corporations to ask them to make their stance against slave traded products a part of their company policy.

(pix-stockxchng.com)

Mercy Rising - The Book

Mercy Rising book's official release is next Monday, March 1st. Pre-order copies are available now. Visit the blog again next week to join in on the celebration and to enter to win copies of the release.

What others are saying:

"In Mercy Rising, Amber Robinson presents the issues of social justice through personal and powerful stories, encouraging women of all ages to actively live out their faith in a hurting world.”
—Dr. Wess Stafford
President and CEO,
Compassion International

"Amber strikes the perfect balance of kindness and conviction as she encourages young women to step outside of their comfort zones and be their faith in the world - one act of love and compassion at a time."
--Joan Ball, author of Flirting with Faith: My Spiritual Journey from Atheism to a Faith-Filled Life

“Amber Robinson’s Mercy Rising is a quick and powerful read. She doesn’t avoid the difficult questions surrounding poverty, and she testifies to facing her own fears and obstacles. Packed with practical information and inspiring stories, this read is a must for anyone diving into changing the lives of the least of these.”
—Craig Hilton Dyer
President, Bright Hope International

Great Reads in 2010

What are you reading in 2010?

I am challenged by books that inspire me.
Here is a peek of what I loved to read in 2009 and what is on my list for 2010.

What are you reading in 2010? Any of them inspiring mercy and justice in your world?


10. Be the change - teens, easy read
9. Velma Still Cooks in Leeway - adult fiction
8. Too Small to Ignore - excellent memoir of Wes Stafford, CI President
7. Clean House, Clean Planet - make your own cleaning products
6. Sketpic's Guide to Global Poverty - photos and fact filled
5. Becoming a World Change Family - practical, down to earth, and fun
4. Everybody Wants to Change the World- Tony Campolo - good for teens, young Adults
3. Operation World - pray effectively for missions
2. Blessings of the Poor - beautiful non-fiction, short stories
1. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, chapter book for kids, Narnia-esque

On my list to read
4. One of Kelly Minter's books
3. They Almost Always Come Home - adult fiction
2. The Least of These - a novel, (What would the church do if all govt. assistance to the poor ceased to exist?)
1. North or Be Eaten, chapter book for kids, Narnia-esque

Wk4 Inspire Challenge - Inspire with Music

Christmas concerts anyone?

Check out the great live Christmas music- each one benefits or promotes great organizations that are helping those who really need it.



Andrew Peterson and friends (Compassion International)
12.09.09 Louisville, KY
12.11.09 Cleburne, TX
12.12.09 Jackson, TN
12.13.09 Huntsville, AL
12.16.09 Charlotte, NC
12.17.09 Nashville, TN
12.18.09 Kokomo, IN
12.19.09 Montague, MI
12.20.09 Milford, OH

Sara Groves (Midwest Food Bank)
12-19-09 Indianapolis, IN

Downhere and friends (World Vision)
12.09.09 Effingham, IL
12.10.09 Lincoln, NE
12.11.09 LaVista, NE
12.12.09 Kansas City, KS
12.13.09 Saint Peters, MO
12.15.09 Elizabethtown, KY
12.16.09 Detroit, MI
12.17.09 Mansfield, OH
12.18.09 Waukesha, WI
12.20.09 Wilmington, NC

Mercy Rising - "One Thing" Inspire Challenge

Over the next 6 weeks (until 12-18), I am issuing my amazing blog readers a challenge. Do one thing for someone else who needs some inspiration this season.

I have some good friends who are boycotting Black Friday. That's fine, I honestly thought about it - I could use a "buy nothing day". But for me the issue is bigger than shopping. This year has been hard for lots of families. A better way to celebrate the holiday season is to inspire giving, love, and mercy.

Have fun. Stretch your creativity. Need ideas? - Visit the mercyrising blog archives to get some ideas.


Send in your story/pictures to amberaron@yahoo.com to be featured in an upcoming blog posts and to spread the inspiration.

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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.

Shoe Fun

As the season turns to fall, last week I pulled out my fall clothes, dug in my closet for a jacket, and put my sandals away. What about those who don't even have access to shoes?

Shoe company, Gore-tex is teaming up with Soles4Souls to help those who need shoes.

How can I help?
#1) Need new fall shoes? Purchase some from Gore-tex and $5 will be donated to S4S.
#2) Enter to win. 10 winners will win Gore-tex shoes, and one lucky winner will win a trip to see Soles4Souls in action.

(pix-stock.xchng)

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

09-09-09 Prize Give Away

Diana Scimone's website is giving away a prize a day for 31 days. It works kind of like a raffle.

Donate $9 on 09-09-09 - catchy isn't it?

The money goes to end sex-trafficking.

Here are some prizes listed so far:
Art work
Twitter wall backgrounds
Cool sunglasses
Kitchen gadgets
Custom Photo Announcements
Jewelry
Beauty Products
Work out program
And more

Check out Diana's website for the details.

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.

Cars + Clunkers + Donate = Smile

Our little car held together - sparking, hissing, squealing. We loved her through our last decade of life and hated to see her go. We knew she went out in a blaze of glory when the dealer wouldn't even take her *for free*.

What to do? Find someone to tow her away.


Check list.
1. Get a tax-deduction for car donation.
2. Sort through internet scams
3. Flip through random charities - dog grooming, non-profits?
4. Found Cars 4 Causes
5. 30% of donation goes to Cars4Causes' educational initiative, 70% to charity of my choice (a legit one).
6. Tow company calls me for pick up date
7. Got receipt from Cars4Causes
8. Smile


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Yard Sale Queen

What to do with all the stuff?

There is a cool site called Yard Sale Queen that is thorough, organized, and has a certain coolness factor.

Donate some or all of the proceeds to a responsible charity of your choice.

Ashley's Clothes Closet

I met Ashley at Cornerstone Music Festival in July. She was working the booth for mission year. What was really interesting is that she is working on an experiment. She is shopping from her closet and seeing how many days she can put together different outfits. Currently she is on day #77 - shopping only from her own closet. She is asking the question... How much is enough?

We will all answer that question differently, but it does make me think...

Story of Stuff

(from earlier post)

Do you ever stop and think about where your stuff comes from? Where do all the little pieces of the computer keyboard originate? The eggs I had for breakfast, the clothes I am wearing right now?

There is a very interesting video about stuff and our alarming rate of consumption. Annie has studied this in depth for a decade and says that the production of stuff is linear, yet we have a finite space to store it in. Break that down - we all have only so much space. She is worried on an ecological/economic level.

I worry more on a spiritual level -holding on to too much stuff is the opposite of a generous - giving spirit - it is greed, coveting, envy, and hoarding. This affects our willingness to give and to relate to those in poverty. The dumping grounds for hazardous waste affect those the hardest in the poorest countries.

Check out the full story of stuff video at www.storyofstuff.com

Also check out this link to 100 things.
http://www.guynameddave.com/100-thing-challenge.html

The author is trying to pare down in his life to only own 100 things and is blogging about his journey. I think I have more than 100 books...

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."

Get Paid to Recycle Electronics

YouRenew is making recycling electronics easy.

See if your electronic item is listed and get a cash quote.
Or request a specialized quote.
Send it back in pre-paid envelope or box.
It's that easy.

Seems good if you wouldn't have time to get a great price selling it yourself or if it is in bad shape that wouldn't be sellable.

Video

Free Download, Free Meals

For every (free) download of Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft will donate 8 meals to Feeding America.

Offer is good now through August 8, 2009.

(Thanks Aaron L. for the tip!)

Free Children's Adventure Computer Game

Quest for Compassion is a great new interactive computer game for children in the target age range 6-12 by Compassion International.

Children "travel" to other countries and learn about other cultures while filling up "travel passports" with their adventures on-line.

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The real sisterhood of your traveling pants

Loved the first traveling pants movie. I loved the story of friendship and the adventures the girls had sharing the jeans.

Did you know your jeans have a story too? People who make the jeans, package the jeans, and suppliers who get them to the store? Unfortunately that story often wouldn't be a light romantic comedy but something in the horror genre.

As our jeans recently saw us through the Memorial Day weekend with fun, laughs,and barbecues, depending on where we bought ours it may have contributed to:

Amelita, a married factory worker who sees her four children one week a year. She and her husband work 12 hour days and send 70% of their pay to support their children.

Beatings, verbal insult, and sexual harassment to women factory workers in Bangladesh, the norm, not the exception.

Mock childcare centers in factories only used when auditors or inspectors are visiting.

Unpaid wages, forced overtime, and unsafe conditions.

(read the full stories at clean clothes campaign website)

As our jeans will travel with us through summer fun times with family or friends, let's purchase jeans and other products from stores that won't cause a nightmare to another family.


(pix-stock.xchng)