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.

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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

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.

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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."

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.


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Artisan Seal

Want to buy local but it seems like a lot of work to find out where to shop? The state of Indiana recently announced the development of an Indiana artisan seal. Find local wine, cheese, pottery, art and more all at one website.

Not only are these local entrepreneurs but a showcase of exceptional talent and skill at their craft. Support these exceptionally talented businesses in your own backyard.

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Experiment Shopping Commences

One of the most disturbing bits of research I found was on a store that I have shopped at for years - Wal-mart. From unethical treatment to workers in the US, to sweatshops overseas, to irresponsible acts against our environment - last week I had seen one fact too many. Can I do it? Could I break my familiarity and calculate total costs to myself and others not just the ticket price?

First week so good - I generally shop at TJoes and Walmart. I replaced my Walmart purchases with Meijer only. I was surprised to see a very similar cost at the end. The Meijer purchases that were on sale balanced out the goods at a slightly higher price! YEAH!

I hope someday that Wal-mart changes it's ways. It can happen. I have seen research that other companies have done it. Can I change my ways.... stay tuned.

Time Banks - Saving Money, Creating Jobs

Time banks are spreading across America. Work a job for someone in the community and accrue points. Do you need a service? Find a service provider and pay with your points.

Better World Books

Need a good read for spring break?

Better world books, similar to sites like Amazon, sells books while promoting global literacy. A bonus is they will buy your used books and pay for your shipping.

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Fresh produce to your door

(great ideas from Jodi and Sara)

Maybe gardening (see last week's posts) isn't your thing. You can support local food in your area by buying shares in local farm products (CSA's). Healthier and cost effective all at the same time!



Upland, IN's Victory Acres has an added justice component where they share Christ's love with the homeless, troubled teens, and struggling families. They also have Indy drop off locations.




For all you Indy locals, Farm Fresh Delivery is a great way to get (mostly) local produce delivered to you year round. It is pretty cost effective and yummy.

Garden for Good

Fresh, healthy, sustainable, and local food might seem an unlikely justice issue. But unbalanced food production cycles directly contribute to the hunger and poverty in our world.

What if you could save your family $ on your groceries and have some to share with local food pantries that desperately need fresh produce?

March is a great month to start indoor seeds for a garden. In the past I have struggled with my garden. Not too much space, lack of equipment, and badly timed plantings.

Yesterday I sat down with a new friend Sara, who helped sort things out.

Time to begin seeds indoor for the garden? Now
How do I start to plan out my garden? Visit Square foot gardening to find out.
I only have a small space? That's OK
Do I need large equipment for a small garden? No

Websites to visit:
Seeds of change
Baker's Heirloom Seeds
Grace Garden
Square foot gardening

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....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.

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Good guide...the results show...

Corporate Sponsorship
w/ Good guide rankings

Companies that support mainly Republican Party interests:

Bissel (6.3)
Shiseido (5.8)
Coty - Adidas, Kenneth Cole, NYC, Rimmel, Sally Hansen... (6.5)
Amway
Nuskin (4.9)
Outback Steakhouse
Alberto Culver - tressume, static guard, vo5...
Dominoes
Office Depot
Cracker Barrel
Enterprise Car Rental
Con Agra foods
Body Shop (7.3)
JC Penney
Wendy's
Mary Kay (6.2)


Companies that support mainly Democratic Party interests:
Aveda (4.7)
Burt's Bees (8.1)
Kiss my Face (6.4)
Dr. Bronners (8.5)
Donna Karan
Tom's of Maine (9.3)
HBO
Dreamworks
Costco
MTV
20th Century Fox
Paramount
Starbucks
Apple Inc.
7th Generation (8.4)
Method products (7.0)
Liz Claiborne (4.3) - Candies, Vivid
Google
Amazon
NBC
Estee Lauder (4.7)- Aveda, Bumble and Bumble, Beautiful, Bobby Brown, Clinique, Donna Karen, MAC, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, Tuscany,

Unilever- (8.1) Caress, Cutex, Dove, Degree, finesse, lever, ponds, power stick, q-tips, Salon Selectives, Snuggle, Suave, Thermasilk, Sunlight, Surf, Vaseline,
Whisk, Vera Wang

Colgate-Palmolive
Sony
Paul Mitchell
Clorox (4.1) - Formula 409, Greenworks, Liquid Plummer, Pine Sol, Tilex
Arbonne
IBM
Yahoo
AOL
GAP
Cisco
Microsoft
Disney
United Airlines





(For more detailed info - check out goodguide.com. Mercy Rising does not endorse or promote any company or product. Pix-stock.xchng)

Good Guide...A Good start

What's really in the products we buy? Just turn to the list of ingredients. What? I would need a bio-chem degree to decipher all that stuff. Researchers at Good Guide are trying to make it a little clearer.

Search for the products you use daily like deodorant, cleaning supplies, and children's toys and see how safe they are for use. Also see how fairly these companies treat their employees.

Good guide is a little more clear and informative than better world shopping guide .

One of my favorite features is the political contributions category. See quickly where these companies stand.

We still need to be savvy shoppers and click to see why the product is ranked #1. Some of the "great" healthy and green products help finance causes I am so against. How do I sort this out? I don't know. Christians need to be leaders in engineering healthy, socially responsible products.

It's a great start.. good job... good guide

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.