A Gentler World

They DO exist if you know where to look! A guide to vegan, fair trade Halloween treats.

2011-10-07T09:00:00.001-07:00

We live in a very rural area and don't get trick-or-treaters, but for those of you who do, or who just like to have Halloween candy around for your own enjoyment, here are some great sources for fair trade, vegan treats!

Halloween orange bites or Halloween peanut butter bites (about 93 pieces in each tub), $33

Dark chocolate scary skulls, 1.28 oz., $3.25 each

70% Dark chocolate bites, $14.99 per half-pound (about 50 pieces)

Vanilla caramels, $10 for 3.5 oz.

Trick or treat chocolates, $25 for 50 pieces

I tried but was not successful in tracking down any non-chocolate treats that are made under fair trade conditions using only fair trade sugar. If you know of any, please let me know!

And if you need a reminder about why you might not want to buy from the big companies (like evil Hersheys), please check out my earlier write-up about fair trade chocolates, and this recent update on what kind of progress the mainstream chocolate companies are making towards their promised goals of eliminating child slavery from their operations. (I'll give you a hint - not much.)

Fair Trade Rugs

2011-05-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

We are slowly working towards remodeling kind of a junky older house into something that will hopefully beautiful and cozy one day, and we've made some progress in the living room (new paint, floor tile, wood stove and hearth so far, plus new windows and a new couch to come sometime in the future), so now I'm turning my attention to area rug shopping (or maybe just window shopping, we'll see).

Here's what the room looks like now. We still need to replace the windows you can just barely see on the left, and we're going to get a different couch at some point. I think a nice area rug will help tie the room together. Want to be grossed out by the 'before' picture? Click at your own risk and scroll down a bit. :-)

And here's the hearth that my talented and hard working husband built and tiled all himself. I'm hoping to find a rug with some blue in it to tie in with the Mexican tiles on the hearth. Also I'm planning to re-paint that wall in the background below - when I chose the chocolate brown color, I didn't know we'd be adding the colorful hearth and I don't like the way they look together. And of course the nasty wall heater on the left will also go bye-bye soon.

I absolutely detest wall-to-wall carpeting but it is nice to have some warmth and softness underfoot here and there, and in the past, it pains me to admit that I have purchased a few conventional area rugs. Now that I am a more educated consumer, I cringe to think about what went in to the production of these cheap rugs - most likely child labor, not to mention plenty of nasty chemicals.

I've begun my search for more ethical options, and have found some beautiful rugs. The only problem I'm having is that most of the high quality, ethically produced rugs are made from wool, which I tend to avoid as an ethical vegan. (Yes, I realize that the shearing of the wool does not directly result in the death of the animal; however, wool collection often results in poor treatment and painful injuries to the sheep.) I suppose this is one of those gray areas so often encountered by people trying to live a life of kind choices - buy the rug that's better for human workers, or the one that doesn't support the cruel wool industry? I haven't made my decision yet, and would love to hear what your thoughts are on the subject.

In the meantime, I will go ahead and share a few of my favorite rugs (alas, all wool)... oh, and there is some great information about fair trade rugs in general on the Ten Thousand Villages Oriental Rugs Page.

Red Kazak rug, 6'4" x 8'7", $2,450

Mehendi Gabbeh Natural Dye rug, 5'8" x 7'8", $2,295

Red Kazak rug #2, 5'0" x 6'10", $1,650

I found a few others that I like on Worldstock.com. This site doesn't offer the comprehensive information that Ten Thousand Villages does, so I'm less confident about the production ethics, but there are some more affordable options, and they do claim to be fair trade...

This one is too small for the living room, but it would certainly be a welcome bright spot of color on my kitchen floor. I think the Mexican design motif is possibly more complimentary to our overall decor as compared with the other rugs above; however, I think these Mexican rugs are thinner - more like a heavy blanket - and for the living room at least, I really want something thick and substantial.

This one is from Peru, and again, I don't think the design is quite right for our living room, but I love the flamingo theme (I've always loved flamingos!) and am wondering if I could incorporate it into my bedroom or studio somehow.

This one would complement the colors of our hearth nicely, but its low price ($409.99 for an 8' x 10' rug) makes me skeptical of Worldstock's 'fair trade' claim.

Well, I guess that's enough of that... I feel like this is a weird post with no closure - I don't feel right buying a wool rug so I guess I'll keep looking and pondering. It's good to know that some fair trade options exist, and wool does seem to be the preferred material for natural rugs, I just feel like I'm going to imagine bleeding, miserable sheep every time I try to enjoy my new rug.

This uplifting weekend message brought to you by your friendly neighborhood vegan! Urg...

Fair Trade Your Valentine's Day

2011-01-31T19:37:00.000-08:00

Here's an idea - this year, rather than celebrating just your love for each other on Valentine's Day, why not make a pact with your sweetie (or yourself, if you're celebrating your singledom!) to make Valentine's Day a love-fest for workers and artists around the world? How, you ask? Fair trade, baby! :-)

Today I have fair trade alternatives to share with you to tried and true V-Day standbys (chocolate and flowers), plus some more non-traditional ideas.

Let's kick things off with chocolate, as I am often wont to do... my personal favorite is Sjaaks. At our local Sjaaks (i.e. Venlo Chocolates) storefront in Old Town Eureka (CA), I recently found the sweetest truffle gift box - not only are the chocolates inside vegan and fair trade, but the box itself is hand crafted from recycled paper by a fair trade womens cooperative in Thailand. And yes, you can also buy it online for $17.50.

Here's another adorable box - this time it's dark chocolate cherry truffles for $16.95.

Another option is Sweet Earth Chocolates. This gorgeous gift box is sure to wow your special someone! ($40.00)

And for the true romantic, I can totally picture these sweet foil wrapped hearts strewn across the bed along with some rose petals (don't forget to request vegan filling; $8.95). :-)

On to the flowers! About 80% of the cut flowers sold in the U.S. are grown outside of the country. Workers on these farms are often cheated out of salaries, abused, and taken advantage of by their employers to keep costs low. Fair Trade Certification is a guarantee that the farms will receive a fair price for their flowers, workers are paid and treated properly, and the environment is cared for. Because of Fair Trade, communities can reap the benefits of global trade while building sustainable social, economic, and environmental business practices.

So where can you find ethically produced fair trade flowers?

My personal favorite has to be these gorgeous dusky sunset roses from Organic Bouquet ($49.95).

And you absolutely can't go wrong with any bouquet from Organic Bouquet's Flowers For Good selection. When you purchase any of these charitable bouquets, 5% of the purchase price goes to a variety of deserving charities.

Now if (like me), you're not much of a Valentine's traditionalist, perhaps the idea of a charitable gift in your sweetie's honor might appeal to you. Here are a couple of options in that vein -

Kiva's mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty. Kiva empowers individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe. By combining microfinance with the internet, Kiva is creating a global community of people connected through lending. A Kiva gift card is sure to make your charitably minded better half swoon.

Or, if you will indulge my promotion of my own personal current pet project (ha ha, bad pun), please consider donating a bed to the dogs at the Humboldt County Animal Shelter. I recently discovered that these dogs have nothing to sleep on but cement and an occasional blanket, so I'm working to outfit the whole facility with these comfortable, durable beds. My goal is 50 beds and so far I've raised enough money for about 18.

Fair Trade Clothing

2011-01-26T20:15:00.000-08:00

Yikes! It's been over a month since my last post. What can I say ... life gets in the way sometimes! :-)

I've been wanting to put together a really comprehensive post about fair trade clothing, but to be honest I have had trouble finding enough information on the subject to really do an in-depth write up. So in the interest of getting something - anything! - useful posted, I have decided to just share some of the fair trade clothing items I've purchased myself in the last six months or so, along with some thoughts about what I did or didn't like about each piece.

Better than nothing, right?

Dolman Sleeve Top by One Mango Tree, now on sale for $23.80 (regularly $34.00)

I like this top a lot, though I'd say it maybe runs just a tad on the smallish side. Affordable, stylish/unique, and nice color selection.

Long Sleeve Pima Organic Scoopneck Tee by Fair Indigo, now on sale for $20.30 (regularly $29.00)

I'm a basics kind of girl. Plain long sleeve tees make me happy. I got this shirt in green and I love it. I wear it all the time. The fabric has just the right amount of stretch, and the neckline is pretty - not too high and not too low.

Short Sleeve Pima Organic Scoopneck Tee by Fair Indigo, now on sale for $16.50 (regularly $25.00)

This is just the short sleeve version of the top above - I like it as well (I have it in some kind of a purple-ish color), though for some reason the neckline isn't quite as nice as on the long sleeve top I bought - it's a little stretched out almost. Still a nice top though, at a good price.

Long Sleeve Layered Pima Organic Tee by Fair Indigo, now on sale for $23.80 (regularly $34.00)

I like the cut of this shirt a lot, but I ordered it in kind of a taupe/beige color, and the color is kind of blah. My fault.

Long Sleeve Pleat Neck Pima Organic Tee by Fair Indigo, now on sale for $23.80 (regularly $34.00)

This shirt would be cute on someone else but doesn't suit my body type too well (I'm short - 5' 2" - and curvy, and this shirt is kind of long and skinny). The color is pretty though.

Women's Cotton 'Maya Mint' Sweater by Worldstock.com, $82.99

Admittedly, this sweater was a bit of a splurge for me, but I loved the fact that it was totally made in Guatemala - the cotton is grown there and it's hand woven there - because my son is from Guatemala and I have a strong connection to that country. I'm really glad I bought it - it's a very unique cut and super comfortable and versatile. The sleeves are 3/4 length, which I didn't really notice when I ordered it. There's no closure of any kind on the front, though I suppose it would be easy to add one yourself if you wanted. Best of all, it's machine washable and dryable, which can be hard to find in a cute sweater.

Fun & Flirty Skirt by Global Girlfriend, $22.00

I honestly did not expect this skirt to work out - much like ordering jeans online, the chances of a skirt actually fitting right and being moderately flattering are slim - but I was pleasantly surprised when I received the 'Indigo' skirt in the mail the other day. It fits perfectly and the fabric is really beautiful. I tossed the satin ribbon 'belt' - just not my style - but I can tell I will get some use out of this skirt. And again, machine washable and dryable - hooray! - though I did feel that it needed ironing afterward. Worth it though at this price. :-)

After many fruitless searches for fair trade kids' basics, I turned to Basic Brilliance, which sells 100% cotton, made in the U.S.A. children's clothing. I haven't received this order yet so I can't comment on the items, but here's what I found there for my five-year-old son (who prefers comfort over style) -

Boys Cotton Sweatpants by Basic Brilliance, now on sale for $13.50 (regularly $18.00)

Boys Sweatshirt by Basic Brilliance, now on sale for $13.50 (regularly $17.50)

Boys Long John Pajamas by Basic Brilliance, now on sale for $16.50 (regularly $18.50)

My next challenge is shoes - my son needs some, but finding fair trade (or made in the U.S.A.) shoes that are also functional, durable, and vegan is no easy task. Please let me know if you have any great sources for ethically produced shoes or clothing!

Fair Trade Stocking Stuffers

2010-12-11T10:12:00.000-08:00

I recently went shopping online for some fair trade stocking stuffers (at our house, both kids and adults get goodies in their stockings) and I figured I might as well share some ideas with you all since I'd already done the legwork. :-)

Friendship Bracelet Trio from Trade As One, $12.00

No stocking would be complete without chocolate!
These Organic, Vegan, Fair Trade Peanut Butter Bites ($0.65 each) are my favorite indulgence from my favorite chocolatier, Sjaaks!

I think these Madero Mod Mirrors would please anyone from young to old - from Global Girlfriends, $12.00

How about a sweet barrette from The Hunger Site for just $2.95?

I know gelt is a Hanukkah thing and I'm talking about Christmas stockings here, but to me (and my five-year-old son), gelt is festive and fun no matter what holiday we're celebrating.
Hanukkah Gelt from Sweet Earth Chocolates, $7.50 for a bag of 15 pieces

This Galaxy Bracelet, also from Trade As One, was very popular at my gift party last weekend - it's prettier in person than in the photo, $19.50 (matching necklace also available).

For the tea aficionado in your house, how about some loose leaf Masala Chai from Art of Tea? $10.00 for 3 oz. (approx. 45 cups) - this is one of my personal faves.

I'll let you in on a little secret - Santa's definitely going to be leaving this adorable Rosebud Bracelet in my stocking this year! On sale for $11.40, also from Trade As One.

My son loooves his hackey sacks from UPAVIM Crafts, and they are just $3.50 each!

Of course, gift certificates are always a popular choice for stockings, and most fair trade sellers offer them. To select from a list of my favorite fair trade retailers, just head to the right hand margin here on the blog and check under the heading "Some of my Favorite Fair Trade Online Shops".

And finally, what stocking would be complete without some candy canes?
Organic Candy Canes by Pure Fun at Natural Candy Store, $3.99 for a box of 12

Fair Trade Gift Baskets

2010-12-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

If you're feeling the time crunch as Christmas approaches, why not cross some names off of your gift giving list quickly and easily by purchasing a few fair trade gift baskets? I've rounded up a few of my favorites to get you started -

Unity Fair Trade Marketplace has as nice selection of fair trade gift baskets; one of my favorites is Chai and Chocolate for just $22.95.

The Global Exchange Online Store also has some great baskets - their Aromatherapy Gift Pack would make a thoughtful selection for a candle loving friend - $26.00.

Next on the list is the SERRV store, where my top pick from the gift basket department would have to be their Winter Warmth Basket, priced at $22.00 (I sampled some of the Divine mint chocolate at my party last weekend and it was really good).

Also from SERVV, I think this sweet little bag is a great choice for those on a budget at just $18.00.

Gift baskets have the added advantage of being able to be shipped directly to your friend or loved one, which can really be a life saver in these final weeks before Christmas. I avoid the mall at all costs during this time of year (actually, pretty much year-round). :-)

2010-12-04T15:42:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to apologize for the lack of content this past week... I always get super swamped with work this time of year, plus I've been really busy prepping for my fair trade party (tomorrow!). If you haven't already done so, please be sure to follow A Gentler World on Facebook; when I get overwhelmed like I am right now, I tend to post quick links and blurbs there instead of publishing full blog posts.

Hope you all are enjoying your holiday season! :-)

Video Break

2010-11-30T15:46:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a post about fair trade clothing and thought I'd share this video as a warm-up for my upcoming topic...

Party Time

2010-11-28T09:50:00.000-08:00

Well, I decided to follow my own advice and host a combination fair trade shopping party and fair trade chocolate tasting. If you're local (Humboldt County, CA), I hope you will join me on Sunday, December 5th for some excellent shopping and tasty chocolate - email me for directions!

I've already received the merchandise from Project Have Hope, Trade As One, and Mayan Hands, and everything is absolutely gorgeous! I've been doing a little advance shopping already. :-)

Fair Trade Christmas Ornaments

2010-11-27T13:13:00.000-08:00

The holiday season has provided me with a generous bounty of blog post ideas! Today let's talk about Christmas tree ornaments - they are fun, inexpensive, and everyone loves them. Buy them for your own tree and grab a few more to decorate the tops of your packages with this year! Here are some of my favorites -

Peacock ornament with traditional zardozi beading and embroidery from India.
(There are many other beautiful animal designs also available from Greenheart.)

Beaded reindeer ornament from MayaWorks.

Ceramic star ornaments from Partners for Just Trade.

Blue lotus ornament from SERRV (tons more cute designs here!).

Resplendent Rooster Ornament from SERRV
(note to hubby: I want one pretty please!)

Gold Star Garland from Trade As One

Haitian Straw Stars from One World Project

Llama Christmas Ornament made from reclaimed rubber from DIGS

Hummingbird Gourd Ornament from TurningLife

Hand Embroidered Ornaments from Unity Fair Trade Marketplace

Giveaway Results

2010-11-26T14:55:00.001-08:00

Thanks so much to all who entered my fair trade chocolate giveaway! It was fun to read your responses and learn a little more about you all.

Congratulations to Aimee, the lucky winner of the chocolate bars!

Say No to the Mall!

2010-11-23T11:16:00.000-08:00

This year, why not spend the day after Thanksgiving relaxing with your loved ones instead of getting up at four in the morning to rush around town like a maniac, fighting the crushing horde of mindless shoppers for that last five dollar sweater?

Not only will you avoid the aggravation of dealing with crowded stores; you'll also be voting with your dollars - telling manufacturers and retailers that you care about fair trade, and want to see it become more widely available. And the gifts that you find will be beautiful and truly unique, and will bring joy and positive energy to your recipients.

Wondering where to start? Right here, of course! I've got you covered, with the Fair Trade Federation's 2010 Holiday Gift Guide, Fair Trade USA's Holiday Gift Guide, the Fair Trade Federation's searchable database, as well as with my own fair trade gift ideas - under $30 and over $30.

If there's something specific that you're looking for, feel free to leave a comment here and I'll do my best to help you track it down. Happy shopping!

Fair Trade Hanukkah - A Few of my Favorite Things

2010-11-22T16:42:00.000-08:00

I had to search far and wide to find it, but finally - fair trade, vegan Hanukkah gelt! (Just be sure to select the dark chocolate version.)

Children of Hope Menorah from Ten Thousand Villages

Rainbow Tallit from MayaWorks
(shop entire Judaica collection at MayaWorks)

Crocheted Yarmulke from Mayan Hands
(shop entire Judaica collection at Mayan Hands)

10 Fair Trade Holiday Gift Ideas Over $30

2010-11-20T08:45:00.000-08:00

Welcome to part two of my fair trade gift guide! If you're one of the lucky few in this economy who can afford to buy holiday gifts over $30.00 this year, this list is for you... happy shopping!

Tub of Organic Fair Trade Vegan Peanut Butter Bites by Sjaaks Chocolates - $65.00

Because every gift list should begin with chocolate!

Flowers For Good by Organic Bouquet - prices range from $44.95 to $69.95
Dozens of different bouquets available, each benefiting a different charity.

Fireworks Large Lacquer Vase by Ten Thousand Villages - $88.00
Lust... just lust.

Fair Trade Organic Vegan Chocolate Gift Basket (scroll down; it's the second from the bottom) by Garuda International - $76.00
I'm in a sugar coma just looking at the picture...

Amazon Finger Puppet Set by Fair Trade Winds - $38.00
Could these be any cuter?

Mens Organic V-Neck Sweater by Fair Indigo - $59.00
A simple, timeless sweater for your blue-eyed sweetie.

Envirosax Bloom Collection by Fair Indigo - $38
This set of five reuseable grocery bags comes with its own handy-dandy pouch!

Vegan Leather Tote bag by Fair Indigo - $79
What can I say, I'm a sucker for purple, and a sucker for purses (seriously - you should see how many I own!).

Coffee Sampler Basket by Equal Exchange - $57.00
Five popular blends to sample, attractively packaged in a fair trade woven basket.

Grape Garnet and Recycled Sterling Silver Ring by McFarland Designs - $63.00
Okay, I hope this doesn't come across as shameless self-promotion, but it just so happens that I make fair trade jewelry for a living, so why not throw in one of my own designs, right? ;-)

Remember, when you choose to give fair trade gifts this year, your gift does triple duty - first, the gift itself of course brings joy to your loved one; second, it supports workers and artisans around the globe; and third, it will hopefully inspire curiosity and discussion among your family and friends, giving you an excellent opportunity to explain why fair trade is so very important, especially during this magical time of year.

Video Break: Voice of a Mountain

2010-11-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

I discovered this film about a year ago, and have watched it several times since then. I find it to be especially relevant and poignant because the setting is Guatemala and my son is Guatemalan, but I think even without that personal connection, it's just a really powerful documentary that does an amazing job of personalizing the hopes and the struggles of some of the people affected by the fair trade movement.

Maybe tonight you could postpone watching Supernanny or whatever other crap is on TV on a Friday night and watch this instead. I'm pretty sure you'll be glad you did.

Voice of a Mountain is a video documentary of the lives of rural Guatemalan coffee farmers who took up arms against their government in a civil war that lasted 36 years. This documentary explores Guatemala's dark history from the perspective of those who saw armed revolution as their only hope for change in a poverty-ridden nation under years of military dictatorship. Ex-combatants talk about the bleak reality of the country that led to their involvement in the war, and the response of genocide from the Guatemalan government against its people. The documentary gives insight into their motives for joining an armed conflict as interviews reveal personal accounts of struggle, hope, tragedy, and the fruits of their resistance.

The signing of the Peace Accords between the Guatemalan Government and Guerrilla forces in 1996 officially ended the longest civil war in Latin American history. Voice of a Mountain documents the reality of rural Guatemala in the wake of the civil war. It looks at the ideals and goals of patriots who fought against their government with the goal of changing their country and asks if they achieved what they were fighting for. The societal conditions that led to civil war are compared with the reality of three rural communities in present day Guatemala in an attempt to discover if conditions for the majority of those living in the country today have changed since the signing of the Peace Accords. The day-to-day realities of these three different communities who find their livelihood intricately connected to agricultural labor are documented, as they cope with the struggles of poverty, increasing debt, decreasing job opportunities, and the temptation to migrate north in search of a better life for their children.

10 Fair Trade Holiday Gift Ideas Under $30

2010-11-18T08:51:00.000-08:00

Hello holiday shoppers! I know you're on a budget, but don't let that stop you from spreading the fair trade goodness this year - I've put together a list of my top 10 picks for fair trade gifts under $30, and it's kind of ridiculous how much fun I had just window shopping! There's so much great fair trade merchandise available - it just takes some time to find it all. Hopefully this list will get you started.

Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comment section, and remember, when your loved one thanks you for the beautiful/thoughtful/delicious gift, take a moment to highlight the fair trade aspect of what you bought - after all, knowledge is the most precious gift of all, right? :-)

Fair Trade Sampler by Equal Exchange - $27.00
A little bit of everything to start the day off right - coffee, tea, and hot cocoa!

SeaFoam cuff by International Sanctuary - $15

Simple but beautiful, and I really love the cuff design.

Organic Fair Trade Vegan Chocolate Truffle Assortment by Sjaaks Chocolates - $11.95
I buy about a half-dozen of these every year before Christmas and keep them around the house for last minute gifts or to round out a gift basket as I'm rushing out the door. They make excellent teachers' gifts as well.

Men's Do Justice Black T-Shirt by Trade As One - $18.50
Other sizes and designs available, including for women and kids.

Women's Striped Scarf by Mayan Hands - $18.00
Five vibrant colors available.

Hanukkah Candles (45 pack) by Global Exchange - $24.00
How can you not love candles this colorful?

Funky Monkeys by Bambootique - $22.00 each
These are too cute for words!

Blue Dot Organic Reusable Lunch Tote by Fair Indigo - $25.00
Perfect for just about anyone, from the hard-to-buy-for tween in your life to your hardworking, brown-bagging spouse.

Squeaky the Pig Organic Stuffed Animal by Fair Indigo - $25.00
Many other animals also available.

$25.00 Kiva.org Gift Certificate
You've heard of Kiva, right? You loan money directly to small business owners all over the world, and when the repay you, you can lend the money out again... well, in this case, your gift recipient gets to choose for him or herself - it's a charitable gift with the added fun factor of giftee participation!

I hope you enjoyed these selections, and that you are feeling inspired to make this holiday season a fair trade one! And don't worry, if you've got money burning a hole in your pocket, I'll be back in a day or two with my top ten slightly more expensive gift pics.

Fair Trade Bananas

2010-11-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

All this talk about fair trade chocolate has resulted in an unwanted side effect for me - constant chocolate cravings. Ugh. So I thought we would take a break from chocolate and talk about something a little more healthful. :-)

Did you know that when bananas first became available to US consumers, just after the Civil War, they were considered a luxury item, and were sold wrapped in foil, peeled and pre-sliced to protect those gentile 19th century citizens from embarrassment over the fruit's indiscreet form? (Thought I'd warm you up with a little entertaining banana trivia.)

Anyway, on to the serious stuff... in order to transform bananas from an expensive indulgence into an affordable snack for the masses, large companies (i.e. Dole, as well as the company that has come to be known in modern times as Chiquita), identified Central America as the ideal place to supply us with inexpensive, delicious bananas. Then they proceeded to clear-cut the rich forests of Nicaragua, Columbia, and Guatemala, and transform them into banana plantations.

In addition to the obvious environmental problems associated with clear-cutting native rain forests and shipping bananas thousands of miles from Central America to wherever you happen to reside, other problems have come to light -

In the 1950's, Central America's first democratically elected leader, Jacobo Arbenz, was ousted in a US-sponsored coup. His offense? Asking United Fruit (now Chiquita) to pay fair prices for land and obey the Guatemalan constitution.
For decades, this kind of intervention in Central American politics has been commonplace as a means for keeping bananas cheap and plentiful. It has also been instrumental in keeping plantation workers overworked and underpaid.
As recently as 2007, Chiquita was fined $25 million by the US government for giving $1.7 million to a right-wing death squad organization in Columbia.

So what, you ask, is a compassionate gal (or guy) to do? Must we give up our beloved banana-laden breakfast smoothies? Fear not, my friend - fair trade is the answer! By purchasing fair trade bananas, you can rest assured that plantation workers are paid a living wage, receive benefits, job security, and better treatment. Fair trade certified farmers are also more likely to use sustainable, traditional growing methods (whether or not they have yet obtained an organic certification, which can be a difficult and costly process).

The information in this post came from the Jan-Feb '09 issue of VegNews magazine (see Food, Inc., beginning on page 40).

Q & A: Reader Mail

2010-11-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, maybe not mail per se, but the other day, Muir posted a comment on my chocolate giveaway post and asked me the following question:

"I also really like the Chocolove certified organic 73% cocoa (http://www.chocolove.com/organic73.htm), but they aren't fair trade, though they seem to have a legitimate explanation: http://www.chocolove.com/faq_child_labor.htm. Your thoughts?"

This is a question that has come up in my own mind several times over the last month in regards to various companies and industries (not just Chocolove) as I have been delving deeper and deeper into the issues around fair trade, so I thought I'd take a moment to open the topic up for discussion.

I recognize that there are a variety of reasons why companies choose to opt out of the formal fair trade designation (perhaps a subject deserving of its own post), and I definitely believe that it's possible to conduct a business ethically without the label. But doing so does inevitably make the situation more complex and confusing for your customers (both existing and potential). The fair trade label means that there is at least some degree of third party involvement - someone with no personal investment in your company's profits who has verified that the ethical practices you claim have some basis in reality. The label also simplifies things for shoppers, since most of us don't have the time and/or inclination to go researching the ethical stance of every individual producer whose products we consider buying.

I have some degree of personal investment in this issue because I am a jewelry designer who uses exclusively ethical/fair trade stones and recycled metals in my work. However, in my case, since fair trade is a relatively new concept in the jewelry/gemstone world, there isn't a formal association I can join or certification I can apply for at this point. So I am kind of in the same boat as Chocolove seems to be (though I am a much smaller business of course!) - from what I can read on the Chocolove site, they seem to care sincerely about these issues, and do what they can from their little corner of the industry to bring about positive change for farmers.

I can't speak for Chocolove, but for my own business, the best I can do is to (a) make the most ethical sourcing decisions possible (even when that means losing sales due to being unable to source some types of stones), and (b) be totally and completely transparent with my customers by passing along every bit of information I have about my sourcing, so that they can make decisions they feel good about.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts. Do any of you have direct experience with the difficulties involved with the formal fair trade certification process? How do you feel about companies that claim to be ethical but don't have the label?

Focus on Chocolate, Part Four: Party Time!

2010-11-15T08:37:00.000-08:00

So maybe you've been inspired, either by something you've read here, or something you've learned about elsewhere, to become part of the solution when it comes to the chocolate industry and its ties to child slavery and worker exploitation; if so, good for you!

Maybe you've already taken the all-important first step of eliminating the worst offenders from your grocery list and replacing them with fair trade alternatives. Hooray! Another excellent move.

But what if you're really motivated by this subject and want to go even further?

You can certainly contact chocolate companies to let them know your thoughts on the subject (just use the handy 'contact' links here), and Global Exchange has some other avenues you might consider exploring regarding fair trade chocolate advocacy.

Today, however, I'd like to talk about a way you can spread the word to family and friends about the human rights abuses that run rampant in the cocoa industry, while still having a good time. After all, we tireless activist types need some fun every once in a while, right?

Hosting a fair trade chocolate party is fun and easy - here are some suggestions to get you started.

Send invitations to your guests two to three weeks in advance (I like to use Evite); be sure to include all the pertinent details - where and when, but most importantly, let them know that this is a celebration of chocolate, with many tasty reasons to attend. If space allows, you may consider encouraging guests to bring a friend in order to reach the widest audience possible.

Order a movie to watch during the party; I recommend The Dark Side of Chocolate, which you can purchase for just $6.00.

Decide on your menu; besides chocolate bars (broken into small pieces for tasting), other possibilities could include hot cocoa, coffee or tea (also fair trade of course), brownies, chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, or if you're really feeling festive, how about a chocolate fountain? If you have trouble sourcing any of the items you need for your event, they are all available online.

About a week prior to your event, consider sending a reminder email or calling your guests to encourage them to attend.

Once the party begins, give folks some time to arrive, settle in, mingle, and taste the chocolate.

Next, gather your guests for a quick welcome and begin the film.

After the film, take some time to discuss what you've learned. It can be hard to speak to a group of people, but remember that you're doing this for a very important cause. Green America has compiled an extensive list of ideas and talking points for your party, including action steps to ask of your guests, as well as a petition they can sign to encourage Hershey to go fair trade.

If your budget allows, consider sending each guest home with a goody bag, perhaps containing a few bite-sized samples of fair trade chocolates, as well as a flyer about fair trade and some fair trade recipes.

Fair Trade Photo Frames

2010-11-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

I'm the type who likes to get my Christmas shopping done early. I prefer to spend the last couple of weeks before the holiday doing fun things like baking, decorating, and visiting - not stressing about gift giving. So it's no surprise that I'm already on the hunt for the perfect gifts, and also not surprising to know that I'm incorporating a lot of fair trade ideas this year.

Today my search was for fair trade photo frames. As usual, I'll be gifting framed photos of my son to a lot of relatives this year, but I wanted to find something a little more unique than in years past. I thought I'd share the results of my search with you here.

Shwse Shwse Picture Frame from Global Exchange, $28.00

Bicycle Chain Picture Frame from Ten Thousand Villages, $20.00

Blessed Memories Frame from Ten Thousand Villages, $28.00

Rolled Paper Frame from Ten Thousand Villages, $16.00

Shesham Picture Frame from Fair Trade Winds, $23.00

Interlocking Picture Frame from 7Loaves, $17.95

Focus on Chocolate, Part Three: What To Eat

2010-11-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

It is rewarding for me to have heard from many of you who were touched by my original post about chocolate production and the industry's ties to child slavery in West Africa. I know that it can be shocking and upsetting to hear about abuses like these, and to become aware that our own actions have been contributing to the problem without our knowledge. To those of you who have allowed yourselves to accept this difficult reality, and have made a commitment to become part of the solution, thank you for your courage and open mindedness.

In an effort to support your progress towards a life composed of kinder daily choices, I have put together a list of some of my favorite fair trade chocolates, along with information about where they can be purchased. Please feel free to add any that I may have overlooked in the comments.

Divine Chocolates is the only fair trade chocolate company that is 45% owned by the cocoa farmers themselves. The fair trade designation ensures that farmers receive a better deal for their cocoa, and company ownership gives them a share of Divine's profits and a stronger voice in the industry. You can buy Divine online or see if it's carried in a store near you.

Equal Exchange Chocolates seem to be a favorite among fair trade chocolate aficionados. I recently bought a box of their minis (the size of the Hershey's minis you probably remember from childhood Halloweens) for my son's birthday pinata and they were a hit with kids and adults alike. Equal Exchange also makes baking cocoa (that's what I use for brownies and chocolate cake) and drinking cocoa. You can buy EE chocolate products online; I couldn't find a searchable database on the site of retail locations but it is carried by my local natural foods Co-op.

Theo Chocolate is the only organic, fair trade, bean-to-bar chocolate factory in the United States. It's made in Seattle, Washington, and I'm feeling tempted to take a trip up there just to experience their factory tour! :-) I have one of their Spicy Chile bars waiting in my cupboard to be tasted, and I'm also lusting after their Peppermint Stick bar, which sadly seems to be out of stock at the moment... You can buy Theo chocolate online or see if it's carried in a store near you.

Green & Black's Organic Chocolates have just become 100% fair trade certified. I am somewhat obsessed with their Maya Gold bar. They also make a white chocolate bar (sadly for me, not vegan) and a baking chocolate bar. I don't see an online shop on their website, but you can always see if it's carried in a store near you.

Sweet Earth Chocolates is one brand I haven't tried yet, but hope to soon! They have an amazing variety, ranging from the expected bars and cups to things like bulk chocolate chips, melting chocolate (suitable for fondue and chocolate fountains!), peppermint bark, and crazy-good cocoa mix flavors like chai cocoa and peppermint cocoa. They even have a Haiti relief bar where $1.00 from the purchase of each bar goes to Partners In Health. I'm telling you - you will be amazed by this selection - check it out!

Speaking of chocolate chips... I know they are a staple in our house, and perhaps in yours as well? Our local natural foods stores carry Sunspire chocolate chips, so that's what I use, and I'm very happy with them. If you can't find them locally, you can buy them online, along with a wide variety of other chocolate confections. It looks like not all of Sunspire's products have fair trade certification (though the chocolate chips I buy do), but they seem to be making a good effort in this regard, which you can read more about here.

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates are actually made right here where I live in Northern California. I am fortunate to be able to shop at their charming little storefront in Old Town, Eureka, but when I recently discovered their website, I was amazed by the number of vegan and fair trade options that are available beyond what I've seen in the local stores.

Their entire line is not fair trade (so check the item titles/descriptions carefully when shopping their website), but all of the following options are fair trade, and I can recommend each enthusiastically!

Chocolate plus caramel - a quintessential favorite!
And my personal favorite combination - chocolate and peanut butter (a good replacement if you're a former Reese's Peanut Butter cup eater).
If minty chocolates are your cup of tea, try Sjaaks Mint Mills.
For the purists among us, simple dark chocolate bites.
A go-to Christmas gift in our household is Sjaak's truffle assortment (pictured above).
Most of the items above are also available here individually and in a larger tub.

Whew! That's a whole lot of chocolate! Enjoy exploring the many varieties of fair trade chocolate available to you, and if you find something you love, be sure to tell me about it!

Focus on Chocolate, Part Two: Chocolate Scorecard

2010-11-12T08:58:00.000-08:00

Since surfacing in the mainstream media nearly ten years ago, the problem of trafficked child labor in West African cocoa plantations has received a decent amount of public attention, which put pressure on chocolate companies to make reforms. The major chocolate companies have all paid great lip service, promising to make improvements, but not all have delivered on their promises.

In a 2009 update, the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) reported on which companies have made good on their assurances and which ones have not. I've summarized their findings below (and added contact links so you can let these companies know how you feel!); you can also read the full report, which includes a narrative of each company's status.

The Bitter
These companies continue to drag their feet when it comes to making the necessary reforms that would eliminate child slavery from their supply chain.
Hershey (which owns Scharffen Berger and Dagoba Chocolate) {contact}
M&M/Mars (which owns Dove) {contact}
Nestle (which owns Haagen-Dazs) {contact}
The Bitter-Sweet
These companies have made some strides towards meaningful reform, but still have a ways to go.
Godiva {contact}
Ghiradelli/Lindt {contact}
Starbucks {contact}
Dagoba {contact}
Endangered Species Chocolate {contact}

The Sweetest!
These companies are the most committed to making positive change for cocoa farmers worldwide and deserve our business and support!
Sweet Earth Chocolates {contact} {shop}
Divine Chocolates {contact} {shop}
Equal Exchange {contact} {shop}

Focus on Chocolate, Part One: What's The Problem?

2010-11-10T11:54:00.000-08:00

Most of us would never knowingly buy a product whose production involved child slavery and abuses against children including starvation, beatings, and sometimes even death, especially if that product was a luxury item. But sadly, anyone who purchases slave-farmed cocoa products (and this includes all of the widely available chocolate treats produced by Hershey, M&M/Mars, and Nestle - in other words, the vast majority of the chocolate consumed in this country) is doing exactly that.

Slavery has a long and tragic history in Africa (not to mention in the good old US of A), and unfortunately, slave conditions still exist in Africa, largely concentrated on West African cocoa farms. Those of us in the United States who purchase products that originated on these farms are complicit in enslaving children just as surely as plantation owners in the 1800's were. The fact that the connection is less visible to us due to complicated modern supply chains and crafty chocolate company advertising campaigns does not make it any less so.

In my mind, this issue is even more disturbing given the fact that chocolate is a non-necessity. I know, I know, it's hard to imagine a world without chocolate - but seriously folks, if you have to choose between a bag of M&Ms and preventing a child from being beaten to within an inch of his life for trying to escape a slave plantation, it seems like kind of a no-brainer to me!

Fortunately, there are slavery-free alternatives - lots of them! That's where fair trade comes in. To be fair trade certified, a company must not engage in forced and abusive child labor, they must pay cocoa farmers a price that is adequate to meet their basic human needs, and they must employ environmentally sustainable production methods.

It bears mentioning that there are undoubtedly some slavery-free chocolates available that are not fair trade certified. For various reasons that I will get into in a later post, some companies do not want, or are not able, to become fair trade certified, yet they do make serious commitments to ethics and sustainability. If you have the time to research individual companies to determine which ones seem reputable, great! But if you see the fair trade label, that gives you instant assurance with no research required that you're making a responsible choice.

To everyone who reads this post, I'm asking you today to make a promise to the enslaved children suffering in Africa right now - a promise that you will no longer contribute to their pain, and a promise that you will do what you can to lift them out of slavery. All you have to do commit to buying exclusively fair trade chocolate. It's that simple. You can even enter to win some free chocolate right here on this blog. :-)

If you feel motivated to do more than just that, awesome! Please consider spreading the word to your family and friends by hosting a fair trade chocolate tasting party at your home, church, school, or workplace. Enjoy delicious fair trade chocolates, cookies, brownies, cocoa, etc. while you show a film about modern day slavery. Educate, educate, educate...

The following links offer a lot more information, including ideas for taking further action, and lists of sources for fair trade chocolate.

Read all posts on this blog about chocolate
Read about some of my favorite sources for fair trade chocolates and find out where to buy
Fair Trade Cocoa Campaign through Global Exchange
Fair Trade & Slave Free Chocolate by Penny Schafer
Your Easter Chocolate Supports Slavery by Julie Clawson
Stop Chocolate Slavery
Chocolate Company Scorecard 2009

This is a topic that I feel passionately about, so I'll be following up in future posts with a lot more information about the chocolate industry, including information about specific companies, lists of some of my own personal favorite chocolates, and more. If you have any specific questions you'd like me to research, please feel free to comment below.

Read more:
Focus on Chocolate, Part Two: Chocolate Scorecard
Focus on Chocolate, Part Three: What To Eat
Focus on Chocolate, Part Four: Party Time!

Free Book Chapter

2010-11-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

Oneworld Publications, the publisher of the book, A Fair Trade Beginner's Guide, by Jacqueline DeCarlo, has posted the first chapter of DeCarlo's book online for free. Enjoy!

Blog Kick-off - Chocolate Giveaway!

2010-11-08T07:44:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be fun to officially launch A Gentler World with a giveaway, and what fair trade item could be better to win than chocolate? :-)

The winner of the contest will receive the following five delicious, full-sized, vegan, fair trade chocolate bars:

one Sjaak's Organic Dark Chocolate with Creamy Caramel bar (1.75 oz.)
one Theo Organic Spicy Chile Dark Chocolate bar (3 oz.)
one one Equal Exchange Organic Dark Chocolate with Almonds bar (3.5 oz.)
one Divine 70% Dark Chocolate with Raspberries bar (3.5 oz.)
one Green & Black's Organic Maya Gold bar (3.5 oz., and my personal favorite).

Each participant can enter up to five times. Each entry should be registered as a separate comment on this post, and each individual entry must meet one of the following requirements:

You can earn one entry simply by leaving a comment here. Tell me your favorite fair trade chocolate, recipe, or anything else you care to share on the topic. Please be sure to provide your email address so I can contact you if you win!
You can earn another entry by clicking 'like' on my Facebook page.
You can earn another entry by sharing this contest on your Twitter account; to register this entry, please post a link to your Twitter account in a comment here.
You can earn another entry by sharing this contest on your Facebook page; to register this entry, please post a link to your Facebook page in a comment here.
If you have your own blog, you can earn yet another entry by sharing this contest on your blog; to register this entry, please post a link to your blog post in a comment here.

I will randomly select a winner the day after Thanksgiving - November 26th - and will mail this bundle of chocolatey goodness to the winner in plenty of time to enjoy during the holiday season (or gift away, if you have the willpower).

Want to learn more about the issues surrounding fair trade chocolate? Click here.

Fair Trade Holiday Parties

2010-11-07T12:21:00.000-08:00

A great way to support fair trade artisans, especially at this time of year, is to host a home party. There are numerous organizations offering home party programs, and they usually operate in one of two ways - many groups ship actual merchandise for you to sell, while others may just send a few samples, along with catalogs and order forms, and your party guests' orders are then shipped directly to their own homes after the party.

Most of these organizations provide plenty of advice and information about hosting your party. In addition to merchandise and/or catalogs, you will likely also receive educational materials, possibly a DVD documenting the organization's work, and sometimes even regional recipe suggestions and/or music to play during your party.

These informal social gatherings also present an excellent opportunity to educate your guests about fair trade food items such as chocolate, coffee, and tea. Be sure to serve fair trade refreshments, and to discuss your reasons for doing so with your guests!

With a little bit of effort and advance planning, you can organize an event - either in your home, church, or workplace - that will benefit fairly treated workers and their communities around the world, all while having a great time shopping for holiday gifts with your family and friends.

After the party is over, you'll just need to pack up any remaining merchandise (unless it was a catalog-only party) and ship it back to the organization, along with payment for the items you sold. Most of the groups offer a small consignment (10-15%) and/or a merchandise discount for the party hostess; of course, you can always opt to donate that back to the group to make even more of a positive impact.

I've listed below several fair trade oriented organizations that offer home parties; policies and procedures vary depending on the group, so click through to get the important details you'll need to start planning your event. (And don't delay too long - some groups require up to three or four weeks' advance notice to get the merchandise to you!)

Mayan Hands is a fair trade organization that has been working with Mayan weavers since 1989. They now work with approximately 200 weavers, organized in groups of 12 to 50 women, living in eleven different communities around the western and northern highlands of Guatemala. Click to read home party information.

Heavenly Treasures' mission is to equip and assist people in developing countries to break the cycle of poverty through their handiwork and creativity. They focus on handicraft projects that allow the development of a micro enterprise, leading workers down the path to self-sufficiency. These projects are very small enterprises, ranging from one refugee family to a group of village women, all in need of a consistent income. Click to read home party information.

For 60 years, SERRV have worked on behalf of the world’s Artisans and Farmers. One of the first alternative trade organizations in the world, SERRV is a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (formerly IFAT) and a founding member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF). Click to read home party information.

The SPIRAL Foundation (Spinning Potential Into Resources And Love) is a non-profit humanitarian organization doing work in Nepal and Vietnam. Click to read home party information.

BeadforLife eradicates extreme poverty by creating bridges of understanding between impoverished Africans and concerned world citizens. Ugandan women turn colorful recycled paper into beautiful beads. Women in Northern Uganda gather shea nuts and press them into shea butter for cosmetics and soaps. And people who care open their hearts,homes and communities to buy and sell both products. Click to read home party information.

The Rwanda Basket Company is a program of Rwanda Partners that is working to change the lives of impoverished weavers in Rwanda. Rwanda Partners is a nonprofit organization that is working to restore and heal the people of Rwanda through reconciliation and poverty reduction programs. Click to read home party information.

Trade As One aims to promote sustainable business and break cycles of poverty and dependency in the developing world. Click to read home party information.

MayaWorks is a fair trade nonprofit organization that promotes economic development for Maya women and their families by supporting a marketplace for their handcrafted goods. Click to read home party information.

If you know of any other fair trade organizations that offer home parties, please let me know. And if you host a party yourself this year, be sure to come back and leave a comment here - I'd love to know how it went!

Fair Trade Gift Guide

2010-11-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

The Fair Trade Federation has put together a fair trade gift guide for the holidays. Link.

Looking for the perfect holiday dress?

2010-11-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

I think I found it for you! Super cute, organic, fair trade, festive, and only $48!

Party Dress from One Mango Tree
(also available in black, and check out their other cute clothing as well!)

One Mango Tree uses a fair trade model to provide income generating opportunities for women in impoverished and conflict-ridden areas of the globe. And this is kind of a cool feature - when you receive your dress (or shirt, etc.), you can check the tag to find out who made your garment, then visit One Mango Tree's artisan's page to see a photo of the woman who created your item.

Fair Trade Your Life

2010-11-05T15:45:00.000-07:00

Fair Trade USA just published this great list of 10 ways to incorporate fair trade into your life - you can read the article in it's entirety here.

Fill out comment cards at stores and restaurants requesting Fair Trade products. If your favorite store already sells Fair Trade products, use the comment card to thank them! It is important for businesses to know that you want them to continue to sell Fair Trade products.
Vote with your dollars: Try to buy at least one Fair Trade Certified product every time you shop. Just look for the logo! And who knows, there is a good chance you will discover a new favorite food.
Donate to Fair Trade USA. It is the most direct way to contribute to the cause and every little bit counts.
Join the online community: become a fan on Facebook and follow @FairTradeUSA on Twitter (make sure to tag your tweets with #FairTrade). Not only will this help keep you up-to-date about the latest Fair Trade news, but you will also have the chance to win our weekly Fair Trade Friday giveaways.
Hold a house party to educate your friends about Fair Trade. It’s an easy way to spread the word about the importance of Fair Trade, and it gives you an awesome excuse to host a party. You can download a free event hosting kit here: http://getinvolved.transfairusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Events_Toolkit
Fair Trade your office: Request that your employer serve Fair Trade Certified coffee and tea. Create signs that help explain to your colleagues what Fair Trade is all about.
Start a Fair Trade Towns campaign or join a campaign in progress. This is a fun way to make a difference in your local community and in communities around the world at the same time! Learn more here: http://www.fairtradetownsusa.org
Record a video, take pictures, or write to us about why Fair Trade matters to you. Who knows, your message could be featured on our blog and could inspire others to join our cause.
The next time you visit your local coffeehouse, ask if the barista if the coffee is Fair Trade Certified. If it’s not, take the time to educate the barista about Fair Trade and ask if the coffeehouse to order some Fair Trade varieties.
Give the gift of Fair Trade. Make your gift twice as special when you give your loved ones Fair Trade products. You can also make a donation in their honor with a Gift of Fairness, a symbolic gift that helps further the reach and effectiveness of Fair Trade in the United States.

Leave a comment and let me know which of these you've done in the past, and which you hope to implement in your own life soon - I'd love to hear! And check back soon - I'll be elaborating on #5 (hosting a fair trade party) in another blog post within a couple more days.

Fair Trade Coffee

2010-11-01T18:28:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd kick things off with some information about one of the more widely available and commonly known fair trade item - coffee.

We consume 20% of the world's coffee right here in the USA. Coffee is everywhere you turn - a cup on every desk and a shop on every corner. But few coffee consumers ever stop to learn about how their coffee is harvested and processed. There are about 25 million coffee workers in more than 50 countries around the world employed in the coffee growing and processing trade. The top five producer/exporter countries are (in order) Brazil, Columbia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Mexico.

Many coffee farm workers on conventional coffee plantations endure terrible sweatshop-esque conditions day in and day out, only to sell their beans for a price that is below the cost of production, thereby perpetuating a cycle of intense poverty.

A recent study of coffee plantations in Guatemala revealed several troubling facts. Over half of the coffee pickers surveyed did not receive minimum wage, many workers were forced to work overtime without compensation, and most were not receiving their legally-mandated employee benefits. Because of these common conditions, many coffee workers in Guatemala bring their children (as young as 6-8 years of age) to work with them in order to meet their quota.

Fair trade offers many improvements over traditional farming, including the following:

fair working conditions
a guaranteed minimum price as determined by the New York "C" market
coffee producers are guaranteed access to credit at regular international interest rates
relations between producers and roaster/buyers are based on long term contracts

Alberto

On a trip to Guatemala earlier this year, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to tour a fair trade coffee farming operation facilitated by As Green As It Gets. You can read more about my family's amazing tour experience here. I have never liked coffee in the past, but Alberto's full city blend has converted me. (I still only drink it about once a week though, and only Alberto's!)

Fair trade coffee has become pretty mainstream, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding it locally - even if you are not blessed with a good natural foods store in your neighborhood, you can easily find fair trade coffee at Costco, Safeway, Fred Meyer, Kroger, Sam's Club, Target, Trader Joe's, and even WalMart. Just look for the fair trade label -

If you're an internet shopping junkie like me, or if you'd like to sample a wider variety of blends, I've put together a list of online sources for satisfying your coffee cravings...

As Green As It Gets
Alter Eco Fair Trade
Bean North Coffee Roasting Co.
BuyWell International
Cafe Campesino
Earth Friendly Coffee
Equal Exchange
Fair Trade Winds
Larry's Beans, Inc.
Peace Coffee
Sweetwater Organic Coffee
Trade As One
World Village Fair Trade Market

You can even opt for fair trade while patronizing most any coffee house - here are some suggestions -

Bruegger's - Ask for their daily Fair Trade Certified brewed coffee.
Caribou Coffee - Ask for the Fair Trade Blend.
Dunkin' Donuts - Order any hot or iced espresso drink.
Einstein Bagels - Ask for their Global Village Fair Trade Blend.
Indigo Coffee - Ask for their Global Village Fair Trade Blend.
Noah's Bagels - Ask for their daily Fair Trade Certified brewed coffee.
Peet's Coffee and Tea - Ask for the Fair Trade Blend.
Seattle's Best Coffee - Ask for the Fair Trade Certified Organic French Roast.
Starbucks Coffee - Ask for Cafe Estima.
Tully's Coffee - Order any hot or iced espresso drink.

And finally, I will leave you with a 20 minute documentary about fair trade coffee - so brew a cup of your favorite blend (fair trade of course!) and get cozy on the couch!

For an extremely in-depth discussion of fair trade coffee, please visit Global Exchange. Much of the information in this post came from their site.

Welcome

2010-11-01T16:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome to A Gentler World, a blog about fair trade. In the months and years to come, I hope to provide you with ideas and suggestions to help you make kinder choices as a global consumer, and to strengthen connections between buyers in developed countries and farmers, workers, and artisans in the developing world.

So what exactly is fair trade, and why should you care about it?

By ensuring fair pricing and decent working conditions, fair trade empowers workers in the developing world - some of the planet's poorest inhabitants - to take control of their lives and improve the quality of life for themselves and their families. Fair trade aims to address the common injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the weakest, poorest people in the world.

The Fair Trade Federation uses the following criteria to determine an organization's eligibility for fair trade certification:

Paying a fair wage in the local context.
Offering employees opportunities for advancement.
Providing equal employment opportunities for all people, particularly the most disadvantaged.
Engaging in environmentally sustainable practices.
Being open to public accountability.
Building long-term trade relationships.
Providing healthy and safe working conditions within the local context.
Providing financial and technical assistance to producers whenever possible.

Every dollar you spend sends a message. It is my hope that the discussions that will take place here will help you to align your dollar-messages with your true beliefs and ideals.