Black Friday

Hi All!

I hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving! In honor of Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, I am going to put my stories of immigrant stories on hold. I have been working at assembling a list of online stores which promote just-shopping, as shopping does need to occur to maintain a capitalistic economy, though the shops we patronize could be ones that promote a decent life. Sooo in this blog are my reflections on consumerism as well as a list of websites that promote just-shopping.

Through my life, and especially this year, I have been able to reflect on consumerism and in my opinion the United States American Dream which seems to equate buying more and more to satisfy a loneliness and longing within us that can only be satisfied with a deeper human connection not more stuff. In a book, Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin which came out over 15 years ago it was talking about how material stuff tends to complicate our lives. Keeping up with the Jones leads to unneeded stress. And worries of cash to buy the next new gadget will plague us with anxiety. It proposed four questions for examining whether purchases are life giving or life draining. (I would love to hear any of your reflections on these) The questions are:

"1. Does what I own or buy promote activity, self-reliance, and involvement, or does it induce passivity and dependence?
2. Are my consumption patterns basically satisfying, or do I buy much that serves no real need?
3. How tied are my present job and lifestyle to installment payments, maintenance and repair costs, and the expectations of others?
4. Do I consider the impact of my consumption patterns on other people and on the earth?"

With Christmas less than a month away there is always a push to spend and buy. Plus we do enjoy showing we care to one another and gift giving is the culturally encouraged way to do that. But my challenge for myself, that I invite you to join me in this holiday season is to one, show we care in more meaningful ways, as this Christian Movement Advent Conspiracy encourages. Such as spending time with the people we love, instead of the spending that time in a shopping mall. Making gifts, which are more meaningful and simply. And generally living more simply in our consumption. Buying just to buy doesn't really serve a life-giving purpose and is not really the true meaning of Christmas in my mind. And two, make those gifts I do buy something that promotes a greater life for the maker as well as the receiver. What if everytime your loved one carried the purse you got them they thought of you and a woman in Uganda who is providing for her family? Many argue that 'fair trade' products are not things you normally buy or are two expensive. In regards to the first, below are links to dozens of options with everything from clothing to food to footballs. And to the second, is cheap really better then supporting another human being to have a decent quality of life?

I hope some of you find this list of links helpful. All of the names are links to the websites if you click on them. I am not being paid to endorse any of these places I just think they are a good option and I encourage you to share the list with others who may be interested. Thanks for reading and humoring my shopping challenge. Please feel free to post as comments other stores or reflections. Peace and Love!

Global Exchange
Sells:
Men/Women/Kid Clothing, Accessories, Jewelry Holiday items, Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Chocolates, Household items, Stationary, Journals, Dolls, Toys, Games, Books, Movies, Music, Gift Packs
-All items are fair trade. In the descriptions you can learn more about the people who made your product.

Trade as One
Clothing, Food, Drink, Jewelry, Stationary, Journals, Bags, House and home goods, Sports, Toys, Health and Beauty
-This group has many practical everyday items that are made in a just manner. I especially took note of the soccer balls which are notoriously made in bad work environments because the sewing of stitches is best done by small child hands.

Fair Indigo
Sells:
Men/Women/Kid Clothing, Accessories, Jewelry, Stuffed animals, Holiday items, Home items, Coffee, Tea, and Made in the USA products
- I have shoes from this place and they are amazing. All their clothing is of very high quality.

Better World Books
Sells:
Books
-Part of the profits here go world literacy efforts

El Castillo del Cacao
Sells:
CHOCOLATE
- This place is in Nicaragua. The chocolate is good and the factory supports sustainable development (I was supposed to visit it while there but it fell through, still should support)

Cafe Justo
Sells:
COFFEE
-Supports US/Mexico Border Towns

Cafe Campesino
Sells:
COFFEE, Tea, Mate
-These folks sell Nicaraguan Coffee from some of the places I went to :) One of my roommates also markets this here in El Paso

Esperanza en Accion (Hope in Action)
Sells:
Artisan Crafts and home goods
-I visited this place in Nicaragua. They are doing a lot to empower individuals to provide for themselves and creating jobs in a country that has EXTREME unemployment.

Fair Mail
Sells:
Greeting Cards
-These cards are fair trade and designed by underprivileged children in Peru and India

Koinonia Store
Sells:
Pecans, Chocolate, Coffee, Other Food items, Crafts, Books
- This is a communal living farm that I stayed at for a few days a couple of years ago. The founder of Habitat for Humanity lived there. They are in GA and all about working for peace and justice. The chocolate pecan stuff is AMAZING :)

TASSATAG
Sells:
Luggage Tags
-This organization works to stop human trafficking. I did research with them my sophomore year.

Amnesty International
Sells:
Clothing, Accessories, Books, Toys, Games, Calendars, Planners, Movies, Music
-Profit benefits Amnesty Internationals human rights campaigns

Invisible Children
Sells: Men/Women's Clothing, Bracelets, Bags, Films
-Invisible Children are young adults and children whose lives have been ravaged by war in Uganda. The bags, under the label of Mend and you can actually read about the exact person who made your bag.

Conscious Consumer Marketplace
Has links by the categories of:
Groceries, Clothing, Green Office, For your home, Back to School, Transportation and Travel, Energy, Electronics, Baby Products, Pet Products, Socially Responsible Products, Charitable Donations-these are alternative type gifts.
-Through these links you can find almost anything your heart desires.

Econcious Market
Clothing, Furniture, Home Decor, Face and Body Care, Babies, Kids, Yoga, Sports, Kids, Bags, Books, Music, Toothbrushes
-Some are organic and fair trade items, all are eco-friendly

Alternative Gifts:

Oxfam
You can help individuals in developing countries finance a business or get medical care or whatever your gift receiver is interested in, you can find a gift that will be meaningful to them. Buy a chocolate lover "helping someone else start a chocolate growing business" or the sports lover "sports equipment for kids in a developing country."

Heifer International
You can buy animals for individuals living in third world countries to help them feed their families or communities as well as establish subsistance farming methods.

Advent Conspiracy
You can give money to build wells in developing nations and provide clean drinking water.