With every dollar you spend, you cast a vote. During the holidays, we spend more, which means we cast more of our votes. I want the gifts I give — and my votes — to count toward something bigger than lining the pockets of another fat corporation that doesn’t give a flip about its workers or the environment.
Instead, I choose to cast my vote for…
- the village woman who weaves baskets and jewelry out of old magazines
- small businesses that put the 3 P’s of Sustainability (People, Planet, Profit) as priorities
- a company that pours their profits into freeing children from slavery or the sex trade
Much more than a catalog, the 2011 Ethical Holiday Shopping Guide is a collection of the best fair trade businesses and social enterprises that support survivors of human trafficking. The companies, all committed to providing a living wage for their employees, manufacture everything from home décor to textiles to jewelry to toys and beyond.
New-this-year additions include a detailed list of gift suggestions for everyone from grandma to kids to a favorite teacher.
The Ethical Christmas and Holiday Gift Guide is the brainchild of Shop To Stop Slavery founder Robin Rossmanith. One of her major goals in starting the online directory Shop To Stop Slavery was to help provide quick and easy solutions to those who were interested in making socially conscious shopping choices. Creating a seasonal guide of socially conscious gifts was a natural addition to her company.
In Robin’s words, “Every socially conscious gift that is chosen this holiday season helps those who are at risk for being trafficked. By choosing such goods, you help to decrease the demand for products that are produced unethically and therefore, pressure those business owners to respond with fair practices. Our guide helps you make those choices easily without having to spend time researching the ethical options available to you.”
Take a look at the guide and tell us how you’re inspired to give this holiday!
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