fair trade

No Sweat Apparel is a company I have plugged before and which I purchase clothes from. I have shoes, flip flops, shirts and pants from them. Their products are all fair trade and/or union made. Most of their stuff is good quality (though occasionally shoes wear out fast) and their flip flops are really cool, designed by Indonesian children with some of the proceeds going to fund the education of that child. All in all, a good company with cool products that are fair to workers.

They are starting a new project that ideally will help peace between Palestine and Israel. This appeals to me because during my one trip to Israel I had the chance to talk to many people and it made me realize that one major key to peace is economic prosperity. While my wife and I were there (between the assassination of Rabin but before violence broke out...and on the same trip we got engaged on Santorini in Greece and where we almost got caught in the big Turkish earthquake...) everyone, Arab and Israeli, was tensely optimistic. Everyone we talked to WANTED peace. Why? "Because it's good for business." This is the key. If people feel they have stake in peace, they will work for peace. I have written about this before and discussed companies and organizations that work to further economic cooperation and prosperity in Israel/Palestine. I also have written about another important facet of peace in the Middle East: environmental projects that can help the prosperity of all concerned.

Newton Town Hall Meeting
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 11:30 AM
Please join Ed for a Town Hall Meeting and discussion about fair trade issues.
Uncle Nancy's Coffeehouse and Eatery, 114 N. 2nd Ave. West, Newton IA

Des Moines Town Hall Meeting
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 9:00 AM
Please join Ed for a Town Hall Meeting and discussion about fair trade issues.
Fair World Market, 116 5th Street, West Des Moines IA

Knoxville Town Hall Meeting
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 2:00 PM
Please join Ed Fallon, candidate for Congress, for a Town Hall Meeting and discussion about fair trade issues.
The Swampbox Pub & Grill, 116 N. 2nd St., Knoxville IA

Every morning I watch a little bit of Current TV. There really is some great stuff there. Recently a segment on Current TV discussed a wonderful business in Kenya that combines development, fair labor practices and environmentalism. The business is called “Ecosandals.” This business, is a cooperative currently employing about 30 people to recycle old truck tires into sandals and selling them directly on the internet. From their website:

Ecosandals is a non-profit importer and reseller of sandals produced by Akala Designs Limited, a cooperative business based in Nairobi, Kenya.

This astonishing international e-business, based in one of Nairobi’s most destitute neighborhoods, currently employs nearly 30 Kenyans in the designing, manufacturing, marketing and selling of really great sandals made with recycled tire treads.

We are funded entirely by the work of volunteers. No one in Ecosandals earns a salary. As a non-profit company, Ecosandals exists solely to support the Korogocho, Kenya project in their efforts to improve their standard of living and the opportunities in their community.

Ecosandals is a community-based dot-com story that is on its way up, not out. Throughout Kenya, Korogocho is known as a rough place. Jobs are scarce. Violence is rampant. Quality health care is non-existent. Even shelter tends to be both poor and temporary. It is a place where most Kenyans fear to walk even during the daytime.