Trading for goods has been a practice among civilizations for centuries. Perhaps, the recession in the United States is another reason to think more about how we can barter and trade goods for services in the coming generations. With global food shortages, fuel prices escalating and the cost of living skyrocketing, it's no wonder most of us think about shopping more local than ever before. Shopping locally, reducing our carbon footprint and bartering talents and trades all help communities thrive and create bonds that go beyond fiscal responsibility.
Our day in Social Studies that was devoted to swapping items with each other reminded me of the many third world countries that are so much better at this than we are.Perhaps we all needed this recession to remind us how to interact together again. Communities working toward the common good and not just the consumerist material good of individuals.
Here is a link to one website that is already supporting women and fair trade in third world countries buying their goods and creating jobs for women. Ten Thousand Villages is an admirable business and can be found locally.
Think about supporting them the next time you need that special gift or card for a birthday or special occasion. You will not only be supporting women who desperately need jobs, but also supporting a company that believes in fair trade.
http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment