I have long admired The RugMark Foundation, an organization fighting child labor in the carpet-making industry. Nearly 300,000 children in South Asia are put to work weaving rugs for homes in the Western hemisphere everyday. RugMark, just like Fair Trade Sports, is turning the terrible practice of forced child labor on its ear by exposing it to the general population through education and helping those who are exploited by these industries by exercising ethical Fair Trade practices.

Certified RugMark rugs, like certified Fair Trade sports balls, are not made by children and every RugMark rug or carpet has a patch sewn into it that assures you that it was not made by child labor. Not only is RugMark creating jobs for adults in South Asia that desperately need them, they also have schools in the region where former child laborers can go to learn valuable trades.

RugMark's Most Beautiful Rug Campaign and Faces of Freedom (a traveling photo exhibit) both bolster the worldwide effort to end child labor practices. The Most Beautiful Rug Campaign is RugMark's core campaign against child labor and exploitation. Its stated goal is to end child labor in the South Asian carpet-making industry within the next ten years, and they've already made a difference: since 1995, the number of child laborers in the industry has fallen from 1 million to around 300,000.

Faces of Freedom is part of The Most Beautiful Rug Campaign and serves to bring awareness through a series of photographs by U. Roberto Romano. Romano's photographs travel the world and tell a story of triumph over adversity, displaying the atrocious working conditions that laborers are forced to work in on one hand and on the other, the difference that RugMark has made on the industry. Attendees can see how RugMark runs their business and how they take care of their workers, as well as how they educate the children of the region, rather than exploit them.

Whether you are talking about stitching soccer balls or stitching carpets, children have no place being forced to work in the industry. A person's childhood is their most precious time. It should be a time of happiness and freedom, not time spent virtually chained to a job that they recive little to no compensation for, toiling away. Children need to be allowed to be children and attend school. Here's to RugMark and their success to date...well done!

With the holiday gift-giving craziness behind us, our warehouse is quiet for a few days and I've got time now to reflect on the consumer-focused portion of our winter holidays. It brings to mind a discussion of "buy local" products versus Fair Trade products I had a few weeks ago with a colleague.

If you're reading this blog, you are likely already interested in using your purchase dollars to support green and Fair Trade businesses. The Fair Trade movement is focused on bringing internationally-produced products (from producers who were paid a certified Fair Trade wage) to market in North America. The Buy Local movement is focused on supporting local merchants who bring to market locally-produced goods, rather than large multinational corporations who source internationally from dubious sources (rather than certified Fair Trade sources). If you are of a mind to support both Fair Trade and Buy Local, which one should take precedence?

My opinion: I'm an enormous fan of Buy Local (part of why we live in a small Pacific Northwest town), but you don't always have to choose. The two are not mutually exclusive. Take our Fair Trade sports balls, for instance. There are no domestic producers of sports balls, except the producer of the NFL SuperBowl football. And they make footballs just for the SuperBowl; that's it. Many certified Fair Trade products are in this same category; these products are not made here in North America (e.g. tea, cocoa). So every time a new local retailer starts carrying our internationally-made certified Fair Trade products, that is another channel for folks to support both Fair Trade and Buy Local.

In other words, buying Fair Trade means you are not buying from a megacorporation that is polluting the planet, exploiting workers, or driving "mom and pop" stores out of business. The people that sell Fair Trade merchandise are the folks down on the corner, whether it be a block away from you or on the other side of the world.

I like to support my local retailers whenever I can. If I can't find something in one of our local stores, I stop and ask myself if I really need that item.

So if you're stuck in a quandary about which cause to support, no worries. Buy Fair Trade and rest assured that you are also helping the Buy Local movement at the same time.

The ecofabulous crew have a new weekly newsletter called Zem's List which brings you the best eco-friendly and hip products around. The author, Zem Joaquin, is the founder of ecofabulous and a fun writer.

Zem knows what she is doing when it comes to writing (she use to be the editor at House & Garden) and what she's talking about when it comes to sustainable products (she was mentored by William McDonough himself, of Cradle to Cradle fame).

I dream of making a Cradle to Cradle sports ball one day (imagine a soccer ball that sucks carbon out of the air every time you kick it, which also happens to keep it inflated at the ideal pressure) and often quote McDonough to my MBA students at BGI. Frankly, I'm more than a bit jealous she got him as a mentor!

:)

I just found the ecofabulous newsletter when she featured our eco-certified basketball (a world's first) on their Holiday Gift Guide under the banner of "eco-inspiration: eco-gifts for under $20." I like Zem's explanation of her top picks for holiday gifts: "e-c-o are the first three letters in ecology and economy."

I also appreciate their public commitment to avoid supporting products that are greenwashed.

With Christmas just a few short days away, it's important that you get out there (if you haven't already) and get that perfect gift for the guys in your life.

Guys, like children, in general are notoriously hard to buy for, as we usually like to receive things we want, not necessarily the things we need. Buying "green" gifts for men is even harder as a result. We won't likely get too excited about a tie, pair of shorts, or socks made from recycled materials, but a Fair Trade soccer ball or football? We might get up off the couch for that!

Thankfully, US News & World Report has put out a  "Green Fit Guide: For Him" that details several different "green" gifts for you to choose from, including our Fair Trade sports balls. This guide has wallets, bikes, radios, travel kits, picture frames - it really runs the gamut. Many different sorts of things can be purchased "green" if you take the time to look around.

You can follow the links provided on the US News & World Report green guide and check out other "green" items from those selling the recommended gifts, do your own snooping and discover other dealers and gifts, or, of course, pick up some of our Fair Trade products.

What is most important is not only the money that gets properly redistributed when you make a Fair Trade purchase, but also the message you spread when you give a "green" gift this Holiday season. The receiver of your conscientious gift will also receive a message with their gift, whether it be about recycling, Fair Trade, or eco-friendliness. The message you put across to those to whom you give "green" gifts has the opportunity to spread far beyond what you could imagine. Next year, your loved ones may all be giving "green" gifts to their loved ones, spreading the message exponentially.

Fox News recently did a piece on a Fair Trade Market focused on alternative holiday gift-giving in St. Louis, Missouri.

One of our Ambassadors of Respect in the area, Kellee Sikes (pictured here speaking with the Fox reporter), is the founder of this particular market place. The video on this page is insightful.

Fox News on the national level may not be known for being advocates of causes such as Fair Trade, but on a more regional level they have proved to be powerful proponents of this message. Simply putting our product and the concept of Fair Trade in general center stage for just a few minutes can do wonders for the Fair Trade movement. This little snippet undoubtedly reached ten of thousands of people, some of which may have been spurred to check out the market, or even better, to get involved in supporting Fair Trade on a deeper level.

This is the sort of exposure we need if we are going to put an even bigger dent in the exploitative grip that some large corporations have on workers in less prosperous countries. Kellee Sikes did an excellent job in her interview in communicating the Fair Trade message and explaining to everyone what we are all about: respect and fairness. Kellee deserves to be recognized for this and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank her for doing a great job.

So, for anyone out there that sees an opportunity such as this one to get the word out about Fair Trade, don't hesitate to contact us and let us know. This is a "grass roots" sort of movement that requires conscientious folks such as you to take part. It may be your simple phone call, an email, or handing out one of our Ambassador of Respect business cards that makes the difference. Who knows who you might reach?

The International Labor Rights Forum and SweatFree Communities to go to bat for the workers that need it the worst: those in impoverished nations who break their backs so that the rest of us can live in convenience and pretty much have everything we want at our fingertips.

These two organizations have put together the 2009 "Shop with a Conscience Guide," a document chock full of great products made in good working conditions. Unlike many of the popular products out there, the products in this guide have been made by workers that are supplied with competitive wages and a decent environment to work in.

Not only are the workers who made the products in this Guide treated well, they also are organized into trade unions. These unions provide not only cohesion, but also lend a voice to individual workers through the united voice of the entire workforce. The workers are allowed to have a say in the bigger picture and shape their future as regards their working conditions. The ILRF and SweatFree Communities have enforced a thorough application for all the retailers in this Guide, guaranteeing that each and every one of them will meet the expectations that we all have of them.

The Guide has something for everyone: clothing for every member of the household, footwear, coats, and of course our Fair Trade sports balls. There's even a wholesale section for those interested in buying in bulk. We are humbled and honored to be a part of the 2009 "Shop with a Conscience Guide" and hope that everyone takes a moment to peruse it and make a purchase in the name of equality, fairness, and respect. Fair Trade Sports is in good company in the Guide.

Yahoo! has teamed up with The Daily Green to put together a catalog of great "green" gifts for the 2008 Holiday Season. All of the products featured in this catalog are environmentally friendly, culturally conscious, or both. You can find everything from clothing to toys to gadgets. Our Fair Trade sports balls are featured under "Sports Gear".

The Yahoo! Green Gift Guide has something for everyone: clothing, sports gear, gadgets, toys, footwear, kitchenware - there's even a section for affordable (under $30) gifts. So take a peek and find out what the world of "green gifting" has in store for you. There is a viable "green" alternative for just about anythng you need, all you have to do is look.

Take a minute to look at your gift list this Holiday season. Who's on the list? What would they like? Before you rush out to face the long lines take a moment to consider something ... less mainstream. After all, what will your loved ones remember more, the gift you bought them at the nearby mass market department store, or the eco-friendly Fair Trade product that comes with a heartwarming story about how it was sustainably produced?

This sort of gift-giving can have a profound effect. Not only are you giving your loved ones a gift that they'll always remember, but you are also planting a seed of profound thought in their head.

"Wow, this eco-sweatshirt I got sure is comfortable," they may think. "I wonder what else is out there in the world of Fair Trade and environmentally conscious products."

OK, so nobody really thinks like that, but you get the point. I personally do think about how unusually comfortable my organic cotton tee shirt is, and why my body responds so positively to clothing that has left out the harsh chemicals. The point is to raise consciousness and awareness - let people know that there are great alternatives out there to all sorts of products. Sometimes that's all it takes.

If you are going to be in LA this weekend, come see us at the Eco Gift Festival at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The Eco Gift Festival, presented by the LA Times, is a great place to see what all the hype is about when it comes to the wide variety of "green" products out there.

It's all about offering green gifts, organic food, musical entertainment, and inspiring speakers. We'll be there, of course, spreading the word about Fair Trade, equality, and respect.

This year we'll all be gathered around to hear Arianna Huffington, Founder of the Huffington Post, provide the keynote for the speaker series, "Fearless in a Changing World." Other great speakers include Blake from TOMS Shoes and Mallika Chopra, author of "The Power of Intent to Affect Global Wellness."

And there will be some great music as well, including Tom Freund, Chris Pierce, Jillian Speers and The Luminaries. Music provides a wonderful backdrop for the good that will be done at the Eco Gift Festival.

If you do decide to attend, please stop by and see us. We'll be the folks bouncing the Fair Trade sports balls around the show floor and chatting it up with anyone and everyone who will listen to our positive message of Respect. We love to hear from people that have joined us in our mission and speak to them face-to-face.

It's the perfect time of year for gift-giving, so please come out and visit the Eco Gift Festival if you are going to be in LA this weekend. Anybody that's anybody in the world of "green" gifts will be there, so there will be something for everyone that you can place under your tree.

Co-op America released a list of "10 Green Toys for 2008" and our Fair Trade sports balls were lucky enough to make the list. This list couldn't have come at a better time. The Holiday season is here and people are looking for positive toys for their children, toys that match the ethos of the gift-givers themselves.

It's sad that the business ethics of our economy have sunk to such a level that we need to be concerned with such things, but it only serves to better illustrate what those of us involved in the Fair Trade movement have been saying all along: human life and health should never take a back seat to profit. Far too many companies, even those that make children's toys, are only worried about the bottom line. They do not exist to make children smile; they exist to make a buck, no matter the cost. It's part of why I appreciate the work done by Yochi Zakai (pictured here) and the rest of his team at Coop America.

We would all love to live in a world in which companies would regulate themselves, but unfortunately we live in a world in which corporations would run amok without watchdogs like Coop America calling our attention when they go wrong. Companies and individuals that believe in Fair Trade, equality, and respect view things differently. We envision a world in which we all exist to better each other, not to take advantage of one another.

If you are buying for children this year you are undoubtedly checking the label to see what aspects of the product may be green. Another good thing to look for is a Fair Trade certification label. Coop America has done alot of the heavy lifting for us by producing this "10 Green Toys for 2008" list. These toys run the gamut from simple wooden toys to board games; from Fair Trade sports balls to musical instruments.

Before rushing out to the mall, take a moment to check out the list that Co-op America has put together. You just might find the perfect gift!

One of the primary goals of Fair Trade Sports as a company is to show the Top 5 international brands for sporting goods that a certified Fair Trade sports ball line is possible, and exactly what the marketplace wants now.

I've said from Day One that if we can get one of the Top 5 brands to convert to certified Fair Trade, then Fair Trade Sports has won! If we get one of the top multinationals to convert to certified Fair Trade, then it brings enormous pressure on the remaining players to follow. We've received inquiries previously from another Top 5 sports ball player - Baden, which is headquartered near us in the Seattle area. Baden's European sales manager told us he is in need of a certified Fair Trade line of sports balls for his market, but this new Puma project is the first we've seen of actual production certified Fair Trade balls from a Top 5 player. It looks like we might be edging closer to meeting one of our goals.

As reported by Zarah Patriana at Change.org, PUMA has decided to produce 5,000 Fair Trade soccer balls for use in Bavarian and South African schools. Needless to say, I was ecstatic when I heard this. But what about the rest of their product? 5,000 balls is a rounding error compared to the number of sports balls that PUMA produces every year - the rest of which is NOT certified Fair Trade. It this was going for one specific small project. This is also a far cry from being available in all their North American retails outlets (they are not).

So where do we go from here? Well, If we can encourage them to repeat this - to the point where they make a company-wide, permanent commitment to Fair Trade - then we win! Now that we know that PUMA is beginning to take a more progressive stance on the subject of Fair Trade, we need to pounce (sorry, bad pun) with positive encouragement to them.

PUMA needs to understand that it CAN make its entire sports ball line certified Fair Trade (and match our eco-certification, too) and still stay profitable. In fact, their profitability may well increase once people are made more aware of the steps they are taking to ensure that the people they employ are fairly compensated and treated with respect.

Our own supply chain is still unique as far as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) eco-certification we have for our sports balls with our Fair Trade rubber. Can PUMA explore this route? Certainly - and they should. After all, it's not enough to simply take one precaution and ignore all the other elephants in the room; once your awareness has been raised, it is your responsibility to act on it.

So join me in congratulating PUMA for taking this first baby step, and encouraging them to continue and expand their efforts.