Turn up the heat for Starbucks and Fair Trade
Posted by msterilinn on Jul 24, 2008
I am willing to sacrifice one of my most favourite indulgences of sipping on a delicious white chocolate mocha from Starbucks in favor of supporting small-scale coffe farmers struggling to support their families under deplorable conditions. Truly it has been a while since my last sweet cup, so I do not feel guilty knowing they are refusing to step up. Yet I am concerned enough about the situation to spread the word to folks willing to sign the petition.
According to the Organic Consumers Association, despite close to ten years of consumer and farmer demands, Starbucks has refused to increase their purchase of certified Fair Trade and Organic coffee to a respectable level. To date, only 6% of Starbucks’ coffee is certified Fair Trade. High quality certified Fair Trade and Organic coffee is readily availlable and represents a concrete way to support small-scale coffee farmers abroad.
Instead of committing to an accountable and respected third-party certifying system, Starbucks has created in internal “corporate responsibility” model that is expensive for coffee farmers, non-transparent and strictly voluntary. Starbucks’ has yet to fully committ to incoporating corporate accountable practices into their business model.
Starbucks calls its coffee worker-friendly — but in Ethiopia, a day’s pay is a dollar. For more information please visit Investigative Report: Promises and poverty
It is time to turn the heat up on Starbucks. Take action today! Sign OCA’s 2008 petition to Starbucks demanding that all espresso drinks be both 100% certified Organic and Fair Trade.
Take a few moments to visit Organic Consumers Association to learn more about this and other concerns that we, as responsible and caring consumers, need to be aware of. This is our planet, and we truly need to take steps to care for the earth and ALL the people who inhabit this world.
Homeschoolers have the Right to Free Choice!
Posted by msterilinn on Mar 12, 2008
As a homeschooling parent, this really hits home with me. We have the right to choose how, when, and where to educate our children. It is totally appalling to deprive us of our rights as free human beings. I take the teachings I provide or seek for my children quite seriously, and will fight to give them the best education, as all loving parents should. Unless I am causing true harm to my child, no one has the right to take this away from me, or my child. The reason I am bringing up this subject, is a recent development concerning homeschooled children in the State of California.
Let me show you a recent press release..
Reverse The Ruling - Homeschoolers Unite
(PRWEB) March 11, 2008 — Homeschooling activists across the nation are calling to “Reverse the Ruling,” targeting the recent opinion published by California Justice H. Walter Croskey that parents “do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children.”
On www.ReverseTheRuling.com, education activists have been separating fact from fiction, and schooling the general public on the recent events relating to homeschooling in California, as well as working with homeschoolers all across the nation to gather over 100,000 petition signatures demanding that this ruling be reversed.
“Homeschooling has been a freedom practiced long before the Constitution captured our inalienable rights, with many of the Declaration of Independence signatures coming from men that were homeschooled. Our opinion is quite clear,” said Mimi Rothschild, leader of ReverseTheRuling.com “Parents are responsible to train their children to the very best of their ability and to teach them all they believe to be true. Parents are blessed with children, and obligated to care for all aspects of their children’s lives, including who, what, where and how they are educated.”
Since release yesterday, the ReverseTheRuling.com petition has been inundated with signatures, Ms. Rothschild and other activist are encouraging those that oppose this ruling to be active – signing as many national petitions as possible, gathering information and writing about their experiences on such sites as www.ReverseTheRuling.com
About www.ReverseTheRuling.com:
ReverseTheRuling.com is the one-stop source of information for homeschoolers across the nation to learn, spread the word and be heard regarding the recent actions and events that affect homeschoolers throughout the state of California. Please visit www.ReverseTheRuling.com to learn more about the issue, and see how you can participate in reversing the most shocking ruling to hit homeschooling ever.To schedule interviews with Mimi Rothschild, nationally known education expert specializing in Homeschooling, please contact:
Michael Broome
T. 215.487.3700 ext. 67266
mbroome@LearningbyGrace.orgMimi Rothschild
Mimi@LearningbyGrace.org###
Sorting Fact From Fiction, Opinion From Opposition with ReverseTheRuling.com
It is very important to get involved, and see for yourself the awesome support for homeschoolers and everyone who believes in free choice. Educate our people, and let our voices be heard!!
