| Before the readers of this article begin to imagine | | | | your light bulbs flashing. Yes! Those groovy little artsy |
| that I live on some mountain top, sling on the | | | | villages that make really beautiful handmade items. In |
| Birkenstocks (which I happen to love), crunch on | | | | impoverished nations under strict guidelines as |
| granola and soy for sustainment (blech), braid the | | | | dictated by the Fair Trade Federation. Actually, the |
| hairs on my legs and meditate daily in the hopes of | | | | purchases you make sustain a family financially by |
| achieving ascension and enlightenment (Amen), know | | | | providing them with a fair wage. This in turn |
| that at least you are partially correct in your musings. | | | | enhances the village in terms of stability and personal |
| I drive a car, have a carbon foot print, shop at a | | | | empowerment. How does this sit with you? |
| really large chain grocery store and commit other | | | | Personally, supporting this effort sits with me just |
| consumer sins. I mean come on! Convenience, more | | | | fine. Your purchase also enhances the environment. |
| Benjamin's in the wallet and catchy zillion dollar | | | | For example there is a village which recovers washed |
| advertisement campaigns! Fortunately too, I was | | | | up tourist's flip flop sandals from the shore. A |
| given, as every person is, a conscience and the free | | | | process was taught to the village whereby necklaces |
| will to use it. | | | | and earrings are crafted from them. This saves the |
| Being born in the 60's has afforded me the | | | | fish population because the schools do not become |
| opportunity to be a part of "Generation Jones" which | | | | entangled in the volumes of flip flops. No, I am not |
| is a term coined by sociologist Jonathan Potell. This | | | | kidding. There are also artisans in Haiti who use |
| demographic can be best described as being born | | | | recycled oil drums to make ethnic masks and wall art. |
| between the years 1954-1965. We are too young to | | | | Talk about ingenuity and a solution toward global |
| be Boomers and too old to be a part of Generation | | | | waste issues. I challenge you to have a chat with |
| X. We are unique and deserve our own niche. We | | | | yourself about these issues as you view products |
| are especially blessed because we came of age | | | | and items in the big guy stores. |
| when we did. This I feel to be true. | | | | Am I loaded with money? Just the question is |
| Generation Jones individuals are the little brothers or | | | | laughable. Do I still have control over my choices? |
| sisters of the people who were going to or coming | | | | As sure as the sun shines, I do. The choice is usually |
| home from Vietnam, free loving at Woodstock, | | | | quite simple. If I can buy the product from a Fair |
| making "Victory" signs at every opportunity and | | | | Trade retailer, I will opt to do so. Are prices higher |
| growing their hair. We loved the Beatles, or at least | | | | when buying from a Fair Trade retailer? No. |
| loved the people who loved the Beatles. We were | | | | Some people I speak to tend to think that in order |
| young and impressionable when President John F. | | | | to support Fair Trade, you must be a hippy of sorts, |
| Kennedy was assassinated. We came to accept the | | | | have long flowing gray hair, listen to The Turtles, |
| turmoil associated with political and social upheavals as | | | | sport a flower behind your ear and sway to The |
| we watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon in | | | | Mammas and The Pappas. You do not have to be |
| front of our black and white 21 " Philco television | | | | "that kind of person" to actively support Fair Trade, |
| sets. We Jonesed for more. | | | | unlike the typical stereotype perhaps suggests. That |
| Oh, how I loved our television set. We bought it | | | | being said, if you are, then Right on, man. |
| from our neighbor, Ed. He had a shop, a television | | | | The following is a brief list of attributes which are |
| shop! We went there and bought a television. We | | | | personal qualifiers for the support of the Fair Trade |
| took it there when it was broken, or sometimes he | | | | concept: If you find yourself nodding your head to at |
| came to the house to repair it. Interestingly enough, | | | | least one of these descriptions, then you too can |
| there were also dress shops, car shops and shoe | | | | hold your head up high and help the little guy, in an |
| stores. When we were sick and needed medicine, we | | | | enormous way: |
| picked up our prescriptions at the family owned | | | | 1: Have a pulse |
| pharmacy, and had a milk shake at the counter while | | | | 2: Wear any sort of shoes |
| we waited. | | | | 3: Shave your arm pits and legs, or not |
| This was a time when you supported the little guy in | | | | 4: Be a vegan, or carnivore |
| business. This was way before it was cool to do so. | | | | 5: Jam to any genre of music |
| In retrospect and quite simply, this era was the very | | | | 6: Have long, short, dyed, curly, straight or no hair on |
| definition of this grassroots establishment. As a result, | | | | your head |
| it is something that our generational demographic can | | | | 7: Buy stuff for yourself or others |
| identify with. As one grows and matures, we are | | | | 8: Work in any profession |
| more swiftly able to recognize our authentic selves, | | | | 9: Adore or deplore anything Patchouli |
| and those things with which we identify. | | | | With the use of computers, we have the capability |
| Anyway, I went to that enormous retail super store | | | | to be a part of this concept globally. As the adage |
| today. You know, the one with the catchy slogan | | | | indicates, there are simply some things in life that |
| about living money and saving better, or something | | | | provide us with an opportunity to not only do |
| along those lines. I bought some stuff too. Yes | | | | something nice, but to pay it forward in the process. |
| indeed, I did. Me, myself, my Birkenstocked feet, my | | | | Buying Fair Trade products puts a smile on the face |
| belly filled with a fast-food chain egg Mc sandwich | | | | of the person who receives the gift. Why? Because |
| and my post-meditative mind. I was supporting the | | | | the products are outstandingly unique and beautiful. |
| big guy this time, for the sake of convenience in the | | | | You can feel the lovely and spiritual energy in each |
| reality of my day. I felt conflicted, yet not for long. I | | | | piece, for each item is created with love and |
| knew where my heart lived because I also actively | | | | seasoned with hope. You provide your |
| support the little guy. | | | | poverty-stricken global neighbor with opportunities to |
| Spirituality and human interconnection is what makes | | | | develop skills, self worth, self empowerment and self |
| me go tick-tock. Creating personal shifts in one's | | | | esteem by creating a demand for their products, and |
| awareness causes a difference in global energies. | | | | your purchase provides a sustainable wage for the |
| People in Guatemala and Kenya are my spiritual | | | | artisan, their family and their village community. For |
| neighbors. Our hearts beat because of the same | | | | now, and for future generations. The change is |
| source of energy. However, it seems nearly | | | | inevitable and perpetual. |
| impossible to completely shift one's lifestyle to reflect | | | | The items that global Fair Trade artisans create are |
| our most important personal beliefs. Moderation | | | | as diverse as their cultures. In fact each artisan |
| seems to be the best manner with which to | | | | creates their wares as a celebration of their cultures |
| successfully synthesize our righteous principles to our | | | | and heritage, an homage of sorts. |
| daily rituals. No need exists for radical extremist | | | | I have intense faith in the principle of kindness which |
| transformation. All we need is a heart filled with the | | | | is not a characteristic of a generation, but a beautiful |
| desire to do right. All we need is to follow through on | | | | human quality. When presented with an option, please |
| our intentions. | | | | consider choosing Fair Trade, and stay true to all that |
| I, for example support the Fair Trade movement. | | | | is good. |
| Nope. Not Free Trade. Fair Trade. Ahh, I can see | | | | Peace. |