Hey Economist: get the facts right on Fair Trade

An article in the Economist (I found it in the New York Times) seeks to explain why buying organic and fair trade doesn't protect the environment in the long run.

Ah, but if it only had its facts straight.

For instance, the article talks about how Fair Trade coffee has forced the production of coffee to increase, thereby making the "real" price of coffee go down. But, it doesn't talk about why coffee production is so high in the first place: because of subsidies from the World Bank to places where coffee hadn't been produced before, such as Vietnam.

Learn more about the facts on this U.S. Food Policy blog.

Another world is possible and you won't find it at the shopping mall

The online version of Gift It Up! is still going strong so we have extended our hours.

Make donations online at www.giftitup.org by 9 a.m. on Saturday 12/16 and your gift cards will be placed in the mail on Monday 12/18.

This is one alternative gift that benefits everybody while restoring meaning to the holidays and keeping your shopping dollars out of big box stores and malls.

1) You are supporting the work of one(or more) of the great non-profits participating in Gift It Up!

2) Your honoree receives a gift card outlining what the donation made in their name is doing.

3) You receive a tax deduction.

For a win-win-win situation, make your donation now at www.giftitup.org

Brought to you by Conscious Consuming - your alternative to stress, media bombardment and shopping malls!