HOLIDAY SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS
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SHOP WITH A CONSCIENCE
Two local stores work with craft communes and other grassroots producers to assure that they get a fair price for their goods. They sell fair trade coffee and cocoa, too.
Ten Thousand Villages-Houston, 2418 Rice Blvd. in Rice Village. This national project of the Mennonite Central Committee is, at the local level, a member of Houston Peace and Justice Center.
Corazon Fair Trades Arts & Crafts, 2318 Waugh (in Montrose). Call 713/526.6591 for open hours.
To shop on-line, here's a guide to Fair Trade and Non-Sweatshop clothing:
Non-Sweatshop clothing
Coop America has links to many sellers of 'green' products. Go to CoopAmerica
Global Exchange (www.globalexchange.org)has its own on-line store plus a short list of other sources of sweatshop-free garments and other products at GlobalExchange
SHOP LOCAL
When there is choice between chains and local owners, go local. Supporting locally based business is one way to loosen the grip of corporate power, keeping money in the community rather than the coffers of CEOs and stockholders. Houston has bookstores, toy stores, and clothing stores in competition with the chains.
OR DON'T SHOP
Most of us have far more material possessions than we need. One way out of the quandary, 'What can I give?' is to give a donation to a social change organization in your friend's name. For example, donations to Houston Peace and Justice Center are tax-deductible (mail to P.O. Box 66234, Houston, TX 77266). How about a gift membership to the Children's Museum for a child, or to the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston or the Museum of Natural Science for an adult? Or give home-made/cooked/baked gifts.
Two local stores work with craft communes and other grassroots producers to assure that they get a fair price for their goods. They sell fair trade coffee and cocoa, too.
Ten Thousand Villages-Houston, 2418 Rice Blvd. in Rice Village. This national project of the Mennonite Central Committee is, at the local level, a member of Houston Peace and Justice Center.
Corazon Fair Trades Arts & Crafts, 2318 Waugh (in Montrose). Call 713/526.6591 for open hours.
To shop on-line, here's a guide to Fair Trade and Non-Sweatshop clothing:
Non-Sweatshop clothing
Coop America has links to many sellers of 'green' products. Go to CoopAmerica
Global Exchange (www.globalexchange.org)has its own on-line store plus a short list of other sources of sweatshop-free garments and other products at GlobalExchange
SHOP LOCAL
When there is choice between chains and local owners, go local. Supporting locally based business is one way to loosen the grip of corporate power, keeping money in the community rather than the coffers of CEOs and stockholders. Houston has bookstores, toy stores, and clothing stores in competition with the chains.
OR DON'T SHOP
Most of us have far more material possessions than we need. One way out of the quandary, 'What can I give?' is to give a donation to a social change organization in your friend's name. For example, donations to Houston Peace and Justice Center are tax-deductible (mail to P.O. Box 66234, Houston, TX 77266). How about a gift membership to the Children's Museum for a child, or to the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston or the Museum of Natural Science for an adult? Or give home-made/cooked/baked gifts.
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