Kiwi Magazine :: KIWIscoop e-Newsletter November 5, 2007

The KiwiScoop™ e-Newsletter comes to you bi-weekly with the latest news, events and offers from KIWI. Sign up now!

November 7, 2007

'Tis the Season for Fair Trade

Need a nice gift, but want it to mean something more? With the holidays coming up, KIWI has compiled these sites for your fair trade shopping needs. (Look for our other lists including organic and charitable shopping coming soon!) What's fair trade, you say? By definition, a fair-trade certified item has also been grown, harvested and created in a sustainable manner. The farmers and artisans are paid a fair wage for their efforts. Whether you need bags, earrings, a nice jar or simply a gift pack of coffee and tea, these sites are sure to lead you to the perfect gift that gives back.

Fairtradefederation.org
Transfair.org
Equal Exchange
Global Exchange Fair Trade Store
A Different Approach
A Greater Gift
A World Away
Beads for Life
Handmade Expressions
Hope for Women
Indigenous Designs
Lucuma Designs
Mad Imports
Mariposa Imports
Sustainable Threads
Tibet Collection
World of Good
Zebra Crossings
Zen Zen Garden
Yellow Label Kids

Read our article on Fair Trade:

Fair is Fair
Why buying with the grower’s well-being in mind can be good for all of us.

If the bag of coffee or box of rice you purchased from your local market sports the Fairtrade label, you can rest assured that the farmers who harvested those beans and grains earned a living wage for doing so. What you may not know is that by definition, a fair-trade certified item has also been grown and harvested in a sustainable manner. Thus, everyone wins with fair trade. Click to continue.

The Earth Will Thank You
Loved our green Halloween tips? Not to fret—here are KIWI's top 16 tips for an eco friendly Thanksgiving.

Gobble organically. Buy an organic, free-range turkey here or from Organic Valley.
Gobble the veggie way. Cut out the turkey altogether and opt for vegetarian Tofurky.
Eat locally. Shop for local and organic vegetables.
Travel light. Reduce travel—perhaps celebrate this Thanksgiving at home.
Be neighborly. Invite over your neighbor and/or someone you know who will be alone for the holiday. This will eliminate long travels, as well as create a sense of community in your neighborhood.
Check the car. If you do have to drive, make sure your car is running smoothly and that the tires are inflated correctly. This reduces your emissions, as the car will run better.
Offset it all. If you must travel, use Terrapass to offset your emissions.
Decorate naturally. Make a centerpiece with your children out of beautiful autumn leaves and pumpkins. Soy or beeswax candles add great ambiance.
Donate. Don’t forget those in need this holiday. Donate food to a local food bank or volunteer with your family at a soup kitchen.
Baked goods. Frequent your local organic bakery for breads and rolls you cannot cook yourself. Rudi’s is a great option for those without a local organic bakery.
Drink responsibly. Make sure to purchase wines from sustainable wineries, such as Alma Rosa, Medlock and Gloria Ferrer.
Get physical. Go outside and play a game of flag or touch football or take a nature walk.
Give back. End your Thanksgiving Day celebrations by planting a tree.
Recycle & Compost. Have a plan to recycle your packaging, paper, cans and glass items. Perhaps try your hand at composting.
Eat everything! Make sure to have a plan for your leftovers—turkey sandwiches, turkey and vegetable stir-fry, soup and stew.
Be thankful. Remember to express your gratitude to everyone—from your mom to your brother to the Earth.

Did You Know?

Wal-Mart has released its own brand of compact fluorescent light bulbs. The Great Value brand of light bulbs can be found in 3,000 Wal-Mart stores nationwide. To read all about the program, click here to read the press Lunchopolis

release. Also, check out their entire stock of CFL’s.

In our September/October issue, we recommended many lunch carriers, but this one is adorable too. Need a replacement lunch box? Try Lunchopolis and its unique midday meal setups. Personally, KIWI loves the green one, but you can pick whichever color you prefer.

November is National Adoption Month. Click here to read KIWI’s special report on adoption, “In Search of a Family,” from our May/June 2007 issue.

Holiday Gift Idea: Give the gift of good family healthy KIWI Magazine makes a perfect gift this holiday season. Click here to save 50%.