Comments on: TOMS Shoes - buy one, give one to a needy child http://whoareamericans.com/2008/04/30/toms-shoes/ A global view of America and Americans ... with a special look at good things Americans are doing in Africa, Asia, South America, Europe and around the world. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:39:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: ben http://whoareamericans.com/2008/04/30/toms-shoes/#comment-411 ben Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:09:05 +0000 http://whoareamericans.com/?p=298#comment-411 But truly folks if we want to help “the POOR” [ there’s a degrading , dismissive moniker if ever there was one no?] then let’s support them via trade. THAT creates JOBS which in turn give people hope and the pride that comes from standing on their OWN feet and not simply always being the recipient of yet another form of AID from the WEST ! Trade gives people the chance to stand among nations as EQUALS unlike AID which often simply creates relationships of dependency and hey who wants that right? to that end there are some GREAT brands being sold from places like ethiopia RIGHT HERE IN THE USA. Brands that are employing their fellow citizens , thereby improving their lives in a lasting + direct manner , while also making valuable exports that help their countries economies develop + grow. One brand in particular that I like are soleRebels from Ethiopia. They’re produced in ethiopia by disadvantaged artisans and some disabled veterans (hence the name sole Rebels) . they have re-invented the traditional selate , that’s the traditional used tire sole shoe indigenous in ethiopia , in some incredible ways while operating in an IFAT [www.ifat.org] certified fair trade manner. IFAT is the body that certifies the Fair Trade practices of companies . As I understand it to get IFAT certification is pretty hard to get and the company must undergo rigorous auditing to ensure they are practicing Fair Trade not just talking . the IFAT certification makes me as a consumer feel good because I KNOW with total certainty that soleRebels is a fully fair trade committed company that’s walking the talk in ALL its facets and practices . and their shoes are hot , AUTHENTICALLY eco-friendly - they use a TON of traditional local and recycled inputs- and they’re available on amazon.com [www.amazon.com] , endless.com [www.endless.com] + urbanoutfitters.com PLUS many other web sellers [just type in sole rebels on google and you’ll find them all] so you don’t even need to get off the couch to get some ! who knew- we can all be couch potatoes and still change the world! God bless America I say….. ben But truly folks if we want to help “the POOR” [ there’s a degrading , dismissive moniker if ever there was one no?] then let’s support them via trade. THAT creates JOBS which in turn give people hope and the pride that comes from standing on their OWN feet and not simply always being the recipient of yet another form of AID from the WEST ! Trade gives people the chance to stand among nations as EQUALS unlike AID which often simply creates relationships of dependency and hey who wants that right?
to that end there are some GREAT brands being sold from places like ethiopia RIGHT HERE IN THE USA. Brands that are employing their fellow citizens , thereby improving their lives in a lasting + direct manner , while also making valuable exports that help their countries economies develop + grow. One brand in particular that I like are soleRebels from Ethiopia. They’re produced in ethiopia by disadvantaged artisans and some disabled veterans (hence the name sole Rebels) . they have re-invented the traditional selate , that’s the traditional used tire sole shoe indigenous in ethiopia , in some incredible ways while operating in an IFAT [www.ifat.org] certified fair trade manner. IFAT is the body that certifies the Fair Trade practices of companies . As I understand it to get IFAT certification is pretty hard to get and the company must undergo rigorous auditing to ensure they are practicing Fair Trade not just talking . the IFAT certification makes me as a consumer feel good because I KNOW with total certainty that soleRebels is a fully fair trade committed company that’s walking the talk in ALL its facets and practices . and their shoes are hot , AUTHENTICALLY eco-friendly - they use a TON of traditional local and recycled inputs- and they’re available on amazon.com [www.amazon.com] , endless.com [www.endless.com] + urbanoutfitters.com PLUS many other web sellers [just type in sole rebels on google and you’ll find them all] so you don’t even need to get off the couch to get some !
who knew- we can all be couch potatoes and still change the world! God bless America I say…..

ben

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