|
| |
|
Life-Styles
Simpler Living |
| You wanna
be really countercultural??
Try a "Buy Nothing Day" on Nov. 29!
[11-27-02]
Thanks to Utne
Webwatch.
International Buy Nothing Day, the annual 24-hour period
of no shopping and anti-consumer activism, will be observed this year in
the United States on November 29. Buy Nothing Day events will take place
in a total of 40 countries this year, encompassing theater and
celebrations as well as more militant protests and actions.
The
Guardian reports that in London, activists will dress up as
human credit cards, while others will dress as shopping police and hand
out Buy Nothing Day fines to people carrying too many shopping bags.
In the United States and Canada there have been banner
drops and credit card cut-ups, as well as attempts to buy advertising
space to promote buying nothing on major television networks. Wired
tells of one California woman's plans to hang out in front of a shopping
mall dressed as "Satan Claus" and hand out gift exemption
vouchers.
The United Kingdom's Buy Nothing Day Web site offers 101
things to do with your day besides shopping, including
"practice tai-chi in public (e.g. in front of Starbucks in order to
spread the 'non-capitalistic' vibe), grow your own beansprouts, and
discuss your last 10 purchases with a family member or friend - did they
really bring you any happiness?"
In an expansion on the Buy Nothing Day theme, the
Canadian Mennonites are promoting Buy
Nothing Christmas, "a movement to de-commercialize Christmas
and redesign a Christian lifestyle that is richer in meaning, smaller in
impact upon the earth, and greater in giving to people less
privileged." |
| Another take on
holiday buying: No Sweat!
[11-27-02]
Many groups are working to offer alternatives to
clothing manufactured by underpaid workers in sweat-shop conditions.
Organizations and entrepreneurs are striving to offer alternatives. Here
are some resources, thanks to Global
Exchange.
You might start by downloading Global Exchange's own "Socially
Responsible Shopping Guide."
Give your business to two new enterprises that have been set up to take
the sweatshops out of our clothing. Especially if you are a member of a
group that frequently buys large number of custom made tee shirts for
events, these are great places to support.
SweatX:
807 Mateo Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90021
Tel: 213-362-9001
Orders Only (toll free): 866-4SweatX
Fax: 213-327-0099
http://www.sweatx.net/
No Sweat Apparel:
36 Border Street
W. Newton, Ma.
02465
Phone: 617-527-2551
http://NoSweatApparel.com/
And, finally, you can support producers in the world's poor countries by
shopping Fair Trade. You can locate the nearest Fair Trade
retailer near you by visiting the website of the Fair Trade Federation,
http://www.fairtradefederation.org/
|
| |
|
Some blogs worth visiting |
| |
|
Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created this new blog
for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship and activism,
Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the voices of
feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy, students,
exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers and
devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God in
whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
| |
|
Witherspoon’s Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, Witherspoon’s
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views, or initiate
a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
| |
|
John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical reflections on
everything between summit to shore, including kayaking, climbing,
religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology, politics, culture,
travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New York City and the
Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive New York City
Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the Witherspoon
board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian Church in
Flushing, NY. |
| |
|
John
Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently serving as
pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton, Tenn., blogs
about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized and
disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and lightening
up. |
| |
|
Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
| |
|
Plan now for our 2010 Ghost Ranch
Seminar!
GHOST RANCH SEMINAR
July 26-August 1, 2010
WE’RE
ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
CONFRONTING THE STRUCTURES OF INJUSTICE |
| |
|
If you like what you find
here,
we hope you'll help us keep this website going ... and growing!
Please consider making a special
contribution -- large or small -- to help us continue and improve
this service.
Click here to send a gift online, using your credit card,
through PayPal.
Or send your check, made
out to "Witherspoon Society" and marked "web site," to our
Witherspoon Bookkeeper:
Susan Robertson
9650 Clover Circle
Eden Prairie, MN 55347 |
| |
|
