Fair Trade?

Okay, okay, I know it's good to only try to change one thing at a time in life, but I can't help it. I've previously blogged about my new fascination with organic body products, now I'm learning about fair trade items.

I was in my doctor's office yesterday, and there is an ad talking about slavery - mainly, that there are more slaves today than ever before in history. I find that crazy. And, it's due to my love of chocolate. Okay, maybe not directly my love of chocolate, but more due to our Western culture's demand for cheap items, the price of cocoa plummeting, and corruption in different levels in the country itself.

Of course, there are different types of slavery, trafficking and all of that, but the ones that directly impact me in my day-to-day consumption is coffee and chocolate. These are the ones I can change today by making different shopping choices, anyways!

The facts:

• Close to 14 million people, in over 30 countries, depend on cocoa production, mainly grown in the tropical regions of of the global South - West Africa (the Ivory Coast)
• 90% of the world's cocoa is grown on family-owned farms
• Cocoa farmers work with intermediaries, who pay only a fraction of the cost of the actual value of the crop, and have limited access to information on how much their crop is worth.
• The value of cocoa has plummeted, leading to an increase in child and slave labour.

There are many more statistics out there, but I have a 10-month-old screaming in my ear, so I'll have to make this quick.

Basically, I am endeavouring to buy my coffee and chocolate made by providers with the Fair-Trade logo and certification. It will cost more. But this is one area where I have no second-thoughts: I believe God wants me to protect the dignity of human life. And this is one very easy way to do it. I trust that God will provide for my needs if I walk in His ways.

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your way acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight'. Proverbs 3:5-6

Link to Transfair Canada for way more information: http://transfair.ca/en

Summer plans

I have decided to term this summer the "Summer to Visit Parks We've Never Seen". Good, cheap fun while enjoying my babies' younger years. So, I will endeavour to discover parks in the Lower Mainland and visit them on the down days in the week.

Today's visit was to Port Kells Park. About 3 minutes from our house, we've passed this park many times enroute to the highway. Kate was very excited as we packed up our picnic lunch and headed out.

As we pulled in to the parking lot, there was one lone car with a scary-looking man inside talking on his cell phone, and two moms walking away from the park. "Come back!" I think, as I wonder if I'm interrupting some sort of sordid drug deal.

I brave on, take Kate to see the empty pool ("Must need to be fixed", she says), and check out the rambling playground. This playground was clearly past its prime, constructed in the days of lead paint and wooden play structures. While watching over my shoulder for persons of questionable nature, we did the swings, played "Troll Bridge" and enjoyed the see-saw. Lincoln ate sand. All the while, I'm pretty sure there were unmentionable activities going on in different sections of the park. It was just that type of place. I had to stop myself from bolting - if my mother is reading this, she will be horrified that I didn't high-tail it out of there within the first 60 seconds.

As we sat down to our picnic lunch (pb & j, of course), another vehicle pulled in - I've never been so happy to see City of Surrey workers.

I ask Kate if she liked this park.

"It's a little short, Mom." Hmm...good thought, Kate. Short of something, but I'm not sure what.

Score? 2 out of 10. And that's only because I didn't find any needles in the grass.

Andrea saves the universe!

These days, I have a new fascination with things natural and toxin-free. Credit it to my good friend, Kristy, who is a Norwex salesperson - although not a pushy one - but knows all the good stuff to know.

Not only that, but I have a urge to purchase my fruit & veg from local farmers, so I have been on that hunt for a good farm market. Turns out, the market right across from the Superstore will soon be all local produce, which makes my life easier. Although it may make for a two-day grocery shop experience, depending on how long it takes for me to get through the Superstore with two kids.

So, I have purchased my anti-bac cloth, dust mitt and window cloth from Kristy/Norwex (all to clean without the use of chemicals). Now I am looking around for body products (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc) that do not contain parabens or SLS. Burt's Bees and Nature's Baby are the forerunners, but I'm not sure if they're worth the extra money. Part of me says, "Hey, we're all going to die one day, right?" And although there is valid concern regarding the harm of these ingredients, there is also little actual research to show their link to cancers, etc.

Deep down, it rings true to me that the less ingredients in an item, the better it probably is for you.

The real question is: why the sudden interest in these things? Maybe now that I'm healing from my post-partum depression, I need something else to worry about! Isn't it funny how our minds can work?

Anyways, I would love some feedback from anyone on these issues!

Have a great, sunny day!