Are you buying ethical products and supporting good companies?

If Nelson Mandela represents anything to me, it is that simply by having the honor to be human, we have social and moral obligations to take care of each other. Of course, you already know this, kind soul. But have you considered that taking care of your fellow human starts with how you choose to spend your money? Surely, you’re aware that a social monsoon is raining down on unjust corporations, such as Walmart, who aren’t taking good care of their employees and their producers. This situation is financial apartheid, where the chasm between the rich and the poor is a widening gap. It frequently looks like this: underpaid, under-insured employees in corporations whose executives make a killing, or factory workers in China who are withstanding unsafe work conditions and making unlivable wages. Of course, there are countless variables to consider.
I wish to simply nudge you, KIND SOUL, that we must remember the lasting effect of every single dollar we spend. What we buy and where we buy it from impacts humans and the environment. There are so many ethical companies now, where their products help humans and/or the earth.
Let me introduce you to these wonderful companies with a BIG MISSION TO DO GOOD in the world. These AREN’T affiliate links. I simply want to help you discover KIND PRODUCTS. Please share this list with your friends. Thanks for being in my circle of beautiful people.

Have you considered that taking care of your fellow human starts with how you choose to spend your money? #Mandela http://t.co/ccdDHnUIdo

— Frances Arnold (@FrancesLArnold) December 14, 2013

• Radiant Cosmetics – click here.This is makeup with a mission to end human trafficking. Radiant Cosmetics was built around a passion to fight human trafficking. With every product you purchase, they donate time, money and effort to help fight the injustice.

• Tom’s (One for One) – click here. Your purchase helps people restore independence, economic potential, health, & education opportunities. When you purchase a pair of shoes, Tom’s will donate a pair of shoes to a child in need. When you buy a pair of eyewear, they will provide vision services to someone who is vision impaired.

• Women for Women – Help women survivors of war rebuild their lives. Check out the Gifts that Give Back catalog and honor someone special with a gift that will leave a lasting impact on women’s lives. Click here.

Ethical Retailers Who Make a Difference:

• Songcroft Naturals is a luxurious, natural, free-of-toxic ingredients brand. I use their skin care products daily. By purchasing SongCroft Naturals products, you are supporting a small family farm that practices ecologically sustainable farming .Songcroft Naturals is a family-owned business born on their farm in Snohomish Washington. Many of the product’s ingredients are grown sustainably on their own farm. Click here.

• Rocky Mountain Cuts is a Wyoming-based, organic & grass-fed beef company. They raise their cattle sustainably so that the animal, farmer, and land is healthier. Click here.

• Patagonia is conscientious about the environment and is careful with their use of paper, electricity, and oil. They make fleece jackets from recycled plastic bottles and other fleece jackets. They treat their employees fairly and they give one percent of sales to grassroots activists. click here

• PACT – this company uses super soft organic cotton, ethically manufactured. click here.

• Threads 4 Thought creates clothing using sustainable materials with graphics inspired by issues that they care about like peace and unity. Their mission is to create fashion that evokes a shared responsibility for each other and our planet. They work with humane factories and highly effective charities. click here

• Bohemian Kouture –All the clothing and accessories from are hand-made (in Portland, OR) and constructed from recycled textiles. Most pieces are hand washable, and all are hand-selected from pieces that that have been ‘gently’ worn. click here

Does your receiver really need another THING?

Make a donation in someone’s honor instead of buying them more stuff that they probably don’t want.
These are all companies with whom Hubby Mike and I have a history of regular donations. I personally recommend them all:

• The Unstoppable Foundation – Help end poverty by ending ignorance and hunger. This is an awesome “teach a man to fish” program.
  Click here for the Unstoppable Foundation

• No Kid Hungry – Help end child hunger in the US
  Click here for No Kid Hungry

• Kiva.Org – Empower people around the world with a $25 loan.
  Click here for Kiva

• Indie Gogo – Boost someone’s great idea with a small, medium, or large donation.
  Click here for Indie Gogo

These companies I want to donate to, but haven’t tested them out yet. I’ve followed them both for several years:
The Seva Foundation – Help restore sight among the poor. Click here for the Seva FoundationHeifer International – Help end hunger & poverty by donating livestock to families. This is an awesome “teach a man to fish” program.Click here for Heifer International