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Unity Blog
January 28, 2010
"You need to do what it takes to be privileged enough to do what you love" ~Shelby Fetterolf Hmm...why so moving you might ask? Well, for me, it made me not only feel better about a personal frustrating situation, but it also brought to light an easily overlooked commonality that I've found among many people I have met in this journey we call life...we ALL have dreams. Of course the dreams we all have are different in that they reflect our individual personal aspirations. They are also alike in that they are generally thought of as a "later in life" aspiration, often even a "someday" or "that will be the day" type of attitude is evident toward our dreams. Later. Later. Later. Why always later? I have found some reassuring information that may help "later" be okay for realizing my dreams, and I hope it helps you be o.k. with "later" as well. Basically, I believe that we ALL can achieve our dreams, no matter how unattainable they may seem, if we simply set goals along the way. Achieve one, feel good about it, then move on to the next. Did you know that only 3% of Americans actively set goals and attain them? Research shows that if you wake up and accomplish something right away, you will not only feel better about yourself, you will want to do it again. I found a great site by Arthur Gueli called successmethods.org, that really helps to put some of this into a workable format, at least for me anyway. Here is an excerpt, then you should check out the site for yourself. "We each have a number of different roles in our lives - different areas of responsibility. I may have a role as a husband, father, counselor, and businessman. Each of these roles is important (we should learn how to set goals in each area of our lives). But remembering the "big picture" is also an important part of how to set goals. One of the problems that comes up when people work to become more effective in life is that they don't think broadly enough. They lose the sense of balance between their roles. For example, they may get consumed by work and neglect personal health. Or for the sake of success, they may sacrifice the most precious relationships in their lives. Many of us forget that work is a means to an end, not the end in itself. Learning how to set goals can be very helpful in avoiding these pitfalls." This is pretty good stuff. The challenge for all of us is putting it into action. Good luck! "Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream of things that never were and say, why not?" ~Robert F. Kennedy Nicely said Bobby! My wife and I have new dreams all the time. Many of them have to do with travel, businesses we want to start, helping people on a larger scale, and a more simplified lifestyle we want for our family. Now, more than ever, I am confident that we can achieve all of these dreams, all in good time, one goal at a time. Here's to keeping your dreams alive folks! -Drew Warner Unity-Fair Trade Marketplace view and post comments (0) Healing Haiti - Are You in for the Long Haul? January 14, 2010
Although the scenes of suffering, death and destruction happening in Haiti in the aftermath of the recent earthquake are difficult to see, our ability to witness the devastation and tragedy, even from the comfort of our living rooms, will spark compassion in our hearts and in turn inspire us to act. Compassion is a powerful motivator if we allow ourselves to truly feel it. I know I am not alone in my feeling of helplessness as we watch events unfold. The immediate need is so great, yet only those well-trained to deal with this magnitude of disaster can really be of help right now. So we sit on our hands, donate money if we can, and hope and pray for the best. As weeks and months pass, and the disturbing images are seen less and less in the news, will Haiti still be on your mind? Or will you send your donation and consider the work done? As the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with almost 80% of their population living below the poverty line, Haiti is going to need some long-term help in getting back on their feet; if you can consider that level of poverty as ever "being on their feet" to begin with. A neighbor as close to us as Haiti, living in such poverty should have been a little more on the radar anyway it seems, but this tragedy has certainly put them there. The trick will be keeping them there so that people can see the needs and feel compelled to address them. Obviously basic needs will need to come first - clean water, food, shelter, clothing, and medical supplies. Once these needs are fulfulled, however, there will be much more work to be done. As the country struggles to rebuild, the need to find alternative ways to fight poverty will be of utmost importance. As the old saying goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." The aid to Haiti needs to go beyond traditional aid and truly give the Haitians what they need to lift themselves from poverty. The Fair Trade community will certainly mobilize, helping Haitian artisans and farmers to bring their goods to market and make a sustainable living. If we can work together to create a greater market for Haitian goods, then we can work on the other end to increase the number of Fair Trade artisans and farmers in Haiti. The Fair Trade premiums these people get for their goods can then be used to help rebuild their communities. Education, sustainable farming techniques, renewable energy, and microloans and training for small business ownership are all areas that could help the Haitians to improve their livelihoods. The key will be keeping people interested, aware, and compelled to get involved and stay involved. The people of Haiti are part of our global community and their suffering is our suffering. Let's make a commitment to do what we can to help, even after the story has faded from the limelight. We look forward to doing our part by working with Haitian artisans and bringing their goods, and their stories, to you. In addition, we are donating ALL PROCEEDS from the sale of our Organic Cotton Unity T's to disaster relief efforts and aid to Fair Trade artisans and farmers in Haiti. We also look forward to hearing how you are doing your part - share your stories with us as well. Maybe together we can come up with some innovative ideas to make some change. As we always like to say, "TOGETHER we can make a better world." Now is the time folks, let's get to work! Nichole Warner Unity - Fair Trade Marketplace view and post comments (1) Out with the Old, In with the New December 30, 2009
For most of us, it is also a time of personal reflection. What has happened in our own lives this past year? What have we done well, what have we done not so well, and what do we need to change to make this next year better? Cue the New Year's Resolutions! I personally love the tradition of celebrating the New Year - out with the old, in with the new. Clean out that proverbial closet. Say a quick thank you to all those mistakes hiding in the back for teaching you such valuable lessons, then get rid of them - no room for old mistakes and regrets in this closet. Shine up those happy memories and put them in a box - you'll want to keep these forever. There, now you have a clean slate and a clear head to envision what you want for yourself and our world in this new year. Envision is the key word here. Much has been written about the power of thought and our ability to control our reality with our thoughts. This is not a new idea, but is newly being proven by science and quickly being embraced as truth. A truly thought provoking article about this theory was written in Ode Magazine in November 2003 - check it out. So this new year, give it a try. What do you have to lose? Envision all the good things you want for yourself and your family and make them happen. Get rid of any negative thought patterns. No more saying, "I'm broke" or guess what - you are! No more thinking, "I just can't make this marriage work" or guess what - it won't. No more "I'm never going to find a job in this economy" or guess what - you won't! You get where I'm going with this. Maybe if we applied this principle to our collective reality, we could really change things. How about we start talking about how amazing it is that the economy is rebounding so quickly, instead of how awful and hopeless it is. Or maybe we could stop concentrating on the gloom and doom problems with climate change and put all of our energy into positive solutions. Picture every child being fed, going to school, living free from abuse and neglect. Imagine ALL of our soldiers coming home to their families and our world leaders diplomatically solving the tough issues. Picture the hearts of religious extremists softening and their ears hearing the true words of their God, who is trying to tell them that taking the lives of others is wrong and can never be done in His/Her name. Envision us all putting our positive thoughts and energy toward healing our world and it's people. Whatever change you wish to see in the world, envision it. Be it. Out with the old, in with the new. Peace to you all, Nichole Warner Unity - Fair Trade Marketplace view and post comments (1) Holiday Gratitude December 08, 2009
One thing I recommend no matter who you are, what losses you have suffered, what financial stresses may be present, what you do or don't have, or what you think you have been shorted in life or unfairly dealt. Find some things to be grateful for this holdiday season, and focus on them. There are so many people in our country & around the world that always have less, need more, and still put a smile on their face. Be grateful...you have a lot. Love every day, and don't be shy about it...show it, because it will rub off on others. Be positive, work hard, help others, and by god have fun! You and everyone in your life deserve it! Happy Holidays & a Very Merry Christmas! -Drew Warner Unity-Fair Trade Marketplace view and post comments (3) You Have the Power to Fight Povery - Right in the Supermarket December 02, 2009
The ideals of Fair Trade in food production are not new, but they are certainly spreading to more and more types of foods. Unfortunately for those of us here in the U.S., their availability is very limited. European countries are lightyears ahead of us in regards to Fair Trade, mostly because the people there have been educated on the principles and have used their voices to demand it from their food suppliers. They, too, have a long way to go, but are setting a great example for us along the way. There is a wonderful organization called Fair Food International based in Amsterdam that is working hard to change the way our food is produced worldwide. They lobby companies in the food and beverage industry, encouraging them to increase the level of sustainability of their products and also provide tools to educate consumers and equip them to demand "Fairness" in their food supply. Their message: eat fair, beat hunger. Armed with an enormous amount of information regarding the social, environmental, and economic issues surrounding the world food trade, they are working to fight poverty and hunger and change the way we all think about our food. As part of "The World on Your Plate" campaign, they have employed a new and innovative way to show consumers how they can fight poverty right at the supermarket by changing their food choices. They call it "Play It Fair" and it is a Facebook game that teaches how to shop sustainably (by knocking unsustainably produced products off the supermarket shelves). How fun is that? Their blog is a truly great resource and we highly recommend adding it to your RSS feed. They include perspectives from people around the world that have given us much food for thought, as we are sure it will for you as well. Check it out! Let's follow the lead of the European nations and use our voices to demand quality, sustainable, "Fair" food. We cannot in good conscience continue to exploit developing nations by eating their "cheap" food while they suffer in hunger and poverty. Let's bring Fair Food International to our shores and use their wealth of resources to change the world's food supply chain. In this day and age, there is absolutely no reason for anyone to go hungry. Now that we realize our food choices play a part in this, what are we willing to do to change it? -Nichole Warner Unity - Fair Trade Marketplace view and post comments (1) "Super Cool Company" Profile--TS Designs November 24, 2009
Based in Burlington, North Carolina, TS Designs follows the triple-bottom-line business model focussed on people, planet, & profits. The values they adhere to in following this model manifest themselves in many ways, but the vision is the following: ■Serve our customers with the highest quality service ■Deliver value in all products ■Provide a high quality of life for all employees ■Protect and restore our environment ■Maintain a reasonable profit Starting with the people, TS designs prides themselves on a diverse work environment where there are many value adds to the employee. Further, in a social context, they provide a variety of T-shirt choices for printing including American Apparel, Econscious, and a line of their own Made in the USA shirts, so you know there is no sweatshop labor involved in the sewing process. When it comes to the environment, these folks are hard to beat. For the actual printing process TSD uses water-based technology in its printing and, through their patented REHANCE technology, can provide a bright, vibrant water-based print on a dyed t-shirt. So what is a water-based print and how is it better than conventional plastisol inks? Good question. Plastisol inks are the ink of choice for most conventional screenprinters. Plastisol contains PVC and pthalates, which are both harmful to the environment, and results in a plastic print that is not breathable. Their water-based inks soak into and become part of the cloth itself, similar to the way water-color paint soaks into paper. The result is a breathable, durable print that will not crack or wash away. Their water-based inks also have excellent color-fastness and washability, keeping their color wash after wash. Water-based inks do not contain PVC or phthalates, which makes them superior in terms of environmental footprint. Water-based ink is transparent which means that a light water-based ink does not cover well on a dark shirt. This is why they created the REHANCE technology which is a water-based printing technology that alters the chemistry of a shirt so that it will not absorb garment-dye. Pretty cool, huh? We thought so! Now, on to one of the coolest features of the TSD set-up, their campus style, environmentally & employee friendly 4.5 acre compound. Check it out here on their virtual tour map. It's most notable features include a biodiesel co-op, a methane digester which powers their hoop house in winter, a wind turbine, a 2.5 KW Solar Array, an employee worked and eaten veggie garden, an employee kitchen, designated bike parking, & many more green and employee qualilty enhancing bonuses. Well, if all this doesn't convince you who to use for your next print job, just order one of our Fair Trade, Organic Cotton Unity T's and see for yourself! -Drew Warner Unity-Fair Trade Marketplace view and post comments (0) Is Your Home Town a Fair Trade Town? November 17, 2009
We love this question! Fair Trade is, and has been from the start, a grassroots movement. This means that the growth of Fair Trade depends on you and me - the people who believe in the ideals of social justice, human rights, and a just and sustainable economic system. It is up to us to raise awareness, share our beliefs and work to bring them to fruition. That's where you come in.... Sharing what you know about Fair Trade and helping to raise awareness in your community is THE most important thing you can do to support and help grow the Fair Trade movement. One of our favorite ways we've seen people working to get the word out is through the Fair Trade Towns initiative. This is a global movement among Fair Trade supporters to raise awareness in their own local communities about Fair Trade, culminating in their town passing a resolution to support Fair Trade. There are over 600 campaigns globally, and here in the US we have 13 declared Fair Trade Towns and 18 campaigns in progress. Will your town be next? Not without a dedicated citizen like yourself to get the ball rolling. Don't assume someone else is probably working on it - jump in and get the movement started! Get involved, do your part in your little corner of the world to make Fair Trade a priority. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." ~Margaret Mead Nichole Warner Unity - Fair Trade Marketplace view and post comments (0) International Day of Climate Action October 22, 2009
Instead of reflecting on how extremely sad I am about what has already been lost and what continues to be lost daily to the effects of climate change, I feel it is most important to focus on the solution. There is much work to be done, but as a wise woman once said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." This Saturday, October 24th, is the International Day of Climate Action. It is a day to come together with the people in our communities to show our solidarity in our commitment to make the changes needed to reduce our CO2 emissions. It is a day to send a message to our world leaders that the time is now! We are a united global community that is demanding a treaty on reducing global CO2 emissions that meets the severity of our situation. Check out 350.org, the organization that is putting this all together. There is an amazing wealth of information on climate change and the importance of the number 350. There is also a listing of actions going on around the globe so you can find an event near you. Here in Northern Michigan, we are lucky enough to have our very own 350 group, TC350. They have organized a full day of activities this Saturday, starting with a group photo at the Open Space, then a scavenger hunt and meal deals from local restaurants, and ending with a TC350 ball where we'll all celebrate and dance the night away. So educate yourself, then take action. Join your fellow world-changers this weekend and tell our leaders that when they meet in Denmark this December, they need to get down to some real business! Then be ready to get down to business yourself. We will all need to do our part to seriously curb carbon emissions. We need to commit to eating locally, growing our own food when possible, driving less, recycling more, composting, reducing energy use in our homes, using less water, and supporting clean energy projects. Climate change is the problem and sustainability is the solution; but sustainability is a journey, not a destination. Let's travel this road together. Nichole Warner Unity - Fair Trade Marketplace view and post comments (1) Blog archives by page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
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