8 things to keep in mind for sustainably sourced spices
When it comes to what we put in our pantries, many of us are already thinking: organic, ethical, fair trade, and sustainable. However, one type of ingredient that may slip our minds is spices! We spice our foods with flavors from all around the world, so it’s important to consider how they’re Read More...
Empowered activism is cultivating a marketable skill - A dispatch from Colombia
“Part of doing something is listening. We are listening. To the sun. To the stars. To the wind.” – Madeleine L’Engle By Jackie Gilbert We all catch ourselves making remarks like “I’m starving” or “we’re dying of hunger”, but fortunately for most of us in my middle-class Read More...
Indulge guilt-free with these 5 ethical and eco-friendly chocolate brands
We are big fans of chocolate here at The Optimist Daily and have written extensively in the past about its many health benefits, from keeping you mentally sharp to lowering your risk of heart failure. But if we are going to indulge in this delicious treat, it’s important to be aware of how Read More...
Fair Trade - A people based solution to poverty and exploitation
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Chocolate once reigned supreme in Central America: The Mayans considered it the food of the gods, and they used cocoa beans as a form of currency. But the birthplace of chocolate has benefitted little from the chocolate boom — despite that this is where most of Read More...
Happy fair trade day!
Fair trade allows farmers in developing countries to grow out of poverty by guaranteeing at least a fair minimum price for their product. Without fair trade it can be difficult for farmers to compete in the global marketplace while still making a decent wage. Today half the world lives on less Read More...
Fair trade means fair transport
[caption id="attachment_251150" align="alignleft" width="369"] Photo: Berber van Beek[/caption] Green sailing: The schooner brig Tres Hombres is pioneering the “fair transport” industry. Marianne Lamers | May/June 2012 Issue It sounds like a romantic story about the Dutch East India Company: Read More...
Editor's letter: Pro
Human connection is what makes life fun | May 2006 issue I was at a lunch sponsored by Organic Valley, a co-operative of 600 U.S. organic farms. During the excellent meal, the conversation focused on our daily relationships with food. Why do we like certain kinds of foods? When did we first Read More...
...and nothing else
Urtekram, the Danish pioneer in organic food and natural-care products, has nothing to hide. The company considers it the most normal thing in the world to do good things in the world.Marco Visscher | March 2006 issueIntet andet reads the label of Urtekram products—“nothing else.” For all of Read More...
Field of dreams
How the ecofashion boom is transforming the lives of cotton farmers in central India. Saritha Rai | December 2007 issue Through narrow village streets littered with cattle dung and hay, past a group of men wordlessly chewing tobacco under a shady banyan tree and oxen lazing in the tropical sun, lie Read More...
People, planet, purchasing power
How buying Ben & Jerry's ice cream made me a more conscious consumer. Amy Domini | June 2011 issue I hate to date myself, but I’m old enough to remember having three pairs of shoes. The Buster Browns were for all the time; these sturdy brown lace-ups were for school, play and most activities. Read More...