sabistarr

Today one in six people—more than one billion—don’t have access to enough water. Lack of access to safe water is the leading cause of death and illness in the world - around the world, a child dies every 15 seconds from water-borne diseases, and 80 percent of all diseases are caused by unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene. The global water crisis is steadily worsening with climate change. As water scarcity becomes a bigger issue, corporations are increasingly trying... Read Full Story

After decades of suffering, the Tibetan people have burst onto the streets in protests and riots. The spotlight of the upcoming Olympic Games is now on China, and Tibetan Nobel peace prize winner the Dalai Lama is calling to end all violence through restraint and dialogue–he urgently needs the support of the world’s people. China’s leaders are lashing out publicly at the Dalai Lama–but we’re told many Chinese officials believe dialogue is the best hope for stability in Tibet. China’s... Read Full Story

Do you know a supermarket who is doing a great job in stocking and promoting fair trade products? Or is your grocery store slacking and just not interested in fair trade? Either way, have your say. Download this grocery store report card , and when you next visit your grocery store make a quick note of the fair trade varieties. Submit your report online here , and help Oxfam congratulate those who deserve it, or put pressure on those groups who need to stock more fair trade. Help us know... Read Full Story

This year, March 8 marks the centennial anniversary of International Women’s Day. On this day one hundred years ago more than 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. Since then, International Women’s Day has remained a day for women raise their voices. Last month The United Nations raised its voice to donors, calling for a massive $856 million to help women in crisis situations and war. This call for funds illustrates the sheer... Read Full Story

An astonishing 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies are made every year - the far majority of which destroy the life of a child as quickly as it puts a smile on another child’s face. Most cocoa is produced in West Africa. Cocoa companies in the US pay so little for their raw ingredient that the farmers in Africa cannot meet their families’ basic needs, let along pay their workers. To create the bunnies and other chocolate treats, an estimated 284,000 children - many of whom are slaves - are... Read Full Story

A brilliant campaign! Name and shame the worst offenders (or biggest fossil fools) that have ignored our demand for clean and just energy. Vote in all or any of the following categories: - Fossil Fool of the Year - Most Inauspicious Newcomer - Lifetime Achievement Award - Biggest Human Toll - Outstanding Performance in Corporate Greenwashing Visit Co-op America to vote, and automatically enter the contest for a free year of renewable energy credits for your home. ShareThis Read Full Story

Icelandic singer, Bjork, causes controversy again! This time it is not her bizarre dress sense, but her political stance. In her recent concert in Shangai she declared ”Tibet! Tibet!” three times, and to end a passionate performance of her song ”Declare Independence”. The lyrics include “raise your flag, ignore their patronizing, tear off their blindfold, open their eyes…declare independence”. Typically, Chinese state media did not report on the concert. (The state does not tell people... Read Full Story

We all know the environmental disaster plastic bags cause, choking birds and marine creatures. We are all tired of seeing plastic bags turn into the “national flower”, littering trees, bushes and our communities. Yet we all continue to take home plastic bags every time we shop. In fact, America takes home 100 billion plastic bags a year, enough to circle the globe 45 times. “The swirling debris of plastic trash in the Pacific Ocean has now grown to a size that is twice as large as the... Read Full Story

The Procter and Gamble latest marketing campaigns to “use your period for good” and “have a happy period” has caused an eruption from women around the world, even described at “outright insulting”. There have been numerous comments on these advertisements, including an article from The Red Tent Sisters (Canadian women dedicated to reproductive and sexual health needs of women) who comment: I don’t have a problem with education and hopefully increasing openness about women’s... Read Full Story

Towards the end of last year, Indian authorities raided factories making GAP clothing, and found children as young as 10 employed there making garments for the GAP Kids range. The children said they were sold to the factory by their families, some of them claim they were not paid and all of them were working in terrible conditions. GAP says the clothes produced at these factories will not be sold in the U.S. and it has ended its contract with the factories. We do not think this is enough... Read Full Story