Here You Can Find "Sweat Free" clothing and Fair Trade Items! Most of these items are made by former sweatshop workers who now work for themselves, Show Your Support Now!
This information comes directly from sweatfree.org/shoppingguide and organicconsumers.org please visit their site to learn more.

Clothing:

Justice Clothing offers a wide-range of sweatshop-free apparel. Justice Clothing sells only union-made clothing, because members of independent unions earn higher wages and benefits, and have a voice on the job. Order online at http://www.justiceclothing.com/.

Autonomie Project is a fashion and footwear company offering stylish sweatshop-free & eco-friendly t-shirts and accessories. Autonomie works exclusively with small, independent cooperatives and sweatfree facilities located in developing areas of the world. Autonomie uses only organic cotton and natural, eco-friendly materials and is 100% vegan. Order online at http://www.autonomieproject.com/ or call 877-218-9131.

Maggie's Organics provides comfortable, durable, affordable and beautiful articles of apparel and accessories made from materials that restore, sustain and enhance the resources, including human, from which they are made. Consumers may request that their order be filled with garments sewn only by cooperatives. Based on availability, Maggie's will confirm via email before shipping. Order online at http://www.maggiesorganics.com/.

Fuerza Unida manufactures a wide-range of products including women's tops, baby clothes, t-shirts, flags, uniforms and more. This U.S.-based company focuses on women's, immigration, environmental issues and health development. Order online at http://www.lafuerzaunida.org/.

Solidarity Clothing is a fair trade company working directly with sewing cooperatives in Bolivia. The company makes fine polo shirts in 100% cotton. Order online at http://www.solidarityclothing.org/ or call 888-331-0553.

Men's Wear:

DeMoulin Apparel manufactures formal men's wear, including tuxedo pants, jackets, shirts, and bow ties as well as a wide variety of school and work outerwear. Over 150 workers at two locations are members of Workers United Local 546. To order, call: 1-800-228-8134. To view: http://www.demoulin.com/.

Kenneth Gordon makes the fine quality men's dress shirts. The workers are members of Workers United Local 2647. Order online at www.mensapparel.com/kengodrsh.

Protexall carries a line of casual men's wear, including pants, shirts, and jackets. The company has also manufactured quality workwear and uniforms for over 100 years. Order online at http://www.protexallinc.com/.

Traditions Fair Trade sells men's dress shirts, sneakers and leather shoes made in worker-run factories in Argentina. Order online at http://www.traditionsfairtrade.com/.

Baby Clothes

Rage Baby sells fun, off-beat, irreverent t-shirts for your baby to express herself! Baby t-shirts are organic cotton and fairly-traded from a cooperative in Nicaragua. Order online at http://www.ragebaby.com/.

The Working World is a non-profit organization dedicated to the expansion of economic democracy. Their core project is a fund that provides productive capital directly to workers through fair loans and investments. They also help market products from the cooperatives and democratic workplaces they support. Order online at http://www.theworkingworld.org/.

Coats / Outerwear
Leather Coats is your home for leather outerwear and accessories. Their workers are members of Workers United Local 73. Order online from their USA union-made section at http://www.leathercoatsetc.com/.

SterlingWear of Boston was founded in 1968. The company produces Navy-style pea-coats and outerwear. Over 50 manufacturing workers are members of UNITE HERE Local 1. Order online at http://www.sterlingwear.com/.

T-Shirts

Donnelly/Colt is a two-person home business that has been committed to working with union-made and imprinted garments for 33 years. Request "union-made" when ordering. Mail order from www.donnellycolt.com or call 1-860-455-9621.

Just Shirts
works in partnership with a women's worker-owned cooperative in El Salvador to produce high quality fairly-traded and sweatshop-free t-shirts, hoodies and canvas bags. Order online at http://www.justshirts.ca/.

Nicaraguan Garment Workers Fund
sells sweatshop-free, fairly-traded, and 100% certified organic tees and shirts. All of the profits go directly to supporting the development of the Nueva Vida Cooperative in Nicaragua. Order online at http://www.ngwfund.org/.


Union Shirt Supply, sells union-made t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, reflective safety tees, and flame resistant shirts.
http://www.unionshirtsupply.com/

Wholesale

EthixSupply.com wholesales union-made in the USA headwear, bags, shirts and more. They can do custom screen printing, embroidery or direct digital printing for your Local, organization, or company. Order online at http://www.ethixsupply.com/ or call 877-709-3845.


Fair Trade Uniforms
offers an opportunity for schools to wear their commitment to ending poverty on their sleeves. Their production partners are projects established by the Sisters of the Good Shepard. Order online at http://www.fairtradeuniforms.org/ or call 718-204-0909.

North Country Fair Trade
specializes in the sale of blank t-shirts and tote bags to schools, stores and organizations that want to imprint their logo on a promotional product. Oxford style men's shirts made from organic cotton with a hand woven trim from Guatemalan fabrics are also available. As partners in the business, members of Maquiladora Dignidad y Justicia divide income earned by the production team and divide earnings equally among members. Order online at http://www.ethicalgoods.org/.

Union Maid Screen Printing
is a democratic, soon to be worker-owned company, providing quality silk screen services. Union Maid is committed to providing sweatshop-free products. To order, go online at http://www.unionmaidscreenprinting.com/ and send them an email.


Union Shirt Supply, sells union-made t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, reflective safety tees, and flame resistant shirts.
http://www.unionshirtsupply.com/

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Shop sweatfree in your local stores

The following are a sample of sweatfree products made by organized workers available in your local stores. The companies produce with all or mostly union-labor. Look for the brand label and "made in Canada" or "made in the USA" to be sure of buying sweatfree.
Jack Victor is a family-owned corporation that manufactures fine quality men's garment using the experience of the traditional know-how and the most modern equipment to maintain the highest of quality standards. Find a store at http://www.jackvictor.com/. Look for Jack Victor "made in Canada."


Metro Sportswear makes down-filled Canada Goose brand coats. The workers are members of Workers United Local 437. Find a store at http://www.canada-goose.com/. Look for Canada Goose "made in Canada."


Resistol has made great western style hats since the 1920s. Over 200 manufacturing workers in two production locations are members of Workers United Locals 128H and 129H. Find a distributor at: http://www.resistolhat.com/. Ask for Resistol "made in the USA."


Schott N.Y.C. makes pea coats, aviator jackets, and motorcycle jackets. The workers are members of Workers United Local 169C. Find a store at http://www.schottnyc.com/. Look for Schott "made in the USA."



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Food:
Organic Consumers Association
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is an online and grassroots non-profit 501(c)3 public interest organization campaigning for health, justice, and sustainability. The OCA deals with crucial issues of food safety, industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, children's health, corporate accountability, Fair Trade, environmental sustainability and other key topics.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/

High School Students Action Plan

Subject: Support UPLIFT Junior's in calling for a boycott of Walmart on Black Friday
Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 23:16:25 -0600
From: Nathan Haines

We've been doing some work in class on Living Wage and Walmart's labor practices and low wages. My students wanted to do something. Check out their video and support their boycott of Walmart on Black Friday. Please forward widely.

Here's the link...

UPLIFT ACTION


Nathan Haines
Social Studies Dept.
UPLIFT Community High School
Chicago, IL

from Rhoda

Traitor Costco/Trader Joe's- the shrimp story unfolds

In this Yahoo article, "4 Things Not To Buy At Costco," they mention shrimp. Remember shrimp? During this break when we load up on groceries, please think before you consume.

"2. Imported Shrimp

Most shrimp sold in the U.S. is imported from countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia, where environmental regulations are often lax or not enforced, according to the Environmental Defense Fund, (EDF), an education and advocacy non-profit. The EDF classifies shrimp imported from these regions as "eco-worst" for the environmentally destructive ways in which they are often farmed. Greenpeace took aim at Costco's seafood sustainability practices last June with an aggressive campaign called Oh No Costco. While Costco seafood buyer Bill Mardon says his company has entered into a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund to set global standards for shrimp farming, the specific objectives are still being discussed.

"Costco gets credit for starting down the road," says Tim Fitzgerald, senior policy analyst for oceans at of the EDF, "but they are still very early on." In the meantime, you're better off buying shrimp at Trader Joe's, which is much further along on the same path. After Greenpeace launched its Traitor Joe campaign in early 2009, Trader Joe's pledged to remove all non-sustainable seafood from its stores by the end of 2012, and it's already taken concrete steps in that direction."

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/111341/things-not-to-buy-at-costco

Things That Go On "There" Also Go On "Here"

Okay, I know the projects and issues have so far been Asian and Asian American related 'cus after all, we are an ASAM class. However, I thought some of you might be interested in learning about how the unspeakable things that go on "there" also go on "here." I mean, I'm sure most of you guys are aware of it already but I just thought I'd post this documentary.

Playground documentary website

http://www.playgroundproject.com/film/

Playground documentary trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWMOxWlzCxo

Not Too Academic But Interesting and Somewhat Pertinent Nonetheless

I think some of the class is dealing with the issue of human trafficking or more specifically human sex trafficking (especially after watching that documentary in class). Well, I don't know if you're familiar with the TV show America's Most Wanted, but the last two episodes have been about just that. The first link is on human trafficking right here in the U.S. and the second linked episode is where they travel to SE Asia to deal with child sex work (like in the documentary we saw). It relates to this class because they talk about how ex-pats and US men travel to these countries for sex. Here they are.

U.S. Human Trafficking: Special Edition

http://www.hulu.com/watch/193676/americas-most-wanted-us-human-trafficking-special-edition

Child Predator Crackdown: Special Edition

http://www.hulu.com/watch/191663/americas-most-wanted-child-predator-crackdown-special-edition#s-p1-so-i0

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Save the Date! Illinois Rescue and Restore, in partnership with local anti-trafficking organizations, will be observing National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on Tuesday, January 11, 2011. More details to follow. Are you interested in partnering with Illinois Rescue and Restore to organize your own local event to raise awareness on January 11, 2011? Let us know! We will assist you in your efforts and we will also include your event on the Illinois Rescue and Restore event calendar which will reach hundreds of coalition members across the state. Please contact Lisa Fedina at Lisa.Fedina@illinois.gov or 312-793-0014 to get involved. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ The next coalition meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 14th in Chicago at 401 S. Clinton, 7th Floor in the Conference Room at 9:30am. Join us to discuss local efforts and to collaborate on enhancing statewide anti-trafficking strategies including the current efforts of the Prevention and Intervention Action Teams. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ Human Trafficking in the NEWS: Somali Gangs Indicted for Sex Trafficking of Children: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/08/ap/national/main7034588.shtml Rachel Lloyd, founder of GEMS New York, reflects on Sara Kruzan's situation and talks about her experiences as a survivor: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-lloyd/post_1273_b_784557.html

from Stephani Meyers

Thank you for joining us

Our mission is to raise awareness of the oppression and exploitation of workers around the world. Please contact....for local UIC activities addressing these concerns.