TOMS Shoes

Have you ever heard a cynic say that one man can’t make a difference? Well when people say things like that, I want to prove them wrong. As far back as I can remember I have heard people telling me to be “realistic” and that I can’t change everything- but that is definitely not the case.

Now let me introduce you to Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS Shoes™. Back in 2006, this entrepreneur found himself in Argentina and noticed most of the children there had no shoes. As if this was not bad enough, the children were not allowed to go to school without having shoes—then it occurred to Blake that he had to help! Not being one who knew much about charities, he stuck with his strengths: starting a company (One par., 1). TOMS Shoes™ have a “One for One” motto which means that for every pair of shoes that you buy, the company will donate a pair to a child who cannot afford them. Since this is for-profit company, the purchased shoes allows for another pair to be made and also to help keep his business thriving! (TOMS par., 1).

Blake’s out-of-the-box thinking and fresh eye paid off big time! The company has given away (as of last September) over one million pairs of TOMS to children in need (TOMS par., 4). So as much as I would like to continue to pessimism, not only can one person change the world…. But it’s happening right now!

photo courtesy of my iPhone

"One for One Movement." TOMS Shoes. Web. 31 Mar. 2011. <http://www.toms.com/our-movement/movement-one-for-one>.

TOMS Shoes. TOMS. Web. 31 Mar. 2011. <http://www.toms.com/our-movement/movement-one-for-one>.

Nike's Controversy

Over the past three or so decades there has been talk about Nike’s sweatshops. Even though it seems ludicrous for there to be such a thing, Nike unlike many other companies is actually doing something about it but it was not always this way. Nike built companies in areas of the world desperately needing work and places that have laws against unions. This helped them from getting looked at too closely. A couple of their shop did in fact get shut down, only for them to open a few more elsewhere.

From the very beginning Nike said they were selling shoes not manufacturing them and that they have no control over the means by which they are made. However, when the public did not accept that then Nike changed its strategy. The company created shops and monitored what happened in them- once they found out that there was in fact labor misuse they shut it down.

Nike was defensive towards these claims saying they are doing more good than harm. However, EFJ has reported otherwise saying “Now that Nike has admitted that its factories are places where physical and sexual abuse, extraordinarily low wages, restrictions of bathroom use and other human rights abuses happen on a regular basis,” (EFJ par., 15). The places where these shops are built are often very, very poor countries where any job is better than the no work that most of them have. There are lines of people just wanting to work at these shops just so they would have any sort of income. In addition to that, no one is forcing them to take the job or continue to stay there- it is even an opportunity because they would otherwise not have any money. Although it may seem harsh and yes Nike should pay them minimum wage, it could be worse- at least they are making some money.
            The Nike brand has been getting into trouble so often that many people have started to take notice and take a stand. The Educating for Justice website focuses solely on the wrongs of companies or any type of wronging regarding business, which is stated on their homepage as their mission statement (EFJ). When looking at the site there are countless attacks proving that Nike is slipping up but also that advocates for the cause are finally being heard. So whose fault is this? Nike’s for letting it happen or the public for not doing more to prevent it…

"EFJ Campaigns: Stop Nike Sweatshops." Www.educatingforjustice.org | EDUCATE - ORGANIZE - ACT. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://www.educatingforjustice.org/stopnikesweatshops.htm>.

found via / photo: http://korrekte-klamotten.de/

More Shop, Less Go

Courtesy of BrianJMatis

Surprising, February’s shopping sales were up from what anyone have expected. According to the NY Times, it was because of the weather. Staying inside from the bad weather at the end of January and beginning of February really caused shoppers to spend more than usual when they finally came out mid-February for the holidays proceeding. Although gas prices lately have been on the rise it states that most stores are preparing for when gas hits the four-dollar mark, that is when they expect the amount of shopping to decrease heavily.

Later on in the article it talks about why gas prices are on the rise: “turmoil in the Middle East” which isn’t news to anyone really but it’s hard to believe that something that affects every person in this country was because of the few people that have a say. No matter who tries to tell me otherwise, it is the previous president’s fault that things are how they are. If America didn’t, as they always do, stick its nose into someone else’s business we wouldn’t be in the situation that we’re currently in. and I find this incredibly irritating. Not that I do not appreciate my country or those who are fighting for my safety everyday- I just thing we rushed into the decision to fight this war and now we really aren’t fighting for anything and we’re far too proud to admit we messed up and come back home. But that’s just how we are: proud, invasive, and we push or thoughts and feelings onto everyone around us but we wonder why other countries hate us…?

To me, if we just settle things gas would be cheaper and I could buy more clothes. A girl can dream, right?

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