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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Starbucks- you're welcome for your millions!

Courtesy of U. S. National Achives


     As I try to enjoy my White Chocolate Mocha one morning I wondered as to why we spend over four dollars on one cup of coffee? I mean for some of us this addiction is a daily occurrence and a big drain on our bank accounts. Coffee, to me, is worth every penny but shouldn't Starbucks be rolling in the dough these days? As I began to research this I came upon a radio report about Starbucks.
     Just two years ago the chain had to close over three-hundred of its stores for lack of funds. This seems surprising because we all know there is always a long line at most times of the day. The most shocking part? Just in 2010, there was the first dividend paid back to investors. This seems to be a long awaited and much appreciated payment! Don't feel too bad for the company once the owner, Mr. Schultz made some much needed changes the profits shot up and he was able to almost triple the amount of stores world-wide from over 5,000 to over 15,000 (Kaufman par., 1).
     Since then there has been many ups and downs within this company. Schultz began to do reward programs and partner with other companies to increase the "wow factor" of the establishment. In late 2008, around 600 more locations had been shut down which may seem like a vast amount. However, the report ended with an estimation of how much Mr. Schultz himself (solely as an investor) had been... it was right around 42.5 million dollars. It is safe to say that he, and the company he helps support (as well as the caffeine-lovers of this world just fine in this recession.

Kaufman, Wendy. Starbucks Fires CEO; Founder Returns to Helm. NPR, 2008. NPR. Web. 21 Apr. 2011. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17938601>.

Money Makes You Right

courtesy of Truthout.org

While reading a classmate's blog- the point was made that people often put blame on others instead of admitting their own wrong. I got to thinking, no one is above this phenomenon. The anniversary of my big "mishap" was Valentine's Day... it has been six years since a man put the blame on something other than himsef. Not that I expect some people to be perfect just because of their mistakes no matter who they are.

To make a long story short and sweet, my doctor at a local hospital misdiagnoed me quite a few times and then managed to almost let me die of Septic Shock while a nursing student called me out on having the symptoms of this within seeing me only for five minutes (I had been going to appointments with this doctor for months). After all was and done and I had received proper care at another facility- all I expected was for the the man to own up to what was said. Instead of an apology he blames other factors saying the charts were not up to date or that no one could have for-seen this (when the nursing student indeed had).

Lawyers were brought in because in because they always are, you and I both know what. They try to use big words and fancy phrases to smooth over the matter completely forgetting to acknowledge the fact that I am a person and could have died from his "mishap." But I guess as long as you have enough fancy hospitals and expensive lawyers and numerous other companies behind you, you do not have to face the things you have done. My personal experience and many political leaders have showed me that.

...As long as you have money and someone lesser than you to blame, you have never done anything wrong.

Snow Days can be Beneficial

As winter comes, Arkansas rarely sees snow. Ice every once in a while but never beautiful, fluffy, amazing snow. So whenever there is any kind of weather like we have had recently it seems as if everyone in this state goes crazy! Recently there was snow storm- the most snow I have ever experienced. According to KARK 4 news, there was reportedly between 14-24 inches of snow depending on how close you were to the northern part of the state (Snow par., 1-2). This crazy amount of snow caught everyone off guard. School districts and businesses closed for the next day before any real weather had begun. By Wednesday around lunchtime everyone was calling it a day. Thursday? I literally could not think of one school in session because the weather hit so hard. Guess what comes next…

Stores run out of buggies as well as milk and bread because of all of the people preparing to bundle down for their personal “hibernation.” Not only is it always difficult and time consuming to go to Wal-Mart usually, but on days like these the amount of time it takes to check out is ludicrous. It makes me wonder not only if stores such as Wal-Mart heavily rely on weather freak-outs like these but also how much their sales go up on these days.

Super stores like that are not the only ones benefitting heavily from this type of weather though! Snow plows that clear roads like ice scrapers and also dump trucks that throw out sand and salt are paid to be on-call at all times to  make sure our roads are safe. This may sound basic but this is the only weather that they would be needed at all times of the day and night which is incredibly good for their revenue. So as it may seem to be like we are all frozen where we are but when you look at the bigger picture, it is incredibly beneficial for many companies for this “cool” weather to happen.

"Snow Storm Buries Parts of Arkansas." KARK 4. 09 Feb. 2011. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=392496>.

                           courtesy of my iPhone