Slave Free September

changing the world. one month at a time.

[slavefreeseptember]

Whoops - we've been gone a while!

But weeeeee're back! Back on the airwaves and clogging up your dash with our abolitionist nonsense. Ha!

So the big new is of course - only 4 months til Slave Free September 2014! I hope you've been keeping your beadies open for safe cafes to frequent and products to buy during September. If you decide to give one a try (now or during September - as you please!) do snap a pic and let us know what you think. You might just find your review here on the site! (Naturally, full credit will go to your good self. Credit where credit is due after all.)

Well that's enough verbiage for the minute. We'll be popping in and out over the next few months with motivation and other cool things to get you prepared and keen as [certified Fair Trade] coffee beans for September.

[slavefreeseptember]

Slave Free Spotlight: Lemon and Mint Black Tea

Well well, Little Abolitionists,

Positioned as I am in a small town in the almost-Northernest point in Japan, I haven't had much opportunity for exploring the nation's fair trade products. I do however have one story to tell about a Japanese Slave Free Product. The brand itself, Muji, is generally quite a good brand offering a variety of organic and Fair Trade goods. They are basically life-savers for an Abolition-minded Gaijin used to a wide variety of fair trade/health food goods. Or an Abolition-minded Japanese person trying desperately to shop conscientiously. 

The product itself is, as today's title suggests, Lemon and Mint Black Tea. The more seasoned and astute tea drinkers among you might already be recoiling in horror at the thought, and you would be right to do so. You see Japan is at a point where Health Food as a concept is still rather abstract and intangible. This leads to all sorts of strange behaviour, including a complete lack of a a Health Food aisle in most grocery stores (excluding, of course, the small section of aisle dedicated to health drinks, SoyJoy, and CalorieMate products). 

Furthermore, they haven't quite grasped the concept of black tea. They insist on drinking it cold in the summer months (and it takes a great deal of effort to convince them that no, you really do want a cup o' hot tea). Perhaps this particular blend of tea is refreshing if consumed cold, but of course being rather staunchly British about my tea (as most Aussie Tea Drinkers are) I haven't made the experiment. 

Put simply, Black+Lemon+Mint in tea makes for a strange and altogether unwelcome combination. Strangely, adding milk makes this concoction more palatable, although the taste of lemon and mint is completely nullified. But the good news is that this strange tea is a blip, and so far the rest of Muji's products are certainly worth trying.

Marley

[slavefreeseptember]

Thought for Thursday

In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C.S. Lewis presented two opinions on slavery. ("Absolutely necessary...has your Majesty no idea of progress?" and "We call it 'going bad' in Narnia".) A similar argument ("no profit for us if that stops!") occurred between William Wilberforce and his [ultimately defeated] opponents. This argument is still used today.

What are your thoughts?

Caspian solved the problem by pulling rank and making changes anyway. How would you convince powerful companies that switching to slave free was a worthwhile idea? 

(Disclaimer: this image was not created by Slave Free September or anyone involved in it. To my knowledge.)

[kidpres]

Head on over to ThreadsMedia where they are sharing Kid President inspired art today. Thanks guys! http://threadsmedia.com/blog/article/free-pin-facebook-timeline-photo/#.UiCwPQTg5ZU.twitter

[slavefreeseptember]

Awesome.

[slavefreeseptember]

Bonjour! How is your Slave Free September going so far? 

Have you made any interesting new fair trade purchases yet? If you do, be sure to tell us about it! 

I for one have just made a purchase of Fair Trade Coffee grounds. The photo above is of another (Mocha) variety by the same brand, though I just opted for standard coffee. I find "flavoured" coffee options a bit much first thing in the morning! But it was quite delicious, and at 598JPY a package (by and large you'd get the same for at least $7 or $8 back in Aus) I will most certainly be trying this again. 

And what's more, I found it in a supermarket, which if you're at all acquainted with the Fair Trade scene in Japan you'll know what a big deal that is. Especially out here in Mizusawa. Score!

(To sing the praises of another Fair Trade/Slave Free purchase, flick us an email at [email protected])

[slavefreeseptember]

Do you hear the people sing/Singing the songs of angry men?

It is the music of a people who want slavery to end...

[slavefreeseptember]

Get ready, little abolitionists.

At dawn...we ride! 

[slavefreeseptember]

The Countdown Begins!

Howdy All,

Just a few more weeks until SFS 2013 begins! Brace yourselves. Stock your pantries. 

- Marley.

PS - Come across a fairtrade product or awesome organisation? Let us know! [email protected]

[slavefreeseptember]

Meet our Australia Consultant

Well, ladies and germs, since we last spoke, we've recruited!

Sandi Scott, streuseltaler-baker and all round good egg has joined on as our Consultant for Australia. So expect to see her popping in from time-to-time, alerting our Aussie pals to new/old and exciting Slave Free products available in the Great South Land.

Make her feel welcome, yes?

- Marley

PS - If you're interested in joining the SFS Team, we could always use a spare pair of hands and there are opportunities available, most of which are just about as flexible as you could want. (Please bear in mind, all positions are volunteer.) Contact us at [email protected] if you're interested. 

[slavefreeseptember]

SFS 2013

We're back on virtual-space, and there's nearly two months til SFS 2013. It's going to be great! Prepare yourselves for one glorious month of Slave Free Living. It may not seem like much, but it could change your whole outlook if you let it.

One more piece of news: we're branching out! Japan - tighten your obi's and prepare for the SFS Cyclone! No? The SFS Tropical Storm?...The SFS Downpour?...The SFS Sunshower? Either way, we will be in Japan, sourcing out all the slave-free goodies the country has to offer. Don't worry, Aussie SFSers, (no?) we'll keep you plenty updated finding little bits of wonderful in the Great Southern Land.

As for you other folks, like you 'Murican Freedom-nuts or Folk from the Ancestral Homelands (i.e. - the UK and Ireland) or anywhere else in the world you happen to be...we've got little to no clue about where to buy or what to buy, so you might have to do your own research...then share it with us, here or on the facebook page. Keep us in the loop!

Speak to you soon, little Abolitionists.

[slavefreeseptember]

Thanks to all and sundry who participated in the Wilberforce Oak Campaign. All one of you...

Oh wait, that was me! Hahaha. 

[slavefreeseptember]

Let the campaigning begin!

[slavefreeseptember]

Gentle Reminder

This Sunday, in between toasting your Mum for all she has done for you, do something for countless mothers and daughter and sons around the world; dash off a couple of emails begging your favourite brands to make the jump to Slave Free. 

You know you want to. Get the whole family involved; it can be a nice Mother's Day Family Project or something. 

(PS - Update on the Fair Phone! Subscribe to the mailing list to get an opportunity to pre-order this magnificent beast! www.fairphone.com)

[slavefreeseptember]

Video about the Wilberforce Oak thingy. Check it out.

[slavefreeseptember]

"You won't come away from those streets clean, Wilber. You'll get filthy with it, you'll dream it, see it in broad daylight...but do it. For God's sake!"

- Amazing Grace (2006)

[madeinafreeworld]

If you follow us on Pinterest, you know that we usually pin what inspires us but now, we want to know what inspires you! Create a board on Pinterest and fill it with images that answers the question, “What does a Free World mean or look like to you?” The most creative pinner, as decided by our judges, will win one (1) Change for Good box filled with awesome Fair Trade products from Trade As One!

Here’s how you enter:

1.    Follow us on Pinterest.

2.     Create a board and title it “Made In A Free World”.

3.     Fill this board with at least 10 pins- a minimum of 2 must be repinned from any of the first 5 boards on the MIAFW page.

4.     Tag all the pins on the board #madeinafreeworld.

5.     When you’re done, comment on our Contest Pin with the URL to your board.

The contest begins today and ends on Tuesday, April 30th. Once all of the boards are submitted, our panel of judges will pick a winner based on originality, creativity, adherence to the rules, and demonstration of FREE spirit.  

Good luck and have fun!

[slavefreeseptember]

Want to win some fair trade goodies? Of course you do! Get pinning!

[slavefreeseptember]

Yes, we're getting on the bandwagon a little late. But it is one month til the Campaign of the Wilberforce Oak. Time to psyche ourselves up! And Kid President delivers the pep talk of a life time.

Apart from that "a day may come" speech Aragorn gave at the gates of Mordor. 

Let us know if you plan to get involved in the Campaign of the Wilberforce Oak!