From Our Fair Trade Program:
Reverse Trick-or-Treating Reaches
250,000 Households

Launched by Green America and our allies at Global Exchange just two years ago, “reverse trick-or-treating” has quickly become an annual tradition, reaching a record number of households this year.

Reverse trick-or-treaters go door to door, handing Fair Trade chocolate back to adults, along with a card explaining the problems in the cocoa industry, and why Fair Trade is important.

After Halloween was over, Green America Fair Trade coordinator Elizabeth O’Connell spoke with Jody Axinn, a Bethesda-based liaison for the American Field Service/Youth Exchange and Study Program, who organized a group of her foreign exchange students to go reverse trick-or-treating. It was particularly compelling and educational for these students, as many came from African countries where farmers suffer from the worst problems in the cocoa industry – and where Fair Trade makes a big difference.

“Jody told me that homeowners were surprised and pleased to be receiving chocolate from the Trick or Treaters, for once,” reports Elizabeth. “They were also interested in hearing what the kids had to say about Fair Trade. Most had not heard of Fair Trade, or had seen it in the grocery store once, but weren’t sure how it was different from other chocolate.”

To find companies selling Fair Trade chocolate, check out the Fair Trade section of our Web site or visit the National Green Pages™.

 

From Our Green Business Network™:
Our members represent the
small-green-business perspective
on the healthcare debate

When President Obama gave his speech on October 29 to small business leaders, the White House wanted representatives of Green America's Green Business Network there.

Aric Caplan, of Caplan Communications in Rockville, MD, and Michael Hindle of Brennan+Company Architects in Baltimore attended on behalf of Green America.

"As part of Green America, small business owners represent a critical link in sustainable practices. And, President Obama truly gets it by acknowledging the undue healthcare burden on us during the news conference," reports Aric. "He said we are on the leading edge of the change. Besides, I think any successful rebound of the U.S. economy would have been incomplete without hearing our voices."

"I would agree with Aric's comments," says Michael. "The president made a solid, point by point argument for why health care reform is obviously a benefit to small businesses.  I did my best to express the progressive business community's support both to the President and to other folks in attendance."

 

From Our Social Investing program:
Victories on proxy access and the CFPA

Thanks to everyone who took our action in October asking for the House Financial Services Committee to press for a strong Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

With the lending crisis continuing to cause record foreclosures and bankruptcies nationwide, we need a government agency focused on consumer protection. Though the final proposal wasn’t as strong as we’d hoped for, the legislation made it out of committee with most of its key provisions intact. We’ll keep you posted as this crucial new program progresses through the full House and the Senate.

And in other House Financial Services Committee news, Green America’s policy desk has been urging support for an amendment to the Investor Protection Act of 2009 that would support the ability of the SEC to make rules on “proxy access.” In other words, we’re supporting the ability of shareholders to nominate directors to corporate boards, promoting a more democratic voice for shareholders. If we want to change the way American does business, we need to change the board power structure.

“The Chamber of Commerce opposed this measure, but it passed by a vote of 39 to 30,” reports Fran Teplitz, Green America's Social Investing Program Director. “This is an important step in giving shareholders more power to press for corporate accountability and responsibility.”