85 Boxes Sent to Afghanistan, thanks to you!

Thank you to all who supported our Donations for Afghanistan's Kids drive at A Better Footprint! We were able to send 85 large boxes of donations to Sargeant David Martens, stationed in Afghanistan.

A special thanks to all collection sites, including the Wisconsin International School, Aldo Leopold, Saint Mary of the Angels, First Presbyterian Church, St. Matthew's Parish, and UWGB. Also, a very special thank you to our anonymous donor who covered 100% of the shipping costs!

NOW, our drive for the kids in Saint Lucia has begun! Please donate new or gently used childrens books (hardcover or paperback) and educational toys. Donation boxes are available at A Better Footprint, 1228 Main Street, Green Bay, WI 54302.

Blog Action Day - Inspiration for A Greener World

Today is blog action day, where thousands of people are taking action on the topic of climate change. To celebrate, we're publishing a list of GREEN PEOPLE in GREEN BAY. These individuals have been inspirational to us at A Better Footprint, and if you know or see any of these environmental advocates (and others that we didn't get a chance to mention here)- make sure to pat them on the back. Thank you for all you do to protect Mother Earth!

Richard Kreig, East High School
Ned Dorff, Downtown Neighborhood Grocery Store Committee
Crystal Osman, Downtown Green Bay Inc.
Sarah Valentine, A Better Footprint
Mark Valentine, Foxview Intermediate
Steve Herro, O. Praem, Diocese of Green Bay
Charlie Frisk, Luxemburg-Casco High School
Christine Fossen, De Pere High School
Trudy Arnold, Unlikely Development
Elizabeth Sternig, Areabyowner.com
Adi Redzic, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Terri Wojcik, The Urban Frog
Alex and Linda Galt, Kavarna
Mark Skogen, Festival Foods
Lori Bankson, Wildlife Sanctuary
Lori Jore - Pro-Tec Energy, LLC
Michael Finney – Oneida Nation
Kim Biedermann – Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters Institute
Mary Haupt – City of Green Bay Mayor’s Office
André Jacque – City of Green Bay Mayor’s Office
Dr. John Katers – University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Thomas Lesperance – City of Green Bay Inspection Division
Luann Rudolph - Bay Lak Regional Planning Commission
Bill Lockery – City of Green Bay Planning Department
Derek Lord – City of Green Bay Economic Development Department
John Miller – Berners-Schober Associates
Lisa Evenson - Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District
Annette Weissbach – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Eric Hoyer - Silver Lake College
Mark Foht - Robert E. Lee & Associates, Inc.
Doug Meek - Brown County Home Builders Assoc.
Peter Schleinz - Brown County Planning Commission
Nancy Nabak - Community Advocate
Raymond Janssen - Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
Robert Laskowski - Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
Karen Kohlbeck - UW - Green Bay

Thank you for being positive role models and helping us all live a more sustainable lifestyle. See you at 350 on October 24th!

Help For Afghanistan

Inspired by Greg Mortenson's book, Three Cups of Tea, we're highlighting products and projects that are contributing to this mountainous region of the world.

Stones Building Schools
When you purchase our Onyx Stone carvings and candleholders from this region, you literally are taking home a piece of the breathtaking landscape of the mountainous Pakistan/Afghanistan border.

It's Fair Trade Month!

October is going to be an exciting month! As we work together to build awareness of Fair Trade, this month will be jam-packed with events and much, much more.

Obviously, we want you to check out our website, A Better Footprint, but join the national campign at FairTradeMonth.orgtoo–because every day they will post a new fact about Fair Trade and a simple action that you can do to support it. Challenge yourself and see if you can complete all 31 ways to support Fair Trade in the 31 days of October!

Ramadan: Connect and Celebrate

Our artisan partners come from many diverse backgrounds and religions, and many of our artisans practice Islam, such as artisans from Dominion Traders in Pakistan (onyx stone), Njau Recycling and Brikama Craft in Gambia (purses, silver, wood and crafts), and Holyland Handicrafts in the West Bank (mother of pearl necklaces).

Ramadan is the act when Muslims all over the world must ritually fast and abstain from certain acts or foods and liquids which are prohibited during this holy time of year. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam which all Muslims are expected to follow, the other four pillars of Islam are Faith (Shahadah); Prayer (Salah), Charitable Giving (Zakah), and the holy Pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj). Read more.

If you live in Northeastern Wisconsin or the Fox Cities, come join the community for Eid prayer - Takbeer will start at 9 am and the prayer will start at 9:30 am. If Eid is on 9/20, the venue is Appleton Memorial Park If Eid 9/21, then Eid prayer will be in the Appleton Masjid.

Want to purchase products from these artisans? Click now to explore our online store.

Vote for Our Fair Trade Photos for 2009 Cover Contest!

A Better Footprint has entered three photographs in the first-ever Fair Trade Photo Contest, and >we need your votes by AUGUST 17th!!! Please take about 2 1/2 minutes to vote for our three photos at Competico.com. If we get ranked in the top 12, we make it into the nationally distributed 2010 Fair Trade Calendar!!

1) We've uploaded a photo of Fair Trade Silversmith Samba Bach of Gambia holding raw silver pellets - it's breathtaking! VOTE NOW!

2) We've uploaded a photo of the New Product design contest in Njau Village, Gambia - the girl in front is so cute! VOTE NOW!

3) We've uploaded a macro-photo of ripening plantains from our recent trip to Saint Lucia, where we got to meet a Fairtrade banana farmer and visit the regional fairtrade office in Grace! VOTE NOW!

Here are the photos - so be sure to vote for ours and help us get some exposure for Fairtrade at A Better Footprint!

Tweet, Post, Flick and Link - Join our social networking!

Hey ABF fans! Guess what? We're cool now...Join us on MySpace, LinkedIn, Follow us on Twitter, Watch our YouTube videos and browse our Flickr photo albums. As if that weren't enough, check out our special auctions on eBay and fair trade arts store on Etsy. That way, you'll know everything about us, what we're doing and how we're doing it...Ok, that sounds creepy. But remember, all in the name of a great cause - promoting FAIR TRADE! So click some blue text above and get networking...!

2009 Unity Bead Challenge: Creativity With A Cause!

GREEN BAY, WI - Jewelry makers, bead enthusiasts and amateur designers across Wisconsin will head to area bead stores this weekend as the 2009 Unity Bead Challenge Kits are now available. The 2009 Unity Bead Challenge is a "Contest with a Conscience" that brings together people across the globe - literally from women beadmakers in Africa to area youth at The Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay. Volunteers helping to organize the event are already saying that this is the "most exciting summer project ever!" as it combines environmentalism and social responsibility with creativity and fashion.

WHO: While we expect many area designers and jewelry makers to participate, anyone is eligible to take part in the 2009 Unity Bead Challenge

HOW: Participants will be challenged to use recycled, handmade beads from Africa to create a piece of jewelry before August 15th, and have the opportunity to win up to $250 in cash or prizes. The final pieces will be judged by a local panel in September, and the pieces will be auctioned off with 100% of proceeds benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay Youth for Unity Program. Contest FAQ and entry forms can be found online at ABetterFootprint.org/unitybeadchallenge

WHERE: 2009 Unity Bead Challenge Kits can be purchased at 4 area bead and gift shops, and online at abetterfootprint.com:
A Better Footprint, 1228 Main Street, Green Bay
The Mother Bead, 419 Dousman Street, Green Bay
Paintin' Pottery and Bead It, 520 George Street, De Pere
The Bead Bucket, 9922 Water Street (Hwy. 42), Ephraim, Door County

WHEN: Kits go on sale beginning May 28, 2009. Contest entries are due no later than August 15th, 2009. Judging, auction and showcase will take place during Gallery Nite in Downtown Green Bay on September 17, 2009. Pieces will also be showcased and sold at a variety of area events this autumn.

WHY: Every day, hundreds of beads are traded on the global market. While many beads are mass-produced in low-wage third world factories, the growing Fair Trade movement is changing that trend-and the lives of poor African beadmakers, used to living on less than $2 per day. These Africans, many of whom are women, aim to lift themselves from poverty through fair trade, and are simultaneously caring for the environment by using natural or recycled materials to create fresh new designs for the bead industry. Organizers of the Unity Bead Challenge are asking the community to join this movement of unity and create something great using African Fair Trade Beads.

Specifically, the 2009 "Unity Bead Challenge" is a project with three aims:

1) To assist impoverished fair trade beadmakers from Africa and promote their handmade,
eco-friendly beads,

2) To inspire and challenge local adults and youth as they create unique pieces of jewelry from ethically sourced and created eco-friendly/fair trade beads, and

3) To raise funds for the Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay Youth for Unity Program, which helps area youth embrace diversity and engage in multicultural projects that help unify our world.


More information can be obtained by calling or emailing event organizer Sarah Jane Nordhaugen at the Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay, snordhaugen@bgcgb.org or 920-494-7090 or visiting the Unity Bead Challenge Website at ABetterFootprint.org/unitybeadchallenge.

ABOUT YOUTH FOR UNITY
Youth for Unity is a program of the Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay, in which pre-teen to young adults participate in hands-on activities related to multiculturalism, global friendships, and tolerance of diversity. Headed by Sarah Jane Nordhaugen, Art and Music Coordinator for the Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay, Youth for Unity is already proving to be an international learning experience for the youth who take part.

With the proceeds earned through this summer's 2009 Unity Bead Challenge, the students will make the decision about a global project in which to invest the funds raised. Currently, the kids are looking at the possibility of building clean water systems for school children in Africa.


ABOUT A BETTER FOOTPRINT
A Better Footprint is Green Bay's first fair trade & eco-friendly gifts retailer and wholesaler, offering products from over 20 countries. Each product comes with a story of hope for a family or group of individuals who are overcoming poverty or who face other challenging circumstances.

A Better Footprint is a screened member of the Fair Trade Federation and Green America, pledging high standards for social and environmental responsibility. Owners Miranda and Baptiste Paul were both recipients of the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce's "40 under 40" award and Miranda Paul has been nominated for the Ethics in Business Award Individual category this year as well.

For more information, please visit www.abetterfootprint.org to learn more about the projects and mission of A Better Footprint.

Come on Over, the Coffee's Free - WTFD is May 9th

Join us This Saturday, May 9th, for FREE Organic Coffee and Chocolate at A Better Footprint. In honor of World Fair Trade Day 2009, we're serving up the residents of Northeastern Wisconsin as we take a Fair Trade Break. This effort is part of the movement to break last year's record and to be more than 55,000 strong for Fair Trade. Make sure to join the movement on Facebook, too!

The free coffee will be served from 10-2 at A Better Footprint Fair Trade, 1228 Main Street Green Bay. You'll also get to see our new BOLGA BASKETS that have finally arrived from Ghana! Call Miranda at 920-569-6332 if you have more questions. See you in the store!

Oh - and if you're not from Wisconsin, make sure to check out where in your area a WFTD event is happening at ftrn.org.

Gambian Project Manager Isatou Ceesay Visits US

Meet One Amazing Fair Trade artisan and Project Manager working for Women's Empowerment!

Isatou Ceesay's life has been one of trial and suffering, but through it all she's proven that one person can make a difference.

Losing her father at the age of 9, Isatou's mother worked very hard to try and provide an education, but Isatou wasn't even able to finish high school. Later in life, Isatou became a victim of domestic violence and shunned by many traditionalists for her decision to save her life as she left her husband and raised two boys as a single mother.

Despite these and other hardships, Isatou is now one of the leaders of many progressive projects in The Gambia, where she has worked to improve the health of hundreds of Gambian women and children through her work. To date, Isatou has contributed to the clean-up efforts which have led to recycling of more than 20,000 plastic bags in her village, as well as running grassroots HIV/AIDS education classes attended by thousands of Gambians. She has pioneered literacy classes for the women of Njau and trained over 100 women in four villages the skills needed to create fair trade crafts which provide vital income for extremely impoverished Gambian families. (Currently, A Better Footprint is the only fair trade US importer of the goods created by these women.)

Most notably, perhaps, is her ability to educate about and eradicate one of the country's most controversial practices, female genital mutilation (FGM). This cultural practice, also known as female circumcision, is widespread in The Gambia, and provides severe health risks and even death for the women who are forced to undergo the procedure. Because of Isatou's efforts, 15 tribal practitioners of this ritual have agreed to stop completely this practice in their villages. One cannot begin to count the number of young girls who will not have to suffer because of Isatou's willingness to take on such a difficult task. We encourage all of our supporters to learn more about FGM and how to take action to stop this harmful tradition.

Over the last week and for the next three weeks, Isatou is traveling around the country speaking to anyone and everyone about her work, most of which is as an unpaid volunteer. She has already visited cities such as Santa Fe, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Green Bay, New York and St. Mary's City. If you live in the Atlanta or Minneapolis area and are interested in meeting Isatou before April 25th, please email us at abetterfootprint@gmail.com for details!

When you purchase Njau Recycling and Income Generating Group products, you contribute to Isatou's efforts, which are also carried out by the 70 women of Njau. Now that's powerful shopping. Thanks!