SLICES
MILLENNIALS WANT THEIR FRIENDS TO MARRY THEM THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS getting
MAKING THE SWITCH TO ETHICAL CONSUMERISM
married by priests is down more than 60 percent since 1970, with more couples asking friends to do the honors. True to form, most buddy-officiants are certified online. One of the sites, Universal Life Church, ordained 250,000 people in 2014 and expects a 30 percent increase this year. The site ordains “fast, free and easy” with “no experience necessary.” Because that’s legit.
IT MAY COST A LITTLE MORE, BUT THESE 4 SWAPS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
CHOCOLATE W H AT T O AVO I D : B I G B R A N D NA M E S
Several of the world’s biggest brands are facing lawsuits for deceiving consumers into supporting illegal practices, including child labor. W H AT T O B U Y I N S T E A D :
Fair trade and direct trade brands including Rogue Chocolatier, Taza Chocolate, Askinosie and Dandelion Chocolate monitor where their products come from.
COFFEE W H AT T O AVO I D : K- C U P S
The disposable coffee pods are essentially unrecyclable. W H AT T O B U Y I N S T E A D :
TOMS, Intelligentsia, Ethical Bean, Blue Tiger and other artisan brands make traditionally brewed coffee through fair trade and direct trade relationships.
JEWELRY W H AT T O AVO I D : G O L D A N D D I A M O N D S
“Conflict” gold and diamonds mined using forced labor remain a major problem in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. W H AT T O B U Y I N S T E A D :
Artisan jewelry makers like Kicheko Goods, Rose & Fitzgerald and The Giving Keys offer products that actually give back to the regions where they are made.
CLOTHES W H AT T O AVO I D : FA S T FA S H I O N
To keep margins up, inexpensive fashion items are often made in unsafe factories where workers are paid extremely low wages. W H AT T O B U Y I N S T E A D :
Brands like Everlane, Tellason, Patagonia and others offer quality products that are made under fair conditions.
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MEET HGTV’S CHRISTIAN FIXER UPPERS THE SECOND SEASON OF HGTV’S
reality series Fixer Upper was a hit, attracting 24 million viewers. In it, Chip and Joanna Gaines help families find houses, and then fix them up. The show is known for its wholesome emphasis on family, and the Gaines say that comes from their faith: “Our family has made a commitment to put Christ first, a lifestyle our parents modeled for us. They showed us how to keep our marriage and family centered around God. We have been surprised at the impact of our faith through the show. We haven’t been overtly evangelical, but the rich feedback we have received on family and love all source from our faith.”