Followup to Bare Escentuals

If you happened to notice, I started this blog strong back in January...and then did not post anything for about 8 months. So just to explain, I was beginning this attempt at a life-changing overhaul and experienced a mixture of complete frustration, laziness, and doubt that caused my temporary hiatus in writing. I was frustrated with my own obsession with consumerism, doubted whether my convictions would last, and at times wanted to scrap my whole idea and call it a day. 
However, I am happy to say that God's love is entirely too compelling and my life truly has changed these past 8 months. God has given me some moments of real joy and excitement along this journey and I have to share them.

Here's one of the first really cool events of this year:

After being completely disappointed by Bare Minerals'/Bare Escentuals' lack of ethical information on their website I wrote the company a brief letter. I explained I had been using and loving their products for years, but was surprised by their avoidance of the issues I mentioned in my previous post. I went on to say I would, sadly, no longer be buying or using their makeup until they addressed where their ingredients came from more clearly. A representative responded very quickly and assured me that the company only associates with upstanding suppliers and upholds the highest ethical standards. While I was very glad about the company's timely and encouraging answer, it just was not enough of a guarantee for me. (It seemed odd that Bare Escentuals claimed to uphold such high standards, and yet did not address the issue of human rights on their website when it is becoming a bigger selling point now more than ever before.) But a couple weeks later...

(This is the good part)

From Bare Escentuals' website:

"On January 1, 2012, the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act will go into effect in California. This act requires retail sellers and manufacturers doing business in the state to disclose the efforts they are making to ensure their supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking in effort to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from product supply chains.

Bare Escentuals is committed to being responsible in its global business practices and takes steps with its vendors and suppliers to ensure compliance with Bare Escentuals standards of conduct as set forth in the Vendor Compliance Manual and all applicable laws. Bare Escentuals has made the following efforts to ensure compliance by its partners..."

...and they go on about how they are addressing the specific aspects of the Transparency in Supply Chain Act. So cool! I am still learning about all this but this was so amazing to watch happen. It currently takes a little extra effort to find this document on the Bare Minerals website, but it's there - and there is definitely something beautiful about that.

Made in the USA: Ugly Shoes and Snack Foods

 (Originally written 01/10/12)
This past week, I set out to see where some of my favorite things are made and to what types of companies I have been giving my money. I quickly realized I have made some considerably inaccurate assumptions because I have never actually looked at tags, labels, and codes of ethics.
First glance...
I went to a dozen shoe stores around home and every single shoe is made in China. Okay, so that shouldn't have surprised me that much but, literally, EVERY SINGLE shoe is made in China. I thought I could find at least one pair of shoes made somewhere else - but no. (Fun fact: TOMS and BOBS are also made in China) I get it - production is cheaper overseas. However, I had this notion that outsourcing was still done by SOME companies trying to make faster money - not ALL. So after being completely unsuccessful at numerous chain stores, I started looking online for just ONE pair of great shoes I could be confident in buying. After hours of searching, I found extremely limited options for any shoes made in the United States. I've got to say, they were all kind of ugly? Or maybe grossly out-of-date is a better description. I won't even get into how bizarre it was when I tried to find a decent pair of high heels made in the US. (By decent I mean simple, classic pumps made by a good company.) Anyways, I realize that shoes made in other countries are not all made in sweatshops/bad conditions and that likewise, not all American-made products are free and clear of bad business practices either. However, the United States does tend to have much higher standards for labor laws and companies can also have a better handle on checking their production when their offices and factories are in the same country.
On another trip, I went to look at food. I chose The Fresh Market because I thought this higher-end grocery store would be more likely to have quality, wholesome food and US produce. I mean, what's more fresh than fruits and vegetables grown in the same country? Again, I was surprised at how little I knew. Even at this grocery store where items are more expensive, so much was from Chile and Mexico and other locations. Fresh?? I was also surprised at what I had missed before. Tons of fruit says 'made in the USA' or 'distributed by American farm...' on it, but then underneath in smaller type says, 'product of...another country'. Bummer! I LOVE fruit. And fruit from other countries is great! But I'm learning that the produce industry in other countries is notorious for unfair labor practices and slavery as well. (One recent example) So, I need to look into all of that further.
But, hey, the good news is that America is great at making snack foods! Haha, but really...that is apparently what we do best.
This brief, general look at types of things I buy has been very frustrating. Is it too much to ask for food and clothing to be sold in our modern marketplaces that is simply genuine and honest? I just want products that have a high guarantee they were made/harvested without stealing livelihood from someone else.

The global market...so cool...so many opportunities...and we've abused it!

Well, I'll end on a high note. When I was in The Fresh Market I did find some certified fair trade chocolate! (More on what 'certified fair trade' really means later) Pretty cool! You can believe it was EXPENSIVE for a bar of chocolate, but it was definitely worth it.

Bare Escentuals; Bare Facts?

(Originally written 01/09/12)
When I look around my room and think about slavery being a large part of the products I currently love and cherish, I want to weep. My mind races to thoughts of who might have made my favorite pair of jeans. Where do I even begin? The other week, I started furiously looking at labels, typing in company names, and reading codes of ethical responsibility...or a lack thereof. I did this for hours on end as more and more questions came to mind. (I'll share about a lot of companies I have researched as I get a chance.) However, for now, one thought shook me the most - It occurred to me as I was searching clothing companies, food providers, electronic manufacturers...

What about all my bathroom products?...BEAUTY products...
Things I use almost every single day to make myself superficially, supposedly more 'beautiful'. I realized I have no clue where or how any of the makeup I have purchased is produced, and this is what I found:

The beauty world is ugly.

Almost all makeup contains a shimmer or sparkle that comes from a major ingredient, Mica, which has historically been known for being mined in places like India by slaves, children,... I would love to write more on just this issue but you can read a short article here if you would like. Looking at the makeup I usually use, it all has minuscule sparkles and Mica as the first or second ingredient.
Bare Escentuals, (the makers of all things Bare Minerals) is not so 'bare' in their fact-sharing. When reading through the website and details of the company, Bare Escentuals had ONE sentence about labor standards: "Please be assured that Bare Escentuals does not do business with any domestic or foreign companies that use Child Labor." That's great! But really? That's it?? That sentence is not much of a guarantee for anything. What about the equally concerning issues of fair wages, fair trade, or working conditions? Furthermore, it was frustrating to read other parts of BE's website.

Love. Understanding. Community. That’s what Bare Escentuals represents. It’s a trusted source. It’s the belief that products can actually be good, makeup can be fun, business can be personal and companies can behave more like communities. It’s an optimistic outlook shared by women everywhere who believe that while makeup can’t change the world, it can change people. And people who are inspired can make all the difference...It becomes less about makeup and more about what really matters.

Is it?? I don't get it. Reading this statement really puzzled me because if the company is 'all about' those things, then why is there nothing about where their products/ingredients come from?

Also, Bare Escentuals' major advertising campaign is "Be a Force for Beauty". It says, "Pretty is not enough...pretty can turn heads. But beauty? Beauty can change the whole world." I thought, YES! I want to be a force for beauty! But if Bare Escentuals is not guaranteeing that their product is not made at the expense of other people's livelihood...

WHERE'S THE BEAUTY IN THAT??

Favorite Paragraph

When the church becomes a place of brokerage rather than an organic community, she ceases to be ALIVE. She ceases to be something we are, the living bride of Christ. The church becomes a distribution center, a place where the poor come to get stuff and the rich come to dump stuff. Both go away satisfied (the rich feel good, the poor get clothed and fed), but no one leaves TRANSFORMED. No radical, new community is formed. And Jesus did not set up a program but modeled a way of living that incarnated the reign of God, a community in which people are reconciled and our debts are forgiven just as we forgive our debtors (all economic words). That reign did not spread through organizational establishments or structural systems. It spread like disease - through TOUCH, through BREATH, through LIFE. It spread through people infected by love.
- Shane Claiborne -
- The Irresistible Revolution -

Slow Down and Listen

So, I have a post about Bare Minerals...but I have to share this AWESOME story really quickly while it's fresh because it's crazy good!
While in Atlanta, GA some of my friends and I got the chance to meet and talk to several people that are homeless, give them some food, and got to know them a little. (God did incredible things that day, but that's a whole other story!) Since getting back, I have been praying for the 3 people we met and knew by name and was asking God how I could continue to help others all around me that are in similar situations. I know without a doubt that for YEARS I have been the Levite passing by the beaten down and needy. What am I - scared they'll hurt me? Isn't my God the God of the Universe? (Colossians 1:16-18) Why have I been afraid to stop and say, "Hello, how are you?" and then LISTEN to what they have to say? Anyways, so like I said, I have been praying that I wouldn't revert back to avoiding impoverished people and asked God how I could be in a position to help again.

He literally DROPPED IT IN MY LAP.
Never before have I seen my prayer answered
so fully and quickly!!

Tonight, 3 of my friends and I went to dinner to catch up and as we were leaving...I saw a man walking next to the restaurant. As he started to pass I said hello. Almost instantly I knew - he was IT. We stopped and began to listen to his story about being a Vietnam vet. from Maryland who is scheduled to start chemo treatment at the Hampton VA Medical Center here in several days. He said he is mostly blind and has cancer from the exposure to Agent Orange in his days of service. Eventually, we learned he was trying to find a way to get to the hotel he is able to stay at before starting his treatment. He has been homeless for only 8 days but looked like he could have been for months. So, we gave Deoxito Austin (pronounced Deeoseeto) a ride down Jefferson Avenue to his hotel and heard his story. Believe me, I drove as slowly as I possibly could! His testimony of God's hand in his life was remarkable and he had such wisdom to share. I wish I could write it all out here but I was trying to keep this shorter...He praised God for humbling him through the death of his son several years ago and of his wife last year. He said he ONLY lives for Jesus. I quote, "That's all I do, I wake up Jesus, walk Jesus, sleep Jesus, and do it again." His most pressing words to us were to let go of our pride because he wishes he would have sooner. Anyways, a much longer story short, my mind was BLOWN by God's plan and timing because Deoxito said he had been praying just several MINUTES before meeting us for someone to come along. We asked him if we could take him to Walmart or if he wanted food but he only wanted to get to his room to lay down. So we gave him some money, spent time in prayer with him, and then said goodbye. How BEAUTIFUL it will be when we see him in heaven!

Radical Living

I've gotta be honest...my mom has been talking to me about the Ten Thousand Villages store for years and my dad has always made a big deal about whether or not I got my music legally and I could have cared less...until NOW.

Several days ago, I got back from a long roadtrip that took me to the urbanely intriguing city of Atlanta, Georgia for the huge Christian conference - Passion 2012. It was nothing short of a taste of heaven on earth and an equally stunning slap in the face. No, make that several slaps in the face and repeated punches to the gut. 45,000 college students gathered at the Georgia Dome to hear God's word preached, to worship Him with music and dancing, and to bring glory to The Savior by promoting change that is so desperately needed. The major theme of the conference was FREEDOM and we learned that there are more slaves in the world today than ever before. That means 27 million + or to try and visually realize that number, 27,000,000 HUMAN BEINGS. Mothers, brothers, fathers, sisters, friends, enslaved in the sex trade, the food production market, the clothes industry, etc. Are you serious?? I couldn't believe the personal stories shared with us through film and through leaders of organizations working to combat this current devastation of God's creation. But there it was! People's faces, stories of freedom, and stories of death. My stomach churned at the reality of the world I am living in and the fact that I have done NOTHING about it. I have only supported modern-day slavery through my ignorance.

What am I going to do?

NO LONGER: will I live in ignorance or indifference to people around me and the impact I have on their lives. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I have been made a slave to Him (Romans 1:1, James 1:1) so that I can set others free! (Galatians 5) Did it not occur to me that this would mean physically changing my lifestyle and the way I interact with the global market? Apparently it didn't. NO LONGER: can I pretend to be living for God and yet ignore human suffering. NO LONGER: can I spend money that fuels a world of evil that blatantly violates God the Father's unfathomable love for His PEOPLE.

This heavy realization made me want to come home, throw away everything I own, and learn how to make my own shoes. However, after some thought and prayer, it seems that God is calling me to a PROCESS of radical living. (I say radical because the end result will hopefully look incredibly different from the way I am living now...but that end really should be a norm instead of an outrageous change.) I am not immediately throwing away all that I currently own because that might also not be the best stewardship of my physical belongings. I will certainly get rid of a lot of things over time, but immediately, I am committing to a lot of research, education, and only continuing to purchase items that to the best of my knowledge are fairly procured.
This blog will hopefully accurately chronicle my experiences in trying to truly live out following Jesus in today's global marketplace...easier said than done...I'm hoping that this might spur Christians to think about God's calling in the midst of our economic world, make others question their purchases, be informative about issues you may not have the time to explore yourself, or simply just be interesting...I hope you read and enjoy a possible slap in the face!