Trade As One

Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. If you do one thing, watch a simple one minute video that tells the story of Sany in Cambodia – sold as a young girl where she suffered unspeakable abuse, eventually freed and given a new dignified life with a meaningful job.

If you have seen the documentary Nefarious you will know the sort of abuse behind Sany’s statement “When I was young I was sold.” As she slightly chokes in saying those words you get a half-second glimpse into a world of pain that no one should ever endure.

We are not all called to be fiery-eyed campaigners and activists. We can’t all travel the world fighting injustice. Of course we can and should give to organizations that do that, but at Trade as One we believe that justice and compassion is best exercised when it invades us close to home and gets built into our daily lives - when the bag we carry our laptop in gives a job to Sany (http://tradeasone.com/producers/stopstart/), when the rice we eat keeps families together in rural Thailand and prevents migration to the urban slums (http://tradeasone.com/producers/alter_eco/), when the jewelry we give as a gift tells the story of a woman rescued from forced prostitution (http://tradeasone.com/producers/nightlight/). Whatever it is that you can do in this movement to set people free, let’s do it.

Hey, Bay Area: Trade as One and the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition invite you to use your holiday spending this year to combat human trafficking.

Visit us on Sunday, December 18th at our retail store in Santa Cruz, or the brand new Fair Trade Marketplace in Menlo Park (a joint venture between Trade as One, Heavenly Treasures, and Menlo Park Presbyterian Church). Come see us between 4 pm and 7 pm, mention “freedom” when checking out, and we will pay your sales tax.

Throughout the holiday season Trade as One collaborates with churches across the United States! We’re incredibly thankful for churches and their members who have a heart for fair trade- without all of you we wouldn’t be able to help radically change the lives of people living on less than $2 a day. So here’s a peek of where Trade as One is during their travels!

This was our event at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz California:

And here was our Fair is the New Black (Friday) event at our botique:

Last but not least, here’s a video Christ Presbyterian Church made featuring Trade as One!

We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with Menlo Park Presbyterian Church for the Fair Trade Marketplace!  This is an exciting 3 week venture in a retail unit on the main shopping street in the heart of downtown Menlo Park, CA.  They have a great range of beautiful products for all ages and budgets - including house-wares and jewelry from- including houseware and jewelry from Handmade Expressions, Noah’s Ark, and ASHA as well as our unique recycled products from Vietnam. If you’re within reach of Menlo Park, plan a visit and take the time to see our products face-to-face and snag some great gifts.  Remember, every gift you purchase both shares the importance of buying fair trade with your family and supports people in the developing world who live on less than $2 a day.

Fair Trade Marketplace
846 Santa Cruz Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025

Open daily through December 24
Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Christmas Eve, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Trade as One’s boutique is hosting it’s first “Fair is the New Black (Friday)” event this November 25th from 11am-6pm at 332 Ingalls Street in Santa Cruz (between Swift Street Courtyard and Westside New Leaf).  “Fair is the New Black (Friday)” invites the Santa Cruz community to shop fair trade products, while also celebrating Santa Cruz artists and musicians. Come enjoy local art, live music and delicious food samples while shopping in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

“Fair is the New Black (Friday)” will feature live music from local musicians Jesse West, Shamina Khangaldy and Katie Ekin. We will also feature art from Santa Cruz based artists Lisa Hochstein, Justin Angelos, Cheryl Isaacson and Jeremy Klaniecki. All of the artwork has been created with post-consumer or recycled materials to draw attention to the role we have as consumers in environmental sustainability. These products will be showcased next to the many products that we offer that are also created from repurposed materials.

For more information about the event, please visit www.fairisthenewblack.com. To learn more about Trade as One, visit www.tradeasone.com