December 2009

Ten Thousand Villages: A Retailer With A Conscience

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/21/2009 - 14:29
Teri Scully

By SarahMelody

In places like Vietnam, India, Nepal and Bangladesh, Teri Scully has met some remarkable artisans who began with nothing and used their crafting skills to improve their lot in life and that of their family.  As director of merchandising for the fair trade organization and retailer Ten Thousand Villages, she has seen lives transformed.

“This isn’t a one month or six month process. Some of these groups we’ve been working with for 30 years,” Scully tells Samaritanmag.  “I can think of several groups where you look at this lady and she’s been making baskets all her life and she’s managed to put her child through medical school — all the way through school, college, to become a doctor. For somebody living in a village, this is such a tremendous achievement.”
Ten Thousand Villages began in 1946 and now sells handicrafts through its 160 retail stores and 220 festival sales in North America that are made by more than 130 artisans from 38 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The quality goods vary from large items such as benches, dressers, tables, chairs and stools to smaller ones, such as checker boards, picture frames, mobiles, jewelry and coasters. They also sell coffee, hot chocolate, jams, teas, sauces, and dried fruit.



Russell Peters Hosts, Estelle, Jully Black, Divine Brown And More Join Kardinal Offishall’s 12th Annual Charity Event for Breast Cancer

Submitted by admin on Thu, 12/10/2009 - 14:20
Kardinal

By Karen Bliss

Rapper Kardinal Offishall has spent little time in Canada the past year, as he’s been touring the world following the success of his smash single “Dangerous” featuring Akon, but he returns — as he has the past 11 years — to host his annual Charity Christmas Gala in Toronto, December 23, with net proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada.

“Cancer, especially breast cancer plagues many in my community,” Kardi tells Samaritanmag.com.  “I have close friends of the family who suffer from it. I think the closer we get to finding a cure or learning preventative measures is the closer we can get to saving many tears and getting back stolen years.”

The party will be held at This Is London (364 Richmond Street West) and his long-time friend, comedian Russell Peters, will host.  There will be also more than a dozen notable guest appearances, including Grammy Award-winning Brit, Estelle; N.E.R.D.’s new member, Rhea; and Canadian artists Divine Brown, Jully Black, Colin Munroe, Jemini, Saukrates, Graph Nobel, Ro Dolla, and Solitair.



Tap Water Bottle Eco-friendly, Inexpensive, Cool Looking

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 13:40
Tap Water

By Karen Bliss 

If you’re trying to break some old habits, such as buying bottled water, or any bottled beverage for that matter, Canadian company Tap Water Bottle is offering a fun and environmentally friendly alternative — a refillable, reusable clear glass bottle with an attached tight flip-cap. And it’s something quite elegant and sleek that doesn’t look like you’re about to hop on your bike or go for a hike. But be careful, it is breakable, of course. Hey, if companies can sell tap water, why not tap water bottles?

The bottles, purchased in Italy, come in two sizes, and feature a lengthy cheeky message, written in white font, one about how the best things in life are free (including tap water) and the other about how fancy French bottled water is no different from tap. The 250-millilitre Tap Water Bottle retails for $10 and the 500-millilitre bottle for $12.

Besides the fact that plastic bottles take more than a thousand years to degrade in landfills and a reported 200 billion bottles beverages are consumed globally (source: Find A Fountain), there is also the health hazard of leaching chemicals from the plastic into the drinking water. Glass doesn’t have this problem, plus it’s 100 percent recyclable and made from natural resources. And unlike many travel mugs/bottles, Tap Water Bottle can be washed in the dishwasher.



Corinne Bailey Rae Pumps Water For Life

Submitted by admin on Wed, 12/02/2009 - 14:21
Corinne Bailey Rae

British jazzy-soul singer Corinne Bailey Rae first became associated with water sanitization organization Pump Aid during the cycle for her 2006 self-titled debut, which went on to sell four million copies worldwide. She had the opportunity to go to Malawi to see the “pioneering” work this African-led charity does.

“It was started 20 years ago in Zimbabwe by these teachers and it provides clean water for people in developing countries,” Rae tells Samaritanmag.com. “They’ve put in these wells in Zimbabwe for, they said, a million people, and they’ve  moved out to Malawi.

“I went to Malawi about two years ago to see the work they’re doing and it’s really incredible. It’s pioneering because the people from the village construct wells and learn how to fix them and they use materials that are available in the village,” she enthuses. “So you don’t have to send off for any parts or anything.”



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