Green Options » labor day

Reconfiguring Labor Day: The Convergence of the Labor and Environmental Movements

Timothy B. Hurst — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:31:03 +0000

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a palpable shift in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have given way to scaled-down parades, and neighborhood cookouts. But long before Labor Day symbolized the end of summer, and the closing of the municipal pool, it was a celebration of this country’s backbone - its laborers.

The first governmental recognition of Labor Day came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. In 1894 President Grover Cleveland declared Labor Day a national holiday. Throughout the 20th century, the interests of labor groups were firmly entrenched in the populist vision and the platform of the Democratic Party. But starting in the 1960s and 1970s, a chasm began to grow within the Democratic Party between the established interests of the labor movement and the emerging interests of the environmental movement.

Meditation on Labor Day

Justin Van Kleeck — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:00:05 +0000

Labor Day? Labor Day? Please. It ought to be called Lazy Day, as far as I can figure.

I mean, here I am on this wonderful day of freedom from toil, which is only darkened by the fact that it comes at the end of a long weekend, without a care in the world or much of an urge to toil my free time away. Nope, my bony little backside is rooted firmly to a comfy seat as a warm summer day keeps my disposition sunny. Yes, I am the proverbial cheeseburger–er, that is, veggie-burger–in paradise.

Who in the world would think of labor, of toil, of work on Labor Day?

This is a day of rest, right? We get a day off from work to become vegetables, to chill out until we are as cool as cucumbers, to plop ourselves in the hammock and get as snug as bugs in our rugs…right?

This is a leisure day, right? A day to sit out one running of the rat race, right?

Or is it? I mean, whilst I bask in my vegetative state and enjoy the duty-free day, I can hear mowers and blowers and power saws screaming with effort from neighbors’ yards in every direction. Yes, strange as it may sound, so many folks on this no-labor day are busier than bees as they labor away on their yards, their homes, their vehicles, their errand running, and their countless other “little projects” that just have to get done during this wonderful bit of (paid) “free” time.

And nature, too, seems to be busy toiling away despite the U.S. federal government’s decree that this is an official holiday. Sure, Jesus may have given his spiel about considering the lilies and how they toil not nor spin and all that…but those same lilies are in fact busy growing and reproducing and being pretty and what have you at every moment. Besides, Jesus is not the best authority on taking time off: he had no qualms about breaking the rule against working on the Sabbath! And the Buddha may have talked about having “few duties” and “living lightly,” but that poor fellow wandered around preaching and teaching–and for no pay–so he is not one to believe either!

Be Green. Be Fair. Be Stylish. :: It’s Time for the Hip & Zen Eco Fashion Shop

Lucille Chi — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:37:20 +0000

As pointed out yesterday here on fgs, hip & zen is having a huge clearance:

The stated purpose of hip & zen is “to bring an eclectic blend of lifestyle products to forward-thinking people of a unique sensibility—those with a modern soul.” The founder of the site is very smart and savvy with hip & zen offerings as she strives to “present items that inspire calm and unity with just the right edge of sophistication and style.”

H&Z celebrates their taste for the beauty of simplicity, and this is echoed in their offerings of of recycled, natural, organic, hand-made, and fairly traded items.

Hot Finds+Deals: HUGE Labor Day Sales On Eco-Fashion & Organic Beauty!!!

Stancie Wilson — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:17:06 +0000

Check out some of the BEST Labor Day Weekend Sales going on right now…

Eco-Fashion Steals:

Equita: 50% off regularly priced merchandise through 8/31 with promo code MUDANZA.

Beklina: up to 50% off sale + get FREE SHIPPING!

BTC Elements: up to 50% off Sale.

Eco Citizen: 50% off sale.

GreenRohini: (via White Apricot) up to 60% off. Nimli: 30-70% Off Summer Sale.

Pivot Boutique: $10-$100 in store Sales racks. Free Shipping for online orders.

Hip&Zen: 40-70% off Clearance items.

Del Forte jeans at Tobi.com were $194, now $97.

ShopEnvi: End Of Summer Sale - up to 60% Off...

Stewart+Brown: up to 50% off sale.

You Deserve: always 30-70% off entire selection.

Organic Beauty Deals:

Beautorium: 20% off with FGS2008 promo code through 8/31.
LIPSTOCK: Free Shipping with FGS08 promo code through 9/2.
Pangea Organics: Get any bar soap/shower gel combo set for just $12.99 (regularly $20) on HSN.com. (Sidenote: Pangea is being featured on HSN today, 8/29).
Trillium Organics: Get 30%+ off assorted organic shea butter, liquid soap, body polish, body oil & travel kits.
SukiColor Copper Brown Mascara: regularly $33.95, on sale for $22 through 9/15 with copper promo code.

More Eco Fashion Deals+Steals:

Labor Day: Rights and Respect for the Worker

Alicia Erickson — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:55:19 +0000

How do we celebrate the "labor" in next weekend’s holiday? Labor Day typically brings to mind BBQ’s, three-day sales and the last celebrations of summer. Yet this holiday was created for the working man, a day to celebrate camaraderie and spirit within trade and labor organizations, and a day of rest and respect for those who labor through the remaining year. These organizations helped to bring labor rights to working people such as the right to a safe work place, maximum hours and minimum wage, health benefits and an end to abuses suffered by minorities and children.

The laws continue to protect the basic human rights of workers in the industrialized West, but are not ensured for billions of laborers who make up much of the backbone of the global economy. Child labor and forced servitude still exists. There are still dangerous and deadly working conditions which must be withstood to earn a meal. We in the West have accepted that such working conditions are not humane, and it is now time to extend these basic rights to our fellow laborers.

Through the Fair Trade movement, consumers are raising their voice and refusing to contribute to an economy that denies labor rights for all. Fair Trade helps to ensure that workers receive fair wages, a safe work environment, and are able to invest in their community. Fair trade artisans typically receive 15-20% of the total price of their products, as compared to less than 1% from conventional transactions. The benefits of fair wages manifest themselves in higher education rates in Fair Trade communities. Empowering women to work and help support their own families gives a new generation of women a new sense of self worth and respect. With a stable and livable income, communities are able to shift their focus from survival to improvement. This serves not only to better the community through specific programs and projects, but unites them with self-respect and pride.

Labor is a common denominator among us all, but, unfortunately, safe, just and fair labor is not. So this Labor Day stop and take a moment to think about the people who have labored to make all the stuff we consume at increasingly dizzying rates, then take some action. Here are some simple ways to help support Fair Trade:

Buy Fair Trade: fair trade products now range from coffee and chocolate to earrings to soccer balls. Look for Fair Trade alternatives to your purchases, and give Fair Trade gifts to introduce others.
If you do not find Fair Trade, ask the store to carry it. Many products such as coffee, chocolate and tea come in many varieties, so get your local store to offer some up.
Host a Fair Trade party at your home, work, church, school or any other group. Introduce your friends and family to Fair Trade and help them explore what it truly means. Have a discussion over coffee and nuts, or shop for some with a glass of wine; there are many ways in which to introduce them to the people behind the products.

Check out the Fair Trade Action Guide (pdf) for more ways to support Fair Trade.