don't buy your christmas ornaments at walmart!

[mimitabby]

http://www.nlcnet.org/article.php?id=498

At Wal-Mart, Christmas ornaments are cheap, and so are the lives of the young workers in China who make them.

The Guangzhou Huanya Gift company describes itself as being “among the top three Christmas ornament producers in mainland China,” with “long term, friendly, collaborative relationships with industry leaders Wal-Mart…” There are 8,000 workers in the factory.

At the Guangzhou Ornaments factory, every single labor law in China, along with internationally recognized worker rights standards, are being systematically violated on a daily basis.

thanks to a bunch of highschool students who were hired and abused, we have all this information.
http://www.nlcnet.org/admin/media/images/China/2007_Huanya/child%20worker022.jpg

http://www.nlcnet.org/admin/media/images/China/2007_Huanya/products008.jpg


The boss told one worker that if he wanted Sunday—the legal holiday—off,
he would have to quit.

One worker described switching from the day to night shift on Sunday, July 1, 2007.

The boss notified us that we were changing shifts. We did not have to work in the afternoon between 11:45 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. We were to start the night shift at 5:45 p.m. I felt too tired. I work over 10 hours every day. I only slept five hours today, and I had to start the 12-hour night shift. I felt as if my body couldn’t take it, so I asked the boss if I could take the day off. The boss firmly refused. I told him it was Sunday. Why couldn’t I take the day off? The company never gives days off. It is enough to make a body collapse from fatigue. I really needed to rest. The boss told me that if I wanted to take the day off, then I needed to quit. Otherwise, I had to come to work. I already worked five hours in the morning. I must now continue working in the factory and won’t get off until 6:30 a.m. Working in this factory is exhausting. They do not treat people as human beings.

[SadieKate]

Good luck, mimi. A couple years back, a few of us said something about not shopping at Walmart because of their employment and business practices and were slammed. Discussing politics on a cycling forum can be a slippery slope.

[Veronica]

I'm a NON Walmart shopper and proud of it! I don't care how cheap they are, you can still find things elsewhere nearly as cheap.

My poor brother is a long haul independent truck driver and often delivers for them. That actually really makes me sad, but his wife is going through chemo now and he needs to be home at certain times. So you take the job you can get that fits your schedule.

I even made sure my Christmas cards were not made in China.

V.

[Zen]

You'll be hard pressed to find ornaments that weren't made in China.
Nothing wrong with popcorn and cranberry strands. Or heirlooms.

Or http://www.christmascraftfreebies.com/ornaments.html

[SadieKate]

Just go to your local farmer's market, craft fair, art center, artists' co-op, fundraiser, etc. Locally made and you can meet the artist. Even mo' better.

[IFjane]

Just go to your local farmer's market, craft fair, art center, artists' co-op, fundraiser, etc. Locally made and you can meet the artist. Even mo' better.


Exactly! Another proud non-Walmart shopper here! I go to the little local shops and get what I can.

[MM_QFC!]

Good luck, mimi. A couple years back, a few of us said something about not shopping at Walmart because of their employment and business practices and were slammed. Discussing politics on a cycling forum can be a slippery slope.

way to go, Mimi....and, since this is the NON-cycling topic forum of TE, I'm assuming that we are able to express our opinions respectfully and not chance attacks from others here.

Said by another firm NON-Walmart shopper!

[spokewench]

I do not see that this is a political issue - When did human rights and plain honest decency become political?

I do not shop at Walmarts because of practices like this AND because consumerism to purchase the cheapest item available is not sustainable! To buy junk and then throw it away is just not in my vocabulary!

I would much rather pay a little more for a quality product that I really need and that will last a very long time

Now, don't get riled up - this is my opinion and they way I live my life. Anyone else is free to do as they please

spoke

[Zen]

It's not just Walmart.

[mimitabby]

you're right, Zen, it isn't; but they are the biggest in the USA and most notorious for these practices. We haven't even started talking about American employees.

[Triskeliongirl]

Another NON WALMART shopper here. Thanks for sharing this Mimi. We either make our ornaments (and its something to do with the kids, stringing popcorn and cranberries, etc.), or have a collection of ornaments we have built up over the years that we have purchased from local craftspeople when we have visited other countries.

[Kitsune06]

you're right, Zen, it isn't; but they are the biggest in the USA and most notorious for these practices. We haven't even started talking about American employees.

No kidding. I'm still in disbelief over how X was training on very busy 8-hour days, then was told that without a break, she'd do her 2-16 hour weekend shifts (8 hours between the two) . So it was get home at 7, get up at 5, be there by 6, get home at 10:30... repeat... and then again when she moved to her week shift, another 32 hour weekend and up at 6 to get there on time in the morning. Not counting day shifts and night-time on call where people actually have gone 24+ hours without sleep (work all day, on call and called in all night, then staying over all their regularly scheduled shift) but what're we going to do- boycott the healthcare industry? Who puts people in charge of this sh!t?

[mimitabby]

yeah, Kit, I agree; healthcare... That's another can of worms. I have a friend who is a doctor. He got out of ER for that very reason. They were so overworked that he was afraid he'd lose a patient while giving someone else a prescription for cold meds...

[Brandi]

I am with you on this one as well. I hate shopping at wal-mart. it gives me a headache! maybe cause their stuff is made in china? I will not slam anybody for wanting to stick up for human rights. There is already enough of that going around you know?

[bmccasland]

Any of you remember when Sam Waldon (Walton?) - the founder - was alive and Walmart advertised that much of their merchandise was "Proudly made in the USA"? Many of the changes were made after he died. I try to avoid Wally World as much as humanly possible.

[Running Mommy]

Yes BMC, I do. I worked for the company back then. It was a source of pride with Sam that he was giving so many Americans jobs.
And then Sam died.... Unf the company is a sad shell of what Sam had founded and what he stood for..

I do shop at wal mart, so I guess I'm the spawn of evil. But Wal Mart is just the big fish sticking out of the pond. Target, K Mart, and all of the other large chains- clothing stores included- are just as bad. They just put a nice wrapping on everything. Just like politics- it's all about the spin.

FWIW I do try to shop at the smaller shops whenever possible. I prefer the local ace or tru value hardware over Lowes or the Depot anyday.
And I shop at the locally owned natural grocer, but sometimes I do shop at wal mart.
As a soon to be bike shop owner I cringe when I walk by the 49.99 bikes... OY. And in the same vein I try to give the mom and pop places my business whenever I can. Esp. the restaurants. Around here we have so many chains that it's hard for them to compete.

[Starfish]

what're we going to do- boycott the healthcare industry? Who puts people in charge of this sh!t?

I talked once to a friend of my mine who is a physician. She totally defended these types of hours, saying that it really culled out the weakest links, so that the ones who made it through were the best. (I'm not saying I agree with her, just that she was defending it.)

She's an OB/GYN. She said, do you really want someone delivering your baby in the middle of the night, after delivering a bunch of others that week, who wasn't good at thinking and working under zero sleep conditions? (Again, just passing along what I was told.)

[bmccasland]

I talked once to a friend of my mine who is a physician. She totally defended these types of hours, saying that it really culled out the weakest links, so that the ones who made it through were the best. (I'm not saying I agree with her, just that she was defending it.)

She's an OB/GYN. She said, do you really want someone delivering your baby in the middle of the night, after delivering a bunch of others that week, who wasn't good at thinking and working under zero sleep conditions? (Again, just passing along what I was told.)

Obviously this Doc doesn't have much experience working weird hours for months on end. Statistically more night shift workers have more on the job injuries than any other shift. The main problem, they're chronically sleep deprived. I know I was when I worked nights. Oy don't even get me started.

[smilingcat]

NON walmart shopper.

I do go to the local farmers market for my gorceries. small farm organics mostly. Okay so the fruit doesn't look perfect but its not coated with wax to make it look pretty. Okay so the tomato is slightly bruised but its vine ripened.

smilingcat

[Trek420]

Any of you remember when Sam Waldon (Walton?) - the founder - was alive and Walmart advertised that much of their merchandise was "Proudly made in the USA"? Many of the changes were made after he died.

Yes, if you listen carefully the whirring sound in the background is his rapidly rolling in his grave.

It's hard to be politically (whichever that means to you) correct. I sometimes am stopped in my tracks looking blankly at the shelves for hours trying to decide:
this coffee is in a biodegradable paper bag
but that one's organic
ooh, ooh, shade grown (happy migratory birds :) ) :D but it's not....
fair trade.

but wait, here's fair trade, organic shade grown, happy birdies STARBUCKS :eek: do I get the Peets next to it that's not shade grown?

groan. :rolleyes:

I agree we should keep this positive. How do you find alternatives? And it's really not that hard or more expensive.

Today on the way home I stopped for gift wrap, tape, wrapping paper, paper plates, and a new birdfeeder ....all made in the USA. The feeder it took some looking through the shelves. The stuff is out there.


I do go to the local farmers market for my gorceries. small farm organics mostly. Okay so the fruit doesn't look perfect but its not coated with wax to make it look pretty. Okay so the tomato is slightly bruised but its vine ripened.

smilingcat

My Dad, a small family farmer used to say "If the bugs won't eat it neither will I"

And I think we can all agree that as well as the juicy tomato tasting better, local farms protect rural areas and rural areas are great places to ride! I'm sure overseas farmers are great (no offense to any Chileans etc on the board) but I .... ride .... here. And I breath here too.

Really no reason to fly stuff in from wherever when it can be grown here. We need our farmers for many reasons, green space, protecting wetlands, strengthening rural communities.

I read somewhere it only takes 8 families to support a small family farm. Can you imagine if more people bought local?

[mimitabby]

I'll take it one step further. They are harassing a lady in a Seattle neighborhood because she won't decorate her lawn. They have a "tradition" of 3 weeks of LASVEGAS Lights in their neighborhood for the last 25 years (it's called Candy Cane Lane). Hundreds of cars slowly drive through every night for 3 weeks, polluting the air while the home owners burn hundreds of kilowatts of energy to celebrate Christmas.
I'm pretty grinchy. I begrudge myself idle car trips. I turn off lights constantly.
Solutions? Do your best I guess.

[Trek420]

On the calendar of S.F. Bike Coalition

Night Ride: Holiday Lights Ride
Put on your finest blinky lights and join us for our annual tour of holiday light displays around the city. Bring snacks to share or a thermos with something warm to drink!

They also have a Holiday Lights Walk

Both much better ways to see the lights. I hear that many clubs do this.

[teigyr]

I remember reading about something called a "100 mile diet" or maybe 300 miles or 50 miles or something. Anyway, you can eat/drink whatever is locally made and grown. It's not as easy as it sounds!

Ok, 100 miles. Here it is:

http://100milediet.org/

If I ever decided to do this, I'm for sure glad that we have wineries around here :D

[Trek420]

I remember reading about something called a "100 mile diet" or maybe 300 miles or 50 miles or something. Anyway, you can eat/drink whatever is locally made and grown. It's not as easy as it sounds!

Ok, 100 miles. Here it is:

http://100milediet.org/

If I ever decided to do this, I'm for sure glad that we have wineries around here :D

That's relatively easy to do here. But I recall a funny encounter overheard at a farmer market in Winter.

shopper "where are the strawberries?"
farmer "they are out of season"
shopper "but Safeway has them :confused: "
farmer "they don't grow at this time of year :o "
shopper "but Safeway ...."
farmer "they fly them in"
shopper "so why don't you have them?:confused: "

I really like feeling in touch with the season (wooooo, new age'y music in the background), the first cherries, peaches, winter squash ....

www.slowfoodusa.org

[Mr. Bloom]

You'll be hard pressed to find ornaments that weren't made in China.


ALL of our ornaments are from Ireland:o

In 1986 when we married, we started a tradition of buying a Waterford ornament each year, then we backfilled what we didn't have from prior years. Now, we have EVERY waterford disc ornament ever made (and some others)

Until we got into cycling, it was the ONLY indulgence we allowed ourselves. Now, after 21 years of marriage, we've a got 90 of them...and I can definately say - I prefer the days of a strong $...

[Trek420]

Now you need the matching Waterford bikes :)

[Mr. Bloom]

Now you need the matching Waterford bikes :)

ohhhh! Hmmm... That would require a VERY strong $ and a very weak euro and a road with NO POTHOLES!

[silver]

ohhhh! Hmmm... That would require a VERY strong $ and a very weak euro and a road with NO POTHOLES!

Uhhhh, Mr., she's talking about Waterford bikes:



http://www.waterfordbikes.com/

Made in Waterford, Wisconsin, USA

[Mr. Bloom]

Uhhhh, Mr., she's talking about Waterford bikes:



http://www.waterfordbikes.com/

Made in Waterford, Wisconsin, USA

I knew that!:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :o oops!

[Dianyla]

Another non-Walmart shopper here. I also try to avoid big box stores, large non-local chains, chain restaurangs, fast food, etc. Yay farmer's markets, coops, and locally grown and produced food and goods.

(Um, well... except fine woolen garments, that is. Only NZ's finest merino wool will do. Though, wait!!! Now that we have an Icebreaker store in Portland can I claim it's local?? :rolleyes: )

[Zen]

My monthly income is my disability retirement, a little over $1000 a month.

I am working a seasonal job that will end after Christmas.

My employer should be ashamed of what they pay us but it keeps my bank account in the positive range.

I am currently working with a counselor at Goodwill Industries to find a job that will accommodate my disability.

I shop at wal mart for food because nickels add up. I'd rather not but I have to. That is a simple fact of life for me and too many others.

[smilingcat]

That's relatively easy to do here. But I recall a funny encounter overheard at a farmer market in Winter.

shopper "where are the strawberries?"
farmer "they are out of season"
shopper "but Safeway has them :confused: "
farmer "they don't grow at this time of year :o "
shopper "but Safeway ...."
farmer "they fly them in"
shopper "so why don't you have them?:confused: "

I really like feeling in touch with the season (wooooo, new age'y music in the background), the first cherries, peaches, winter squash ....

www.slowfoodusa.org

LOL!!! totally clueless.

Nope we eat seasonally. tis the season for cabbage, root vegetable, squash and the like. No corn, no strawberries... no peach... but you know what, when they are in season, you really appreciate the wonderful flavor and the wonderful smell. Year round and I think it loses the excitement of first crop of the season.

oh we also avoid malls and big box store with exception of COSTCO. I go there to supply my cookie business. Sometimes its cheaper than wholesale place.

smilingcat

[Trek420]

I knew that!:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :o oops!

I knew you knew that ;) Mr. Silver was making a funny joke :D :cool:

[jobob]

I am currently working with a counselor at Goodwill Industries to find a job that will accommodate my disability.

:confused: You're disabled? I didn't know that.

I hope you can still ride a bike.

[crazycanuck]

Do you guys have an Oxfam shop near you???

All of the items are fair trade..

Have a look.

C

[teigyr]

Zen, that's an interesting perspective. I suppose it's easy to say we'd never go there (and I don't for many reasons) but I guess we have the option for other recourse. I can shop where I want, within reason of course, and stand firm on principles just because I want to. Probably your situation is more common than we'd like to think. There are a lot of markets up here that have "good" and "fresh" and "PC" types of food. Those markets are far more expensive than the ones that sell canned stuff near its shelf-life. I can see why that is but I guess it's still messed up all the same.

I guess this all makes me realize that I am lucky to have the choice.

[Triskeliongirl]

I don't know where you live, but when I was a grad student living in boston on $3900 a year, I would ride my bike to haymarket square and fill my pannier bags with fresh produce at dirt cheap prices. Are there farmers markets or similar options near where you live?


My monthly income is my disability retirement, a little over $1000 a month.

I am working a seasonal job that will end after Christmas.

My employer should be ashamed of what they pay us but it keeps my bank account in the positive range.

I am currently working with a counselor at Goodwill Industries to find a job that will accommodate my disability.

I shop at wal mart for food because nickels add up. I'd rather not but I have to. That is a simple fact of life for me and too many others.

[mimitabby]

unfortunately, the farmer's markets are VERY expensive here, they are all organic. Prices are not to be believed.:(
But if you want to buy produce that is inexpensive there are markets run by Asian people, and the veggies ARE asian, with lots of cross over, of course.
There the prices are better.

So, unless you have lots of $$$ you are buying from the supermarkets which ship stuff in from wherever it is ripe unfortunately.

[SheFly]

So, my take on this is that it's not REALLY about Wal-Mart, necessarily. This seems to be more about human rights in China, and how Chinese manufacturers of goods that we consume in the US treat their employees. I just bought DH a book for Christmas titled "A Year Without Made in China" - he's on an anti-made in China kick right now, but that is much harder than you think. Check your light bulbs, for instance - almost all of the manufacturers (including GE and Sylvania) have Made in China on the label.

So, I'm not saying I'm for or against Wal-Mart (I do shop there when I am in the North country - it's the best selection and the best prices). What I am questioning is whether this is really about Wal-Mart or about human rights?

SheFly

[bmccasland]

I bought locally grown strawberries at my Farmer's Market last tuesday. Yummm. Not imported, unless across Lake Pontchartrain is considered "imported" ;) I can also get satsumas - almost seedless tangerines this time of year. I'm fighting cold and flu season with fresh vitamin C.

Not buying "made in China" is getting increasingly difficult. There was an article in today's business section, how the upper middle class in China even avoiding buying the Made in China things - their bias is that european made is better quality. Strange twist on reality.

[SadieKate]

A history of abuse, illegal hiring practices, etc. --
http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/wwa/fact.html
http://www.walmartclass.com/public_home.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,150846,00.html

Before I knew better I shopped at Walmart a few times. It cost more -- because the products were shoddy and had to be immediately replaced or were just plain old, for instance dog biscuits that produced weevils in just a few days.

With careful shopping, it seems that their prices can be met and their quality beat. And, the cost to a community . . . . oy.
http://walmartwatch.com/img/blog/rolling_back_property_tax_payments.pdf

[surgtech1956]

Sorry I shop at Wal-Mart, I would prefer not to. In my area, the small mom & pop shops are gone, we have the chains, Meijers, Wal-Mart, Target, Sams, Menards, Home Depot, and the list goes on. The unemployment rate in Michigan is almost 8% - our economy is really bad. I work in the health care industry. It would take way too long to tell you what my hospital has done to its employees. It is common practice to not get lunches and breaks, once I worked 14 1/2 hours with only a bathroom break. One last thing, the toys from China with lead - I can't believe people are surprised - you get what you pay for. I'm off my soapbox. Thanks for letting me put my 2 cents in.

[mimitabby]

we're happy to hear from you, Nancy.

Shefly, it's not just walmart. but Walmart is a pretty big nasty blight upon our country. all those people buying all that shoddy stuff which is being sold by employees earning low wages.
And the poor folks like Nancy who have no choice but to shop there.

[Trek420]

we're happy to hear from you, Nancy.

Shefly, it's not just walmart. but Walmart is a pretty big nasty blight upon our country. all those people buying all that shoddy stuff which is being sold by employees earning low wages.
And the poor folks like Nancy who have no choice but to shop there.

Makes me appreciate where I live. Sure there are chains but also a thriving downtown and small business. Even :eek: local book shops! :eek:

The city I live in does a lot to keep the downtown thriving including free parking, farmer markets, zuchini festival :rolleyes: even a small (by Bay Area standards) Pride day.

Often I'll shop downtown first before hitting the malls.

Also there are good deals online. Right now SierraTradingpost keeps having sales daily. 20% off select brands each day (moving comfort today! and I think Woolrich) + if your order's over 70 sumthin you can get more off using the catalog code 2223.

Just sayin' there are ways to get low cost and shop ethical independent companies.

[Tuckervill]

People who live on the coasts don't understand how much they have available to them, that is not available in flyover country.

I visited Corvallis, OR this summer. It's about the same size as my town. It has 3 bike shops. We have none. That's just one example.

For the first time this year I saw a vendor at the farmer's market (very, very small market, and they're all selling mostly tomatoes and cucumbers) who advertised organic produce. Their price was double. The nearest whole foods place is 30 miles from me in another city.

If you have the kind of town that Trek describes, DO cherish it, because you are lucky. I bought my house here 3 blocks from downtown, just hoping that gas prices and other economic factors will drive that kind of environment, but so far, not.

Karen

Karen

[Mr. Bloom]

To reiterate (in a different way) what others have said with the very harsh, and verbose, business perspective.

Wal-Mart starts by identifying what people will buy and what price they will pay. From that point, their purchasing department works backwards to identify what is available to meet that profile.

Wal-Mart is not in the business of employing underage workers in asian countries. They are in the business of meeting demand for what consumers (that is, "us" - sans much of present company....;) ) want. They do that through manufacturers who Wal-mart attempts to screen...sometimes unsuccessfully.

If we don't buy, they don't procure, etc.

Despite my (I'm sorry) pretentious (in hindsight) Waterford post (oops, didn't mean to be pretentious...), we did buy three packs of cheap walmart ornaments a couple weeks ago to replace the very time consuming practice of tying a ribbon to each branch as we have in years past.

Using us as an example, if the $3 ornaments had cost $30, then we would have used alternatives. BUT, the $3 ornaments were available and for $9, we saved hours of 'work' on a year that we didn't have time to dress the tree as we normally would.

So, let's not blame Wal-Mart. As many have said, it is about what WE purchase. If Wal-Mart doesn't do it, someone else will...

Years ago, a local TV station cancelled their news program and fired all the news staff. The newspaper picked up on this with "shame on you, how could you do that" coverage directed at the station owners. It was interesting to hear what the owner said:

we tried for years to make news work
it cost us a lot of money
but we were selling something that the consumers didn't want to buy
so, we're not going to sell it anymore
if you don't like what we did, blame it on the people who didn't watch...


Hmmm, the owner had a point...

Sorry for being verbose...

[Trek420]

People who live on the coasts don't understand how much they have available to them, that is not available in flyover country.

...... I bought my house here 3 blocks from downtown, just hoping that gas prices and other economic factors will drive that kind of environment, but so far, not.

Karen

But flyover country (or bike through country :) ) had downtowns, had community, had small business .... can again.

We are seeing here a subtle "implosion" as everything from vacant lots to abandoned buildings near transit centers and downtown is being renovated. Other cities can do that too. Hope yours does.

When I got dumped :( and had to find a home PDQ :rolleyes: :o I looked near public transportation. I could have bought a bigger better newer place for less....in Modesto, Stockton, Hercules and spent my days in the car.

This place has been like having another car for me, I can take the bus, BART, Amtrack, or bike all in easy distance.

Forget where I read that cycling one errand a month or was that a week? Anyway it saves you around $1500 a year.

Bless my tiny decrepit but handy to transit home. :p When the price of gas skyrocketed woah doggies I was thankful to be here. :rolleyes:

[Kitsune06]

I'd like to point out that though we'd all like to "pay a little extra" to support local artisans, and despite the fact that we do see our small towns implode , small businesses going under because unless they either cater to a very specific market or have very unique goods, they're sol in the shadow of Wal-Mart and the Fred Meyer/Albertsons conglomerate (they own more than that but I digress) for those reasons, we'd like to "pay a little extra" but it's kind of presumptuous to assume that we *all* can, or to think that it's because of *those* people who shop *there* that we lose small businesses. I know I'm not alone in saying that, honestly, my family back in WI is pretty poor. There are a lot of things they could simply not afford if they needed to go to local shops. Simple things. Clothes, food, etc etc. I say that *I* don't buy at wal-mart, but honestly, everywhere we go, we will be buying things made in china or pakistan by the lowest bidder.

the circle of blame goes 'round and 'round, but if we think of the time when small towns and businesses existed, travel and trade between countries was dramatically less, the 'very poor' did much of their own farming and worked insane amounts of hours to keep their families fed (as they do now) most people owned their homes and it just wasn't feasible to go 15-20 miles to the nearest big town to the big stores except once in a rare while as a treat.

With the growth of the american dream, where we all want all the good things in life that everyone else has, how can we tell people "No, you don't deserve xyz, you don't make enough"? We can't. Thus trade with countries that will make it for $.03 for sale in the States for $3.00 as opposed to a domestic company's price of $10.00 enables both the american dream of consumerism and the business of another country to flourish.

To change that would be just a monumental task.

[SheFly]

So, last night I went into my LOCAL Paper Store (yes, it is a chain, but a fairly regional one). This store sells mostly Hallmark products, as well as some other things like Yankee Candle, Vera Bradley, etc.

I needed ornaments and gift wrapping. I found NOTHING that didn't say Made in China. So, as much as I want to support my LOCAL store (where the same people have been working for years), I still am faced with products made in China.

My point - it's not just Wal-Mart.

SheFly

[KnottedYet]

We used to get roll-ends of newsprint from the city newspaper and paint or draw on it to make wrapping paper. We made a lot of our ornaments. Painted and drew our own holiday cards.

Now that SKnot is older, we haven't been doing that. I think maybe he and I should start that again. There's a family tradition that I don't want to fade away.

[Tuckervill]

When I got dumped and had to find a home PDQ I looked near public transportation. I could have bought a bigger better newer place for less....in Modesto, Stockton, Hercules and spent my days in the car.

This place has been like having another car for me, I can take the bus, BART, Amtrack, or bike all in easy distance.


We don't have public transportation.

Karen

[mimitabby]

We don't have public transportation.

Karen

Karen, where do you live? (You could update your profile to show your region and us idiots would stop asking you)
NO Public TransportatioN!!!!!

[Trek420]

And is there a city planning committee we can get you on to? ;)

[Tuckervill]

I live in a town of 20,000 people in a metropolitan region of +/- 1 million. Northwest Arkansas--yes, home of Wal-Mart.

We got an interstate about 8 years ago. About 5 years ago, a bus line was started that served only towns along the interstate. It's called Ozark Regional Transit. My town is not on the interstate corridor (25 miles away). ORT doesn't go into the cities and the schedule is small. You just have to get to the interstate, that's all. Might as well drive.

There is transportation available to the disabled and senior citizens (I drove a van for seniors in my youth). The disabled can get to doctor's appointments in town and certain other specific locations. The senior van, if it is like the one I drove (different town), picks up at home and carries them to the Senior Center, and on certain days to the grocery store and Wal-Mart, and to doctor's visits in hard cases. I would bet that the vast majority of seniors don't use that service here--but rely on family or friends instead. Very few people walk to their destinations here, and it is evidenced by the lack of sidewalks on the main drag through town. Some people bike commute, but only out of necessity. If there were buses, they'd take them.

It's just different here. I've traveled all over the US, and I've seen how good it can be. In Vermont, even the small cities have public transportation, for instance. I also know this area is not unique...that outside of the biggest cities like Austin, Houston, Little Rock, Memphis, Kansas City, etc., the big-city amenities just don't exist like they do on the coasts. Some of that has to do with tax base. Some of it has to do with attitudes. You should hear all the complaints when forward thinking individuals in Memphis started talking about a light rail system. The complainers don't think it's necessary. ("They" being the ones who don't HAVE TO use public transportation and with money to buy gas.) When I first moved here, I struggled with the truth that I could not find a place to make copies 24 hours a day. It was a shock.

It was a shock to visit small towns in Oregon and see bike lanes. It was a shock to see a "share the road" sign for bikes on the FREEWAY in New Mexico. Bikes are not allowed on the freeway here. Even the big cities mentioned above, some of them don't have bike lanes (Memphis, Little Rock). (There is a movement in both of those cities, though.)

It's not the same everywhere. Wal-Mart, Tyson, JB Hunt, and Jones Truck Lines have made NW Arkansas one of the fastest growing places in the country. It's a great place to live, but the way of life is different. No well-known family farms (that aren't raising chickens for Tyson). No well-known local dairies (although I did hear of one doing the raw milk thing recently). All the grape growers went out of business, so even Tontitown's Grape Festival uses grapes grown elsewhere. No more apple festival either. The real estate is too valuable because so many people are moving here.

We have infrastructure problems because of fast growth, but the rest of the state is like that, too.

Karen

[Trek420]

The real estate is too valuable because so many people are moving here.

We have infrastructure problems because of fast growth, but the rest of the state is like that, too.

Karen

it's not just the influx of people but big box stores them selves bring envionrmental problems. Even if Walmart stocked their shelves to the brim with Organic and Fair Trade products their size alone ....

http://walmartwatch.com/blog/archives/a_greener_wal_mart_not_in_its_parking_lots/

[Veronica]

I just wonder do we really need more stuff? How many ornaments really need to go on a tree?

Years ago I started making cloth bags to give my presents in. I know not everyone has the time or the inclination, but it seemed like a little thing I could do to make less waste and I like to make stuff. They get passed around in my family. They aren't as pretty, but really what's wrong with a paper bag that your groceries came in? :D

I guess I just wish everyone in the whole wide world could think of ways to use or reuse what they have. Less stuff in the landfill, less energy used and maybe less of a "I only want my fair share..." attitude.

V.

[crazycanuck]

Just wandering in & letting you know we don't have a christmas tree or ornaments at our house. I still wrap my presents in newspaper.

I've not had the urge, well since i moved away from Canada, to put up a tree. Someone else can do that.

C

[Mr. Bloom]

We don't have public transportation.

Karen

Karen, yes you do!

All you need to do is stick out your thumb:p ;)

[Trek420]

I just wonder do we really need more stuff? How many ornaments really need to go on a tree?

Years ago I started making cloth bags to give my presents in. I know not everyone has the time or the inclination, but it seemed like a little thing I could do to make less waste and I like to make stuff. They get passed around in my family.
V.

And now, there are these .... http://wrapsacks.com

Duck on Wheels made some lovely hand made cloth grocery bags with shoulder strap for our mutual Mom. Practical and nice lookin' :D

[Running Mommy]

V!!!!! You coulda been a MILLIONAIRE!
Those wrap sacks are AWESOME!!
Makes me wanna bust out the sewing machine! :)

[Veronica]

I bet they are made in China. :D I spent a few minutes looking at the web site to see where they are made. I wonder how well they they are made.

I don't have anything against China. I just wish so much of our manufacturing wasn't going overseas.

V.

[Running Mommy]

yeah, the other day I was looking for chewy bones that are made in the US. BOY HOWDY was that tough. But I refuse to buy anything pet food related that isn't made here in the US by a small company.
I swear that the food we were feeding our great dane was what killed her. And here we thought we were doing the right thing by feeding her the Eukanumba all natural lamb and rice.. :mad:

Jack our new terrier is quite a chewer, so I need SOMETHING he can chew on and not completely destroy in two seconds.. :confused:

[Trek420]

V!!!!! You coulda been a MILLIONAIRE!
Those wrap sacks are AWESOME!!
Makes me wanna bust out the sewing machine! :)

Maybe secretly V is .... the inventor of WRAPSACKS! Bust out the sewing machine, wish I could sew :o

Running Mommy,

these are simply the best toys for dogs, your chewy dog will love them and ..... proudly made in the U.S.A.

www.kongcompany.com

on the other hand I just gave Mae (mutt) a rawhide chew from www.castorpolluxpet.com , it's made in Thailand and proudly says on the label "no humans were harmed in the production of this product".

[Zen]

kongs are great.

I have no experience with these antlers (http://www.petexpertise.com/item--Antler-Dog-Chews--Antlers.html) but they're natural and made in the USA.

[MillieNZ]

Another non-Walmart shopper here. I also try to avoid big box stores, large non-local chains, chain restaurangs, fast food, etc. Yay farmer's markets, coops, and locally grown and produced food and goods.

(Um, well... except fine woolen garments, that is. Only NZ's finest merino wool will do. Though, wait!!! Now that we have an Icebreaker store in Portland can I claim it's local?? :rolleyes: )

Did you know that Ice Breaker garments is no longer made in New Zealand, but in Shanghai ????

but they have done their best :

http://www.icebreaker.com/site/philosophy/#/sustainability/ethicalmanufacturing/

[KnottedYet]

Oh, dear, Icebreaker....

I have a very chew-oriented dog, and he loves the Kong "Goodie Ships". You can stuff cheese or training sausage or peanut butter, etc into the holes and it keeps the beasties busy for a loooooong time. http://www.amazon.com/Dog-Toys-Kong-Planet-Goodie/dp/B000H4F9KU

Another good trick is to take a regular Kong and wrap aluminum foil over the bottom little hole. Fill it with yogurt and dog food and freeze it. When you leave the house in the morning the gradually melting yogurt keeps the dog busy for a good half hour or so. (at least it keeps my dog busy)

I also have the Dental kong stick thing, and you can jam peanut butter or cheese into the grooves on it. My dog isn't so interested in the stick, though.