Politics, religion and social justice rarely see eye to eye but, through Fair Trade and a campaign called Fair Trade the White House, everyone can find common ground to work towards sustainability. While it’s convenient to take advantage of cheap prices, most would agree that that consumerism should not be at the expense of the environment, personal health or of humankind. This particularly puts Christians in an awkward position because the need of providing for family in the most economical way can take precedence over their conscience. In an effort to ease our minds, we break out our checkbook and donate to charity. While this may do some good, it doesn’t resolve the issue of conscientious living, nor does it come close to “do unto others…”

Fair Trade offers a solution, allowing us to carry out our day to day lifestyle while positively affecting others at the same time. This practice of paying a sustainable wage allows us to be good stewards towards a better environment, healthier options for our body and greater social responsibility. If the solution is so simple, then what is keeping the phrase, “fair trade” from becoming a house hold name? Trade takes two. First, businesses have to offer something for the consumer to buy and second, the consumer has to choose to buy that product.

Currently, there are limited resources offered through the Fair Trade market and, while Americans love coffee and chocolate, we typically need more options to survive on a day to day basis (although, some caffeine addicts may argue). It’s for this reason that more and more business owners are taking the initiative to live and work ethically. In 2005, I, along with my husband and my twin sister, created Anti-Body (anti-poverty, beautiful body), a natural bodycare line, to make fair trade items more accessible to shoppers. Producing everyday products like soaps, lotions and lip balms with ingredients that have been traded fairly gives everyone another opportunity in the day to live responsibly. Now that there are fair trade options everywhere, from bodycare, to clothing and produce, Anti-Body initiated Fair Trade the White House, a campaign for organizations, vendors, churches and individuals who support fair trade to link arms and spread the message of sustainable living across the country.

Fair Trade the White House is an invitation to First Lady Michelle Obama to make her home a “Fair Trade home.” Regardless of political affiliation, this invitation allows Americans to voice their desire for ethical options and it also allows the White House to be a sounding board for Fair Trade. If the First Lady accepts the “Fair Trade the White House” invitation, the goal is to conduct a ceremony in May, 2010, “World Fair Trade Day.”

God called us to care for the poor and be a defense for the helpless (Is. 25:4). Fair Trade was started in the United States by a small group of Christians in 1946. Today, more and more churches are choosing to serve Fair Trade coffees and teas to their congregation. But the percentages of churches still not choosing fair trade far out weighs the ones that do. As Christians, we can further our stewardship to the environment, ourselves and to others by choosing to live the way God calls us to. Let us continue to do good through a fair lifestyle and encourage the First Lady and our friends and family to do the same.

Shelby Moser is the Co-founder of Anti-Body (anti-poverty, beautiful body), an all-natural, fair trade body-care company based in California.

Thank you to all who attended and participated in Gratitude & Creation at Park Street Church on Saturday night. We were inspired by Shane Claiborne’s encouragement to share God’s love in big and small ways.

We are very grateful for Shane and Chis Haw who traveled to Boston from Camden and Philadelphia to be with us. Also to the Massachusetts Council of Churches for sponsoring, Park Street Church for hosting, Neil Helme and Jonathan Green for leading worship, and a wonderfully creative and thoughtful group of organizers and workshop presenters. Photos to be posted, shortly.

Climate change. Toxic trash. The earth’s budget overstretched. What would our relationship to the environment look like if rooted in gratitude to God?

On the eve of Lent, learn about and undertake a creation commitment together with Christians from all traditions at Gratitude & Creation on Saturday, February 21, 4:30-9:00pm at Park Street Church, Boston.

4:30-6:00
Prayer with Shane Claiborne, Jubilee Sessions sharing practical ways to respect God’s creation.
* Feast without Injustice: fill a Fair Trade cupboard
* Water without Waste: resisting commercialization of water resources
* Beauty without Contamination: clearing out toxics from your household
* Energy without excess: reducing your carbon footprint beyond the light bulb

6:00-7:00
Community Dinner

7:00-9:00
Worship and Message with Shane Claiborne. Music led by bluegrass band featuring local musicians.

Shane Claiborne is the author of the Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical and founding partner in the neo-monastic community, the Simple Way.

A $10 donation to defray costs is suggested but not required. All are welcome to attend.

Sponsors include the Massachusetts Council of Churches, the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light.