Until All Achieve Well-being

UNTIL ALL ACHIEVE WELL-BEING

This email contains actions on gold mining, California grape workers, and even Halloween chocolates. In addition you will find a research article that scans the current conversation on terrorism.

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REDUCE GOLD MINING IMPACT

Gold mining is one of the world's dirtiest industries, with the potential to leave a toxic legacy, such as encountered in Choropampa, Peru. Since most gold is used for jewelry, Oxfam has created an action targeted at jewelers to insist on real reform in the mining industry (outlined in the "Golden Rules"). Some jewelers like Tiffany & Co., are making efforts, whereas Zales, Rolex and others have thus far refused. If you wish to help support the health of local mining communities, click on the link below.

Take Action:
http://ga0.org/campaign/NDG_Oct_jewelry

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HELP CALIFORNIA GRAPE WORKERS

A recent legal victory by union efforts in California on behalf of certain grape workers highlights a pervasive problem in the industry. Basically the workers are required to do work at the beginning of their shift for which they are not paid. The courts have ruled this illegal, but the lawsuit only involved one grape grower. You can click the link below to request that the California State Commissioner investigate other growers for the same abuse.

Take Action:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/kovacevich?rk=71aUtCp1JutFW

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HALLOWEEN - USE FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATES

In three weeks many people on this email will celebrate Halloween. You can help advance children's conditions, which at times verge on slave labour, by calling for Fair Trade chocolate. While an industry protocol has been in existence since 2001, little change has come. Nestle is one of the world's largest chocolate producers and also has other major labour issues, which you can read in the link below. In addition, is a link allowing you to buy Fair Trade Halloween treats on-line.

Tell Nestle to buy Fair Trade Chocolate (and address other major issues):
http://www.globalexchange.org/getInvolved/actnow/nestleslavery.html

Buy Fair Trade Halloween Treats:
http://store.gxonlinestore.org/holiday.html

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SURVEY OF THE CONVERSATION ON TERRORISM

Farah Jamal, a recent intern for World Accord, did some research to start to probe the current conversation on terrorism. As such it was only possible to skim the surface of issues. Her basic conclusion is that in the short-term terrorism works, and the solution is not a "war on terror." Rather, the underlying causes must be identified and addressed and that may include allowing voices with legitimate grievances to be a conversation partner among the world power brokers. Such a long-term solution is difficult to gauge, but its attempt to deal with preventative solutions fits the overall emphasis of the UWAA endeavour, and thus is provided for your consideration:

Go to http://www.UntilAll.org and click on the section "Reflections on Terrorism: Initial Survey."

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UWAA: This endeavour is being placed under the overall rubric of "Until Well-being is Achieved for All."

Volunteers Needed: If you can provide one hour per week or month, tracking down concrete actions to help strengthen this effort, please click the UWAA Reply button below, and add a Subject Line: “UWAA: Edit” and place any comments in the body. Diverse perspectives especially welcome.

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Rod Downing
rdowning@istar.ca.

Surrey BC Canada
(604) 535-6550