If you haven't already checked this out, you should. View The Story of Stuff now!
What do you think?
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Charity planning Banana Republic protest over employees' plight
The Guardian
Rebecca Smithers and Randeep Ramesh in Delhi
Rebecca Smithers and Randeep Ramesh in Delhi
Thursday March 20 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/mar/20/ethicalbusiness.retail
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/mar/20/ethicalbusiness.retail
"One of the biggest fashion retailers in the US last night began an investigation into allegations that workers in India who make its clothes are being forced to work more than 70 hours a week for as little as 15p an hour.... "
Sim Sweatshop?
Play Sim Sweatshop then email us at info@ngwfund.org to let us know what you think!
Does this game simulate sweatshop life? Does it provide interesting food for thought? What are some of the best ways to educate consumers about factory life?
http://www.simsweatshop.com/
Thursday, March 20, 2008
What Microloans Miss
What Microloans Miss
by James Surowiecki
The New Yorker
March 17, 2008
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2008/03/17/080317ta_talk_surowiecki
This is a fascinating article about microfinance loans and the lack of financial support for small businesses in poor countries. The author calls this group the "missing middle," because they don't receive microcredit loans meant for individuals but neither can they get loans from large banks. The NGWF is working to help the cooperative through this funding no-man's land, although hopefully this article will spur larger debate and investment in this area...
An excerpt: "What poor countries need most, then, is not more microbusinesses. They need more small-to-medium-sized enterprises, the kind that are bigger than a fruit stand but smaller than a Fortune 1000 corporation. In high-income countries, these companies create more than sixty per cent of all jobs, but in the developing world they’re relatively rare, thanks to a lack of institutions able to provide them with the capital they need. It’s easy for really big companies in poor countries to tap the markets for funding, and now, because of microfinance, it’s possible for really small enterprises to get money, too. But the companies in between find it hard. It’s a phenomenon that has been dubbed the 'missing middle'.”
by James Surowiecki
The New Yorker
March 17, 2008
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2008/03/17/080317ta_talk_surowiecki
This is a fascinating article about microfinance loans and the lack of financial support for small businesses in poor countries. The author calls this group the "missing middle," because they don't receive microcredit loans meant for individuals but neither can they get loans from large banks. The NGWF is working to help the cooperative through this funding no-man's land, although hopefully this article will spur larger debate and investment in this area...
An excerpt: "What poor countries need most, then, is not more microbusinesses. They need more small-to-medium-sized enterprises, the kind that are bigger than a fruit stand but smaller than a Fortune 1000 corporation. In high-income countries, these companies create more than sixty per cent of all jobs, but in the developing world they’re relatively rare, thanks to a lack of institutions able to provide them with the capital they need. It’s easy for really big companies in poor countries to tap the markets for funding, and now, because of microfinance, it’s possible for really small enterprises to get money, too. But the companies in between find it hard. It’s a phenomenon that has been dubbed the 'missing middle'.”
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Buy NGWF Shirts at Birch Clothing Store!
Now you can buy a limited number of NGWF shirts at Birch Clothing!!!Birch Clothing
2309 W. 50th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55410
612-436-0776
www.birchclothing.com
If you live in the Minneapolis area, please shop for our shirts at Birch. The more you buy, the more money goes to workers and factory development programs at the Nueva Vida Cooperative!
Meet NGWF at NCOR!
The Nicaraguan Garment Workers Fund will be presenting this upcoming weekend at NCOR, the National Conference on Organized ResistanceMarch 7-9
American University
Washington, DC
www.ncor2008.org
Please join our presentation and discussion, "Nicaraguita: Labor Rights and Sustainable Environmentalism in Apparel Production"
Saturday March 8 from 2-3pm
Ward 4, American University
We will also be tabling for most of the weekend, so please come visit us! All sales support the workers of the Nueva Vida Cooperative.
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