Gifts with a conscience

Change.org has put together a Holiday Gift Guide featuring a variety of creative and thoughtful gifts that "advance the causes you and those close to you are passionate about."

Here are three of my favorite ideas from the gift guide:

For Human Rights Activists: Artsy designs and compelling causes make Rosa Loves t-shirts great gift ideas. Each design is tied to a specific story and human rights-related need, and the profits go toward meeting that need. Once the goal has been met, the shirt goes out of production, making each design a limited edition.

For the Sustainable Foodie: Sign up for a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership. A CSA entitles members to a regular delivery or pick-up of fresh, seasonal produce from a farm near them – a healthy choice for consumers and for the planet. To find a CSA near you or your loved ones, use LocalHarvest’s online CSA locator.

For LGBT Equality: Your purchases can count toward LGBT equality, not just more airline miles. Over at LoveandPride, you can pick up an Erase the Hate pendant, with a portion of proceeds going to the Matthew Shepard Foundation. And if that’s not enough love, you can pick up an Erase the Hate T-Shirt, too.

Click here to check out the rest of the guide.

Stay tuned for PLT's own personal holiday gift guide!

11 yr old activist: What's wrong with our food system

Little kids like this make me feel so unaccomplished. Still, watch the video, because it's really impressive.

Yeah, that about sums it up

Via Gabby's Playhouse:

How every single discussion about sexism and woman-type stuff on the internet (and real life) has ever happened and ever will happen, always, forever, until the earth finally falls into the sun. (Or until the patriarchy is dismantled.)

Click to see the whole thing full-size.

Vote 2010

All pessimism about this midterm election aside, go vote! Seriously!

SNL Throwback: Bitch is the new Black

I'm sitting here watching the TV Special "Women of SNL" (Check it out if you're not!) They just aired this clip. This was a special edition of Weekend Update - "Women's News."




Amen, Tina. Amen.

NYC considers public awareness campaign, legislation to discourage catcalling

New York City councilmembers are considering enacting legislation to help eliminate catcalling in the city.

Recently, some ladies from Hollaback NYC gave testimony to the Council about their experiences with catcalling and harassment. The group is pushing the city to commission a study, a public awareness campaign and maybe even legislation, including "no-harassment zones" around schools, according to NBC New York.

This has spurred some controversy for a few years. There are questions of legislation potentially interfering with First Amendment rights and there is concern over whether this is the wisest way to use lawmakers' time as well as taxpayer dollars.

Fair points. However, as one Hollaback speaker said,

"Because of street harassment, from a young age women learn that public spaces are male territory," Kearl said. "They learn to limit the places they go, they try not to be in public alone — especially at night — and when they are alone, they stay on guard."

Street harassment is a systemic problem that is way too normalized in our culture. I remember the first time I was catcalled, back when I was in high school. I was embarrassed but otherwise didn't think much of it. I thought it was just a part of being a female, but that's an attitude that should no longer be tolerated.

If using taxpayer dollars is not the way to deal with this problem, what is? We should be teaching children from a young age to respect other people as well as respect others' personal space - that way we can get at the root of the problem. But for now, a public awareness campaign and legislation to protect school kids seems like the best solution we've got.

Either way, here's to the Hollaback ladies for taking such a strong stand on the issue.