#Fair Trade USA

[decorationinside]

Bring the Continent Home: A Guide to Modern African Interior Design

[ceramicindia-tiles-manufacturers]

COVERINGS 2024, Tiles and Stone Expo in USA, Ceramic Exhibition, Ceramic India

COVERINGS 2024, Tiles and Stone Expo in USA, Ceramic Exhibition, Ceramic India

Join Us at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, USA, April 22-25, 2024

[kyreniacommentator]

ARUCAD Students Work Exhibited in America

[fibre2fashion]

The Top 10 Upcoming Trade Shows & Fairs in the USA for the Fashion and Textile Industry

[kristihurley]

[cozage]

Festivals with the OP Boys

Characters: f! reader x Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Ace

A/n: This is based off the (VERY Southern USA) festivals I’ve been to. I know these are not all universal experiences, so give me a little grace 

Luffy

An absolute fiend at festivals. Thank god you’ve been saving up money for this. He heads straight for the carnival section without hesitation.

Did he hear eating contest??? If so, Luffy is entering it (and winning). 

And you are cheering him on!! No surprise to either of you, he wins a nice berry prize (that you all spend immediately at the festival)

He wants all the prizes. He can’t pick, each one is cooler than the last. He finally asks you which one you love the most, and you point out a small stuffed animal. Of course, he finds the exact replica 10x bigger a few booths down and decides on that one. 

He is DETERMINED to win you that giant stuffed animal. You know all those games are rigged so you remind him that it’s not a big deal. 

But once Luffy puts his mind to something…well, you know how it goes. 

Ends up breaking the bottles and putting a hole in the booth at the ball toss game. The guy gives you two stuffed animals just to get you all away from his booth. 

You all are shuffled away, hand-in-hand, laughing so hard you’re almost crying. Luffy’s laugh is just so contagious 

Now that he’s passed all the games, he finally notices it. All of the SUPER COOL RIDES!!!!

INSTANTLY takes off towards them and begins pulling you. Luckily, you know how to stand your ground with him. Unluckily, you’re dating a rubber man who can stretch and keep running. 

You hold onto his ever-stretching hand while you stand in line to get ride tickets. At least he’ll be easy to find once you’re done. 

He wants to ride all of the rides. Again and again. He’s obsessed with the crazy whip-around rides like the Sizzler, Zipper, and Drop Zone

You HAVE to ride with him too. He refuses to do it alone. He gives you those sweet puppy eyes when you object at first and you instantly cave.

LOVES LOVES LOVES THE FRIED FOOD. You had to stop taking him up to the order window because every time he saw something he immediately wanted it.

Just a constant switch between eating food and riding rides. You have no idea how he’s not getting sick.

Eventually you trade off riding partners and he starts riding with Zoro (“If you can’t handle a KIDS ride, Zoro, how are you going to be the best swordsman in the world??”)

Luffy pouts at first until he realizes that you have a different snack every time he gets off a ride, then he’s magically okay with this new decision.

Ends with fireworks and he loves them so much. Wants to go buy some so you guys can set them off on the ship every night

He carries everything back to the ship for you. You have a sinking suspicion those stuffed animals will have a permanent residence in his room, though 

Zoro

Festivals aren’t really his style, but he knew you wanted to go, so he made an exception 

Holds your hand the whole time (he knows that getting separated from you means he’ll be lost forever) 

Will mock you for wanting to win a prize, and reminds you that it’s all a scam anyway. 

However, after your second failed attempt, he can see you’re getting frustrated, so he takes over.

And of course wins you the biggest stuffed animal possible first try with a smirk on his face. You’re so happy you kiss him on the cheek in front of all those random people, which makes him turn beet red. He secretly is feeling great though because he won it first try!!!

He instantly has regret now because he has to carry it all day. He’s embarrassed at first but eventually he gets used to it and carries it around with pride.

After you win a prize, neither of you are really interested in sticking around the carnival portion. There’s so many people and noises it’d be easy for even you to get lost. 

You all head to and stick to the quiet side parts of the festival instead. He likes to wander through the craft fair and selling booths with you.

He pays special attention to when your eyes linger on a certain item, or when you get excited about booths. He tries to keep a mental note of those things for future reference

Zoro isn’t a materialistic man, but he does like to buy you things every now and then (when he can afford it). He sees your eyes light up over a particular bracelet and when you try it on he can see how much you love it. “Keep it on” he whispers softly in your ear, and passes a few gold coins to the merchant.

You guys end your evening at a tea house, sipping on sake and munching on light snacks.

You stay there for a few hours, just enjoying the quiet and each others company.

He asks if you want to stay for fireworks, but honestly you’re exhausted. He gives you a piggy back ride back to the Sunny while carrying your giant stuffed animal. 

You all pause for a moment when the fireworks begin, but after a few seconds you continue on your way back home. 

Sanji

Of course he wants to try the food and critique it

It’s not exactly nutritious which he doesn’t like, but it is giving him some ideas on how to add different elements to his cooking

He knows he’s dragging you all over the food district to try the samples and the specials and he loves you so much for that (you don’t really mind though because hey free delicious food)

You all wander around and find the carnival section. You try the fried food, which is equal parts delicious and horrendous to the both of you

As you wander through the games, you see a really adorable stuffed animal and point it out to Sanji

You didn’t even say you wanted it. You just noted how cute it was. But oh he’s winning that thing for you now. 

But he’s not very good at games unfortunately :/ especially luck based games

He tries to keep his cool but you can see he’s getting frustrated. It doesn’t help that his determination has sent you into short bursts of laughter

Finally FINALLY he picks the right one and wins you that cute adorable stuffed animal

You thank him with a peck on the cheek and he MELTS 

At sunset he drags you to the Ferris wheel and you see him slip the guy a few coins

Magically you all end at the top of the Ferris wheel right as the sun sets over the sea!!! How coincidental!!! 

“Y’know, when you’re at the top of the Ferris wheel, you’re supposed to-“

You cut him off by pulling him in for a long kiss. You’re both blushing hard by the time the Ferris wheel comes back down. You’re honestly a little surprised Sanji is still conscious. 

Sanji has already picked out a perfect spot for you two to watch the fireworks. There’s a band playing in the main square and the music echos up to where you all are sitting on the hill. You dance together to the music while waiting for the fireworks to start. 

Once the fireworks begin, you stand and watch in awe, embraced in each others arms. 

You all walk back to the sunny arms linked. Your new stuffed animal in your arm and some festival-exclusive ingredients in his. 

Ace

Wants to do every. single. thing. Doesn’t matter if he’s actually interested in it or not

He’s the kind of guy who’s at the festival all day long. There’s always something to do and you can’t miss out on anything. Hope you wore comfortable shoes (you didn’t). 

His hands are always full. He has your hand in one and some kind of beverage or food in another. 

Ace is the kind of person who switches between energetic puppy and lazy bones energy throughout the day, and you never really know when that switch will happen.

In the morning, you all wander through the craft fair. The crafts don’t really interest him, but he perks up a bit whenever he sees you interested in something. 

You find a custom jewelry maker booth, and as you’re browsing the works, he gets the craftsman to make you a bracelet that matches the bead pattern on his hat. Now you can both match, and everyone knows who you belong to. 

You play every single carnival game together at least once. Ace doesn’t even care if you guys are good at it. He just wants to try it. Theres some fun competition that exists during those games between the two of you that results in MANY small little prizes like goldfish, mini stuffed animals, and other silly trinkets.

You guys have won so many prizes by halfway through the carnival section, you can’t really hold anymore, so Ace starts giving them to kids as you pass by them. You’re stuck with the goldfish though. He’s already named it and very attached to it. 

You all take a food break, and find the weirdest food you can. You find a nice shaded and quiet spot to eat in peace. 

Ace naturally falls asleep on you while eating, and you use the few minutes he’s resting to people watch and just enjoy the quiet moments with him. 

When he wakes up he is REELING for more adventure and things to do.

You all come across a mechanical bull riding event, and for one of the first times that day, Ace pulls away from you and drops your hand, bounding away to go sign up for it.

Before it starts, he tips his hat towards you and gives you that signature wink that makes your heart burst.  

The devious part of you wanted to see him thrown off immediately, but he’s actually pretty good at it. He lasts a whole minute before he’s thrown face first into an inflatable cushion. 

When he comes back to you, he instantly intertwines your fingers through his again. “Did you like the show?” He says with another wink, which results in a playful exchanges of shoves to one another. 

You all ride a few carnival rides. You start out with some big rides like the Flying Swings and the Drop Zone, but the crazy rides aren’t mixing well with the food you ate earlier, so you opt for some less intense ones, like the Merry-Go-Round, Ferris wheel, and the Super Slide. 

You two find a personal love for the Bumper Cars. You love the competitive side you all can embrace, but also (thanks to some extra silver) the ride operator let you two ride tandem a few times as well.

Theres a free concert occurring and you all grab a seat on the hill to enjoy the music. Ace runs and grabs some dinner for the two of you. 

Instant regret for trusting him to pick out the food. He comes back with the most abhorrent monstrosity of fried food combo you’ve ever seen. And he does it with the widest, snide grin on his face. Bastard. 

You all doze off to the music and wake up to the explosions of fireworks a little while later.

After the fireworks, you walk back together, with him occasionally poking you in the side, picking you up to spin you around, just random things to make you squeal and giggle.

Your feet are killing you when you get back to the ship, so he gives you a nice foot massage, bless his soul. 

[aliciadreaming]

So as a Mexican American who speaks Spanish fluently I really have to disagree with tradia. Spanish is the language of our colonizers and not knowing it because you were raised in the USA is just trading one colonizing language for another (spanish to English). Like OK latinidad is not a one for one with Arabs /Arabic and the example of Rami Malek. Like yes great for anya she can speak Spanish. But she's literally blonde and white??? Argentina is literally full of white colonizers and I highly doubt that anya has any indigenous heritage. The difference between Anya and the other two (Rachel zegler and Jenna ortega) is literally that Rachel and Jenna constantly are othered because they look mixed (mestizas with indigenous heritage). Like no one makes a fuss over atj being cast in a Jane Austen adaptation because she's blonde and fair (aka super white) meanwhile Rachel is facing intense racist backlash because she's in the live action for snow white.

Gatekeepers who want make speaking Spanish the test for latinidad have missed the entire point. We also include Haiti and Brazil in latinidad and they don't speak Spanish either. If you want to get in touch with your latinidad bypass the learning the language of our colonizers and skip ahead to learning how to be anti racist.

[rubyroboticalt]

fun fact! google is being sued by the dept of justice usa for being an illegal monopoly.

fun fact! amazon is being sued by the fair trade commission usa for being an illegal monopoly.

crab rave!🦀🦀🦀🦀🎶🎵🎶🎉🎉🎊🎉🦀🦀🦀

[brunhielda]

As I am unable to indulge in my yearly Independence Day tradition this year, I instead reccomend it to total strangers on the internet.

(If you are reading this and it is not July 4th, USA, this is still a decent recommendation in general)

Watch 1776, the movie musical from 1972. (It is available on Amazon and Apple TV for less than $5, and is free with Hulu)

“Why?” I hear you ask, “would I watch that old thing when I have Hamilton?”

Firstly- I will not compare quality. The two shows are apples and oranges and the only thing they have in common is the subject matter being the Revolutionary period of the USA.

I will openly admit that Hamilton has much more dynamic staging/dancing, and there is simply no rap to be heard in 1776.

That said, reasons you absolutely SHOULD watch it:

1) You have already seen Hamilton. Presumably you have not seen 1776. It will be something new.

2) The line “Sit down John, you old f-!” from Hamilton is a reference to this musical, so you know Lin Manuel Miranda is a fan.

3) The main character, John Adams, is played by a much younger William Daniels. You may know him as “Mr. Feeny.” And yes. He is glorious.

4) You will enjoy such fun quips as-

“I have better things to do than stand around listening to Benjamin Franklin quote himself.”

“Hold on John- that was a new one!”

(Arguing with God)

“A simple plague of locusts I’d accept with some dispare. But no, you gave us Congress! Good God Sir, was that fair?”

“May my horse be turned to glue if I can’t deliver unto you a resolution on Independancy.”

(Said horse- a paid actor- turns around to bite him)

Jokes from old congressmen about being so old it hurts to piss.

Jokes about bull testicles.

(Refusing to help write the Declaration)

“I cannot write with any style or proper edicate! I don’t know a participle from a predicate! I am just a humble cobbler from Connecticut.” (He is so relatable for that. The whole song is one big- everyone is trying to ditch this “group” project)

5) Thomas Jefferson being too horny to work is a major plot point.

6) The most romantic subplot in this film, and I mean, actually beautifully romantic, is John arguing with his wife, Abigail, via letters. Best part about that is these parts are straight from their real historical letters. Perfect in every way. 🥰

7) The discussion on Slavery is intense. I will say this version of events paints Jefferson rather rosy, but it was written before we knew what we knew about him, and he is documented as fighting hard to end slavery with the founding of the nation. It is bizarre, knowing that, that he continued on in the manner he did. People are multifaceted, and some just get worse with age.

But the part in this movie that is worth watching is the argument the South gives back. Thier argument is basically “If we are sinning by this practice, then you are sinning with us, because you benefit.” While it is a lack luster argument to keep doing as you are doing, it does allow a nuanced understanding of privelege before the term was even used in that manner.

It also delivers a bone chilling example of the triangle trade in the form of a song that has haunted me since childhood.

“Molasses to rum to slaves. Who sails the ships out of Boston? Laden with bibles and rum? Whose fortunes are made in the triangle trade? Hail Charleston! Hail Boston! Who stinketh the most?”

8) “Cool Considerate Men” is also bone chilling, as a bunch of conservative congressmen dance calmly while listening to a casualty report from Washington. The song will never not be relevant.

9) In the same way, “Mama Look Sharp” will always always bring me to tears. It is a song from a Messenger Boy sent with Washington’s missive from the front. He sings about his friend calling for his mother as the young boy lay dying on “the green.”

The green was where people held meetings and parties and festivals- the green is the old fashioned version of “the Town Park.” The first battles for freedom were faught in town parks, where boys crawled off under thier favorite tree to die.

In light of everything that we have heard about fighting for freedom around the world, the line “The soldiers they fired! Oh Ma, did we run. Hey! Hey! Mama, look sharp,” is making me cry right now, and I haven’t even heard this song in a year. 😭🎶

10) “Is anybody there??? Does anybody care?! Does anybody see what I see? I see Americans, ALL Americans, FREE, forever more! Is anybody there??? Does anybody care?! Does anybody see what I see?”

The older I get the more I relate to John Addams screaming into the void because he simply cannot fix all the problems by himself.

There is more I could say about this musical, but at that point it would just be telling. Go watch the film. It’s funny and fun and poignant and powerful, and might make you cry. As good broadway often does.

[imaginespazzi]

Wowza, I have a LOT of thoughts and feelings about part 7. A real mixed bag. BUCKLE UP.

2033

yaaay they had a sleep over that didn't end absolute destruction of our collective hearts!

I feel the storm a brew'in with Drew. Something is coming and its not gonna be good lol.

Stephie’s quiet for a second, hiccoughing to herself as she searches for something on Paige’s face before she holds out a pinky, “promise you’ll never leave?” oof. my gut. is punched.

Paige is terrified. hmmm ok I like were getting into Paige's psyche a little more. Unlike other anons I don't think she's going to straight up run away or something drastic like that, but I think its totally fair that now that they are over the 'hump' (even though there has been no humping :( ) of admitting their feelings and trying to build something new, it is sinking in for Paige that wow this could be amazing… or I could get my heart trampled again and combust into a million pieces if this dream doesn't work out

Paige laughs, tucking that little tidbit away to tease Azzi with later, “how about you and I go get your Mama her favorite coffee?” oh I love this domestic shit. Paige would be the kind of sweet lover girl to go out and get her woman her favorite coffee even if theres coffee already in the house

Hmmm when is Jose's wedding happening? Will Paige be Azzi's date? Will being at a wedding give her a PTSD trauma response? I normally love weddings but i feel like you aint gonna give us a fluff fest with this one. Or maybe Azzi and Paige have a wonderful romantic time and start talking about what they want to do for their own wedding. happy happy happy fluff yay.

OOoh lawd is Paige gonna let an 'i love you' slip and freak Azzi out

“your daughter has you wrapped around her little finger huh?” “yeah, yeah she does.” SOBBING. But for real by the time Stephie is a teenager Azzi is going to have to impose a monthly limit on how much Paige can spend on random shit for Stephie cause she would be rollin up to school in a G-wagon and a louis v backpack and get mugged/become insufferable lol.

“I got you an iced vanilla latte with extra whipped cream,” foreshadowing smut with Paige putting whipped cream on azzi's nips? yes? great.

“Sounds good,” Paige confirms, “we’ll be there!” - awwww cutie paige. Couple mode.

But there’s something about being a secret again, that raises a bitter taste of what killed us then could kill us now in her mouth. hmmmm this is interesting. I often forget about the fact that their first relationship was a secret, and how clearly there is an element of that involved in their breakup. Azzi pulling back again? Im getting sad.

dun dun dun dun the moment we've been waiting for - FRENCHIE!

Hmm ok so Stephie doesn't seem to know clem was not just a platonic friend for Azzi… wondering if its cause they weren't in a serious relationship and it was just FWB or if it was a full blown relationship and Azzi consciously hid it from stephie

I mean Im sure Paige hates clemence already for obvious reasons, but STEPHIE loving her……ohhhhh lawd

Oof ok Clemence traded to atlanta… glad we dont have to have her around for long. I dont want paige to be arrested for homicide. Also Im absolutely picturing Clemence looking like Marine Johannes cause we know Azzi's type is white blond haired blue eyed Guards lol

“just one night.” I feel this night out is going to be an alcohol fueled disaster and IM SO EXCITED

2028

Why isn't Azzi playing for team USA? Stephie was born in January so could she not theoretically be back in it by now? Or did she take 2 seasons off?

OK Olivia. You know I love the whole Olivia of it all and I find the relationship so intriguing and complex. My first instincts about her in this chapter were of course, dear god she is such a bitch. And then I have to remind myself SHES NOT. She is just kind of a dumbass who is in love with someone who isn't in love with her, and its pretty much torturing her. -- “You did it,” Olivia screams, running into Paige’s arms as friends and family start to gather on the court, “I’m so proud of you!” “Thanks Olivia-” Paige is about to say more like… you are congratulating your wife on her winning a game at the Olympics and she can't even get out a full sentence in response cause she SEES the back of her ex girlfriends head. Thats grounds for divorce right there lol.

eeeek i dont like confrontation this would make me pee my pants "“Oh I don’t know about that,” Olivia says airily, sharp nails digging a little too roughly into Paige’s skin as her grip tightens further, “there’s plenty of talent up and coming in the next 4 years.”

"This is a side of Olivia that Paige is only just beginning to unveil, the side of Olivia that makes snide bitchy comments with a saccharine voice." … hmmm just starting to reveal? so theyve been married for like 8 months at this point. Olivia was keeping up a facade for a while ….. or Paige's clear preference for azzi is just getting worse and worse and the woman is finally cracking.

Ok the image of Olivia being LIVID in their hotel room, and Paige is just laying in bed watching tiktoks not listening to a thing Olivia says. Why is Olivia still here?! Take the money and run bitch your wife aint that into you!

gazing down at her phone where another fuckass Clézzi edit has started to play "fuckass clezzi edit' HHAHAHAHAH this is so Paige

Another thing about Olivia is that she seems to have a real issue with Basketball despite you know, being a sports reporter and pursuing a player romantically?? When Paige and her have that post presser spat in the earlier chapter Olivia says something like "There are other jobs than playing basketball" and here again she goes "right, fucking basketball. again". Sorry Olivia but your house, luxury cars, jewelry, are all courtesy of the fact that your wife is a basketball player! Who you met... while she was a basketball player! -OK Olivia, not going to the gold medal game? Bitch gots to go. How did this marriage continue for 2 more years lol

Azzi’s eyes soften, “I came for you. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that but- I’m here for you.” ok and im crying again. Just get back together right here and now you fools.

I do have a short addition to the end of the chapter, ahem im a little rusty:

And they both know that they’re saying words they shouldn’t say. That when they break apart from this moment, they’ll have to walk away. But for now, being in each other’s arms is the only thing that feels right, that feels golden. Except, at the afterparty their eyes meet again. Olivia had gone back to Dallas in a huff instead of staying for closing ceremonies. Clemence had to go be French somewhere, and didn't want to celebrate the USA win. And despite both being in relationships, the pull towards each other they felt was undeniable. After a couple dirty shirleys, Azzi followed Paige to her now empty suite. Once inside Paige opened a bottle of champagne, realized it was from France, and threw the bottle out the window. She then opened a Budweiser, poured it over azzis tits, chugged he rest of it, and they made passionate and patriotic love. As Paige buried her face in Azzis pussy, sucking on her clit like a goddamn AMERICAN, Azzi chanted 'USA USA USA'! She was reminded how much she loved Paige's Red Blooded American passion. Sure, sex with Clem was nice. But she was always stopping in the middle to bring out a cheese plate, and some preserves, or some croissants that got crumbs all over the place. While they both seemed to understand this was a one time thing, Azzi and Paige felt the Olympic spirit erupting within them, that it was fate they they connected here in LA, and released the tension they had been bottling up for 4 years. As they both squirted simultaneously, it was reminiscent of old faithful, another classic American relic. What a night it was. 🤱🤱🤱🤱🤱🤱🤱🤱🤱🤱🤱🤱

Buckling up m'am!

Paige is rightfully apprehensive about a lot of things. I think with her, when she was trying to convince Azzi, she's wasn't thinking about more than just being together. Now that they are taking step towards that, Paige is starting to have an epiphany of "hey there were actual reasons why we haven't been together for the last 8 years and maybe I needa think about those just a little bit".

The wedding will happen on-page and there's two ways it could go. I haven't fully decided yet so it's just as much a mystery to me I guess.

LMFAO Paige is just gonna give that girl an amex card and let her go ham with it if she gets her way

I'm glad you caught that line!

A lot of people seemed to think Clémence looks like Marine Johannes which is lowkey what I pictured as well and so I'm very amused that we all seem to be on the same wavelength with that lmao

I don't think she took two seasons off because she's definitely playing in the 2028 W season but with Stephie having been born only a couple months ago, I think Azzi, as a single mother, prioritized Stephie over going to Olympic training camps and stuff and so she wasn't on the team.

She is just kind of a dumbass who is in love with someone who isn't in love with her, and its pretty much torturing her. - this is exactly it like she's in a very depressing situation if we look at it through non-pazzi tinted glasses

Olivia is holding onto a dream that's threatening to turn into a nightmare and I don't think even she could tell you why she's holding on except for this ridiculous things called hope.

It's easier to take her anger out on Paige's love for basketball than take it out on Paige's love for Azzi that they're both trying to pretend doesn't exist anymore.

JESUS FUCKING CHRIST BABES!

I just- throwing out the champagne cause it's french? the beer? USA USA USA chanting? cheese plates?

No notes, 10/10 perfection. Please take over my writing credentials.

[ceramicindia-tiles-manufacturers]

COVERINGS 2024, Tiles and Stone Expo in USA, Ceramic Exhibition, Ceramic India

COVERINGS 2024, Tiles and Stone Expo in USA, Ceramic Exhibition, Ceramic India

Join Us at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, USA, April 22-25, 2024

[22plus15]

yey about the draft thing! (I never understood it anyway and I don’t watch nwsl but it looks like fans are happy about it 👍😅)

very yay!!! i've been reading about the cba all day so i'll explain a bit if anyone's curious ⬇️

the draft is a very american sports thing -- when players decide to go pro out of high school or college (which are very established here rather than academies and reserve teams), they make themselves available for the draft and the worst performing teams in the pro league each season will get the first draft picks so they essentially get the best new players, which is supposed to maintain parity btwn teams and avoid the teams with the most money or pull hoarding all the best rookies

it was integrated into the nwsl pretty much by default -- but as it turns out doesn't work as smoothly for how global of a sport soccer is (clubs have a way bigger pool of overseas players to buy from than other american sports so they don't rely on the draft for new talent) and also takes a lot of agency away from young players. lots of reasons and lots of debate on both sides of it. that's the college draft but what's also been eliminated is the expansion draft, which was when a new team was created they got their free pick of available players (not limited to just rookies) to give them a fair shot, but at the expense of the players who suddenly got traded and had to uproot their lives (among other potential dangers in a post-roe v wade world and with the history of bad actors in women's sports). it sounds good for new teams in theory but in practice it never really works out anyway (just look at utah royals' place on the table lol)

anyway the elimination of the draft is just one part of the cba that was announced today and i really recommend looking into it if this kind of thing interests you! the nwslpa (players' union) secured lots of player protections, much higher salary caps and minimums, guaranteed contracts (i.e. if you get injured or smth, which we know happens a lot in woso these days, you'll still get paid your full salary no matter what), extra bonuses for end of season awards, charter flights (the usa is huge you gotta fly), players' consent is FINALLY required for trades, free agency for all, parental leave and childcare, mental health services, etc etc

and a lot of the same workplace protections will also apply to front office staff and everyone who works behind the scenes at clubs and within the league so it's genuinely a huge step in the right direction for making women's sports leagues truly professional and safe working environments, and also not being afraid to diverge from the model of major men's leagues 👌

of course there's always progress to be made and the elimination of the draft will def come with a learning curve, but this has all been a long time coming and a lot of past nwsl players suffered and were put in a lot of precarious positions that future players will hopefully never even dream of happening to them now 👍

and last thing i promise: i remember answering an ask about kc current having lucy's discovery rights, meaning if she wanted to go to the nwsl she'd have to sign with them or they'd make bank if another team wanted her. that's been eliminated as well so i believe she's a free bird if she ever comes here!

[gttfair]

How GTT Fair Is The Best Clothing Exhibition?

There is no doubt, that GTT Fair is among the best Clothing Exhibition. And numerous small and large-scale business owners are interested in participating in it. 

However, if you are also among those that are looking forward to knowing about the textile trades and want to become the part of GTT Fair clothing exhibition 2023, then we would recommend you register yourself today and grab this amazing opportunity. 

You no more in need to worry about participating in the global textile trade fair as the registration process for it is quite simple. All you have to do is fill in the simple and easy form and you are all set to go. 

You will get the details about the trade show of what will be exhibited there and who will be there to provide you with the details about the trade show. 

So, what are you hanging tight for? 

Ensure you visit the official website of the GTT Fair and get a precise understanding of it today. 

[kristihurley]

[aristotels]

someone in the post compared the us to brazil which is funny bc we are a federation like the us where the states have some degree of autonomy and can make their own laws and stuff, the problem is that our constitution is so damn thick and throughout that it leaves almost no room for them to make their own laws so it ends up circling back as "one country" lmfao

tbh its still a fair point - regardless of autonomy, why are we not expected to know all the brazil states, but we are the usa ones lol?

lots of love to brazil from croatia we love your football and our nations have very tight trade and brothership (unofficial and relating to guns and drugs) 👍

[cherrylng]

The reality of Oxfam's involvement with Coldplay [CROSSBEAT (August 2006)]

In the UK, where philanthropy is very popular, celebrities and individuals often choose one (or more) of a number of organisations and campaigns to support and work with as part of their life's work. Coldplay's commitment to the UK-based development NGO Oxfam's 'Make Trade Fair' campaign is widely known.

The ‘unfair trade’ that prevails in the world is a long-standing problem between the so-called ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ countries. Historically, it has the same roots as the unfair colonial trade once practised by Western countries. Western countries buy raw materials at low prices from developing countries (without teaching them the technology) and export them, while selling goods mass-produced in their own countries to developing countries. Even now, developed countries are forcing developing countries to open their markets, putting pressure on the livelihoods of local farmers and workers. In the 1990s, when people became aware of the problems of unfair trade, it began to become a problem that footballs made by young children in Pakistan and other Asian countries, who were not allowed to go to school and were forced to work for cheap wages, were traded at high prices in the UK. In addition, in the banana industry, where five major corporations control more than 80% of the world market, the struggles of Latin American farmers, who are forced to ship at unfairly low prices, attracted attention and support movements in the late 1990s. As a result, when the first ‘fair trade bananas’ were imported into the UK in 2000, it was widely reported.

In 2002, Oxfam launched an international campaign to bring together the sporadic campaign to correct unfair trade and to call on governments and the WTO to change trade rules and shift policies. In 2002, Chris and his staff visited the Dominican Republic and Haiti in Central America to see first-hand the plight of the local people and the production of coffee beans, which had seen a decline in wholesale prices in recent years. In 2003, they visited Mexico, where they performed as a band at a concert in support of maize farmers fighting against cheap imports from the USA. In 2005, Chris toured Ghana (see photo) and was shocked to learn that cheap agricultural imports from the West were destroying local agriculture and contributing to poverty. Incidentally, Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa beans in the world, yet it cannot make chocolate. Even if they did, they could not export it because of high tariffs imposed by developed countries.

What is needed is not for rich countries to seek more wealth, but for them to share it with less rich countries. "When I was a child in the 80s, if you saw on TV the miserable situation of farmers, the only solution was to ‘donate money’. But here I see other solutions. I mean, everyone can participate by speaking up. The more I study, the more I think that poverty is also caused by trade imbalances. What I feel is particularly serious is that we are ruining the industries of developing countries by exporting products that are surplus in developed countries at unbeatable prices. It's crazy. It should be easy to stop." (Chris).

Chris has made the movement known by wearing campaign slogan T-shirts in public, including at shows, and by contributing a column to newspapers. "As long as we're providing music with heart, we can talk openly about things we feel are important in the media in developed countries. We can also promote Fair Trade and play our part in putting pressure on governments in the developed world to expand our activities and bring about trade inequalities." -Sumi Imai