Media, Pennsylvania, Becomes the "First Fair Trade Town in the United States"
Media, PA (ContentDesk) July 13, 2006 -- On Saturday, July 8, 2006, Media Borough Councilperson Monica Simpson and Idyll Development Foundation Director Hal Taussig announced at a public ceremony in the center of town, that Media, Pennsylvania, is the First Fair Trade Town in the US. Europe and Britain have hundreds of Fair Trade towns, and now the US has one.
Councilperson Simpson remarked, Media, Pennsylvania, is proud to support Fair Trade's simple and effective economic model. We hope in a few years to be the first of hundreds of Fair Trade towns in the United States."The Media Borough Council unanimously passed a resolution on June 15th supporting the concept of Fair Trade and promising to serve Fair Trade products at its meetings and functions. The resolution was the last goal necessary to become a Fair Trade town. The other goals are that a certain percentage of retailers and institutions sell and use Fair Trade products, widespread support and media coverage exist for Fair Trade, and an ongoing steering committee keeps the Fair Trade issue vital.
Since there is as yet no national Fair Trade town initiative in the United States, Media, Pennsylvania used the goals established by the Fairtrade Foundation of Britain.The Fair Trade town idea came from Media resident Hal Taussig, founder and director of The Idyll Development Foundation and owner, with his wife, Norma, of Untours, a unique travel business. Hal has supported Fair Trade for years and helped import entire containers of Fair Trade coffee into the US during the late 1990s. Hals latest idea: Lets make Media the Fair Trade capital of the world! Fair Trade is an economic model that gives farmers and producers of goods a fair price for their products, establishing economic sustainability and security for entire communities. It is a rigorous third party certification guaranteeing: excellent products for consumers; sustainably produced goods; safe and healthy working conditions; no slave, forced or child labor; the encouragement of long-term relationships between producers and buyers; and an internal structure for producers that allows decisions about profits to be made democratically.TransFair is the only independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States.
Consumers know the products from the TransFair seal (which can be downloaded from TransFair's web site).
Newmans Own brand coffee, for example, which is readily available in grocery stores, carries the seal prominently on the front of its packaging.
Comments from some of the members of the Fair Trade Media Committee that has worked toward Media becoming the first Fair Trade town: Fair Trade is an important conversation that the world must define, embrace & eventually fulfill.
Drew Arata, owner of Earth and State (a store in the heart of Media) and active member of the Media Business Authority: 610-566-9270"I support Fair Trade because it is the right thing to do. It is the same reason I ride a bike to work, conserve resources, support organic agriculture and my local economy. There are many, many people that have to share our world. I was extremely lucky to have been born into a life of incredible affluence with a house, car, abundant food, education and time for recreation.
I feel compelled to do what I can to help make this world a better place for everyone."
Ira Josephs, Manager of Selene Whole Foods Coop (located in the heart of Media and retailer of Fair Trade products for years): 610-566-1137"I purchase fair trade products both at cafes and to take home because they always taste great, gourmet if you will, and because they fit my values."George Hoguet, Media resident: 610-566-1332.
The Basics of Business Record Keeping
As a business owner, you may rely on an outside accountant to do your taxes and prepare financial statements. However, it's best that you or someone in your organization take on the responsibility of keeping an accurate set of financial records. Keeping good records yourself, no matter how unpleasant it may seem, will minimize the costs of paying an accountant and allow you more control of your financial information and operations. Maintaining good records can also help you avoid headaches at tax time by keeping track of your receipts and other records throughout the year. This can help you remember the various transactions you made during the year so you can properly document and maximize your tax deductions.
Normally, tax records should be kept for three years, but some documents - records relating to a home purchase or sale, stock transactions, IRA and business or rental property - should be kept longer.Good record keeping not only enables the IRS to evaluate your business...
The Basics of Business Record Keeping
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Tax Benefits of Health Savings Accounts Lure Consumers, Businesses
10 Ways Health Savings Accounts Offer Tax SavingsHealth Savings Accounts are helping individuals save thousands of dollars on their income taxes.
These tax-favored accounts, which have only been available since January of 2004, can be opened by anyone with a qualifying high-deductible health insurance plan.
Once you open an account, you can place tax-deductible contributions into it, which can then be used later to pay medical expenses.
Any money not used grows tax-deferred, like an IRA. HSAs offer many tax advantages over traditional health insurance arrangements.
A more detailed explanation of this list...
Tax Benefits of Health Savings Accounts Lure Consumers, Businesses
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Kindred Media Group and Solaris Entertainment Announce Production Begins on 'Superheroes'
West Hollywood, CA (ContentDesk) October 28, 2005 -- Kindred Media Group announced today that it has partnered with Solaris Entertainment to begin production on writer-director Ed Radtkes Superheroes, the first film to be financed at the production stage by Kindred.Produced by Greg OConnor ( Tumbleweeds, Miracle ) and Solaris exec Josh Fagin with industry veteran Ira Deutchman, Superheroes is an lyrical and imaginative independent feature film that tells the story of a thirteen-year old orphan thief who escapes the mean streets of New York by stealing video cameras with his friends and retreating into the documented lives of New York City tourists. Superheroes began production on October 15, 2005, and stars Jeremy Allen White, Peter Appel, Justin Soto, Samantha Hosie-Leung, Gil Rodgers, and Ed Seamon. OConnor is also producing the upcoming Pride & Glory for New Line, which will star Colin Farrell, Edward Norton, and Nick Nolte. Ed Radtkes last film, the highly acclaimed...
Kindred Media Group and Solaris Entertainment Announce Production Begins on 'Superheroes'
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Don’t Blame the HSA
Lake Geneva, WI (ContentDesk)February 23, 2006--Long before there were Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), people were buying High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) to save on their health insurance premiums. High income people would buy the HDHP because they saved money up front and if they got sick they could afford to pay out the higher deductible. Low income people bought the HDHP because that was what they could afford to make sure they were covered with health insurance. Many Americans are now discovering they can refinance their health insurance to higher deductible insurance plans to save money on their premiums; offset the deductible with tax-deductible savings, and the benefits of an HSA. Whether youre a Republican or Democrat, any time you are getting a tax deduction to save money (in the case of the HSA for your health care expenses) it is a win, win situation.
Everyday there are so- called think tanks with reports why HSAs are bad. The California Insurance Commissioner...
Don’t Blame the HSA
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INTELLIGENT INVESTING
Talk at the "cooler" about investing, is usually around Stocks.Although I make money in Commodities, there is a "safe" way -that banks and investment houses use, but they won't tell You!How about a product that returns 12 - 42%, is 100% insured andbacked by the assets of the wealthiest institutions on the planet.Your banker takes your "CD" money and invests in this vehicle. Now you can turn the tables with this special insurance contract.Earn ROR equivalent to, or exceeding, the equity markets!Without any market risk or risk to principal - Guaranteed!!!Its called a Viatical Settlement - and here is how it works.Viatical Settlement - the sale of a life insurance policy at adiscounted rate to a group of investors by a person who is inthe advanced stages of a terminal illness.The Investors hold the policy and receive the full face value ofthe policy at maturity. A win-win situation. The "viator" is ableto enjoy the cash proceeds of his policy while still alive, andthe investor receives...
INTELLIGENT INVESTING
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The Main Goals A Financial Plan Should Accomplish
This article is going to briefly touch on the main things a financial plan should accomplish. You don't need a professional to help you draw up your own financial plan, but you might need professional advice and help to put some of your plans into action. Such as advice on your insurance needs to make sure you, your family and your home are adequately covered, tax advice to make sure you are not paying too little or too much, investment advice to ensure that you can reach the amount you would like to retire with while still putting money aside for your children's education and advice about what to put or not to put in your will.Those are the things you should speak to a professional about, but you should have your financial plan worked out before you speak to one so that you can let them know exactly what you wish to accomplish with your plan. Your goal is financial success; your method for reaching that goal is your financial plan. After you have drawn up your plan is the best time...
The Main Goals A Financial Plan Should Accomplish
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