Can Those Trusted Toys Be Trusted Anymore?

'Tis the season to be careful. So far this year Mattel has recalled almost 19 million toys for inherent dangers from lead paint, to small loose parts particularly magnets which can be easily swallowed. If two or more are swallowed they play havoc with a child's internal organs. From Thomas the Tank Trains, to Dora the Explora, and even Sesame Street, this holiday season it's buyer beware and who can you trust, like never before.

Did you know that every one of the 24 kinds of toys recalled were manufactured in China where 70-80% of all toys come from? Did you know that these toys are not only potentially dangerous to those who get them, but to those who make them? If lead exposure is toxic to a single child, how much more toxic must it be for the workers exposed to millions of them in an inadequately ventilated factory where temperatures routinely reach over 100 degrees? It's a job that pays the average Chinese toy worker about .23 cents and hour for a 13-15 hour shift without paid overtime.

But all is not gloom and doom in Toyland.

The good news is there's a whole new world of gifts and toys that are good in every way, for the giver, the getter and the maker. You can find a Santa's sack full of exciting, fun, stimulating, non-toxic and safe gifts and toys readily and easily available for every gift giving occasion at e-retailers like Taraluna. (www.Taraluna.com).

Taraluna is a women-owned, family run business dedicated to changing the world one purchase at a time. Owner, Penny Schafer's motto in business and life is, "When you shop wisely and buy fair trade, sweatshop free, American-made organic and natural gifts, you are saying NO to exploitation and YES to humanity."

Here are some important questions Penny suggests you ask yourself before buying a toy or gift.

• Have I chosen a toy or gift made with organic materials, non-toxic (lead-free) paint or varnish or one that toxic?
• Does this toy have small, easily swallowed small parts?
• Is the packaging dangerous? The plastic protection bags toys come in should always be disposed of under adult supervision
• Is that toy age appropriate?
• Does this crib gift have a string longer than 6 inches that could strangle an infant?
• Does this toy meet U.S. safety standards or better yet higher European standards?
• Are they mindful or mindless? Do they educate as well as entertain?
• Are there sharp edges?
• Did I check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission at (www.cpsp.gov) for toy recalls?

Penny especially believes in and promotes fair trade toys and gifts. Much like fair trade coffee that has started to enter the consciousness of coffee drinkers everywhere, fair trade gifts and toys promote many similar issues. Living wages for workers. Safe working conditions. Respect for the rights of individual workers.

According to Penny, "We have a lot of power as consumers, why should we settle for less than the best? If a company isn't behaving in a way that you find appropriate, vote with your dollars. Stop buying their products and let them know you want them to clean up their act."

If you think that fair trade, safe and non-toxic toys and gifts need to be boring, think again. Taraluna proves that safe and fair trade can be fabulous. Here are some of her favorites this season:

• Mind expanding puzzles and math and reading games for small kids. Xeko games for youth and young adults. They're entertainment that educates.
• Organic teething toys for infants that are safe and toxin free.

• Fair trade, heirloom quality ornaments --the kind you'll treasure for years.
• Certified organic, fair-trade and vegan chocolates. Doing good tastes really good.
• Luxurious spa products like the Body Coffee Gift Set. You'll love them a latte.
• Hand knit, hemp/wool hats and gloves that even men and teens will love.
• "Garden in a Bag" so even brown thumbs can grow green ones and brighten up any window in the home. They're a great way to keep summer going even in winter
• A fido-fabulous Doggy Beauty and Travel Bag that's the cat's meow.
• Elegant fair-trade stationery that will make your message even more meaningful.

As we head into the holiday season when our thoughts should be turning to peace on earth and good will to all, Penny reminds us that this needs to extend all the way to the workers who maker our gift giving possible.

"When people aren't making a fair wage, and they are made to work in hostile or unsafe conditions for long periods of time, there isn't much love going into the toy you purchase if it's made from another's persons suffering," she says. Penny continues, "If workers are treated well, have a stake in the business, have an opportunity where perhaps none existed before, I believe they care about the products they are making. I would rather purchase products that help lift people out of poverty than products that take advantage of them."

This season thinking a little ahead and thinking a little green will keep the happy in everyone's holidays and give what a gift is supposed to. Happiness that's harmless.

Irv Weinberg is the founder of Mind Over Markets. A full service marketing consultancy specializing in green products and services. He also is the creator/co-host of America The Green one of the most popular eco-podcasts on the net and number 3 on i-tunes. He writes extensively on green marketing and the green world.

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