Most of my holiday shopping occurs on Christmas Eve. It has become a tradition. My gift buying normally reflects my values. I try and buy gifts from local artists, stores where unions help provide decent wages and good benefits, and markets that sell goods from outside the country that have been obtained at a fair price instead of at the hands of sweatshop labor.
Eric Berg is a Portlander who I have known since my high school days (he might have already been in college). These days he is working with the Portland Jobs with Justice Faith - Labor Committee, a group associated with the national Interfaith Worker Justice (formerly known as the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice.
Interfaith Worker Justice has published a holiday guidebook that contains a list of places you can feel good about buying from. I read through it today and found it very helpful. The four-page booklet can be downloaded by clicking here.
They also have a great newsletter that you can read by clicking here. Their stories showcase efforts in cities across the nation to link religious groups to the concerns and needs of workers in the United States and beyond.
And if the name Eric Berg rings a bell for you there might be a reason. This guy will do just about anything to bring attention to justice issues. Even tease the FBI.