“All the past we leave behind,We debouch upon a newer mightier world, varied world,Fresh and strong the world we seize, world of labor and the march,Pioneers! O pioneers!”
-Walt Whitman

As a generation we are still waiting for our united revolution. We might be waiting forever. But that’s not exactly a bad thing. What if our cause is to change the world? Not the whole world, necessarily, but someone’s world. That’s better than nothing.

I’m actually a huge fan of ethical shopping. Being able to buy something that actually lends itself to the world around you is a beautiful thing. Two of my favorite organizations are TOMS shoes and the Yellow Bird Project. I don’t even think I need to lend much in terms of words to either of these causes; they sort of explain themselves. I guess you should just know that I support them both and simply want to tell someone about it. So I tell you guys.

TOMS shoes

I’m sure you have all heard of TOMS at this point, especially after those commercials that were airing over the past year. I personally first heard about TOMS when I was participating in a Displace Me event to garner attention for Invisible Children and when that long-forgotten face first told me of the idea, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it felt right. The premise is easy, “With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about.”

Yellow Bird Project

The Yellow Bird Project can be just another band shirt in about the same way TOMS can be just another pair of shoes. So whether you like your music with a cause or its just cool to buy a shirt designed by your favorite band, this Montreal-based, non-profit initiative deserves a chance. Artists included: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Devendra Banhart, King Creosote, Wolfmother, New Pornographers, Of Montreal, Joseph Arthur, My Brightest Diamond, Stars, Hayden, Rilo Kiley, Holly Throsby, Au Revoir Simone, The Shins, Wolf Parade, and more...
I think its worth checking out

~Ferdinando