Take Action for Mother's Day

Positive thinking goes a long way toward changing the world, but it also takes action, vision, and funding.

Did you know that the first person to propose Mother's Day was a peace activist, Julia Ward Howe, who envisioned it as a day of action for peace? Delphine Cuomo reflects on the longstanding role of women as peacemakers and champions of justice in her article, Mother's Day for Peace.

By lovely coincidence, WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY falls on the second Saturday in May, always the Saturday before Mother's Day. The Fair Trade movement improves the lives of mothers all over the world by helping to ensure they're paid fairly for the products and services they provide as workers for companies that export their goods. How fitting that makes a fair trade gift for Mother's Day! Find out how you can participate in World Fair Trade Day.

You can make a difference in all of these areas - the environment, peace and justice - by getting involved with Co-op America. Co-op America is a not-for-profit organization harnessing economic power to change the world. Learn more.

Fulfill the champion in your mother with a membership in a green, peace or justice nonprofit that speaks to her heart.

Please support these or other nonprofits with your memberships, volunteerism, and donations. To find more, visit the searchable database of nonprofits working for a better world at: www.idealist.org.

The Peace Alliance is asking for public support in joining with them in their Fourth annual Mother's Day - Peace of the Pie National Action Day. On behalf of mothers everywhere, Friday, May 9, 2008 is the day put aside to take pies to local congressional offices, letting your member of Congress know that Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie. Action: Send a pie to your member of congress on Friday, May 9, 2008 and let them know how you feel about the peace budget.

CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education and other life-affirming activities. Action: Join the Mother's Day march and 24-hour peace vigil in D.C. or with your local Code Pink. Learn more .

Co-op America is a not-for-profit membership organization with a mission to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. Join Co-op America, read their publications, and get involved in their actions. Go there now!

Fair Trade Resource Network (FTRN) is the only non-profit organization in the world focused exclusively on Fair Trade education, helping people to better understand the impact of their buying decisions. FTRN also works to create a space for dialogue and exchange within the Fair Trade movement. Get involved!

"For The Next 7 Generations: The Grandmother's Speak" is a movie in which 13 indigenous Grandmothers from all around the globe come together because their ancestral ways of prayer, peace-making and healing are vitally needed in the world today. Take Action: Host a viewing of the movie with friends and associates; and donate to help produce and distribute copies. Learn more.

The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) is an association of businesses and organizations who are fully committed to fair trade. FTF strengthens the capacity of its members, encourages the exchange of best practices, and raises awareness about the importance of choosing fairly traded products and supporting businesses committed to fair trade principles. Learn More.