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Dec. 2, 2008

Melanie Phillips: The Mumbai atrocity is a wake-up call for a frighteningly unprepared world

Stratfor Geopolitical Intelligence Report: Strategic Motivations for the Mumbai Attack

Dec. 1, 2008

Max Freidlander, as told to Jacklyn C. Wadler: India Inkings

Mark Steyn: Whodunit!?

Nov. 28, 2008

Rabbi Ahron Rapps: An evil seed that didn't have to be

Melanie Phillips: Carpe diem --- or can we all relax now?

Nov. 26, 2008

Michael Feldberg: Meet the Orthodox Jew who laid groundwork for scientific development of ordnance that undergirds America's current world leadership

Andrea Simantov: Shades of life

Nov. 25, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Getting Emotional For Influence

The Kosher Gourmet by Ethel G. Hofman : Thanksiving feast!

Nov. 24, 2008

Rabbi S. Binyomin Ginsberg: 'I just Became a grandchild!'

Barry Rubin: Don't flatter your enemies, protect your friends

Nov. 21, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Money matters?

Caroline B. Glick: Civilization walks the plank

Nov. 20, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Bronfman's blindness

The Kosher Gourmet By Linda Gassenheimer: Portobellos add a hearty flavor to pasta with pesto

Nov, 19, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Spread the wealth? Jewish tradition and income equality

Elliot B. Gertel: 'Mad Men': Tackling prejudices or reinforcing them?

Nov, 18, 2008

Dr. Debby Schwarz Hirschhorn: The End of the Age of Reason

Jonathan Tobin: Does Barack + Bibi = Disaster?

Nov, 17, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The End of the Age of Reason

Diana West: Gulling Americans into making terror legit?

Nov, 14, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: The Power of Spiritual Inertia

Caroline B. Glick: The perils ahead

Nov, 13, 2008

Stratfor Intelligence Briefing: How Bush and Obama together could change the Middle East dynamic

The Kosher Gourmet by JeanMarie Brownson: Sweet and savory, crispy and meltingly tender bestilla

Nov, 12, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Tyrannical Co-Workers

Michael Doyle: High Court to consider today donated monuments that may have religious messages in public parks

Nov, 11, 2008

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Will Obama stop government officials considering institutionalizing financial jihad?

Jonathan Tobin: They Will Decide Their Own Fate

Nov, 10, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: $8 billion, modern-day Tower of Babel being built?

Barry Rubin: A letter to the president-elect from a Middle East realist

Nov, 7, 2008

Rabbi Francis Nataf: Of Children and Immortality

Caroline B. Glick: Livni's Obama strategy

Nov, 6, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: How I tricked a classroom of apathetic students into grasping the fallacy of moral relativism

The Kosher Gourmet By Gina Kim: Tips for making the perfect soup --- includes recipes

Nov, 5, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist By Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Destitute Debtors

Bruce Weinstein: 'Religulos': Bad title,even worse movie

Nov, 4, 2008

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Treasury Dept. submits to Shariah law

Frida Ghitis: A surprise for Obama in the Middle East

Nov, 3, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: Who says Jews are Smart?

Jonathan Tobin: Was He Wrong About Everything?

March 22, 2007

J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !)

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review August 27, 2008 / 26 Menachem-Av 5768

Easier way to fight corporate abuses

By Vicki Lee Parker


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | (MCT) Consumers often tell me that they feel powerless against big corporations.

It's hard to know which companies have a reputation for treating customers well and which ones are doing things that respect the environment, for instance.

Last week, one consumer group made getting such information a lot easier.

Co-op America expanded its Responsible Shopper Web site to include more tools to answer questions about businesses, see how corporations rank next to their competitors and even how to fight big business.

The site, responsibleshopper.org, already was getting about 2 million visits a year - enough to get the attention of any company. Now, with the enhancements, program director Todd Larson said he hopes visits will increase to 3 million.

Larson said the mission is simple: Expose corporate abuses and enlist consumers to help clean up corporations.

"The No. 1 goal was to create the Web's most powerful one-stop information resource for concerned consumers," Larson said.

ResponsibleShopper rates more than 150 companies, including big names such as Wal-Mart, Exxon, Disney, Hanes, General Electric and Coca-Cola.

What's helpful about the site is that companies are ranked in 27 industry categories based on research and analysis completed by the co-op staff. So when you look up a company whose operations cover several industries, such as GE, you see rankings by category, such as athletic ware, appliances, banking and financial, beauty and body care and big-box retailers.

You also can get information about the company's business operation, learn about consumer campaigns and get alerts about ethical, labor, environmental and animal-testing concerns. It has contact information if you want to send a letter or complaint, and the site lists company affiliates and the latest news.

When a company is analyzed, Larson said, Co-op America's staff focuses on specific issues, such as human rights, social justice and environmental sustainability.

Navigating the site is a breeze. You aren't bombarded with loads of information on the main page.

Instead you find tabs labeled "learn," "act" and "live." If you want to read about a company or industry, click "learn." If you want to see the latest campaigns or help fight corporate abuses, click "act." And if you want to know how to live and shop in an environmentally sound way, click "live." The fonts are large and easy to read - no straining to make out small type - and sections are clearly marked.

The best part about sites like this: They make it harder for companies to operate in a vacuum. If a company pollutes a river in a small Midwestern town, people all over the world can learn about it.

Another plus: These sites take away consumers' excuses for not complaining about bad corporate behavior. Sure, it's hard for one customer to apply pressure to a big corporation, but I doubt any company can ignore 3 million people.

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

Vicki Lee Parker is a columnist for The News & Observer. Comment by clicking here.

Previously:

Before buying a car
How to move it without losing it
Want a free laptop? I'm still waiting
Put an escape hatch in your travel plans
Put up or shut up for card companies
Don't fall for rebate check scams
Recall agency needs help
Account can help you save
Gift refund made him feel cheated
7 gifts to build wealth
Dump your bank escrow account, earn some interest
Enticing e-mail may lead to viruses, ID theft, malware
Ask to receive discounts
Learn from a con man
Nitrogen: pricey way to keep tires pumped
Buying private health coverage
Better Business Bureau ramps up
Two beeps, one item: Listen for overcharges
Recalls: What to do next
Do your homework before home repairs
To tip or skip it: Gratuity must be earned
Advice is free, if you look
Hire a cleaner who won't clean you out
Teach children smart money tips that will keep them busy all summer long
Warning: Don't trust the ATM
Reasons to beware of ‘We Buy Homes’
Too wise to fall for a scam
Untethering cell phone from carrier
Re-check your credit card rewards
Treasure might be buried in medical bills
Tax-time saving tip: Free filing is available
College money is waiting; don't procrastinate
Extended warranties rarely worthwhile
Too busy for tax planning? It'll cost you


© 2007, The News & Observer Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

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