8o'clock on a sunday.

From a Friend of a Friend. TOMS Shoes exposed.

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:26:52 -0400

“I’m not here to tell you to get rid of your TOMs or to never buy them again, but i want to share some information I’ve learned and thoughts I’ve had to help you make informed decisions and come to your own conclusion.

TOMs sounds like a great idea. People buy shoes and a pair is given to a poverty sticken child, but is it really doing as much good as one might think?

I was an avid TOMs supporter for the past year and practically bragged about how many pairs I owned, I was sold on the concept and could hardly imagine buying anyother shoes, however while in Uganda, i learned a bit about developement work, aid, and ethics, and feel responsible to pass on what i discovered. So, here i go….

TOMs is dedicated to the “one for one” movement, but they have been more successful then they expected and currently have so many shoes being purchased they hardly know what to do with them. They are going into small villages within developing nations and attempting to drop off thousands of shoes. They recently met with staff of invisible children in Uganda hoping to do a shoe drop in Gulu. The children of Gulu don’t wear shoes and none of them think there’s anything wrong with it. They have built up calloses on the bottom of their feet and really have no need for the shoes TOMs is trying to hand out. In some remote areas it is possible that shoes even attract negative attention and are seen as a bad thing to kids. The drop that TOMs was planning was being carried out by college age volunteers who, although good-hearted, are not experienced with international developement and do not understand the impact 17,000 shoes would have on the local economy and shoe industry. In many ways, TOMs is not fit or equipped for the work they are taking part in. Charities have had major influences on areas like Gulu around the world. Charities come in and drop off the crap that America doesn’t want, often the things Goodwill can’t even sell. These towns and villages are then left with temporary aid rather than long lasting empowerment and the people become dependent on hand-outs by rich westerns, which simply promotes the white stereotype that exists in most developing nations. TOMs did not plan on doing any follow up work in the area and has little data on the success or impact of their past shoe drops.

TOMs claims to be working to stop the spread of a debilitating disease, podoconiosis, however, in most of the locations they are dropping shoes, the parasite that carries this disease doesn’t even exist. the main locations that Podo is found is Ethiopia, and even there it is mainly contracted in standing water alone, where canvas shoes would not be much of a help in stopping the disease. There are a several medical organizations providing treatment where Podo is present and they are working to provide a lasting solution versus temporary aid. Another question that develops is, what happens when the shoes wear out? Obviously shoes can’t last forever, so will TOMs continue serving the same people year after year, and create dependence or simply leave the people to fend of themselves?

All too often a pair of TOMS shoes is merely a symbol to the public that their owner is a charitable person. However rather than purchasing a $45-$98 pair of shoes, the person could buy a reasonable $20 pair and donate the remainder, buying 2 nets to protect against malaria of even fund a child’s education for 6 months in Africa.

thanks for taking your time to read this and i hope in prompted some thoughts regarding TOMs, charity, and sustainable aid.

<3 sunee”

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Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:24:27 -0400

you're the sugar in my cookies, the honey in my tea. you're the nightlight that chases all my bad dreams away.

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 01:42:33 -0400

I have downloaded so many playlists today, I love every song I've downloaded.

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:48:28 -0400

I’ve discovered so many new artists!

Now that you've read this, you have agreed to the following terms: that you are always wrong in an argument against me, unless I say otherwise; and that your rebuttals will be forever invalid, even if points are made that override what has already been said from my side. This is of course, how the internet works.

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:07:18 -0400

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Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:54:33 -0400

fuckingglamorous: (via thesimplethingsssss)

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:28:50 -0400

fuckingglamorous:

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i can’t say i’m living outside the lines, or on the edge. that wouldn’t be...

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:48:43 -0400

^{i can’t say i’m living outside the lines, or on the edge. that wouldn’t be truthful.

more often i just flail around wondering why there are lines and edges in the first place.

and why we haven’t all crossed them already.}

I had the most unstopable urge to call you yesterday night but because of my nerves I just couldn't. It sums up that I although I have moved on, there are days when I really wish we have met under different circumstances. I feel like sometimes you complete me and other days I am able to go on without you. I have to admit, you are really my first love :)

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:41:30 -0400

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+Sometimes I wish I hadn’t fallen in love with you, but then I realise I’d have missed out on so much.

Come with me, to the sea.

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:13:34 -0400

I feel like if everyone would quit bitching about their "problems" all the time, the world would be a better place. Yeah, life sucks and sometimes you gotta take it up the ass but quit complaining and just do the damn thing! It'll be over before you know it.

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:07:05 -0400

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If I could go back in time and change one thing, I would've never thought of you as anything more than a friend.

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:03:39 -0400

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Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:32:22 -0400

I want to sit in this cold room with a plate full of pizza, my laptop on my legs, Seven Pounds playing on the tv, and a strawberry banana smoothie in my hand.

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:29:01 -0400

That would be perfect.

When my hair gets really long I will forever wear it in braids.

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:42:16 -0400

Reblog if you always watch ABC Family's Harry Potter Weekends and are not, under any condition, missing it this weekend either.

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 11:33:21 -0400

buhbam:

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Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:16:51 -0400

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thingswillchange-: fuckyeahgirlythings: krissybelle: ladyxcuse...

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:10:00 -0400

thingswillchange-:

fuckyeahgirlythings:

krissybelle:

ladyxcuse:

(via fuckingglamorous, theclassflirt)

(via fauxxfashion)

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:22:59 -0400

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More female, thank god.

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:45:57 -0400

YOUR BOY SIDE:

[x] You love hoodies.
[x] You love jeans.
[x] Dogs are better than cats.
[x] It’s hilarious when people get hurt and fall.
[x] You’ve played with/against boys on a team.
[] Shopping is torture.
[] Sad movies suck.
[x] You own an XBOX
[x] You played with Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars as a little kid.
[] At some point in life you wanted to be a firefighter.
[x] You owned a DS PS2 or Sega.
[x] You used to be obsessed with Power Rangers.
[] You watch sports on TV.
[] Gory movies are cool.
[] You used to go to your dad for advice.
[] You have at least 1 trophy of a sport.
[] You used to play Yu-Gi-Oh.
[] Baggy sweat pants are nice to wear.
[] It’s kind of weird to have sleepovers with a bunch of people.
[x] Green, black, red, blue, or silver are one of your favorite colors.
[] You love to go crazy and not care what other people think.
[] Sports are fun.
[] You sometimes talk with food in your mouth.
[] You sleep at night with your socks on.
[x] You have fished at least once.

Male: 11

YOUR GIRL SIDE:

[x] You like to shop.
[] You like to wear eyeliner.
[x] You wear the color pink.
[x] You go to your mom for advice.
[x] You consider cheerleading a sport.
[x] You hate wearing all black.
[] You like going to the mall.
[] You like getting manicures and/or pedicures.
[x] You like wearing jewelry.
[] You cried watching The Notebook.
[x] Skirts are a big parts of your wardrobe.
[x] Shopping is one of your favorite hobbies.
[x] You don’t like the movie Star Wars.
[x] You are/were in gymnastics.
[x] It takes you around one hour to shower and get dressed.
[x] You smile a lot more than you should…
[x] You have more than 10 pairs of shoes.
[x] You care about what you look like majority of the time.
[x] You like wearing dresses.
[x] You like wearing body spray/deodorant.
[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] You like high heels.
[x] You used to play with dolls as a kid.
[] You like putting makeup on others.
[x] You like being the star of almost everything.

Female: 19