SPIRITUALITY, FAIR TRADE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
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15	October 2013

Dollars, Sense, and Dignity - Conchy Bretos

Text #1: "I have never been afraid to fail, and in fact I suggested to the president of Ashoka that they should start recognizing people for their failures and not their accomplishments. It shows the true caliber of people when they fail and come back. I have tried and failed many times, but I have never failed to try."

Response #1: I thought this was, in a sense, motivational. The basic meaning is never give up and it's something heard throughout one's life, but I think it's probably one of the truest statements. Bretos is proof that failure can lead to success if you continue doing what you think is right. At some point, those who are against what you think is right will eventually "see the light." There's no harm in trying, which is why I don't see why someone won't continue to strive and try to get what they want if they are able to do so. In the end, after all the failures, Bretos was able to get better housing for the elderly so they don't have to live in nursing home where they're uncomfortable. With Mia, you're allowed to live in your own home, which is amazing because how much freedom do you really have in a nursing home? You can't do what you would in your own home. I would say Bretos is letting them live their life until the end instead of ending it prematurely by placing them in a nursing home.

Text #2: "The public also mistrusts corporate America. The good news about this has been an increased motivation on the part of corporations to engage with social service organizations and show their commitment toward the communities in which they operate."

Response #2: I agree completely with the first sentence, especially after this recession. The public has no reason to trust corporate America when the goal of businesses is to maximize their profit, sometimes in the most unethical way. If companies, who rake in all the money, are only interested in stuffing their pockets and not helping the public, then who will? The gap between the rich and poor is continually increasing, and the is a less chance of the public being able to adequately help themselves. In the article, it said, "Five people had died, and eleven more had continued to living in the building, which had been totally destroyed, because they had no place to go. When I arrived there, I saw things that put me to shame. I saw rat-infested apartments, rotten food, and people lying on beds of feces, surrounded by worms." A horrible condition to live in, yet these people had no choice because they had no where to go. We often see corporate executives living in nice houses and conditions, but here are people, who are definitely not the first, to be forced to live in rubble. My question to corporate America is, do you not care?

Mia has gained enough attention from media outlets to catch the attention of corporate America, because of which they are now putting their money to use - helping those who need it the most. Although the companies are getting attention for themselves and are showing that they are ethical, at least they are trying to do good and help their communities.