The 5 Skirts

I joined the Group Trade Justice to Help end Slavery found here:
http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire/groups/1127

But I have not been active yet in it. It is something I think it really important to think about and understand though. A lot of places use what are known as "sweatshops" to create their products. It is where the workers are not treated fairly or make a real wage but are forced to work at poverty or even slave wages so the owners can become rich themselves. It is a disgrace and will stop within a few years as people grow more aware of the world around them. I want to do my part to help raise the awareness that this is going on and to highlight that these are people or even children that this is happening to. I will use my training I receive as a Pulsewire Correspondent to help end this terrible injustice.

I rarely buy clothes just for myself since we are still working on achieving some financial stability in our lives. This last Christmas though the girls insisted I buy myself some skirts that I drooled over each time we passed that one store in the mall. I was always torn between wanting those lovely skirts and knowing the people who made them probably were basically slaves. But at Christmas time this last year my daughters insisted I buy myself some. We went in and looked since it was the time of year when Joy is the main feeling for us. We spread out and looked at what interested us most. I was drawn to a sale rack of skirts and tops that were so gorgeous.

They were on sale for $26 each and I drooled over how beautiful and colorful they were. They had both fancy and plain styles and were the full length look that I adore. I ended up choosing both a plain and a fancy one in White and Black with a white sleeveless top to go with them. For my "pirate" side I chose a purple one that has a tie-up corset/bodice look to it. (Why is it I can never remember the names of things when I finally sit here to type these?) with an adorable pink ruffled lace-y sleeveless top.

In my "pirate outfit" I feel gorgeous and powerful, like I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. I have to believe that the woman who made it wove a prayer into it. That as she wore her fingers to the bone and her body aching from working so long and so hard for so little that she created this outfit just for me. Or for someone like me, anyway. that she wove prayers of love and support and courage. That somehow she knew that the person buying this particular skirt and top would be one who would help free them.

"Wear it and feel bold and powerful, my pirate friend." I hear her whisper as she sews it together. "Remember us and work for us and this is our gift to you."

In return for the beauty of the skirt and how good it makes me feel I will work hard to raise awareness of this issue and help change people's hearts.

Maria