Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices [Paperback]

Julie Clawson (Author), Tom Sine (Foreword), Christine Sine (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 25, 2009

Where does your chocolate come from? Does it matter if your coffee is fair trade or not? It matters--more than you might think. Julie Clawson takes us on a tour of everyday life and shows how our ordinary lifestyle choices have big implications for justice around the world. She unpacks how we get our food and clothing and shows us the surprising costs of consumer waste. How we live can make a difference not only for our own health but also for the well-being of people across the globe. The more sustainable our lifestyle, the more just our world will be. Everyday justice is one way of loving God and our neighbors. We can live more ethically, through the little and big decisions we make every day. Here's how.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Julie Clawson gets it. First, she gets it that most of us suburban Americans feel overwhelmed and guilty when we hear about justice. That's why she focuses on positive, doable ways that we can improve the justice quotient of our lives. Second, she gets it that we in the 'developed world' often have an undeveloped theology and lifestyle when it comes to key issues like fair trade, modern-day slavery, fossil fuel dependence, ethical eating and buying, and debt. That's why she gently, positively and hopefully helps us get 'development' where we need it most." (Brian McLaren, author/activist (brianmclaren.net) )

"Many of us live in a world of great privilege. We also live in a culture of gluttony, and this includes our access to information, words and ideas. With the onset of technology and social media, my fear is that many of us will elevate our words and ideas--and be content and satisfied with that as our action. Everyday Justice is important for two very simple reasons: Justice is on the heart of God and justice needs to be pursued and lived out every day. Julie has given the larger faith community an important but inviting challenge: Do justice every day." (Eugene Cho, pastor, Quest Church, Seattle, and executive director, One Day's Wages, http://eugenecho.com and http://onedayswages.org )

"When I was a young Christian I was told that our job was to get people to heaven. The world (like now) was a mess, so evacuating people seemed like a good idea. What if instead I had been told that our main job was to bring the kingdom of God to our planet? What if that meant doing very practical things like advocating for people who were poor, voiceless and powerless? And what if I'd been told Jesus will only return when his followers have improved the situation for those people so much that it's finally become habitable for heaven? That's what I think now. If this idea intrigues you, read this book. It provides the how-tos." (Jim Henderson, executive director, Off The Map  )

"Julie Clawson is a significant and much-needed voice in the emerging church conversation--actually, in any faith conversation. For those of us who have long felt her voice needed to be heard, Everyday Justice is a cause for celebration. Only someone who lives a life of social integrity is entitled to write such a book, and Julie is that person. She offers us hope that we can all contribute in a meaningful way to the transformation of our culture." (Marcia Ford, author of We the Purple: Faith, Politics and the Independent Voter )

"Living justly is an overwhelming task these days. How do I know whether the coffee I'm drinking was fairly grown? Or whether my jeans were made by a twelve-year-old? It's daunting, and we're tempted toward apathy. That's why Julie Clawson has done us such a service in writing Everyday Justice--in readable, compelling prose, she lays out the truth behind some of the products we use every day, and she gives us practical steps for living justly in a consumeristic age. She avoids guilt trips and writes personally. This book is needed and deserves a wide readership." (Tony Jones (www.tonyj.net), author of The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier )

"Every product in our consumer hands has a trail . . . Julie Clawson skillfully and kindly helps us take seriously the call to justice in our everyday choices. From coffee to cars, there is a collision of economics and ethics that Christ-followers must take seriously. By refusing to make justice a liberal or conservative cause, she helps us participate in restoration, ethical consumption and the beautiful pursuit of justice in God's world." (Nancy Ortberg, author of Looking for God: An Unexpected Journey Through Tattoos, Tofu and Pronouns )

"Julie Clawson had me at 'Don't panic.' While many resources on social justice leave even the most compassionate souls and generous hearts frozen with an overwhelming panic from not knowing where to begin, Everyday Justice fires readers up and leaves them ready to change the world--starting right in their everyday lives. Clawson's well-researched and well-written book flows with stories of evil and good, monsters and heroes. It's a must-read for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of what loving our neighbors should look like." (Caryn Rivadeneira, managing editor, Gifted for Leadership, and author of Mama's Got a Fake I.D. )

"With both tenderness and everyday practicality, Julie Clawson invites all of us into a more complete way of following Jesus. By providing simple, concrete ways to seek justice in our daily lives, Everyday Justice is a great resource to get you started or keep you going on the journey toward acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with your God." (Will Samson, coauthor of Justice in the Burbs )

Review

"Julie Clawson gets it. First, she gets it that most of us suburban Americans feel overwhelmed and guilty when we hear about justice. That's why she focuses on positive, doable ways that we can improve the justice quotient of our lives. Second, she gets it that we in the 'developed world' often have an undeveloped theology and lifestyle when it comes to key issues like fair trade, modern-day slavery, fossil fuel dependence, ethical eating and buying, and debt. That's why she gently, positively and hopefully helps us get 'development' where we need it most."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: IVP Books (August 25, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830836284
• ISBN-13: 978-0830836284
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julie Clawson is a mom, writer, and former pastor who is simply trying to figure out how she can love God and others every day. Not that it's easy, or that she does it all that well, but she does her best knowing that it will be a lifelong journey.

Julie grew up as a follower of Christ. She graduated from Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, where she also earned a graduate degree in Intercultural Studies. She then spent over a decade serving in churches in the Chicago suburbs, but now lives in Austin, Texas with her family. With her husband, Mike, and two kids, Emma and Aidan, Julie enjoys Austin's eco-conscious culture and visits the farmer's market regularly.

Julie spends way too much time online, but appreciates the community she has discovered there. She moderates the Emerging Women (emergingwomen.us) and Emerging Parents (emergingparents.com) blogs and loves learning from others who are exploring how to practically live out their faith. When her kids give her a few minutes to relax Julie enjoys meeting friends for a good cup of (fair trade) coffee, discussing theology, playing strategy board games, attending Renaissance Faires (in costume), working in her garden, and reading fantasy novels.

Julie is grateful for this opportunity to share what she has learned about seeking everyday justice, and would love to continue the discussion and learn from all the readers of this book. She invites you to visit her blog (julieclawson.com) and the Everyday Justice site (everydayjustice.net) to join the conversation, discover more about justice issues, and find out about justice related events in your area.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Author's heart is in the right place, but needs to read up on basic economics, October 8, 2010

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James F. Strasma "strasma" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices (Kindle Edition)

I really wanted to love this book, because I'm very much into many of the same goals in my own life. Raised our son with cloth diapers, for example. Drive a Prius, when we drive at all. Caring deeply about helping the poor, both here and abroad. But having a degree in economics myself, I just can't get past the pervasive economic ignorance in this book.

Almost every page assumes that whatever horrible thing is happening to the unfortunates who grow our cotton, grow our coffee, sew our T-shirts, assemble our shoes, etc. in various poverty-stricken countries would magically heal if only we stopped buying such products. The author retains this view even while pointing out how, for example, when Disney was confronted about clothes it sold being reportedly made in a Haitian sweatshop, it "solved" the problem by moving the business to an even worse factory in China. I'm fine with blaming Disney for not living up to its desired image as child-friendly. But how are now out of work Haitians better off after the change?

Thomas Sowell, in his excellent book Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy, Revised and Expanded Edition asks the question "And then what?", meaning whenever we advocate an economic change, we should first think how that change will play out over time. That, in short, is what I do not see happening in this book.

One happy story is how Nike has helped those who make its shoes, not by taking its business elsewhere, but rather by monitoring its suppliers to be sure they treat their employees fairly. Apple too responded effectively last year when questions arose about conditions in a Chinese factory making Apple products.

One exception to the above critique is that I am in full agreement with the final chapter on the need to forgive third world debt, both for the Biblical "Jubilee" reasons cited, and for practical economic reasons. Yet even here, there is more to consider - namely how to help nations whose debts are forgiven avoid incurring new equally-bad debts?

Let us indeed be gentle as doves. But let us also be wise as serpents.

Last word: Thanks much for all the links for further reference and next steps, and for the excellent Biblical references and analysis throughout. Those both make this book a keeper for me.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices, September 12, 2009

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Laurel Dixon - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices (Paperback)

Martin Luther King Jr. writes in From Where Do We Go From Here, "All men are interdependent. Every nation is an heir of a vast treasury of ideas and labor to which both the living and the dead of all nations have contributed. ...We are everlasting debtors to known and unknown men and women. When we arise in the morning, we go into the bathroom where we reach for a sponge which is provided for us by a Pacific islander. We reach for a soap that is created by a European. Then at the table we drink coffee which is provided for us by a South American, or tea by a Chinese or cocoa by a west African. Before we leave for our jobs we are already beholden to more than half the world....We are inevitably our brother's keeper, because we are our brother's brother. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly."

Julie Clawson addresses exactly what Martin Luther King Jr. speaks of here in her new book, Everyday Justice. Clawson's book brings thoughtful reflection and awareness to some of the most profound and obscure breaches of justice that plague the world today. Some of the topics Clawson includes are the injustices found in coffee, clothing, and cocoa production, the car industry and the impact of oil consumption upon the environment, and even the rampant amount of waste created by a consumer society. The target audience of the book is the Christian living in America. Clawson claims that the Christian, who desires to follow the lessons of Christ and the principles of social justice within Christianity, must start to become aware and take responsibility for how consumption choices contributes and sets the stage for many of the human rights atrocities in the world today. But the book is not just for the Christian, it's for the socially and ethically conscious individual who wants to take, as Clawson says, small steps toward a better world. It suggests small steps toward a future free of exploitation. It suggests small steps toward building a better future.

Given the controversial nature of some of the topics addressed in this book, some may criticize Clawson for not addressing all sides of every issue (the global warming debate, or the relative merits of fair trade, for instance). But given the limited scope of the book (only 206 pages) and the audience intended, it seems that Clawson's purpose is not to argue every issue in minute detail, but instead to give practical advice for ordinary people. With every chapter, Clawson lays out the issue and provides practical real life scenarios, vignettes which she calls "Everyday Practitioner", highlighting the individual inner conflict as well as specific "everyday" ways readers can make a difference. At the end of each chapter, she also provides recommendations of books, films and websites to look to for further information . On the chapter of Waste, she even gives a photography website that depicts a pictorial display of the impact of trash.

In conclusion, Clawson opens and closes the book with the directive, "Don't Panic". Yes, today's global issues of injustice are vast and complicated but while there is no end all immediate solution, Clawson helps provide ways the individual, you and me, can play a role in helping to alleviate the injustice. Whether that is supporting the local farmer in buying local produce, recycling or buying fair trade coffee and chocolate products, the action provides a message that injustice is not tolerated. In many of Martin Luther King's speeches, he often quoted from his book, Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution, "Through our scientific and technological genius, we have made of this world a neighborhood and yet...we have not had the ethical commitment to make of it a brotherhood. But somehow, and in some way, we have to do this. We must learn to live together as brothers. Or we all will perish as fools. We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in the inescapable network of mutuality" Picking up Clawson's book will help make the brotherhood of man one step closer to becoming a reality.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Challenges that are leading to changes in my life, October 7, 2009

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Sarah Notton (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices (Paperback)

Everyday Justice challenged me to become a more ethical consumer, based on biblical mandates for justice. If you've been running in social justice circles for a while then some of the topics in this book might be familiar (child slavery in the manufacture of chocolate, or fair wages for coffee farmers). However, Julie does cover some new ground that is both important and significant (more on that later...).

However, one other thing that sets this book apart is its strong reliance on the Bible for supporting why it's important to think before you buy. In that respect, I would highly recommend this book for people who don't see why it's important to consider where the things they buy come from, or who choose what to buy based purely on finding the lowest price. The book explains that everything we buy is made from something and by someone, and it's manufacture, distribution, and disposal have consequences on the environment which in turn directly impacts someone, somewhere. It challenges us to look both ways along that stream to see the face of those who are impacted and make choices that honor them as beloved children of God. Then, as much as we are able, it challenges us not to be complicit with injustice, whether that be through paying unfair wages, misusing resources, or otherwise exploiting other people. It's not easy, but often it's possible to find alternatives to the current mainstream options, or to advocate for changes to the existing system.

The book discusses both real solutions and real dilemmas that are confronted when trying to make changes. Through personal examples, Julie gives us a framework of examples for choosing among the "lesser of two evils". Like Julie, I would have been torn on whether to buy gas from the station who was causing pollution locally, or the one who was contributing to violence and injustice in another country.

Everyone will be talking about the one thing that no one is talking about - disposable diapers/feminine products. It's kind of icky, but kudos to Julie for bringing it up. This is another one where we are encouraged to make the best choice given your situation. For instance, sometimes you are required to use disposable products (such as in daycares or nurseries), but you can still try to reduce consumption in other areas. A friend reminded me that in the film "Little Women", in pretty much every scene you could see the girls folding white cloths. In a house full of women...well, let's just say they weren't dish towels. If you aren't sure what to do without disposables, ask your mother, grandmother, or I'm guessing the majority of women in the world today. Thanks to the discussion of this topic in Everyday Justice, I went looking for what women in the developing world use for "sustainable" pads - and unfortunately, the options aren't good. The "homespun" options include rags, bark, and mud...and if rags are an option, many women don't have access to water to clean them. Without access to appropriate sanitary protection, women may miss up to 50 days a year of work or school, which leads to inequity in income and education. Perhaps my take-away from this discussion will be to attempt to reduce consumption and to find a more ethical option than what I use now, but to also advocate for women who don't have the options that I do as a woman in the US.

Some of the suggestions offered in the book seem radical, but nothing seems to be suggested without good reason. Living sustainably in a way that cares for other people (our neighbor) and God's creation isn't necessarily as convenient as living as a blissfully unaware consumer. However, if the Bible can be believed as true (and I think that most of the audience for this book would agree that it can), then "everyday justice" becomes an avenue for "everyday worship".