It's Halloween night, the kids are in bed, and if I don't write something right now, the whole month of October will have passed with no new post. So I'll keep it short and sweet.
Lots of conscious-consumer stories are written this time of year about reverse trick-or-treating, a campaign started by Global Exchange in which kids give Fair Trade chocolates and printouts about the ills of the cocoa industry to folks handing out treats. I like the motivation behind it, but I can't help but think that it comes across as a bit smug and holier-than-thou. Not to mention that if you're going to be ethical while trick-or-treating, shouldn't the kid also refuse any Hershey's? Which... yeah, that's not happening.
My big take-away from Halloween this year is how much it fosters neighborliness. Not only did we have a great time trick-or-treating with friends from our neck of the woods, but it was lovely chatting with some of the people who live in the houses I walk by every day. And seeing the local merchants getting into the spirit and plying all the kids with treats was a tangible reminder of how connected we all are and why I like to buy local.