The Christian Science Monitor

The Monitor is a nonbiased internationally focused newspaper that does not concentrate on «what happened yesterday?» but «why did it happen?», «what’s the background?», «what does it mean?» why does it matter?” and most importantly «how can it be done better? fairer?more peacefully?». The Monitor is not a Christian newspaper. It is a newspaper that addresses its readers intelligently and dispassionately. It should be much better known.

My family has been subscribing to the Christian Science Monitor for years (we’re Catholics). They actually staff the paper with reporters and essayists. You’ll never find the retelling of an AP, UPI, or CNN report. The content is very balanced, even on very controversial topics. Each issue has a half page of «Christian Science.» The rest is pure news.

I am a long time subscriber to The Christian Science Monitor. It’s a real daily newspaper, not a religions paper. Coverage is global with a paper edition published Monday through Friday. The Monitor also has a multimedia website, an e-​mail edition and a personal digital assistant (PDA) edition. Unlike most US dailies, the Monitor does not rely primarily on wire services, like AP and Reuters, for its international coverage. They have writers based in 11 countries. Remember Jill Carroll, a freelance reporter for the Monitor, who was kidnapped in Baghdad in 2006, and released safely after 82 days. Although Carroll was initially a freelancer, the paper worked tirelessly for her release, even hiring her as a staff writer shortly after her abduction to ensure that she had financial benefits.
An article in yesterday addition got my special attention. «A greener planet begins under the kitchen sink.»
urges women to spend more on Earth-​friendly products. Diane MacEachern is launching this web site next week. She is urging women to shift at least $ 1,000 of their annual household spending to green products. She says «Women spend 80 cents of every dollar in the marketplace. We could be the most powerful force for economic and environmental change in the 21^st century if we focused our money where it could make the biggest difference.»
Diane MacEachern says «start with the products that make the most difference to you. Focus on the product that has the biggest impact in protecting the planet.»
— organic locally grown food
— energy-​efficient appliances
— nontoxic cleansers
— shade grown coffee
— phthalate-​free cosmetics
MacEachern urges women to be more assertive. Noting that she shops at a variety of stores she says «If I don’t see what I want, I’ll talk to the manager. I’m not shy about saying, ‘If i don’t see it here, I’ll have to go someplace else.’ They never say, ‘Go, then; take your business elsewhere.’ It’s empowering to ask a produce manager, ‘Where are those organic apples?’»
For those of us guys that do a little shopping now and then, IT’S TIME TO STEP UP TOO.