Win a Copy of Everyday Justice
Loyal blog readers – you’ve heard me talk about it, commented on my ideas in their original blog rant format, and have seen me publish my book Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices. Now it’s your chance to win a free copy! (non-loyal readers, critics, and newbies are more than welcome to enter too).
If you are unfamiliar with the book, Everyday Justice explores how our daily actions (like what we eat or wear) connect us to people around the world. These daily actions can often though support systems of injustice that cheat and oppress people. Everyday Justice gives biblical support for why seeking justice for the oppressed is a faith issue and gives practical everyday suggestions for how we can choose to subvert systems of oppression and demonstrate love to others instead.
So if you are interested in discovering more about faith and justice, or are looking for practical everyday ways you can work for justice, Everyday Justice can be a valuable resource. And I’m giving away a copy here for my blog readers. All I ask is that you leave a comment below where you tell me either one practical thing you do to seek justice or post a question you have about justice. (I’ll interact with them in later posts). Or if you really can’t think of anything to say because you have no idea what justice is all about (and so really need to read the book) – just leave your name and say “I want the book.” You have until Sunday Nov. 1 at midnight (Central) to leave a comment and the winner (based on some super scientific selection process involving my 4 year old) will be announced Monday morning.
Good luck and I look forward to reading your comments!
(and if you are interested in increasing your chances of winning, the same offer is up at everydayjustice.net)
***Update – Congrats to Elisha Murrell the winner!
julieclawson(at)gmail(dot)com 
Yay! Would love to read your book, Julie
I was in a great discussion group with Julie! I have been very motivated to read her book ever since then! Wonderful and ‘do-able’ things to help others! I love that!
Deborah
Sure would like a copy!
I’d love one. Members of our community have been discussing this subject a lot lately. Would love to read your take.
Hi Julie,
We met at C21. I’d love to read your book.
Being that your book is about “everyday” justice: a focus on what we can do each day to help alleviate suffering and pain in the world, I’ll share something that I actually do everyday (as opposed to weekly or monthly, etc.): I dont eat any meat (Does a non-action count?). Aside from the massive violence done to the animals in our burgers and kabobs (a violence worthy of contemplation by people of faith), it is one of the top contributors to the warming of our planet.
Oh, and yeah, I would LOVE a copy of your book!
So, I have a four bedroom house. It’s the parsonage. We’ve gotten in the habit of sharing two of the bedrooms with as many of our friends (and acquaintances) as possible. We monitor our water use heavily. We watch what we eat and where we buy it from. Our hope is that these little things add up. I would love to read your book with you…and as a book study through church. Hmm…Good stuff, Julie.
I would love a copy of your book.I have heard others give it rave reviews. I am a Pastor and I want to help lead my congregation from seeing seeking justice as something only a few are passionate about to something we are all called to do EVERYDAY. One way I pursue justice everday is sponsor a child through World Vision.
What our family does:
We only buy fair trade coffee and fair trade chocolate. I was already on the coffee bandwagon but my kids are the ones who made the change for chocolate. They inspire me!
One thing: We drink Land of 1,000 Hills Coffee.
“Drink Coffee. Do Good.”
http://www.landof1000hills.com/
Question: did you read the series on economics that Michael Kruse recently did at Scot McKnight’s blog and if so, how does that discussion affect the understanding of what we mean when we use the term “justice?” It can be a bit of a loaded term, no? Some practices are clearly unjust. But maybe not all inequities are unjust? Or are they all, by definition? How do economics affect the concept of justice and how do we avoid simplistic and zero-sum thinking? I didn’t read the comments to that series all that closely but was wondering if you were going to enter the discussion to interact with his points, and didn’t see you post anything – though I may well have missed it. You probably address those kinds of questions in your book. This isn’t a “there are gray areas so we should do nothing” question, by the way.
My fiance and I have decided that when we get married we’re going to devote our entire bathroom to fair trade–soaps, shampoos, conditioners, hopefully even toothpaste… once our bathroom has been conquered we’ll maybe move to the kitchen.
I’d love to win a copy of your book!
While it’s neither practical nor affordable for me to buy all organic, fairly traded clothes for my (rapidly growing) kids, I do try to either buy them used, make them, or find hand-me-downs from friends. And while there is debate surrounding cloth diapers, we have chosen to use them to cut down on our trash output, consumption, potential ecological hazards, as well as the $$ factor!
I have no shame. I’ll leave a comment to try for a free book….
The “practical thing” that comes most readily to mind (because I blogged about it only a week or two ago) is asking restaurants not to give you straws (or, if you are going fast-food, not to take one) for your drinks. Most of the time, you don’t really need it, and it’s a single-use plastic item that just gets thrown away. Can you imagine how much plastic would be saved if people just decided NOT to grab that straw while walking through the lunch line?
Hi Julie
We have been on a journey w/ justice issues…I’m a big believer in Praxis…what you do changes you and you end up doing more…it is a slow process, but when you look back you can see how far you have come…but with every bit you do, you also realize how much more you have to go. We started w/ fair trade chocolate and then coffee/tea and then sugar and clothing. We watched a video on Monsanto and GMO’s and saw how oppressive big food companies were and went to strictly buying all organic…I don’t eat meat and don’t eat out as even supporting companies who use factory farming is supporting injustice…the next thing I worry about is where we get our power…in an ethical conversation about how deep the rabbit hole goes I found that we in Illinois get our power from coal in appalachia…the people living there are considered among the poorest of the poor in the U.S.A and live in third world conditions…we mine their land for energy…we put stuff in their soil which makes their babies born w/ defects…they have the highest rate of birth defects in America. One of my friends posted on FB about saying 1,000 Jesus prayers before the day started…I commented on the status and was privy to the ongoing convo all day…people were stating how they cried out for the mercy of Jesus several times daily…I did not quite get this, but thought that I should and so asked God about it…it was that night that it dawned on me how exploitative our lifestyle is as Americans…I asked the question on my own FB wall “As an American is it possible to not be exploitative…which is where begging for mercy from Jesus everyday comes in…no matter what I do their are countless ways in which I am exploitative and don’t know it and some ways I am exploitative and as of yet have not found ways to discontinue being exploitative…I am responsible for the damage living my life causes those who have to pay the price. I live in Babylon…I am the oppressor! You can step out of the empire in a day but it takes a life time to get the empire out of you (Shane Claiborne)
Peace!
Thanks for writing a book like this!
I buy and use fair trade tea and chocolate.
My family and I live without owning a car and either walk, bike, use public transportation or rent a car when needed. When I travel long distances, I try to go by train if I can in order to avoid air travel. These transportation options are easier to find because we life in Europe.
Finally, because we live in a rather affluent city, we find trashpicking to be fun and rewarding.
I look forwarded to reading your book, hopefully for free.
What worries me most about the whole issue of justice is that I kind of see “working for justice” as working against me.
I can’t shake the feeling that when people cry out against the unjust, the people they’re crying out against are people who live just like me and my friends. This makes me extremely uneasy.
So, those are my thoughts about justice today! Thanks for hosting a great blog and writing a great book (have just started it, but if I “win” a copy I plan to give it to my mom)!
Hi Julie–
I would LOVE a copy of your book– I wanted to get one at C21 and didn’t have a chance. My mom just got back from the Congo, and at dinner last night we talked at length about the violence and victimization that circles the mines i that country, particularly tungsten mines– I remember you mentioned that at C21. So that’s my question: how can we make better choices in small ways so that in big ways, people can live in peace and safety, because we’re not supporting industries that depend, for example, on those mines? Hope you’re well!
Oooh, me, me! I want the book!
Been looking for an excuse to read it for a while now. That would be great =).
Julie,
I would love a copy of your book. It is on my ‘highest priority’ on my Amazon list, so a free copy would be even better! Thanks for all your insights.
Alaina
I lost a dear brother to the Gulf war. I hate oil. I now live in a condo that is run on electricty only. I can’t wait until I can drive a car with alternative energy and right now I am looking to trade in my Subaru for a hibrid. This is only one of the things I do now to be a part of “fair” living.
I buy organic cotton underwear for my husband and me – inspired by your Justice Bra posts.
I’d love to win a copy of your book1
I don’t own a car, or any other form of motorized transportation.
I’m already planning on buying/reading your book, especially as a junior high pastor who wants to encourage the students I serve to engage with justice issues. I guess that’s my practical thing–I talk with junior highers about what they can do to end extreme poverty, sex trafficking, destruction of the environment, etc.
Also, free books are awesome. Thanks for your book and your blog!
I work for a non profit where I organize service projects to meet community needs. I also volunteer at 5 agencies in my “spare” time and have kept my vow to remain a United Methodist, despite the fact I don’t agree with all of their policies, in particular their stance on GLBT ordination and marriage. I am fighting the system from the inside. Thanks for your book, and for this blog. mg
My husband and I have decided not to use another plastic shopping bag. Either we bring a reusable bag from home or we have to carry what we purchase as-is. This also cuts back on impulse buys!
I would love to win a copy of your book!
One thing my wife and I have been doing is riding our bikes to run errands instead of taking the car.
As a seminary student, I am part of a team putting together curriculum for a new academic program in Christian Earthkeeping, recognizing that there is no ecojustice without social justice, and that all the theology in the world is meaningless if it doesn’t lead to and inform practical application.
I’m on this team because I know there’s so much more I could be doing, but don’t know where to start. I’m hoping the research will both lead me to practical action in my life and help others make the same shift.
It astounds me that I have yet to see ANYONE else with re-usable bags in a store at the same time that I’m there. Not even once in over a year. And still about half the time the cashier doesn’t know what they are. Even when there are some for sale at the end of the isle. I can’t find fair trade chocolate locally either, which is very frustrating. Can’t wait to read your book.
Justice for us means doing as much of our buying locally. Best is in the home, then our community, then state, then country. Last resort is international.
I’ve been interested in reading the book.
I’m a social studies teacher’s aid at a middle school, so world issues become a common discussion amongst us. I don’t know if this qualifies, but I’m sponsoring a child in Africa and the kids at the school get excited about putting money in the little jar and what not (basically what you and Mike did at Evangle). I’ve also gotten the teacher in the room to assign a little project to increase awareness of injustices around the world.
The kids take turns each week to do a small report on different issues, and ways which we could help those issues. The teacher and I are making attempts to boost awareness and set examples for the kids. I think both the class and the teacher would benefit from the book as well
We buy food locally whenever we can, often from members of our church!! (That’s where we’re getting our pumpkins for Halloween.) We know about a lot of the obvious choices to make, BUT, I’d love to read the book to find out about all the things we’ve never thought about. I read your interview in the Reporter and was very intrigued by some of the examples you cited.
Emma’s the smartest, greatest kid in the world! Pick me, Emma!
I get so overwhelmed with the interconnectedness of justice and consumerism. I feel sometimes like I have no choices. How do we even live as humans in America without going completely off the grid?
just this week i broke down and bought a drum auger (a drain snake in a cannister) so i don’t ever ever ever have to use drano again. yea! i would love a copy of your book julie but kudos to whomever receives it and puts it into practice.
I would love to win your book.
One of the things that I appreciate about my current church is that we have foregone disposable plates, mugs, and utensils, and use “real” items that we diligently (and efficiently!) wash.
would also really love to read your book–not even sure where we can get it in South Africa yet.
Also a question (possibly disucssed in your book) : to what aspect is Justice culturally relevant? or Universal? would an injustice in the US ever be seen as justice, or acceptable, in a different context?
Ohhhh, pick me, pick me! =)
When I was a kid, the pastor at my family’s church said that a person should pray daily for God to open their eyes to opportunities all around them. The pastor was talking about evangelism specifically, but I like to think of his words in terms of justice. Sometimes we have the opportunity to do small things, like give up our seats on the bus for an elderly person, and sometimes really big opportunities come our way–but only if we are open to looking for them and willing to act.
I live in the country in a 100 year old+ farmhouse in a cold climate, commute to work driving a 7 year old Subaru. Obviously our carbon footprint is pretty big, and we depend on oil and coal-generated electricity. We grew a fairly large garden this past summer and intend to do more next year. We buy fair trade coffee, and when we can get them, fair trade bananas. I would love to know more about the everyday justice choices open to us. For some time I’ve been wanting more information about social justice related to consumer purchases. Please sign me up for the book drawing.
my biggest way to seek justice is with my knitting. i’m currently knitting my way through 100 hats, all being donated to Warm Woolies, which is an organization that sends hand-knits around the world to children in orphanages.
and i’d love love love a copy of the book!
Julie, thanks for the opportunity. I would like to try to win that book as worldwide justice has been on my mind lately and what we can do about it. Honestly I’m not sure if I do anything that contributes to worldwide justice and I wonder how individuals like myself could participate and make a difference. So I guess I really have a question then: What can we do to make a difference? Is free trade purchases the best opportunities we have? Are businesses and purchases the only methods we can ‘vote’ to bring about worldwide justice, or are their other avenues not through our bellies and the economy?
i need your book, because i am a very late bloomer when it comes to thinking about justice and doing my part. i’m traveling, so i am starting to look at other cultures differently and seeing people very different than me as my “brothers and sisters.” i am realizing that we need each other. all of us.
My reasons are not nearly as good as some of the others. But I liked the book, wrote too many comments in it to comfortably share with friends – so now I need a clean copy to share and am too cheap to buy another one. So pick me!
I never did find a good answer to what happens when the big coffee growers quit paying even the token payment to the gatherers? Do they then starve because we refuse to support the corrupt corporations? Not every area has a free market option.
I promised to buy free market coffee for our Sunday School (I don’t drink any coffee myself) and had to go give up. I went to all seven stores in this area and could not find any. I guess I’ll have to order some online and add to global warming by having a package delivered instead of buying local. No easy answers.
Julie,
I have become impassioned about Human Trafficking and the injustices that humans face. I have stopped eating a certain chocolate because of their background in slave labor; their sourcing from the Ivory Coast of Africa. I try and spread the word to anyone I come in contact with about how they can take a step towards stopping or not encouraging slave labor. The chocolate that I now buy bears the fair trade stamp or is organic which has a higher chance of being fair trade. I’m working on getting the information out to my local news papers and stations as well; hoping that if the information is out there people will stop supporting products that are slave labor. A friend of mine and I have been participating with IJM:International Justice Mission, as well to try and educate people and raise money to free individuals from whatever unjust slavery their facing. I have started buying any beauty products that I use from The Body Shop because their items are Community trade and some of their items proceeds go to stop sex trafficking. I really hope that you consider me for this book give away because I would love to have a copy of it to read and learn more about the injustices and how I can possibly help combat them; and then share it with others. Thank you for taking the time to compile a book like this, I hope that with the information out there people will become more educated on the subject and take steps in their own lives to seek justice for others. Thank you for your time and I hope you’re having a great day.
God Bless.
We are teaching our 4 & 6 yr. old that we have a responsibility to take care of the earth and it’s inhabitants human and animal, etc. We are avid recyclers. We save our plastic containers (laundry soap bottles, milk jug containers, etc.). We don’t have curb pick up recycling in our so we place our recyclables in totes and take them to the city recycling center. Instead we refill our reusable water containers and almost always take water with us in the car so that we don’t stop & buy bottled water when we are out & about. We save all of our papers, school, mail, etc. and take them to the school for them to turn in and recieve money for recycling. We teach & practice small acts of kindness &/or consideration when we are out & about. We let people go in front of us at the store who have fewer items or just look like they need someone to show thoughtful consideration to them. I would love to have your book and get deeper into making a difference!
I’m wondering what’s the breaking point for people when it comes to justice. What does it take for it to become personal for them? What does it take for them to realize that the coffee they buy, the shoes they buy, the homes they buy all affect people around the world?
I’d love a copy of the book. (and would still love to chat with you about it on our podcast)
Keep up the great work!
Fantastic book idea. Can’t wait to read it. Am a follower of you blog on the other side of the Atlantic (Scotland, UK).
Only buy fairtrade coffee (even at coffee shop where available), support local farmers, use charity shops (thrift stores) whenever possible both to give unneeded goods and to buy stuff, too. At the church I try to buy our stationery through a supplier who donates the profits to various charities.
These have far less to do with justice per se/acting against systems that oppress people but more random acts of kindness, but I guess if it hopefully goes some way in helping make anyone’s day a little easier…
1. try to be as patient as possible to those doing phone customer service for xx telephone/Internet etc company. it’s a tedious, thankless job and it’s not their fault their system sucks.
2. If you thought a waiter/waitress etc. did a good job, take the time to fill out the feedback form to commend them on their performance.
3. Where I am, in town it’s impossible to walk down the road without getting bombarded by ’street spam’– people everywhere waving flyers in your face. Instead of going out of your way to avoid them, or tossing the flyers away, actually actively go up to collect street spam and see that they get to a recycling bin and/or sell it to the ‘rag and bone’ man. That way tons of paper gets saved, and you make life slightly better for those in 2 very low paying jobs.
Question:
Is justice about doing what’s right or doing what’s fair?
I enjoy your blog. Thank you for sharing with us.
I’d love to read the book – it’s such good stuff to be thinking about.