2008 year of the Strategy Mom

Dearest Joy Warriors & Apron-string Revolutionaries,

As MAUs continue to design the top ten ways to Reclaim Mother's Day, we humbly offer the second MAU Principle to incite some new ideas:
Follow the money: Every dollar spent, each tax dollar collected is a vote. It's time to get educated about what we're funding with our budgets - from personal products to the government policies our tax dollars support. If anyone knows how to shop, balance a budget and make sure everyone eats, it's mothers. Make sure your dollars vote for a healthy future. If all mothers embraced this principle today, tomorrow the world would be vastly more just. In the US, women spend 83% of the money. Good gravy!!
Let us be empowered and flex our economic muscle…Girlcott: use your dollars to create social change by supporting businesses and corporations with just trade and labor practices. Spending money never felt so good…
Buy Local, buy Fair Trade:
When possible, choose local foods, supporting regional agriculture and reducing the environmental impact of mass transport. Perhaps even throw a few seeds in the ground of your own backyard! Fair Trade Coffee (and other goods) are widely available, the purchase of these commodities allows for livable wages to be paid, directly supporting a higher quality of life for farmers and their children.
Know your federal budget:
It only takes a few minutes to see with your own eyes what your tax dollars are buying. Over half our federal discretionary budget is spent on "security" without any significant percentage allocated for preventative measures like funding for education and development, including our promised share of the UN Millennium Development Goals (eight international targets to end extreme poverty).
Vote:
Speaking to the importance of mothers in the coming election, Lorelei Kelly (a mother acting up) has designated 2008 the year of the Strategy Mom. She recognizes the importance of mothers voting, and the possibility that we can be the ones to bring the well being of our human family to the forefront of this pivotal election.Share how you Follow the Money by dropping us a line. If you visit the federal budget website we'll send you a FREE MAU BUMPER STICKER!

In most spirited partnership, Paige, for the MAU Mavens

In Boulder, Dr. Karambu Ringera led school children in a lesson on the importance of education for all. All eyes were on Dr. Karambu as she spoke of dirt-floored classrooms, distances walked and how few students know whether they'll return to school next year in Kenya.It's not too late for teachers to join The World's Biggest Lesson on April 23rd at 9 am!