The Eco-nomical Bedroom

• Natural-fill, untreated mattress or pillow topper

• FSC-certified box spring frame

• Untreated, organic-cotton bedding

• Natural-material pillow and/or pillow encasement

• Ethically sourced, VOC-free furniture (second-hand furniture, antiques, formaldehyde-free pressed wood, etc.)

• FSC-certified solid or pressed woods natural-material window treatments (blinds and curtains)

• Low- or no-VOC wall paints

• Natural-material area rugs and/or carpeting (installed with VOC-free adhesives)

• Efficient use of appliances:

• Window a/c unit with properly cleaned filter, if necessary

• Electronics turned off each night before bed

• Properly cleaned humidifier, used only when absolutely necessary

HAVE A HEART, HELP END CHILD SLAVERY

Though banned in most countries, slavery continues today in many forms around the world. In the Ivory Coast alone, 12,000 children were trafficked for labor in 2002. In Asia, tens of thousands of children are sold into sexual slavery, servitude and labor. And up to 100,000 children are forced to fight in armed conflicts in Africa.

Even after an agreement by the U.S. chocolate industry to end slavery by July 2005, children still work in West African cocoa fields.

What You Can Do

*Send letters to the four major chocolate companies urging them to ensure no forced labor is used on their cocoa farms; see www.antislavery.org.

*Request that the Russian Federation ratify the Child Soldier's Protocol to end the use of children in conflicts, see www.amnesty.org.

*Buy Rugmark-labeled carpets and fair trade chocolate, clothing, and other products. For brands, see www.thegreenguide.com.