Buy local: buying from small family farms and farmers' markets�whenever possible is the best way to support local agriculture and independent farmers--lessening our dependence on large agri-business farms. Fair tade activists say these large corporate-run or factory farms are what fuel the U.S. system of tariffs and subsidies--making it difficult�for small farmers in the developing world to grow food for their own people. It's also healthier for you�and the environment.

Buy right: Transfair USA offers a list of national and on-line retailers that have been Fair Trade Certified. This means that the farmers and workers who harvested the food stuffs they import have been paid�a fair price. Search here for coffee, tea, chocolate and fruit that is guaranteed to be good for the soul.

Get your just desserts: to finish off your meal with a sweet treat, join Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign.

Prepare for holiday shopping: check out Oxfam America's Holiday Gift Center for more ways to buy fairly-traded food and other products.

You don't�have to be too environmentally savvy to know about the plight of the Amazon rainforest. And some may say that the majestic redwood has become the baby seal of tree huggers everywhere. But did you know that the US imported over $450 million worth of timber from Indonesia, where over 75% of the industry is an illegal trade run by a coterie of timber barons selling cheap wood to hungry international markets?

The documentary The Timber Mafia, which you can, of course, watch on Link TV, is a favorite of our viewers�not only because it addresses the global warming effects of this 20 billion dollar industry, but also because it highlights the brutal intimidation , kidnapping and bribery that have become part and parcel with the timber that is cut.

Shop Smart Tips on how to make sure you are not buying illegal timber:

1. Know your Source
Only buy wood which has been independently certified by a group such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which tracks the wood from the forest to the shelf. They have a complete database so you can search by product, country, or material.

2. Homosote: The Other White Meat
Consider using alternatives to wood for that new deck you want to build�many of these products are cheaper than wood and more durable. Homosote, a building material that is made out of chemical-free recycled stuff, can be used for many construction purposes, from exterior structural board to interior paneling. The Rainforest Action Network offers a great list of eco-friendly choices for your wood and paper needs.

3. Money Talks
Ask your local lumber supplier if they carry FSC certified lumber. Request it if they don't.

4. Use Your Vote
Write to your elected representatives and ask them what they are doing to end the trade in illegally sourced timber and timber products.

Hmmmmm. Do I look better in red or blue�or wait, maybe green? Will tax breaks make my butt look bigger?

On November 2nd we'll be going on the mother of all shopping trips�we get to pick out our very own President. And that's a value we can all cheer for.

Still undecided on how to pick the perfect fit? Shop Smart presents:

Checklist for Choosing a President:

Did you really watch all of the debates? Don't miss a thing: Watch them here, on C-Span.

You've�seen the million-dollar commercials, you've�made it through�the debates�now it's time for a little research to separate fact from spin: FactCheck.org

Take this easy and informative online quiz to see which candidate is the best match for you.

Here's what they say: in an easy-to-use online issue grid from The League of Women Voters Democracy Net and The New York Times.

And here's what they've done: John Kerry and George W. Bush.

Want to keep obsessively surfing election-related web sites? This site's got more of what you crave�on their Presidential Dance Card.

Whew�bet you're tired. Kick back with popcorn and the clicker--here are some films airing this week that should help you commit.

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Films to see on Link TV before you vote:

Forbidden Films about George W. Bush

Forbidden Films about John Kerry

FAQs: About Military Manpower and the Draft

Hijacking Catastrophe

Ground Truth

George Soros: In His Own Wards

Earth Focus 4: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Nuclear Terrorism: Are We Safer?

Y*Vote �04

War Spin

Strong at the Broken Places

America and Europe: On the Eve of the Presidential Election

Honor Betrayed

Fear and Favor in the Newsroom