ACCRA, GHANA, Dec. 21, 2006— - Christmas is one of those times of the year when many Americans clean out our closets and donate some of our used clothing to a charity. Perhaps we hope that Santa Clause will replace them with shiny new shirts, jeans, blouses and shoes. Or maybe we just want to do some good.

By Lauren Coleman-Lochner in New York

Aug. 1 (Bloomberg) -- When it comes to selling overseas, the strategies of American retailers don't always translate.

The failed attempt of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, to conquer Germany illustrates the pitfalls of trying to stamp the U.S. model on another culture. Companies from Starbucks Corp. to Toys ``R'' Us Inc. have had to change the formulas that brought them domestic success when they have expanded abroad.

By Marc Gunther, Fortune senior writer

NEW YORK (Fortune) -- The $300-billion global cotton industry uses more pesticides and synthetic fertilizers than any other crop. Cotton Inc., the industry trade group, says that's nothing to worry about, but you don't have to be a scientist to know that applying tons and tons of pesticides to the soil - more than 50 million pounds in the United States alone - probably isn't a good thing.

Sri Lanka’s garment sector is linking up with the global Fair Trade movement. Already one company, Ocean Lanka, has qualified as a Fair Trade manufacturer while other firms are also giving this hitherto, almost-unknown concept the once over.

The Fair Trade movement is a global social movement to promote ‘fair’ international trade. This means producing and selling goods in a socially and environmentally friendly fashion. In Europe and the US the movement is gaining momentum with more consumers in these countries asking for Fair Trade goods...

Making and selling toys isn't exactly fun and games.

In fact, The Real Toy Story paints the industry as a shiny apple that is practically rotten to the core.

And if that apple were a toy, a company would make it out of plastic in a Chinese sweatshop for 45 cents, tie it in with a movie or TV show, sell it for $9.99 at Wal-Mart and hope that the kid who wound up with it would nag his parents to buy the rest of the line.... 

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