Sir Richard’s Condom Company, based in Boulder, Colorado, gives a whole new meaning to killing two birds with one stone. The company’s slogan is “Doing good never felt better,” and for every condom you buy, Sir Richard’s donates one condom to countries in need. The company believes that safer sex is a basic human right. Now you can protect yourself and give back with one click of a mouse (or a trip to Whole Foods where Sir Richard’s condoms are sold).

Sir Richard’s collaborates with Partners in Health (PIH), an organization that works with poor communities to fight disease and poverty. PIH—through Zanmi Lasante, its largest project—builds community clinics in Haiti, provides free HIV care and distributes around two million condoms a year. This month, Sir Richard’s also sent rape prevention kits to women in Haitian refugee camps through its partnership with Urban Zen Foundation, an organization committed to promoting well-being.

Sir Richard’s condoms use recyclable packaging and include a warning against flushing condoms down the toilet, as it is detrimental to the environment. Environmentally conscious and for a good cause—what more could you ask for in a condom?

—Rachel Baron, 18, Staff Writer

Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t many adults consider teens irresponsible? As a teen myself, I think we deserve a lot more credit. Why, you ask? Well, an extensive study of American’s sexual activity found that condom use is common for sexually active teens. Eighty percent of sexually active guys and 69 percent of sexually active girls said they used a condom the last time they had intercourse. In contrast, over 90 percent of men over the age of 50 did not use a condom during their last sexual encounter with a date or friend. And seventy percent of that same group did not use a condom when they had intercourse with a stranger. It looks like we teens make smart decisions after all.

Of course, not every teen in America is having sex. However, those that are sexually active are making healthy decisions and practicing safer sex. Are teens really so irresponsible? I don’t think so. In fact, teens are more responsible about using condoms than adults. Now I really understand why some adults say, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

—Clarence Williams IV, 17, Staff Writer

When I was in high school, it seemed like all my classmates were “sexperts,” but really, they had no idea what they were talking about. There’s no room for misinformation, when it comes to sex, which is why I’m working with the IT Campaign at TeezITnow.com. The campaign promotes safer sex and making condoms accessible through the IT condom T-shirt. Our T-shirts, which have actual condoms on them, inspire young people to do something to prevent the consequences of unprotected sex.

Since teen pregnancy is one of those consequences, the IT Campaign is helping spread the word about the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 5, 2010. Today, get more educated about safer sex, take the National Day Quiz and get clear about what you need to do to be part of the solution and not the problem.

—Gema Mora, 19, Contributor

I was talking with some of my friends about MTV’s Teen Mom a few weeks ago, and one of them said, “They’re all whores.” My friend wasn’t calling the guys who the girls had sex with whores, just the girls—not that anyone deserves to be called a whore. I was really surprised and upset that my friend said this.

Why is it that if you’re a teen mother you’re a whore? I don’t hear people calling 20-something-year-old mothers whores, even though they have unplanned pregnancies too. People—teens and adults—make mistakes and birth control fails. But that doesn’t mean you’re a whore, and it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. I don’t look at any of the girls on Teen Mom as whores or sluts. So, they have kids? So, they’re young? So, what?

Being a parent is the most difficult job in the world, especially when you’re young and not ready to take care of a baby. Why say hurtful things about young mothers who are in a really difficult situation?

People may use words like “whore” because they are insecure and want to feel better about themselves by putting someone else—a girl or woman—down. It would make a big difference if people spent half the time they spend talking bad about other people doing something good, like making sure teens get the information they need to help prevent unplanned pregnancies.

—Kait Hamilton, 17, Staff Writer

Condoms, when used correctly, help prevent unplanned pregnancies, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Condoms can be an important part of practicing safer sex, and here at Sex, Etc. we encourage you to make condoms fun. Sex, Etc. is not the only place promoting condom use; in fact, a whole city is promoting it! New York City’s Health Department gives away more than 40 million free condoms a year. Those free condoms have a package specifically designed for New York City, a black wrapper based on the city’s subway motif.