Fair Trade Month took place this October in more than 150 communities across the country. Special thanks to staff at Fair Trade Towns and TransFair for their outstanding efforts in orchestrating this wonderful celebration nationwide.
Fair Trade Month is hosted each October and is a great compliment to FTRN-coordinated World Fair Trade Day, which takes place around the globe each May.
Here are the ways in which folks could become involved in this year’s FTM. Check them out for ideas in organizing your next event!
Get Involved
Dozens of Fair Trade events are taking place around the country. Check out an event near you, using FTRN’s new calendar/events feature.
The Fair Trade Towns campaign offers tools and resources for local, grassroots groups working to become Fair Trade Towns or Communities.
Fair Trade Towns is modeled after the European movement, recognizing communities in the US that meet five criteria: an active steering committee, an active and visible public campaign, availability of Fair Trade products in local shops, use of Fair Trade products in local organizations, and a city or town resolution supporting Fair Trade.
This Halloween, Global Exchange will transform the lives of children in cocoa-producing countries by bringing Fair Trade chocolate to thousands of households. Trick-or-treaters can help educate the public by joining schoolchildren in the US and Canada participating in “reverse trick-or-treating.” Kids will give adults the treats-handing out samples of Fair Trade chocolate with a card educating recipients about poverty and child labor in the mainstream cocoa industry. Along with these young activists, hundreds of volunteers and concerned adults will distribute information door-to-door in their communities and on their campuses. Contact Global Exchange to find out how you can get involved.
All across the country USFT chapters are hosting a wide variety of events. They range from skill- building workshops and interactive sessions with Fair Trade producers to fair trade house parties and benefit concerts. Check out the event list to find all the events going on in your area.
Every year, TransFair USA offers resources and support for Fair Trade activists and retailers organizing Fair Trade Month events. Visit their website to find important organizing tools for this year’s Fair Trade Month.
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