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Jeff
Citizens Trade Campaign planned to deliver a petition this week in Dallas demanding that U.S. officials move the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Agreement negotiations into the light of day. The public can sign the petition now.
CTC reports that trade negotiators from throughout the Pacific Rim are meeting in Texas for a critical summit aimed at rushing the TPP toward completion. The pact is reportedly already 75% complete, with some 26 separate chapters that will likely affect jobs, wages, agriculture, migration, consumer safety, the environment, financial regulations, internet freedom, access to medicine, indigenous rights, public procurement and more in our communities and throughout the world.
More at CTC post on TPP summit
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Jeff
The following summary is offered by FTRN, and not by the Organizing Committee nor full Council:
Around 50 people representing some of the Fair Trade movement held a summit April 30 – May 2, 2012, in Minneapolis. Important dialogue & learning progressed among diverse stakeholders, including certifiers/standard setters (Fairtrade International – via Fairtrade Canada representative), Fair Trade USA, IMO Fair for Life, Agricultural Justice Project) who participated in just the final day. Many of the stakeholders had never met, communicated, or even known much about each other’s organizations. Valuable relationships were established or strengthened between people/organizations. The Council as yet did not achieve any of its 4 stated goals. Members identified a little common ground, but mostly discussed key issues and how the movement might resolve them. A working group was formed to propose by June next steps for dialogue and action. The Council intends to publish for the public details of its discussions and progress by June, and ways additional stakeholders can engage or join in coming months.
Regarding the 4 stated goals:
- Define Fair Trade and the movement, what they are and what they are not – members didn’t clarify common ground, but did gain more understanding of topics like domestic Fair Trade, large-scale agriculture/plantations, and what the movement could collaborate on.
- Organize the North American Fair Trade movement under a coordinated infrastructure with a common vision – very little progress, so there remains a critical opportunity to organize ongoing communication across the movement.
- Reach agreement on a plan for cooperation and accountability within the movement – this was the goal with the most progress, as members agreed on an agenda (currently 30 items) for more work, and advanced thinking a lot on many issues. It seems like commitment is there to carry some of this work to meaningful results in coming months.
- Develop a clear external message for the movement- members decided this was lower priority, so postponed work until the Council (and perhaps others) progresses on other goals first.
More details, and future updates at N. America Fair Trade Stakeholder Council
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Jeff
Winter Park, Florida, became a Fair Trade Town in the U.S. this week, and the first in the southeast. With Claremont, CA, also becoming a Fair Trade Town recently, there are now 28 in the U.S.
More at FTT Winter Park
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Jeff
Congratulations to the 5 winners of the “Best in Fair Trade” Awards! Over2100 people voted to select winners from among the 14 finalists.
FTRN created the contest since no awards existed to honor organizations across all major Fair Trade recognitions. Winners will be celebrated during World Fair Trade Day in May!
More at “Best in Fair Trade” Award winners
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Jeff
Claremont, California, became the 27th Fair Trade Town in the U.S. this week. The City Council voted on Tuesday to support a resolution of support for the city becoming a Fair Trade Town, the last step in meeting Fair Trade Towns USA’s 5 criteria. The city will receive national recognition, and the right to use a Fair Trade Town Claremont USA logo. Claremont became the first Fair Trade Town in Southern California.
More at FTT Claremont story
