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August 2009 |
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Scintillating Summer at Home
&
Abroad
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Global Sales of Fair Trade
Certified Products Up 22% in 2008 Despite
Economy
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 Despite the global
recession, worldwide sales of Fair Trade Certified
products grew by an impressive 22% in 2008 as consumers
spent an estimated $4 billion on Fair Trade products
globally. In the
U.S., sales grew 10% to $1.06 billion, and in Canada,
sales grew 67% to $180 million. The UK,
after growth of 43%, has surpassed the U.S. for most FT
sales by country, at $1.23 billion. Check out
further statistics of sales by country, by product and
by growth rate in Fairtrade Foundation's press
release. |
Campaign to Fair Trade the
White House Garners Foreign & Domestic
Support
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 A U.S.,
non-partisan coalition inviting Michelle Obama to
declare the White House a Fair Trade home has already
gathered nearly one thousand individual signatures,
support from 68 business & nonprofit organizations,
plus publicity from many media supporters over the past
few weeks. A bunch of people are even signing on from
overseas. That shouldn't be surprising to a
movement currently led by consumer demand overseas, that
focuses on empowering marginalized farmers and artisans
in less industrialized countries. FTRN's executive
director is one of 12 people on the campaign's national
Steering Committee.
The coalition hopes that the
First Lady will accept the invitation so that a ceremony
is conducted in May 2010 in honor of "World Fair Trade
Day." Learn more or participate in the campaign at
Fair Trade the
White
House.
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120
Weavers Assemble to Honor FT Work Agreement in
Chile
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 For the first time in its
ten-year history, the Association Ņimi Kafe Pu Domo, an
indigenous womens organization in the Araucania region
of southern Chile, assembled all of its 120 weavers from
across the marginalized region. The June
celebration centered around the association signing a
formal work agreement with a FT organization, Fundacion
Chol Chol. This non-profit organization promotes
sustainable economic development for rural Mapuche found
to have the country's highest rates of poverty and
illiteracy. Chol Chol's products are featured at
the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington
DC, Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, CA, and
through their US-based non-profit, Chol-Chol
Foundation USA.
Currently, Chol Chol
bases their work in three areas: training, micro-credit,
and technical assistance. They also support the
improvement of quality of the products and production
process for wool shawls, ponchos, handbags, scarves,
rugs, pillow covers, throws, and other items. Visitors
can even experience Mapuche culture first-hand through
their Social Tourism
Initiative.
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Campaign Launched to
Pressure Hershey to Use Fair Trade
Chocolate
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 A group of national
nonprofit organizations began a campaign to ask Hershey
to achieve Fair Trade certification for its cocoa. One
of the first national actions, "We Want More from Our
S'mores," is organizing people around the country to
make at least 1,500 Fair Trade S'mores between July 4
and Labor Day (but hopefully double that
amount!!!). In protest against Hershey's
practices, people all over the U.S. are making their
s'mores this summer with Fair Trade chocolate.
Participants are registering their s'mores
using both online and paper petitions to Hershey,
as well taking photos of
themselves making s'mores. You can
participate in the comfort of your own home or whenever
you go to a summer barbeque/campfire/bonfire. Access
resources to take action at We Want More
from Our
S'mores. |
FTRN
Happenings
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FREE BULK ORDERS OF CONSCIOUS
CONSUMER
 We are in the process of updating
and changing the format of one of Fair Trade's leading
print publications. Over 60,000 copies have been
distributed through store sales, promotional
giveaways, church fundraisers and academic
studies. While supplies last, we offer this
resource IN BULK (> 100 per shipment) to those who
would like to use them to educate the public, table at
events, or promote a FT organization! All you have to do
is pay the shipping cost! Find details at FREE bulk
Conscious Consumer orders.
MATCHING GRANT UNTIL AUGUST 31
TO SUPPORT FTRN
During this challenging
financial year for many organizations, doubling your
tax-deductible contribution has triple the impact!
So, please consider donating to
FTRN while a matching grant offers up to $7500
through the end of August.
FT BLOG COMING IN
SEPTEMBER
To fill a gap in discussion in the
current FT community, FTRN will launch at least 4
distinct FT blogs on: Key Issues, Current
Events, Business and Spirituality. We
welcome diverse opinions and your own comments on our News &
Views page.
PHOTO CONTEST &
ADS OPEN FOR 2010 CALENDAR
The first annual
Fair Trade Calendar is being developed by FTRN and Fair
Trade Federation. Submit photos, vote for your
favorites, advertise your business and order copies at
wholesale rates. Check out the contest &
other details.
PHOTO & POSTCARD EDUCATION
EXHIBIT AVAILABLE
After showing at FT Boston's
June expo, FTRN's Education through the Arts exhibit is
now available for other public displays in stores,
restaurants, conferences, schools, faith communities and
town halls. Learn more about hosting this
educational resource, comprised of 28 panels about
Indian tea growers and Guatemalan coffee
farmers.
WEBSITE
USE SURVEY LAUNCHED
As part of FTRN's current
strategic planning process, website visitors are lending
their voices to improve our online services. We welcome
your input by completing our 10-15 min. survey.
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| Other Fair Trade
News |
WEBSITE LAUNCHED TO CONNECT,
VISIT AND LEARN ABOUT FARMERS GROWING YOUR SPECIFIC FT
COFFEE
A new tool developed by Peace Coffee
allows consumers to trace a specific cup of coffee to
the source farm or village on a country's map, get some
fast facts on farmer coops, see some faces, and hear the
words of travelers. If you want to know more, the site
has links to in-depth farmer profiles, and, if you want
to dig still deeper, all the contracts, invoices, even
bills of lading and organic certificates for your
favorite coffees. Connect at Map My
Beans!
FAIR
TRADE TOWNS INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES NEW
WEBSITE
Years before the U.S. began its own
FTT movement, Europe was founding FTTs across many
countries. Last month, a group representing over
600 FTTs in 18 countries launched a website of
resources, stories and actions. Visit FTT
International for details.
FT EUROPE EXPO EXPECTS 20,000
IN OCTOBER
The 2nd edition of the European
Fair Trade Fair is expected to attract 20,000
participants, and 300 exhibitors, in Lyon, France from
October 2-4. Check out the European
Expo.
1ST FT
STORE OPENS IN ISRAEL
A FT store in Tel Aviv
opened in June to offer goods made by 100 craftswomen
representing most sectors and national minorities in
Israel. The products will include traditional Ethiopian,
Palestinian and Bedouin embroidery, pottery, lampshades,
jewelry, soaps, olive oil, jams, and various domestic
knick-knacks. Read more of the story.
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At FTRN, our
work is not done until Fair Trade is practiced in every
household.
Please make a
contribution today to help us continue to develop
the materials that are essential in effecting
people-powered change for Fair Trade. Donate by credit
card after clicking on the image below:
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