| STAY CONNECTED TO THE MOVEMENT |
 |
| Find & Post Fair Trade Events |
|
| |
|
|
July 2009 |
|
|
Fair Trade Grows Despite Economic Downturn, and FT Jobs Open in N. America
|
Participation Increased in N. America's Largest Fair Trade Event
|
Celebrants in Hood River, OR, enjoy a drum circle for WFTDWorld Fair Trade Day attracted 65,020 participants from May 1-15, growing the largest FT event in N. America even further. The final tally, compiled by campaign organizer FTRN, registered 456 events in the U.S. and Canada, covered by 101 media articles! The campaign's success has inspired plans by a U.S. organization, and a European one, to organize even larger events over the next year - leading to increased benefits to marginalized farmers and artisans around the world. Check out the exciting stories, photos, and media coverage at World Fair Trade Day. |
U.S. Sales of Fair Trade Certified Products Up in 2008 Despite Economy
|
 The demand for Fair Trade Certified products has grown rapidly nationwide, according to TransFair USA's recently released 2008 Almanac. Annual imports of coffee grew by over 30% in weight, tea by over 20%, cocoa by over 95%, and bananas by over 250%. Additional income to farmers and producers grew 74%, to $32.6 million. Check out further statistics of producer organizations, licensees, countries, and other products in the free 2008 Almanac from TransFair USA. |
Visually Impaired Woman in India Finds Lifeline in Fair Trade
|
|
 For artisans of Blue Mango, a Fair Trade workshop based in Chennai in
south India, their work is often a lifeline.
One artisan, Bothumani, has been visually impaired since birth. Suffering from poverty & hunger, she
found an opportunity to empower herself at Blue Mango, which focuses on
employment for marginalized women: widows,
the abused, abandoned or physically or mentally disabled, and those affected by
HIV/AIDS. Blue Mango facilitates
training, employee ownership and empowerment, and produces silk and cotton
bags, pillows, jewelry and ornaments. Bothumani
found her niche, and became another example of a motivated woman lifting
herself up through Fair Trade. Adapted
from Ten Thousand Villages' "The Village Beat" of May/June.
|
Campaign to Fair Trade the White House Unseals Invitation to Michelle Obama
|
|
 A grass-roots, nonpartisan coalition of Fair Trade organizations, vendors, retailers, schools, individuals and consumers, is inviting the First Lady to help extend the Fair Trade
movement by declaring the White House a "Fair Trade Home." Having the White House seek to purchase and use fair trade goods encourages households throughout America to refine their buying habits toward ethical consumption so that poverty, both in America and around the world, is reduced. Throughout the year, the campaign will seek online signatures from consumers and organizations to show the First Lady the momentum and support of the Fair Trade movement. 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.
|
Secret Technique from Chile & Peru Now Used to Make Fair Trade Storybooks
|
|
 Fabric
storybook crafted with the Arpillera technique, using bits of fabrics and yarn stitched together over a background to
create a tri-dimensional landscape.
During the 1980s, a tapestry technique
became famous in Chile and Peru because it was used to pass messages from political prisoners through
their visitors. The women visitors did not arouse suspicion since they just sat
and knit, or hand stitched, traditional activities in both countries. Books made using the Arpillera technique are now available in N. America as a Fair Trade item through Inca Kids, a member of the Fair Trade Federation.
|
| Other Fair Trade News |
|
FAIR TRADE JOBS OPENING UP
With growth in the Fair Trade sector, FT jobs in the U.S. are being advertised. Visit the job pages of FTRN or the Fair Trade Federation for details.
FAIR TRADE FEDERATION RELEASES NEW MATERIALS
To help bring Fair
Trade to your community, FTF has published a new brochure about the organization, handy checklists to
consider where local stores have or can source under Fair Trade Principles, and other resources to educate about Fair Trade. Visit FTF resources for details.
CERTIFIER IMO EXPANDS ACTIVITIES IN THE U.S.
The Swiss-based eco-product certifier and
standard developer, IMO (The Institute for Market Ecology), is establishing
an office in the U.S. provide service for U.S. clients. In
2006, IMO developed a complementary system for Fair Trade certification called
Fair for Life. IMO offers ongoing education on their Social & Fair Trade
Program through monthly webinars. Go to
the "News" section at IMO for registration dates and instructions. FTRN suggests that all certifications be analyzed for strengths and weaknesses.
CALL-IN TO HERSHEY TO PROTECT WORKER RIGHTS
Thousands of people are calling Hershey to ask them to start buying Fair Trade
certified cocoa. International Labor Rights Fund is leading a campaign to end abusive child labor in the cocoa industry in West Africa. As a result of constant pressure, major chocolate companies like M&M/Mars
and Cadbury
have recently agreed to stronger labor and environmental standards. Learn more or take action at ILRF.
TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES NAMED AMONG WORLD'S MOST ETHICAL COMPANIES
The Ethisphere Institute and Forbes Magazine
recognized Ten Thousand Villages, a pioneer in Fair Trade for over sixty years, as one of the "World's Most Ethical
Companies." The 99 recipients of the internationally acclaimed award were
revealed in April in a third annual listing
designed to encourage ethical practices within the global business community.
Winners were chosen among 10,000 nominations from 100 countries and 35 industries.
CHICAGO FAIR TRADE HOSTS BENEFIT
Chicago Fair Trade
hosted GlobalFest, an international fundraiser, on Thursday, May 14,
2009. The benefit was arranged to honor and celebrate Latin American
partnerships. Notable guests included Evangelina Pizarro and Ayde
Riveros Gutierrez, both Peruvian artisans; the 49th Ward Alderman Joe
Moore and his wife Barbara; and Carter O'Brien, recipient of CFT's
first Change-Maker award. O'Brien was recognized for his strong effort
and dedication in bringing Fair Trade coffee to the Field Museum's
Corner Bakery.
| |
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.
|
|
|
