| STAY CONNECTED TO THE MOVEMENT |
 |
| Find & Post Fair Trade Events |
|
| |
|
|
October 2009 |
|
|
So Many Ways to Take Action During FT Month
|
| FT Month Celebrates 31 Ways in 31 Days |
 October, Fair Trade Month, is all about spreading the word. It's about letting
your friends, family and coworkers know what a big difference Fair
Trade makes in the lives of farmers and artisans throughout
the world. It's about requesting (sometimes demanding?) Fair Trade at
stores, restaurants and cafes. And it's about starting a Fair Trade Towns campaign or hosting fun events that get your whole community involved! Every day in October, learn a new action to support FT. Details and online networking at Fair Trade Month. |
Free Kits for Reverse Trick-or-Treat Now Available
|
|
 Deadlines are days away for groups and individuals to sign up for popular Reverse Trick-or-Treating kits! Kits are FREE and include Fair Trade chocolate minis and informational
cards.
October 5: Deadline for groups (congregations, schools, youth
groups, etc) to request multiple kits
October 13: Deadline for individuals (families, college students,
etc) to request a kit.
Request your kits online.
|
"Fair for Life" Certifier Changes Standards
|
|
 The Institute for Market Ecology (IMO) has changed standards for its Fair for Life (FFL) certification. This third-party certifier, based in Germany, has certified a few U.S. businesses including Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps and Guayaki. IMO has been a leader in organic certification in Europe. IMO's Fair for Life certification has different standards than those of Fair Trade Certified (FTC), licensed by TransFair, and screens (not actual certification) of the Fair Trade Federation.
Last month, IMO accounced two major changes to its social & fairtrade program. FFL certification had been accepting FTC as equivalent certification for parts of multi-ingredient products, such as a cold tea beverage. Now, FFL also accepts FTC as equivalent for single-ingredient products, such as coffee beans.
Secondly, FFL now also requires social standards of the brandholder company, usually located in industrialized countries. For example, if a U.S. manufacturer of vanilla ice cream uses FT vanilla and FT sugar, the company also needs to meet standards for worker and environmental responsibility to become certified under FFL. IMO says this standard is more equitable to overseas producers, who already had to meet social standards. Check out details at Fair for Life.
|
Artisans in India Build Capacity and Creatively Reuse Materials
|
 A FT group that produces bags from recycled videotapes intertwined with cotton yarn focuses
on working with children and adults with disabilities. The group belongs to an
organization located in
New
Delhi, India. Handmade Expressions, a  FT business based in Austin, TX, partners with the FT group not only by carrying their
products, pictured here, but also by helping them improve their products, design new products, make their
production process more efficient and add functionality to their products. |
FTRN Happenings
|
FT CALENDARS SHIPPING BY MID-OCTOBER
The first annual Fair Trade calendar, produced by FTRN and Fair Trade Federation, is reaching stores and individuals in time for the holiday shopping season. Order yours at single and bulk rates at FTRN's online store.
PUBLICIZE YOUR FT BIZ BY SPONSORING WFTD
Promote your FT business, and help increase consumer awareness about FT, but sponsoring the largest FT event in N. America: World Fair Trade Day 2010. Early-bird rates of $3000 for major sponsors, $750 for regular sponsors are valid thru November 30th. Email us for details.
END-OF-YEAR GIVING TO SUPPORT FTRN
FTRN depends on generous individuals and organizations to fund our FT education programs. So, please consider
donating to FTRN in 2009 so we can co-host the FT Futures Conference, offer a children's FT book and other resources, and organize a strong World Fair Trade Day campaign.
|
Other Fair Trade News |
FT FUTURES CONFERENCE DATES SET FOR SEPT 10-12
The largest FT conference in N. American history will be held in Boston, from September 10-12, 2010. Save the date to participate in this historic event intended for all those interested in FT.
WORLD OF GOOD'S FAIR WAGE GUIDE WINS AWARD
World of Good Development Organization was recognized as one of 15 global innovators for applying
technology to benefit humanity and spark global change. The guide's software provides
localized pricing evaluation of handmade goods to improve wages of informal women
workers. The free web-based platform
encourages ethical trade by comparing wages worldwide.
FT PRODUCER WINS RWANDAN "BEST COFFEE" AWARD
Rwanda's national coffee competition honored farmers from Coop
Coffees' producer partner COOPAC. See the full article.
MAJOR UK RETAILER DOUBLES FT COFFEE SALES
Sainsbury's has switched all its own-brand roast and ground coffee to FT,
after doing the same with bananas, sugar and own-brand Red Label tea.
The move would increase the market for FT roast and
ground coffee in the UK to 4,600 tons per year. Check out details.
CELEBRITY CHEF PROMOTES FAIR TRADE
Chef
Emeril Lagasse recently featured FT & Divine Chocolate on Green Planet! Watch the video.
FT REALITY TOURS NOW GOING TO PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Global Exchange has expanded its social justice delegations, including ones that focus on Fair Trade olives in the Palestinian Territories, cocoa in the Dominican Republic, coffee in Nicaragua, and tea in Nepal. Check out details.
| |
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:
|
|
|
