Fair Trade Campaigns in the Media: September/October 2013
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a one-stop-shop for Local and National Fair Trade Campaign Media? Here it is! A monthly digest of Fair Trade Campaigns in the local and national spotlight
#FTCampaigns on Social Media
National Updates
Fair Trade Campaign Numbers:
Active Fair Trade Town Campaigns: 62 (of which 34 are declared)
Active Fair Trade College & University Campaigns: 92 (of which 15 are declared)
Active Fair Trade Town Campaigns Worldwide: Over 1500
Recent Declarations:
Depaul University in Chicago, IL becomes the 15th Fair Trade University in the country!
Giveaway: Faire Collection
Faire Collection is giving away five stackable rings to lucky fans.
As a social enterprise, Faire Collection implements successful poverty-reducing social programs in the artisans’ communities. Faire Collection recently partnered with 117 new artisans in Peru, the Amazon Basin, Vietnam and Swaziland, meaning that the company now collaborates with a total of 225 artisans worldwide.
Check out the blog post and win one of the beautiful rings!
Reflections on Fair Trade in Mexico: Maya Vinic Coffee Shop
In July, 12 of our Fair Trade organizers from across the country went to Chiapas and Oaxaca, Mexico, to visit Fair Trade farmers, artisans and producers. They visited five producer groups who are associated with the various third party Fair Trade labeling organizations in the US. Carmen Solari from Burlington describes the visit to the Maya Vinic coffee cooperative and the success the indigenous group Las Abejas has scored with their Fair Trade certification. Check in with us over the next few months to read more about the different producer groups.
Local Media Hits
Keene State College Fair Trade Club Plans Trip to Ecuador
The Equinox, October 24, 2013
After much planning and anticipation, the Keene State College Fair Trade Club will be going Ecuador this coming May to gain a firsthand look into the Fair Trade production process. The club is partnering with the non-profit Runa Foundation, which has a subset in Fair Trade tea production, to give students the opportunity to work with local farmers and participate in the planting and harvesting of the guayusa plant, the main ingredient in their tea. The trip is open to all Keene State College students; applications are being accepted until November 4, 2013.
Fond du Lac to host Fair Trade Movie Night
The Fond du Lac Reporter, October 24, 2013
The Fond du Lac Fair Trade Towns Initiative will be screening the full- length documentary entitled “The Price of Sugar” this Monday, October 28, 2013 at 6 PM in Fond du Lac Public Library’s McLean Room. The film chronicles the history of sugar production in the Dominican Republic, and highlights the effects that large sugar plantations have had on both the workers and the land. Admission is free; Fair Trade coffee and chocolate samples will be available.
Mankato shows videos about the fair trade coffee movement
Mankato Free Press, October 21, 2013
The videos mainly featured the beginnings of the fair trade coffee movement. There was also a presentation about the coffees from Guatemala and the Mexican State of Oaxaca. Mexican desserts, tea and coffee were served.
Bloomington celebrates the Fair Trade month
Herald Times Online, October 16, 2013
Fair Trade Bloomington, University of Indiana and Enactus IUB joined together to celebrate the Fair Trade month with two events during the third week of October. Amongst others, two apparel workers from the Dominican Republic travelled to Bloomington to talk about the working conditions in the first living wage college apparel factory.
Fair Trade Month Events in Burlington and Beyond
Fair Trade Burlington, September 29, 2013
The Fair Trade Burlington Network and the Peace & Justice Center are teaming up to celebrate Fair Trade Month. The Food for Thought & Fair Trade Committee at Saint Michael’s College is excited to kick off Fair Trade Month with an exciting week of events. Check out their upcoming film screenings, fair trade markets and more!
Fair trade expo in Cleveland Oct. 12
Hudson Hub Times, September 6, 2013
Northeast Ohio is home to Magnificat High School and John Carroll University, both of whom have joined the Fair Trade movement. Not only has the University made strides in providing fair trade products, like coffee and chocolate, throughout their campus, they are also hosting this year’s Ohio Fair Trade Expo, the largest regional Fair Trade event in the country. This will be the 4th Fair Trade Expo held in Cleveland and it will take place on Oct. 12 from 9am to 4pm.
Seed&Spark to Host Inaugural Fair Trade Filmmaking Festival to Start Conversations About Indie Films
Digital Journal, August 31, 2013
Seed&Spark, the world’s first crowd-funding and digital distribution platform made just for independent film, announced that it will host its first fair trade filmmaking festival, WestFest, from October 1-3, 2013, at The HUB LA in Los Angeles.
The three-day program will feature conversations with filmmakers and film curators. Continuing Seed&Spark’s fair trade filmmaking manifesto, a portion of the proceeds will go directly to the filmmakers whose movies are being screened.
Mankato Neighborhoods Celebrating ‘Night to Unite’
Mankato Free Press, August 26, 2013
Mankato Area Fair Trade Town Initiative hosted its fifth annual Fair Trade Film Night on Wednesday, 28th August. They showed two documentaries: “Chocolate Country”, a film about fair trade chocolate in the Dominican Republic, and “Calcutta Hilton”, a film about Fair Trade in India.
Also in: Le Center Leader, August 21, 2013
Fair trade advocate returns with stories to share
Mankato Free Press, August 27, 2013
Jane Dow, a member of the Mankato Area Fair Trade Towns Initiative, traveled to Mexico in July to visit with farmers and artisans who are producing fair trade products, such as coffee and artisan crafts.
Her aim of the trip was to see the impact that fair trade has on local producers, so that she would be able to advocate Fair Trade Certified products more credibly. As she says, the group of visitors was exposed to extreme poverty and could see how Fair Trade helps the people to continue their efforts to lead a better life.
Food Miles and Fair Trade
Fairtradetownsusa.org, Fair Trade Town Chicago, August 21, 2013
The blog post is a summary and discussion based on the report created by Fair Trade International (FLO). It reflects on the question of whether fair trade products can be considered sustainable, since they are often produced far away and the transport of the goods causes a lot of emissions. However, as it points out, the production of the food is the main source of emissions, while the transport often only makes up a smaller part. Thus, a life cycle assessment of products is probably a better way of looking at products than just preferring local products in any case.
You must log in to join the discussion. If you are not already a member registering is easy.