World Fair Trade Day and Fair Trade Fortnight
World Fair Trade Day and Fair Trade Fortnight are fast approaching. These 2 key events on the Fair Trade calendar give you the opportunity show your support for Fair Trade and all of the inspiring, Fair Trade entrepreneurs. To ensure that producers are paid a fair wage, to help empower these producers and, in turn, to help eradicate poverty and encourage sustainable living for everyone. Participate in the planned events, create your own events, meet up with friends, make new friends and have fun!
World Fair Trade Day 2009 – 9 May
World Fair Trade Day is a global celebration of Fair Trade with a wide range of events organised across 70 countries. The theme for 2009 is BIG BANG!! – “a new beginning, brought to life in a global day of drumming to beat poverty, beat climate change, beat financial crisis”. It is “bringing together musicians and media, supporters and performers, audiences and producers, politicians and voters, brands and economists, to open up markets and minds to sustainable living” (Source: World Fair Trade Day 09). Running for a global day of 48 hours, the celebrations will begin in the Cook Islands with drumming events continuing around the world, from African villages and Icelandic towns to American farms and Asian cities. The event will conclude at sunset in Samoa. And everyone, is welcome to join in. Check out Annie Lennox launch World Fair Trade Day 09 – BIG BANG!!
To check out the events being held in Australia, or to register your event, visit http://www.worldfairtradeday09.org
Fair Trade Fortnight 2009
Fair Trade Fortnight will soon be here. Fair Trade Fortnight was held in the UK recently and concluded with more than 380,000 people attempting to munch their way into the record books by eating one Fairtrade banana during a 24 hour period. UK is the second largest Fair Trade Market in the world with sales of products carrying the Fairtrade Mark reaching an estimated retail value in excess of £700m in 2008 – a 43% increase over 2007 – with bananas being the largest selling Fairtrade product accounting for 26% of total estimated sales value in 2008 (Source: Fair Trade Foundation, UK, 11 March 2009).
Retail sales of Fairtrade Certified products in Australia are also increasing, reaching more than AU$28 million in 2008 in Australia & New Zealand – up from 55% in 2007 (Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand, 22 December 2008). This is great news, however, there is room for further growth. Support Fair Trade and join in the events during Fair Trade Fortnight 2009. Put these dates in your diary – further details to follow soon:
- Adelaide: 3 May, Fair Trade Market; 8 May, Taste Fair Trade at the Adelaide Oxfam Store; 9 May Fair Trade Quiz Night
- Sydney: 7 May, Fair Trade Fiesta, Paddington Town Hall; 9 May, Manly Fair Trade Market; 17 May, Fair Trade Fair, Parramatta Baptist Church, Kleins Rd, Northmead
- Perth: 9 May, Fair Trade Fiesta
- Melbourne: 15 May, Fair Trade Fiesta
- Brisbane: 16 May, Fair Trade Market
And you can also participate in a number of other events including:
Fairtrade Coffee Break: Host a Fairtrade coffee break with friends or in your workplace. Register your coffee break with the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand and you will receive a start-up pack to set you on your way. Contact info@fairtrade.com.au
Checkout Fairtrade: Get together your family and friends and count the number of Fairtrade Certified products in your local supermarket. Submit your findings to the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand online or by mail and the supermarket with the most Fairtrade products will win and receive an award. You too will be entered into the draw for a prize. Contact info@fairtrade.com.au
Design a T-shirt for Good not Evil: Design a T-shirt around the theme “Fair Trade + Ecology = Sustainability” and be in the running to win an Etiko gift voucher valued at $300. There is a prize for each category – under 18 and over 18. And the top 3 winners in each state, from both categories, will have their designs showcased at the Fair Trade Fiestas in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Entries close on 10 April at 5:00pm. Download and entry form at http://www.etiko.com.au/urban/competitions.html
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