Fair Trade Los Angeles

Support Fair Trade Buy Fair Trade Tote Bags

Fair Trade LA — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:51:48 +0000

FTLA supports women in Kolkata, India, who live and work in the Red Light district. They now have gainful employment with a fair wage, health benefits and education. Support these women and FTLA’s education efforts by purchasing one of their beautiful Fair Trade reusable shopping bags. Send an email to fairtradela@gmail.com and let us know of your interest. We are not set up for credit cards so payment will need to be by check. The cost is $20 plus.

6th Annual Fair Trade Holiday Bazaar

Fair Trade LA — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:49:48 +0000

Join Us for the 6^th Annual Fair Trade and Conscious Gifts Holiday Bazaar

Don’t spend your hard earned dollars at the mall, buying overpriced gifts made in countries with no labor or environmental protections!

Shop with a clear conscience at our 6th Annual Fair Trade and Conscious Gifts Holiday Bazaar.

Browse through a wide selection of hand-made goods made either internationally with fair-trade standards, or locally by LA-based artists.

There will be jewelry, purses, pillow covers, and more from Afghanistan, as well as books, T-shirts, candles, soaps, oils, handicrafts, and much much more!

Click here to view our new inventory of hand-made gifts from Afghanistan: http://tinyurl.com/6ruauvq.

These items are made in RAWA’s income generation projects. They include gorgeous necklaces with inlaid semi-precious stones, earrings, bracelets, purses, keychains, mirrored keepsake boxes, novelty keychains, and more!

Download the flyer here: http://www.afghanwomensmission.org/graphics/local/holiday_bazaar_2011.pdf

Entrance is Free. There will be complementary hot coffee and tea plus delectable cookies and pastries!

Visit www.afghanwomensmission.org for more information.

Fair Trade Federation Newsletter

Fair Trade LA — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:16:17 +0000

Great Products From our Newest FTF Members

A warm welcome to our newest members:

Connected Goods www.connectedgoods.com

Dsenyo www.dsenyo.com

Africa Schools of Kenya www.askenya.org

Earth Lover www.earthlovershopping.com

Just in time for your holiday shopping, here are some of their products!

Fair + Fashionable. Accessorize in style: festive hairbands, a luxurious gold pendantor brightly beaded Maasai necklaces are on trend.

Get cozy. With colder weather arriving, lounge around the house in cute pajama pantsand a shawl. Curl up with a cup of tea and a warm lambswool throw to complete the experience!

Give the gift of relaxation

during the hectic holiday season, with smoothing body oils or a charming

soap and pumice set.

Wrapping it up. A bold, functional laptop sleeve protects tech toys. Or give a gift inside a gift! Tuck something small inside a leather tote, reusable shopping bag, or wristlet!

2012 Annual Conference Call for Speakers

Our 2012 annual conference will be held May 21-23 in Bellevue, WA. We are seeking proposals for conference sessions that will speak to the needs and interests of FTF members and others involved in fair trade. Click here for more information about the conference and to download the speaker proposal. Submit proposals to info@fairtradefederation.org by December 1. Please also pass this along to others in your network who may be dynamic speakers – particularly those in the Seattle area.

Thank you for helping us to build a dynamic and informative conference program!

Sincerely,

Fair Trade Federation

Give the gift of hope this holiday season by empowering women in the developing world.

Purchase fair trade gifts for your loved ones!

Visitwww.handcraftingjustice.organd shop today.

Support Clarity In Fair Trade

Fair Trade LA — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:12:06 +0000

Together we can make a difference in our own communities and in the lives of marginalized farmers, workers and artisans around the world. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to FTRN, the only national, Fair Trade organization that educates about all certifications, organizational recognitions, brands and producers in the Fair Trade movement.

Your year-end donation helps Fair Trade producers and advocates get clarity during these confusing times of monumental change:

Photo courtesy of Project Have Hope

FTRN produces the only national, ongoing, live public discussions of key issues in Fair Trade through webinars, seen by over 1000 people in 2011. Our inclusive approach has enabled advocates to interact with diverse panelists such as: the Director of the Small Producers Symbol and Latin America Producer rep on FLO Standards Committee (Jerónimo Pruijn van Engelen); the CEO of Fair Trade USA (Paul Rice); a leading researcher of the impacts of Fair Trade (Danielle Giovannucci); a certification officer of a Dominican Republic banana business (Helen Nicolas); the Fair Trade Organic Coffee Buyer of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (Ed Canty); co-founder of Equal Exchange (Jonathan Rosenthal); and, Director of Canaan Fair Trade & Founder of Palestinian Fair Trade Association (Nasser Abufarha). All webinar recordings and notes are free to access.

Photo courtesy of Fibres of Life

Over 2500 people voted in our 3rd annualFair Trade Photo Contest, in which producers and advocates submitted photos and told stories about Fair Trade. The 12 winning photos became the featured images in our 2012 Fair Trade Calendar, the only wall calendar focused on Fair Trade in N. America.

FTRN is the only organization in N. America focused exclusively on promoting Fair Trade education and discussion. We are also distinguished in a fragmented movement by being inclusive of broad Fair Trade interests.

Your donation will help FTRN to make these new programs successful:

Co-organizing a Fair Trade Leadership Summit, through which stakeholders in N. America’s movement can clarify direction for Fair Trade and collaborate on urgent issues.
Launching N. America’s only inclusive, grassroots membership program for the Fair Trade movement, Fair Trade Society, through which any person can access in-depth analysis of news, receive free advocacy resources, and qualify for specials on Fair Trade products.

FTRN will also strengthen our widely respected existing programs, such as:

1. World Fair Trade Day - We coordinate N. America’s largest Fair Trade event, as over 60,000 people take part in hundreds of events around N. America every May.

2. FTRN.org - this acclaimed website serves as a hub for over 100,000 people per year seeking a free Power Point overview of Fair Trade, movement news updates, reviews of books and films, a N. American Events Calendar, the world’s largest catalog of research papers, job listings and more.

3. Several popular and definitive publications about Fair Trade: the 2012 Fair Trade wall calendar, a kid’s book Think Fair Trade First!,and a leading introductory booklet that has over 65,000 copies distributed, An Overview of Fair Trade in North America.

We ask for your support of the Fair Trade Resource Network to strengthen educational resources and discussion about all interests within the fragmented Fair Trade movement. Your donation also creates life changing opportunities for marginalized people around the world.

Fair Trade VS. Free Trade

Fair Trade LA — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:07:47 +0000

Fair Trade:

The transparent declaration all along the supply chain of the economic, social and ethical aspects of the goods being produced under Fair Trade standards (principles).

Here is a good article from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade_debate

Free Trade:

The elimination of tariffs, taxes and government subsidies in the movement of goods and services from producers to consumers.

Here is another good article from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade_debate

Pure economists favor free trade as it eliminates the distortions in the free market system. They do not like the implied social (wage) premiums paid under the FLO systems of labeling Fair Trade.

Here is some good material from the Economist – worth reading:

http://www.economist.com/debate/overview/172

Women Hold Up Half The Sky – Skirball Cultural Center

Fair Trade LA — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:29:53 +0000

The Skirball Cultural Center is pleased to present Women Hold Up Half the Sky, on view October 27, 2011-March 11, 2012.

In conjunction with Women Hold Up Half the Sky and commemorating the United Nations 2012 International Year of Cooperatives, Audrey’s Museum Store at the Skirball offers a pop-up shop of handcrafted items representing women’s cooperatives and female artisans from around the world through the end of December. Each organization represents the transformative power of women working together to provide for their families, educate their children, pass on deep-rooted traditions, and promote gender equality.

Included here is just a selection of the many affordable gift items that are available in the pop-up shop. Check back for new additions. View our interactive listing of participating organizations for additional information.

http://shop.skirball.org/Women-Hold-Up-Half-the-Sky/3166/dept

FAIR TRADE PASADENA BENEFIT A SUCCESS!

Fair Trade LA — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:21:22 +0000

Fair Trade Pasadena (FT Pasadena) held its first ever benefit on Friday, October 21, 2011 at Lineage Dance Company in Pasadena. FT Pasadena is raising funds to better educate the people of Pasadena and others about the important benefits of Fair Trade and to promote their Fair Trade efforts in Pasadena. Their larger goal is to have Pasadena become the first Fair Trade Town in Southern California.

Mayor Bill Bogaard attended the event to welcome the guests and to share the work of Pasadena in promoting sustainability, a key element of Fair Trade. He also presented the “Fair Trade Pasadena Supports Women” Teen Poster Contest Award to Madeleine Cameron, a student at the Peace and Justice Academy in Pasadena. Her poster, highlighting the empowerment of women through Fair Trade, was selected from a number of entrants. Mayor Bogaard has been approached by the FT Pasadena committee to consider a resolution, declaring Pasadena a Fair Trade Town, and has expressed interest in further dialogue. Pasadena would be the first Fair Trade Town in Southern California and the 25th in the U.S.

Guests were treated to powerful dance performances by Lineage Dance, highlighting Farmer, Artisan and World. FT Pasadena members set the context for these dances by reading quotes from farmers, artisans and the Nine Principles of Fair Trade from the Fair Trade Federation. Those who attended left with a deeper understanding of Fair Trade, many with wonderful silent auction items they had “won,” and gratitude for having had the opportunity to appreciate this wonderful dance company.

As you may know, Fair Trade is an alternative to conventional trade and is based on relationships. Fair Trade products ensure that the producer receives a fair wage and that there are healthy working conditions. An underpinning of Fair Trade is sustainability- from coffee to handmade clothing. With each Fair Trade purchase, you get quality products that improve lives, strengthen communities, and protect the environment.

FT Pasadena is a campaign of Fair Trade LA and is in its second year and already they have many successful accomplishments. Since it began, FT Pasadena has held a number of events, including being part of “A Taste of Fair Trade” Bike Ride held during Bike Week Pasadena, an event that brought cyclists to stores in Pasadena that sell Fair Trade.

Fair Trade Month News: USA Split is Splitting My Hairs

Fair Trade LA — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:09:22 +0000

http://ethixmerch.com/blog/fair-trade-month-news-usa-split-splitting-my-hairs

October 11th, 2011 | posted by Aria

It was a dark and stormy night…

I’ve been having recurring nightmares about Fair Trade USA. In the last year the bad dreams keep getting scarier and scarier.

And…the nightmares are actually true.

October 2011: The Spookiest Fair Trade Month

First, there is the apparel pilot project. Fair Trade USA created a “Fair Trade” clothing label that doesn’t include a living wage and independent worker representation like unions. They said it was too hard to do, but then Alta Graciahas actually done it….

Second, Fair Trade USA faced a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission for their minimum ingredient standards and unclear labeling. They certified products with as little as 2% fair trade ingredients. If that’s not “fair-washing,” can someone tell me what is?

Third came the name-change to from “Transfair USA” to “Fair Trade USA,” a name that seems to suggest that a single group has ownership over a vast and diverse fair trade movement in the U.S. When the change was announced, over 10,000 fair trade movement leaders signed letters asking them to stop.

Fourth, after moving forward with the name change, Fair Trade USA decided they also don’t need to be a part of THE international fairtrade group. Fairtrade International (FLO), the central hub for fair trade certifying groups, expressed disappointment with the split. But Fair Trade USA wants to pursue their own “Fair Trade for All” agenda.

Fifth, (this is actually a little bonus I just learned reading this awesome Fair World Project article), Fair Trade USA failed to adhere to FLO standards when they were a member group. As reported by Fair World Project, literally, “dozens of products in the marketplace, ranging from Honest Tea to Sunspire Organic Cocoa Chips, have failed to source fair trade ingredients, yet continue to display the FTUSA fair trade seal.” Did I just hear about more fairwashing?

Waking Up to What We Want

Fair Trade USA’s philosophy prioritizes quantity over quality. That’s why their “Fair Trade for All” campaign includes certifying large plantations instead of just small farmer cooperatives.

Many in the broader fair trade movement are expressing their desires for quality change and true empowerment. For example, at Ethix we will continue to push the union bug and union label as the platinum standards for custom apparel.

We are working hard to provide the most honest ethical answers about T-shirts, avoiding fair-washing bynever promising anything is perfect. Everything we buy has an impact!

That’s the direction we’re moving. But what do you think- should we be striving toward quantity or quality?

UPDATE:

November 3rd, 2011 – The activist group United Students for Fair Trade (USFT) released a statement withdrawing support from Fair Trade USA/Transfair and calling for reform to fair trade standards. View the pdf now for the full story.

Three producer networks that co-own Fairtrade International, (Network of Asian Producers, Coordinadora Latino Americana y del Caribe de Pequeños Productores de Comercio Justo, and Fairtrade Africa), also released a statement of disappointment about Fair Trade USA’s actions. You can view their pdf statement here.

We recommend checking USFT and other sites for more frequently updated fair trade blogs and continuing thoughts on this issue:

Fair Trade Resource Network

Fair World Project

United Students for Fair Trade

Equal Exchange Small Farmers Blog

Catholic Relief Services Coffeelands Blog

Update From La Mesa

Fair Trade LA — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:00:37 +0000

During the past few months we have been bringing you news of the ongoing campaign to make La Mesa a Fair Trade Town. The campaign continues and is learning weekly from the process. At the urging of some city council members, perhaps too soon, La Mesa Fair Trade got itself on the agenda for the October 11th city council meeting to vote on passage of a council resolution in support of Fair Trade Town status. Despit strong support from two council members other city council members were not yet ready to support passage of the resolution. Even though the vote before the La Mesa City Council did not result in the passage of a Fair Trade Town resolution, La Mesa Fair Trade and Fair Trade San Diego arefurther energized to continue our efforts of working in partnership with La Mesa City Council to pass a resolution in support of La Mesa being declared a Fair Trade Town as well to continue our broader efforts to raise awareness of the benefits of Fair Trade certified products.

Since October 11th the LMFT steering committee has been meeting one on one with La Mesa city council members to further

clarify what it means to pass a city resolution in favor of Fair Trade Town status. In addtion committee members continue to meet with local merchants who currently sell Fair Trade products as well as those who are interested in beginning to do so. As a result of the city council vote, the campaign received media attention from the East County Magazine, the La Mesa Patch and the Union Tribune. During October Fair Trade San Diego was able to have a letter to the editor published in all three media outlets so as to let the community know that the efforts to make La Mesa a Fair Trade Town have not slowed.

According to Fair Trade Towns USA, “The Fair Trade Towns designation provides a platform for continued outreach and education to build the Fair Trade movement locally and deepen each community’s commitment to international justice”. Passing a city council resolution is one of the last stages in the process of becoming a Fair Trade Town and is a recognition of support for organizations such as La Mesa Fair Trade to promote consumption of Fair Trade certified productsand educate on their impact. A city council resolution is not an endorsement of any particular local business.

Links to read letters to editor:

http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/fair-trade

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/7682

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/25/mortgage-reform-plan-global-warming-organ-donation/

NEW “FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED” MARK ANNOUNCED

Fair Trade LA — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:53:24 +0000

October 28, 2011 Jeff

Fair Trade USA (FTUSA) has announced that the dominant label on U.S. and Canada products certified as Fair Trade will change to the one pictured at left. Both the new label, as well as the outgoing “bucket boy” one, will appear on products sold in N. America in 2012. The new “Fair Trade Certified” label, for the first time, can also be used on products sold in countries outside of N. America. So, the 3 widely recognized product labels in Fair Trade (Fair Trade Certified, FAIRTRADE, and Fair for Life) will now be seen in the U.S., Canada, and other countries.

Details at new Fair Trade Certified Label Launch

Posted in Advocacy, Business Aspects, Featured, Key Issues in Fair Trade