Day 1 of the Fair Trade Towns USA trip to the Dominican Republic at CONACADO: Creating Conscious Farmers of Reality

16 04 2012 

Here is the beginning of the Fair Trade Town's Journey to the 
Dominican Republic through the eyes of Ivy Kim from the Fair Trade 
Town Berkeley Campaign.
for the complete story: http://www.fairtradetownsusa.org/news/15381/

Series Intro:  Fair Trade Towns USA sent 12 volunteer organizers on an immersion trip to the Dominican Republic March 28th through April 4th, where they built the people-to-people ties that make working for Fair Trade so meaningful. This series will chronicle our trip through the eyes of a different organizer each day.

This blog post comes to us from Ivy Kim of Fair Trade Berkeley.

“The keys to success are Fair Trade and organization.” ~Hector Romero

Waking up in the morning was disorienting to say the least. Greeted with an unfamiliar smell, with an unfamiliar noise, in unfamiliar bed sheets, I was reminded that I was in the Dominican Republic—the Dominican Republic! For the first time in a very long time, I saw no need for the snooze button; my eagerness to not only learn about Fair Trade, but also start a new day in such a beautiful country triumphed over the lure of the hotel bed.

After a plate full of empanadas, fries, and scrambled eggs at a nearby restaurant conveniently located facing the clear blue Dominican ocean, we headed to the headquarters of CONACADO, a Fair Trade cocoa cooperative in Hato Mayor. On our way to the cooperative, I was pleasantly surprised by the smooth roads of the Dominican Republic.

for the complete story: http://www.fairtradetownsusa.org/news/15381/

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Categories : 63547, Action, Events

Fair Trade Going Abroad

3 04 2012

Fair Trade Towns USA will be sending 12 volunteer organizers on an immersion trip to the Dominican Republic March 28th through April 4th, where they will build the people-to-people ties that make working for Fair Trade so meaningful.  This is the second time that Fair Trade Towns USA has collaborated with Global Exchange, a leading actor in the Fair Trade movement, to offer town organizers the opportunity to learn about the workings and impact of Fair Trade first-hand (check out last year’s trip to Costa Rica here).  Fair Trade LA is sending two of its volunteers, Susan Pearson of Fair Trade Claremont and Pam Fong of Fair Trade Irvine.

Travelers will come from town and city campaigns all over the country to see the effects of their hard work, including Orlando-FL, Overland Park-KS, Ballston Spa-NY, Media-PA, Boston-MA, Mankato-MN, Chicago-IL, Berkeley-CA, and more.

Fair Trade Town organizers work diligently in their communities to raise the awareness and availability of Fair Trade in creative and interactive ways, and at Fair Trade Towns USA we try to provide organizers the opportunity to make their work come full circle.

Fair Trade Los Angeles is a community based advocacy organization, created to promote the principles of Fair Trade to Los Angeles and Orange County residents and educate the public about the positive impact of conscious consumers.  FTLA has four current Fair Trade Towns’ campaigns: Claremont, Irvine, Long Beach and Pasadena.  We have identified Fair Trade outlets in these cities and organizations that support Fair Trade, gained significant local media attention, and are working on passing resolutions in the City Councils to declare these cities Fair Trade Towns.

To schedule an interview, presentation, public event or for pictures please contact:
Joan Harper, fairtradela@gmail.com, (818) 406-9296


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Categories : 63547, Action, Events

National Delegation of Town Organizers to Visit Fair Trade Farms In Dominican Republic

26 03 2012

http://www.fairtradetownsusa.org/news/national-delegation-of-town-organizers-to-visit-fair-trade-farms-in-dominican-republic/

Fair Trade Towns USA will be sending 12 volunteer organizers on an immersion trip to the Dominican Republic March 28th through April 4th, where they will build the people-to-people ties that make working for Fair Trade so meaningful.  This is the second time that Fair Trade Towns USA has collaborated with Global Exchange, a leading actor in the Fair Trade movement, to offer town organizers the opportunity to learn about the workings and impact of Fair Trade first-hand (check out last year’s trip to Costa Rica here).

Travelers will come from town and city campaigns all over the country to see the effects of their hard work, including Orlando-FL, Overland Park-KS, Ballston Spa-NY, Media-PA, Boston-MA, Mankato-MN, Chicago-IL, Berkeley-CA, and more.

Fair Trade Town organizers work diligently in their communities to raise the awareness and availability of Fair Trade in creative and
interactive ways, and at Fair Trade Towns USA we try to provide organizers the opportunity to make their work come full circle.


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Categories : 63547, Action, Events, Fair Trade LA Links

TWIST YARN MAKES A FAIR MOVE

19 03 2012
Twist Yarn has relocated to the following address:
226 South Sepulveda Blvd
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Keep us in mind for all your knitting needs.

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Categories : 63547

“Best In Fair Trade” Awards

17 02 2012

Honoring businesses and nonprofits in N. America demonstrating the “Best in Fair Trade” in these categories:

  1. Most positive change in a producer community
  2. Outstanding long-term commitment to producers
  3. Best support of the Fair Trade movement
  4. Most effective public education program
  5. Most effective advocacy for trade policy reform

Winners will be celebrated:

  • at hundreds of World Fair Trade Day events May 6-20
  • through social media
  • via press releases

To Nominate Organizations (February 1 – March 31, 2012)

  1. Read below for contest Guidelines/Eligibility to make sure your nominee qualifies for this contest.
  2. If you are self-nominating, get a Statement of Support from someone outside of the nominated organization. The Statement, up to 100 words, can be from any person who is neither an employee, Board member, nor official volunteer/intern of the nominated organization. The Statement should explain how the organization demonstrates strong achievement in the criteria listed for its category (see criteria below in Guidelines/Eligibility).
  3. Prepare a Nominee Description, up to 500 words, explaining how the organization demonstrates strong achievement in the criteria listed for its category.
  4. Complete the online Nomination Form by the end of March 31, 2012.

To Vote for Finalists (April 16 – 30, 2012)

  1. Learn about all the finalists at the “Best in Fair Trade” Awards Finalists page (published April 16).
  2. Vote for up to 1 finalist in each category with an online ballot (link will appear here and in FTRN media on April 16).
  3. One ballot allowed per person/email address.

Guidelines/Eligibility

  • Anybody not on staff at Fair Trade Resource Network can nominate organizations.
  • Nominees must be businesses, nonprofits or government agencies with some staff or offices based in the U.S. or Canada.
  • In order to be considered eligible for this contest, nominees must participate directly in, or advocate for, people, products or businesses/organizations using any of the following Fair Trade recognitions: Fair Trade Federation, “Fair Trade Certified” by Fair Trade USA, “FAIRTRADE” by Fairtrade Labeling International, “Fair for Life Social & Fairtrade Certified” by IMO, and World Fair Trade Organization.
  • Anyone may nominate as many organizations as s/he would like. The same organization can be nominated for more than one award category, but a separate nomination form is required for each category.
  • From April 1-15, all nominations will be screened and scored by an Awards Committee at FTRN. The top 3 scoring nominations for each category will become Finalists, announced on this page by April 16. Criteria for each category are:
Category Criteria 1 Criteria 2 Criteria 3 Criteria 4
Most positive change in a producer community Size of benefitsHi: improves people’s overall quality of life

Med: helps people a lot in 1 aspect of their lives

Low: helps people somewhat in 1 aspect of their lives

 Length of time benefits should lastHi: > 20 years

Med: 3-19 years

Low: < 3 years

 # of locals benefittingHi: > 1000

Med: 100-1000

Low: < 100

 Other
Outstanding long-term commitment to producers Length of relationshipHi: > 10 years

Med: 3-9 years

Low: < 3 years

 Extent of commitment # of producers benefittingHi: > 1000

Med: 100-1000

Low: < 100

 Other
Best support of the Fair Trade movement Degree/size of support Breadth of support (inclusiveness) Need for such support Other
Most effective public education program Scope of education Impact of education Need for such education Other
Most effective advocacy for trade policy reform Scope of advocacyHi: international

Med: state

Low: town

 Impact of advocacy Need for such advocacy Other
  • Voting is open to all, and each person/e-mail address can vote only 1 ballot.
  • Only 1 award can be given to each organization, so 5 organizations will become winners.
  • Winners will be announced May 5, and celebrated at many World Fair Trade Day events May 6-20.
  • All nominations should accurately represent the nominee and the category for which it is nominated. If a nomination is found to be in violation of this rule, it will result in disqualification of the nomination.
  • FTRN has final approval of any language that appears with the nominations or award announcements.
  • By entering the contest submitters grant to Fair Trade Resource Network (i) a nonexclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free license to reproduce, distribute, publicly display and publicly perform the content of the nomination, and (ii)the right to use nominee organization name and location in promotions and publications specifically related to this award contest.
  • All decisions made by voters and FTRN are final and binding.

Contact contest administrator

Email Fair Trade Resource Network at  wftday@ftrn.org or phone 917-464-5558.

More Information

Visit our World Fair Trade Day Toolkit, Events Calendar and other pages for more information.

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Categories : 63547, Action, Fair Trade LA Links

Fair Trade Speaker Tonite Feb 15th

15 02 2012


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Categories : 63547, Action, Events, Present & Past Events

Support Fair Trade Buy Fair Trade Tote Bags

17 01 2012

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.


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Categories : 63547, Action, Fair Trade products

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