Sunday, 4 May 2008
National Fair Trade Weeks 2008
From TransFair Canada , your independent third-party certification of fair trade products:
National Fair Trade Weeks 2008 - Choose Fair Trade - Everyone Wins!
"Choose Fair Trade - Everyone wins!" National Fair Trade Weeks are
taking place from May 1st to 15th 2008. This campaign brings together
organizations, companies and individuals who promote Fair Trade and Fair Trade Certified products.
Fair Trade is a pragmatic and powerful tool for alleviating poverty in
developing countries. Fair Trade has come a long way in Canada. What
started as a small initiative by concerned citizens (focused primarily on
coffee), has evolved into a dynamic movement and market alternative.
Consumers in Canada can now find Fair Trade Certified teas, coffees,
sugar, cocoa, fresh fruits, rice, quinoa, spices, wine, shea butter,
cotton, cut flowers and sports balls. Fair Trade Certified products are
easy to find in retail shops across the country.
Fair Trade Certified products sales have increased remarkably over the
years. At the end of 2007, Fair Trade Certified retail sales in Canada
were over 120 million dollars. The Fair Trade Certification system now
benefits more than 1.4 million producers in 59 developing countries.
Demand for Fair Trade Certified products continues to grow in Canada, and
there are new products being introduced regularly.
During National Fair Trade Weeks, a wide range of local grassroots events
will take place in order to increase awareness of Fair Trade Certified
products and the benefits Fair Trade brings to communities in developing
countries. Events like Fair Trade Fairs, Movie Nights, Fair Trade Soccer
Tournaments and conferences will open the eyes, minds and taste buds of
Canadians to all the good things that Fair Trade brings, both to producers
in developing countries and to consumers in the Canada.
Please visit www.transfair.ca to find where to buy Fair Trade Certified
products, and to see a list of all the events taking place during National Fair Trade Weeks.
For more information:
Cynthia Wagner, Communications
TransFair Canada; 613.563.3351 x 21
National Fair Trade Weeks 2008 - Choose Fair Trade - Everyone Wins!
"Choose Fair Trade - Everyone wins!" National Fair Trade Weeks are
taking place from May 1st to 15th 2008. This campaign brings together
organizations, companies and individuals who promote Fair Trade and Fair Trade Certified products.
Fair Trade is a pragmatic and powerful tool for alleviating poverty in
developing countries. Fair Trade has come a long way in Canada. What
started as a small initiative by concerned citizens (focused primarily on
coffee), has evolved into a dynamic movement and market alternative.
Consumers in Canada can now find Fair Trade Certified teas, coffees,
sugar, cocoa, fresh fruits, rice, quinoa, spices, wine, shea butter,
cotton, cut flowers and sports balls. Fair Trade Certified products are
easy to find in retail shops across the country.
Fair Trade Certified products sales have increased remarkably over the
years. At the end of 2007, Fair Trade Certified retail sales in Canada
were over 120 million dollars. The Fair Trade Certification system now
benefits more than 1.4 million producers in 59 developing countries.
Demand for Fair Trade Certified products continues to grow in Canada, and
there are new products being introduced regularly.
During National Fair Trade Weeks, a wide range of local grassroots events
will take place in order to increase awareness of Fair Trade Certified
products and the benefits Fair Trade brings to communities in developing
countries. Events like Fair Trade Fairs, Movie Nights, Fair Trade Soccer
Tournaments and conferences will open the eyes, minds and taste buds of
Canadians to all the good things that Fair Trade brings, both to producers
in developing countries and to consumers in the Canada.
Please visit www.transfair.ca to find where to buy Fair Trade Certified
products, and to see a list of all the events taking place during National Fair Trade Weeks.
For more information:
Cynthia Wagner, Communications
TransFair Canada; 613.563.3351 x 21
Labels: Fair Trade, TransFair Canada
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Fair Trade Towns in Canada
In the January 17-23, 2008 issue of NOW, Wayne Roberts writes another insightful article, this time about the introduction of "fair trade towns" in Canada:
"For a while there, it looked like fair trade might join the casualty list of alternative social movements reduced to a market niche.
But the grassroots are back in full swing, thanks to “fair trade towns,” an idea that’s been sweeping through Europe since 2001 and just crossed the ocean to Canada in 2007, landing first in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and La Pêche, Quebec.
This new wave exemplifies the latest wrinkle in democracy. As governments drift into reduced relevance – too big to do the small things for individuals and community groups, too small to do the big things with giant multinationals – fair trader influence is growing.
From almost a standing start in the 1990s, the sector is now a billion-dollar business marketing some 2,000 products from 50 countries to 22 others, raising the living standards of some 5 million workers."
See Fairville, Canada: Labour-conscious foodies move onto new turf as fair trade campaigns are adopted by entire cities for more...
"For a while there, it looked like fair trade might join the casualty list of alternative social movements reduced to a market niche.
But the grassroots are back in full swing, thanks to “fair trade towns,” an idea that’s been sweeping through Europe since 2001 and just crossed the ocean to Canada in 2007, landing first in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and La Pêche, Quebec.
This new wave exemplifies the latest wrinkle in democracy. As governments drift into reduced relevance – too big to do the small things for individuals and community groups, too small to do the big things with giant multinationals – fair trader influence is growing.
From almost a standing start in the 1990s, the sector is now a billion-dollar business marketing some 2,000 products from 50 countries to 22 others, raising the living standards of some 5 million workers."
See Fairville, Canada: Labour-conscious foodies move onto new turf as fair trade campaigns are adopted by entire cities for more...
Labels: Fair Trade
Monday, 26 November 2007
Mayan Struggles: Fair Trade vs. Free Trade (discussion on neoliberalism and alternatives)
Another relevant announcement from the The Centre for the Study of Education and Work:
MAYAN STRUGGLES: FAIR TRADE VS. FREE TRADE
Wednesday, November 28th; 7-9 p.m.
OISE - 252 Bloor Street West; 5th Floor, Room 5250
An interactive discussion on neoliberalism and alternatives, featuring Leocadio Juracan, Fair Trade coordinator and national representative, Campesino Committee of the Highlands - CCDA (a movement that defends the lands and culture of the Mayan peoples in Guatemala.
Presented by Latin America Solidarity Committee, Toronto, and U of T OPIRG. Sponsored by Cafe Justicia, endorsed by The International Secretariat for Human Development (York University), New Socialist Latin American Working Group.
See the Campesino Committee of the Highlands website for more information.
MAYAN STRUGGLES: FAIR TRADE VS. FREE TRADE
Wednesday, November 28th; 7-9 p.m.
OISE - 252 Bloor Street West; 5th Floor, Room 5250
An interactive discussion on neoliberalism and alternatives, featuring Leocadio Juracan, Fair Trade coordinator and national representative, Campesino Committee of the Highlands - CCDA (a movement that defends the lands and culture of the Mayan peoples in Guatemala.
Presented by Latin America Solidarity Committee, Toronto, and U of T OPIRG. Sponsored by Cafe Justicia, endorsed by The International Secretariat for Human Development (York University), New Socialist Latin American Working Group.
See the Campesino Committee of the Highlands website for more information.
Labels: Fair Trade
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
Winds of Change, Grounds of Hope! (Fair Trade Event at Alternative Grounds)
If you can, check out this event at Alternative Grounds Coffee House:
WINDS OF CHANGE, GROUNDS FOR HOPE!
Wednesday, November 21st, 7-9 p.m.
Alternative Grounds Cafe, 333 Roncesvalles Ave.
(South of Howard Park)
Exploring Fair Trade & Sustainable Community Development in the
Dominican Republic.
Join us and Stefanie Hall from the Dominican
Canadian Community Development Group, and learn about grassroots and
community-led initiatives that are making a change for the better in
the lives of hundreds of small farmers and their families in the
Dominican Republic. DCCD participates in community-directed
development projects and leads visits to the DR as a way to build
strong relationships and solidarity across borders.
Fair Trade and organic Dominican coffee will be available for sampling and tasting!
WINDS OF CHANGE, GROUNDS FOR HOPE!
Wednesday, November 21st, 7-9 p.m.
Alternative Grounds Cafe, 333 Roncesvalles Ave.
(South of Howard Park)
Exploring Fair Trade & Sustainable Community Development in the
Dominican Republic.
Join us and Stefanie Hall from the Dominican
Canadian Community Development Group, and learn about grassroots and
community-led initiatives that are making a change for the better in
the lives of hundreds of small farmers and their families in the
Dominican Republic. DCCD participates in community-directed
development projects and leads visits to the DR as a way to build
strong relationships and solidarity across borders.
Fair Trade and organic Dominican coffee will be available for sampling and tasting!
Labels: Alternative Grounds, Fair Trade
Friday, 5 October 2007
Fair Trade Coffee at Wal-Mart (Sam's Club)
The following full-text New York Times article about the increasing availability of fair trade coffee through mainstream sources came to us from the GLOBAL-SOUTH mailing list:
October 2, 2007, New York Tiimes
Fair Trade in Bloom
By ANDREW DOWNIE
VARGINHA, Brazil: Rafael de Paiva was skeptical at first. If he wanted a
"fair trade" certification for his coffee crop, the Brazilian farmer would
have to adhere to a long list of rules on pesticides, farming techniques,
recycling and other matters. He even had to show that his children were
enrolled in school.
"I thought, 'This is difficult,'" recalled the humble farmer. But the 20
percent premium he recently received for his first fair trade harvest made
the effort worthwhile, Mr. Paiva said, adding, it "helped us create a
decent living."
More farmers are likely to receive such offers, as importers and retailers
rush to meet a growing demand from consumers and activists to adhere to
stricter environmental and social standards.
Mr. Paiva's beans will be in the store-brand coffee sold by Sam's Club,
the warehouse chain of Wal-Mart Stores, Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's and Starbucks, which already sell some fair trade coffee.
"We see a real momentum now with big companies and institutions switching
to fair trade," said Paul Rice, president and chief executive of TransFair
USA, the only independent fair trade certifier in the United States.
The International Fair Trade Association, an umbrella group of
organizations in more than 70 countries, defines fair trade as reflecting
"concern for the social, economic and environmental well-being of
marginalized small producers" and does "not maximize profit at their
expense."
According to Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International, a group of
fair trade certifiers, consumers spent approximately $2.2 billion on
certified products in 2006, a 42 percent increase over the previous year,
benefiting over seven million people in developing countries.
Like consumer awareness of organic products a decade ago, fair trade
awareness is growing. In 2006, 27 percent of Americans said they were
aware of the certification, up from 12 percent in 2004, according to a
study by the New-York based National Coffee Association.
Fair trade products that have experienced the biggest jump in demand
include coffee, cocoa and cotton, according to the Fairtrade Labelling
Organizations.
Dozens of other products, including tea, pineapples, wine and flowers, are
certified by organizations that visit farmers to verify that they are
meeting the many criteria that bar, among other things, the use of child
labor and harmful chemicals.
There is no governmental standard for fair trade certification, the same
situation as with "organic" until a few years ago. Some fair trade produce
also carries the organic label, but most does not. One important
difference is the focus of the labels: organic refers to how food is
cultivated, while fair trade is primarily concerned with the condition of
the farmer and his laborers.
Big chains are marketing fair trade coffee to varying degrees. All the
espresso served at the 5,400 Dunkin' Donuts stores in the United States,
for example, is fair trade. All McDonald's stores in New England sell only
fair trade coffee. And in 2006, Starbucks bought 50 percent more fair
trade coffee than in 2005.
Fair trade produce remains a minuscule percentage of world trade, but it
is growing. Only 3.3 percent of coffee sold in the United States in 2006
was certified fair trade, but that was more than eight times the level in
2001, according to TransFair USA.
Although Sam's Club already sells seven fair trade imports, including
coffee, this will be the first time it has put its Member's Mark label on
a fair trade product, which Mr. Rice of TransFair called "a statement of
their commitment to fair trade."
He added, "The impact in terms of volume and the impact in terms of the
farmers and their families is quite dramatic."
Michael Ellgass, the director of house brands for Sam's Club, said the
company could afford to pay fair trade's premium because it has reduced
the number of middlemen.
Coffee usually passes from farmers through roasters, packers, traders,
shippers and warehouses before arriving in stores. But Sam's Club will buy
shelf-ready merchandise directly from Café Bom Dia, the roaster here in
Brazil's lush coffee country.
"We are cutting a number of steps out of the process by working directly
with the farmer," Mr. Ellgass said.
Some critics of fair trade say that working with thousands of small
farmers makes strict adherence to fair trade rules difficult.
Others argue that fair trade coffee is as exploitive as the conventional
kind, especially in countries that produce the highest-quality beans -
like Colombia, Ethiopia and Guatemala. Fair trade farmers there are barely
paid more than their counterparts in Brazil, though their crops become
gourmet brands, selling for a hefty markup, said Geoff Watts, vice
president for coffee at Chicago's Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea, a coffee
importer.
But in Brazil, a nation with little top-grade coffee, the partnership
between small producers and big retailers is a better blend, Mr. Watts
said.
Fair trade coffee farmers in Brazil are paid at least $1.29 a pound,
compared with the current market rate of roughly $1.05 per pound, said
Sydney Marques de Paiva, president of Café Bom Dia.
Most coffee farmers are organized into cooperatives, and some of that
premium finances community projects like schools or potable water.
Like most of his cooperative's 3,000-odd members - and three-quarters of
coffee growers worldwide - Mr. Paiva, the coffee farmer (no relation to
Mr. Marques de Paiva), farms less than 25 acres of land. He produces
around 200 132-pound sacks for the co-op, with 70 percent of that sold as
fair trade to Café Bom Dia.
The company would buy more if there were more of a market for fair trade
coffee, it said.
The fair trade crop brought Mr. Paiva about 258 reais ($139) a sack,
compared with about 230 reais for the sacks that were not fair trade. For
the latest crop, that meant an additional 3,920 reais ($2,116) for him, a
huge sum here in the impoverished mountains of Minas.
"It's been great for us," Mr. Paiva said with a huge, toothless grin. "I
call the people from the co-op my family now."
Mr. Ellgass, the Sam's Club executive, said the chain hoped to expand its
fair trade goods.
So do Brazil's farmers. "Everybody is doing their best to come up to
standard so we can sell our coffee as fair trade," said Conceição Peres da
Costa, one of the co-op's growers. "Everybody wants to earn as much as he
can."
October 2, 2007, New York Tiimes
Fair Trade in Bloom
By ANDREW DOWNIE
VARGINHA, Brazil: Rafael de Paiva was skeptical at first. If he wanted a
"fair trade" certification for his coffee crop, the Brazilian farmer would
have to adhere to a long list of rules on pesticides, farming techniques,
recycling and other matters. He even had to show that his children were
enrolled in school.
"I thought, 'This is difficult,'" recalled the humble farmer. But the 20
percent premium he recently received for his first fair trade harvest made
the effort worthwhile, Mr. Paiva said, adding, it "helped us create a
decent living."
More farmers are likely to receive such offers, as importers and retailers
rush to meet a growing demand from consumers and activists to adhere to
stricter environmental and social standards.
Mr. Paiva's beans will be in the store-brand coffee sold by Sam's Club,
the warehouse chain of Wal-Mart Stores, Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's and Starbucks, which already sell some fair trade coffee.
"We see a real momentum now with big companies and institutions switching
to fair trade," said Paul Rice, president and chief executive of TransFair
USA, the only independent fair trade certifier in the United States.
The International Fair Trade Association, an umbrella group of
organizations in more than 70 countries, defines fair trade as reflecting
"concern for the social, economic and environmental well-being of
marginalized small producers" and does "not maximize profit at their
expense."
According to Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International, a group of
fair trade certifiers, consumers spent approximately $2.2 billion on
certified products in 2006, a 42 percent increase over the previous year,
benefiting over seven million people in developing countries.
Like consumer awareness of organic products a decade ago, fair trade
awareness is growing. In 2006, 27 percent of Americans said they were
aware of the certification, up from 12 percent in 2004, according to a
study by the New-York based National Coffee Association.
Fair trade products that have experienced the biggest jump in demand
include coffee, cocoa and cotton, according to the Fairtrade Labelling
Organizations.
Dozens of other products, including tea, pineapples, wine and flowers, are
certified by organizations that visit farmers to verify that they are
meeting the many criteria that bar, among other things, the use of child
labor and harmful chemicals.
There is no governmental standard for fair trade certification, the same
situation as with "organic" until a few years ago. Some fair trade produce
also carries the organic label, but most does not. One important
difference is the focus of the labels: organic refers to how food is
cultivated, while fair trade is primarily concerned with the condition of
the farmer and his laborers.
Big chains are marketing fair trade coffee to varying degrees. All the
espresso served at the 5,400 Dunkin' Donuts stores in the United States,
for example, is fair trade. All McDonald's stores in New England sell only
fair trade coffee. And in 2006, Starbucks bought 50 percent more fair
trade coffee than in 2005.
Fair trade produce remains a minuscule percentage of world trade, but it
is growing. Only 3.3 percent of coffee sold in the United States in 2006
was certified fair trade, but that was more than eight times the level in
2001, according to TransFair USA.
Although Sam's Club already sells seven fair trade imports, including
coffee, this will be the first time it has put its Member's Mark label on
a fair trade product, which Mr. Rice of TransFair called "a statement of
their commitment to fair trade."
He added, "The impact in terms of volume and the impact in terms of the
farmers and their families is quite dramatic."
Michael Ellgass, the director of house brands for Sam's Club, said the
company could afford to pay fair trade's premium because it has reduced
the number of middlemen.
Coffee usually passes from farmers through roasters, packers, traders,
shippers and warehouses before arriving in stores. But Sam's Club will buy
shelf-ready merchandise directly from Café Bom Dia, the roaster here in
Brazil's lush coffee country.
"We are cutting a number of steps out of the process by working directly
with the farmer," Mr. Ellgass said.
Some critics of fair trade say that working with thousands of small
farmers makes strict adherence to fair trade rules difficult.
Others argue that fair trade coffee is as exploitive as the conventional
kind, especially in countries that produce the highest-quality beans -
like Colombia, Ethiopia and Guatemala. Fair trade farmers there are barely
paid more than their counterparts in Brazil, though their crops become
gourmet brands, selling for a hefty markup, said Geoff Watts, vice
president for coffee at Chicago's Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea, a coffee
importer.
But in Brazil, a nation with little top-grade coffee, the partnership
between small producers and big retailers is a better blend, Mr. Watts
said.
Fair trade coffee farmers in Brazil are paid at least $1.29 a pound,
compared with the current market rate of roughly $1.05 per pound, said
Sydney Marques de Paiva, president of Café Bom Dia.
Most coffee farmers are organized into cooperatives, and some of that
premium finances community projects like schools or potable water.
Like most of his cooperative's 3,000-odd members - and three-quarters of
coffee growers worldwide - Mr. Paiva, the coffee farmer (no relation to
Mr. Marques de Paiva), farms less than 25 acres of land. He produces
around 200 132-pound sacks for the co-op, with 70 percent of that sold as
fair trade to Café Bom Dia.
The company would buy more if there were more of a market for fair trade
coffee, it said.
The fair trade crop brought Mr. Paiva about 258 reais ($139) a sack,
compared with about 230 reais for the sacks that were not fair trade. For
the latest crop, that meant an additional 3,920 reais ($2,116) for him, a
huge sum here in the impoverished mountains of Minas.
"It's been great for us," Mr. Paiva said with a huge, toothless grin. "I
call the people from the co-op my family now."
Mr. Ellgass, the Sam's Club executive, said the chain hoped to expand its
fair trade goods.
So do Brazil's farmers. "Everybody is doing their best to come up to
standard so we can sell our coffee as fair trade," said Conceição Peres da
Costa, one of the co-op's growers. "Everybody wants to earn as much as he
can."
Labels: Fair Trade, Wal-Mart
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Global fair trade sales continue to increase, with products introduced into major Canadian chains
According to the Fairtrade Labelling Organization, worldwide sales of fair trade products rose by a third in 2005 (with an 47% increase in Canada) and by 40% in 2006 with the following note regarding Canadian markets:
"During 2006, new Fairtrade Certified Coffee, Tea, Sugar, and Cocoa Products were introduced into the major Canadian grocery chains, including Costco, Loblaws, and Sobey’s. Via Rail, Canada’s national rail service, brought Fairtrade Certified coast to coast with its commitment to serve exclusively Fair Trade Certified coffee."
"During 2006, new Fairtrade Certified Coffee, Tea, Sugar, and Cocoa Products were introduced into the major Canadian grocery chains, including Costco, Loblaws, and Sobey’s. Via Rail, Canada’s national rail service, brought Fairtrade Certified coast to coast with its commitment to serve exclusively Fair Trade Certified coffee."
Labels: Fair Trade
Sunday, 12 August 2007
New fair trade organic spot open in The Junction
- New fair trade organic cafe open in The Junction
The revitalised Junction area continues to grow as a place to talk and eat and see and "actify". TorontotheBetter visitors dropped into Reba's Cafe at 3289 Dundas West recently for a pleasant coffee and croissant on a sunny Saturday. Cosy spot, cool art exhibition and a nice feel all round. Not far from Runnymede and across Dundas from Cheri diNovo's constituency office. Arlene's the barista and Reba's her dog.
The revitalised Junction area continues to grow as a place to talk and eat and see and "actify". TorontotheBetter visitors dropped into Reba's Cafe at 3289 Dundas West recently for a pleasant coffee and croissant on a sunny Saturday. Cosy spot, cool art exhibition and a nice feel all round. Not far from Runnymede and across Dundas from Cheri diNovo's constituency office. Arlene's the barista and Reba's her dog.
Labels: cafe, Fair Trade, organic
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
Founding Meetings of the Fair Trade Association of Canada
The following news came to us via TransFair Canada:
A preliminary discussion about the formation of the Fair Trade Association
of Canada (FTAC) was held June 3, 2007, during the Canadian Student Fair
Trade Network's 2007 International Symposium in Saskatoon.
FTAC's steering committee is pleased to invite you to participate in the
next developmental meeting of the Association to be held in Montréal,
October 18 - 20, 2007 at l'Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).
The June meeting was directional, not decisional. During the meeting,
approximately 25 different Fair Trade organizations discussed the general
purpose, mission, and broad organizational goals of the FTAC. Through a
consensus-building process the direction given to the FTAC was to become
an organization with representational capacity, a networking hub and
centre for resources, as well as a tool for creating national solidarity
within the movement and with other movements.
At the October meeting we will discuss the organizational, membership, and
funding structures. We aim to have direction for the Association on these
topics by the end of the conference. Look forward to a time to network and
connect with important industry partners, enjoy great Fair Trade and
locally produced goods, and become a part of history as a contributor to
the formation of the Fair Trade Association of Canada.
If you think you will attend the October meeting, please RSVP to
ftac.acce@gmail.com by September 4. An official registration form will be
emailed to those that RSVP. The deadline for official registration is
September 17. The registration fee of $50 will help cover logistical costs
(technician, translators, equipment for translation).
Please note that the direction given to the FTAC at the June meeting was
to become an association of associations. While individuals not
representing a Fair Trade organization or business are welcome to
participate in the October meeting, individual delegates are not eligible
to vote. Voting will occur on a one vote per association basis.
A preliminary discussion about the formation of the Fair Trade Association
of Canada (FTAC) was held June 3, 2007, during the Canadian Student Fair
Trade Network's 2007 International Symposium in Saskatoon.
FTAC's steering committee is pleased to invite you to participate in the
next developmental meeting of the Association to be held in Montréal,
October 18 - 20, 2007 at l'Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).
The June meeting was directional, not decisional. During the meeting,
approximately 25 different Fair Trade organizations discussed the general
purpose, mission, and broad organizational goals of the FTAC. Through a
consensus-building process the direction given to the FTAC was to become
an organization with representational capacity, a networking hub and
centre for resources, as well as a tool for creating national solidarity
within the movement and with other movements.
At the October meeting we will discuss the organizational, membership, and
funding structures. We aim to have direction for the Association on these
topics by the end of the conference. Look forward to a time to network and
connect with important industry partners, enjoy great Fair Trade and
locally produced goods, and become a part of history as a contributor to
the formation of the Fair Trade Association of Canada.
If you think you will attend the October meeting, please RSVP to
ftac.acce@gmail.com by September 4. An official registration form will be
emailed to those that RSVP. The deadline for official registration is
September 17. The registration fee of $50 will help cover logistical costs
(technician, translators, equipment for translation).
Please note that the direction given to the FTAC at the June meeting was
to become an association of associations. While individuals not
representing a Fair Trade organization or business are welcome to
participate in the October meeting, individual delegates are not eligible
to vote. Voting will occur on a one vote per association basis.
Labels: Fair Trade
Tuesday, 15 May 2007
Starbucks to announce Ethiopian Trademark deal this month
According to a recent report by Anton Foek for CorpWatch, Starbucks is on the verge of signing a historic, progressive deal whereby the company would recognize Ethiopia's decision to trademark three of its coffees, rather than certifiy the bean names:
"What the Ethiopians have demanded is Starbucks' support for the country's innovative plan to trademark three of its coffees - Harar, Sidamo and Yirgacheffe. Until now, the world's largest specialty coffee retailer has resisted the move, arguing instead for certification of bean names. Trademarking, say critics, would give power to growers; certification, they argue, is toothless.
The dispute sounds technical, but at root the controversy is about trying to close the gap between the $4 a Western consumer may pay for a cappuccino and the 50 cents a day earned by a laborer on an Ethiopian coffee farm (or on farms elsewhere in the world: see Brazil box).
Every penny counts, for individuals (an estimated 11 million Ethiopians, about one-fifth of the population, depend on coffee for their livelihoods) and for the nation (coffee provides two-thirds of the country's export earnings)."
See the entire May 8th, 2007 Food and Agricultre article,Trademarking Coffee: Starbucks cuts Ethopia Deal, for more details and further background.
"What the Ethiopians have demanded is Starbucks' support for the country's innovative plan to trademark three of its coffees - Harar, Sidamo and Yirgacheffe. Until now, the world's largest specialty coffee retailer has resisted the move, arguing instead for certification of bean names. Trademarking, say critics, would give power to growers; certification, they argue, is toothless.
The dispute sounds technical, but at root the controversy is about trying to close the gap between the $4 a Western consumer may pay for a cappuccino and the 50 cents a day earned by a laborer on an Ethiopian coffee farm (or on farms elsewhere in the world: see Brazil box).
Every penny counts, for individuals (an estimated 11 million Ethiopians, about one-fifth of the population, depend on coffee for their livelihoods) and for the nation (coffee provides two-thirds of the country's export earnings)."
See the entire May 8th, 2007 Food and Agricultre article,Trademarking Coffee: Starbucks cuts Ethopia Deal, for more details and further background.
Labels: Fair Trade, Starbucks
Thursday, 26 April 2007
May 1st Free Trade & Fair Trade film event
Copied from the [E-LEFT] mailing list:
FREE TRADE AND FAIR TRADE
May 1, 7:00 pm
University College, 15 King's College Circle, Room 179,
The next Science for Peace video will be on Tuesday, May 1, at 7PM
in Room 179, University College, 15 King's College Circle. The
video, FREE TRADE AND FAIR TRADE, is a review of their history and
current status. The video will be followed by discussion.
This video is a good introduction to the (SPP) SECURITY AND PROSPERITY
PARTNERSHIP scheme which the Harper government is promoting along
with friends such as Paul Martin, Tony A'Quino, and John Manley without
any parliamentary debate.
Call Jean Smith for more information. 416-535-6605
FREE TRADE AND FAIR TRADE
May 1, 7:00 pm
University College, 15 King's College Circle, Room 179,
The next Science for Peace video will be on Tuesday, May 1, at 7PM
in Room 179, University College, 15 King's College Circle. The
video, FREE TRADE AND FAIR TRADE, is a review of their history and
current status. The video will be followed by discussion.
This video is a good introduction to the (SPP) SECURITY AND PROSPERITY
PARTNERSHIP scheme which the Harper government is promoting along
with friends such as Paul Martin, Tony A'Quino, and John Manley without
any parliamentary debate.
Call Jean Smith for more information. 416-535-6605
Labels: Fair Trade
