World Fair Trade Day and Fair Trade Fortnight

greenlagirl — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:23:55 -0500

Put it in your calendars: May 10, 2008 is World Fair Trade Day! Actually, put May 3 - 18 in your calendar, because this year, fair trade gets a 2-week celebration, aka the U.S. Fair Trade Fortnight.

This year, World Fair Trade Day ties fair trade with environmentalism with its theme: "For the Planet. For the People." That link might seem a tad odd, considering the fact that fair trade goods are about fair international trade -- meaning shipping goods from far off places into the U.S. and Europe.

That said, many fair trade goods are made with recycled or eco-friendly materials, and still others are food items, much of which is organically grown. Hopefully this fortnight will encourage not just consumers to think green, but producers -- including U.S. companies importing fair trade goods -- to think about the environmental impact of their products.

Want to get involved? Start planning a Fair Trade Break now -- whether it be a coffee break with fair trade goodies or a house party with fair trade artisan goods for sale. Plan the break for any time during the fortnight -- or time it to take place on May 10 at noon PST to help break the Guinness World Record for the World's Largest Coffee Break! Fair trade activists all over the U.S. will be drinking a cup of fair trade coffee right at that time -- Don't be left uncaffeinated.

So far, not too many bloggers seem to be planning Fair Trade Breaks -- though one Katie of Ethical Weddings is part of an event "to raise awareness of the social and environmental issues surrounding gold and diamonds - that go beyond conflict or blood diamonds" in the UK. Take that as your inspiration -- You've still got almost 2 months to get your own event together!

And on Sunday, May 11, celebrate Mother's Day fair trade style with fair trade flowers. You can order them online via 1-800 Flowers and samsclub.com. If you're feeling really ambitious, get your local florist to offer fair trade flowers. For help, contact Kazuko Golden, Floral Accounts Manager at TransFair USA, by calling 510.459.2317 or emailing kgolden@transfairusa.org.

And for other fair trade gifts -- whether for your mom or for yourself -- visit fair trade store Ten Thousand Villages and get free shipping between now and the end of the fortnight by using the promotional code "fair trade" at checkout.

And if you really, really want to get involved with fair trade, you can be Fair Trade Resource Network's next intern! Elizabeth at Washington DC Make Trade Fair has details.
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs for the Los Angeles Times at Emerald City, and at greenLAgirl.com.

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World Fair Trade Day and Fair Trade Fortnight