As World Fair Trade Day approaches on Saturday 8th May, 2010 we felt it was a good time to show you this short, but thought-provoking video.
It demonstrates the startling truth about how Fair Trade can help people out of poverty in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya.
The video has been produced by our friends at Shared Interest which is a co-operative lending society that aims to reduce poverty in the world by providing fair and just financial services. They have been part of the Fair Trade Movement for 20 years and work extensively with community-based businesses in Africa and other continents to help them make the most of Fair Trade.
For more information on how you can invest with Shared Interest please visit their website.
How will you support World Fair Trade Day this year?
Today (22nd April) is Earth Day and we would like to welcome you to our new Eco Store, where you will find many great Fair Trade products which are Eco-friendly too! Everything from Bags, Purses, Jewellery and Stationery, to Household & Homeware products.
So what does environmentally or eco-friendly mean?
How we live our life affects our environment. To us, being environmentally or eco friendly means not wasting precious resources and choosing goods and services considered to have a lower impact on the environment.
The word “eco” comes from the ancient Greek word ‘oikos’ meaning house, or the Latin ‘oeco’ meaning household. Mostly used as a prefix, it is added to an existing word to create another word with new meaning, mostly related to ecology. For example, eco-system, eco-tourism, eco-label etc, suggesting that a product is less damaging to the environment.
Ecology is the study of the detrimental affects of modern civilization on the environment, with a view toward prevention or reversal through conservation.
Here at the THE FAIR TRADE STORE we are pretty eco conscious. Where possible, we Reduce, Re-use and Recycle in our warehouse and office. We care about the environment. As such, we use recycled or sustainably produced materials as much as possible carefully select a range of products that display many of these characteristics.
THE FAIR TRADE STORE will be setting up its stall at Dobbies Garden World in Southport on Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th April 2010.
We will displaying a great range of new Fair Trade bags, accessories and jewellery.
About 50 stalls will be located in a large, covered marquee in the store`s free car park.
Entry is free too, from 9.30am to 5pm each day.
THE FAIR TRADE STORE`s Gift Stall
So why not come along and support local businesses offering something you simply can not get on the High Street or in the supermarket?
We look forward to seeing you there.
We send out regular email bulletins to our customers and anyone that has subscribed via our website Homepage sign-up facility.
These bulletins contain exclusive offers and promotions, new product launch announcements and news about Fair Trade producers in the developing world.
They are bright, informative and professionally produced to give you, our customers and supporters, a chance to interact with us whether by Facebook, Twitter, or our Fair Trade Blog.
1/ Fair Trade means fair pay and better working conditions for producers in the developing world. Fair trade products are made in safe and healthy working conditions. Fair Trade discourages forced labour and exploitive child labour.
2/ Fair Trade is better for the environment. Fair Trade support sustainable practices that minimize the environmental footprint.
3/ Fair Trade means high quality goods. Crafts are often handmade, which translates into closer attention to detail and higher-quality products, rather than the mass-produced, “High Street” goods we have become so acustomed to.
4/ Fair Trade means support for small producers. Producers are involved and invested in the entire production process and get paid a fair living wage.
5/ Fair Trade is safe. Fair Trade actively promotes soil fertility and preserves valuable ecosystem and limits the use of harmful agro-chemicals.
Punjiben Fairtrade cotton farmer
6/ Fair Trade supports communities. Fair Trade artisans and small farmers are able to invest Fair Trade earnings in their communities, improving housing, healthcare, and schools. This helps even the most poverty stricken villages.
7/ Fair Trade is trade producers can count on. Fair Trade is a powerful and practical tool to help build a more just economic system and promote human rights. It works on Trade, NOT aid principles.
8/ Fair Trade connects you with other cultures. Fair Trade products are unique to the places they come from and reflect the beauty of individual cultures, communities and people.
9/ Fair Trade means sustainable local economies. Fair Trade gives artisans greater control over their future, building their own businesses rather than working for a middle man.
And finally,
10/ Fair Trade means what you buy matters. You are helping to alleviate global poverty, support artisans, and promote a clean earth all at the same time!
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