[Iowa-dx] Fwd: Top Ten Ways to Celebrate World Fair Trade Day!

[hhart@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu]

  any CG chapters working on a Fair Trade campaign.

Peace!
National CGers

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Top Ten Ways to Celebrate World Fair Trade Day!
From:    "Kat Harrison" <kharrison@coopamerica.org>
Date:    Thu, April 5, 2007 1:13 pm
To:      "Sarah A. Mertz" <smertz@coopamerica.org>
          "Todd Larsen" <toddlarsen@coopamerica.org>
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Top 10 Ways to Celebrate World Fair Trade Day!

This year World Fair Trade Day takes place on May 12, 2007 and its theme
is "Kids Need Fair Trade".  Although not every idea here targets a
younger audience, we challenge you to think of creative ways to include
youth in your Fair Trade events.

10.  Host a Fair Trade House Party!
<http://www.transfairusa.org/content/support/HPkit.php>
Invite over some friends, create an international theme with music and
decorations and serve a variety of dishes containing Fair Trade
ingredients

9.  Host a screening of Black Gold
<http://www.transfairusa.org/content/support/HP.php>
The film Black Gold documents the challenges one Ethiopian coffee
cooperative faces in selling their product for a fair price on the
market, poignantly bringing attention to the inability of farmers to
survive on current coffee market prices.  Besides premiering April 10th
on PBS Broadcast nationwide, Black Gold is also available for purchase
by libraries and schools.  Register your screening event with Transfair
USA and they will send you a toolkit complete with brochures, stickers,
decals and two other short films about Fair Trade with which educate
your friends.

8.  Fair Trade retailer tour
Go on a tour of your neighborhood and deliver a letter to every local
retailer asking them to carry Fair Trade products.  Deliver thank you
letters to all of the local retailers who do sell Fair Trade.

7.  Adopt your local supermarket
Do you agree that every grocery store should have Fair Trade products on
its shelves?  If so, launch your own "Adopt a Supermarket Campaign" by
organizing a group of friends to campaign for your local supermarket to
carry Fair Trade products.  Go to www.fairtradeaction.org
<http://www.fairtradeaction.org/>  for more information

6.  Think Big!
Last year, Media, PA
<http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/americas_only_f.php>  became
America's first "Fair Trade City".  If your town loves Fair Trade, we
challenge you to inaugurate your very own campaign to put your city on
the Fair Trade map!

5.  Think Small
Remind Starbucks of their promise to small farmers and ask for a cup of
Fair Trade at the one nearest you, or treat a few of your friends to a
bar of Fair Trade chocolate while explaining to them the benefits to
farmers around the world

4.  Community Coffee
If your local coffeeshop sells Fair Trade items, ask if they want to
host an educational event about Fair Trade for the community.  Go to
Co-op America <http://www.fairtradeaction.org/>  and TransfairUSA
<http://www.transfairusa.org/>  for educational and promotional
materials.

3.  Kids Corner
Plan to give a presentation at local schools about Fair Trade to show
kids how everyday items such as foods, clothing, jewelry, sporting goods
connect them to farmers around the world.  The United Kingdom's Fair
Trade Foundation
<http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/resources_education_%20packs.htm>  has
excellent ideas on assemblies and lesson plans.

2.  Not your Average Field Trip
Take a group of school children to a grocery store and point out which
items are Fair Trade or can be Fair Trade.  Tell them where the products
come from and how buying these products helps families provide for their
own children

1.  Get messy!
What kid doesn't like getting there hands dirty and eating sweets?
Combine both by making Fair Trade shakes.  Vanilla ice cream and peanut
butter + Fair Trade sugar, Fair Trade chocolate and Fair Trade bananas
makes for a fun and delicious afternoon snack.

And for some more ideas on how to celebrate World Fair Trade Day check
out TransfairUSA <http://www.transfairusa.org/fairtradeday/>

Happy Celebrating!

Kat Harrison
Co-op America
Fair Trade Intern

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