Drumming and Fun for WFTD

World Fair Trade Day was a blast

We drummed, drank tea and coffee, ate chocolate, and learned why Fair Trade makes such a difference to artists and farmers around the world.

Small Planet Trading had twice as many people sign in as part of the world record break as we did last year. Thanks to all of you for participating with us. Big thanks to Eric Lindsay for leading the drum circle.

We'll keep you up to date with results from the day around the country as they come in.

Enjoy a few of our photos and a short video clip of the fun.

Join us in the shop this Saturday
11:00 Drum Circle,
12:00 Coffee, Tea, & Chocolate Break!
Storewide Sale all weekend
Prizes, fun, break the world record

WFTD 2009 - Everything Is Better When It’s Fair

Saturday, May 9, 2009, is World Fair Trade Day, an international celebration of Fair Trade, with events taking place in over 80 countries. In the U.S., our theme is “Everything Is Better When It’s Fair”. The lives of producers and consumers are better because of Fair Trade. When we support Fair Trade, we not only support the people who make the items we consume and enjoy, we also support the environment, women’s rights, children’s rights, cultural dignity and peace building. That’s a powerful thing to do by choosing to buy Fair Trade products.

The theme also reminds us that Fair Trade is more than coffee, chocolate and handcrafts. Americans can now enjoy Fair Trade sugar, bananas, rice, soccer balls, flowers, wine and more! Retail sales in the U.S. of Fair Trade products surpassed $1 billion per year.

Read more about WFTD 2009 at the Fair Trade Resource Network.

Fair Trade Big Bang!

We've always wanted to attend the Fair Trade Federation's annual conference. What's not to like about a weekend full of inspiration and fun? So far it had been a dream for a day when our budget more closely matched our wish list. Then this year the conference came to us! Well, not literally, but it came to Portland. Obviously a sign that we were meant to be there.

It was everything we had hoped: inspiring speakers, useful workshops, meeting new friends and connecting with old. We took away so much to ponder and process that we haven't taken the time to really share with you yet. We did take photos, hoping to post them and let them speak for us, but somehow they all came out just a bit off-- usually my eyes were closed. So I'll have to give you a few highlights.

• Being surrounded by other business people who love what they do, are committed to changing the world through their enterprises, and willingly share their experience and expertise.
• Finally putting faces to the names of the wonderful people who run the Fair Trade Federation and Fair Trade Resource Network.
• Hearing the stories of artisan groups from around the world and how Fair Trade really does improve their lives.
• Gathering ideas for everything from marketing to accounting, from communicating with customers to planning unique events.
• Expanding our already large wish list of products to bring to you.
• Buying and ordering wonderful new goods that we know you'll enjoy.
  

New in the shop because of the conference:
Shona Sculpture from Zimbabwe
Heirloom Rice from the Philippines
Recycled paper beaded jewelry from Uganda
Tagua Nut, Coconut, and Seed Jewelry from South America
Dolls and toys from around the world

Coming soon-- Silver jewelry from Mexico and musical instruments from JamTown.

Next year the Fair Trade conference is in Boston. It seems a long way off and a long way away, but we're already working on how to get there. We'll have to work a bit harder next time, but now we know just how worth it it will be.
DeLona

A Slave for Chocolate?

Are you a slave to your chocolate craving? Even if you aren't, your favorite chocolate treat may be brought to you through child slavery. Yes, still, in 2009. In West Africa young boys are sold or lured in to slavery to work in the cocoa fields. Cocoa is a labor intensive crop to grow and harvest. When not managed in an organic and sustainable manner, it is also very chemical-intensive. But that is a different story for a different day.

Several years ago the major players in the international cocoa scene promised to get slavery out of the cocoa fields. The latest follow-up reports show that the efforts have not been effective in actual practice.

The only easy way to make sure that your chocolate was not harvested by a 13-year old slave is to choose Fair Trade chocolate. Fair Trade standards mean that small farmers using organic and sustainable farming methods grew your cocoa. Luckily there are more and more great Fair Trade chocolate choices to meet any chocolate craving.

In the store today we have Equal Exchange chocolates in 5 different flavors and cocoa levels, Divine dark and milk bars in a "snack" size and in the shapes of hearts for those Valentine's. Oh, and don't forget the latest Divine milk chocolate with crispy rice.

Each year our wonderful Fair Trade partners come out with new and yummier options for all tastes. And no worries about slave labor, not to mention lead, melamine..... need I say more?

Oh, but if you'd like more information, here are a few of my favorite resources.
http://www.laborrights.org/stop-child-labor/cocoa-campaign/1669

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/02/06/PM200602068.html

http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/chocolatereport05.pdf

Happy Valentine's Day, as if you needed an excuse to enjoy chocolate, DeLona


For a further list of slave-free chocolates, check out Everyday Just Living's recent blog post

Do you get to travel?

I answer that question almost daily when I'm in the shop. People are amazed at the unique handmade products from all over the world, and know that traveling to pick them out would be the best part of the job. It would be amazing, and I'd love to do some of it as we grow, but the truth is, importing items fairly is a big commitment that a small shop can't completely meet.

The heart of Fair Trade is relationship. People who have traveled and bought items in marketplaces around the world tell me, "Oh, I just don't barter, I pay what the artist asks. That's Fair Trade."

Hmmmm, not really. Fair Trade means that the artist and the buyer work together to come to a mutual agreement about price, yes, but it's much more than that. While buying one time from an artist at a higher price (in local currency terms) makes everyone feel good, it doesn't actually support the artist long term. That's where the relationship of Fair Trade steps in.

In relationship, buyers may pay some of the agreed upon price up front so that artists can buy the goods needed to make it, and also can survive while doing the work. Then the remainder is paid upon completion of the work. That relationship means that Fair Trade importers endeavor not to place just one order, but to develop a long term commitment to an artist, or group, so that they are able to plan and have more stability. Fair Trade importers may also help with technical assistance on issues like product design and safety testing.

So how do we know something is truly fairly traded, if we are not the ones meeting the artists. Again, it comes down to relationship. We work primarily with Fair Trade importers who are members of the Fair Trade Federation. This way, we know they already agree to the same standards we support. When we work with an importer who is not a member of the Fair Trade Federation, we get to know them and chose partners who value people and the planet like we do.

One day I may get to travel to meet more of our artists, until then, I enjoy the stories and live a little vicariously through our amazing partners. DeLona