Israelis attack Fairtrade olive groves ?

We read today that the olive farming families in Palestine are now even having their olive trees chopped down in areas neighbouring the west bank jewish settlements.
Zaytoun are an organisation trying to provide free and fair markets for the olive oil that has been grown here for decades, that deserves our support.
And the best way to do that is simply to buy their product in the shops. And to realise more and more that what we spend our ever decreasing family budget on is basically a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.
I heard that at a conference recently, and it sticks with me, because its true.
Buying cheap tea bags is just a vote for a world full of cheap tea bags. We get what we buy into ! Big time !
So, lets vote for Fairtrade, for freedom to trade, and for what we need rather than what we want.www.zaytoun.org

Bonn International Fairtrade Towns Conference Nov 5-7

Today I took a look at the agenda for the upcoming International Fairtrade Towns conference to be held in Bonn Nov 5th-7th.

Good to see that several Lord Mayors of german towns will be sharing their stories of how Fairtrade is working in their communities. And I'm hoping a mayor or two will show up in Dublin for our own National Fairtrade Town Conference, later on Nov 19th/20th in Dublin.

Amazing to realise just how many people have given of their time, to take a stand for developing economies where banks just dont exist for people, and where being self sufficient is just part of day to day life. Not something we learn at school or at home. What would we do without expensive daily yogurts full of miracle molecules, or at least 10 flavours of crisps to get us fat ?

 So, with UN World Food Day now 6 days behind us, and Xmas 64 days ahead, we can make changes. Someone said to me yesterday, the only way we'll create a better quality world, is by becoming better quality people.

So, whether in Bonn, Kinsale, Dublin, or Douglas Isle of Man, here's to quality in all our buying decisions at the shops tomorrow.

http://www.fairtradetowns.org/news/fourth-international-fair-trade-towns-conference/

See exactly where Wish4 Fairtrade sugar comes from

Recession is not the best time to launch a business who's priority is a fair deal for people who live out of sight, in developing countries. But luckily in our two short years we just had our best month's sales to date. So, good news for those we work for. But with supermarkets busy expanding their ranges of cheap, unhealthy products, few buyers have the courage to deliver for the customers what they actually want.

Recent research by the CoOp shows that convenience, health and ethical sourcing are the 3 most important issues their customers want their buyers to pay attention to. But selling Coke on Special Offer gets the priority.

You have to wonder what is really in the minds of retailers who can't find 1 single can width of space on their shelves for a Fairtrade Cola, which trials show tastes good.

You also have to worry about those making multi million pound profit decisions who have never been to see what all the fuss is about. I have never met a buyer who returns from a fairtrade producer visit (which of course they dont even have to pay for) without a review of his blessed category taking place shortly after.

What are we to do to reach the Tipping Point in Fairtrade purchasing ? Well, if you want to set up a simple van delivery service for exclusively fairtrade products, we'd be happy to help. We believe that is a route to market that works well in troubled times. It gives shops more control over their stockholding, which can be more 'little and often', then 'piled high sold slowly'. And it allows distributors with a real value (and values) story behind their products to make contact with more discerning buyers, in a better targeted operation.

So, if you are interested in that kind of opportunity, why not get in touch, and see how we can work for the growers at this sugar plantation in Malawi.

Waterford Fairtrade City birthday

Its that time of year, several Fairtrade Towns and Cities in Ireland are celebrating. Yesterday Waterford City marked 5 years of FT with a lunch served by the students at the WIT hospitality dept. Fairtrade wine, bananas, coffee, chocolate and much more was enjoyed by the organisers, the Waterford One World Centre, and guests including the mayor, the CEO of CHamber of Commerce, and the WIT President Ciaran O'Broin. It is hoped that Mairead Bonner and her catering team will soon offer Wish4 Fairtrade muffins along with the Fairtrade Coffee they have been serving to students for many a long year.

Mayor fo Kinsale celebrates 5th Fairtrade birthday

Mayor Michael Frawley joined Michelle Kelleher, one of life's great town clerk's, and other staff for a giant cuppa to celebrate Kinsale's 5th birthday as a Fairtrade Town. The event co-incided with the annual Kinsale gourmet festival and the arrival of probably the first bottle of Fairtrade vodka in the country.
Should go down well with the Ubuntu Fairtrade Cola, and a packet of Liberation Fairtrade Salted Cashews, but you cant find that stuff very easily in Ireland yet.