News
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World Cup Football a Potential Path to Peace, Fair Trade
Posted June 28th 2010
Article for Brandon Sun “Small World” Column, Saturday, June 26/10
by Zack Gross
Life didn’t have to end for sports enthusiasts this spring after two months of Stanley Cup hockey playoffs. Within a couple of days, a month of World Cup football, or what we call soccer, began. However, for the very poor people who do the hard work in the world sports ball industry, unfair labour practices is a source of grave concern. Fair Trade activists are targeting the NEXT World Cup, in 2014 in Brazil, to attempt to make the sport more socially responsible. In the meantime, some of the sports’ greatest stars are having some impact in calling on their countries to end internal conflict and pay attention to social and human rights concerns.
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Fair Trade Advocates for Avocado Producers
Posted April 26th 2010
The benefits of “fair trade” are many. Fair prices mean that farmers benefit from pre-financing, have their production costs covered and receive decent wages. The “fair trade premium” is a bonus that goes to co-operatives and communities to fund such projects as clinics, schools, training courses and needed equipment. There is no child labour and efforts are made to ensure that women are full partners in any venture. Environmentally-friendly farm practices are encouraged – for instance, 85% of all fair trade coffee is organic. Foreign markets are found for fair trade crops and this trade, not aid, helps farmers produce their way out of poverty rather than being victims of predatory trade policies and dependent on aid programs.
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Organic Planet Worker Co-op: Manitobans ‘Go Bananas’ for Fair Trade Produce!
Posted March 16th 2010
Organic Planet Worker Co-op could be seen as a trailblazer on a variety of paths. Founded as a worker-owned co-operative in 2003, the grocery, vegan deli and health product retailer has been a leader in providing organic and locally-sourced food products to customers—and recently, they’ve added ‘fair trade’ to their list of sustainable contributions. Located in the heart of Winnipeg’s Wolseley area, at 877 Westminster Avenue, Organic Planet Worker Co-op has committed to building a strong neighbourhood through adhering to the principles of Community Economic Development, while running on a non-hierarchical system of consensus and worker equality. However, you don’t have to have a ‘membership’ to shop at Organic Planet—their sales are open to the public!
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Fair Trade Wines
Posted February 24th 2010
MCIC’s Fair Trade Manitoba program congratulates the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) for its commitment to sourcing Fair Trade Certified wines. There are now almost twenty different fair trade wines from Argentina, Chile and South Africa available in red and white at most Manitoba Liquor Marts in Winnipeg and around the province. They can be identified by the international fair trade logo and by “shelf talkers” (signs that describe the item) affixed below them in stores.
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Mining Now on Fair Trade Agenda
Posted February 22nd 2010
There is more to fair trade than food products and handicrafts. While fair trade practices are better known for their impact on Third World agricultural producers and artisans, a global effort is underway to benefit workers in the mining sector and those who are affected by mining operations. The social and environmental problems caused by the mining industry are of concern to many organizations, and programs, services and regulations are being created so that mining will adhere to the adage of “economics as if people matter”.
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One-Month Challenge 2010
Posted February 2nd 2010
The One-Month Challenge is an opportunity to show support for producers in the developing world by consuming only fair trade brands of coffee, tea and chocolate for 30 days, starting on Valentine’s Day, 2010.
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GREEN & BLACK’S COMMITS TO MOVE ITS ENTIRE CHOCOLATE RANGE TO FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED IN CANADA
Posted January 29th 2010
Pioneering organic chocolate maker Green & Black’s today announces its commitment to move its chocolate bar range, worldwide, to Fair Trade Certified – including Canada. Fifteen years ago Green & Black’s led the Fair Trade movement by launching Maya Gold™ – the first ever Fair Trade Certified™ product in the United Kingdom. Green & Black’s entire range is already organic, and thanks to continued expansion around the world, this move will make Green & Black’s the world’s leader in organic and Fair Trade chocolate.
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Fair Trade at the Gimli Olympic Torch Run
Posted January 18th 2010
January 6th saw Gimli host the Olympic Torch Run as it made its way through Manitoba’s Interlake Region. Premier Greg Selinger even took a turn at carrying the torch.
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MEDA Software Goes Bananas
Posted December 7th 2009
If you buy a bunch of Fair Trade or organic bananas you may get a product with a hidden stamp from Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA). MEDA has been helping cooperatives in Peru to streamline their certification procedures to maintain the rigorous requirements of Fair Trade and organic distributors and thus gain a premium price
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Fair Trade Suits Climate, Economy to a Tea
Posted December 2nd 2009
The “taking of tea” is steeped in tradition, a product of estates and small holders in Asia, East Africa and elsewhere, and a tasty and sometimes nutritious beverage of choice around the world. Unfortunately, the process of payment and environmental control, when tea is not produced through the fair trade system, leaves a lot to be desired. Basic farm commodity prices have been falling worldwide over the past generation and small holders are worst hit, creating abject poverty in the Global South, and insecurity and urban migration here at home.
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