World fair trade day this Saturday

Ethical trading will be celebrated in more than 70 countries

Fair Trade will be celebrated on 12 May 2012 across the globe. Various events are organized in more than 70 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Pacific Rim.

It is a worldwide festival of events celebrating Fair Trade as a tangible contribution to the fight against poverty, climate change and the economic crisis that has the greatest impact on the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Millions of producers and traders, business and policy makers, supporting organizations and volunteers have contributed to the substantial growth of Fair Trade.

In Bangladesh, thousands of artisans and small producers will go out with colourful banners and drums in the streets of Dhaka to celebrate Fair Trade. The government in Bolivia will also celebrate Fair Trade Day with indigenous producers and marketers. In Kenya, the Kenyan Federation for Alternative Trade will commemorate the day with tree planting, while South Africa will have a flashmob and picnic in the Green Point Park. 

Across Europe, Fair Trade will be celebrated with food, live music, campaigning and an attempt to break the Guinness record. In addition to live music and drumming, Norwegians will attempt to break the record by collecting as many people as possible in one giant pair of Fair Trade underwear in Bislet Stadium. This record was set by Australia with 89 people. In Germany, the association of German World Shops will collect messages from consumers to support small farmers’ commitment to sustainable production. The Polish Fair Trade Association will gather messages of support for Fair Trade through snapshots with speech bubble hosting the text, ‘I Support Fair Trade’.

In North America, Fair Trade shops in the US are offering discounts, wine tasting, and even henna tattoos. So visit your nearest shop now. Canada will have Fair Trade bazaars, music, food and drinks with local officials and representatives of various organizations.

Palestine will also be joining in the celebration. Together with the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism, WFTO members in Palestine will hold an open day for Fair Trade. The Institute for Community Partnership of the Bethlehem University and Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans will bring producers, government officials, volunteers, students and the public in the heart of Bethlehem to discuss Fair Trade and the Fair Trade movement in Palestine. The public event will be officially opened by the Minister of Tourism. The Fair Trade Principles will be translated and published in the leading newspaper and broadcasted by the local TV station for all to read and view with an open invitation.
Fair Trade has made good impacts on the lives of several million small producers worldwide and their communities.

And in Africa the FTTSA Fair Trade Tourism South Africa is still growing strongly, and, since last year’s presentation at the World Travel Market by Harriet Lamb of the Fair Trade Foundation – the travel industry in general is considering the concept.

Valere Tjolle
Keep up with the latest sustainable tourism info, special offers HERE