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Fair Trade

Call for proposals

The Trade for Development Centre invites producer organisations to submit a proposal in order to participate at the second European Fair Trade Fair taking place from October 2 – 4, 2009 in Lyon, France.

Producer organisations whose proposal is selected will be granted financial support for their participation at the Trade Fair.

More information

Paul McCartney supports World Fair Trade Day

“World Fair Trade Day is a great idea. Fair Trade is essential for millions of people who work and struggle for survival everyday. It’s all about justice and human rights. So why don’t you join me in supporting World Fair Trade Day 09” Sir Paul McCartney

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Eddie Izzard, Stomp, Sigur Ros, Dudu Sarr, Suzanna Owiyo, Carlou D, The Zawose Family, Honest Jon's and Ismael Lo have shown support.

http://www.worldfairtradeday09.org/

The Financial Gains of Fairtrade in Ghana

The concept of Fairtrade in Ghana has taken a very good shape as a result of tremendous efforts by local farming communities, Oxfam, Comic Relief and other charitable organizations. The main aim of these charities is to prevent farmers who are described as being at the bottom of the supply chain from being exploited by middlemen. Farmers are guaranteed fair prices for their products which are set based on their cost of production. In situations where local market price is higher than the minimum price, market prices are used to determine prices for their products.

[More info : ghanaweb]

ARM and FLO on the way to gold

ARM (The Alliance for Responsible Mining) and FLO (Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International) continue travelling the road together on the way to Fair Trade certification of gold. The initiative was launched in 2006.

ARM has developed a set of draft fair trade standards for artisanal and small-scale gold mining, which are being tested at nine pilot sites in Latin America (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru). The results of the pilot tests will be submitted to the boards of both organizations in mid-2009. If approved by both boards, gold products carrying FLO's FAIRTRADE mark and ARM’s FAIRMINED mark could be available as soon as 2010.

The Trade for Development Centre financed the pilot tests in Bolivia and has agreed to a new grant (2009-2010) that will enable the Bolivian mining cooperatives to comply with FLO and ARM-criteria and hence to register for FairTrade and FairMined certification schemes.

Read more on the pilot tests in Bolivia. 

source: Diamonds.net

Palestinian Fairtrade Network

Palestinian Fairtrade Network opens brighter future for farmers and producers.

Jerusalem / Alix de Mauny - The Palestinian Fairtrade Network will be launched this week by Palestinian agricultural, trade and academic organizations.

It is supported by Oxfam and PARC to help Palestinian farmers and exporters get a share of the growing market for fair-trade products throughout the world.

[More info : PalestineNewsNetwork]

Cadbury Dairy Milk commits to Going Fairtrade

Cadbury and the Fairtrade Foundation announced plans to achieve Fairtrade certification for Cadbury Dairy Milk, the nation's top selling chocolate bar, by end of Summer 2009.

This groundbreaking move will result in the tripling of sales of cocoa under Fairtrade terms for cocoa farmers in Ghana, both increasing Fairtrade cocoa sales for existing certified farming groups, as well as opening up new opportunities for thousands more farmers to benefit from the Fairtrade system.

[Read more: Fairtrade Foundation]

Green America Responds to Cadbury Announcement

In a recent newsletter from Green America's Fair Trade Alliance, the organization formerly known as Co-op America commented on Cadbury UK's recent announcement to convert their Dairy Milk to Fair Trade.

[More Info : change.org]

What is Fairtrade about?

Cadbury's deal to certify their Dairy Milk bars might not seem entirely fair game to small companies and co-operatives.

A lot of comments on The Guardian. 

Fair Trade Condoms

Plenty of us worry about the environmental impact of our dish soap and morning coffee, so why shouldn't that concern extend to the bedroom? A British condom company think it should.

A UK company called French Letter Condoms has revolted against synthetic latex made in developing countries with poor work conditions, and instead uses "Fair Trade" latex from organic farms in India and Sri Lanka. Each packet of condoms sold also contributes to improved wages and healthcare standards for latex workers.

[Source: The Fast Company] [French Letter condoms] 

Sinchi Sacha Foundation

The Sinchi Sacha Foundation is a non-governmental organization that strategically contributes to sustainable development in Ecuador.

The mission of the organization is to restore the natural and cultural heritage of Ecuador, promote responsible tourism, artisan production, educational and participatory planning and revitalization of the local cultural, all as a contribution to sustainable development, promoting the proper use of natural resources and overcoming poverty.

www.sinchisacha.org

Tintsaba Crafts - Swaziland

Since 1985, Tintsaba Crafts has run a rural development project in the Northern Hhohho region of Swaziland. The project works with women's groups producing and marketing quality crafts.

Tintsaba's rural development project enables women to earn income to supplement the family budget without leaving their families. Tintsaba builds on traditional knowledge of craft production. Frequent quality upgrading and pattern development are undertaken through encouraging mentor relationships and training programmes.

Tintsaba demonstrates a strong social and environmental commitment to its women's groups through trainings on subjects such as AIDS awareness, living positively with AIDS and permaculture. Tintsaba has also organised a tree-planting workshop.

The project is an outstanding success, with some 600 women now producing a wide range of traditional and innovative crafts , including tableware, functional baskets, collectors' baskets, trays, natural jewellery and woven sisal disks for Tintsaba's silver jewellery with the finest quality weaving in sisal in Africa.

http://tintsaba.readyhosting.com/index.asp

Starbucks UK and Fairtrade Foundation

Starbucks UK and Fairtrade Foundation Announce Industry Leading Support for Small-Scale Coffee Farmers

100% of Starbucks Espresso in the UK to be Starbucks™ Shared Planet™ and Fairtrade Certified Starbucks to become the largest purchaser of Fairtrade Certified coffee in the world

[more info on : fairtrade.org]

Sustainable Trade

Rainforest Alliance's Impact Grows Even in Economic Downturn

International conservation nonprofit the Rainforest Alliance has seen significant growth over the past year in its sustainable forestry, agriculture and tourism programs, despite the recent economic downturn. Consumers are continuing to demand sustainable goods and as a result, more companies are integrating sustainability into their bottom line.

[More Info : Environmental News Network]

Indonesian oil industry takes step towards sustainability

A major Indonesian plantation company has become the country’s first certified maker of sustainable palm oil as WWF simultaneously collaborated with the Indonesian Department of Agriculture and others to hold a first-time regional training workshop for small producers.

[More Info : WWF]

Australia: Sustainable brew could soon be everyone cup of tea

THEY say the world seems a better place after a cup of tea but that could finally be true when Australia's No. 1 brand becomes the first sustainable cuppa this year.

By June all Lipton Black Label tea will carry the green frog symbol, denoting the tea has come from plantations accredited by the New York environmental organisation, Rainforest Alliance.

 [More info : Business.smh]

Tour Operators' Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development

Most tour operators recognise that a clean and safe environment is critical to their success. Fewer have the management tools or experience to design and conduct tours that minimise their negative environmental, social and economic impacts while optimising their benefits. To develop and implement these tools in their own operations, and encourage other tour operators to do the same, a group of tour operators from different parts of the world have joined forces to create the Tour Operators' Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development.

[More info : Tour Operators' Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development]

Hard-up shoppers abandon organic and fair trade goods

Ethical consumers are abandoning expensive organic and fair trade products as the economic downturn takes hold, according to a Populus survey for The Times.

[More info on : timesonline]

New WWF report recommands FSC certification

New WWF report values price of Amazon's ecological services, recommends FSC certification.

WWF has released a new report that puts a price on the ecological services of the Amazon forest, such as carbon stocks, and recommends selective timber harvesting under FSC certification. Forest management according to FSC’s internationally recognized standards delivers environmental services to local and global communities including clean air and water, and contributes to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

[Read more]

Towards a Sustainable Cocoa Chain

Power and possibilities within the cocoa and chocolate sector

This Oxfam report contributes in various ways to the debate on a sustainable cocoa economy.

A sustainable cocoa economy is where each person investing time or money into the supply chain would be able to earn a decent income for themselves and their family, work in good conditions, and in a manner which did not harm the environment. This report provides an overview of the various stakeholders in the cocoa and the wider chocolate supply chain. It identifies the concentration and purchasing power of companies as well as the trends in the supply chain. Finally, it makes a series of recommendations to the various stakeholders in the supply chain.

http://www.oxfam.org/en/policy/towards-sustainable-cocoa-chain

Helping Indigenous Peoples of Mosquitia

Ojon Corporation, a Canadian beauty care company within the Estée Lauder Companies, has enlisted the help of the Rainforest Alliance in working with indigenous groups producing natural beauty products.

[Read more: Rainforest Alliance]

Building sustainable organic sectors

Published by IFOAM in 2008 this report aims to expand on the CBTF study 'Best Practices for Organic Policy' to give guidance for the development of dynamic organic sectors, with a focus on developing countries.

The report includes ten country case studies of which five are from developing economies, two from emerging economies or economies in transition, and three are from more developed economies.

http://www.ifoam.org/growing_organic/building_sustainable_organic_sectors.php

Forest conservation – Growing money from trees

Policymakers, conservationists and investors are contemplating the power of markets to save the world’s forests. But local forest communities could be left behind.

[More information: Ethical Corporation]

Trade and Development

The effect of the financial crisis on the flower sector

The financial and economic crisis has already had a significant negative impact on export levels, profit margins and employment in the flower sector in developing countries.

Regional differences in trade patterns are reinforced by the crisis. Flower exporters from Latin American countries are suffering more severely as the US market faces more serious problems than the EU market. African producers face pressure to cut prices even more because of the crisis.

Within the EU, the demand for flowers has declined considerably since December 2008. The consequence of this decline is oversupply, which in turn is leading to lower prices. Importers in The Netherlands indicate that prices have gone down by 15 to 30% since last December.

Source: CBI. Please click The effect of the financial crisis on the flower sector to go to this document.

Pharmaceutical companies and the right to health

Human rights guidelines for pharmaceutical companies in relation to access to medicines: the sexual and reproductive health context. By RAJAT KHOSLA AND PAUL HUNT, The Human Rights Centre, University of Essex, 2008.

In 2002, the Commission on Human Rights, which was at that time the principal political body dealing specifically with human rights in the UN system,decided to appoint a Special Rapporteur to focus on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
During his tenure as Special Rapporteur (2002- 2008), Paul Hunt regularly analysed the issue of access to medicines as a component of the right to the highest attainable standard of health. One focus of this work was the responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies in relation to the right to health.

This briefing is closely based on the report on this subject that the Special Rapporteur submitted to the UN General Assembly in 2008. The report observes that a consensus is starting to emerge that business enterprises, like all actors in society, have some legal and ethical human rights responsibilities.

Download the report: http://www2.essex.ac.uk/human_rights_centre/rth/docs/Final%20pharma%20for%20website.pdf

Juan Valdez knows his coffee markets

Juan Valdez is fictional -- a figment of a coffee marketer's imagination -- but forgive me for thinking it was him, in the flesh, who was driving my taxi here in Colombia's capital the other day.

[More info on : Vancouversun ]

The relationships of trade, economic growth and market power

The case of rice exporting.

By BRIAN HILBUN Research Associate, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Louisiana State University

This paper aims to analyze the relationship between rice exports and economic growth for the world’s top four exporting countries (Thailand, Vietnam, India, and the U.S) and seek to determine to what extent market power affects a country’s economic growth.

The main objective of this paper is to determine to what extent economic growth impacts a country’s rice exports as well as to what extent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) impacts a country’s ability to export rice.

This analysis also examines the impact of market power on economic growth. On the basis of these results, the author examines the existence of market power in the international rice market with respect to rice supply, and moreover, propose that there is a bidirectional causality between the international rice trade and economic growth for major rice exporting countries.

Selected Paper prepared for presentation at the Southern Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, January 31-February 3, 2009

[Download the report]

The Coffee Guide

Coffee Guide
  ... 500 text boxes on international coffee trade.

International Trade Centre: www.thecoffeeguide.org  

Impact of weather shocks on grain markets in Niger

Rainfall Shocks, Markets, and Food Crises: Evidence from the Sahel - Working Paper 157.

Post-doctoral fellow Jenny Aker assesses the impact of weather shocks on grain markets in Niger.

Droughts and crop failures occurred in Niger in both 2000 and 2004, but only the 2004 drought resulted in a severe food crisis. Many were quick to cite market failure and hoarding as causes of the crisis, but other factors such as the spatial distribution of drought, temporary trade restrictions, and inadequate incentives to import from Nigeria may have played a larger role.

[Read more and download the report : Center for Global Development]