World Record!

The final results have been tabulated and the Fair Trade Coffee Break held on May 10th around the country was a huge success!

According to the folks at the Fair Trade Resource Network, "12,128 people in more than 150 communities nationwide together raised their mugs/cups/glasses to Fair Trade. "

30 of those folks were in Lovettsville, VA at Greater Goods. It may have been small, but it was a start and we played our part!

Happy World Fair Trade Day!

Doing a bit of a happy dance today, myself. The sun came out and so did some people. Some from as far away as Ashburn -- specifically for the Fair Trade Coffee Break. Officially we are counting 30 folks for the coffee break -- though we did serve others before 3:00 and are continuing to do so all evening. We have Peace Coffee, an assortment of Fair Trade teas, and chocolate chip cookies, brownies and chocolate muffins - all baked from scratch with fair trade sugar and chocolate. The brownie recipe was from the NY Times and is definitely a keeper.

Business is *finally* picking up again. May is looking good. Was able to write some checks today and that felt wonderful! Might actually have some money to spend on advertising again soon. Three [of five] local papers printed today's event in the calendar section and quite a few folks today showed up because of those notices. One woman lives just a couple of miles down the road and didn't even know the store was here. I hear that a lot. I've been meaning to do a postcard campaign for months and months. It's just a matter of me deciding to spend the money that way. [As opposed to buying more inventory.] And given that I am constantly finding such wonderful things to stock in the store -- well, it's hard to make that call. I have this strange fear that I'll spend a bunch of money on advertising and then when crowds of people come in, I won't have enough merchandise for them to buy! That's what comes from kind of bootstrapping yourself and not starting out with an abundant budget, I suppose. I need to constantly remind myself to shift my state of mind and plan for the store out of a vision of plenty instead of scarcity.

Ok, off to do some more work. But before I go, I wanted to share: I finally got around to watching this bit about Fair Trade from John Oliver's stand-up routine. I thought it was amusing and today seemed like the right day to share the link.

later luvies...

Five reasons why Fair Trade is good for the environment

From the Fair Trade Resource Network:

• One of Fair Trade’s six principles is environmental sustainability. Companies that fail to uphold this principle in their supply chain will not be admitted into the Fair Trade Federation and are refused certification by TransFair USA
• During the production process of Fair Trade products harmful agrochemicals and fertilizers are often now allowed to be used, sold, handled or distributed by producer organizations. When they are used, they are done so in minimal quantities with strict regulations and guidelines on their usage.
• Many Fair Trade products are made by hand, often in producers’ homes or villages. Choosing hand production over mechanized production significantly reduces CO² emissions that are often omitted from big factories. Since Fair Trade producers are often based in remote rural areas, where resources and infrastructure are scarce, they are provided with income earning opportunities that they otherwise would not have had. What little energy is needed in the production process is often produced through alternative energy sources.
• Fair Trade products are often made from materials that are locally and abundantly available.
• The majority of Fair Trade products are transported to consumer countries by boat. This significantly reduces CO² omissions created by air travel.

Join us Sat., May 10 for Fair Trade Coffee Break

A press release I e-mailed widely this evening:

May 10: World’s Biggest Fair Trade Coffee Break Comes to Lovettsville, VA

For World Fair Trade Day, Greater Goods, Loudoun’s Green General Store and Fair Trade Art & Craft Gallery Hosts Coffee Break for Fair Trade

Fair Trade Products Better for Farmers, the Environment, And You, Organizers Say

Lovettsville, VA – Aiming to help set a world record for the biggest ever coffee break, Greater Goods is hosting a “Fair Trade Coffee Break” on May 10, World Fair Trade Day. It will be one of scores of Fair Trade coffee breaks held simultaneously around the country, and will focus on the benefits of Fair Trade for farmers, artisans, consumers, and the environment. Visitors to Greater Goods will be offered complementary cups of Fair Trade coffee and tea – as well as sweets baked with Fair Trade chocolate and sugar.

In order to set the world record, the events will have to draw thousands of people throughout the U.S. participating at the same time.

Greater Goods owner, Ayala Sherbow, said, “In a global economy the way each of us chooses to spend our money is at least as powerful as the way we choose to vote. The products each of us buys and the companies we choose to support have a direct impact on the health of the planet and the quality of life of our fellow humans. We urge people to discover the pleasures and benefits of purchasing high quality and ethically-sourced fair trade products.”

WHAT: “Fair Trade Coffee Break” to Help Set World Record;
Simultaneous Events in Towns and Cities throughout the U.S.

WHEN: Saturday, May 10, 2008 – World Fair Trade Day – 3:00 to 5:00 pm

WHERE: Greater Goods
1 South Loudoun Street
Lovettsville, VA 20180
540-822-4653
http://www.forpeopleandplanet.com/
http://forpeopleandplanet.blogspot.com/

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Mothers and Fair Trade

In our most recent newsletter, I write that May has 2 days honoring mothers -- Sunday May 11th [Mother's Day] and Saturday, May 11th [World Fair Trade Day.] There is quite a bit that could be said about Fair Trade and I hope to be writing more about it [and pointing you to other resources to learn more] as May progresses. Right now, I want to share why I feel the cause of Fair Trade is so connected with the well-being of women -- and particularly mothers -- around the world.

Women make up some 60% of the world’s working poor, defined as people who work but do not earn enough to lift themselves above the $1 per day global poverty line. And yet, in some regions of the world, women provide 70% of agricultural labor and produce over 90% of food.* Evidence shows that when women in impoverished communities do earn money, they are more likely to invest it in the well-being and education of their children than men are. And when women earn money it has other benefits as well:

When people become economically empowered, they gain political and social power. Many of the groups that we work with do more than just produce crafts; they're involved in community development, health and education. For the women we work with, the effect is even greater. As they gain employment, they become able to leave abusive situations, to seek legal assistance, to acquire education, to become independent. Their work allows them to be economically significant in the family and gives them leverage to be considered an equal .

Bob Chase, Executive Director, SERRV International

To me, the connection between the economic empowerment of women and the well-being of children is on its face obvious. That is, in my mind, the connection between Fair Trade and Mother's Day. I could not say it any better than the Women Thrive Worldwide website does: "...economic opportunity for women is so important to ending the extreme poverty that cripples communities in the developing world: because when you teach a woman to fish, everybody eats."

Except in many cases, there is no need to teach at all. Women around the world already have marketable skills in agriculture and in the handiwork they do to provide for their families. What they need is a level playing field and a fair wage for their labor. Which is what Fair Trade is about.

I hope to have time to write more about this later in the week.

Until then, I hope you are enjoying the wonderful weekend weather!

*stats from UNIFEM