Readers will learn about the principles that guide fair trade, its concrete effects, and examples of fair trade practices and results drawn from real life.

The future of fair trade is explored as well. Readers will learn about social responsibility, the global economy works, and the wide-ranging impact of international trade relationships.

Author: Jacqueline DeCarlo

Purchase Fair Trade and How It Works at Fishpond

- FREE entry
- Live entertainment
- Kids activities and face-painting
- Fresh food and drinks
- Support World Vision’s ‘Don’t Trade Lives’ campaign

This year we will be showcasing 20+ market stalls as well as fair trade and organic food and drink, music & entertainment throughout the day and kids activities and face-painting.

Attended by local members of parliament and major charities – join us as the Redlands says ‘No to human Trafficking’

Date: Saturday, 11 September
Time: 11am – 3pm
Entry Cost: Free

Join in this fun evening and also meet the 4 Artists Exhibiting at Matildas Winery during July & August.
Start Time: 7:00pm
Date: August 6, 2010

The City of Sydney Business Awards celebrate the best small businesses in the City of Sydney Area. Its 21 categories include cafes and restaurants, retail beauty, healthcare and fitness, specialty retail, tourism, IT, Education and Environmental Businesses, which will share in $25,000 of prizes.

Launching the Business Awards, Lord Mayor Clover Moore said “There are more than 20,000 small and medium businesses across the inner city who are the heart of our local villages driving economic growth, employment and connecting communities.”

“The awards acknowledge business leadership in sustainability, fair trade and social responsibility and complement our Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan. I encourage all local businesses to enter.”

“The fate of more than 600 businesses will be put into the hands of local residents and shoppers to tell us their favourite businesses and start voting,” she said.

Sydney’s best bike business will be recognised for the first time this year. The new bicycle business category acknowledges the increasing number of manufacturers, distributors and retailers of bicycles and their accessories in the Local Government Area. The winner will be awarded a $2,000 business coaching prize provided by the City of Sydney.

The 2009 Winner – Business of the Year Michael Kitchener said that he entered the Business Awards to do a check of the health of his business.

“I thought we were doing everything well and it is a great way to get a second opinion. Winning was fantastic for staff morale, all their hard work was recognised. It has created a point of difference between the company and our competitors.”

Eligible businesses include those employing less than 200 full-time employees within the City of Sydney Local Government Area. More than 600 businesses were nominated in 2009 attracting more than 35,000 votes.

Votes for nominated businesses can be made on www.sydneybusinessawards.com.au or via SMS. Voters could win $1500 in a cash prize draw.

Sponsors

The City of Sydney Business Awards are produced with the support of ANZ, the Principal Sponsor, major sponsors EnergyAustralia, Defense Reserves Support and YellowPages, and sponsors, Hayes Knight, TAFE NSW Sydney Institute, NSW Department of Industry and Investment, and Central Magazine.

Categories

Retail Fashion

Retail Beauty

Household and General Retail

Food and Beverage Retail

Specialty Retail and Wholesale

Restaurants

Small Bar

Cafes

Takeaway Food and Catering Services

Pubs, Hotels, Nightclubs and Venues

Tourism and Accommodation

Professional, Business and Financial Services Marketing and Communications Information and Communication Technology Bicycle Business Community and Social Service Education and Training Cultural and Creative Services Healthcare and Fitness Environmental Business Fair Trade

Finalists are eligible for the Lord Mayor’s Sustainable Business prize sponsored by EnergyAustralia and the Small Business of the Year and Business of the Year awards.

We want to hear about your favourite FairTrade Coffee shops.

Where is it, What’s the name of the cafe  and what makes it so good?

Yes, its time to give some praise to those hardworking Fair Trade Cafe owners and baristas!

There will be 27 stalls with a great selection of Fairtrade Certified products plus a variety of Fair Trade clothing and arts & crafts will be available on the day. Plus to add to the excitement, an entertainment zone with live local and cultural music and dance will be played throughout the day.

Join in the fun this Sunday!

As part of the Fortnight’s launch in Sydney on 30 April, two of Australia’s leading national law firms, Mallesons Stephen Jaques and Allens Arthur Robinson, were awarded Fair Trade Workplace status for committing to source Fairtrade Certified hot beverages across all of their offices.

Leading supermarket chain Coles announced that a range of its new private label Fairtrade Certified coffee and tea products would soon hit shelves across the country.

Meanwhile Wild Bean Café committed to launch Fairtrade Certified hot chocolate nationally later in 2010.

Steve Knapp, Executive Director of the Fair Trade Association Australia & New Zealand (FTAANZ) said Mallesons Stephen Jaques and Allens Arthur Robinson were the first national law firms to make such strong, company-wide commitments aimed at empowering developing country farmers and their communities.

“Recognition as a Fair Trade Workplace will enable both firms to communicate to staff and clients the kind of values they wish to incorporate into their business and workplace,” he said.

Fairtrade Certified products will now be served throughout the meeting rooms, tea rooms and cafeterias of both firms.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques have already switched to Fairtrade Certified tea from Oxfam and are now to start serving Fairtrade Certified coffee and drinking chocolate from Republica; while Allens Arthur Robinson will use Fairtrade Certified tea, coffee, drinking chocolate and sugar sticks sourced from a range of suppliers including Bean Ground & Drunk, Bercat, Nestle, Jasper Coffee, Scarborough Fair, and Tradewinds.

“These two firms join a growing list of Australian businesses of all sizes making the swap to fair trade and making a big difference to the lives of farmers, producers, their families and communities in developing countries around the globe,” Mr Knapp said.

“The Big Swap announcements from two of Australia’s leading businesses, Coles and Wild Bean Café, also make it easier for every Australian to swap their everyday hot beverages to fair trade ones – whether at home or on the go,” he said.

“The new Coles Fairtrade Certified coffee and tea products significantly expand the range of Fairtrade Certified options available in the hot beverages aisle of supermarkets, making it an even simpler choice for people to swap to fair trade and enjoy a world changing cuppa at home with friends and family.

“Meanwhile the commitment by Wild Bean Café (BP’s coffee retail stores) to add 100% Fairtrade Certified hot chocolate to the menu of their over 100 outlets nationwide later this year, in addition to the 100% Fairtrade Certified espresso coffee they already serve, is a major boost for Aussies looking for a fair trade hot beverage option no matter if they’re travelling across town or across the country,” Mr Knapp said.

For more on how organisations and businesses can make the swap to fair trade and contribute to tackling poverty and empowering farmers and workers in developing countries through workplace purchasing go to www.fairtrade.com.au

ABOUT FAIR TRADE FORTNIGHT (www.fairtrade.com.au/thebigswap)

- Fair Trade Fortnight is Australia’s biggest annual celebration of all things fair trade, recognising the life-changing difference fair trade makes for millions of developing country farmers, their families and communities.

- This Fair Trade Fortnight, Aussies across the country are being urged to make The Big Swap! Making the swap from your usual products to Fairtrade Certified ones is simple but it can help make a big difference to the lives of developing country farmers – giving them access to fair prices and money to invest in everyday things for their communities such as education and healthcare. It also promotes sustainable farming practices.

- This Fair Trade Fortnight, whether it’s your daily caffeine fix, afternoon cuppa, chocolate treat or the Mother’s Day gift you give – make the swap to fair trade and help create a better and brighter future for farmers and their families across the globe.

The shores of the Indian Ocean in eastern Africa are littered with debris from as far away as China, Japan,and Malaysia. Thousands of brightly coloured rubber thong pieces wash ashore daily not only causing an eyesore along the coastlines but endangering the marine eco-system. An initiative by a Kenyan organisation, UniquEco, is designed to clean up the environment by using this waste while also providing employment opportunities to the poor communities hardest hit by this environmental degradation.

UniquEco works with local people to recycle the rubber thongs. Local woman and children comb the shores to collect the indestructible pieces of rubber, artisans and sculptors in the villages glue the pieces together into multicolored blocks then hand carve the blocks into carefully crafted animals, transforming waste into sculptures of amazing humour and beauty.

These ingeniously crafted sculptures are a perfect example of how purchasing p ower can help preserve the environment while at the same time providing employment opportunities to an inspired community half a world away. And they have a unique and exciting piece of art which they will enjoy for years to come! The pieces are imported by Ethical Gifts, a fair trade company that works with artisan groups from around the world.

Press Coverage

• The UniquEco Champali Animal Sculptures have already gained international attention being featured in the summer 2008 issue of O at Home, Oprah’s popular home decor quarterly magazine

• Finalists in the BBC World Challenge 2008

• The NY Times have reported on the severe impact that discarded thongs have on the environment and spotlighted UniquEcos innovative work.

• http://www.filmclick.com/index.php?section=film.index&filmid=2651222722098 a documentary showing the impact of the pollution on Kenyas shoreline and examines this remarkable project that creates art out of trash

. For more information and to view these fantastic whimsical recycled rubber sculptures online http://www.fairtradegifts.com.au
or call 0353415789

About Ethical Gifts
Ethical Gifts in an online retailer and importer that strives to build partnerships with artists, craftspeople, suppliers, and businesses who create products that promote a healthy environment, social justice and sustainable living
http://www.fairtradegifts.com.au

Press release and supporting media files are available here

We would love to hear about any events you have been to or ways in which you have been celebrating Fair Trade Fortnight already, please feel free to leave a comment.

World Fair Trade Day is this Saturday, so tell us about any events and we will help get the word out!

Location: Oxfam Shop in Charles Street, Adelaide CBD
Website: www.oxfamshop.org.au
Description: Celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight at the Oxfam Shop in Charles Street, Adelaide CBD.

Friday 7th May from 11am to 4pm.

*Free Fairtrade coffee being served by a Barista from Rio Coffee.
*Mike & Gayle from OUTBACK PRIDE will be in store sampling their delicious Indigenous Australian foods.
*Fairtrade Fairies will be giving out yummy Fairtrade choclate samples.
*Enjoy a tasty Fairtrade Iced-Tea creation and mouth-watering Chocolate fondue with Strawberries and marshmallows.

Don’t forget to come in and purchase a bag of Fairtrade coffee during FTF for your chance to win a “Coffee Lovers Hamper” valued at $42.