“This year the Green Festival will be held at the Qwest Event Center next weekend, May 21-22. For more information, check out the online program guide.”
Green Festival Seattle at Qwest Event Center via Jack Olmstead – Seattle Pi Blogs
Posts Tagged fair trade
“Families visiting the Green Kids Zone at Green Festival Chicago 2011 on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15 can enjoy a variety of physical, creative, and educational play activities, as well as lively entertainment presented on stage. On Saturday, this area was bustling with happy children doing everything from making newspaper shark fins at the Discover the Depths table to singing along with The Chicago School of Blues on stage. When taking a break from learning about the eco-friendly products on display at the rest of the festival, families can stop by the Green Kids Zone to learn about the natural world in the following fun and playful ways.”
Educational, eco-friendly fun at Green Kids Zone at Green Festival Chicago 2011 via Renee Carver – Chicago Children’s Toys Examiner
“Visitors to Green Festival Chicago 2011 can learn about Mr. Ellie Pooh elephant dung paper, used by this eco-friendly fair trade company to craft gifts and other products to try to help the plight of elephants in Sri Lanka. The company’s line of merchandise includes a special children’s story book that explains the situation in a child-friendly way, as well as organic cotton T-shirts and baby onesies that continue to spread the company’s message with a funny “Poo happens…” slogan.”
Mr. Ellie Pooh elephant dung paper at Green Festival Chicago 2011 via Renee Carver – Chicago Children’s Toys Examiner
“The Green Festival is being held at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, 2011. One million people are expected to attend the environmentally friendly festival, which promotes healthy living, environmental health and social justice.
The weekend festival will be kicked off with a Green Ribbon Cutting by Illinois Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon at 11:00 a.m. 10th Green Festival at McCormick Place Chicago
Expect a weekend packed with information and entertainment at McCormick Place Lakeside. There are so many events during the festival that you will want to organize a game plan. Some of the highlights include: Truck Farm Chicago, organic cooking demonstrations and a Green Products Showcase.”
Chicago Green Festival – schedule of highlights via Christine Nyholm – Chicago Environmental Health Examiner
“This year’s annual Chicago Green Festival taking place on May 14th and 15th at Chicago’s McCormick Place Lakeside occurs as Green Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2011, with an updated interactive marketplace and countless learning opportunities designed to promote sustainability and interconnectivity within the green movement.
Green Festival is a joint project of Green America and Global Exchange, two cutting-edge nonprofits that have been dedicated to furthering environmental and social concerns for nearly 30 years.
The goal of the Green Festivals, which are playfully dubbed ”Parties with a Purpose,” is to promote healthy living by addressing a wide variety of social, economic and environmental concerns.”
10th anniversary for Green Festival in 2011, Chicago event May 14th and 15th via Kirsten E. Silven – Earth Times
“SEATTLE – The premier sustainability event in the nation celebrates 10 years, one million attendees at a new location, Qwest Event Center, May 21-22. This one-of-a-kind weekend experience offers opportunities for community members to meet their favorite authors, actors and community leaders; shop more than 300 eco-friendly exhibitors; participate in educational workshops; enjoy live music and local vegetarian cuisine; and sample organic chocolates, wine and beer.”
Explore All Shades of Green at the Seattle Green Festival via Marissa Castello – Seattle Welness Examiner
Chicago has officially met all of the criteria to be declared a Fair Trade Town and joins the ranks of nearly 1,000 Fair Trade Towns throughout the world, including London, Rome, Barcelona and Boston. The city is now the largest Fair Trade Town in the United States and the second largest in the world.
Oakland, CA - May 6, 2011 Fair Trade USA™, the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States, today announced that Chicago is the largest Fair Trade Town in the United States and the second largest in the world. Chicago has officially met all of the criteria to be declared a Fair Trade Town and joins the ranks of nearly 1,000 Fair Trade Towns throughout the world, including London, Rome, Barcelona and Boston. A celebration and global marketplace takes place today from 9am-6pm in Daley Plaza to commemorate Chicago’s newest claim to fame.
“We applaud the work that Chicago Fair Trade has done to build a network of citizens and businesses committed to social justice, environmental sustainability and the empowerment of farmers in the developing world,” said William Linstead Goldsmith, National Coordinator of Fair Trade Towns USA.“Meeting the criteria to become a Fair Trade Town was not an easy feat for such a big city, but Chicago has proven that it’s possible, and the city has set an example for other large metropolitan areas to follow.”
The campaign to make Chicago a Fair Trade town has been underway for more than two years, an effort let by Nancy Jones, director of Chicago Fair Trade. Jones added, “As strategies for global stability are being re-assessed, we think the city’s commitment to Fair Trade sends a significant message to our global trade partners that we are concerned about their development as well as our own.” Chicago Fair Trade is a nonprofit organization made up of individuals, businesses, students and NGO’s that are committed to raising awareness and support for Fair Trade within their community in order to make a larger impact on farming communities abroad.
The celebration in Chicago’s Daley Plaza will feature a global marketplacewith 20 fair trade vendors selling products that protect the environment and pay producers a living wage, as well as interactive activities and West African drum music. Department of Environment Commissioner Suzanne Malec-McKenna and Roxanna Salvador, leader of a fair trade cocoa cooperative in Ecuador will provide brief remarks. Jerome McDonnell, host of WBEZ’s World View program will emcee.
Fair Trade is a multi-stakeholder effort to alleviate poverty in the developing world. It empowers consumers to vote with their dollars for fair prices, better working conditions, environmental stewardship, and brighter futures for the people who make the high-quality products that we buy every day.
The specific criteria to be officially recognized as a Fair Trade Town include showcasing Fair Trade products available in local stores, developing an active citizen support network, collaborating with community institutions, engaging media, and formalizing support from the local government. These criteria are designed to empower citizens to develop a permanent platform in their communities for continued outreach and advocacy.
Fair Trade Towns USA unites a diverse group of inspired Fair Trade activists including project collaborators the Fair Trade Federation, a North American trade association of organizations fully committed to Fair Trade, and the Fair Trade Resource Network, which gathers, develops, and disseminates educational resources to people and organizations interested in the movement. The goal of the campaign is to raise consumer awareness, increase the availability of Fair Trade products, and drive sales in order to help lift millions of farming families out of poverty. Fair Trade Towns USA is funded in part by a generous grant of $50,000 from Green Mountain Coffee®, and a three-year commitment of $925,000 from the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Foundation.
There are now 21 Fair Trade Towns in the United States, including Boston, San Francisco, Madison, Burlington and Milwaukee. On June 4, 2011 the global Fair Trade community will celebrate the naming of the 1,000th Fair Trade Town. There are currently 40 active campaigns to create additional Fair Trade Towns in the United States, including campaigns in Austin, Oakland, Los Angeles and Seattle.
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About Fair Trade USA
Fair Trade USA (previously TransFair USA), a nonprofit organization, is the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States. Fair Trade USA audits and certifies transactions between U.S. companies and their international suppliers to guarantee that the farmers and workers producing Fair Trade Certified goods were paid fair prices and wages, work in safe conditions, protect the environment, and receive community development funds to empower and uplift their communities. Fair Trade USA educates consumers, brings new manufacturers and retailers into the Fair Trade system, and provides farming communities with tools, training and resources to thrive as international businesspeople. Visit www.FairTradeUSA.org for more information.
Hundreds of sessions to educate the public on the benefits of fair trade and provide samples of products from around the globe
WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 5, 2011 A record 100,000 people across the US and Canada are expected to participate in hundreds of events over the next two weeks to mark World Fair Trade Day, which is May 14, 2011. Cities, towns, churches, groups and individuals are planning events to highlight social, economic and environmental benefits to buying Fair Trade. The events include Fair Trade festivals, Fair Trade coffee breaks, webinars and Fair Trade artisan tours among others.
For information about World Fair Trade Day events in your area or to find out more information about the benefits of buying Fair Trade, go to http://www.fairtraderesource.org/wftd/.
Many Americans are unaware how many day-to-day items are produced in abusive labor conditions which include sweatshops and child labor. These items include clothing, furniture, and foods such as coffee, chocolate and sugar. The Fair Trade system helps producers and suppliers earn a living wage and take steps to protect the environment. It also serves to empower individuals and communities, support women’s and children’s rights, promote dignity and respect, and connect developing nations with developed nations and markets.
World Fair Trade Day national campaign coordinator, and Executive Director, Fair Trade Resource Network Jeff Goldman, said: “the meaningful activities comprising this largest Fair Trade event in North America allow adults and kids to learn about empowering marginalized people while celebrating justice and sustainability with hundreds of thousands worldwide.”
Examples of World Fair Trade Day events around the U.S. include:
- Texas. Austin Fair Trade Film Festival, May 12-14 at various locations. Events include a short film competition, a Fair Trade wine and chocolate pairing event, and the Fair Trade film festival and global market.
- Illinois. Chicago World Fair Trade Day celebration, May 6, 2011 at Daley Plaza. Companies will be selling Fair Trade gifts, coffee, chocolate and more and there will be programs and world music played throughout the day. Additionally there will be a Fair Trade pavilion at the Chicago Green Festival on May 14-15 at McCormick Place in Lakeside, IL where non-profits and Fair Trade vendors will be on hand.
- New York State. Several upstate events are planned, including a World Fair Trade Day celebration in Albany on May 13th at the Ten Thousand Villages store, and a Fair Trade/Coffee Break Celebration in Rochester on May 14th at One World Goods.
- Oregon. A variety of events in Portland to include an informational Fair Trade 101 Panel Discussion at Kells Irish Pub on May 9th, and the St. Andrew/Catholic Relief Services World Fair Trade Day celebration on May 15th featuring music, food, crafts, and informational talks.
- Florida. A Fair Trade wine tasting in Orlando on May 15, at the Lake Eola Farmers Market. This event will also feature food, live music, and local craft vendors.
Major sponsors of World Fair Trade Day include nonprofit and faith-based organizations, such as Green America, Catholic Relief Services, Fair Trade Towns and Fair Trade USA, as well as retail companies, such as Ben and Jerry’s, Fair Trade Apparel, Green Mountain Coffee, Lucuma Designs, Wholesome Sweeteners and Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. Regular sponsors include Fair for Life Social & Fairtrade Certified, Fair World Project, Global Exchange, Indigenous Designs, Maggie’s Organics, Theo Chocolate and WorldofGood.com by eBay.
ABOUT FAIR TRADE RESOURCE NETWORK
Founded in 1999, the Fair Trade Resource Network (FTRN) seeks to build a more just and sustainable world by gathering, developing, and disseminating educational resources about Fair Trade. FTRN is the only non-profit organization in the world focused exclusively on Fair Trade education, helping people to better understand the impact of their buying decisions.
FairTweets.com Social Media Campaign Communicates Fair Trade Value to the Masses
BURLINGTON, VT.- May 4, 2011 How can an ice cream maker use social media to help provide farmers a fair income across the globe? Ben & Jerry’s, the first ice cream company to use Fair Trade certified ingredients, is taking on the challenge in an innovative manner. The Fair Tweets program is a simple and easy interface for Twitter followers to donate their unused social media space to support Fair Trade messaging.
“We’ve heard how easy it has been for our fans to participate and that they better understand how their purchases help make it possible to support these farmers throughout the world”
It’s no surprise as Ben & Jerry’s was the first composite, major consumer goods product to commit to going through every single item in their ingredient deck to change all they could to Fair Trade. So the natural next step was how to share the values of Fair Trade with a larger audience. The progressive ice cream company has created a program that allows any user of Twitter to easily plug into. Unused characters in each Tweet are utilized to share a message about how Fair Trade benefits farmers across the globe. Cofounder Jerry Greenfield has posed: “Who wants to make a profit by exploiting somebody else?” It is in that spirit that the company is acting to lead the way in showing how the purchase of Fair Trade certified goods makes a difference. The model sets a fair wage for farmers, supports farms with access to credit, encourages community development, and promotes a holistic way of farming for farm laborers, the environment and the land necessary to their trade.
On May 3rd, Ben & Jerry’s launched a “Fair Tweets” campaign to rally awareness of Fair Trade. Simply by logging on to Fair Tweets (fairtweets.com), Twitter users have been able to plug in automatic messages about Fair Trade to the tweets they’re already sending. These added messages promote the upcoming World Fair Trade Day (May 14) and Fair Trade issues in general.
HOW IT WORKS
Even though Tweets can be up to 140 characters long, most tweets are actually much shorter, using only 40 characters on average. Fair Tweets recycles the “unused” characters in those tweets, and puts them to good use, committing them to Fair Trade awareness.
“Just like putting together good combinations for our flavors, our goal was to combine a popular social media tool with our effort to educate about Fair Trade,” said Senior Global Marketing Manager, Noelle Pirnie. “We’ve heard how easy it has been for our fans to participate and that they better understand how their purchases help make it possible to support these farmers throughout the world,” Pirnie added.
So make every Tweet count – just like Fair Trade products purchases – by sharing this message with your Twitter followers. Through the effort, Ben & Jerry’s will increase consumer understanding of the value of their own purchase decisions and help farmers across the globe lick some of their daily struggles.
To participate in Fair Tweets, log on to FairTweets.com. To learn more about Ben & Jerry’s support of Fair Trade, go towww.benjerry.com.
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About Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream and ice cream novelties, using high-quality ingredients including milk and cream from family farmers who do not treat their cows with the synthetic hormone rBGH. The company states its position on rBGH* on its labels. Ben and Jerry’s products are distributed nationwide and in selected foreign countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchise Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops, restaurants and other venues. Ben & Jerry’s, a Vermont corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part Mission Statement emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community. Contributions made via the employee-led Ben & Jerry’s Foundation in 2010 totaled over $1.8 million. Additionally, the company makes significant product donations to community groups and nonprofits both in Vermont and across the nation. The purpose of Ben & Jerry’s philanthropy is to support the founding values of the company: economic and social justice, environmental restoration and peace through understanding, and to support our Vermont communities. For the full scoop on all Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop locations and fabulous flavors, visit www.benjerry.com.
* The FDA has said no significant difference has been shown and no test can now distinguish between milk from rBGH treated cows and untreated cows. Not all the suppliers of our other ingredients can promise that the milk they use comes from untreated cows.
The “Raise the Bar, Hershey” campaign organized a “brand jamming” contest which invited campaign supporters to create mock taglines, print advertisements and commercial videos that reveal the reality behind Hershey chocolate products. To see more print advertisement submissions click here and for video submissions, check out our YouTube page! Click here to see entries in the slogan category.
Hershey Brand Jamming Contest Winners via Raise the Bar Hershey/Green America