Happy World Fair Trade Day! The big day is tomorrow, May 10, but congregations and communities will be celebrating all month long. There are many ways to join in the festivities. People in 70 nations around the world will be spreading the good news about fair trade by hosting events such as food tastings, house parties, festivals, concerts and even fashion shows!
In the US a number of organizations are working together to make WFTD 2008 the largest celebration of its kind. Join up with one of the 100+ events planned around the country, or plan one of your own. World Fair Trade Day is endorsed by IFAT (the International Fair Trade Association), a global association of over 300 organizations in 70 countries.
If you are part of a congregation that participates in the Presbyterian Coffee Project, feature World Fair Trade Day during worship and fellowship times all month. Give a Minute for Mission during worship, write an article for the church newsletter or worship bulletin, hold fair trade sales after worship, the possibilities are endless. This is a perfect time to educate members about the new products available through the project, including snacks (dried cranberries, pecans and almonds), chocolate bars and cocoas (new Drinking Chocolate and Spicy Hot Cocoa)!
Promote fair trade crafts that are available through the Global Marketplace. Learn about the various organizations we partner with and choose a craft organization to support this year by holding a sale featuring their products for gift-giving all year long.
Learn about new fair trade certified products, including rice, flowers, sports balls and more. Consider how you and your congregation can get the word out so that shoppers in your area are looking for these products and so that stores are carrying them. Consider promoting these products to local restaurants, florists and sports leagues in your community.
Order the new Fair Trade Bible Study from Partners for Just Trade, which will be released this month. Use the curriculum with your own Bible Study group, or organize a special group to study these issues.
Learn more about the following nonprofit organizations and their work in fair trade: Coop America, Fair Trade Federation and the Fair Trade Resource Network.
Happy celebrating!
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