Fair Trade Fortnight (28th April – 13th May 2007)

By changing to fair trade today, you can change the lives of farmers and producers across the developing world. This is the idea behind Fair Trade Fortnight 2007 – a two week celebration kicking off this coming weekend, running from 28th April to 13th May highlighting to consumers and businesses how their everyday buying decisions can help to make a difference.

Fair Trade supporters across New Zealand are taking part in the international Fair Trade Fortnight campaign 'Change Today, Choose Fair Trade', the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand's (FTAANZ) annual promotional campaign, with a series of events across the country during the Fortnight.
Events kick off with Will Padilla, a representative from the Costa Rican Coffee Cooperative, Coop Agri, who will be touring New Zealand throughout the Fortnight visiting shops, schools and universities giving public talks on his own personal experiences of Fairtrade and the impact Fairtrade has had on his community.

"Fair Trade Fortnight is a great opportunity to enjoy and celebrate a change in your shopping habits. Kiwis can take part in numerous events, tastings and promotions throughout the country…" says Steve Knapp, FTAANZ Director "…so there's never been a better time to change today and choose fair trade".

The aim is to challenge people to make small changes, switching to choose fair trade products or to purchase across the product range, which will trigger a positive change in communities in developing countries. The direct benefits to farmers and workers in the developing world means they in turn will be able to begin to make changes to their lives and environment.

"Simply making small changes in the way we act as consumers can allow other people to make changes towards a better way of life.", says Steve. "If enough of us make a change in our shopping habits, a community in Africa, Asia or Latin America can build more classrooms, employ a part-time nurse or construct a road so they can get their produce to market. While we enjoy foodstuffs and other products from the developing world, we should make sure producers are making a sustainable living. Fair trade has been embraced enthusiastically in New Zealand but more and more Kiwis need to line up behind fair trade so that more producers can sell more of their produce under fair trade terms."

In Australia and New Zealand sales of FAIRTRADE labelled products(1) have increased five fold in three years(2) and it is now the fastest growing market in Fairtrade labelled products in the world. The annual Fair Trade Fortnight is supported by NZAID, Oxfam and Trade Aid. There is a full and varied programme of Fair Trade Fortnight events and details can be found at; www.fairtrade.org.nz

ENDS

For more information about what is happening around the country visit www.fairtrade.org.nz

Note to Editors:
(1) The FAIRTRADE Label is a certification mark and a registered trademark of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) of which FLANNZ is the Australian and New Zealand member. This independent consumer label appears on products as a guarantee that disadvantaged producers are getting a better deal. Today, more than five million people – farmers, workers and their families – across 58 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system.
(2) Sales of FAIRTRADE Labelled products in New Zealand have seen an increase from $200k in 2004 to over $4m in 2006

WHAT IS FAIR TRADE?
Fair trade is an alternative approach to conventional international trade, which aims to share the benefits of trade more equitably between consumers, producers and the environment.

Through fair trade, farmers are paid a fair and stable price for their produce so they are protected from the damaging fluctuations in world market prices. In addition, their community receives a social premium to invest in local development projects such as education and healthcare. Workers are also paid a fair wage, the use of forced labour and abusive child labour is prohibited.

WHY IS FAIR TRADE IMPORTANT?
Poverty is widespread amongst tea, coffee and cocoa growers around the world, who face an uncertain future due to unstable world prices. In recent years, volatile prices worldwide have left many disadvantaged producers struggling to support themselves and their families.

WHAT DOES FAIR TRADE GUARANTEE?
A better deal for producers in the Developing World through:
• A fair and stable price for their produce
• Security of long term contracts
• Investment in local community development
• Improved working conditions
• Environmentally sustainable farming methods
• Support in gaining the knowledge and skills needed to operate successfully in the global economy

FAIR TRADE IN NEW ZEALAND
• In the past two years, sales of Fairtrade certified products have increased five fold.
• The New Zealand and Australian FAIRTRADE Labeled market is the fasted growing in the world
• In 2006 sales of Fairtrade certified products in New Zealand and Australia exceeded AUS$10million
• There are now over 20 brands of Fairtrade coffee available in New Zealand as well as two brands of tea, one brand of sugar and three brands of chocolate. There is also a wide range of fairly traded artisan and handicraft products available from Trade Aid shops, including jewellery and homewares.
• Fairtrade coffee is now widely available from supermarkets, cafes and other retailers around the country.
• 2006 was a big year for Fairtrade labelling in Australia and New Zealand as more businesses and consumers joined with us to provide more sustainable development opportunities to farming and producer communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Last year also saw the expansion of the Fairtrade product range to include cotton, sportsballs, quinoa, rice, and sugar in addition to coffee, tea, and chocolate products (bars, drinking chocolate, drinking cocoa).

THE FAIRTRADE LABEL
The Fairtrade Label is a "seal of approval" that appears on products that meet internationally agreed Fairtrade standards and which guarantees to consumers that their purchase of a particular product will benefit the producers, their families and the surrounding communities from the developing countries that they originate from. Consumers can be assured of the benefits flowing from their purchase of products bearing the Fairtrade Label because there is a monitoring and auditing system behind that label that applies to all participants in the supply chain of the product. This includes Fairtrade certified producers (who comply with Fairtrade standards), Fairtrade registered importers (who pay a Fairtrade premium, in addition to minimum prices, that supports social, economic and environmental development) and Fairtrade licensees (who a licensed to apply the Fairtrade label to packaged products and sell them in to the market).

WHO ARE WE?
The Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand (FTAANZ) is a regional body bringing together all organisations and individuals interested and working in the fair trade movement. FTAANZ seeks to increase awareness of fair trade; help facilitate and coordinate fair trade activities; and assist producers from developing countries, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, to access Australian and New Zealand markets. FTAANZ administers the Fairtrade certification and Labelling system in the region. Our work is supported by Trade Aid and Oxfam New Zealand with funding from NZAID. For more information on FTAANZ, visit: www.fairtrade.org.nz

EVENTS & MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

HEAR ABOUT IT! COFFEE SPEAKER TOUR
28th April – 13th May
Will Padilla, a representative from the coffee cooperative CoopeAgri in Costa Rica will be speaking about the benefits that his community has experienced through Fairtrade.

Media Opportunities
• The speaker will be available for interviews.
• Coverage of their talks to schools, university students & general public around the country.
• Fairtrade coffee roasters/café owners will be available for interviews.

KICK IT FOR FAIR TRADE! – FIVE-A-SIDE FOOTBALL COMPETITION (WELLINGTON)
Saturday 5th May, 12.00 – 16.30
An exciting football tournament involving many of Wellington's fair trade supporters using, of course, Fairtrade footballs! Teams will include local celebrity musicians, members of the Latin American community, public and local business owners. The event is supported by Wellington City Council.

Media Opportunities
• Fair trade supporters from across Wellington will be available for interview
• Talk to our celebrity team
• Will Padilla, playing with local Latin American team

WATCH IT! EXCLUSIVE SCREENING OF THE AWARD WINNING FILM 'BLACK GOLD'
Thursday 10th May
An exclusive screening of the multi-award winning film 'Black Gold' – a remarkable film emphasising the paradox between the consumer world of lattes and flat whites and the low paid farmers struggling in Ethiopia to make a living. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with a panel of experts; Nandor Tanczos, MP, Will Padilla, Coffee Cooperative Representative plus more special guests.

Media Opportunities
• Free entry to watch the multi-award winning film Black Gold
• Panellists will be available for interview after the Q&A session

SPEAKER TOUR

AUCKLAND
26th April
Thursday 12.50 - 13.20
Presentation at St Peters College

27th April
Friday AM TBC
Presentation at Rangitoto College

28th April
Saturday 14.00 - 14.30
Public Talk at Harvest Wholefoods

CHRISTCHURCH
29th April
Sunday 10.00 - 12.00
Church Service

30th April
Monday 09.00 - 11.00
5-a-Side Football Match
12.00 onwards
Canterbury University Student Talk
17.30 onwards
Trade Aid Hosted Public Event @ WEA

DUNEDIN
2nd May Wednesday
08:30 - 09.30
Breakfast with Dunedin Council
10.00 - 11.30
Trade Aid Store Visit
12.30 – 14.00
Otago University Student Talk

NELSON
3rd May Thursday
11.30 - 13.00
Public Talk @ The Trafalgar Park Pavillion

WELLINGTON

3rd May Thursday
19.30 Onwards
CWS Event @ St Johns

4th May Friday
12.30 - 14.00
Public Talk at DevZone
17.30 - 19.30
Trade Aid Store Visit
20.00 onwards
Just Action FTF Concert

5th May Saturday
12.00 - 16.30
Kick It for Change! 5 a side football Competition

7th May Monday
12:30 - 14:00
Victoria University Student Talk

NEW PLYMOUTH
7th May Monday
19.30 - 21.00
Public Event at The Art Gallery Café

8th May Tuesday
12.00 - 13.30 Trade Aid Store Lunchtime Talk

AUCKLAND
9th May Wednesday
18.00 Onwards
Auckland University Public Talk

10th May Thursday
12.30 - 14.00
Fair Trade Public Seminar
20.30 Onwards
Black Gold Screening, Academy Cinema

11th May Friday
10.00 - 10.30
School Talk - Ponsonby Intermediate

12th May Saturday
10.00 - 12.00
A Good Brew (Fair Trade Morning Tea)
13.00 - 13.30
Trade Aid Ponsonby Store Visit

13th May
Sunday 10.00 – 12.00
Church Service

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