World Fair Trade Day celebrates power of the people

This Saturday 14 May is World Fair Trade Day, an international event to celebrate fair trade. Trade Aid is encouraging consumers to be an ‘Agent for Change’ and learn more about global supply chains, and the impact of products we buy every day.

A community celebration is taking place at the Christchurch Trade Aid shop,184 Papanui Road, from 11am – 4pm. Instore events will celebrate and raise awareness of equitable and transparent supply chains and their benefits for fair traders all over the world.

Local Fairtrade Schools will be joining the party to recognise the talented artisans and food producers around the world who are improving their lives through fair trade. A special World Fair Trade Day art exhibition by Heaton Intermediate students will be displayed instore, while Rangi Ruru and St Andrews College students will entertain with music, singing and poetry.

Free tastings of gourmet fair trade chocolate and treats will be on offer, along with hand block printing with Jambalaya Handcrafts, activities for kids and traditional international music and dance from local community groups.

Christchurch Trade Aid volunteers will be handing out pledge cards to customers with a list of actions they can embark on to continue their journey in becoming Agents for Change. Ethical consumers can take home information and current research about global supply chains.

“World Fair Trade Day is a day which encourages consumers around the world to become Agents for Change and participate in creating positive change in the livelihoods of producers,” says Natalie Baird, trustee of the Christchurch Trade Aid Trust. “It’s a day worth celebrating and we welcome people to come in on Saturday, celebrate with us and find out more.”

World Fair Trade Day is an annual celebrated by the worldwide network of fair traders and members of the World Fair Trade Organisation. The devastating collapse of the multi-storey Rana Plaza building which killed more than 1000 Bangladeshi workers in 2013 has sparked a major international campaign for greater transparency within supply chains.

Global supply chains are often opaque and complex, and unethical behaviour is common. Statistics show modern day slavery within global supply chains is at an unprecedented level. The International Labour Organisation puts the global number of people currently in slavery at around 21 million.

Ethical consumers are becoming better educated about overseas working conditions, and unfair treatment of workers can seriously harm sales and brand identity. Fair trade organisations like Trade Aid, backed by these consumers, are actively engaged in supporting producers, raising awareness, and campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.

“For the first time in modern history, educated consumers are literally voting for the behaviour they expect from businesses, with their loyal purchases,” says Geoff White, CEO of Trade Aid. Confirming recent research, White says, “Companies who display a commitment to understanding their impacts on both people and the environment within their supply chains are thriving as awareness of ethical consumerism grows.”

ENDS

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