World Fair Trade Day is today!

Find more information in English or Japanese on http://www.wftday.org/

This Year's Theme

World Fair Trade Day May 13, 2006 - Fair Trade Organisations NOW!

This year's theme will focus on the unique role of Fair Trade Organisations. Fair Trade Organisations range from producer groups and Fair Trade companies, to retailers. The Fair Trade network consists of producer and consumer cooperatives, shops, collectives, advocacy groups, unions, producer groups, family workshops, Fair Trade shops, Internet stores, catalogues companies, religious institutions, NGO's, regional networks, national networks and many more.

This World Fair Trade Day calls on all of us to celebrate Fair Trade
Organisations, buy more Fair Trade goods through Fair Trade stores, Fair Trade catalogues and campaign groups and encourage conventional companies to sell more Fair Trade products.

IFAT-registered Fair Trade Organisations are special because:

● Their whole reason for being is Fair Trade
● They aim to benefit marginalised groups in the south to promote livelihoods by building organisational capacity, giving technical and financial assistance, building long term relationships.
● They campaign and lobby for Fair Trade in the political and business arena and raise awareness amongst the general public.

As developing countries face falling prices, subsidies and dumping,
increased poverty and income disparities, and globalization rules
written by the rich countries, there is a need for poverty alleviation
through trade, and through campaigning to level the playing field. Fair Trade Organisations pioneer this international movement.

Make Poverty History achieved some giant steps forward in 2005, but to alleviate poverty it is down to us all to keep up the momentum of change at this crucial time. This World Fair Trade Day we call on 65 nations to push Fair Trade to the front of the political agenda. This year's World Fair Trade Day will showcase IFAT's dynamic network of FTOs around the world, proving what excellent role models for Business Sustainability they are, and highlighting their pioneering work in alleviating poverty through trade.

Marc redt de Belgische driekleur

Country： Belgium
Name of Event： Pluk de eerlijke produkten
Name of Fair Trade Organisation： OXFAM Wereldwinkel Torhout
Where： Marketplace Townhall
Venue Address： Markt 1 Torhout B - 8820
When： May 13th (Sat)
Event Details： Come and clime in our Fairtrade three and take a fair product out of it. Make designe of your self and make a link from North to South. Be there!!!

E-mail: oxfam.torhout@yahoo.co.uk
Contact Details： Marc "Che" Bonte, oxfam.torhout@yahoo.co.uk

Link: www.oxfam.be

Kidz@work in Europe

Country: Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, UK, Italy, Holland, Austria, Hungary
Name of Event: kidz@work - Fair Trade Protects Children's Rights!
Name of Fair Trade Organisation: NEWS - Network of European Worldshops
Where: at Worldshops all over Europe
Venue Address: various
When: 13th May, 2006
Event Details: Using the motto “kidz@work - Fair Trade protects children’s rights!” several hundred Worldshops all over Europe will invite children (grown ups are welcome too of course) to special football events this World Fair Trade Day. The aim of the day, whilst being fun, is to raise awareness about where and how footballs are made. Commuanities that benefit from Fair Trade in the football industry will be highlighted.

E-mail: childrenscampaign@worldshops.org
Contact Details: Stephanie Till
+49 6131 9066410

Link: www.kidz-at-work.net www.worldshops.org