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Fairtrade Fortnight events in Brisbane

By Nadiah on April 27th, 2011

Have you ever wondered what it's really like to be a coffee producer, textile maker or handicrafts artisan in a developing country? Have you ever wished that you could meet a producer to ask them face-to-face about what difference Fair Trade is making to their daily lives?

This Fairtrade Fortnight we are inviting you to do just that!

Fairtrade Fortnight

The QFTC is honoured to host FTAANZ's touring producer, Cecilia Granadino, from Peru. Cecilia is the head of MINKA, which was the very first organisation in Peru to engage in Fair Trade, and who have been supporting Fair Trade in Peru for over three decades. This Fairtrade Fortnight, Cecilia is touring Australia so that she meet with people like you, to tell you about Fair Trade in her country, and to answer your questions.

You are invited to meet Cecilia and hear her speak at the following events:

  • Thu 19 May, 7-10pm An Evening In Peru: We regret to announce that the previously announced 'Evening in Peru' dinner and talk event has been cancelled.
  • Fri 20th May, 6.30-8.30pm Ethical Fashion Evening: This is a fantastic networking opportunity for ethical entrepreneurs to connect with like-minded businesses and learn more about the future of ethical fashion. You will hear talks from the leading-lights in ethical fashion including Ethical Clothing Australia, the Sinerji fashion label, and the touring producer Cecilia Granadino. Tickets are $15, and canapes and drinks will be served after the talks. Visit the Ethical Fashion Evening website for more details.
  • Sat 21 May, 1-3pm, Meet & Greet a Fair Trade Producer: Come to Oxfam Shop Garden City, meet with Cecilia Granadino from MINKA and hear about the difference Fair Trade is making to craft artisans in Peru while enjoying a Peruvian musical instrument demonstration. For more info contact Peter on 07 3349 4796
  • Mon 23 May, 11am-12 noon, An Hour with Cecilia: Cecilia will speak about her experiences, MINKA and how Fair Trade is improving living standards in Peru. Introduction by Robert Roberts, Vice-Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand. Free entry and morning tea. Duhig Conference Room at University of Queensland. Contact jyoti.menon [at] uqconnect [dot] edu [dot] au for more details.
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Fair@Square and more Fair Trade Christmas Markets

By qldfairtrade on December 10th, 2010

Fair@Square fair-trade + ethical festival is on this weekend 11 – 12 December at Federation Square, Melbourne. Visit www.moralfairground.com.au for more info.

For those outside of Melbourne, check out the FTAANZ Fair Trade Markets Listing to find a Fair Trade event near you.

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Hamper winners

By qldfairtrade on December 9th, 2010

Congratulations to the winners of the Fair Trade Christmas Market hamper draws!

The winners of our raffle were: David from Jamboree Heights, Karen from Corinda, Jane from Moorooka, and Don from Chapel Hill. And the winner of our flyer prize was Melissa of Forest Lake.

Congratulations to you all, and thank you to our hamper prize donors:


| My Fair Ladybird | Ten Toes Yogo & Natural Health | Sirromet Winery

| Rainesforest Massage & Day Spa | Montville Coffee | Curves Women's Gym | Last-First Networks |

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Stall-holder and Raffle Donor Last-First Networks

By qldfairtrade on December 1st, 2010

Today, Angie from Last First Networks chats to QFTC about developing social ventures, and community development both globally and locally.

So to start with, tell us a little bit about yourselves.

My name is Angie Andrews and I have been working on the ground with my husband and children for 12 years in India and 25 years in Australia on grass roots initiatives. We did community development in India with struggling and marginalized poorer communities.We could see we needed to address the communal problems with employment initiatives as one of our responses. While we were in India we had many remarkable young men and women working in projects all over the country who are still continuing today.

We also have many friends working in Nepal, Latin America, Afghanistan, Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia Africa. These people are passionately committed to creating employment initiatives, and they train and guide people to develop marketable products that can be sold in the western world. They trust people will develop this mentality and also support these initiatives.

Can you give me an example of one of these employment initiatives?

We currently have the Zulu grass jewelry. This is an employment initiative to address the impact of famine on a Masaii Tribe who lost their cattle. The main income earners and their children died through drought and malnutrition.

Did you continue to practise community development principles when you moved back to Australia, to West End?

We came back to Australia and wanted to do the same here and walk with those most marginalized. For me specifically the work has been with settling waives of refugees from Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Afghanistan, Iran, Bosnia, Vietnam, and Africa. I have done this with waves of volunteers who are giving time and energy to create employment initiatives that are relevant to the women's and children's needs. This has been my passion and quest.

So you have products that are made by marginalised people both overseas and in Australia.

The issues are the same, how to create fair work with refugee women who are marginalized in our society and on our doorstep, whilst supporting small co-operatives of artisan women in poorer communities around the world.

If you had a friend who never bought fair trade products, what's one reason you would give them to encourage them to consider fair trade?

Two quotes that come to mind that capture the essence of why we should as individuals and collectively should act fairer in all our dealings with those most dispossessed.

The first is:

ARTISANS SHOULD NOT REMAIN FACELESS
FAIR TRADE GIVES THEM AN IDENTITY

And the other quote is:

Creating employment initiatives creates livelihoods and saves families.

Thank you for taking the time out to speak to us, and we look forward to seeing you at the Fair Trade Christmas Markets!

For more information about Last First Networks community development bookshop and fair trade handcrafts store, visit lastfirst.net.

Social Ventures website: westendnetwork.com