Tribes and Nations Winter News 08
Welcome to our winter news. This season we have much to share with you about the future of fair trade in our world. On the positive, Fairtrade sales continue to
grow both nationally and worldwide.
An amazing battle has just ended with Wales beating Scotland in the race to become the first fair trade nation
Sadly the reverse is also true. Trade barriers,
greed and plain old holding to the status quo give us plenty of reason to carry on making a dent in both loud and quiet ways.
If it all seems too big, follow us back to this quote which has been a great encouragement when we become aware of 'our smallness':
I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can
do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do
something that I can do (attributed to both Helen Keller and Edward Everett
Hale)
Kikoi Stealing - a Crime in Progress
Last year Starbucks attempted to register traditional Ethiopian coffee names
(Yirgacheffe, Harrar, and Sidamo) as their own property Today, Kenyan
activists are fighting to retain cultural designs that have been developed
in East Africa but are being patented by companies in western countries.
After losing the kiondo basket trademark to Japan, the popular Kikoi fabric
design is currently at risk of being patented by a British company.
Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa (COFTA), a Nairobi-based body of
nongovernmental organisations, is taking on the Kikoy Company UK which has
applied for registration as the sole trademark owner of Kikoi. The result, should they be successful, is that the people whose culture and language produced the design and name 'Kikoi' will have to pay to use this name and produce this product. Read more
Fairtrade People Power
The UK based Fairtrade Foundation is building on the the massive fairtrade momentum to further increase the number of citizens working together to transfrom trade and be powerful advoctes for fairer trade systems thus deepening the impact of more and more communities.
They say "This citizens' movement for change has improved everyday life for seven million people -farmers, workers and their communities all over the developing world." Read more
And dee winner is Syd-uney!
A big thanks you to all who filled in our member survey in the Autumn newsletter. The results have helped us tailor things to your needs a little better and most of all revealed your driving desire to make all the goods you buy fair trade. We offered a little incentive for filling in that survey and the winner was Colleen Alford of Parramatta Baptist. She has chosen not to keep the gift for herself but sent a Store in a Box to her mentor in the Northern Territory! Colleen was very excited and surprised to get our e-mail. She said that her mentor was "interested in hearing about our Fair Trade Fair, (which Colleen ran during Fairtrade fortnight) so the starter pack can get her and her family started!" Nice work Colleen!
Whats new?
Some great new products have jumped onto the web site.
Check out the NuiLife soaps, produced from coconut oil they provide a great
sustainable alternative to standard soaps out there. Choose from Frangipani,
Lemongrass, Lavender, Mango, Oatmeal and even a Sailor's Soap that works in
salt and hard water!
Bang, of Bangladesh, have brought us a great new range of their jute
shopping bags, The varied compartments add practicality to their style, they
are sure to become long term friends of many ladies out there.
We can now bring Hampstead Teas, a respected English brand, of fine herbal
infusions to your door. Born in the beautiful Darjeeling, these teas bless
our broad tea range with their subtle and soothing flavours.
New Services at Tribes and Nations
LOVE IS IN THE AIR! As a pre cursor to the Tribes and Nations wedding room we are proud to offer you the first Aussie Fairtrade bomaderri gift for your valued wedding guests.
Combine a Fairtrade promotion with your next fundraiser by selling our fresh roasted organic coffee. All beans are roasted within a few days of being sent to you so freshness is guaranteed! For $5.90 (minimum order of 60 by 250g pouches) they bring great returns when selling for around $9 to $10.
Our organic fair trade coffees now come with the option of an espresso grind (the specific grind for espresso machines). When selecting your coffee online just choose "espresso roast" in the drop down box, alongside your desired roast and then you will be ready to pump them out.
The Tribes and Nations Fair Trader information pack has grown to near completion.Our first training day is on August 23 so if you have any questions, please call or e-mail. Last book in date is August 14.
The Store in a Box consignment is now available which sets you up to do one or two events and return any unused stock to us. Each box comes with information on our partners and fair trade so you can answer most questions.
