Archive for 2007

Here at CRS headquarters, we are fond of sharing that the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops passed a resolution supporting Fair Trade a couple years ago at one of their annual meetings. We were as delighted to learn from our Constituency Relations colleague Christine Smith that the National Council of Catholic Women recently also [...]

Read the entry: Another Fair Trade Resolution from Church Leaders →

UGH! I can’t believe I really wrote that! But, hey, it is part of my job to help you shop your values. I know so many of us want to be thoughtful, responsible consumers, and the upcoming holiday season can full of distractions and temptations that take us of our path. But [...]

Read the entry: Only 49 shopping days until Christmas →

That’s the new sticker floating around CRS offices these days, courtesy of our friends at Dean’s Beans in Massachusetts. It just goes to show that from coast to coast, more and more people are choosing to drink Fair Trade coffee as a reflection of their values.  Check out the article below from the Spokesman-Review to find out [...]

Read the entry: What Would Jesus Brew? →

Although Fair Trade is considered by some folks to be a development tool, meaning a set of principles and practices that help disadvantaged people increase incomes, invest in communities and protect the environment in sustainable ways, the fact is I don’t get to hang out with development practitioners all that much. Sure, Catholic Relief [...]

Read the entry: Fair Trade: Feel-good fad or best-kept development secret? →

One of our most popular CRS Fair Trade resources is the document connecting Fair Trade to Catholic Social Teaching. The parallels between the criteria for Fair Trade actions, such as participatory decision making, and treasured church principles such as subsidiarity, are instructive and inspiring for folks interested in economic justice. Truth is, though, [...]

Read the entry: Happy Anniversary to “Populorum Progressio” →

Ever had that feeling when you were really tired and really excited at the same time? Your bones kinda ache but your spirit soars? That pretty much sums up how we are feeling at CRS Fair Trade these days. The Fair Trade month celebrations and activities that are happening, from a CRS [...]

Read the entry: Fair Trade Month Events continue for CRS and Partners →

 
It’s my third week with the Fair Trade program and I’m finally getting around to posting my first blog. Why? Well, Jackie and I have been busy. Not only because it’s Fair Trade month, but also because we took a trip to Nicaragua last week for the Cooperative Coffees annual meeting. I love coffee, but [...]

Read the entry: How to Become a Coffee Geek in Nicaragua →

If you like this website and blog, you have some behind the scenes folks at Catholic Relief Services to thank. Peter Kaizer, Dylan Kinnett and Michelle Harrington, along with other talented folks in the web services department of CRS, have been helping CRS Fair Trade over the past couple of years to improve our [...]

Read the entry: Check out the new crs.org website and resources →

With live music playing, local farmers selling, and socially responsible vendors trading everything from body lotion to coffee beans, the Fair Trade LA “Just Lives” Festival at the Hollywood Farmers market this Sunday was a great kick-off for Fair Trade month activities. CRS was a major sponsor of the event, thanks to the Fair [...]

Read the entry: Fair Trade LA Kicks Off Fair Trade Month for CRS →

Today is the first day of Fair Trade month in the United States and marks the official launch of the Fair Trade Towns campaign for the United States. A key objective of the Fair Trade movement in the United States is to educate consumers about the importance of purchasing Fair Trade products. Already [...]

Read the entry: Fair Trade Towns in the US launches today →