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The CRS Fair Trade Program creates opportunities for you to bring the values of our faith to bear in the marketplace through your purchase of Fair Trade handcrafts, coffee and chocolate and your contributions to the Fair Trade Fund.

Fair Trade Towns: The Sequel

If you are a subscriber to the CRS Fair Trader (no? then please sign up now), you’ll remember that at about this time last year, Media, Pennsylvania declared itself a Fair Trade Town. Last week the news came out that the 2nd U.S. Fair Trade Town was announced in Brattleboro, Vermont.

The town concept originated in the United Kingdom, where the Fairtrade Foundation, (which, put simply, is the TransFair USA of the UK), coordinates the application process for town designation. The goals that are evaluated in the UK are:

1. Local council passes a resolution supporting Fair Trade and agrees to serve Fair Trade tea and coffee at its meetings and in its offices and dining rooms.
2. A range of (at least two) Fair Trade products are readily available in the area’s shops and local cafés/catering establishments.
3. Fair Trade products are used by an appropriate number of local work places and community organizations
4. Media coverage and popular support for the campaign are strong
5. A local Steering Group is convened to ensure progress and continued commitment to the campaign.

Here in the United States, a group of national organizations and local coalitions are gathering to celebrate Media’s first anniversary next week. They will use the opportunity to refine a U.S. framework for the town’s concept. I’ll try to keep you posted on the outcome.

I’ll also try to share with my Fair Trade colleagues ideas for what distinctly unique U.S. Fair Trade Towns might look like. Do you think your town is a candidate? Let us know why!

This entry was posted on Friday, July 6th, 2007 and is filed under Fair Trade . You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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2 Responses to “Fair Trade Towns: The Sequel”

  1. Scott James Says:
    July 11th, 2007 at 5:14 pm

    Love point #3. Let’s see certified Fair Trade sports balls showing up on all those sports fields at the parks and schools. Hooray for recreation and the positive, healthy impact it has on our lives!

    A Fair Trade soccer ball and a Fair Trade banana are kid-friendly ways to talk about these principals with the next generation of leaders - our children!

    - Scott James
    Fair Trade Sports
    http://www.fairtradesports.com
    Fair Trade Soccer Balls with FSC Certification!

  2. Melanie Benesh Says:
    August 2nd, 2007 at 12:20 pm

    Milwaukee just declared itself a Fair Trade town! We need thoughts on how to make this more meaningful!

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