World Fair Trade Day

Each year, on the second Saturday of May, World Fair Trade Day is celebrated. The main organizer of events is the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), in which 256 fair trade organizations from 60 countries all across the world participate. These are mainly (65%) in the particularly disadvantaged countries of the southern hemisphere. The organization's mission is to promote the trade "based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity." The participants, as they state on their website, strive for the following things:

-Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
-transparency and accountability
-Capacity building
-Payment of a fair price
-Gender equity
-Improved Working conditions
-The environment

World Fair Trade Day was first celebrated in 2005. It developed from the European Worldshop Day that began in 1996 and is still organized.

The year 2005 (May 14th) chosen theme Fair Trade is Peace reminds us of the role that development and the equity trade can play in the peace efforts. The attention is centered on a wide range of Fair Trade products, like coffee, tea, jewelery, clothes and handicrafts.

In 2006, World Fair Trade Day is on May 13, and the year's theme will focus on the unique role of Fair Trade Organisations.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Fair_Trade_Day

Visit http://www.wftday.org/ for more information. =)

Jean