Fair Trade Holiday Song Contest

In the midst of the summer heat, are you ready to start thinking of the cooler days of winter? If so, Global Exchange is sponsoring a Fair Trade Holiday Song Contest. But hurry! Deadline for entries is July 21, 2008.

Entries must include Fair Trade-themed lyrics set to your favorite holiday tune. So if you're dreaming of a Fair Trade Christmas, or you're dashing through the (Fair Trade) fields, or all you want for Christmas is your Fair Trade tea, then jot down those lyrics and send them to Global Exchange!

Fair Trade Chocolate: A Sustainable & Responsible Choice

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, have you considered fair trade chocolate? You can find a list of fair trade chocolate producers on the Global Exchange website.

According to Wikipedia, the definition of fair trade is "a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, which seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers - especially in the South. Fair trade organizations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade."

Another fair trade chocolate producer of interest is Tony's Chocolonely. You may remember founder Teun van de Keuken, a Dutch TV journalist who discovered that most chocolate can be traced back through its supply chain to child slavery in the Ivory Coast. Since slavery is illegal in his home country and in the Ivory Coast, and the purchase of products from illegal activities is a criminal offense, he surrendered himself to police and (unsuccessfully) sought criminal prosecution against himself.

It is also worth noting that the extended Harkin-Engel Protocol deadline is July 2008, in which chocolate producers are expected "to eliminate the worst forms of child labor." The first deadline in 2005 was not met and an extension to July 2008 was granted.

Green Festivals: Parties With Purpose

Green Festivals, a joint venture between Global Exchange and Co-op America, bring together "local and national socially responsible businesses and environmental, social justice, and community organizations." They promise "more than 200 visionary speakers and 400 green businesses in each city."

This year's schedule of Green Festivals includes:

April 12-13 in Seattle

May 17-18 in Chicago

Nov 8-9 in Washington DC

Nov 14-16 San Francisco

Green Festivals promise to be a "party with a purpose!"