World Fair Trade Day
Saturday May 13th is World Fair Trade Day, a day to honour the achievements made in strengthening international development by fair trade organizations. The "Ten Thousand Villages" stores across Canada will be marking the day with special activities across the country from B.C. to New Brunswick. One of the 'specials' will be 25% off everything in the store (excluding rugs) for those who correctly answer the question. Others include free samples, draws for prizes, a drumming circle - the list goes on and on. To find the store nearest you, follow this link.
Why the fuss, would be a reasonable question to ask about now, and I have an answer. As their website declares, "Ten Thousand Villages provides vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America." Since World Fair Trade Day is the day before Mother's Day, the timing couldn't be better. A shopping trip to your local store would result in a great deal more than a beautiful and original present for your Mom. It would also help to increase "economic opportunities for women artisans in developing countries, empowering them to bring about change in their lives and their communities."
Again, you would be entitled to ask, why should I? There are an endless queue of causes waiting for me to open my wallet. You'd be right, so maybe you could look at it this way - Who hasn't got a Mother? Retailers in North America love Mother's Day because it's one of their biggest profit makers after Christmas. Sales of roses for Mother's Day often equal or surpass those for Valentine's Day. We have the money to spend and if we're going to spend it anyway, why not do so in a store that will help you to help someone else's Mom at the same time, with no extra effort required on your part?
Keep a few facts in mind when you're making up your mind. Women still account for 70% of the 1.3 billion people making less than $1 a day. It is these women who work 60 to 90 hours a week to help provide for their families. Your purchase could do more than you might imagine. For 60 years now, Ten Thousand Villages has worked toward the goal of fair trade. They have found strengthening women's economic security to be critical to poverty reduction efforts, and so about 70% of the artisans from whom they buy are women.
You couldn't get a more original gift than Tuareg silver jewellery for you Mother. If you bought it, or any of the other wonderful pieces at a Ten Thousand Villages shop, both you and she could feel extra good when she opens her present.
Why the fuss, would be a reasonable question to ask about now, and I have an answer. As their website declares, "Ten Thousand Villages provides vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America." Since World Fair Trade Day is the day before Mother's Day, the timing couldn't be better. A shopping trip to your local store would result in a great deal more than a beautiful and original present for your Mom. It would also help to increase "economic opportunities for women artisans in developing countries, empowering them to bring about change in their lives and their communities."
Again, you would be entitled to ask, why should I? There are an endless queue of causes waiting for me to open my wallet. You'd be right, so maybe you could look at it this way - Who hasn't got a Mother? Retailers in North America love Mother's Day because it's one of their biggest profit makers after Christmas. Sales of roses for Mother's Day often equal or surpass those for Valentine's Day. We have the money to spend and if we're going to spend it anyway, why not do so in a store that will help you to help someone else's Mom at the same time, with no extra effort required on your part?
Keep a few facts in mind when you're making up your mind. Women still account for 70% of the 1.3 billion people making less than $1 a day. It is these women who work 60 to 90 hours a week to help provide for their families. Your purchase could do more than you might imagine. For 60 years now, Ten Thousand Villages has worked toward the goal of fair trade. They have found strengthening women's economic security to be critical to poverty reduction efforts, and so about 70% of the artisans from whom they buy are women.
You couldn't get a more original gift than Tuareg silver jewellery for you Mother. If you bought it, or any of the other wonderful pieces at a Ten Thousand Villages shop, both you and she could feel extra good when she opens her present.
1 Comments:
I love shopping at Ten Thousand Villages. I try to buy most of my gifts (housewarming etc) there. I always feel like we need to give back to the world because we are lucky to be in Canada.
As for Fair Trade, the next time you buy coffee, make sure it is Second Cup as opposed to Starbucks. Second Cup is usually locally owned (i.e. franchised) and they all do some sort of charity from Ducks Unlimited to Foster Parents Plan. They also pay fair trade prices for their coffee.
Thanks for your comment on my blog. I am trying to get over pneumonia. It makes it hard to form a normal thought. I will be back with a post on Iran this weekend. Look out for it to be a scathing indictment of the current regime. If you like them, you won't want to read it. LOOOL.
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