It’s time for another Fair Trade bonanza in Portland!
Since our first two-week celebration for World Fair Trade Day in May, we’ve been making plans for another annual event: October Fair Trade Month. Portlanders will again take time to praise the people who produce the food and products we consume and learn more about ways they can support economic justice in trade.
Check out the preview list of activities for October and mark them on your calendar now!
Starting Saturday, Oct. 1st, NWFTC members will launch a month long educational campaign to build Fair Trade Ambassadors for global change with activities all around Portland to raise awareness about the international fair trade movement and encourage conscious consumption for October Fair Trade Month. Members are hosting a variety of events, fundraisers and film screenings to promote their work and engage all audiences in fair trade awareness building.
Highlights of the month include a film screening of the highly acclaimed documentary “The Dark Side of Chocolate” and distribution of FREE Reverse Trick-or-Treating Kits in partnership with human rights organization Global Exchange’s Fair Trade Cocoa Campaign.
Join our celebration. Educate yourself. Become a Fair Trade Ambassador for Portland and pledge to commit to fair trade. With your support, we can bring fair trade to faith organizations, community groups, business, schools and homes around Portland.
Contact nwfairtrade@gmail for all queries.
EVENT LISTINGS:
October 1st through Halloween
FREE Reverse Trick-or-Treating kits to the public distributed by Northwest Fair Trade Coalition, in partnership with Equal Exchange and Food Front Cooperative Grocery in NW Portland
Food Front Cooperative Grocery NW, 2375 NW Thurman St.
The national event serves to promote fairly traded chocolate for Halloween in coordination with October Fair Trade Month and Global Exchange’s Fair Trade Cocoa Campaign.
On Halloween night, children across the U.S. will hand candy back to the adults who answer the door at over 100,000 households this Halloween. It’s not that they dislike candy; rather, the kids will be giving out Fair Trade chocolate attached to an informational card to raise awareness of the child labor, forced labor, trafficking, poverty and environmental degradation that is widespread on cocoa farms. Since the event was launched five years ago by Global Exchange and Equal Exchange, Reverse Trick-or-Treaters have delivered this important message, and a solution, to over half a million North American households. Reverse Trick-or-Treating will reach many community members in Portland and offer them the tools to make global change.
www.northwestfairtrade.wordpress.com
www.reversetrickortreating.org
Friday, Oct 7 – 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Fair Trade in Multnomah Village
Topanien Global Gifts, 7832 SW Capitol Highway
Celebrate International Fair Trade month on First Friday, Oct. 7 in Multnomah Village with Topanien Global Gifts. Local stores specializing in Fair Trade from around the globe will be the highlight. Create a Fair Trade Banner with printing blocks from India at Topanien Global Gifts. Learn about women and fair trade from AWAZ Voice for Empowerment, a local social enterprise working to educate and empower disadvantaged people in India. And enjoy fair trade coffee at Indigo Traders while you learn about their efforts to support artisans through Fair Trade practices.
Monday, Oct 10 – 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Film Screening of “The Dark Side of Chocolate”
Presented by Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans (OATH) KELLS Human Trafficking Speaker Series
Kells Irish Pub and Restaurant 112 SW 2nd Ave.
Is the chocolate we eat produced with the use of child labor and trafficked children? The Danish journalist Miki Mistrati decides to investigate the rumors. Follow the award winning journalist on his quest to expose child slavery and trafficking in the cocoa fields of West Africa where chocolate giants Nestle, Hershey and Cargill source their cocoa.
In partnership with Human Rights organization Global Exchange’s ‘Raise the Bar, Hershey’s’ Campaign.
Wednesday, Oct 12 – 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Film Screening of “The Fair Trade Movie”
Presented by NW Food Front Coop Monthly Movie Series
NW Multnomah Library, 2300 NW Thurman Street
The feature documentary The Fair Trade tells the story of Tamara Johnston who, devastated by the tragic death of her fiance, makes a bargain with God in exchange for a meaningful life. She and her twin sister Shelby join forces with brother-in-law Steven to start one of the first fair trade skincare companies—Anti-Body. Even as Tamara becomes a successful activist for human rights and social justice causes, despair over her loss remains unabated. As she nears the deadline of her bargain, a trip to Africa allows her to visit the fair trade co-op from which Anti-Body buys its organic shea butter. There, she finds a surprising answer to what is required of her in exchange for a sustainable life. www.foodfront.coop
Thursday, Oct 20th – 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Film Screening of “A Thousand Fibers” and Panel Discussion about the Fair Trade Craft Movement featuring stories from producers and knowledgeable professionals in the field
Presented by Northwest Fair Trade Coalition Third Thursday Film Series
Equal Exchange, 1033 SE Main
Buying Fair Trade is a conscious choice. When consumers choose it, they often understand the basics of Fair Trade and are cognizant of the various parts of the supply chain, including the essential—yet often overlooked—role of the person who produces the product. The documentary produced by Partners of Just Trade explores the principles of Fair Trade based on real life experiences, with a special focus on the lives of handcraft artisans in Peru. The film will be followed by an in depth discussion about fair trade artisan groups as a viable alternative to sweatshop production.
Saturday, 0ct 29th – 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Jubilee Oregon Annual Benefit, “Just Desserts”
Celebrating the cultures of the Global South through Food and Crafts
First Unitarian Church, Buchan Building, SW 12th and Salmon
Help fight debt cancellation in the Global South and join Jubilee Oregon for a sampling of desserts from 10 different countries of the Global South where unjust debt has kept them locked in the chains of extreme poverty. Enjoy wine, desserts from international restaurants around Portland and hear stories about Jubilee’s work in Zambia. Includes an additional Marketplace featuring fairly traded chocolate from Equal Exchange, handmade, accessories and decor from India from AWAZ Voice for Empowerment and traditional crafts from Ethiopia. A percentage of sale proceeds will benefit Jubilee Oregon. Tickets are $35. Scholarships available.
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