Monday, November 27, 2017

Shop Fair Trade at these upcoming events!

 

Fair Trade Alternative Gift Fair

First Lutheran Church (3rd & Ash)


As one of the oldest supporters of Fair Trade in San Diego, we hope you stop by and shop for handmade, beautiful and unique gifts Sunday, Dec. 3rd for 10am-12:30pm
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Holiday Fest and Fair Trade Faire

featuring holiday feast, fun, politics and a fabulous international bazaar


La Mesa - Foothills Democratic Club

 
Enjoy shopping with choices of imported coffees, teas, chocolates, handcrafted artisan baskets and jewelry, clothing, accessories and works of art from around the world. There will be a dozen boutiques and local companies exhibiting their wares, sure to give you a head start for your holiday shopping for friends and family.  

Article featured in La Mesa Courier
Fair Trade Faire to highlight Dems holiday feast  
November 24th, 2017 By Yahairah Aristy and Jeff Benesch | La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club

From modest beginnings over 70 years ago, the fair trade movement today is a global enterprise representing over 2 million producers and workers. The movement believes that trade can be a fundamental driver of poverty reduction and greater sustainable development, and disadvantaged farmers, workers and artisans can develop the capacity to take more control over their work and their lives.  Read more...

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 Holiday in the Village

Walk the streets of La Mesa's historic downtown and enjoy live music and dance, cozy fires, craft vendors, food, and a kids' area with holiday movies and activities.  Enjoy Fair Trade hot chocolate served by the students at St. Martin of Tours Academy while perusing the many booths including Genesis Fair Trade tabling next to the St. Martin Academy booth.

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Shop for your holiday gifts with your heart and mind.

St. Paul's Cathedral Episcopal Church

Traditional gift giving can reflect your compassion, commitment to justice, responsibility for our fragile earth, and respect for the human spirit.  Join us for this annual gift market of seasonal cheer and good will.    stpaulcathedral.org/events/alternative-gifts-expo/

Gift opportunities include:

  • Items from across the globe that are designed and crafted by artisans, such as jewelry, home décor, and personal accessories;
  • Savory and sweet culinary treats such as soups, mustard, jam, and condiments;
  • Fair Trade coffee, tea, chocolate, and olive oil;
  • Handmade clothing;
  • Donations to humanitarian causes such as refugees, children, healthcare in Haiti made in the name of your friend;
  • Hand-designed stationary and note cards;
  • Practical household items to help sustain the earth;
  • Other gifts that can do a “world of good”
Familiar vendors include Tomorrow Project, Episcopal Refugee Network, Equal Exchange, Plant with Purpose and many others, including several new vendors.  Enjoy shopping while listening to live music, sipping coffee or tea, and enjoying a free cup of soup with bread (offered from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.).

HAPPY FAIR TRADE HOLIDAY SHOPPING!

THANK YOU FOR BEING A CONSCIENCE CONSUMER WHO CARES 

ABOUT PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.



Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Fair Trade Shopping Event at Unity San Diego!

Please support new Fair Trade events throughout San Diego!  The awareness is growing about shopping with a conscience and every shopper needs to consider the source of where the product is from and if people throughout the supply chain are treated and paid fairly. 

Please consider attending their 1st Fair Trade event!







Thursday, October 26, 2017

Fair Trade Gift Shopping at the SD Mission • Sunday 10/29

The Mission San Diego de Alcala is hosting their first Fair Trade Shopping Event.
Please support local vendors who are making a difference.
Shop with joy & purpose! 

Mission San Diego de Alcalá
10818 San Diego Mission Road
San Diego, CA 92108  


Click here for more information.




Wednesday, October 18, 2017

A Successful Fair Trade Gift Fair!

Each year the La Mesa Fair Trade Gift Fair continues to grow.  Lots of vendors, free samples and shoppers were at the La Mesa Fair Trade Gift Faire on Oct. 15th. Thank you to Cafe Virtuoso (Rigo) for samples of  fair trade coffee, Ben & Jerry's (Ephraim) for fair trade ice-cream & Dr. Bronners (Sierra) for fair trade soaps & more.
Thank you to: All Across Africa, Around the World Gifts, Ben & Jerry's, Cafe Virtuoso, Fair Trade Decor, Dr. Bronners, Genesis Fair Trade, Guatemala Project, Malia Designs, The Golden Rule & Threads Worldwide.  Also featured was the Tomorrow Project, helping homeless women in San Diego to learn work skills through Catholic Charities.



Fair Trade cake using fair trade chocolate.
Celebrating a fair trade bake sale!
The 5th grade class at St. Martin of Tours Academy sold 
fair trade chocolate, teas and hot chocolate at the gift fair!



Friday, September 22, 2017

Fair Trade Shopping Event Coming to La Mesa!

 
There will be an opportunity to shop among a wide range of unique, one of a kind items at a gift faire scheduled for Sunday, October 15 (8am-1:30pm) at St. Martin of Tours Parish Hall.  Fair Trade refreshments will be available to sample and/or purchase and enjoy while shopping.   They include chocolate, tea, coffee, bananas, soda, and free samples of Ben and Jerry’s fair trade ice cream.

Local vendors who sell Fair Trade products will have baskets, jewelry, clothing accessories, home décor items, and an abundance of gift items.  Here is an opportunity to join the many thousands of today’s consumers who are adding “social responsibility” to their shopping list.

Fair Trade is a “win-win”.  The consumer gets a high quality product and the producer is paid fair wages for that product and is helped to make a better life.  Fair Trade items originate in impoverished areas of developing nations.  The guidelines for certification as fair trade ensure protection of the environment, education and health care for children,
and community development.

La Mesa has the distinction of being declared a “Fair Trade Town” and is published as such on a national level.  Each year a Fair Trade Gift Event is scheduled so as to bring further awareness about the good that is accomplished simply by making a fair trade purchase.   The motto is “Buy Local, Buy Fair”.

St. Martin of Tours Parish Hall
7710 El Cajon Blvd.
La Mesa, CA  91942


Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Celebrate Peace with the UN International Day of Peace

San Diego Fair Trade County will be tabling along with many local humanitarian organizations at the 4th Annual  
UN International Day of Peace in La Mesa
 
"Together for Peace:  
Respect, Safety and Dignity for All"
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Aztec Park
7945 Morocco Drive, La Mesa, CA 
The program, sponsored by the Interfaith Council of La Mesa, features speakers from faith traditions: Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Baha'i Faith and Native American, as well as cultural presentations from India, Africa, and North America.  The audience will be asked to contribute ideas on how to build a culture of peace.
From 3-3:45, humanitarian organizations will offer displays on domestic and international projects, and there will be non-competitive games for children.  The main program begins at 3:45pm.   
Bring a blanket, a chair or a yoga mat to sit  
comfortably during the program!  

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are designed to eliminate global poverty and address climate change. Of the seventeen total SDGs, fair trade directly relates to the following ones:

*no poverty * zero hunger * gender equality * decent work * industry innovation & infrastructure * reduced inequalities * responsible consumption & production * climate change * peace & justice
* partnerships

To learn more about the program, click here. 
  
Learn more about the United Nations TOGETHER Campaign  
  

Fair Trade San Diego County|fairtradesandiego@gmail.com

Friday, June 23, 2017

Meet & Greet at Eclipse Chocolates in South Park!

Fair Trade Event at Eclipse was held 

Friday, August 25, 2017.

The Meet & Greet Happy Hour at Eclipse Chocolates was an event that featured their hand made fair trade chocolates.  Daniel was happy to share why their company uses fair trade chocolate 
and at every event explains why it is important to buy fair trade.  

The menu was excellent and enjoyed by all.  The chocolate was incredible!  Genesis Fair Trade also sold beautiful handmade items.  Thank you to Eclipse & Genesis for a great evening of fair trade and meeting people who share our vision of a better world.
2145 Fern St, San Diego, CA 92104
 
All cacao is fair trade certified by Fair Trade USA.

















Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Celebrate World Fair Trade Day with 

San Diego Fair Trade County in Del Mar!

 


 

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

All are welcome to celebrate conscious consumerism at the E-Waste Recycling Center on Morena Blvd. below USD. 

Learn about Fair Trade and see how you can become a more conscious consumer!




Sunday, January 29, 2017

Local Soccer Ball Team purchases Fair Trade Balls!

The German Soccer Academy, located in Southpark, recently purchased fair trade soccer balls from Senda Athletics. Coach Craig Hyde made the switch recently with the encouragement of one of his coaches during the school year. 

Midge Hyde explains below how the change was made.

As one of Craig's coaches (and his mother), during the school year, I made a deal to take $10 less per week to cover the slightly more expensive soccer balls to use for his after school sports and soccer programs. It took a while but Craig was able to purchase the size balls he needed that weren't available at first. He is pleased that they are sturdy and even attractive. I thought it was a good sign that when Craig first checked last year, the smaller balls weren't available and there weren't too many size 5, the larger size. It was just before or shortly after the school year began which I presume meant that they were basically sold out. I hope this trend continues.  
Yah Senda!    
Midge

Midge Hyde has been a advocate of fair trade for many years.  She is a founding member of La Mesa Fair Trade and San Diego County Fair Trade.  She has worked to educate others about the good that fair trade accomplishes for people in developing countries.


FAIR TRADES ENSURES
Better livelihoods - Safe working conditions
No child labor
 

 
Every Senda ball is part of bigger mission to improve lives.
By choosing this Fair Trade soccer ball, your help provide improved livelihoods for workers and better opportunities for their families. .
 

Saturday, January 28, 2017

The Social Action Committee from the Mission de Alcala will have a table about how Fair Trade prevents human trafficking on Saturday 1/28/17.

Hope you stop by to check it out.   

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Dr. Bronner Event in Downtown San Diego!

Dr. Bronner’s to Host Record Release Party in Downtown San Diego to Launch LP of 

Historic Recordings of Founder Emanuel Bronner

Event to Feature Performances by The B-Side Players, Jill Sobule, Wayne Kramer of MC5, Iron Sage Wood, Rafi El; will Benefit Prison Reform Work of Jail Guitar Doors
January 04, 2017

VISTA, CA – Dr. Bronner’s, family-owned maker of the top-selling natural brand of soap in North America, will host a record release party and press event on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at the Music Box in San Diego, to launch its spoken-word album, Sisters & Brothers, on long play vinyl record. Sisters & Brothers contains recently unearthed historical recordings of soapmaker and company founder Emanuel Bronner discussing his Moral ABC—the eclectic, philosophical text that is found on the company’s iconic product labels. The launch party will feature special music performances by The B-Side Players, Jill Sobule, Wayne Kramer of MC5, Iron Sage Wood, and Rafi El. The event will showcase the company’s mission to support progressive social change by highlighting the prison reform work of Jail Guitar Doors.
Sisters & Brothers is a long-play record that features original recordings of Dr. Emanuel Bronner—visionary, soapmaker, grandfather and founder of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. Recorded between 1968 and 1988, on a variety of home-recording devices, the newly re-mastered tracks reveal poignant, inspiring monologue of Emanuel Bronner’s personal contemplation of the All-One philosophy, and its potential to unite humankind across Spaceship Earth. Emanuel Bronner died in 1997. Still family-owned and run by his grandchildren and other family members, Dr. Bronner’s honors its founder’s vision by continuing to make socially and environmentally responsible products of the highest quality, and by dedicating profits to help make a better world. The company has grown from $4 million in annual revenue in 1998 to over $100 million in 2016. The vinyl LP is a tribute to the legacy of the company’s founder.
Sisters & Brothers contains 16 tracks. A limited edition pressing of 1,000 copies will be available through the launch event and for purchase on the company’s website starting Jan. 25, 2017. Sisters & Brothers will also be available to stream online, and to purchase digitally at Bandcamp.com.
All proceeds from sales of the album will benefit the non-profit organization Jail Guitar Doors, an international non-profit founded by Billy Bragg, Wayne Kramer, and Margaret Saadi Kramer in 2009. The organization provides prisoners with instruments and access to music education and programming while behind bars to help rehabilitate and empower prisoners serving their time.
The Sisters & Brothers LP was created in concert with Dr. Bronner’s 2016 All-One Report. The report was designed to be an insert similar to liner notes for the album, printed in the form of a large 12” by 12” full color booklet that folds into a gigantic poster inspired by The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album artwork. The report is also available in digital format on the company’s website. It includes a timeline detailing the progress and achievements made in 2015 across the broad range of issues Dr. Bronner’s supports, and insight to the brand’s growth worldwide. It shares sales data, internal company metrics, revenue growth, fair trade supply chain impact, estimated environmental footprint, a complete list of 2015 social contributions, and much more. To view the second annual All-One Report, visit:
https://www.drbronner.com/all-one-report/.
###
Dr. Bronner’s is a family business committed to honoring the vision of founder Emanuel Bronner by making socially and environmentally responsible products of the highest quality, and by dedicating profits to help make a better world. Dr. Bronner’s commitment to social justice, environmental sustainability and progressive business practices is part of the company’s mission to put into practice the principles that inform the philosophy printed on the company’s iconic soap labels written by founder Emanuel Bronner. The company is the top-selling natural soap maker in North America and a major brand worldwide. Based on 2015 sales, a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s soap was sold, on average, every 3 seconds throughout the year.
For further information on Dr. Bronner’s, please visit: http://www.drbronner.com.
To learn more about Jail Guitar Doors, please visit: http://jailguitardoors.org.










Sunday, January 8, 2017

Beaucoup Imports - A New Fair Trade Store!

Fair Trade at your Fingertips!

Check out Beaucoup Imports
The La Mesa Fair Trade committee was excited to learn of a new on-line fair trade business whose owner is local.   Monya Kian is the Founder and CEO of Beaucoup Imports, LLC.  We asked her to describe her products and mission.  We hope you check out her website!
About Beaucoup Imports:
We are a recently-launched online business selling fair trade home décor, apparel, and jewelry from around the world.  Our website is designed to provide a wide spectrum of products as well as a backstory to each item, such as which country it was made and by whom.  We find that items that possess a story have more meaning and an additional appeal to our customers, and makes the products feel more authentic.
Beaucoup Imports was created with a specific mission: to enhance and further the array of fair trade products available in the market given that customers are increasingly interested in purchasing exotic products, rather than those mass-produced in large factories. We have products for all ages – from adorable baby booties and clothes to women’s dresses, purses, and jewelry.  We also have beautifully-crafted salad bowls and colorful fabrics for the home. Our goal is to make fair trade products accessible to all, which is why we are an online business and ship throughout the United States and in many countries around the world.
Over the coming months, we aim to expand our business to add more products on our website.  We are constantly looking for new and innovative items to feature and sell on our website.  In fact, we welcome the producers of fair trade and ethically-made items to reach out to us. If you have any ideas and would like to get in touch with us, we welcome your outreach.
Enjoy exploring our site and finding the fair trade products that you’ve been looking for!   beaucoupimports.com