AWAZ Voice for Empowerment: Stories from the Field

Real Benefits of Fair Trade Highlighted in two studies

2012-02-13T15:30:00.000-08:00

There is some positive news from the international Fair Trade community! Two studies have come out in the last two months which highlight the positive, real effect that fair trade has on producers and artisans around the world.

The first is a report from FLO detailing the positive growth of fair trade consumerism and workers/artisans throughout the world in 2010. Fair Trade is now in 63 countries around the world. Sales volume for Fair Trade items--Coffee, Bananas, Cocoa, Flowers and Plants, Tea, and Cane Sugar--all increased, some by as much as 22%. Seed Cotton had a decline in sales volume by 13%. All of these items had an increase in sales income for producers. The number of people working with Fair Trade organizations is increasing as well, with an estimated 1.15 million peple benefitting from their work; that number is expected to have increased to 1.2 million at the end of 2011.
You can read the entire report here.

The second report is a two year study (2008-2010) that was commissioned by the Fairtrade Foundation and was carried out independently by the Institute of Development Studies. This study focuses on banana producers that work under the fair trade umbrella. This study combines real numbers with recommendations on how to make the system better and how to reach a wider consumer base. The information is useful and speaks to the international fair trade community. Some of the critiques brought up in this article--in relation to banana plantations and workers--is that fair trade organizations are not creating new jobs, which is a major concern all over the world. There is also the concern that the volume of fair trade bananas that are sold yearly are not enough to create significant inroads in decreasing economic poverty in many of the countries that were profiled. This speaks to the need to widen the consumer base for fair trade items of all sorts, not just produce/food items.
You can read the entire report here.

One thing that stands out to me is that Fair Trade continues to gain a foothold on the global market every year. It is a viable trade/commerce model that allows for positive impact for producers and consumers. It gladdens me that this movement which I have become so wholeheartedly involved with continues to gain momentum and credibility.

These articles also bring to mind some of the ways the movement can improve for it's producers in developing nations and for consumers. One of the bigger that was brought to my attention was that some fair trade organizations are not creating new jobs; meaning, that fair trade organizations are working to re-tool farms and artisan groups to work within a fair trade model, and do not often create brand new co-ops and groups. I believe that there is a place for both, although it might be easier for a FT org to re-tool already existing organizations and groups. The hope is that once groups have become fair trade, they will have more room to welcome new artisans and farmers.

We welcome your comments! If you have some ideas/thoughts to share about these articles or any other Fair Trade issue, let us know! We would love to hear from you! Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter (@AWAZfairtrade), or email (awazvoice@gmail.com)!

Reflections from the Director, Sarah on the new year and year's past accomplishments

2012-01-18T18:34:00.000-08:00

To my dear friends and supporters

Happy New Year and Many Blessings from AWAZ

We welcome this new year with new beginnings and continued growth. We had another year of sales and service and we want to share our accomplishments!

The United Nations has coined 2012 the year of cooperatives. Will you join us in getting behind a movement that empowers economic independence for small producers and supports sustainable consumption?

Our goals this year were to become more well known in the Portland community and increase sales. We succeeded!

Thanks to new partnerships and more community outreach, we had a stronger presence in the greater Portland community last year and our sales grew 20% from the previous year. AWAZ has been a personal journey of mine since 2008 inspired by my passion for women empowerment and social and economic equality. While I miss working directly with communities in India, I feel I’ve helped more people see the problems and create change by buying fairly traded products when they shop. By addressing the root of the problem – our consumption – we can create an economic system that is a tool for empowering women and creating global change.

Thank you all for your ongoing support! Think of AWAZ’s Online Shop when you need a gift!

Over time, I’ve built a solid team of volunteers to support our work and represent the voices of our partner organizations in India. Learn more about Our Team.

We have just appointed our first Sales Manager to help take us into the new year! We’re only helping our partners and making change if we sell their products and can make regular orders – our goal this year: increase orders for our producers in India!!! We are going through some re-branding, revamping our website and producing a wholesale catalog as we speak! Contact Us and let us know some of your favorite stores that might be interested in carrying our products.

We had two Fundraiser Sales for local non profit organizations where we gave 20% of the proceeds to support their missions – Jubilee Oregon and Saint Mark Presbyterian Church. An AWAZ Ambassador hosted our first Fair Trade Home Party in her home this year, as well! Call us to book one for your friend’s birthday or an upcoming holiday gathering – it’s easy, fun and helps more people get to know about AWAZ and fair trade!

I’ve been an active leader for the NWFTC that has been working in partnership with local businesses and community organizations to promote fair trade in Portland collectively. We’ve done a lot of education and awareness building on a united front sponsoring year-long campaigns, events and networking to promote local fair trade.

Northwest Fair Trade Coalition

- 2^nd Annual Portland Fair Trade Marketplace at First Unitarian Church

- ‘Fair Trade Third Thursdays’ Education and Networking Night @ Equal Exchange

- Over 400 Reverse Trick-or-Treating Kits delivered to families to promote fair trade chocolate for Halloween

It’s been an exciting last few years for the fair trade movement as more small producers and their products became part of the supply chain and sales grew as a result of increased demand by consumers.

Globally, sales grew over 2009 by a strong 27% to $5.8 billion, with U.S. sales growing 5% to $1.3 billion, and Canadian sales growing 6% to $330 million. More farmers and producers are adopting sustainable farming practices, fair labor practices, democratic work structures and earning a better living as a result of joining the fair trade system. Learn more at the Fair Trade Resource Network.

Now, you can find more body care, medicinal teas and oils with fair trade ingredients in them – just read the labels at your local groceries and you’ll see! This year, fair trade vodka, gold, gemstones and organic and fair trade cotton were brought into the supply chain.

In India, our groups got increased visibility with the launch of the Indian national Fair Trade brand. The Fair Trade Forum-India is a membership organization representing over 60 artisan and producer organizations around the country to the international fair trade movement, buyers and stakeholders. With all the fragmentation happening in the international movement, producers are uniting to promote their efforts and values together. FTF-I opened Fair Trade Stories in cities throughout India representing their members that sell everything from apparel and home decor, featuring handwoven and embroidered threads to spices coming from women’s cooperatives. All our artisan partners in India are members of FTF-I and I’ve worked closely with them over the years helping some of our partners gain membership and get linked up with the movement.

I had a lot of interest this year for a tour to India for people to visit the organizations we work with, work with them and learn. While we’ve always facilitated Volunteer Work Placements for people, I hope to offer annual delegations to India, possibly starting in the Fall. It would be a great dream to be able to offer this for people. I have a great friend Neena who has opened a yoga ashram near Dehradun who I’m working with to promote her spiritual and healing programs there, nestled nicely in the foothills of the Himalayas. It all is dependent on the interest from you. Spread the word and let us know if you’re ever interested.

So please join us in this movement for change. We all have a Voice and are a voice for empowerment.

Be a Northwest Fair Trade Coalition Member!

Fair Trade Chocolate, Marketplace, and Movie with the NWFTC

2012-01-09T22:39:00.000-08:00

Join AWAZ and the Northwest Fair Trade Coalition (NWFTC) for awesome events to get your 2012 off to a great start!

NWFTC Fair Trade Third Thursdays @ Equal Exchange

January 19th

‘Chocolate Awareness and Fair Trade Desserts and Gifts for your loved ones on Valentine’s Day’

7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Equal Exchange, 1033 SE Main, Portland

Join us at Portland’s monthly fair trade networking night!

Help us raise awareness for the 'Raise the Bar, Hershey' Ca mpaign. On Jan. 19th, come by Equal Exchange from 7-8:30 to sign the petition (sign the online petition here), learn about new NWFTC projects, and meet some great new people! Last year, NWFTC did some great things with projects they promoted, including film screenings of the acclaimed documentary, ‘The Dark Side of Chocolate’, to help raise awareness about the child labor and trafficking in the cocoa trade around Portland. They passed out over 400 Reverse Trick-or-Treating kits promoting fair trade chocolate to communities in Portland and we’re gearing up for more!

There will also be a Fair Trade Marketplace, with LOTS of great Valent ine's Day gifts for him and her!

The marketplace includes:

Raffle of Gift Basket filled with fair trade goodies worth $50
Enjoy FREE Equal Exchange chocolate and hot cocoa and desserts made from fair trade baking cocoa!
Member Marketplace offering Fair Trade wine, flowers, chocolate and gifts from local fair trade businesses

After that, gear up for a special screening of 'The Dark Side of Chocolate' (in cased you missed it last year!) at the NW Multnomah County Library, 2300 Northwest Thurman Street from 6-7:30. Come for the movie, and stay for the FREE chocolate and drinks, and to check out the NEW fair trade chocolate Valentine's Day set available at NW Food Front! You can find them at 2375 NW Thurman St., Portland, Oregon 97210

NW Food Front Cooperative Monthly Film Series

Wednesday, February 8^th

Screening of ‘The Dark Side of Chocolate’

6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Meet the AWAZ Team

2011-12-01T22:27:00.000-08:00

I’ve been extremely fortunate over the years to be surrounded by great people who’ve helped me support the work of AWAZ. Making AWAZ a community driven effort has always been my dream – the more people involved, the more awareness and impact we can bring. The model is grassroots and I am thankful for all the people who have helped along the way: AWAZ interns and volunteers, fair trade colleagues, community leaders, business owners, textile designers, professors, family and friends.

From designing flyers to designing websites, they’ve offered their time and commitment to a vision of trade justice by helping to represent the voices of our partners in India : without them we would not have come so far.

I’d like to introduce the beautiful people who are working with us today and who’ve been a part of this journey to take the time to thank them. We’ve seen you grow and we thank you for growing with us!

AWAZ Interns and Volunteers - Portland, Oregon

Current

Sarah Snyder, Social Media and Communications

Salem native, Sarah Snyder, joined us this fall with a background in fair trade and an enthusiasm to learn more. She has been a godsend of newfound energy that is reminiscent of my college days as a campus organizer and I’m thankful to have her at my side to support key functions. Her positive attitude keeps me inspired and AWAZ filled with great new ideas.

Sarah first learned about fair trade after becoming a volunteer for Salem's fair trade store, One Fair World. She has a degree in Sociology where she wrote her Senior Thesis on the Social Impact of Fair Trade which highlighted the success story of 10,000 Villages, the founder of the fair trade movement. After college, she spent a year of Ameri-Corps service as a Farmer's Market Manager in WA and now gives her time to AWAZ by helping with community sales and outreach events, NWFTC and managing our blog, social media and newsletter.

She is doing an amazing job researching the latest news about the fair trade movement, sharing stories about our artisan partners, AWAZ events and keeping us all informed through regular facebook posts, tweets and writing blog articles. She shares loads of great resources – so LIKE US on facebook and follow OUR BLOG to stay connected to local and global action!

Read her latest post that shares more about her journey to fair trade.

Amy Price, Community Outreach

After 15 years of experience in the corporate and non profit sector, Amy stepped back from her full time job to pursue her long-time passion and interest in international social justice. She joined AWAZ in the fall to get some experience working for a local organization with an international mission while preparing to go back to school for a Masters in Sociology. I’m a firm believer that we all must be doing what we love or we wouldn’t be fulfilling our purpose in life – it takes guts and courage and I love that she, and many people alike, are beginning to walk that path.

She has been a great addition to the team, using her background and great interpersonal skills to help promote AWAZ and the ideas behind global economic justice to new demographics and communities. She is a voice for fair trade at many of our events in the community and by organizing her own – she recently hosted an AWAZ Fair Trade Home Party to help her friends, vote with their dollars and implement the ideas they value in their everyday life.

Her belief of fair trade as a tool for sustainable international development inspired her to join the NWFTC, the local fair trade grassroots organization that serves as an educational resource for fair trade in Portland and surrounding areas. (learn more about the NWFTC monthly film series and annual events around Portland and how you can get involved)

She is gearing up for a 3 month trip to Colombia next year to volunteer and understand grassroots community development overseas. And while she may not always be an intern with AWAZ, she forever will serve as a goodwill ambassador for fair trade and that in itself, is our main aim – learn about it, practice it and promote it.

Chris Elliott, Web Developer

Chris is the amazingly, skilled IT guy behind the screen who keeps our website alive, functioning and forever improving. Often unnoticed and not praised enough (like most people in IT these days), he spends hours at end reading, coding and making all the changes to the website to appease my expectations. I am truly thankful for his time and energy he gives to AWAZ every time I look at our website!!

With a degree in Anthropology, he combines his interest in global cultures with a newfound passion for information technology to AWAZ. Over the years, he’s learned various coding languages and skills through professional upgrades and various work experiences which has helped him, with ease, maintain our website. He was instrumental in the planning and implementing of the new facelift of our website - from enhancing the functions to our shopping cart, to creating rotating banners and event calendars, he is continuously helping us convey our mission by making our website user-friendly and search engine optimized.

Congratulations to him and his wife for becoming new parents to a baby son, Orin, this year!

Previous

We've had some amazing interns and volunteers over the last few years. We recognize you for your valuable contributions to AWAZ!

Megan Gex, Graphic Designer

Trina Jones, Social Media and Communications

Annie Quimet, Graphic Designer

Stuart Wood, Social Media and Development

Kim Elliot – Expressions of Eden Photography

Intern Profile: "Trade, not Aid", My fair trade journey

2011-11-28T16:01:00.000-08:00

After watching last week's Third Thursday's film "Black Gold", I was struck with how much the film spoke to my personal journey with fair trade. The film followed a coffee cooperative in Ethiopia and through their trials and tribulations spelled out why fair trade is so important to these farmers. These are the same reasons I support the movement, and I try to follow it everyday. Fair Trade promotes the idea that it is better if people in underdeveloped nations, such as Ethiopia, can get a job that offers a living wage (not just cents a day), benefits, and a social premium the workers can spend on education facilities, health clinics, proper clothes, etc. As stated in the movie, "We need trade, not aid". Like people in the US, the people in poorer nations would like to do an honest day's work for their money; no one likes to feel like they are receiving patronizing charity. Fair Trade institutions allow the farmers in Ethiopia and many others like them build their own infrastructures and build a community they can be proud of.

After the initial screening of the movie, Mr. Tadesse's coffee cooperative was able to get increase the price per pound of their coffee from $1.45 to $2.30

My discovery of fair trade began in high school, around 2004. I was wandering around downtown Salem as I was wont to do, and saw a store that caught my eye. I walked into a Ten Thousand Villages retail store and was hooked. I had heard the term "fair trade" before, but now it became a reality; I was glad there was a form of consumerism that supported the worker and wasn't solely focused on profits. I shopped their whenever I had the money, and when I moved to Colorado for school, was lucky enough to find another shop down the street from my dorm. A couple of years later I moved back to Oregon, and started a degree at Western. As part of my degree, I was required to write a thesis, and wound up wanting to write about Fair Trade. I focused my research into local shops and how they work--and related that to the global movement--and started volunteering at my local Ten Thousand Villages shop in Salem. During my research they became an independent business and changed their name to One Fair World.

Located in beautiful historic downtown Salem, OR

After my research was complete, I was unable to devote much time to volunteering with them, but I tried to promoted fair trade as much as I could. Recently, as I was roaming around job sites, I happened upon a local fair trade retailer who was looking for an intern. After talking with Sarah, it felt serendipitous; I was so happy to be back working around fair trade ambassadors and lucky to work with an independent enterprise.

I've only been an intern with AWAZ for three months, but I have met such amazing, passionate people that continue to be an inspiration to me. Sarah Mitts, the wonderful AWAZ founder and entrepreneurial go-getter, shows me that you don't have to be a millionaire to make a difference in other people's lives. She lives and breathes fair trade, and inspires others to do the same. Without her hard work and dedication neither AWAZ nor the Northwest Fair Trade Coalition would be around.
Amy, AWAZ's other intern, inspires me with her courage to leave her job in order to join us, travel the world, and continue her education.
Rafael of Portland's Equal Exchange continues to amaze me with his breadth of knowledge about fair trade other social justice issues, as evidenced by his GREAT talk about fair vs. direct trade after the film the other day!

I hope someday I can be as cool as these people :)
These past three months have been a great reminder to myself about why I am involved in promoting fair trade and why I will continue to support it for the rest of my life.

And just in case the above isn't enough to get you to pledge your support to buy fair tr ade, let me break it down for you:

Why I support Fair Trade:

It is a economically viable alternative to free trade agreements
It encourages individual farmers to form democratic coops, which give them the strength, power, and confidence to negotiate better prices for themselves
Within the coops, farmers/artisans are encouraged to find their own voice and contribute to the entire process.
A large portion of the fair trade movement is devoted to education, and not just for the children of the workers. As seen in "Black Gold", the coffee farmers didn't know how much a kilo of their coffee would be sold for in the US. Without that knowledge, farmers/artisans cannot even begin to compete in the global marketplace. Fair trade institutions address that need directly.
Fair trade organizations FTOs) pay a social premium on top of the minimum standard wage. FTOs like Equal Exchange, for example, set a base wage that will be paid to farmers/artisans no matter what the market price is that is always above the minimum wage standard in that country. If the market price goes down, the farmer is still paid that higher price; if the market goes up, the wage paid the farmer goes up with it.
Emphasis is put on sustainability, not profits. Sustainability in this case means cultural sustainability, economical sustainability, and environmental sustainability.
FTOs empower traditionally disempowered groups, such as women, the disabled, and indigenous populations. It also disallows child labor and any kind of exploitative treatment.
FTOs create long-term relationships with their coops/farmers/artisans so that those groups can be confident in a stable, consistent income.

Fair Trade for Life!

Join us for the next film screening "Black Gold" on November 17

2011-11-06T12:49:00.000-08:00

WHERE: Equal Exchange, 1033 SE Main, Portland, Oregon

WHEN: Thursday, November 17, 2011

TIME: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

The Northwest Fair Trade Coalition is featuring “Black Gold” for this month's educational film about Fair Trade and economic justice.

About the Film
Coffee is the second most valuable commodity traded on the global market. It is exported by developing countries to wealthy developed countries, where the majority of the coffee is consumed. Many farmers who grow coffee are paid very low prices and workers in the commodity chain often earn less than a dollar per day in this multi-billion dollar industry.

In spite of increasing prices for retail coffee, prices paid to producers have declined drastically. A small handful of conglomerates who dominate the coffee the market, the world’s wealthiest stock exchanges, and the elite members of the WTO play a significant role in determining prices for the commodity vital to the economy and livelihoods of millions in the developing world.

The producers of “Black Gold” could no longer standby and wait for someone else to tell the story of the dire situation faced by the thousands of families who rely on coffee production. They met a man named Tadesse Meskele whose mission is to find sustainable solutions for coffee farmers in Ethiopia by breaking down the barriers to fair trade and finding buyers around the world who are willing to pay fair prices. Tadesse also wants consumers to understand where their coffee came from and how their consumption choices impact producers.

Tadesse grew up in rural Ethiopia outside of the capital Addis Ababa. His determination to rise out of poverty motivated him to excel in school and gain entrance to a university. Now, he is the general manager of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Co-operative Union and represents over 100 farm co-ops. His goal is to not only help coffee farmers receive fair prices for production but also to be influential in making the global market work for everyone.

Discussion
After the film, guests will be invited to participate in a discussion in which Rafael, from Equal Exchange, will share more about the coffee trade, how it affects farmers and the ethical challenges the industry faces. This is a great opportunity for people of all ages to get educated about where their joe comes from.

He’ll be discussing parallels how non fair trade coffee and fair trade coffee effect farmers around the world and present the facts about:

Fair trade vs. direct trade
Fair Trade ‘fairwashing’ in the movement
Equal Exchange fair trade practices
New product sampling of fair trade Palestinian Olive Oil and California Almonds

Fair Trade and Direct Trade Principles - A Primer for the Discussion

Fair Trade Principles (from Green America’s “Guide to Fair Trade”)

Fair Prices - A fair price is set for commodities such as coffee and cocoa to ensure that farmers and producers can: Cover the cost of production; Meet their living needs; Develop and improve their communities.

Empowerment and Self-Sufficiency - Farmers and producers are empowered and self-sufficient by: Creating accountability and transparency; Ensuring farmers have a voice; Giving farmers control of revenue management and community investment funds.

Investment in Community and Cultural Tradition - Fair Trade prices include a “social premium” for community development and preservation of tradition and culture so that: Projects such as schools, health clinics, and women’s programs are funded; Artisan producers get access to markets for the traditional handicrafts or apparel.

Women’s Participation - Fair wages paid equally to both men and women encourage women’s leadership in cooperatives and results in: Options to work outside the home; Greater economic independence and less dependence on aid; Additional prosperity for the community.

Friendly Environmental Practices - Encourage farmers and producers to adhere to international standards for environmental protection by: Providing financial incentives and resources for organic farming, water conservation, and education; Using price premiums to install low water consumption irrigation systems, crop rotation programs, and proper waste handling.

Direct Trade (from Counter Culture Coffee’s Direct Trade Certification)

Personal and direct communication - Establish long term relationships with small farmers so that: Buyers and producers collaborate and directly communicate to develop prices; Buyers can assess ecological practices and working conditions; Buyers learn about the people and culture in farming communities.

Fair Prices - Buyers pay a fair price, set by discussions with growers to ensure: Premium quality; Production expenses are covered.

Transparency - Accountability and transparency is established throughout the supply chain so that: Expectations and responsibilities are clearly understood; Financial information is not obscured.

Financial Incentives - Payment above the [fair] floor price encourages and rewards quality in order to: Promote high quality premium coffee; Maintain a high standard for consumers who are willing to pay premium prices for higher quality coffee.

Sources:
http://blackgoldmovie.com/
http://www.greenamerica.org/programs/fairtrade/orderguide.cfm
http://counterculturecoffee.com/direct-trade/direct-trade-certification-faq

Additional Information:
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blackgold/film.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/dining/12coff.html?pagewanted=1
http://www.ethicalcoffee.net/fair.html

Nov. & Dec. 2011 Holiday Events in Portland

2011-10-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

Find unique, ethical gifts at these great holiday events this year! You can touch, feel, see and hear more about the great quality products we offer and the impact of your purchases on the communities we support. JOIN US!

Nov. 4 & 5 – Harvest Bazaar

9am – 4pm both days

Clackamas Park Friends Church

8120 SE Thiessen Rd

Milwaukie, OR 97267

Nov. 5th & 6th

Resurrection Catholic Church

11/5/2011 From 10-6 p.m.

11/6/2011 From 9:30-1 p.m.

21060 SW Stafford Rd

Tualatin, OR 97062

Nov. 12

West Linn Holiday Bazaar @ the Adult Community Center

9am – 4pm

1180 Rosemont Road

West Linn, Oregon

Nov. 13

Fair Trade Marketplace at 1^st Unitarian Church Portland

10am – 4pm

1034 SW 13th Ave. Portland, Oregon 97202

Dec. 3-4th

Aurora Arts Association 12th Annual Holiday Show & Sale

9am - 5 pm

Pythian Hall, 2nd & Liberty, Aurora, OR 97002

Enjoy handcrafted art from local artists in one of the most antique towns in the nation! We'll be there too :)

http://auroracolony.com/wp/

Dec. 4th

Holiday Bazaar @ Aurora Presbyterian Church

9am - 4pm

21553 Liberty Street, NE, Aurora, Oregon 97002

Holiday Bazaar @ Multnomah Presbyterian Church

9am - 1pm

7555 Southwest 45th Avenue Portland, OR 97219

Dec. 6

Fair Trade Marketplace at ReDirect Guide Green Drinks

6:30pm - 8:45pm

Ecotrust Building - 2nd Floor Conference Room
721 NE 9th Ave
Portland, OR 97209
http://www.pdxgreendrinks.org/events/2011/dec/december-green-drinks

Dec. 10

Holiday Bazaar @ Trinity United Methodist Church

9am – 3pm

3915 SE Steele St

Portland, OR 97202

2nd Annual Portland Fair Trade Marketlplace Sun Nov. 13th!

2011-10-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

Come join AWAZ, the Northwest Fair Trade Coalition, and others for the Second Annual Fair Trade Marketplace on Sunday, November 13th, from 10am - 4pm. This is gearing up to be the best one yet! AWAZ and friends have worked hard to bring you the best (and only!) Fair Trade Marketplace in Portland! We have a great line-up of Fair Trade vendors, featuring items from around the world! Come prepared to get all of your holiday shopping done and out of the way!

The First Unitarian Church of Portland is kind enough to host us for this event.

WHAT: 2^nd Annual Portland Fair Trade Holiday Marketplace

WHERE: First Unitarian Church, Buchan Building

1011 SW 12^th Ave., Portland, OR 97205

WHEN: Sunday, November 13, 2011

TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

COST: FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Confirmed Vendors include: AWAZ Voice for Empowerment, Equal Exchange, Topanien Global Gifts, Ojoba Collective, Jubilee Oregon, Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans

The Portland Fair Trade Holiday Marketplace is sponsored by:

Northwest Fair Trade Coalition

Economic Justice Action Group of the First Unitarian Church

ReDirect Guide Portland

KBOO Radio

For more information, see the Coalition post

Join the Fair Trade Movement - Host an AWAZ Home Party

2011-10-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

In August of this year I left a comfortable job so that I could pursue my passion for social and economic justice. I met Sarah Mitts, the founder of AWAZ Voice for Empowerment, and was inspired to take action and join the fair trade movement.

I realized that one of the most powerful ways that we, as individuals, can address the social and economic disparities is by purchasing goods that are traded in a system that is fair and just for all - from the producers, to the artisans, to the consumers, and for the environment.

So, in addition to attending events and learning more about fair trade, next month I will host a home party featuring products from the AWAZ collection. My friends will get a closer look at this beautiful collection which includes a wide variety of handmade eco-friendly products and have an opportunity to hear an in depth talk about the artisan groups who make the products and how they benefit from the fair trade.

Because we can't always enjoy a personal conversation directly with the artisans or producers of the products we buy, we don't know the conditions in which they were made and aren't able to make a personal connection.

But by hosting an AWAZ home party, you can listen to first-hand stories, told by Sarah, learn about the long term relationships AWAZ is building with the artisans and producers, and hear about how your purchases are empowering groups in India.

When you host an AWAZ home party, you can earn a hostess credit (15-20% depending on sales), spend it on discounted products, and receive a free gift or donate the hostess portion of the sales proceeds to your favorite charities or one of the AWAZ partner projects in India.

Will you join me in this movement for fair and just trade?

If you are interested and want to host a party yourself, check out the information on the website here: Fair Trade Home Parties.

AWAZ founder Sarah Mitts speaks on Panel about Fair Trade Craft Movement at NWFTC Third Thursday Film Series

2011-10-13T09:46:00.000-07:00

Join us next Thursday, Oct 20th, as the Northwest Fair Trade Coalition, AWAZ, and other coalition members come together to bring you another educational Fair Trade Film. This film explores the impact of fair trade organizations on producer groups in Peru. Come learn about the basics of fair trade and how they are applied to real producer groups.

The film will be "A Thousand Fibers", hosted at Equal Exchange HQ, 1033 SE Main. This film explores the direct impact buying fairly can have. When consumers choose Fair Trade, 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.

Come for the movie, stay for the artisan stories!
What: "A Thousand Fibers"
Where: Equal Exchange 1033 SE Main St.
When: 6pm - 7:30pm

Following the film, members of the coalition will speak about their specific projects and the artisan groups they work with. Sarah, founder of AWAZ and NWFTC, will speak to her work with Stree Shakti. Sarah has a special relationship with Stree Shakti. In 2007, Sarah spent six months with the artisan group, living and working with them. She knows how important their work with Stree Shakti is for their families and their personal empowerment. This group has become a second family for her, and they hold a very special place in her heart. Joining Sarah will be Margaret ____, a representative of Mayan Hands, a fair trade organization that works with around 200 Guatemalan women from 9 different communities. Come learn about Sarah's work in India and Margaret's work with workers in Guatemala. Share their stories and learn how to help.

Street Shakti means “women power” in Hindi and serves serves as a handicraft income generating program for more than 80 low income women in rural communities outside of Dehradun, in the foothills of the Himalayas mountains. In 2003, The Purkal Youth Development Society (PYDS) started this project to help create economic stability for women and their families in Purkal and neighboring villages. Stree Shakti works to empower women to become income earners in their family by providing the workers with the resources and training for producing and selling handicrafts. Stree Shakti produces many beautiful products, including hand-sewn quilts, greeting cards that highlight their quilting work, and natural dye block printed bags--both women's and men's styles.

Help us help them! 30% of each sale goes straight back to the Stree Shakti women

AWAZ is doing a special promotion of Stree Shakti's work. For every package of Quilt Greeting Cards that are sold, 30% of those profits go directly to the artisan group. This 30% is on top of the price that was already paid for the item. The money will go to support educational and empowerment projects for the women artisans. Find their more of their items here, and be sure to check out our other partners! These artisan groups all uphold the values of Fair Trade and through that create beautiful items for the whole family, including scarves, clothing, kid's toys, and jewlery. Be sure to visit our site for a great gift for any occasion!

World Pulse LIVE: An Evening with International Women Speaking for Themselves.

2011-10-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, October 6th, Awaz representatives attended a night of stories, empowerment, and strength. World Pulse, along with the Mercy Corps Action Center in Portland, sponsored the reception for three women who were there to share their powerful stories of overcoming obstacles in order to reach their goals and help other women and girls do the same. As the founder of World Pulse says, our goal is to "[put] women at the dials of control of their own destinies".

World Pulse is a magazine founded by Jensine Larsen in 2003 as a forum for women from all over the world to share their stories. It includes opportunities for women to send in their short narratives, to be connected to a large online community of other women, and even a chance to be involved in a US speaking tour.

No One Speaks for me, I Speak for Myself

Three women-- Sarvina, Beatrice, and Martha-- traveled from Cambodia, Uganda, and Colombia to the US to share their stories. They were part of a journalism training program called "Voice of the Future". They were selected from a group of 600 women, and are now part of the first group to be able to tour the US with their stories.

Sarvina grew up in Cambodia, where she beat the odds and became the first woman in her province to get a university degree. She is using her education to help other girls and women in Cambodia do the same. There are strong prejudices against teaching women, as well as teaching poor women; Sarvina believes that if this prejudice were overcome, these same women would not need to become sex workers in order to make a living.

[My goal is] to have a community of women who are empowered to stand up for their rights and are equal participants in society

Sarvina shared a story of self-empowerment that was enhanced by the global network of women at Pulse Wire. She taught herself in order to go to University, and along with the support of her online friends, taught herself English. Thursday's event was the first time she had spoken English in front of a crowd, and she did a brilliant job!

Another particpant, Beatrice, also shared her story of self-empowerment. She is from Uganda, where AIDS runs rampant. She has lost all seven brothers and one sister to the disease. Her passion is grass-roots education to end the stronghold it has on people in her community. She also wants to see all children educated--she herself educates her nieces and nephews at home--because "with education and good health we are empowered".

I believe everybody has the potential to live a better life. Given the opportunity, education and motivation ANYONE can become someone admirable.

Beatrice works to empower those around her, starting with her family. With her support and encouragement, her mother was able to keep the family land after the last adult male relative died. This is unheard of in Uganda, where women have no right to land.

Martha comes from Colombia. As a child, her father taught her the importance of the forest and all of its inhabitants. Today, she keeps that passion with her in her work. She seeks to be the voice of indigenous people who live in the forest, and for the forest itself. The mission of her non-profit organization Sentir is to help sustainable development through education, conservations, eco-tourism, and investigation.

We might think we can not change the world. But WE CAN. If everyone cares...ANYTHING CAN BE CHANGED.

Through her work with World Pulse, Martha is able to have a voice, and share her stories. She sees that more women are speaking up, but many more are kept in silence. They believe they have nothing to say, but they all do. They are taught to keep silent, and through those teachings learn to stay silent.

From left to right: Jensine, Beatrice, Martha, and Sarvina

This event was part of a movement to show that when women unite, empower each other, and are allowed to share their stories, wonderful things happen. This is also part of the work AWAZ is doing. Awaz works with women's cooperatives in Northern India that give women the opportunity to develop skills--often traditional crafting skills--interests, and a personality. By involving themselves in something they enjoy, that gives them more freedom of expression, these women are able to find their voice and their own way in life. These women are compensated fairly for their work--they set their own prices-- and through the fair wage are able to support their family, send their children to school, and have a life outside of the home.

This is the goal of many Fair Trade organizations. Women and men are empowered to be their own voice, and to be part of the change they wish to see. By supporting World Pulse, Awaz, and other similar organizations, one can be part of that change. By supporting these organizations, one can help the marginalized become the demarginalized.

Read more about these courageous women, other women involved in World Pulse, and the artisans AWAZ works with. You can also watch a video with Jensine and Beatrice in Portland!

Oct. 29th, AWAZ fundraiser sale at Jubilee Oregon's annual benefit 'Just Desserts'

2011-10-05T21:17:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to announce that we'll be hosting an AWAZ fundraiser sale at Jubilee Oregon's annual benefit, 'Just Desserts' on Saturday, October 29th. AWAZ Voice for Empowerment will have a booth selling beautifully handmade fairly traded products from India and 20% of the sale proceeds from that night will be donated to Jubilee Oregon. Jubilee Oregon is a member of the Northwest Fair Trade Coalition and works locally to fight debt cancellation in the Global South.

Jubilee Oregon is continuing the global debt cancellation campaign started in the 90’s when forty countries collectively campaigned for the elimination of external debt incurred by developing countries during the Jubilee 2000 movement. Independent chapters sprouted from the movement to pursue the unfinished business of debt abolition. Countries shackled by debt find themselves forced to funnel money toward repaying high interest loans instead of funding much needed health care programs, education, and sanitary programs. This only serves to perpetuate poverty. Jubilee’s goal is to eliminate 100% of the debt, thereby lifting the impossible burden that keeps these countries from focusing on human and economic development and rising out of poverty.

“The world's poorest countries pay almost $23 million EVERY DAY to the rich world. Jubilee Debt Campaign is demanding an end to the scandal of poor countries paying money to the rich.” Jubilee Oregon

The upcoming event is a great opportunity for you to learn more about ways you can support economic and social justice in your community and around the world.

One of the most powerful ways you can vote is with your dollars! We hope you can make it to this event and visit the marketplace. This is a great time to buy something from our collection that you've wanted. We'll be joined with products from Equal Exchange and handcrafts from Ethiopia whose sales will also benefit Jubilee. For a great cause, you'll enjoy desserts from 10 different countries around the world, wine and great company!

"Just Desserts"
Saturday, Oct. 29th ,7-9 PM
First Unitarian Church, Buchan Room

SW 12th between Main and Salmon
Tickets are $35 with some scholarships available

www.jubileeoregon.org

Awaz, NWFTC Celebrate Fair Trade Month! Films, Festivities, and more!

2011-10-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

October is Fair Trade Month, and you know what that means! Lots of fun events throughout Portland for the whole family! Awaz and other fair trade friends will be hosting different events throughout October. The events include several film screenings, fundraisers, and reverse trick-or-treating, all in an effort to promote fair trade and build consciousness surrounding the many social justice issues around the world.

Coming up this Friday, Oct. 7
Topanien Glob al Gifts will be hosting a First Friday event with Awaz and Indigo Traders. Come to enjoy free fair trade coffee, help them create a fair trade banner with supplies from India, and learn about the benefits of Fair Trade locally, globally, and environmentally. The fun starts at 6pm and runs til 9pm, at Topanien Global Gifts in Multnomah Village; 7832 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, Oregon USA 97219.

Also coming up, Awaz--in partnership with NWFTC, will be hosting another 3rd Thursday Film night! On Thurs, Oct. 20 we will be showing "A Thousand Fibers" and will be leading a discussion about the film and the impact local fair trade consumerism can have globally. See the trailer here.

For a full list of events, please go to the NWFTC Events page.
On Monday, Oct. 10, "The Dark Side of Chocolate" will be shown at Kells Irish Pub from 6-7:30. This event is presented by Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans (OATH).
On Wednesday, Oct. 12, The NW Food Front Coop will be showing "The Fair Trade Movie" from 6:00-8:oopm at the Multnomah Library, 2300 NW Thurman Street.
On Saturday, Oct. 29th, Jubilee Oregon will be hosting a special fundraising event! 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. Awaz and Equal Exchange will also be there! Tickets are $35. See their website for more information.

And Don't Forget! You can still pick up your FREE Reverse Trick-or-Treating kit from NW Food Front Coop all through the month of October!

FTF-I Fair Trade Summit in India: Promoting Fair Trade and Sustainable Consumption at Home

2011-09-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

Many of us know that there are many organizations in the US which support fairly traded items from around the world. We, Awaz, sell items made by women's cooperatives in Northern India. Equal Exchange sources coffee and chocolate from countries including, but not limited to, Guatamala, The Dominican Republic, and Peru. These are efforts from other organziations that seek to gather groups together, by giving them the skills they need to succeed. However, there is more to the story.

There are efforts from within countries that are trying to build Fair Trade networks in their local areas. One such effort is the Fair Trade Forum - India (FTF-I).

FTF-I is the national network for Fair Trade in India. Through 75 member partners, FTF-I is reaching out to more than 100,000 grassroots level producers including artisans & farmers in India. FTF-I, as the Indian national network, is working in close coordination with WFTO (World Fair Trade Organization). FTF-I is also working as the country office of WFTO-Asia.

Last July, FTF - I formed a Summit on Sustainable Consumption. As the title suggests, FTF - I wanted to create a dialogue around promoting sustainable consumption within India--to create an environment in which every Indian is aware of the issues and solutions. Previously, FTF - I, in partnership with HIVOS, IRFT & Shop for Change launched "Pro Sustain" -- a project to promote Fair Trade & Sustainable Consumption in India. This particular summit was created with the idea of building alliances between organizations to promote fair trade and make sustainability practices common.

"There is a need for the industry, government, civil society, academia, [and] artisans to work together towards sustainable development and to promote sustainable production and consumption" --Parul Soni: Executive Director and Practice Leader, Development Advisory Services at Ernst & Young

The summit went well, and concluded with a networking discussion between local entrepreneurs, FTF - I, and their member organziations. There is still work to be done, however; these groups will still be promoting fair trade and sustainable consumption within their own country until they see it become a nation-wide reality.

It is important to realize that not only are changes happening in the US, but are also happening within the under-developed nations our programs support. Passionate people within India are working to improve their state in life, and by doing so are helping improve the area they live in--both socio-economically and environmentally.

UPDATE: Fair Trade Fortnight! From 8 to 22 October Fair Trade Forum India has organized actions to promote Fair Trade and sustainable living. Events include awareness and education campaigns, sale of fair trade products, and panel discussions. You can read more about it here, and stay updated on FTF- I's facebook page.

NWFTC gives out FREE Reverse Trick-or-Treating Kits for Portland families this Halloween

2011-09-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

Visit the NW Food Front location during the month of October to get your FREE reverse trick-or-treating kit! The Northwest Fair Trade Coalition, in partnership with Food Front Cooperative grocery in Northwest Portland, is providing Portland families with an alternative way to celebrate halloween. On Halloween night, children will hand candy back to the adults who answer their door at over 100,000 households nation-wide this Halloween. Children still get to enjoy the fun of going door-to-door, and in turn they can educate their neighborhood about the presence and availability of Fair Trade chocolates, and the issues that necessitate the need for fair trade items.

Reverse trick-or-treating is a national event that started fifty years ago to raise awareness of the child labor, forced labor, trafficking, poverty and environmental degradation that is widespread on cocoa farms. Through the campaign, children are making a stand that these exploitative practices will not be tolerated! Join us and Reverse Trick-or-Treaters around the country in reaching over 200,000 households this year!

Come down to the NW Food Front Cooperative at 2375 NW Thurman St. Portland, Oregon 97210.You can get maps and directions here. If you are unable to get your FREE kit, you can dowload and print off these flyers to distribute to houses and spread this important message.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. DONATIONS TO THE COALITION TO RAISE MORE AWARENESS ABOUT FAIR TRADE AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE CAN BE MADE ALL MONTH AT NW FOOD FRONT COOP!!

EJAG: Economic Justice Activism in Portland + new Fall Film Series

2011-09-22T20:54:00.000-07:00

This blog is meant to not only be a place to follow AWAZ's work, but also a place to learn of new ways to become involved in social justice causes around Portland. AWAZ owner Sarah has been actively involved in a few local organizations as an organizer and supporter, one of which is EJAG. The Economic Justice Action Group (EJAG) strives to create a better world for everyone to live in--one that promotes health, well-being, and happiness for all.

EJAG is a part of the Social Justice Program of the First Unitarian Church of Portland. Their mission is “to raise public awareness and to take action on behalf of the citizens of our community, nation and world in order to: promote the supremacy of life-sustaining and life-enhancing values, promote fair and just economic policies and practices and work to overcome unfair policies and practices, promote equal access to economic opportunity, and to promote democratic participation in national, state and local decisions on economic issues”.

Because EJAG’s mission is carried out by its members, they are ever changing and adjusting to our economic times. Their current areas of focus include the following subgroups: Democracy, Health Care, Fair Trade, Real Wealth, and Tax Fairness.
Learn more about their efforts to reform the Mental Health System and support for local banking by visiting their website or attending their next meeting.

As a part of their mission statement, Sarah has been an active member in EJAG, as a representative of AWAZ and NWFTC. She is part of this group because it is a great group of local activists and organizers who pool resources to work together, and because it is a great place to start expanding your knowledge about current challenges today, no matter what your interest, and take action in support of local and global change. Their blog posts--often in conjunction with Alliance for Democracy--update you on current campaigns in the area that you can help support, and keep you informed of the latest issues important to you. If you feel moved to contact your representative in government, EJAG lends a helping hand by providing this list.

EJAG hosts a Fall Documentary Film Series that starts next Friday, September 30. The film is called “What a Way to Go”, and will be held at 6:30 at the Eliot Chapel. A synopsis can be found here. They have a great list of more movies they're showing, see below.
For even more information about Social Justice programs and EJAG, contact Rev. Kate Lore, Minister of Social Justice, at klore@firstunitarianportland.org, and see their calendar of events, or the movie listings.

Review of 'The Price of Sugar' shown by Portland Fair Trade group NWFTC: actions to take home

2011-09-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday the Northwest Fair Trade Coalition (NWFTC) hosted the first in their Third Thursday film series aimed at educating the public about global economic injustice and promoting local fair trade businesses/organizations.

About 25 people showed up to watch “The Price of Sugar”. Sarah Mitts—AWAZ founder and Northwest Fair Trade Coalition member gave an informational presentation about fair trade and the ways people can get involved with the coalition; the movie helped to drive her point home about how the simple act of buying consciously can have such a global impact.

The movie focused on the exploitation of Haitian immigrant workers on sugar plantations in the Dominican Republic, and the story of one priest Father Christopher Hartley, who was trying to stand up for their rights. The sugar plantations are owned by the Vicini family who have a monopoly over the industry and are the main supplier of Dominican sugar to the U.S.

The Haitians who were smuggled across the border by plantation security end up living in slum communities on the plantations known as Bateyes, where most of the story takes place. They were promised good jobs and good pay; the promise of hope for their young children. However, they were stripped of their documents and identification cards, and were placed under armed guard once they got to the Bateyes and never allowed to leave. In place of money, they are paid in food vouchers that can only be redeemed at an expensive company store.

Father Christopher worked tirelessly to improve the living conditions for the Haitian immigrants. He brought in medical care, organized the workers into unions, created a food kitchen for the children, and lobbied the government to restore the worker’s documentation.

Unfortunately, Father Christopher was forced out of the Dominican Republic in 2006 after a large scale smear campaign funded by the Vicini family accusing the Father of Haitianizing the Dominican Republic. While the Haitians were brought in by the corporation to do slave labor, they company pitted the locals against the poor Haitians claiming they were taking local jobs from people. The local news media, funded again by the Vicini’s, encouraged an upsurge of nationalistic values across the country that created tension between locals and Haitians. You see the same situation with the Latin American immigrant workers in our country, which undoubtedly is the result of the need to continually find cheaper labor and keep the profit margins higher for corporations, at the expense of the people.

The sugar cane that these people are forced to cut down is processed into sugar that mostly goes to the US and ends up on shelves at our grocery stores. The workers are paid the equivalent of $0.01 per lb of sugar, while Americans pay $0.70 per lb of sugar in the store for their sugar.

Father Christopher remains in Europe as a campaigner for human rights for the Haitian workers. He maintains that "daily and systematic disregard for fundamental human dignity in the forms of “statelessness” (and its inherent lack of civil liberties), human trafficking, extreme poverty, child labor, racial discrimination, lack of education and health care, and general squalor” still occurs.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: shop fair

Afterward, the movie sparked a conversation among the community members about how they can shop more consciously and not support products that are made through slave labor. Buying products from companies who source through fair trade channels is one people-powered solution to creating change. One needs to be aware of the labels that promote fairly traded items, and bring that conversation to the table --with friends, supermarkets, etc—to bring these items into the mainstream.

LOOK FOR THESE LABELS WHEN YOU SHOP:

Wholesome Sweeteners is one of the main sugar companies supplying fairly traded sugar from cooperatives in Paraguay that you can look for on your shelves!

For more information about the movie, or to host your own screening, please visit their website.

Partner with your local fair trade action group to host a screening in your community. Email nwfairtrade@gmail to inquire about a local screening at your church, etc.

NWFTC film series will continue on October 20th, with “A Thousand Fibers” about craft producers. You can watch the trailer here.

Fun on Foster Street Fair and Art Walk Saturday, Sept. 24

2011-09-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

AWAZ will have a booth at the annual Fun on Foster street fair and art walk featuring our beautifully handmade artisan products from India. The event is this Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Our booth will be located in Laurelwood Park on SE 64th St & Foster Rd.

Come check out our unique fashion accessories, kitchen and home decor items, greeting cards and support the artisan groups in India by purchasing these fair trade products. Meet Sarah, the founder of AWAZ and learn more about the great work she's doing in the fair trade movement and ways in which you can support the movement by getting involved.

Recycled Plastic Messenger Work Bag

Royal Elephant Batik Tapestry

Elephant Block Print Greeting Cards on Handmade Paper

Green Sprouts natural baby & family fest, Sunday, Sept. 25

2011-09-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

Come see us this weekend, on Sunday Sept. 25, at the Green Sprouts natural baby & family fest at Peninsula Park in North Portland. We will have lots of great kids stuff and stuff for moms too!

Check out our fun colorful soft baby toys shaped like elephants, giraffes, and monkeys. We will have lots of other great stuff like one of a kind hand quilted baby blankets, backpacks, and kid's accessories.

Take a look at some of our favorite kids stuff in our online store: Community Garden Appliqued Baby Blanket exquisitely hand quilted by women artisans in the foothills of the Himalayas and Block Print Soft Elephant made by disabled artisans. Your purchases help support these artisans.

http://redirectguide.com/greensprouts/Portland/about.asp

NWFTC Third Thursday Fair Trade Film Series begins in September in Portland

2011-09-08T12:30:00.001-07:00

Last year, I helped get started the Northwest Fair Trade Coalition in Portland as a way to work with like minded fair traders to promote economic justice in our community. I can't help but to educate, share and bring people together to learn about ways we can challenge the injustice in our economic systems and create alternative, community driven ways to create change.

Thanks to some of my favorite educational shows and programs like "Democracy Now", Amy Goodman's independent news show and Mitch's Blog, "Journey for Fair Trade", I'm aware of how the deception in our international systems and commerce, consequences of my everyday actions and solutions I can take to make change.

Everyday I see how the terms of trade are jaded to benefit rich countries and how corporations and governments are perpetuating global poverty through unethical trade, raw material sourcing and exploitation. It's important for consumers to be aware and be able to make informed, educated decisions that are in align with their values. Follow us on Facebook to get up to date news information and resources, like this brief report by the Fair Trade Foundation titled "Why the Climate Revolution must be a Fair Revolution" showing the relationship between fair trade and environmental sustainability.http://northwestfairtrade.wordpress.com/

That's why our coalition is launching an educational film series for the public about economic justice. We hope you will join us and get familiar with the issues so you can see why Fair Trade is important!

September 10, Belmont Street Fair

2011-09-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

Get out in the community and visit us at the Belmont Street Fair!

This year's Street Fair will be "Imagine" with a theme for a sustainable and creative community! A collaboration between BABA and the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association to run the big event is working diligently to make "Imagine" a Street Fair to remember.

So come and check out the fun and meet Sarah, the founder of AWAZ.
20% off products only at community events!

Noon to 8 pm! But come early, we likely won't be there that late!

http://belmontdistrict.org/whats-happening/street-fair

Uplift the Commons, SE Block Party, Aug 27

2011-08-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

Next Saturday, AWAZ will be at Southeast Uplift's Summer Celebration: Uplift the Commons!

In addition to our booth, there will be great food, refreshments and entertainment. This is a family friendly event so be sure to bring the kids. The party is Saturday, August 27 from 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm on 3534 SE Main St. We hope to see you there!

Check out the event on Facebook and their website.

For more information about Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition, visit their website: http://www.southeastuplift.org/

Women and Development in the Global South: Creating Community Leaders

2011-08-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

More and more groups are realizing that to effectively reduce poverty, all community members need to be involved in development - this particularly means women. Educating and empowering women has had dramatically positive impacts in poor areas, in everything from reduced rates of disease, to slower population growth, to reduced poverty and increased employment. All-in-all women need to be involved in the development of their communities to really make things better for everyone, and governments and non-profits are talking about it. Here are some recent articles discussing, not only the importance of women in development but what more needs to be done:

From Amnesty International, this article talks about the need to further expand girl's access to education and consider what success in women's education really means and requires. They make the case that education still needs to be more equitable and safe and issues such as child marriage the availability of female teachers need to be addressed in order to truly educate more girls across the world. http://blog.amnestyusa.org/women/what-is-girls-education-without-human-rights/

The Women's News Network points out that the demand for women's micro-financing is not being met, denying a huge growth and development potential. They call on more banks to serve women in order to not only help the economy but reduce poverty. http://womennewsnetwork.net/2011/06/15/microfinance-money-africas-women/

China is answering this call by integrating women into development. The country is recognizing the different needs of different genders and trying to address women's concerns more in order to promote development. http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/2011/08/01/China-integrates-womens-voices-in-development?cid=EXT_TWBN_D_EXT

We are so interested in this topic because AWAZ Voice for Empowerment works with mostly women groups. The work the groups do is truly giving women a voice. We have seen firsthand how women gain status and become valued because of their income and skills. This valuation in turn improves morale and self-confidence. The groups we work with are allowing women access to equal opportunities like bank accounts, and getting involved in local government councils or village government groups. When this happens, there is a ripple effect - it is inspiring to witness empowered women. When mothers work, it creates more opportunities and hopeful futures for their children who tend to look for more skilled work and consider college.

It is encouraging to see how many groups are embracing the ideals of gender equality and women's empowerment. These projects have very tangible impacts not just for women, but for entire communities.

Fundraiser Block Party for Neighborhood House, Aug 20

2011-08-11T15:00:00.001-07:00

Saint Mark's Presbyterian Church is hosting a block party that will act as a fundraiser for Neighborhood House. This nonprofit helps people in need in the Portland area work towards stability and independence.

Join the fun at a neighborhood block party! Enjoy food booths, children's activities, face painting, a blow-up play area and live music. Proceeds will support Neighborhood House, a local non-profit that serves low-income families in our area. Come support their work and have a great time too!

AWAZ will have a booth at this event and a portion of every sale will go to the cause, so come out and support us and this great organization.

The event is on Saturday, August 20, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at St. Mark's (9750 SW Terwilliger Blvd).

Check out their flyer, Facebook page and website for more information.

Alberta Street Fair, Aug 13

2011-08-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend AWAZ will be at the Alberta Street Fair! This fun annual event boasts vendors, food, dancing, family activities and much more!

So head on down for a good time on Saturday, August 13 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. The event is on Alberta Street from 10th St. to 30th St.

For more details, check out the street fair website.

Consumer Responsibility

2011-08-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, we wrote a blog about Fair Trade growth and expansion across the nation, including the introduction of great new products. Read that post here. This is definitely good news, but the real take away from this should be the influence of everyday consumers like us.

The only reason Fair Trade has seen the huge growth explained in our last blog is that individuals have committed to purchasing Fair Trade products. Consumer responsibility means making the choice to support social and moral values with your dollar, even if there is little big governmental or industrial support. If you want to see more fairly traded products available, you must buy the ones out there now. This is the only way the movement is going to continue to grow.

For some inspiration, check out local writer Kym Croft Miller’s story about how her family went a year without shopping. In an effort to refocus their family, the Millers stopped buying all but essentials for an entire year.

Experiments like this are cropping up all over the country from churches vowing to not spend money at Christmas to families agreeing to buy nothing that comes from outside a certain mileage radius. More and more people are taking a very personal look at their shopping habits and their relationship to ‘stuff’ and finding it to be an empowering experience more often than not. If we can quell the impulse and desire associated with shopping, we will slow down and have the clarity to think about what we want and why we want it. Then we can exercise consumer responsibility and make purchases in line with our values.

We highly recommend watching the 'Story of Stuff' video to further examine our consumerism and what the impact is of all the 'stuff' we purchase. The Story of Stuff Project is an incredible resource!

Whether it is AWAZ products or not, we hope you will be thoughtful with your purchases and consider how everything from food to clothes to cosmetics that you use everyday can either support the creation of a more just world or further destroy equity and dignity. Please think about small changes you can make this week - even one product makes a big difference for the producer.

On Monday, the Grameen Foundation tweeted this quote from Mahatma Ghandi "Think of the poorest person you have ever seen and ask if your next action will be of any use to him." Making your next purchase a Fair Trade one can do just that, even if it is only a cup of coffee.

For more on how you can Fair Trade your lifestyle, keep an eye out for the Northwest Fair Trade Coalition’s upcoming blog series on incorporating Fair Trade habits into various aspects of your life.

Good News for Fair Trade

2011-08-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

What's new in Fair Trade and where is it going? From recent news it seems that Fair Trade is growing and expanding to include more and more common products.

First, check out this article about how Fair Trade is expanding: "Why Fair Trade Imports Rise Even As Buyers Shun Other Eco-Friendly Products." The article explains that Fair Trade products have experienced rapid growth in imports since Fair Trade USA first began certifying coffee in 1998, leading to the expansion of the market and inclusion of more products from sugar to soccer balls (see below for more new products). The author speculates that the environmental protection aspect is not alone responsible for growth, but that people are mostly flocking to fairly traded goods because of personal stories and feeling connected to the producer.

Fair Trade Towns cites the following stats about the growth of fairly traded goods in the United States:

Fair Trade sales increased 10% in the U.S. between 2007 and 2008 while, nationally, retail sales declined over 13%. Stable market growth in Fair Trade is attributed to socially and environmentally conscious consumers that consistently purchase in line with their values.
Fair Trade accounted for $3.2 billion in sales in U.S. in 2007 (a 48% increase from 2006).
Fair Trade comprises the fastest growing segment of the coffee industry.
Originating in the 1940s, Fair Trade is not a passing trend, but a steadily growing market segment.

(from: http://www.fairtradetownsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2010/11/ftt_toolkit_final.pdf_)

Here are some new Fair Trade products benefiting from the growth:

Gold

Check out this story from Fair Trade Resource Network: "Fair Trade Gold Limited but now Available in U.S." In the article, author Larry Bohlen explains how gold is becoming the latest fairly traded product in the U.S. with several jewelry companies beginning to use the product, which promises better social and environmental conditions for gold producers.

For more, see this article from Abu Dhabi's English newspaper, The National, about the rise of fashionable fairly traded gold jewelry: "Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold."

Vodka

Yes, that's right, you can now fair trade your happy hour. The world's first Fair Trade spirit company FAIR, started by two Frenchmen, introduced a fairly traded vodka made from quinoa grown in Bolivia. The company also has two other unique and fairly traded spirits. According to the website, there are even four places in the Portland area to buy the products. Cheers!

Some more information:

Cosmetics

In 2008, articles started coming out about how Fair Trade was spreading to cosmetics. Companies from India to the United States are feeling the pressure to clean up their act and source ingredients responsibly. Especially with high levels of concern over the health impacts of cosmetics and the recent introduction of the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 and the pressure of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, more and more companies are realizing that consumers want products that are safe to use and safe to produce.

To read more about Fair Trade cosmetics, check out this article. And this one from Redbook, about one writer's personal encounter with Fair Trade cosmetics - specifically look for Aveda's Uruku makeup line. The article lists a few other companies beginning to use Fair Trade ingredients too.

Around the world: An article from India about the fairly traded cosmetics market there and one about shea nut gatherers in Burkina Faso.

And finally, a local option... Portland-made SOLGAIA BAR

SOLGAIA BAR is a brand new granola bar made by Dana in Portland. Her philosophy is to make every aspect of her product as healthy for people and the environment as possible, so from the ingredients to the packaging to the (solar-powered) website, you can feel secure about everything about SOLGAIA BAR. Sarah picked one of these up at a coffee shop in southeast Portland. Check out the SOLGAIA BAR website for a list of all the places you can find them.

Good news for producers and consumers everywhere! The more fairly traded products that are available the closer consumers can be connected with where their products come from and be sure the producers are valued and treated with respect.

Purkal Youth Development Society

2011-07-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

Purkal Youth Development Society is one of the organizations AWAZ Voice for Empowerment works with in India. We are so excited about what they do we wanted to share a recent update with you!

Purkal’s mission is to “enrich the lives of poor rural youth through education, and empower women through skill development, whilst at the same time preserve the beautiful Himalayan environment and local cultural traditions.” They do this through four main education programs, for pre-school children, school-age children, young adults and recent graduates, and adults. The society was started by the Swamy couple tutoring out of their home and has grown to this excellent education program diligently working to eradicate poverty and ignorance in their village.

Purkal also houses another of our partners, Stree Shakti that makes many of the purses we sell (see their products here).

However, Purkal's education program is truly exceptional. They operate a Learning Center that not only has classes and mentoring, but has a holistic focus and incorporates nutrition, fitness and health care into its offerings. They exclusively help the poor thereby focusing their resources on those who need them most, even including transportation and scholarships to private schools to truly improve the access to quality education.

In April, Purkal announced a new a relationship with their village. Traditionally, Purkal has been only open to the poorest in the community, but the village requested their education program be open to all students in the village for a fee, in exchange for a lease on 6,000 square feet of new property. Now Purkal has the opportunity to expand its education program and help many more students. They anticipate three or four more students each year to be accepted under this new program.

The Purkal Youth Development Society has truly harnessed the reality that education is the best road to lasting individual and community development, and they are applying this understanding with lasting benefits for more than 300 young people in their community. AWAZ is so glad to help with this empowering work and is excited about the new direction!

To donate to the Purkal Youth Development Society, visit http://www.purkal.org/donatenow.html. On the site you can choose to sponsor a year of a child’s:

Food for $200
Education for $489
All needs for $730
Or even an entire class of 21 for $19,550
They have many other donation options with a variety of costs, including funding a meal for as little as $85

Visit their website for information about this great organization http://www.purkal.org/.

Northwest Fair Trade Coalition Discusses Economic Justice

2011-07-20T14:08:00.000-07:00

Last night, the Northwest Fair Trade Coalition met to discuss future plans and events and how to build momentum for the fair trade movement in Portland. We were especially lucky to have guests from Jubilee Oregon and Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans (OATH) with us. Jubilee is a global debt relief movement and OATH mobilizes Oregonians to eradicate human trafficking in the state.

Some may wonder what these two seemingly different organizations would be doing at a meeting about the fair trade movement. However, as the meeting began, the conversation drifted to the broad issue each organization exists to address: economic injustice.

More and more we see the value of working together with like minded organizations to bring awareness to global economic justice issues on a large scale here in Portland.

All organizations present have recognized the inequality in the global economic system and are making efforts to change it. Fair trade groups such as AWAZ and Equal Exchange are working at the grassroots level – incorporating justice throughout the supply chain, starting from the bottom up at the level of individual purchases and improving the way those purchases impact producers.

Jubilee Oregon is working on the macro level, by focusing on relieving the unjust debt of impoverished nations. The debt that is often caused by corrupt governments, usurious interest rates and unfair requirements and systems are not allowing countries to be independent and take care of the needs of their people, keeping them endlessly in poverty without food, clean water and education, much less infrastructure.

Then there are organizations like OATH. OATH is dealing with the reality that economic injustice creates. When these impoverished nations have so little recourse and so few opportunities for advancement, the people’s desperation can create a powerful slavery. At its root, much of human trafficking is caused by severe poverty that traffickers take advantage of.

Creating partnerships like these, between social, justice, fair trade and other organizations will help grow not just a movement but a whole new global social system that empowers communities to be economically secure and culturally strong, thereby accomplishing justice and the goals of each organization.

We at AWAZ are excited to have these new partners on board and are grateful for the insights and wisdom they have already contributed. We look forward to our future working together.

To learn more about Jubilee and debt relief, visit http://www.jubileeusa.org/truth-about-debt/why-drop-the-debt.html for clear and compelling information.

OATH has an excellent explanation of human trafficking locally and globally and what Oregonians can do about it: http://www.mcso.us/public/human_trafficking/what_is.asp. Be sure to take their pledge on the home page too.

VOTE BY THE END OF TODAY TO HELP US WIN A PHOTO CONTEST!!

2011-07-15T23:24:00.000-07:00

Fair Trade Resource Network is hosting a photo contest and you can vote for AWAZ to win!

Fair Trade Resource Network is a space to grow the fair trade movement through information and networking. They have a great site with tons of information and events -- http://www.fairtraderesource.org.

Right now, FTRN is hosting a photo contest and the top 12 of the 70+ fair trade photos entered will win a spot in the FTRN calendar! We have entered a photo Sarah took in India of one of the women who has turned her life around using Sadhna and their fair trade production.

The contest ends today, July 16 so make sure you visit http://www.fairtraderesource.org/link-up/photo-contest/ to vote. Thanks!

The Aurora Sunday Farmer’s Market is on at the Aurora Movement and Healing Arts Yoga Studio!!

2011-07-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

AWAZ and other local food, art and craft vendors participated in the first day of the Aurora Sunday Farmer’s market July 3rd that took place in the parking lot of 3^rd and Main at Aurora Movement and Healing Arts Yoga Studio from 11-3.

Tasty foods and fair trade gifts were offered from local vendors that included Squirley Jane’s Hazelnut Butter and AWAZ Voice for Empowerment, and great organic produce was brought in by Galin-Flory Farms.

The weather was perfect for the first day market, as more people gathered throughout the day to explore what was happening in their neighborhood.

Aurora local, Jimmy Essien, and partner Monica Rudestam, opened up the new yoga studio last year, shortly after I moved to Canby in 2010. They’re experienced practitioners of yoga, Qigong, acupuncture, massage, Chinese medicine and other alternative healing and I was excited to see them move into town to inspire healthy living and community in one of Oregon’s cutest rural towns. I’ve enjoyed the pleasures of rural living over the last few years and thanks to the studio, have met many lovely, down to earth people from all walks of life to enjoy with.

Aurora is known as the antique capital of Oregon, well known for housing some of the greatest antique treasures from the days and families of the Oregon Trail. As a popular National Historic District, Aurora offers a unique story that you will want to experience! Settled in 1856 by a group of Christians who followed their leader Dr. William Keil from Missouri over the Oregon Trail, they formed the only successful 19^th century utopian community in the West.

The area blends utopian ideals with family farms to create an eclectic community filled with the young and old that is attracting a lot of young families. The area is home to Joni Harms, a well known local country singer, one of the biggest Oktoberfest parties located in Mt. Angel and an amazing Dhalia Farm in Canby.

The great antique shops, u-pick farms, St. Joseph’s winery, new yoga studio and Gluten Free Bakery, the White Rabbit, make Aurora an exiting tourist destination for those wanting to escape from the big city for the day.

The Aurora Farmer’s Market will be there every Sunday, all summer long from 11-3 – so come check out this cute little town and start with us!

I will try to make it to the market most Sundays, so if you’re coming to check out our amazing collection of eco-friendly and sustainable goods, just mail me in advance to confirm I’ll be there that weekend!

AWAZ Intern Reflects on Cooperatives in Central America

2011-06-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

This summer, I am interning for AWAZ Voice for Empowerment, and I recently had the opportunity to see firsthand how important Sarah’s work in Fair Trade is. With about 20 other students, I spent two weeks in Nicaragua and El Salvador as part of a travel seminar focused on human rights, social change, sustainable development and environmental justice issues. We met with a whole gamut of organizations and individuals, including political parties, faith groups, environmental organizations, agricultural and textile cooperatives and many more. The theme that kept coming up in almost all our meetings was how important women’s involvement is in community development.

The more I research environmental and social issues, the more I realize solutions to sustainable community development relies heavily on strong women. From Central America to India, it is incredible the improvements a whole community can realize when women get involved. Believe me, the men in the villages we met with were working very hard too, but what made these communities special was that they valued each member and the contributions he or she can make. When asked why they were successful where other communities were not, community leaders unfailingly credited organization and individual commitment to the whole. Each member needs to be involved and utilized to his or her best ability regardless of gender or age.

As I was down there, I couldn’t help but make connections to AWAZ and what Sarah is doing here and in India. As she has said, our everyday purchases for things we need like food and clothing are fueling systems of exploitation, oppression and degradation. Nowhere was this clearer than when we learned

about the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and the extremely negative impact it has had on small farmers. Huge U.S. subsidies to a small number of corporate farms allow for mass production of cheap food. The trade agreement then makes it easy for these corporations to flood Central American markets with cheap food, and local farmers, who are not supported by huge subsidies, cannot compete and essentially lose their traditional livelihood. One speaker clarified the issue: cheaper food doesn’t matter if you do not have any money. But we also saw communities that have been able to build schools for their children, join together to buy and maintain land for organic coffee production, create and support businesses that sell woven and sewn goods, and feed and keep healthy their neediest members.

But these communities are still struggling. It is still difficult to get by, many are paying off loans, others still go without food to buy books for school, and vagaries in the market and world economy are making some people question the expense of organic and fair trade certifications. To me, this shows that here in the United States we need to redouble our efforts to support community movements by changing the way we do business with our neighbors around the world to more sustainable systems for everyone. We need to demonstrate a marketable need for fair trade organic coffee that allows a co-op member in Nicaragua to send her children to school and keep the land healthy enough for them to farm in the future. We need to show companies and governments that we want laws, policies and systems that create quality, healthy, sustainable products made by producers who are treated with value and respect.

So this is why I was so excited to come back, even though I had a great time traveling. I knew that this summer, working with AWAZ, Sarah and my work would support women in India that are working together to create happier, healthier futures for themselves and their children. AWAZ’s partner groups demonstrate how powerful women can be for change when they organize together.