FTAANZ - A better deal for developing country producers and communities

Walk Against Child Slavery - 22 Nov 2008, Adelaide

2008-11-21T05:23:01Z

Start:
Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 10:00

End:
Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 13:00

Christopher Pyne's

Walk Against Child Slavery

with Reverend Tim Costello

Saturday 22 November 2008

Corner of West and South Terrace

Kensington Gardens, Adelaide SA

Participate in the Walk Against Child Slavery and help us raise awareness of the plight of children around the world who are victims of human trafficking and slavery.

Melbourne: Credible Social & Environmental Labelling Breakfast 13 Nov 08

2008-11-13T09:53:27Z

Start:
Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 08:00

End:
Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 10:30

ISEAL ALLIANCE FORUM/WORKSHOP

8.00 AM – 10.30 AM THURSDAY 13 NOVEMBER

DOWNTOWNER ON LYGON

66 LYGON STREET, CARLTON

The growth in social and environmental claims being made about products and services has seen an equally significant growth in consumer cynicism about ‘green labels’ and ‘greenwash’.

Recent research published by the Mobium Group found nearly 90% of Australians treat ‘green’ claims with scepticism and distrust. Australians see credible third party verification by wellknown, trusted organisations as the best way to distinguish between ‘greenwash’ and genuine environmental claims.

This forum will update participants on the impact of credible third party certification initiatives; summarise recent research on consumer sentiment; outline steps the ISEAL Alliance is taking to facilitate an understanding of credible operating practices for certification initiatives, and; provide an update on initiatives being taken by local ISEAL affiliates to strengthen the credibility of their systems. The breakfast will also include a discussion forum on credible social and environmental claims.

FLANZ Seeks Certification Officer

2008-11-21T05:30:49Z

Applications Due 1 Dec 08

Certification Officer, Fairtrade Labelling Australia & New Zealand

Fairtrade Labelling Australia and New Zealand (FLANZ) is seeking a full time Certification Officer to be based in our Melbourne office.

Fairtrade is a dynamic, consumer driven, international movement. It links disadvantaged producers in developing countries with businesses and consumers in the developed world. Fairtrade is about business and trade – not charity. Fairtrade ensures the payment of a fair price for globally traded products and supports disadvantaged producers to access markets, enabling them them to provide for their families and invest in community development.

Sales of Fairtrade labeled products are growing rapidly in Australia and New Zealand, and more and more businesses are signing up to trade in Fairtrade certified products. The internationally recognised Fairtrade system is delivering benefits to disadvantaged producers throughout the developing world.

There is an exciting opportunity for the right person to assume responsibility for certification services in Australia and New Zealand, to guarantee the integrity of the Fairtrade Label and maintain business and consumer confidence in the Fairtrade Certification system. This is a highly unique role in a vibrant and rapidly growing organisation and field, with significant opportunities for career advancement in the coming years.

Corporate Express Expands Support for Workers with Growth of Fairtrade Range

2008-11-11T01:12:07Z

Media Release: 23 October 2008

Leading office and business essentials supplier Corporate Express began selling Fairtrade Certified coffee in 2006 and has recently expanded its range to include tea, drinking chocolate and sugar. The range now includes over 40 Fairtrade Certified products.

Fair trade, an alternative approach to international trade, seeks to ensure that small-scale farmers and plantation workers receive a fair price for their crops and labour and work under safe conditions. Fair trade is a hugely successful international trend worth over a billion dollars and growing.

Recognition of Fairtrade Grows Again in New Zealand - Aug 08

2008-09-02T03:10:09Z

A recent public survey conducted by Colmar Brunton on behalf of the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand (FTAANZ) indicates consumer recognition of the FAIRTRADE Label has now reached 36% in New Zealand, an increase from a similar survey conducted 2 years ago that showed just 2% recognition at that time.

Retail sales of Fairtrade Certified products in New Zealand grew 60% last year to over NZ$9 million, this is well above the global average of 40%. Global sales of Fairtrade Certified products are now more than NZ$4.8 billion. The UK market is now worth NZ$1.25 billion with 70% public recognition of the FAIRTRADE Label. This all indicates scope for further growth in New Zealand.

Media Release: Fairtrade Working for Producers and Consumers, 4/8/08

2008-08-09T11:32:49Z

Today Oxfam Australia and Fairtrade Labelling Australia & New Zealand responded to a factually inaccurate and misleading press release put out by the Institute of Public Affairs, a conservative think tank that is idealogically opposed to fair trade and seeks to promote free trade as the only solution to global poverty.

Both Oxfam and Fairtrade point out that the IPA's claim that the Australian Competition Consumer Commission (ACCC) reprimanded Oxfam for misleading consumers about fair trade is false and, in itself, wildly misleading. Oxfam and Fairtrade invite concerned parties to contact the ACCC directly on this matter.

Growing Australia’s Fair Trade In Coffee - 17 July 2008

2008-08-03T12:03:51Z

MEDIA RELEASE

July 17th 2008

Growing Australia’s Fair Trade In Coffee

The volume of ethically sourced coffee imported into Australia will jump by more than 15% over the next year thanks to Wild Bean Café, one of the country’s key coffee retailers, Fairtrade Labelling Australia & New Zealand announced today.

An on-the-road café concept located at BP service stations, Wild Bean Café has decided to ensure that every coffee on its menu is made using 100% Fairtrade Certified coffee beans.

With more than 100 outlets across the country, this decision is a first for a national café retailer in Australia.

Background Briefing on Fair Trade vs Free Trade

2008-07-14T10:50:30Z

Free trade vs fair trade: It's an ideological battle between those who want a fairer, better deal for the poor farmers in the developing world - and those who say the best way to get that is having a world wide free market. There are fault lines in both arguments. Reporter Jane Shields

The program was broadcast Sunday 13th July at 09:00 AEST, on ABC Radio National. The audio can be downloaded or podcast and a few days after the broadcast a transcript will be posted on the website at

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/

Fairtrade Coffee In Uganda - Watch a short video

2008-06-23T02:19:05Z

Check out this short film about the Gumutindo Coffee Enterprise and learn more about coffee farmers in Uganda, the benefits of Fairtrade, and how you can get involved. See the people you are helping when
you buy your next cup of Fairtrade coffee!

Click here.

Bali Artisans Handicraft Expo for Fair Trade

2008-03-14T05:49:35Z

Start:
Friday, April 18, 2008 - 12:00

Over 20 local Balinese artisans will be showcasing their wares in this event hosted by the Wahana Kria Putri Foundation.

Kalimantan Restaurant, Jalan Pantai Sindhu 11, Sanur, Bali

www.baliartisans.net

The Darker Side of Chocolate: Channel 9's Sunday Program 9 March 2008

2008-03-19T12:13:26Z

The Sunday Program on Australia's Channel 9 aired a story "The Darker Side of Chocolate"on Sunday 9 March in the lead up to Easter.

The almost 10 minute piece explores child slavery and trafficking in the cocoa industry in Ivory Coast and Ghana and features interviews with Tim Costello from World Vision Australia and a representative of the Confectionary Manufacturer's.

FLO International Adjusts Fairtrade Minimum Prices for Arabica Coffee to Cover Costs of Sustainable Production

2008-02-24T11:04:25Z

Fairtrade continues to address the needs of coffee producing communities

Fairtrade Minimum Prices for Arabica coffee will be adjusted upwards to ensure Small Farmers’ Organisations continue to receive a price which covers the costs of sustainable production.

From 1 June 2008 all Fairtrade Certified coffee producers will receive at least 125 USD cents per pound for Fairtrade certified washed Arabica and 120 USD cents for unwashed Arabica, or the market price, if higher. This represents an average increase of 5 USD cents per pound. For Fairtrade Certified organic coffee an extra minimum differential of 20 cents is being applied. Additionally, all producers will continue to receive a Fairtrade Premium of 10 cents per pound for investment in community and business improvements. These new Fairtrade Minimum Prices will be valid through at least June 2010, when another price review may take place.

Fair Trade Fortnight Workshop, NSW

2008-01-30T11:47:52Z

Start:
Thursday, February 7, 2008 - 14:00

End:
Thursday, February 7, 2008 - 17:00

Thursday 7th February 2:00 – 5:00PM Fair Trade Fortnight 2008 Workshop

Fair Trade Fortnight (3-18 May 2008) is Australia’s premier event for promotion of fair trade, and features carnivals, festivals, film and music nights, competitions, exhibitions, market stalls and much much more. It’s a great opportunity to host an event in your church, school, retail outlet, workplace, club, charity or just with your family and friends to tell people about fair trade, and how easy it is to make a positive difference in the lives of disadvantaged producers simply by choosing to buy fair trade products.

Annual Report

2008-01-15T04:47:38Z

FTAANZ / FLANZ Annual Report Download Page

2006/07 Annual Report (1.1MB pdf)

Black Gold DVD Now Available

2008-01-31T12:01:29Z

Black Gold

Wake up and smell the coffee

Multinational coffee companies now rule our shopping malls and supermarkets and dominate the industry worth over $80 billion, making coffee the most valuable trading commodity in the world after oil. But while we continue to pay for our lattes and cappuccinos, the price paid to coffee farmers remains so low that many have been forced to abandon their coffee fields.

Nowhere is this paradox more evident than in Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee. Tadesse Meskela is one man on a mission to save his 74,000 struggling coffee farmers from bankruptcy. As his farmers strive to harvest some of the highest quality coffee beans on the international market, Tadesse travels the world in an attempt to find buyers willing to pay a fair price.

Against the backdrop of Tadesse's journey to London and Seattle, the enormous power of the multinational players that dominate the world's coffee trade becomes apparent. New York commodity traders, the international coffee exchanges, and the double dealings of trade ministers at the World Trade Organisation reveal the many challenges Tadesse faces in his quest for a long term solution for his farmers.

Black Gold is now available in Australia on DVD through New Internationalist and in New Zealand through Trade Aid. Bulk copies are also available through the Black Gold website.