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.
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.
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
Melbourne indie rock band Ancient Free Gardeners announce their support for fair trade with the release of their single 'Innards Out'. The song, a sneak preview from the bands upcoming full length debut, presents a curious, critical gaze at the ever growing trend of consumer capitolism. In their personal and professional lives the band have witnessed the ill consequences of globalisation, and the mass producing, advertising supported society it promotes. Their support for fair trade, and the release of Innards Out, is an apt expression of this experience.
Innards Out was recorded independently, and is released under a Creative Commons licence; it's free to all, to use however they like, with no restrictions (except commercial use), in line with some of the underpinning principles of fair trade.
Learn more about their music and their latest release here.
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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.
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