Gifts That Keep on Giving

They always say that giving is better than receiving. This year, how about getting that extra-warm glow inside from buying gifts that benefit more than just your loved ones. When you give a Fair Trade gift, you  empower farmers and artisans with dignified work, and adequate incomes to access nutrition, health care, education for their families. You change lives.

Fair Trade San Diego would like to make your holiday shopping easy by providing you with a quick and easy list of where you can find Fair Trade here in San Diego and online!

Shop Fair Trade in San Diego
North Park Alternative Gift Fair – Dec 11 : Our Savior's Lutheran Church 4011 Ohio Street 10am – 2pm
Around The World Gifts (kiosk in Horton Plaza)
Open Door Books

Fair Trade Online
Alternative Gift Guide
Give Fair Trade
Seven Hopes United (a San Diego company)
Exotic World Gifts (a San Diego company)

Marcie Sweets (a San Diego company)

Amnesty International

Fair Trade Marketplace

Global Exchange

SERRV

Ten Thousand Villages

World of Good

***FACEBOOK CONTEST***
After all this Fair Trade shopping, you are probably secretly hoping to have a few of these unique and meaningful items for yourself.  We have good news for you.  By simply telling Fair Trade San Diego what is on your Fair Trade Wish list this year, you have a very good chance of winning $40+ in Fair Trade goodies. Click for Facebook Contest details.

A very successful Fair Trade event, hosted by the Social Ministry Group at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, was held on November 14 in La Mesa. A wide variety of gift items, all Fair Trade certified, were available for purchase from the eight  vendors that participated.  The event was well publicized in the La Mesa Community and, as a result, the attendance was excellent. In addition to purchasing items, those attending became more aware of what fair trade is and how each purchase represents a way to bring an end to poverty and exploitation of workers in developing countries. Fair Trade San Diego had a table with brochures about Fair Trade and special t-shirts. The vendors expressed appreciation for the opportunity to share their mission through their products.  All have asked to come back next year!

Participating vendors were:  The Guatemala Project, The Tomorrow Project (agency of Catholic Charities), Plant With A Purpose, Work of Human Hands, The Purpose, Invisible Children, Cafe Virtuoso.

Reverse Trick or Treating

This was St. Martin of Tours School second year to participate in reverse trick or treating and the boys were very comfortable "reversing the treat," explaining the plight of third world cocoa farmers, and encouraging people to look for the fair trade symbol on chocolate they may purchase in the future. Before we went out, each of the five boys in our group took a stack of cards with chocolates attached and put them in their treat sacks. The only instructions were that they take turns reversing the treat whenever they felt they were ready. Whoever presented the treat did all the talking, but each of the boys chimed in to answer questions or help with a forgotten detail. They began always by saying, "Thank you for this treat, now we have one for you." Neighbors were charmed by this approach. They listened politely, asked questions, and congratulated the boys for the way they handled themselves. Everyone wanted to know what school they attended and the boys shouted in unison, "St. Martin of Tours Academy in La Mesa!"

Green Scene Environmental Fair

Saturday, November 13, 2010
Grape Day Park, Escondido - 10-3 pm
In conjunction with America Recycles Day, the Escondido History Center is hosting Green Scene Environmental Fair. Come out to the park to learn, participate and purchase all things “green”. There will be vendors in the categories of Recycling, Renewable Energy, Environment/Outdoors, Mind & Body, Organics, and more! There will be music and food samples to enjoy while you cruise the booths and recycle your unwanted small appliances, electronics, aluminum cans, plastics, glass, newspaper, old bedding and towels. Don’t miss our presentations, demonstrations, freebies, samples and fun!

Recycling: Free on-site recycling of electronics, cell phones and small appliances by EWorld Recyclers.  http://www.eworldrecyclers.com/

Recycle your old towels and bedding with the Humane Society. The animals will appreciate the extra comfort. The Humane Society will also be accepting any gently used animal items.

Donate your recycled items and all recycling proceeds will go directly into the playground fund for Grape Day Park! Recycled items include newspaper; CRV aluminum cans, plastics and glass.

Recycled Art: We are excited to have a recycled art display from a local Escondido artist. A large canvas oil painting will be on display at the event. We will also have a recycled art station for kids (and adults) to make their own recycled art.

Green Energy: There will be a solar powered trailer from California Solar Innovations powering our DJ/Emcee and any other vendors requiring power. http://www.csigreenliving.com/ Also visit the groSolar, Cosmic Solar booths and more!

Earth-Friendly and Organic Vendors: Check out the environmentally friendly products from vendors such as Jimbos, Eco Green Monster, H2O at Home, Mind & Body Partnerships and Mary Kay.

Environment, Outdoors & Preservation: Learn about organizations and services at booths from the San Dieguito River Park, San Pasqual Battlefield, Friends of Daly Ranch, Friends of Grape Day Park, City of Escondido, Humane Society, Waldorf Institute of So. CA, Old Escondido Historic Dist. and more!

**Vendor space is still available. Anyone interested in participating, please contact us ASAP. For more information contact the Escondido History Center at 760 743-8207 or email us at grapedaypark@gmail.com.

Fair Trade at USD

	Wednesday, November 17 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location	Aromas Coffee Shop on USD's campus (bottom floor of Maher Hall) 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA
Created By	Fair Trade San Diego
More Info	Come hear students share their experiences with fair trade, listen to the president of Fair Trade San Diego offer the benefits of fair trade for producers and consumers. Drink fair trade coffee while browsing through fair trade crafts being sold by local vendors!

UCSD Fair Trade Status Celebrated

David Funkhouser, Marye Ann Fox

Francisco and David

David, Paul, Francisco, and students

On Wednesday, October 20, 2010, UCSD was officially recognized for having attained Fair Trade University status. David Funkhauser of FairTradeUSA (formerly Transfair USA) awarded a Fair Trade Universities Certificate to Dr. Marye Anne Fox, Chancellor of UCSD. This campus is the first Fair Trade University in California and the second in the nation! Several faculty and former students (now graduated) who had worked over 6 years to see this happen were also present and applauded. Housing and Dining Services personnel were recognized for their participation and perseverance in accomplishing this milestone. Paul Rice, CEO of FairTradeUSA spoke briefly, saying how important Fair Trade is in helping people in communities (in developing countries) develop their own solutions to poverty.

A highlight of the event was the opportunity to meet and hear from Francisco Ferreira, a Paraguayan sugar producer, all of whose sugar is sold to Wholesome Sweeteners. He noted that because his Association and Federation are Fair Trade there are fewer sick women, more people are working and workers’ rights are respected, the environment is respected, and his organization is run with transparency. He believes that “all over the world young people are joined together to do the right thing for the world”. Francisco has been the president of his Association, of his Federation, and is now running for mayor of his community.

Fair Trade Certification Process

Fair Trade San Diego (FTSD) had the great pleasure of meeting with David Funkhauser, Strategic Outreach Coordinator with Fair Trade USA, to discuss the complex topic of fair trade certification. There is a dynamic and intriguing conversation happening in the fair trade movement around certification, and in our desire to remain informed, FTSD invited David to join us to answer questions and clarify the certification process. Fair Trade USA is a major player in certifying items such as coffee and other commodities and now even textiles. David was able to help us better understand the nuances of fair trade certification. Some other key players in certification are the Fair Trade Federation and an organization newer to fair trade certification, called the Institute for Marketecology (IMO), which certifies fair trade under its ‘Fair for Life’ program.
Recognizing a need to answer the public’s questions about the fair trade certification process, the Fair Trade Resource Network is offering several webinars to discuss certification. The first webinar is Tuesday, October 26th from 10:00am to 11:30am PST and is entitled “Fair Trade USA’s “Fair Trade Certified” Illustrated by Following the Supply Chain from Producers to Final Seller.”
Registration is $5 for each webinar. There will be four webinars in total. To learn about the other sessions and for additional information please visit www.fairtraderesource.org.

Monthly Meeting

Everyone is invited to our next meeting on

Wednesday, November 10, 2010
6:30 p.m. at
4761 Cass Street in Pacific Beach.

Volunteer Opportunities

Join Fair Trade San Diego in promoting fair trade in San Diego County.  To get more involved, think about joining one of the following committees:

Social Media - Through Twitter and Facebook, along with our blog, newsletter, and listserv we are always working to connect with those interested in fair trade in new and exciting ways.  Help maintain our social media outreach and generate new ideas on ways we can reach out to members and non-members alike.

Outreach & Education - Fair Trade San Diego knows that one of the best ways to get people excited about fair trade and its benefits is through education.  Whether we are planning educational topics for our meetings or educational outreach to the community, we know face-to-face conversations about fair trade is a great way to get new people involved.  Help create ideas for educational outreach and connect with the community to promote fair trade!

Fair Trade Towns - Could La Mesa, CA be the next Fair Trade Town?  Fair Trade San Diego would definitely like to see this happen.  As FTSD reaches out to community members, congregations and elected officials, be a part of the conversation.  Help organize meetings, implement strategy and goals and help make La Mesa, CA the next Fair Trade Town

Fundraising - Brochures and educational materials, as well as funding to participate in ongoing community fairs and other events are great ways to connect with new and old friends of fair trade.  Help FTSD raise funds through sales, donations and grants so the organization can continue its important mission! 

Invisible Children

Dear Friends of Fair Trade,

Invisible Children is a local organization working to end the use of child soldiers in the war in Uganda. 

To learn more about Invisible Children visit them at www.InvisibleChildren.com.

World Fair Trade Day!

Fair Trade San Diego hosted its 3rd annual World Fair Trade event on Saturday, May 1st, at 4761 Cass Street, San Diego (in Pacific Beach).

Fair Trade jewelry

Achioli beads

Coin purses

Corridor of Hope organization

Exotic World Gifts organization

The soup ladies

Plant with Purpose organization

Attendees were able to gain a deeper understanding of the concept of Fair Trade, shop for Fair Trade gifts, learn about other justice organizations in San Diego, taste Fair Trade coffee, chocolate and wine, enjoy live music, and learn about the Fair Trade movement in San Diego.

Thanks to all who joined us for this festive celebration!