Fair Up

As a student friendly organization, we have decided to present you our selection and recommendation of Fair trade related literature. From Fair Trade essentials and sources of basic knowledge, to more academic and practical literature that provides one with a basis for understanding power relations and politics behind the movement.

We hope that presented sources will spark your enthusiasm and inspiration for change.

Fair trade is a growing global movement, and over the past few years it impact has grown due to the development of the new media, technology and globalization, and as a result more people are now aware of seriousness of the fair trade. Also, a widening range of fair trade goods are now available in stores all around the world, also in the Netherlands .

The first book in our review: 50 REASONS TO BUY FAIR TRADE provides the inconvenienced reader with fifty reasons why buying fair trade delivers a host of benefits to people and the planet. It’s an inspiring account of how every consumer can play a part in improving and even saving lives – making global trade work better for poor people.

Fair Trade Movement says :“From economics to activism, the 50 reasons run the gamut. Our favorite chapter? ‘Prove the free trade eggheads wrong’’

Another book worth our recommendations, is Changing Big Business: The Globalization of the Fair Trade Movement.

Fair Trade Movement says: “This book provides a theoretical understanding of the global politics of Fair Trade, and the power dynamics within the movement. Good for sociology and political science academics. Interesting sections cover the history of Fair Trade, models of Fair Trade pioneers, and the evolving structure of the Fairtrade Labeling Organization and the World Fair Trade Organization.”

Hutchens develops several new approaches to understanding power, governance and social change across the broad interdisciplinary fields of development, economics and politics. Emphasizing Fair Trade’s entrepreneurs, this book investigates the creation of innovative commercial Fair Trade business models that are often neglected in research. The book has in-depth sections on brands and labels, European activities, and the power of networks.

Both books can be purchased on Amazon.com

Still looking for a nice, alternative type of movie to watch together with a bunch of friends on a Fridayeve? Consider viewing a 2008 documentary, “The Fair Trade movie”, where a young women makes a life-altering choice… A short summary taken from the movie’s website:

The feature documentary The Fair Trade tells the story of Tamara Johnston who, devastated by the tragic death of her fiance, makes a bargain with God in exchange for a meaningful life. She and her twin sister Shelby join forces with brother-in-law Steven to start one of the first fair trade skincare companies—Anti-Body. Even as Tamara becomes a successful activist for human rights and social justice causes, despair over her loss remains unabated. As she nears the deadline of her bargain, a trip to Africa allows her to visit the fair trade co-op from which Anti-Body buys its organic shea butter. There, she finds a surprising answer to what is required of her in exchange for a sustainable life.


Definitely a must-see, if you’d ask us!
If you’ve gotten curious, make sure to see the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQl9cNuwumY.

This year, for the 6th time in a row, the Fairtrade week will be held between October 25 and November 4. During this one week, the Dutch consumers will be stimulated to put fairtrade products on their grocery lists. Why? Well, not in the last place because the range of fairtrade products sold in supermarkets is increasing in a fast pace, but also because during this one week, it is possible to get discount on fairtrade goods! And what student could refuse thát?!

Look out for the ‘fairtrade product brochure’, which you will automatically receive in your mail box at home in the end of October. Here, you can find discount coupons for fairtrade products to be bought at Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl or Plus stores. Happy (fairtrade) grocery shopping! :)

tumblrbot asked: WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER WHEN YOU ARE IN A BAD MOOD?

Ben & Jerry’s Dough-ble Whammy!

http://fairup.tumblr.com/post/19407384456/you-can-support-fairtrade-by-grabbing-a-spoon-and

At Albron students are offered a great selection of fair trade products. Albron uses the following motto: good for you, good for the farmer. They believe that a preset price is most efficient and honest to farmers to continuously invest in good quality products. At Albron, all fairtrade products show a Max Havelaar logo, as this logo ensures that farmers’ are guaranteed a minimum pre-designated compensation for their fair trade products.

Fair Trade at Albron…
Chocolate cinnamon almonds offered by ‘SUMM’, are very popular, also one can find the Beans4Life, which is the best biological coffee concept offered by the ‘Seventh Coffee World’. Students also have the opportunity to indulge themselves in tasting a mango puree coming all the way from Peru as offered by ‘Apromalpi’.

More products…
Theo & Zongo, are two farmers in Holland that supply Albron with 100% biological fruit, under the name ‘Goedsap’ this is made available and constitutes one of many great juices at Albron. Lastly the products of ‘Ozosweet’ include Chocolate brownies and Muffins, this chocolate comes from Paraguay. All these carefully selected products fit in the mission of Albron as they believe in the following statement:

Good Food, Happy people.

Fair trade has proven to have made a difference in people’s lives in the past. Gerardo Arias Camacho, a coffee producer living in Costa Rica married with three children appreciates fair trade due to how much it has helped him and his family.

During the 1980s, the prices of coffee fell so low that it couldn’t even cover the production costs anymore. However, because his consortium  became fairtrade-certified; prices became more stable and he received a garuanteed premium. He was able to spend money on his children’s education and live a much healthier lifestyle.

“I believe that my cooperative would be out of business if it wasn’t for Fairtrade. Free trade is not responsible trade”

This shows us that everyone should buy more Fairtrade products as it really does have an impact on people’s lives for the better.

The Oxford Brooks University was the first university to be labeled as Fairtrade in 2003. Ever since, universities and colleges have taken up the challenge, and now there are over 120 ‘fair’ uni’s in the UK only. Other countries are taken this example, and working towards achieving this same status.



All across the world students are trying to make their campusses more sustainable and ethical, which also includes selling products that have the Fairtrade label. Spreading awareness on Fairtrade as a matter, ensuring that fair products are available for purchase in as many places as possible, and lecturing about the great benefits that a fair way of doing business will bring to Third world farmers: this is what distinguishes Fairtrade uni’s from other schools.
In order to become such a Fairtrade uni, five criteria need to be met:

- Fairtrade foods need to be sold in every single canteen/ café/ lunchplace. Same goes for cotton: just think of the hoodides that are sold as merchandise. The offer of such products increases every year.
- The university is dedicated to using Fairtrade cotton for staff uniforms, merchandise, etc.
- Fairtrade products should be served during every meeting/ event at the uni. Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar should become the standard!
- Campaigns, in order to increase the awareness on Fairtrade and stimulate the implementation of these rules, need to be organized.
- A Fairtrade steering group is established (with student representation!). Here, representatives from the university staff, catering and students will work together on the previous 4 goals.

Each institution is free to develop its own campaign and approach, according to its campus culture, schedules and over-all structure. In the end, the goal for universities and colleges is to become linkages in a growing, wider network of organisations that promote the benefits of Fairtrade products. Hopefully Erasmus University will be next in line to contribute to the growth of the global Fairtrade movement!

Now that warmer temperatures are delighting us and the sun makes its appearance more and more often against the formarly grey scenery of Rotterdam, we’re in the mood for something that will reinvigorate our minds and souls. These second series of fair cooking for students will show you how to make a refreshing afternoon treat: iced coffee!
With some love and Fair Trade beans you’ll be just one step away from having your own Starbucks-like cup dose of summer caffeine!

What you’ll need:

- 4 cups of bresh brewed coffee (make sure it’s fairtrade!)
- half a teaspoon of vanilla essence
- 1/4 cup of white sugar
- 1/4 cup of boiling water
- 3 cups crushed ice/ a handful of ice cubes 
- 1/2 cup cream

This one’s easy peasy! Firstly, put the freshly brewed coffee in a refrigerator to cool off; 30 minutes should to the trick. In preperation, chill four glasses. Once the water is boiling, throw in the vanilla extract and the sugar until dissolved. Then, refrigerate this substance for 30 minutes. After having waited long enough, divide the icecubes and chilled coffee evenly between the four glasses, stir in the cream and finally the sugar mixture et… voila! Who needs Starbucks any longer?!

Enjoy!

Some useful links for more information on Fair Trade in general, where to find Fair Trade products, online shops and more! Surf’s up!



The official website of Fairtrade International (FLO), with lots of information on the Fairtrade label and criteria products have to meet in order to be labeled as such, shops to be visited near you and some news on current affairs.
http://www.fairtrade.net/

An online Fairtrade shop (Dutch, though) offering a wide range of Fairtrade toys, interior goods, jewelery, bags and… really cute lucky charms!
http://www.fairtrade-winkel.nl/

Here you can find information on the great initiative of a group of Erasmus students to make our university and campus more sustainable. Also don’t forget to check out their events page regularly- the GreenEUR group is fond of new students joining their team!
http://www.greeneur.nl/

This one is for the bling-loving girls out there! This cute webshop offers you the most charming bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings, all with a unique story. This jewelery is made in a far-away silverfactory in the capital city of Nepal, and is enriched with symbolic meaning. The people who are responsible for making the bling you will be wearing, have been paid fair loans and have worked under decent circumstances.
http://www.abeautifulstory.nl

One of the best known fair trade shops in Rotterdam is ‘de Wereldwinkel’, located in de Groene Passage (Mariniersweg 9) on the first floor. The range of products that you can find in this shop is exhaustive! Whether you’re looking for a nice piece of (fair) jewelery for your girlfriend, a wooden spoon that always comes handy in the kitchen for your mom or a mysterious dream catcher made in Southern India that will guard you against nightmares: search no longer and head off to de Wereldwinkel!
Each month you can buy a “product of the month” against a nice discount (if you’re interested in trying out some Fairtrade juices in three different flavors, you can buy a pack for 1,15 euro’s until the end of March!). Also, every single season de Wereldwinkel offers a renewed line of products, mostly in the categories of home interior, kitchen appliances and clothing. A great idea, as the shop remains interesting and “fresh” the whole year round!
The atmosphere in this multi-range product shop is always relaxed and the staff is friendly. How could they not be- knowing that their shop contributes to a fair and decent way of making money.

GreenEUR, a collective of environmentally aware students, is advocating for achieving the Fair Trade label for the Erasmus University in 2012. According to Colette Grosscurt, working as project manager at GreenEUR, this should be not a problem: our university meets the criteria of becoming Fair Trade. This includes having at least four products that are Fair Trade sold in the canteen (check!), and a minimum of 60% of coffee and tea should be fairly produced (check!). Fair Up, curious about this great initiative, posed a number of questions to Colette, gladly surprised by our interest in fairtrade. 



 - First of all: what does “being Fairtrade” mean for the Erasmus canteen?
“The Fairtrade university label comes down to the premise of at least four fairtrade products to be offered at the canteen. Also, this number should be increasing, as we want to offer the students more and more fairtrade products.”

- Why do you think that this initiative started at exactly this time? What does it say about the time and society we live in?
“The Fairtrade university label is something that has been a hot topic in England for a while now, and has reached Holland, and other countries, as well. We have chosen to raise the topic at this very moment, since more and more people are critical about the products they consume. Supermarkets also offer a wider range of fairtrade products. Now that the council of Rotterdam has shown to be active on fairtrade, we felt that it was time for the Erasmus University to take its responsibility as well.”

- What are the plans for introducing fairtrade on the uni?
“The Fairtrade team of GreenEUR is contemplating on the possibilities of introducing more fairtrade products in the canteen. After having done a check-up to see what products we already offer, we want to talk to each faculty separately to catch their attention for the cause of fairtrade. This will hopefully lead to a more concrete plan as to how to introduce more fairtrade products.”

- Why is the emphasis put on fair trade products coming from (mostly) far destinations, rather than biological goods from our local environment?
“Fairtrade and biologically produced foods do not necessarily rule each other out, as most of the fairtrade products, such as coffee, tea and bananas, cannot be produced in local regions. We focus mostly on fairtrade because we feel there is still much to be achieved when it comes to offering farmers in far destinations a better life. Through fairtrade this becomes possible. ”

- Will the fairtrade products on campus be more expensive than ‘not fair’ products?
“Not all fairtrade products are more expensive. It is true, however, that other products are cheaper. The reason for this is that farmers are being rewarded to honest standards, for the actual production costs. Furthermore, these farmers produce the goods in a sustainable way, which enables them to invest more money in their farm, family and local community. The assumption here is that by buying fairtrade products, one helps those in developing countries to build up long-lasting trade connections.”

- How can we, as (poor) students, contribute to a fair way of doing business?
“First of all, you can make the conscious decision to buy fairtrade products. So, the next time you go to a supermarket or the canteen, look whether there is a fairtrade alternative for the products you usually buy. By doing this, you send out the message that you think fairtrade is important en this may result into the adoption of more fairtrade products by the supermarket or canteen. You can also help a hand by introducing fairtrade to your fellow-students, for instance by organizing a lecture about this topic. On a more national level, there is the youth platform “Young & Fair” which you may consider joining, in order to raise awareness in the company of other youngsters. If you would like to keep it more ‘simple’, however, think of organizing a fairtrade dinner party.”

Thanks Colette!
For more information, be sure to check www.greeneur.nl.
- GS