Tag: Global Exchange

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Get Ready for Reverse Trick-or-Treating

Global Exchange, the International Labor Rights Fund, Equal Exchange, Alter Eco, Sweet Earth, La Siembra, Cocoa Zen and a host of other organizations are getting ready for the third annal reverse trick-or-treat campaign.

The Reverse Trick-or-Treat campaign aims to educate consumers about poverty and child labor in the cocoa sector. In a sweet reversal of roles, participating children will hand the adults who open their doors a piece of dark chocolate and a card explaining the working conditions on many cocoa farms.

If your kids want to participate, contact Global Exchange for a kit. Kits are free but cost $5.50 shipping and handling.The deadline for individuals is Oct. 13. Organizations should get their orders in by Oct. 1.

If you want to give out fairtrade chocolate to children coming to your doors, you can stock up at many stores and online locations. Check any of the companies mentioned above.

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Make it a Fair Trade Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is around the corner and it’s the day (though by no means the only one) to buy chocolate and flowers for your sweetie. How about making it a fair trade Valentine’s Day. It’s easy and you know that you will be supporting farmers who have organized to escape the relentless onslaught of the “free” market.

Transfair USA, the fair trade certifier for the U.S., has created a handy website that provides links to places where you can order fair trade chocolate, fair trade flowers and fair trade wine.

Global Exchange, the education and action resource center for an alternative globalization, goes a bit farther. They have organized the National Valentine’s Day of Action to reach out to educators so that they can introduce their students to the concept of fair trade. There’s even a lesson plan for k-6th grade teachers. But if you just want to get some fair trade chocolate, they also offer a variety of fair trade chocolates including my favorite, Divine.

Finally, there are the friends at Equal Exchange who distribute fair trade chocolate as well.

But in the interest of shopping local, why not got to your local store and ask them to stock fair trade items. That way, you save postage and have your fix nearby. Happy Valentine’s Day.