Graphic Credit: www.fairtweets.com

BEN & JERRY’S INTRODUCES FAIR TWEETS
In honor of World Fair Trade Day (May 14th), Ben & Jerry’s launched www.fairtweets.com.
As described on the website:

Put your unused Twitter characters to good use and help spread the word about Fair Trade. Every day, millions of Twitter characters go unused. That’s not very fair. But now you can tweet as you normally would, and we’ll turn any leftover characters into a message about Fair Trade. Now that’s fair. Fair Tweet From Wherever You Are Online. So go here to start tweeting.

Oh, and in case you haven’t heard yet, Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield are going to be our upcoming Human Rights Awards Gala emcees!

CRAFTING CHANGE: A FAIR TRADE ARTISAN TOUR COMES TO GLOBAL EXCHANGE
Crafting Change: A Fair Trade Artisan Tour makes two stops to Global Exchange this week during its Northwest tour, on Wed. May 11th in San Francisco and Sat. May 14th in Berkeley.

Hear Peruvian artisans Yody Moran and Sonia Anahue’s compelling stories of their turbulent lives and learn how Fair Trade has helped them achieve economic and social stability. Get free Fair Trade resources and learn how you can use your purchasing power to impact the world. Plus you’ll find Fair Trade crafts available for sale. More details here.

Photo Credit: www.fairtradetownsusa.org

GREEN FEST HEADS TO THE US’ NEWEST FAIR TRADE TOWN…CHICAGO!
Congrats Chicago for becoming a Fair Trade town. And just in time…this weekend the Green Festival is in Chicago! This great green event is a project of Global Exchange and Green America, now in its 10th year.

Blogger Nancy Jones, Executive Director of Chicago Fair Trade & member of the Fair Trade Towns USA National Steering Committee blogs:

“Imagine Chicago as a Fair Trade City!” That was the theme of a meeting three years ago when we first charted a course to reaching this goal. Now, we are realizing this achievement on Friday, May 6th, in Daley Plaza and much of our imagining has become a reality: a city council resolution, 300 outlets selling Fair Trade products, 260 institutions using Fair Trade. Read the complete blog post here.

Graphic Credit: www.justmeans.com

AN INTERNATIONAL CONVENING OF THOUGHT-LEADERS AND PRACTITIONERS WORKING ON ETHICAL CERTIFICATION
This event brings together 150 thought leaders from social enterprises, leading brands and certifying bodies for a day of thought-provoking panel discussions concerning the future of certification.

Attendees will discover trends that are reshaping the face of certification, engage in lively debate with academics and practitioners, examine innovative case studies and contribute to the discussion that will define certification in the 21st Century.
More info and registration here.

Consultant Colvin English -- Photo Credit: ArtisanWorks

ARTISANWORK TRADE SHOW ONLINE FORUM HAPPENING NOW
For those of you business people out there, ArtisanWork’s “Trade Show” On-line forum discussion runs from May 5th through May 19th, and will have the expert opinion of Mr. Colvin English from ByHand Consulting.

Mr. English will provide an overview on how trade shows can help grow your business and increase market access- two key elements in how Fair Trade organizations can achieve better market exposure.

Elizabeth O’Connell and former Global Exchange Fair Trade intern, Shelley Alingas

FAIR TRADE ACTIVISTS REPORT BACK ABOUT HERSHEY SHAREHOLDER MEETING