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European World Shops' Day Promoting Justice in World Trade |
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| Vince Caruana | ||
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May
20, 2000, will be the 5th European World Shops' Day (EWSD) and the 'World
Fair Trade Day' in Japan and the US, a day of celebration for all those
involved in the fast-growing Fair Trade movement. The
primary aim of this day, with activities organised on local, national and
European levels, is to promote the World Shops and different themes of
Fair Trade to as wide a public as possible. Since 1996, over 1,500-2,000
World Shops throughout Europe have participated in the World Shops' Day
taking place each year at the beginning of May. Respect
for People and the Environment Fair
Trade is a partnership between producers, traders and consumers who are
working to remove the disadvantages suffered by producers, to increase
producers' access to markets and promote the process of sustainable
development. It works to create means and opportunities for producers,
especially disadvantaged, small-scale producers, to improve their living
and working conditions. Its mission is to promote social equity,
environmental protection and economic security through trade,
awareness-raising and campaigning. The
European World Shops base their Fair Trade with producers in developing
countries on a number of collective trade conditions: i)
Fair price: The producers receive a good price for their products.
That price covers a reasonable income, environmental protection and
economic security. ii)
Regular purchase: Long term co-operation allows producers to
finance the development of their communities. iii)
Good working conditions: The producers who produce for the World Shops
have good working conditions and have a voice about their work and
organisation. iv)
Human rights: Fair trade respects human rights, especially those of women,
children and disabled people. v)
Producer support: The producers get assistance in the development
of ecologically sound products and care for sustainable production. Fair
Trade in Malta In
1996, the Third World Group (Malta) founded Koperattiva Kummerc Gust, a
Fair Trade Cooperative run by volunteers that buys products directly from
producers in the South of the World and from established international
organisations that market fair trade products and encourage others to do
likewise. The Cooperative
runs the first and only World Shop in Malta. “L-Arka” is situated at
306, St. Paul’s Street, Valletta. This
year “L-Arka” is participating in the 5th European World Shops' Day
(EWSD) by putting up a stand at the Plaza Centre in Sliema on the morning
of Saturday 20 May. The stand will be selling an impressive array of
products including foodstuffs, handicrafts and textiles. These make
excellent products for personal consumption and are ideal gift articles.
These products are imported from over 33 countries in Africa, Latin
America and Asia. L-Arka
is run on a non-profit basis and the social cooperative that runs has
bound itself legally to reinvest profits in projects that would help to
alleviate poverty. L-Arka
is also currently welcoming new volunteers who would like to help promote
fair trade in Malta. Further
details may be obtained by phoning the World Shop on 244865 or by visiting
the stand at the Plaza Centre.
May 2000 |
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