On Labor Day, join activists from around the country in a fun Facebook action to demand that Hershey‘s and the rest of the cocoa industry END the grinding poverty and abusive child labor in the cocoa fields…by making a statement with s’mores!

We are close to our goal of making at least 1000 Fair Trade S’mores by Labor Day on Sept 3. Will you help us?

Here’s how:
1. Dig into some s’mores: Now through Labor Day weekend, include Fair Trade s’mores in your barbeques and campfires, or plan a We Want More from Our S’mores picnic in the park (or in the kitchen) or other event with friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors. Check out these videos to see how much fun you’ll have.
2. Let the s’mores be counted! Count the s’mores you eat and register them online.
3. Collect petition signatures: During your s’mores gathering, collect signatures on petitions asking Hershey to step up and become Fair Trade Certified.

Then On Sept. 3rd, participate in the National S’mores Day of Action!

Here’s a screenshot of the s’mores pic that Tex shared on Hershey’s Facebook page.

On Sept 3, we’ll have a Day of Action where we’ll blitz Hershey’s Facebook page with our important message that we want fairness now!

To get involved, photograph your Fair Trade s’mores festivities anytime now, then post photos of the action to Hershey’s Facebook page on Sept. 3rd.

If you don’t have a camera, (or you’re on a diet:) no worries. We’ve been collecting photos all summer long, so feel free to use one from our Facebook page. You can find them here and here.

Can’t wait until Labor Day? Once you’ve registered your s’mores, feel free to post your photo to Hershey’s Facebook page anytime, though on Sept. 3rd is the ideal time if you want to join others for the Day of Action.

Here’s how to post your own photo to Hershey’s Facebook page:

Via mobile: Take a photo with any mobile device that allows you to Share on Facebook, go to Hershey’s Facebook page and post your photo and comment to the Hershey’s Facebook Wall.

Via personal computer:

1. Log in to your Facebook account;
2. Go to Hershey’s Facebook page and click “LIKE”;
3. On the left-hand side click “photo/video” then “Upl0ad Photo/Video” then “Browse”;
4. Find the photo on your computer that you want to Share and double click it;
5. Write a comment, e.g. “Hershey stop using child slave labor/go fair trade” — you can get ideas from this page: http://www.raisethebarhershey.org/why-hershey/;
6. Hit “post” and watch your photo and comment appear on the Hershey Facebook page! And don’t worry, you can “unlike” the Hershey Facebook page after your post has been up for a while.

Here’s how to post a Global Exchange photo to Hershey’s Facebook page:

1. Go to one of our Facebook s’mores photo folders (here and here) to find a photo you like, then click on it to open it up;
2. Save to your desktop (mac users click, hold and drag the photo onto your desktop, pc can right click and click ‘save’);
3. Log in to your Facebook account;
4. Go to Hershey’s Facebook page and click “LIKE”;
5. On the left-hand side click “photo/video” then “Upl0ad Photo/Video” then “Browse”;
   
6. Find your saved photo on your desktop and double click it;
7. Write a comment, e.g. “Hershey stop using child slave labor/go fair trade” — you can get ideas from this page: http://www.raisethebarhershey.org/why-hershey/;
8. Hit “post” and watch your photo and comment appear on the Hershey Facebook page! And don’t worry, you can “unlike” the Hershey Facebook page after your post has been up for a while.

Together we can make a difference! Here’s to 1,000 registered s’mores and a Hershey’s Facebook page filled with all of our Fair Trade s’mores photos on September 3rd!

Photo Credit: Change.org

FACEBOOK FANS ACTIONS RESULT IN COMPANY SILENCE BY COSI

Last week Change.org called on fans of restaurant chain Cosi to tell the company that “life should be delicious” for cocoa farmers who currently live in poverty.

So for the past week Fair Trade activists filled Cosi’s Facebook Wall with posts about Fair Trade chocolate to encourage Cosi to use Fair Trade Certified cocoa for its popular tableside s’more treats.

A fan posted on Cosi’s wall, “I just went to Cosi 15 minutes ago and then found out on Facebook that this company does not take the problem of child slavery related to the chocolate trade, seriously. Please go with Fair Trade chocolate and take a stand against child slavery in the cocoa trade!”

So what was the response from Cosi?

What response?

One fan asked, “Cosi, why will you respond to all customer concerns EXCEPT those about the type of chocolate you use? I work around the corner from a Cosi and will eat there a lot less if the company isn’t willing to address this issue” and another fan posted “I would really appreciate it if Cosi could provide some kind of response to the fans who are concerned about child labor and other abuses linked to our favorite Cosi chocolate products.”

From looking at Cosi’s Facebook wall posts, it seems pretty clear that while eager to address customer service comments, requests and complaints, Cosi does not appear to be responding to any Fair Trade related comments.

Exhibit A: One hungry fan posted “why is your there no “made your own” sandwich option on your online ordering?” About 2 hours later, Cosi responded to the grammatically-challenged post with “we definitely see the importance in this and we’re working hard to add it as well as other capabilities. Thanks so much for your feedback.”

Cosi’s has been silent in response to Facebook fans’ concerns about child labor. To take action, sign the Cosi Petition “Stop Child Labor, Use Fair Trade Chocolate to Make Your S’Mores.”

FAIR TRADE PHOTO CONTEST LAST FEW DAYS TO VOTE!

This is the last week to vote for your favorite Fair Trade themed photos in the Fair Trade Calendar Photo Contest. Voting only goes through Saturday, July 17th so vote today if you haven’t yet.

As a member of the Fair Trade Resource Network Board of Directors, I helped launch the first calendar a few years back, and I have to say, the photo submissions this year are some of the best yet! Seriously, you should check them out.

Voting is really easy and free. You simply put a check mark next to your 5 fave pics and enter your email address and voila, consider your votes counted.

Check out a few of the photo contest submissions:

Photo Credit: Baskets of Africa

Photo Credit: Alter Eco

Photo Credit: Julia Baumgartner of Just Coffee Cooperative

FAIR TRADE TOWNS & UNIVERSITIES NATIONAL CONFERENCE

The first ever Fair Trade Towns & Universities National Conference is happening in Philadelphia, PA September 9-11, 2011.
The conference will bring together leaders and activists who are organizing or planning to organize a Fair Trade campaign in their town/city or university/college. Organizers, activists, faculty and students will come together to share experiences and resources, sharpen skills, and build momentum for Fair Trade.

All Town and University campaign organizers are welcome, and financial assistance is available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

To learn more about and register for the conference click here

To learn about the opportunity for financial assistance click here

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Photo Credit: Ecouterre /Brit Liggitt

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

• Ecouterre (blog): Nicole Miller Partners With Indego Africa on Fair-Trade Clothing, Jewelry
• World Talk Radio show “Green with Envy” July 14th show on Fair Trade products. Show airs live 1 PM EST; should be available for download after that.
• California Fair Trade Coalition: Californians Unite for Day of Action on Trade
• Labor Rights Blog: Harry Potter Fans Demand Fair Trade Chocolate
• The Gourmet Retailer: The Gourmet Housewares Show Makes New York Debut: Highlights will include “The Fair Trade Kitchen”
  Mashable: Campaign Protests Hershey’s With QR Codes

FAIR TRADE PHOTO CONTEST IN FULL SWING: VOTING NOW OPEN

Scores of beautiful and insightful photos are now competing in the third annual Fair Trade Photo Contest. The 12 winning photos will be featured in the 2012 Fair Trade Calendar. Vote for up to 5 Photos by July 16.
Please help share positive and diverse Fair Trade stories by encouraging your contacts to vote in the Fair Trade photo contest, and don’t forget to vote yourself!

The 12 winning Fair Trade photos will be featured in the 2012 Fair Trade Calendar, produced by FTRN and Fair Trade Federation.

Pre-order your calendars today: The 2012 Fair Trade calendar is available for pre-purchase now. The savings are big if you order early. Check out the pre-order early bird prices here. The more you get the more you save.

HOW CAN YOU CELEBRATE FREEDOM THIS JULY 4TH?

By making S’mores with Fair Trade chocolate!

Be part of the Fair Trade S’mores revolution.

Rock your picnic, barbeque or campfire with gooey, chocolatey Fair Trade s’mores.
Why? Because you’ll send a message to Hershey that it’s gotta get child and forced labor out of its cocoa. And you’ll enjoy your s’mores so much more with chocolate that frees kids from child labor and empowers cocoa farmers to free themselves from poverty.

During your s’more-fest, be sure to:
1.    Collect signatures on this petition asking Hershey to stop using child labor and become Fair Trade Certified
2.    Count the s’mores you eat and register them online
3.    Take pictures and videos of yourself with our s’mores poster and email the youtube link or your photos to fairtrade@globalexchange.org

Visit Global Exchange’s Fair Trade Campaign page for more s’mores event ideas and free resources.

Traditional block printing meets modern design

LEARN ABOUT BLOCK PRINTING TECHNIQUE WHILE SAVING IN SF THIS WEEKEND

Introducing Summer Saturday Savings! Every Saturday this summer July 2- Sept 3, 2011, the Global Exchange Fair Trade Store in San Francisco will be offering 15% OFF on featured clothing, scarves, tablecloths & kitchen ware, AND much more!

Kicking things off this Saturday, July 2nd, there will be free blockprinting demonstrations, a kids’ station, and customers will enjoy 15% off all summer dresses – just in time for that Fourth of July barbeque.

Learn about the traditional block printing technique used on many Fair Trade pieces this Saturday! Plus, enter a raffle by sharing what ‘independence’ means to you for chance to win a gift certificate to the Fair Trade store.

Event Details
Where: Global Exchange Fair Trade Store
4018 24th Street
When: 1pm-4pm Saturday July 2nd
More info: Call (415) 648-8068

HAVE YOU WATCHED KERRY KENNEDY’S FAIR TRADE RALLY SPEECH?

Check it out here:

Help the Raise the Bar Hershey folks reach their target of 1,500 video views. They’re aiming for1,500 views. You can help by sharing this link to it on your Facebook page and/or sending out this suggested tweet: Have you watched Kerry Kennedy’s #fairtrade rally speech yet? http://ow.ly/5svir via @gxfairtrade.

Michelle Obama, fashion modeling with spunk Photo credit: ecouterre.com

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

• ecouterre.com: Michelle Obama Wears Fair Trade
• nctimes.com: SMALL BUSINESS: Angell Bars bring ‘kitchen simple’ to the candy aisle
• confectionerynews: Cocoa shortage by 2020 unless industry acts now, warns Mars
• Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade Review: Origin Wine launches premium Fairtade wine as part of new launches at Vinexpo
• Fair Trade USA: Fair Trade Helps Farmers in Kenya Build Schools
• greenwichtime.com: Greenwich teen champions fair trade movement
• Guardian.co.uk: To profit or not to profit. Is that the question?
• dw-world.de: Filmmaker Romano uncovers chocolate’s dark secrets
• TeaneckPatch: Committee Seeks More Fair Trade Products in Local Shops
  Inc.: Gianna Driver, Founder of Gianna Fair Trade

HERSHEY RALLY WRAP UP
The ‘Raise the Bar Hershey’ rally took place in front of the Hershey store in Times Square. Lots of people turned out, including school kids and Kerry Kennedy, and Global Exchange’s Adrienne and Emily.

Check out Hey Hey! Ho Ho! Child Labor has got to Go! to read all about it and see pics. And check back here on our Fair Trade blog in a few days for a new video from the rally.

3RD ANNUAL FAIR TRADE CALENDAR PHOTO CONTEST

The third annual Fair Trade Calendar Photo Contest is in full swing. The time is NOW to submit Fair Trade themed photos on behalf of your business or organization for the chance to be included in the 2012 Fair Trade calendar. You can enter photos from producer or consumer countries. The 12 winning Fair Trade photos will be featured in the 2012 Fair Trade Calendar.

Here’s What to Do:
1) Submit Photos (June 1-26, 2011)
1.    Read contest Guidelines/Eligibility for details on qualifying, specifications, etc.
2.    Email each photo, with a caption up to 50 words to photocontest@ftrn.org;
3.    Pay submission fee of $10/photo at Fair Trade Resource Network’s Online Store;
2) Vote for Photos (June 27 – July 16, 2011)
Vote online for your favorites, with a link announced on FTRN’s website on June 27. The 12 winning photos will be featured each month in the 2012 Fair Trade Calendar. Over 1500 people voted for their favorite photos in last year’s contest!

To learn more about the Fair Trade Calendar Photo Contest, visit FTRN’s website or email photocontest@ftrn.org.

SERIOUSLY INSPIRING VIDEO YOU JUST HAVE TO WATCH!

Thanks to Fair Trade Sports for sharing this gem on its blog. That’s where I first discovered it. According to the post, TMB Bank launched this short film as part of a new brand vision, “Make THE Difference,” to inspire people to start thinking differently.

This video encompasses the wonderfulness of kids, soccer (er, football), and well, life in general! 1,380,434 people (and counting) on YouTube have watched it. Have you?

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
3blmedia: Fair Trade USA and Textile Exchange Form Strategic Partnership
Going Green Examiner: Why Choose Fair Trade?
axiomnews: United Kingdom Sees Meteoric Rise in Fair Trade
GOOD: Finding a Sweet Spot for Fair Trade Sugar Farmers
PRNewswire: On-Trend Products Defying Economic Downturn
Evening Times (UK): Schools to go into battle for Fairtrade cup

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Check back here on our Fair Trade blog for more Fair Trade News Round-Ups…your one-stop shop for current Fair Trade news and events. And if you’ve got big Fair Trade news to share, email me!

Rally participants in front of Hershey Store in NYC Photo Credit: Diane Lent

World Day Against Child Labor was on Sunday, June 12th. Four days prior, the ‘Raise the Bar Hershey’ rally took place in front of the Hershey store in Times Square.

School children and social justice activists, along with Kerry Kennedy, President of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, and Lee Cutler, Secretary Treasurer of New York State United Teachers Union, rallied to call on Hershey to eliminate forced, trafficked and child labor from its cocoa supply chain.

Kerry Kennedy speaks to the crowd

The NYDailyNews.com reported:

Students from Public School 87, Brooklyn International High School and Benedictine Academy from Elizabeth, N.J., were among the 150 demonstrators, yelling, “Hershey’s: tastes good, feels bad.” The students have been studying global issues and were there as part of a field trip.

When reached for comment, Hershey’s spokesman, Kirt Saville, did not address the company’s child labor practices, but said it has been committed for the past 50 years to improving the West African cocoa communities.

One thing is certain; Hershey lags behind its competitors when it comes to taking responsibility for the communities from which it sources cocoa.

These kids scream for Fair Trade Photo Credit: Diane Lent

The rally was a spirited success, as you can probably tell from the pictures. If you’d like to see more pics from the event, check out these Flickr pages:

• Raise the Bar Hershey Flickr
• New York Fair Trade Flickr
• Greenelent Flickr

Global Exchange Fair Trade Campaign Director Adrienne Fitch-Frankel in front of Hershey

TAKE ACTION!

• Sign the petition telling Hershey Interim CEO John Bilbrey to Raise the Bar Hershey!
• Help support Global Exchange’s Fair Trade Campaign at www.globalexchange.org/donatefairtrade.
• Stay tuned for a video from the rally, which will be posted this week right here on our Fair Trade blog.

Kerry Kennedy speaking out against Hershey

TODAY is the day to ask Hershey to end child labor and trafficking in the cocoa fields!

If EACH ONE OF YOU takes just 5 minutes to take action, together, we will flood Hershey’s with thousands of calls and emails, and we will make a difference.

Please speak out in solidarity with youth, concerned consumers, human rights advocate Kerry Kennedy, and NY State United Teachers Secretary-Treasurer Lee Cutler rallying with Global Exchange and our campaign partners at the Hershey Store in NYC’s Times Square today, as part of our Raise the Bar Hershey Campaign.

TAKE ACTION:

1. Join others and Call Hershey TODAY (details below)
2. Sign the petition to Hershey here
3. Share and Retweet this Post
4. Check out rally updates and pics on Twitter:  #HersheyGoFair

Almost ten years after companies like Hershey committed to ending child labor, forced labor and trafficking in their supply chains, these abuses continue in West Africa. Hershey is currently lagging behind its competitors in using cocoa that has been certified by independent third parties to comply with international labor rights standards.  World Day Against Child Labor is this weekend, and we’re calling on Hershey to do more to stop these abuses by committing to sourcing Fair Trade cocoa.

HOW TO CALL IN:
Number to Dial: +1-800-468-1714, Option “0″
Back-up Number: 717-534-4200

Suggested Call-in Script:

“Hi, my name is ___ and I’m calling from ___. I am a huge fan of [insert your favorite HERSHEY candy here]*. I’m calling today because I want Hershey to raise the bar for responsible cocoa sourcing and commit to begin using Fair Trade Certified cocoa for my favorite chocolate. Ten years after Hershey committed to ending child labor, forced labor and trafficking in its cocoa, the abuses continue and Hershey needs to do more to end this exploitation. While I cannot be in New York City today, I support those who are rallying outside the Hershey store in Times Square. Thank you for your time!”

If you are not a fan of Hershey’s chocolate, you can leave out the sentence about your favorite candy bar and say “my family member’s favorite bar is___” or “I used to like___, but I am discouraged from eating it since it’s not Fair Trade“ or whatever reflects how you feel!

Before you call: you may want to review our consumer’s report in which we address the issues in their supply chain and how they can change them here.

For more information on the campaign, please visit www.globalexchange.org/cocoa.

Kerry Kennedy Photo Credit: humanrightsfirst.org

With World Day Against Child Labor right around the corner, students,  social justice leaders including Kerry Kennedy, and groups will rally in front of the Hershey Store in Times Square on June 8, 2011 to call on Hershey to eliminate forced, trafficked and child labor from its cocoa supply chain.

Despite almost ten years of commitments from Hershey and other major chocolate companies to take responsibility for their cocoa supply chains and eliminate child labor, significant problems persist. Abusive child labor, trafficking, and forced labor continue to plague the West African cocoa industry. The farmers in this region, which supplies the majority of the world’s cocoa, live in poverty, while major chocolate corporations continue to amass large profits.

Hershey lags behind its competitors when it comes to taking responsibility for the communities from which it sources cocoa. Hershey has no policies in place to purchase cocoa that has been produced without the use of labor exploitation, and the company has consistently refused to provide public information about its cocoa sources.

Will you join us in calling on Hershey to do more to stop child labor, forced labor, and trafficking in its cocoa supply chain and to start sourcing Fair Trade Certified cocoa?

RALLY IN TIMES SQUARE, NYC

When: June 8 2011, 10:30am – 12:30pm
Where: In front of the Hershey Store in Times Square (1593 Broadway; Northwest corner of Broadway and 48th Street, Manhattan)

Fair Trade Activist Marie Hogan

Who will be there:

• The Raise the Bar, Hershey campaign members (Global Exchange, Green America and the International Labor Rights Forum)
• Kerry Kennedy, President, Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
• Lee Cutler – Secretary Treasurer of New York State United Teachers Union
• Marie Hogan – 11 year old Global Exchange Sweet Smarts SF chapter leader, along with local NYC-based students
• Social justice, Fair Trade, labor rights, and faith based organization

RSVP on Facebook

CAN’T MAKE IT TO THE RALLY IN NEW YORK?

Take other actions to hold major chocolate corporations accountable

• If you do just one thing, sign this petition telling Hershey Interim CEO John Bilbrey to Raise the Bar Hershey!
• Follow the hashtag #HersheyGoFair on Twitter for live tweets from folks at the rally (including us @gxfairtrade);
• Find out more about the Raise the Hershey Bar campaign.

Together, we can speak up for children in West Africa and demand that Hershey and the rest of the cocoa industry commit to Fair Trade Certified cocoa.

Global Exchange’s Sweet Smarts campaign is a national network of individuals, from young children to senior citizens, whose simple, creative actions to educate and advocate for Fair Trade certified products transform communities and corporations to support small farmers’ efforts to build a better future for their families.

With Sweet Smarts, we’re binding together to build the next generation of social justice and environmental leaders.  We have developed new activity guides, which offer a step by step process to become a Fair Trade advocate and help end poverty, child labor, and environmental degradation by raising awareness about Fair Trade.

Here’s a message from our Fair Trade Cocoa Campaign Director, Adrienne Fitch-Frankel that is included in your Youth Power Party activity guide talking about the importance of educating your community about Fair Trade.

During Halloween Week 2010, please help us raise awareness of this real-life horror.

We are calling on you and individuals nationwide who care about the welfare of children to organize film screenings – large or small – in your home, workplace, or other group.

Help ensure that as many people as possible see this important film and take action to end this tragedy.

Following screenings, attendees will be invited to sign letters asking the Hershey Company to end the use of child labor and slavery in the cocoa fields and to start sourcing Fair Trade certified cocoa, which prohibits the use of child and forced labor.

Filmmaker Roberto Romano has generously offered for you to screen this film for free; participants will be asked to pay only to cover the cost of DVD replication and postage, which will be approximately $3-6.

Our goal is to organize hundreds of screenings nationwide at house parties, schools, congregations, and other venues during a National Week of Action the last week of October.  (If late October is inconvenient, please feel free to screen it later.)

Will you help by holding a screening (or even two)?

Questions?  Email fairtrade@globalexchange.org

PS:  Reverse Trick-or-Treating is coming soon!  September 1 is the anticipated start date for kit requests.

Date: Wednesday, July 28
Time: 5:30 – 7:30pm
Where: 4018 24th St, San Francisco CA 94114 (map)

As participants in this year’s Fair Cocoa Harvest Reality Tour, Keri and Hime traveled to the Dominican Republic where they worked along-side farmers of a Fair Trade cocoa cooperative (CONACADO) to harvest cocoa. Having shared in the daily lives of small-scale farming families, they can share with us their understanding of what Fair Trade means for producers.

Fair Harvest is not intended to be a tour or tourist visit, but rather to be a lived experience that will motivate the participants to be committed fair trade advocates when they return. Spend your vacation harvesting social justice while learning about the beautiful culture, biodiversity, sustainable development and history of the Dominican Republic!

Learn about the importance of Fair Trade in the cocoa industry and how certification and economic alternatives can dramatically improve the lives of producers.