Fair Trade Bike to Work Day Success

Thank you to everyone who turned out for San Francisco Bike to Work Day, Thursday, May 14th, 2009. The event was a big success with bikes constituting more than double the cars on Market Street for the second year in a row.

More elected officials participated than ever including Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, Supervisors Eric Mar, Carmen Chu, Ross Mirkarimi, Bevan Dufty, David Campos and John Avalos as well as SF MTA Director Nathaniel Ford, SF MTA Board Chairman Tom Nolan, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Director of the Department of Public Works Ed Reiskin, Mayor Newsom's Director of Greening Astrid Haryati and Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting.

Hundreds of cyclists stood up for bikes on the steps of City Hall to show support for the 50+ projects that will double the miles of bike lanes in San Francisco. More than 200 SFBC member-volunteers cheered on cyclists at 27 Energizer Stations throughout San Francisco and hundreds of new people showed their support for the work of the SFBC by becoming new members.

For the first time ever, all of the coffee for SF Bike to Work Day was Fair Trade Certified thanks to the hard work and dedication of our six, Bay Area Fair Trade coffee roasters, America's Best Coffee Roasting Company, Capricorn Coffees, De La Paz Coffee, Mountanos Brothers Coffee Company, Wild Card Roasters, and Equator Estate Coffees & Teas.


Many thanks to our illustrious sponsors, donors and volunteers who got up at the crack of dawn to brew 85 gallons of coffee to serve 1,813 cups of coffee to SFBC supporters at the 17 morning Bike to Work Day energizer stations in honor of Bike to Work Day and World Fair Trade Day, which took place the previous Saturday, May 9th.

With your help, we helped set the new record for World’s Largest Fair Trade Break, with over 56,892 participants, 450 events and 70 media articles nationwide, thereby surpassing Finland's previous record of 52,061 participants in October 2008.

For a taste of what the event looked like, check out the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition Bike to Work Day photo set on flickr:

Click to view the entire photo set

Or you can upload your own to the San Francisco Bike to Work Day Photo Pool:

Click to view the entire photo set

Need more inspiration? Check out these photos from World Fair Trade Day nationwide!

Click to view the entire photo set

For more information on Bike to Work Day and to become a member of the SFBC please visit:
http://www.sfbike.org

For more information on World Fair Trade Day and to learn more about how you can get involved visit:
http://www.fairtraderesource.org

Bike to Work Day Goes Fair Trade

All 17 Morning Energizer Stations Convert to Fair Trade Certified Coffee


Thursday, May 14th is Bike to Work Day in San Francisco and all seventeen morning energizer stations will be serving Fair Trade Certified coffee.

Join commuters old and new in making a statement about the importance of cycling and raise a cup for the world’s farmers. Stop by one of the 17 morning energizer stations and load up on Fair Trade Certified coffee, healthy snacks and even a convenient tote bag for future commutes.

Fair Trade Certified products directly support a better life for farming families through fair prices, direct trade, community development and environmental stewardship. When you choose Fair Trade Certified coffee along with your morning ride, you are choosing a better life for the world’s farmers, a cleaner environment and a more sustainable commute.

Special thanks to America's Best Coffee Roasting Company, Capricorn Coffees, De La Paz Coffee, Mountanos Brothers Coffee Company, Wild Card Roasters, and Equator Estate Coffees & Teas for providing the coffee for San Francisco Bike to Work Day 2009.

Remember to look for the Fair Trade Certified label when you shop and look for our illustrious, Fair Trade Certified Bike to Work Day sponsors at each of the following stations:

Bernal/Mission, Cesar Chavez @ Harrison, Mountanos Brothers Coffee Company
City College, Ram Plaza, Phelan Campus, TBD
Civic Center City Hall, Polk St. steps, De La Paz Coffee
Downtown, Market @ Battery (7:30am-2pm), Wild Card Roasters
Embarcadero, Ferry Building, Wild Card Roasters
Inner Richmond, Cabrillo @ Arguello, Equator Estate Coffees & Teas
Inner Sunset, Irving @ 7th Ave., America's Best Coffee Roasting Company
Mid Market, Market @ 12th St., Capricorn Coffees
Mission, Valencia @ 17th St., De La Paz Coffee
Presidio, Main Post, Halleck @ Lincoln, Equator Estate Coffees & Teas Incorporated
SF State, 19th Ave. @ Holloway (8-10am), Starbucks (Café Estima)
SOMA, Caltrain, 4th @ Townsend, Moschetti Espresso
SOMA, Folsom @ 7th St., Capricorn Coffees
UCSF, Medical Center, Irving @ 2nd Ave., America's Best Coffee Roasting Company
UCSF Mission Bay, 16th @ Owens St., De La Paz Coffee
3rd Street, Chesar Chavez @ 3rd Street, Mountanos Brothers Coffee Company Western Addition,
Kaiser Hospital, Geary @ St. Josephs, *No coffee served

For more information on Bike to Work Day and how you can get involved visit:
http://www.sfbike.org/?btwd

To download a map of energizer stations and commuter convoy departure locations visit:
http://www.sfbike.org/?btwd2009

This event is occurring in solidarity with celebrations for World Fair Trade Day 2009.

Join the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition and the San Francisco Bike Coalition in taking a break for Fair Trade on or around May 9th as part of the World's Largest Fair Trade Break!

For more information on how you can get involved please visit:
http://www.fairtraderesourcenetwork.org

Fair Trade Transit Victories

Dear Friends,

Every morning we make a number of choices about our morning routine, and those choices when taken collectively can have an enormous impact on our communities, our environment and people around the world.

Whether you are choosing to take public transportation to work, to ride your bike for a short trip to the store or to purchase Fair Trade Certified products when you get there, your choices are making a difference not just for your life, but for others and our planet.

The Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition is proud to partner with Bay Area Rapid Transit and the San Francisco Bike Coalition to promote a sustainable commute including Fair Trade coffee, tea and snacks to thousands of commuters this month through our BART Rider Thank You Day and Gas Free Fridays campaigns.

And people are taking notice! Please enjoy these photos, videos and news links from our last two actions and spread the word about the next Gas Free Fridays event tomorrow morning at Valencia and 17th Street in San Francisco!

BART Rider Thank You Day

Click to view the entire photo set

On Tuesday, September 23rd volunteers from the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition handed out 50,000 coupons for Fair Trade Certified espresso and Numi Teas from Tully’s Coffee to commuters at BART’s six busiest stations.

The event was covered by NBC11, CBS5, KGO810 AM, the East Bay Business Times, the Bay City News, the San Francisco Examiner and others. A complete set of photos is available at our MySpace page along with a video of the event courtesy of BARTtv.

Thanks to the dozens of volunteers from Global Exchange, Transfair USA, Building with Books and the United Students for Fair Trade who made this event a success and to Tully’s Coffee for donating over a half million dollars worth of Fair Trade Certified espresso.

Gas Free Fridays

Click to view the entire photo set

On Friday, October 3rd the San Francisco Bike Coalition kicked off their month long Gas-Free Fridays campaign with the help of volunteers and snacks provided by the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition.

These events will take place a different busy street corner every Friday in October, which also happens to be Fair Trade Month! So get on your bike, grab a friend or coworker and pedal on by an SFBC Energizer Station.

The SFBC tent will be set up next to bike lanes around San Francisco to cheer you on and help you "Fuel up" with free Fair Trade Certified™ coffee, tea and snacks. On Friday, October 10th, we will be at Valencia and 17th Streets from 7:30-9:30am.

Check out the coverage in the SF Bay Guardian and on ABC7 and KTVU or download the Press Release (PDF). See our flickr photos.

Help us spread the word and encourage your own friends and coworkers to bike on Gas-Free Fridays by leading a Bike Bus to an SFBC Energizer Station.

And thanks again to Adina World Beat Beverages, Lara Bar, Sencha Naturals, Tony's Coffee and Real Foods Company for the generous donation of Fair Trade Certified bananas, energy bars, energy drinks and coffee to make this event a success.

Hope to see you there!

Jamie

SFBC Goes Fair Trade!

Dear Friends,

The Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition will be teaming up with the San Francisco Bike Coalition this month to promote Fair Trade and Bicycling as part of a healthy and sustainable commute.

Gas Free Fridays is a new campaign to promote bike riding as a response to soaring gas prices and this year they are making all of the giveaways at their energizer stations Fair Trade Certified. Built on the success of their popular Bike to Work Day, Gas Free Fridays will take place every Friday at a different location throughout the month of October, which also happens to be Fair Trade Month!

We hope that this action will inspire Fair Trade advocates and bicycle enthusiasts around the country to form new partnerships to educate consumers about the benefits of Fair Trade and cycling for farmers, workers and the environment.

There are already a number of Fair Trade cafes, cooperatives and companies involved in their local Bike to Work Day campaigns and using cycling as a sustainable alternative to not only deliver their crops to market on Fair Trade farms, but also to get the beans to the cafes here in the U.S. – and that’s not to mention your regular trips to the corner café!

Please read on for more info on this exciting event and thanks to Adina World Beat Beverages, Lara Bar, Sencha Naturals, Tony's Coffee and Real Foods Company for the generous donation of Fair Trade Certified bananas, energy bars, energy drinks and coffee to make this event a success!

Warm Regards,
Jamie

---


Get on your bike and celebrate Gas-Free Fridays

The SFBC wants to encourage more people to substitute one short car trip with a bicycle trip every Friday this October. Download the Press Release (PDF).
In San Francisco, half of all driving trips are under two miles in length -- a distance easily travelled by bicycle. So, grab your bike and a friend or co-worker and pedal by one of the SFBC's energizer station to fuel up on free fair-trade certified coffee, tea, and snacks.

Want to encourage your friends and coworkers to ride? Organize a Bike Bus from your neighborhood to the Gas-Free Friday Energizer Station each Friday in October.
Energizer Station Locations:

View Larger Map
Oct. 3rd: Market and 12th Streets
Oct. 10th: Valencia and 17th Streets
Oct. 17th: Embarcadero (between the Ferry Building and Justin Herman Plaza
Oct. 24th: City Hall, Polk and Grove Streets
Oct. 31st: Folsom and 7th Streets

A special thanks to... TransFair USA, the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition, Adina World Beat Beverages, Lara Bar, Sencha Naturals, Tony's Coffee and Real Foods Company for providing Fair Trade Certified coffee, tea and snacks for Car-Free Friday Energizer Stations.

BART Rider Thank You Day Returns

Dear Friends,

Its time again for our third of four Fair Trade Certified “BART Rider Thank You Day” events! Tuesday, September 23rd volunteers from the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition will once again descend upon BART’s six busiest stations to hand out 50,000 coupons for Fair Trade coffee and tea.

This time the deal is sweeter not just for commuters but for the world’s tea farmers with the introduction of Fair Trade Certified Numi Tea to all of Tully’s stores. It’s also a sweeter deal for you with more volunteer treats, gifts and thank you’s than ever before.

As a volunteer you will receive:

- a $10 BART pass
- a $10 Tully’s Gift Card
- a stylish, limited edition Rider Thank You Day t-shirt
- and your very own, employees only BART logo hat!

These Rider Thank You Day events are a lot of fun and a huge success for our movement. In addition to the tens of thousands of people that we talk to about fair trade during the morning rush, we are reaching tens of thousands more in the morning and evening news coverage.

Our action is also serving as a model for other transit agencies around the world. When we showed the footage to our allies at the Fair Trade Foundation in the U.K. they snapped it right up! Next stop the London Underground?

Help us make this the biggest and best BART Rider Thank You Day ever. Volunteer today and spread the word to your friends, family and neighbors. Please contact jguzzi@transfairusa.org for more info on how to volunteer and pass along the following message to all of your Bay Area networks.

Thanks again for choosing Fair Trade!
Jamie

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BART Rider Thank You Day Returns
Celebrate your Commitment to a Sustainable Commute
with free Fair Trade Certified Coffee and Tea from Tully’s

Tuesday, September 23rd 6-9am

Participating Stations:
Civic Center, Powell, Montgomery, Embarcadero, Oakland 12th St. and Downtown Berkeley

Ride BART on Tuesday, September 23rd and get a free coupon for a Fair Trade Certified coffee or tea from Tully’s Coffee and half off your next purchase of a one pound bag of Fair Trade Certified beans. This is the third of four “Rider Thank You Day” events and the deal just keeps getting sweeter – not just for you, but for the world’s farmers.

Tully’s Coffee now proudly offers Fair Trade Certified Numi Tea in addition to its 100% Fair Trade Certified espresso drinks, all served in a convenient, earth-friendly compostable cup. When you choose BART, Tully’s Coffee and Fair Trade you are choosing a better life for farmers, a cleaner environment and a more sustainable commute. Thanks for your commitment!

This event is made possible with the support of volunteers from the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition, a group of student, faith and business leaders dedicated to raising awareness about the benefits of Fair Trade here in the Bay Area. We need your help to make this event a success! To help staff a booth at your local BART station or get involved in your community, please email jguzzi@transfairusa.org or call 510-663-5260 x 309.

For more information please visit:
http://bayareafairtradecoalition.blogspot.com

Brought you by BART, Tully’s Coffee and TransFair USA:
http://www.tullys.com/
http://www.bart.gov/
http://www.fairtradecertified.org

Fair Trade S'mores YouTube!

Global Exchange and the feature film Battle in Seattle present a quick, 90-second break sure to bring a grin to your face!!!

The video compiles two events in July and August where activists in San Francisco rallied together to relax, celebrate Fair Trade, and enjoy Fair Trade S’mores! The events were a huge success, attended by members of Global Exchange, the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition, and many chocolate-lovers in the park.

Look like fun? Plan your own Fair Trade Smores event for Labor Day Weekend! Just make a s'more with Fair Trade chocolate while you are camping, at a barbecue or at home with family this coming weekend. Register your event online here!

Fair Trade S'mores Happy Hour

Please join the Global Exchange 2008 summer Interns and Staff and Bay Area Fair Trade organizations for a:

FAIR TRADE S’MORES HAPPY HOUR!
Wednesday, August 13 at 6:00 PM
Picnic Tables at Dolores Park in San Francisco

Bring Your Own: Graham crackers, marshmallows, something to roast marshmallows on (ie sticks, wire hangers), Fair Trade chocolate (which you can find near Dolores Park at stores like Global Exchange, Bi-rite, Rainbow, etc)*
Arrive early and get your Fair Trade chocolate free!
Children and acoustic musical instruments welcome!!!
Note: Alcohol prohibited by park

AND it’s your big chance for a moment of fame! This event will be filmed for a You Tube video as part of the outreach for the soon-to-be-released feature film, Battle in Seattle!

WHY FAIR TRADE S’MORES?

Many cocoa farmers live in grinding poverty. Help cocoa farming communities gain access to education, health care and humane working conditions by eating Fair Trade s’mores!

In August 2008, to celebrate cocoa farmers and the September 19 release of the new movie about the movement for fair trade, Battle in Seattle, starring Woody Harrelson, Charlize Theron, Andre Benjamin and many others,

People nationwide will say “We Want More from Our S’mores!” by making s’mores with Fair Trade chocolate!!!

CAN’T ATTEND? PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL S’MORES ACTION ON YOUR OWN!

Join in the delicious action! Help us make hundreds or even thousands of Fair Trade s’mores nationwide, just by choosing Fair Trade chocolate for your barbeque, campfire, or at home!!!

Let your s’mores be counted!!! Let us know that you are participating in the national action by registering your s’mores at www.globalexchange.org/cocoa!

Videotape your s'mores action in all its Fair Trade chocolatey goodness and upload it to Global Exchange's S'mores Action YouTube group at http://www.youtube.com/group/fairtradesmores08

More info: www.globalexchange.org/cocoa and www.battleinseattlemovie.com

*Global Exchange Fair Trade store: 4018 24th Street (near Castro Street); Rainbow Grocery: 1745 Folsom Street (at 13th Street); 3639 18th Street (near Dolores Street)

San Francisco Fair Trade City Declaration: The Movie!

We are proud to announce that our San Francisco Fair Trade City declaration video is now online!

Join in the fun with performances by the Bayonics hip hop group, the Diamano Coura West African Dance Company and speakers from Global Exchange, Alter Eco, Oxfam America, TransFair USA and Adina World Beat Beverages.

Many thanks to everyone who participated and a big shout out to Damien Droney of TransFair USA, who produced and edited the video.

Please Circulate Far and Wide!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYaGoFExh60

Mayor Gavin Newsom Proclaims San FranciscoAmerica's 7th Fair Trade City

World Fair Trade Day, May 10th 2008
*Not Featured: Mayor Gavin Newsom

View the entire photo album at our new
Bay Area Fair Trade MySpace!

This Sat. May 10th - Mayor Gavin Newsom Proclaims San Francisco a Fair Trade City

In Honor of World Fair Trade Day
Mayor Gavin Newsom Proclaims San Francisco a Fair Trade City

Saturday, May 10th in Dolores Park
12pm-2pm

Join Mayor Gavin Newsom and the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition in proclaiming San Francisco a Fair Trade City this Saturday in Dolores Park!

The event will feature speakers from the Mayor’s Office, Adina World Beat Beverages and TransFair USA and highlight the broad community support for fair trade in San Francisco and the cities achievement of the national guidelines to be recognized as a Fair Trade City .

Entertainment will be provided by the Bayonics hip hop group, a Senegalese dance troupe and local DJs. Free samples from Adina World Beat Beverages, Alter Eco and other local Fair Trade Certified retailers and licensees; along with free Fair Trade Certified flowers for Mother’s Day courtesy of 1-800-Flowers.

We will also join other Fair Trade cities around the country in attempting to break the Guiness Book World Record for “World’s Largest Coffee Break – Fair Trade Style” and invite attendees to bring along a Fair Trade coffee from one of the many neighborhood businesses offering this option to help us break the record.

This event is sponsored by the City of San Francisco , the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition, TransFair USA , Adina World Beat Beverages, Global Exchange, AlterEco, ENGAGE, USF Students for Fair Trade and the dozens of local retailers who have made this milestone possible.

Help us spread the word! Please invite your friends and family to join us for this important milestone. Want to volunteer? We are going to need about a dozen hearty souls to help set up in the morning, break down in the evening and hand out all this free stuff!

Please call Jamie Guzzi, 510-663-5260 x.309 or email jguzzi@transfairusa.org to volunteer.

Happy Earth Day!

Well BART Riders,

We did it again and it couldn’t have happened without you all – thanks! We turned out another 60 volunteers, tore through another 50,000 coupons, blanketed the airwaves with the fair trade message and literally touched nearly everyone on the morning commute.

The folks at Tully’s are shocked at how much of a success this has been for their Bay Area stores and we are eagerly awaiting a report back on the exact numbers. Needles to say, it’s been good for sales and the higher ups at Tully’s are taking notice.

Judging from the comments of many BART riders, we made a big splash on radio and TV as well. Reporters from NBC 11 were waiting at Oakland when we arrived, KGO 810 AM was talking it up on their morning talk radio show, and numerous BART riders reported seeing our Berkeley volunteers on TV before they even got on the trains.

All the Bay Area Tully’s employees were indeed sporting our attractive “Fall in Love with Fair Trade” t-shirts with their Fair Trade label lapel pins proudly on their aprons. BART staff was overjoyed that we unloaded the coupons in record time and fewer people were lost thanks to our map of area Tully’s locations.

Most importantly, ever last rider on BART today heard the words “Fair Trade Certified” at least a dozen times, and with any luck a few more times when they picked up their coffee and at least once when they turned on the radio or TV. And that my friends, was because of you!

Thank you volunteers! Thank you BART riders! Happy Earth Day!

Jamie

Celebrate Earth Day with the BAFTC

Dear Friends,

It’s time again for our second BART Rider Thank You Day action! This month we celebrate Earth Day with our friends at BART and Tully’s Coffee by handing out another half million dollars worth of coupons for free Fair Trade Certified coffee from Tully’s!

Volunteers from the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition will once again descend upon BART’s six busiest stations to educate riders about the environmental benefits of Fair Trade and thank them for choosing public transportation as a sustainable alternative here at home.

Fair Trade Certification doesn’t just mean a fair price for farmers – it also means a cleaner environment for us all. In making small scale farming more profitable, Fair Trade discourages deforestation and preserves traditional intercropped farms that prevent erosion and protect wildlife.

Fair Trade also requires drastic reductions in agrochemical use, forbids the most harmful chemicals and promotes other environmental stewardship practices, so you know that the Fair Trade Certified espresso you are enjoying is not just good for the people, but for the planet as well.

Join the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition, TransFair USA, BART and Tully’s Coffee in reaching out to BART riders this Earth Day to say thank you for their commitment to a better life for farmers, a cleaner planet and a more sustainable commute.

We will need 60 volunteers - 10 at each station – to make this event a success and we can’t do it without your help! For more information on how you can volunteer, please contact Jamie Guzzi, 510-663-5260 x.309 or email jguzzi@transfairusa.org.

Thanks!
Jamie

PS. If this isn’t enough to get you there, there will also be free BART logo hats, commemorative t-shirts and thank you gift certificates from BART and Tully’s Coffee for all the volunteers! So get up early, do your good deed and celebrate Earth Day with your fellow fair traders!

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Celebrate Earth Day with a Free Cup of Fair Trade Certified Coffee
Courtesy of BART, Tully’s Coffee and TransFair USA

Tuesday, April 22nd 6-9am

Participating Stations:
Civic Center, Powell, Montgomery, Embarcadero, Oakland 12th St. and Downtown Berkeley

Ride BART this Earth Day and get a free coupon for a Fair Trade Certified late or espresso from Tully’s Coffee and half-off your next purchase of a one pound bag of Fair Trade Certified beans. Tully’s espresso is now 100% Fair Trade Certified nationwide and served in compostable cups. When you choose BART, Tully’s espresso and Fair Trade you are choosing a better life for farmers, a cleaner environment and a more sustainable commute. Thanks for your commitment!

This event is made possible with the support of volunteers from the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition, a group of student, faith and business leaders dedicated to raising awareness about the benefits of Fair Trade here in the Bay Area. We need your help to make this event a success! To help staff a booth at your local BART station or get involved in your community, please email jguzzi@transfairusa.org or call 510-663-5260 x 309.

For more information please visit:
http://bayareafairtradecoalition.blogspot.com

Brought you by BART, Tully’s Coffee and TransFair USA:
http://www.tullys.com/
http://www.bart.gov/
http://www.fairtradecertified.org

Fair Trade on BARTtv News

BART and Tully's Coffee Thank Riders With Fair Trade Coffee

January 31, 2008

" Free Fair Trade coffee - Thank you very much." A surprise for 50 thousand BART riders. BART and Tully's Coffe teamed up January 31st to give away a half million dollars worth of coffee. This rider thank you event is more than just a freebee - it's also about fair trade. Ryan Cohen: " A cup of coffee sells for like $3.25 or something in the United States and in the developing nation they get 30 cents for a sack that makes a hundred cups or something." Ryan Cohen volunteered to hand out these gift envelopes because she believes in fair trade. Ryan Cohen: " The farmers are getting the money that they deserve for the coffee that they have been farming their whole lives. " Each envelope features information about TransFair USA as well as a gift card good for a coffee drink and a coupon for coffee beans - all courtesy of Tully's. Tully's believes in fair trade too. It serves fair trade certified espresso. Jenn Rudolf: " This is a really nice way to tie in commuting, using public transportation, and Fair Trade certified coffee which benefits farmers and the environment." Before heading off to get their coffee, a few riders stopped to learn more. You can go to www.TransFairUSA.org Jenn Rudolf: "Look for the Fair Trade certified label as much as possible in grocery stores, restaurants and cafes and ask for it when you don't see it." And you can look forward to three more rider thank you events from Tully's this year. Sign up for a chance to win free lattes for a year at www.BART.org. Ryan Cohen: " If you drink a cup of Fair Trade coffee you know that your money is going to the right place." Jim Allison, BARTtv NEWS.

http://www.bart.gov/news/barttv/index.asp?&cat=27&id=338

BART Rider Appreciation Day - The Movie

BART offers Thursday morning commuters free coffee coupons
(Oakland Tribune, San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8121115

Free? We LOVE free stuff! (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=37&entry_id=23873

Come Help BART Give Away Free Fair Trade Coffee! (SFist.com)
http://sfist.com/2008/01/07/come_help_bart.php

Coming January 31st!!

BART Rider Appreciation Day Volunteers Needed!!

Do you ride BART to work? Do you enjoy a warm cup of Fair Trade Certified coffee as part of your morning commute? Well now you can do both and help raise awareness about Fair Trade as part of the BART Rider Thank You Day program.

Each year, BART gives back to the community by offering a series of free promotions to its riders. Sometimes it’s a free ride on BART, others it’s a sample from Jamba Juice or half-off your next purchase from a local bookseller. This year, BART will be teaming up with TransFair USA and Tully’s Coffee to make Fair Trade the centerpiece of its Rider Thank You Day program and a key component of its overall social justice and sustainability mission.

On the morning of Thursday, January 31^st, volunteers in BART’s six busiest stations will hand out over 50,000 coupons for free Fair Trade espresso from Tully’s Coffee to commuters on the morning rush. This will be the culmination of a month long promotional campaign within BART including banners in all the stations, regular messages on all of the next train signs and possibly even advertisements within the trains themselves.

Needless to say, this is an historic moment for our movement in the Bay Area and a tremendous opportunity to encourage all of BART’s riders to make Fair Trade Certified coffee a part of their daily routine. BART is providing the platform, Tully’s is providing the coffee and we need you to provide the support! We will need 6 teams of 10 volunteers to make this event a success and we can’t do it without your help.

Are you available for a few hours before work to help us take advantage of this historic opportunity? Please volunteer today! For more information or to volunteer, please contact James Guzzi, 510-663-5260 x. 309 or email jguzzi@transfairusa.org. And mark your calendars!

Thanks!

Jamie

PS. Do you or your organization have friends in the Bay Area? Please help spread the word!

Two ways to Fair Trade your Halloween!

1. Participate in Reverse Trick-or-Treating!

On Halloween night, 2007 Schoolchildren, high school/college students, and adults across the US and Canada will unite to distribe information about social justice issues in the cocoa industry as well as Fair Trade chocolate while Trick-or-Treating door-to-door in their communities!

Visit www.reversetrickortreating.org for more information!

If you participate, please join the online tally of flyers distributed.

2. Order Fair Trade Halloween candy to distribute at your door!

Visit http://store.gxonlinestore.org/ or www.reversetrickortreating.org to order.

Ten Thousand Villages International Gift Faire

Shop Fair Trade for the Holidays!

The 19th annual Ten Thousand Villages International Gift
Faire features Fairly Traded, high quality art and handmade
 goods from Ten Thousand Villages, a non profit job creation
and marketing program for artisans in 30 developing countries.

Friday, Oct. 12 9am-8pm & Saturday, Oct. 13 10am-4pm
Lincoln Glen Fellowship Hall
2700 Booksin Ave. San Jose 95125

New Fair Trade Judaica Website Launched!

I was recently forwarded this link to a new website that is spreading awareness about fair trade Judaica products! http://www.fairtradejudaica.org Below is an excerpt from their website:

In exploring the world of fair trade Judaica upon our return home, conversations with friends as well as owners of Judaica stores confirmed that there was much interest in promoting and purchasing fair trade Judaica items. Simply put, none of us had even known that this was possible.

Through long and involved Google research, it became clear that there are many Judaica items being made by fair trade producer groups around the world and marketed by non-profit organizations as well as companies.

Many of these products are used during holy days and rituals as we give blessings of thanks for the food we have, the freedom we’ve gained, and so much more. How wonderful that we can celebrate these riches in our lives by providing the makers of these products the opportunity to experience more freedom in their lives, earning a decent livelihood and working with dignity.

A Fair Trade Night in the Park

Thanks to everyone who came out to see the film Black Gold in Dolores Park last night! Over 200 people showed up to see the film. Black Gold does a great job of showing the difference we can make by choosing to purchase Fair Trade products. I think I can speak for everyone when I say the free Fair Trade Chocolate and Coffee samples were DELICIOUS. Justice never tasted so good.

Thanks again to our partners: California Newsreel, TransFair USA, Dolores Park Movie Night, Global Exchange, AlterEco, De La Paz Coffee, Sundance Coffee, and Oxfam America.

Black Gold in Dolores Park!

We are so excited to host this event with the Dolores Park Movie Night guys! They have graciously volunteered to set up the screening and sound equipment for this viewing. Invite your friends, come early to get a good seat and taste some Fair Trade goodies!

Make Trade Fair Party Thursday June 28th

What: Drinks, snacks, socializing and learning about Fair Trade
When: June 28th 6:30pm
Where: Haight Ashbury Food Program
1525 Waller Street at Belvedere. Please use the parking lot entrance.

Want to learn how you can help alleviate poverty here in the US and abroad? Join us for drinks and snacks, and to get educated about global trade distortion, commodity subsidy reform, and Bay Area Fair Trade organizations.

Socializing, networking, eating and drinking to begin around 6:30pm and a short movie will start at 7:00pm. The party will be held in the Haight Ashbury Food Program dining room.

For more information call: (415) 566-4158
or write to us at bayareafairtradecoalition@gmail.com

World Fair Trade Day Pictures

The Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition set up a table (in collaboration with Oxfam) in Dolores Park this year on World Fair Trade Day to educate the public about Fair Trade!

Dolores Park Cafe supplied us with delicious coffee to serve to the public. Alter Eco, Barefoot Coffee Roasters, Equal Exchange, and Wholesome sweeteners donated a bunch of free Fair Trade food items that we gave away. We also passed out our Where To Buy Fair Trade in the Bay Area list to a ton of people. Woo Hoo!

Thanks to everyone who came out to support us on World Fair Trade Day!

Changing Hands: The Work of Fair Trade

The Fair Trade Federation is pleased to invite interested retailers, wholesalers, and friends to our 2007 conference, Changing Hands: The Work of Fair Trade.

Those with a hand in positively changing the lives of those in poverty are invited to join us in Washington DC from June 1 - 3 for this special event which will feature discussions about the future of fair trade and practical seminars to improve operations.

On Sunday, June a exhibition of fair trade products will be open to the public on American University's campus.

The conference website, www.fairtradefederation.org/conference.htm, is now live with:
- Registration Forms
- Schedule of Events (to date)
- Accommodation and Travel Suggestions

For more information, contact FTF at 202-636-3547 or conference@FairTradeFederation.org .

World Fair Trade Day-May 12th

Come to Dolores Park this Saturday May 12th to celebrate World Fair Trade Day!

What: Fair Trade coffee, chocolate, and tea tasting. Free giveaways. Learn more about the growing Fair Trade movement!

Where: Dolores Park, San Francisco

When: Saturday, May 12th from 9am - 4pm

Hosts: Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition, Oxfam America, Dolores Park Cafe, Barefoot Coffee Roasters and AlterEco

Take this opportunity to learn more about Fair Trade by visiting our booth in Dolores Park. We will have Fair Trade chocolate, coffees and teas to taste, and other Fair Trade product give aways! We will also have Fair Trade literature available to learn more about this growing movement. Dolores Park is located in San Francisco's Mission District, between Church and Dolores St. on 18th St.

World Fair Trade Day is the world’s annual celebration of fair trade. It is the first global campaign that connects fair trade producers and consumers around the world. On and around the second Saturday of May every year, fair trade organizations, stores, consumers, and supporters based in 70 countries campaign for justice in trade and host events promoting fair trade.

Bake Sale For Hope - May 12th

Check out this awesome World Fair Trade Day Event!

Childrens Art Contest for World Fair Trade

Sponsored by TransFair USA

Theme: Kids Need Fair Trade!

Some Ideas To Get You Started: What does Fair Trade mean to you? Why do you think we need Fair Trade? How does Fair Trade benefit kids in Africa, Asia and Latin America? How is life different for children in the U.S. and farming children in other countries?

Rules: Submit a drawing, picture, or collage no larger than the size of a 4" x 6" postcard. You can use any medium you'd like - crayons, pencils, watercolor, computer generated imagery, pictures, or Fair Trade product packaging. Be creative and have fun!

Who can enter: There are three categories for the World Fair Trade Day Art Contest.

• Third to Fifth Grade
• Sixth to Eighth Grade
• Ninth to Twelfth Grade

Deadline: Entries must be received by May 15, 2007!

How to Enter:

By Mail: TransFair USA World Fair Trade Day Art Contest 1611 Telegraph Ave. Ste 900 Oakland, CA 94612 By email: You may email your scanned art entries to WFTD@transfairusa.org.

Cool Prizes!

• The top 10 entries from each age category will be featured right here on our website for YOU and your friends and family to vote on.
• One talented winner in each age category will receive a big box of Fair Trade chocolates, a year's supply of yummy Fair Trade ice cream and a Fair Trade T-shirt! Best of all, we'll make a postcard with the winning entry that will be sent around the country -- you'll be famous!
• This Just in! The teacher submitting the most entries will win a soccer ball from Fair Trade Sports to share with their class. Imagine...a tangible way to remind your students how Fair Trade benefits children in other countries that is also fun on the playground!

Start submitting your entries now!

How will the winners be decided?
That's the best part. YOU, your friends and family get to decide which entry wins. We'll post the top 10 entries right here on our website on May 21 for folks to vote on.

When will the winners be announced?
Voting will happen online from May 21 to May 31. Winners will be determined on June 1, 2007. The entry with the most votes wins!

Good luck!

Bay Area Tully's Coffee Now Making All Espresso Drinks with Fair Trade Certified Organic Beans

On April 4th 18 Bay Area Tully's Coffee locations began using Fair Trade Certified Organic coffees in all of their espresso and ecaf espresso drinks. This is a big step for a company that previously hasn't been very enthusiatic about Fair Trade. If the new Fair Trade espresso drinks do well in the Bay Area, we could see FT espressos in every Tully's store! While Tully's is an out-of-town chain cafe in competition with many of our favorite endependently-owned local shops, they are starting to make more of a commitment to Fair Trade. If you'd like to show your support of Tully's new 100% Fair Trade espressos, stop by one of the Bay Area locations, found here:

http://www.tullys.com/storelocator/

Fair Trade Sports!

I recently found a new business called Fair Trade Sports located in Seattle. They are the first sports equipment company in the US to launch a full line of Fair Trade sports balls!

Check out their website: http://fairtradesports.com/

More info:
Fair Trade Sports is your source for premium quality sports balls that help at-risk children around the world. 100% after-tax profits go to children's charities.

All our sports balls are certified to be stitched by adult workers, paid fair wages, and ensured healthy working conditions. We offer guilt-free soccer balls, footballs, rugby balls, volleyballs, and more.
Together, we can break this cycle of poverty and oppression.

Fair Trade Fiesta at Grandma Mary's Organic Farm 2/28

Come down to Grandma Mary's Organic Farm for an evening of friends, food, music, fiesta, and cultural exchange. Come bid farewell to Thai fair trade rice farmers P'Samrat and Paw Man who are returning home after a two week trip promoting fair trade and sustainable agriculture throughout the US.

Where:
Grandma Mary's Organic Farm
100 Behrens St. El Cerrito, CA
(walking distance from BART el cerrito south bart)

When: Wednesday February 28th at 7pm

Musical Performances by Valerie Orth, The Overeasy's, and Josey Baker



There will be food at the event, but please bring your beverage of choice. If you have questions about the event please contact chris@engagetheworld.org

"Free Chocolate" Art Exhibition

Now through February 17 ~ Free
Intersection for the Arts
446 Valencia St. 415-626-2787
www.theintersection.org

Based on research and travel to cacao farms in Ghana and Cuba and to the New York Board of Trade, Bay Area conceptual artist April Banks' first solo exhibition explores cocoa's global journey from farmer, to trader, to chocolate lover. This layered installation illuminates our desire for beauty, sweetness, indulgence, and intoxication within the context of issues of globalism, fair trade, and sustainability. Tracing the complex way in which we participate in global economies, Banks juxtaposes the basic human need, desire, greed, and guilt that drive our structures of consumption.

Thursday January 25th, 7pm
From Bean to Bar: A Chocolate Tasting FREE

Meet Frederick Schilling, founder of DAGOBA Organic Chocolate, and enjoy this delicious and fascinating chocolate tasting event. Schilling will talk about sustainable cocoa farming, equitable trade, how chocolate is made and will do a guided tasting to help you discover the nuances of blends, single origins (country specific) and infused chocolates.

Saturday January 27, 1pm
Conversaton with artist April Banks, FREE

Wednesday February 7, 7pm
Bittersweet Politics: Panel Discussion about fair trade & chocolate with Tex Dworkin (Global Exchange), Ella Silverman (TransFair USA) & Tom Neuhaus (Project Hope & Fairness, Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates), FREE

Join us for a conversation about critical aspects of the production, distribution and consumption of chocolate.

Black Gold - Wake up and smell the coffee

The Black Gold opening weekend was a success! The figures from the Roxie are excellent - we had a full house on Friday with a strong showing the rest of the weekend. In fact, it did better this weekend at the Roxie than it has done opening weekend in any of the other major cities (NY, Seattle, etc) where it has opened! The Roxie even decided to hold it over an extra week!

More about the film:

http://blackgoldmovie.com/









After Oil, coffee is the most actively traded commodity
in the world, with $80 billion in retail sales. But for
every $3 cup of coffee, a coffee farmer receives about
3 cents. Most of the money goes to the middlemen,
especially the four giant conglomerates which control
the coffee market.

Tracing the path of the coffee consumed each day to
the farmers who produce the beans, BLACK GOLD asks us
to "wake up and smell the coffee", to face the unjust
conditions under which our favorite drink in produced
and to decide what we can do about it. BLACK GOLD
provides shocking inside view of commodity trading and
offer a compelling introduction to the "Fair Trade"
movement galvanizing consumers around the globe.
Serving as the media centerpiece of a national
campaign promoting Fair Trade coffee, BLACK GOLD
demonstrates the role of the left media as a tool for
shaping public culture and, by extension, in altering
the existing economic paradigm. Ultimately, the film
forces us as Western consumers to question some of our
basic assumptions about our consumer purchases and the
effects on the rest of the world.