Take action for Fair Trade

Take action as an individual or Local Committee to make global trading practices fair.  Buy Fair Trade products, raise awareness and promote the movement, and advocate for the use of Fair Trade products in your community.  Here are a few ways to get started:


Choose Fair Trade

Use your consumer power!  For information about where to find Fair Trade Certified products in your region, visit www.transfair.ca. 
   
Fair Trade holidays: Commit to buying ethical products for each holiday season.
- Distribute Fair Trade mini-chocolates at Halloween;
- Give Fair Trade flowers or chocolates for Valentine’s Day and at Easter;
- Choose Fair Trade gifts when doing your Christmas shopping.

Fair Trade fundraising: Sell Fair Trade chocolate, coffee, tea, sugar and spices.
- Many retailers are happy to supply non-profit groups with fundraising materials at a special rate;
- La Siembra, Equita and Just Us are three companies that distribute Fair Trade products.  Visit the TransFair website to find more.

Make a Fair Trade commitment:
- Commit to purchasing only Fair Trade products for your home or in your activities as a Local Committee.


Raise Awareness and Promote

Fair Trade fair: Host a fair with vendors, information booths and activities.
- Invite Fair Trade retailers in your region to sell their products;
- Hold a silent or live auction featuring Fair Trade handicraft products;
- Host a table offering background information on what Fair Trade means and why it is important. Obtain promotional resources from TransFair Canada: http://www.transfair.ca/en/products/difference/events/.

Fair Trade kiosk: Set-up a kiosk with information about Fair Trade products, and offer samples and items for purchase.
- Book a space in your university centre or at a shopping mall, market or community centre;
- Contact Fair Trade businesses for samples or items to sell at the kiosk;
- Contact TransFair Canada for Fair Trade promotional materials;
- Get educated so that you are prepared to answer tough questions.  In particular, review the following websites: http://www.transfair.ca/en/fairtrade/, http://www.transfair.ca/en/mediaresearchers/resources/.

Make presentations to youth and community groups: Share your enthusiasm for Fair Trade with others.
- Access the many Fair Trade educational resources available online.  The Oxfam Canada website, for example, includes educational resources for all ages from early primary school to adult: http://www.oxfam.ca/news-and-publications/educational-resources/educational-resources/;
- Contact a group that you know and feel may be interested.  Engage them in a PowerPoint presentation, discussion, simulations, and/or role-playing games. 

Volunteer with a Fair Trade organization:
- Volunteer part-time at Ten Thousand Villages or with another organization that promotes Fair Trade; 
- Locate an organization in your area by visiting: http://www.transfair.ca/en/products/difference/getinvolved/.


Advocate

Challenge your city to become a designated “Fair Trade Town”:
- Inspire your community to follow the lead of Wolfville, Nova Scotia and hundreds of towns in Europe by becoming a “Fair Trade Town”;
- Take action with the help of TransFair Canada’s guide for becoming a Fair Trade Town: http://www.transfair.ca/en/products/difference/8.3.5/. 

Request Fair Trade products: Urge grocery stores and cafes in your area to sell Fair Trade products.
- Ask the managers of stores in your community if they offer Fair Trade products.  Tell them you would like to see these on their shelves.
- Get your friends to approach the managers as well.  Retailers are highly responsive to consumer requests, so the more people who request Fair Trade, the greater the impact will be.

Campaign for a Fair Trade Purchasing Policy on your campus: 
- Follow campuses across the country by having your school and the food service outlets on campus commit to serving Fair Trade products;
- Get inspiration from campuses that have successfully implemented a purchasing policy.  For guidance and resources, visit the Canadian Student Fair Trade Network (CSFTN) (http://www.csftn-recce.org/english/index.html);
- Take action with the help of the CSFTN’s Guide for Fair Trade Purchasing Policy campaigns on University Campuses (coming soon!). 


Tips for Success

Ensure that your actions are both successful and fun:

1. Get informed: Before you can effectively promote Fair Trade to others you need to understand what it is, why it exists and why you feel it is important.

2. Advertise! Advertise! Advertise!  If people do not know about your event, they will not attend.  Devote time and energy to promoting your activities.

3. Plan Ahead: Organizing an event or campaign can be time-consuming and costly. Set a budget and timeline to protect your pocketbook and minimize your stress.