You have 4 Years to Change the Course of History. Go.

What Will You Do?

FOUR YEARS. GO. is a campaign to change the course of history.

The next four years will determine the quality of life on this planet for the next 1,000 years. There is still time to act, but no time to waste.

Watch the inspiring video, below. For more go to fouryearsgo.org.

International Children’s Day and a Barefoot Challenge

It's International Children’s Day June 1st, and to celebrate the occasion, Bilaal Rajan is asking ALL people around the world to go barefoot – everywhere – to raise awareness about child poverty throughout the globe.

People throughout the world are getting involved and are participating in this Barefoot Challenge. I want to thank each one of you who are ready and willing to go barefoot for the children of the world.

At Bilaal's school, four months ago, he promised to have his head shaved on behalf of the school that raised the most funds for the earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. It was Lakefield which took that goal to heart and raised the most. So besides going without shoes, he’ll be without hair as well.

I just want to urge all of you to go barefoot tomorrow (June 1). Get ready to kick off those shoes for the children of the world. To really know someone, you have to walk a mile in their shoes – or without them all together!

- Bilaal Rajan “Together We Can Make A Difference”

Master educator marries fashion and fair trade

Adwoa Adu is a social entrepreneur of Ghanaian descent with a Masters in Microfinance. After living in Japan, Adwoa returned to Ghana to volunteer as a small business development trainer with Canadian Crossroads International.

Her experience helping women building businesses in Africa was an inspiration for her next move. This summer Adwoa opened Arm Candy Casa where she marries two passions: fashion and international development. Her boutique features only fair trade items created by women from developing countries. Her next step is to make Arm Candy Dasa a chain and to go global.

Have a look at this video on Adwoa's work in the video below!

For more on the this video, visit the page on GetInvolved.ca.

Moving Beyond Price

by Shannon Sutton

As we celebrate National Fair Trade Weeks from May 1 to 15, and World Fair Trade Day on May 9, La Siembra’s worker-owners are reflecting on fair trade’s true impact. We’ve seen increased coverage of fair trade issues in the media in recent months, frequently highlighting the price paid to farmers for their goods. While this has certainly served to raise awareness on the financial benefits of the fair trade certification system, the buzz around La Siembra is about much more than just price.

Our co-operative works closely with producers in the South, visiting farmers and inviting them here to learn more about Canadian markets. As we’ve visited producer co-ops in the Dominican Republic, Peru, Panama and Costa Rica, and have welcomed producer representatives from those countries, we’ve been reminded that, while fair trade principles do guarantee fair prices to farmers, thereby assisting them to stay on their land and better plan for their future, they provide critical support for producers in many other ways:

• Supporting environmentally sustainable farming practices such as waste reduction, soil fertility maintenance and water resource management;
  
• Facilitating access to advance credit which allows for long-term planning;
  
• Strengthening farmer-owned co-operatives, whose members experience empowerment via ownership and added value in the supply chain;
  
• Providing premiums to those farmer-owned co-operatives, enabling them to benefit farmers and their families through such projects as the building of health clinics, water systems and schools, as well as allowing investments in business and technical infrastructures.

As 100% fair traders, we feel like that’s a lot to celebrate. We invite you to celebrate with us by participating in our World Fair Trade Day contest. Visit www.fairtradeday.ca for more info and to enter.

Happy National Fair Trade Weeks and Happy World Fair Trade Day!

Shannon Sutton studies International Development at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, and holds an undergraduate degree in Marketing and International Business from McGill University. Shannon has worked as Communications Manager at La Siembra Co-operative/Cocoa Camino, and currently sits on La Siembra’s Board of Directors. Shannon has worked as Interim Manager of a fair trade eco-lodge in northern Mozambique, and as Project Co-ordinator for Communications at an NGO in London, England.

Volunteers: All Around You

This week is National Volunteer Week!

Volunteer Canada and Level Studios has developed a video aimed at inspiring our country to say thank you to our 12.5 million volunteers across Canada.

The video entitled Volunteers: All Around You paints a picture of the diverse and unique landscape of volunteers across our country and their daily impact. From coaches to mentors, community service workers to change makers, volunteers are all around and their efforts are at the foundation of our communities.

Yours and Perhaps Ours…

By Cercatore a.k.a. Arzoo

Dedication: To myself. I have this funny way of connecting with trees. I have been looking at the Apple tree that belongs to our neighbors, for quite a while. For some reason, my mind had been transfixed at this tree for several days. Eventually, after several days of “void staring”, I came up with the following thoughts.

The Apple tree stood magnificently, magically attracting attention of its thoughtful viewer. Its frail branches spread out like a complex labyrinth, intricately creating a multidimensional balance. The tree was perfectly “silent” and “expressed”. Somehow, it added meaning to the colorful background of orange, brick red and brown houses. The viewer silently and passively sat and viewed the ecological, spatial and temporal balance represented by this one life form. The viewer was deeply connected. The tree belonged to her; a most beautiful memory that would strengthen and rejuvenate her soul. She planned to awaken that memory when “need” dictated her to do so. As soon as the viewer disconnected from the magnificence of the tree, she realized it was on the other side of the fence. “Shucks! the Apple tree is not mine; it is theirs…..hmm! Perhaps it is mine too, in some ways.” Suddenly, her thought took an unexpected turn: “Fences and Geographical boundaries”. Thus, a soliloquy began:

“When the apples ripen and fall down on our side, I usually pick one of them, clean them and eat them without questioning. I wonder why governments fight for power and control. What is the point of controlling resources and territories that belong to someone else? The Iraq war silently magnified itself within her tiny brain.”

She heard explosions, saw blood and experienced the pain of the wounded. Something took her “voice” away, so she passively stood and observed. “Heart of Darkness” and “Simulacra” took meaning within her as she quietly walked away. As the “philosopher within” awakened, the “activist within” stepped aside. Thoughts resonated creating chaos and harmony. And then a very simple solution came forward: “War can be avoided if well-intentioned individuals entered into mutually beneficial treaties, instead of fighting to gain control over others’ resources and land.” As the “philosopher within” quietly provided an answer, the “activist within” replied: “You must stay connected with the correct kind of individuals if you wish to fulfill this purpose.” And the “philosopher within” looked at the “activist within” with sad eyes and just smiled.

….The tree is mine and theirs.

What do you know about Climate Change?

Earth Day is coming on April 22nd. Now is a great time to refresh your knowledge on a vital issue we face worldwide today, Climate Change.

What do you know about Climate Change? Take the Earth Day Quiz!

For every participant who takes this quiz, $2.00 will be donated toward the purchase of solar flashlights for people living in camps in Haiti.

Take Initiative for Earth Day and ensure a donation is made in your name for solar flashlights by entering your information.

Take the Earth Day Quiz Now!

Earth Hour

On March 27th 2010 we celebrated our 4th annual Earth Hour, organized by the World Wildlife Foundation. During this hour many countries and civilians around the world acknowledged this important time by turning off their lights, cell phones, computers, TV's and any other sources of electricity. Earth Hour is a special time for people internationally to prove that they are dedicated to reducing our impact on our planet and stopping global warming.

It began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia and since then the world has embraced this noble cause. Even though it may seem like a very minor affect to turn one's electricity off for only one hour, it is the idea and message behind it that is of much importance. It proves that people all over the world are willing to bring our environment to the forefront of our concerns. It shows that people are willing to make small sacrifices in order to save our planet and finally it celebrates our planet and brings people globally together in the fight to improve our planet.

Earth Hour is aimed to be held the last Saturday of every March.

In 2011 will you turn off, wire down and flick off for Earth Hour?