PRESS RELEASE / MOTHER EARTH

Mother Earth unveils fair trade certified t-shirts made from Agrocel Cotton
Future Group affiliated store, Mother Earth has partnered with Shop for Change, a fair trade organization, to launch India’s first Shop for Change certified products. The Shop for Change certified cotton in the t-shirts is from farmers from Agrocel Industries Ltd. and Chetna Organic Agriculture Producer Company.

Shop for Change has launched the fair trade certification with Mother Earth t-shirts. The range will be available across all Mother Earth stores in India. The t-shirts are available in 5 colors – black, white, blue, maroon and beige and cost
Rs. 399/-


The Shop for Change certified t-shirts abide by fair trade standards, thus ensuring that cotton farmers receive a fair deal for their produce.

Shop for Change is a Section 25 not-for-profit company, established to build on successful international models of fair trade certification and marketing, has already certified 2,500 cotton farmers.

Gul Panag, Indian actress and an active supporter of Shop for Change said,
“Consumers should value the concept of fair trade, as we have the power to make a difference to the lives of farmers. Initiatives like the fair trade certification that Shop for Change offers will revolutionize the face of agriculture in India, empowering farmers to make better lives for themselves and care for the environment. I strongly support Shop for Change and feel deeply for this initiative, as I believe that just by being conscious consumers we can make a big difference. I am sure that thinking consumers are going to support Shop for Change by looking out for Shop for Change certified products that contribute to a fair system in India.”

Shop for Change had recently tied up with leading Indian designer, Rina Dhaka. The designer included a Shop for Change certified garment in her spring Delhi Fashion Week collection, which was made with fair trade certified cotton. The Shop for Change certified Mother Earth t-shirts will make fair trade products more accessible to consumers, who wish to support the initiative of Fair Trade.

Mother Earth, a design led craft based company, is a joint initiative by Industree, which operates out of Bangalore, and Future Group. They have stores in Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi.
Shop for Change has received initial financial backing from the European Union and the Dutch foundations ICCO and Hivos. The Shop for Change certified cotton in the t-shirts is from farmers from Agrocel Industries, Ltd. and Chetna Organic Agriculture Producer Company.

PRESS RELEASE / MOTHER EARTH

Fair Trade goes to School
In response to calls from school and college students across the country for an end to uniforms made under appalling conditions, the supermarket chain Tescos has agreed to double the number of Fairtrade cotton school uniforms they stock. The student campaigning group People & Planet has called this a dramatic success for their new 'Wear Fair' campaign, which aims for all UK schools to have Fairtrade cotton uniforms by 2015, according to The Fairtrade Foundation.

The number of Fairtrade lines offered by Tescos will be increased by over 50%, while the volume of sales is projected to grow by 85% in 2010/11. This will make them the UK's leading retailer for Fairtrade cotton school uniforms, pushing them ahead of rivals Marks & Spencers. At a time of severe economic crisis for cotton growers in places like India and West Africa, this announcement is of great significance and shows the Fairtrade movement continuing to grow in strength.

Research commissioned by People & Planet showed that around 70% of school and college students want their uniforms to be made from Fairtrade cotton. Students in the campaigning group then launched a nationwide campaign last September to make this happen. Malek Araki, a student at Ealing College says: 'I’ve realised how big Fairtrade is and what great things it does for farmers'.

PRESS RELEASE / MOTHER EARTH

Fair@Square fair-trade + ethical festival 2009
The Fairwear Fashion Show is back and bigger and better than ever before, says The Fairtrade Foundation. The Fairwear Fashion Show 2010 will be the biggest Fairtrade Fashion Show ever to take place in the UK!

The Fairwear Fashion Show is endorsed by the Fairtrade Foundation and the Ethical Fashion Forum. All Fairwear fashion houses use certified Fairtrade cotton or are members of the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO)

Since the creation of the Fairwear brand, the Fairwear Fashion Show has firmly established itself as an important regular fixture in the UK fashion calendar. The next Fairtrade Fashion Show will be held in the stunning surroundings of the beautiful 15th Century Bristol Cathedral, a dramatic and unusual venue. There will be two shows an afternoon and evening performance on 25th February 2010.

Bristol has gained a reputation as one of the UK's leading Fairtrade cities', with an excellent and unrivalled track record for creating dynamic, high profile events and raising public awareness of Fairtrade issues.

As more and more people become aware of the benefits of Fairtrade, many industry leaders, designers, artists, actors and musicians are also joining the cause to promote change in the fashion industry.

PRESS RELEASE

Fair@Square fair-trade + ethical festival 2009
Moral Fairground organized the Fair@Square fair-trade + ethical festival, which took place on the 13th December 2009 at Federation Square, Melbourne.

This was the first large scale festival celebrating and embracing fair and ethical trade in Melbourne. On the day 20,675 people attended to particiate in the numerous activities, to learn about Fair + Ethical trade and to do their Christmas shopping.

Fair@Square fair-trade + ethical festival 2009 addressed issues of Fair and Ethical Trade, Sustainable Community, Human Rights, social and environmental responsibility.

The objective of the Fair@Square fair-trade + ethical festival 2009 was to raise awareness of Fair Trade and Ethical Business in Australia and to educate consumers about the social and environmental effect of their shopping choices.

PRESS RELEASE/VOFA

Vidarbha Organic Farmers Conclave
Around 2000 farmers attended this year’s Vidarbha Organic Farmers Association (VOFA) AGM to share their ideas and celebrate another year of success! VOFA is the name of the farmer association for Zameen farmers based in Maharashtra.

Awards were presented for the best stall, cluster office, male and female farmer and Farmer Group and the day then drew to a close with a cultural programme. A local NGO called Rasikashraya performed one of their established shows about the merits of organic farming. Rasikashraya uses performance to communicate social messages to a variety of audiences based on briefs given by the organisations that hire them. The farmers were in stitches at the camp performance, which also touched on the sensitive farmer suicide issue.