Today is VDAY.

VDAY is a global day of mass action to end violence against women and girls.

In Australia one in three women has experienced physical and or sexual violence perpetrated by someone known to them (ABS 2013).

Women account for 55-60% of all trafficking victims detected globally; women and girls together account for 75% of victims (Hagar 2015).

Anyone can play a role in supporting women and children around the world escape violence.  One way of helping women to escape violence is by supporting their economic freedom.  Purchasing fair trade goods made by women is a meaningful way to make a difference.

We are proud to stock many items that support women.  Today, we share with you the story of Khmer Creations.  Khmer Creations was founded in 2007 to benefit Cambodian women and their communities.  Khmer Creations started as a therapeutic workshop run in shelters for women who were sex trafficked, and quickly became a business creating sustainable employment for women.  Khmer Creations' jewellery studio is managed by an all-female, all-Cambodian team and exports jewellery all over the world.

Come into our store to see some of the beautiful jewellery made by Khmer Creations.

To learn more see Khmer Creations' website: http://www.khmercreations.org/

To find out more about VDAY check out this video - https://youtu.be/rgbawrWUPu0

If facts and figures are your thing, this site has some statistics on violence against women: https://www.ourwatch.org.au/Understanding-Violence/Facts-and-figures

To learn more about how Oxfam is playing a role in making a change to the violence faced by women around the world see here https://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases/2016-11-24/enough-enough-oxfam-seeks-end-violence-against-women-and-girls 

#riseinsolidarity #sharewithothers #VDay #onebillionrising

Valentine’s day is coming up quickly!

Whether you want to write a beautiful card for someone special, or buy them (or yourself!) a special treat, we have the goods.

We are stocked up with beautiful cards for you to write kind words, candles for you to create a warm glow, and chocolate because it’s just delicious.  

Spread your love to the wider community this Valentine’s day and support fair trade.

Liberate Your Latte

Here at the Fair Trade WA Group Shop we love a good tea or coffee to get through a cold winter morning. We stock a variety of delicious fairtrade BioBean coffees (both ground and whole bean) from Columbia, Ethiopia, Honduras, East Timor and other areas of the world as well as Oxfams own Fair. label of tea, coffee (or hot chocolate for the kids and sweet tooth people out there). Maybe you're more of a tea drinker? You'll find a large range of Clipper tea in flavours such as Fennel, Green Chai and Rasberry leaf and a selection of Qi Organic Teas at only $5 per box of 20 or 25 bags.

Pop into the volunteer run store between 11 and 3pm at 5 King William Street Bayswater or phone ahead on 08 9262 8206 to place an order. While you're in don't forget to mosey through other fairtrade product. (All purchases are cash only).

App that rates companies' based on their labour and production policies while you shop.

Image: Not For Sale Campaign Blog

The Free2Work mobile application, available on iPhone and Android, equips you with valuable information on companies’ labor standards and production practices at the moment you most need it- while you shop. Free2Work is the first and only app available that allows consumers to scan the barcode of an item and instantly gain access to information on the brand's efforts to prevent child and forced labor. As a consumer, you can use this information to understand what labor practices you may be supporting with your purchases, and to guide your consumption habits toward decisions that positively affect supply chain workers.

Find out more.

Blog Launch and Fair Trade Netball Appeal

 The Oxfam WA State Committee Events  blog has just been launched so check it out and see what is happening in the wider Oxfam world, and events that you can join in in Western Australia.You may notice a familiar face with a photo of Tim and a Fair Trade soccer ball, Tim is a valued member of the Fair Trade Group as well as the Chair of the WA State Committee. Tim and his Fair Trade Sports ball team are currently looking for new members, and this year they would like to expand the awareness raising onto the netball courts of WA. If you are able to help out with this new venture, through contacts, volunteering or suggestions please contact Tim through the website. Click here and here for more information about why Fair Trade netballs matter.

New Fair Trade Stock

As you know from our last post, the Fair Trade WA Oxfam Group will be running a stall at the Eco Faerie Festival this coming Sunday, 27 March. We will be selling many old favourites as well as some of the great new stock we've just received.

First, we have these adorable stuffed animals, hand made by R.T.U in India. Here we have Twiga the Giraffe ($9.95), Kavi the Camel ($12.95) and Raza the Elephant ($9.95).

We also have these colourful wooden yoyos from the Alura Amara organisation in Indonesia. Alura Amara is a self-funded, independent producer community of 50 members which anyone can join if they are committed to its goals of independence and development.

From the website:

'Alura Amara offers its members excellent working conditions, daily education programmes and a rice subsidy ... Since 2003, all members of the group have received accident, health and life insurance. After working with the group for four months, members also have access to a pension plan.'

Although members of Alura Amara receive a flat monthly wage regardless of sales, your purchase of products like these yoyos supports the group and allows it to continue its excellent work.

And finally, if you would like to know more about Fair Trade in WA you can pick up a copy of the 'Pocket Guide to Fair Trade in WA' from our stall. This compact guide is produced by Oxfam Australia and the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand and can be picked up at our stalls or Bayswater location for a 50c donation.

Fair Trade Report - Blues Alive Art in the Park Festival

On Sunday 6 March the Fair Trade WA Oxfam Group had a stall at the Blues Alive Art in the Park Festival which we promoted earlier on this blog. We were really glad to see some of our supporters come down to say 'hi' and pick up some of our great Fair Trade products, as well as enjoy the music and other stalls happening on the day.

Below are some photos of our stall on the day.

We had a beautiful spot under a large tree, although it became very windy in the afternoon!

As you can see, we had more products than our table could hold.

These ThaiCraft shakers generated a lot of interest, especially from music-lovers and those with small children.

Please Volunteer for the Fairtrade Fiesta Stall at City Farm

Hi Everyone,

Next weekend, on Saturday the 9th of May, will be the Fairtrade Fiesta at City Farm (see my previous post for details). See the link below for a timetable of the events taht will be happening at the Fiesta.

http://www.fairtradeaustralia.com.au/

The Fairtrade group is going to have a stall at the event, with campaign material and some items from our shop. The event runs from 10am to 3pm, and we need volunteers to work the stall. If you are able to attend, please let me or Caron know when and for how long you will be able to. Hope to see you there!


Cheers


Tim McMinn