Fair-Trade

• Quinzaine du commerce équitable
• Website Animation “Une banane de bonne nouvelle”
• Visit to an Organization of Fair-Trade Cacao Producers in the Dominican Republic
• Research
• Ethical Fashion at Mode de vie
• Toolbox

Under the fair-trade approach, production and distribution systems are implemented to guarantee just compensation for workers and craftspeople, especially in Southern countries. These men and women, who form co-operatives or democratic associations, are better paid as a result; they, and by extension their communities, enjoy better living conditions. In 2008, Équiterre was involved in major activities to develop fair trade and encourage responsible and ethical buying in Québec.
 

Quinzaine du commerce équitable
 

The Quinzaine du commerce équitable, held May 1 to 15 throughout Québec, offered public activities promoting fair-trade products. Équiterre’s main contribution was the production of a web page for the Quinzaine displaying a special calendar that listed dozens of activities organized by our partners across Québec. Équiterre was also co-organizer of a fair-trade show in Montréal on May 3. The event took place at the Relais Mont-Royal centre, where more than 1,300 people enjoyed booths, talks, documentaries, workshops and the presence of West African women producing fair-trade shea butter.

Website Animation “Une banane de bonne nouvelle”
 

To highlight the arrival of the first fair-trade-certified fruit in Québec—and not just any fruit, as the banana is by far the most popular fruit in North America—Équiterre produced an entertaining animated short and uploaded it to the Équiterre site. The animation, “Une banane de bonne nouvelle,” was viewed by 14,000 Internet users and smashed all records for per-day visits to the Équiterre website. Fair-trade bananas were also added to the list of products available at fair-trade outlets, also available on the Équiterre site.

Visit to an Organization of Fair-Trade Cacao Producers in the Dominican Republic
 

In the fall of 2008, Équiterre travelled to the Dominican Republic, the largest exporter of fair-trade cacao in the world. Meeting with these producers accomplished many aims, including:

•    to supplement the fair-trade promotion campaign that will be held in 2009;
•    to analyze and document the benefits and effects of fair trade for producers and their families;
•    to re-evaluate the international development requirements of communities in Southern countries;
•    to develop numerous partnerships with Dominican and Québec organizations working in this region;
•    to create a research initiative on various aspects of fair-trade cacao production and commerce (see “Research” for more information).
 
A talk on the effects of fair-trade cacao was organized following the on-site research. It was presented for the first time on November 21 as part of the Journées québécoises de la solidarité internationale.

Research
 

In 2008, Équiterre is laying the foundation for an internal research program. Researcher Jean-Frédéric Lemay, post-doctoral fellow in local and international economic development with a doctorate in anthropology and a master’s degree in international relations, has joined the team to develop and set up research activities. A research plan for the agriculture, food and trade programs for 2009-2011 was submitted and, on December 10, 2008, was accepted by the Équiterre Co-ordination Committee.

In the fall, the meeting with fair-trade cacao producers had already generated a research initiative, on the effects of fair trade as part of Millennium Development Goals, as well as on the operation of the producers’ organization, female entrepreneurship, local development and food sovereignty.
 

Ethical Fashion at Mode de vie
 

In November, 200 people attended this evening to celebrate fashion, glamour and chic, but above all, social and environmental responsibility. Hosted by actress Jacynthe René, the Mode de vie event brought together well-known designers—Marie Saint Pierre, Christian Chenail, Nadya Toto and Mariouche Gagné—to comment on the eco-creations created on site during the evening by six young eco-designers. To raise awareness, Équiterre produced a video of the event, which is accessible on its website. This event was part of a series of activities organized by Équiterre and its partners to promote responsible clothing made of organic, fairly traded, recycled and local materials.



Toolbox
 

Équiterre has produced a set of action tools that it has grouped together for downloading on a special page of its website. These tools—a poster, a slide show, a fact sheet, a letter to businesses—can be used by people to support their efforts to raise awareness and involve people around them in promoting fair trade.