Susie's blog

This event will be the first Green Fair for the College of Charleston and Muenda Fair Trade will be there and look forward to your support. It is on Thursday 29th January from 11 till 3.

I recently came across this article and it got me thinking about Food Security. This is it seems, a global challenge that does not receive enough attention. With the loss of biodiversity, we also loose varieties of food sources that are each unique in composition and nutrition. The Local First movement here and around the world has an important role to play in protecting local crop varieties.

This article caught my eye as it falls into place alongside the current book I am reading "Fair Trade for All' by Joseph Stiglitz and Andrew Charleston. This book sets out the framework of how fairer trade rules  can promote development in the world's poorest countries. A must read for those involved with fair trade at the economic level.

Firstly, read on:

TransFair USA, the Oakland-based group that has certified everything from coffee and tea to bananas and flowers as being ethically produced, now is putting its seal on wines from Chile, Argentina and South Africa. The wines - available this month at grocers and liquor stores nationwide, including Whole Foods Market and Sam's Club - are a first for Americans.

I was browsing the Fair Trade Federation website and came across some interesting facts and figures I wanted to share to motivate us through 2009.

Fair Trade is growing as a market share, although I am not sure as to how sales will relate when set in the wider economy at present. We are optimistic though here at Muenda as we believe there is a need for our Fair Trade Gifts so people have the opportunity to support a way to a brighter, fairer world.

We managed to have LED lighting this Christmas at home, a save on energy and we have a Christmas tree we will soon recycle at Bees Ferry Landfill. Muenda also managed to eliminate the use of plastic bags in 2008 and join Green America, recently known as Coop America. A less wasteful Christmas leads us to ponder 2009. What can we do as a company to be less wasteful and more sustainable? 

Often simple things can be introduced that are more eco-friendly and can save money in the long term. Here are a few of our goals:

Muenda Fair Trade believes that stewardship for the environment is an important part of supporting fair trade. With all this emphasis on building communities in developing countries we are often asked, is there anything particularly eco friendly about fair trade products?

Fair trade companies are primarily focused on social sustainability, not environmental. However, it's no big surprise that the two types of labels often get mixed up by people just testing the waters of conscientious consumerhood. Green labels like USDA Organic and fair trade labels like Equal Exchange are both using consumers’ purchasing power to make the world a healthier place. But for the record, the Fair Trade Federation states the following.

I am not much into ‘New Year Resolutions' however, recent articles made me think about how to enjoy a more environmentally sustainable 2009. Eat local foods and encourage more variety in our diets!

June 2009 there will be a cooperative promotional event with Charleston Style and Design Magazine. Sustainable and Green providers from all over Charleston will come together to collaborate and show off their skills and products by building a GREEN IDEA HOME.

Teaching children to take care of the environment is as important as them learning to read!

Our actions today as adults has a significant impact on how they will live in the future.

Learning about the environment can be fun, what child does not want to play in the garden!

Here are some ideas to get started.