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Tag Archives: Fair Trade
Sweatfree Action: Call Senators McCaskill and Blunt by Wednesday 12-12-12
Here’s a list of media coverage from the past week and a half covering ILRF’s (International Labor Rights Forum) work urging a strong fire safety program in Bangladesh: http://laborrights.org/news/
Today we are focusing on asking Senators to sign onto a Senate letter to President Obama to ask him to “use all the tools at your disposal to ensure that the Federal government does not pursue or continue contracts with prime contractors, sub-contractors, or licensees that fail to guarantee basic and fundamental rights for their workers and throughout their supply chains, including the right to a safe workplace.”
This is a key moment to push for a sweatfree procurement policy on the federal level, in addition to urging all major apparel brands and retailers sourcing apparel from Bangladesh to join the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement which is supported by unions and labor groups.
Can you please do two things today to help out?
1) Let me know if you we can add your organization’s name to the list of signers on the letter to Senators attached. We are looking for lots of organizations to sign on – large and small, national and local. sign-on letter by groups to Senators
2) Take a minute to call your Senator, to ask them to support Senator Harkin’s sign-on letter to President Obama about the Bangladesh fire and supporting rights for workers in supply chains for government procurement and licensed apparel. The Capitol Switchboard is (202) 224-3121.
IFCLA NIGHT AT PLOWSHARING CRAFTS — DEC. 10 – 6-9pm
This will be our “Dinner” for December: Purchase Fair Trade Coffee, Chocolate, Olive Oil, Nuts, Dried Fruits, Beans,,, and create your meal at home during the Holidays
MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2012 6-9pm
Purchase with a Purpose
(IFCLA will receive a % of the sales that night)
6271 Delmar Boulevard (in the Loop) St. Louis, MO 63130 314.863.3723
Why We Are Promoting Sweatfree Communities
IFCLA has been reaching out to municipalities in the region seeking their support for making their city/county/municipality a Sweatfree Community. University City and St Louis City have passed resolutions for Sweatshop Free Procurement of apparel for their cities. St Louis County is in process. This is very important as we read the news of the horrible fire in Bangladesh. Entities which purchase from vendors must make sure that workers are protected, are paid fairly, have the right to organize, etc. Jobs are important here and abroad, but justice must not be sacrificed for profit. See www.sweatfree.org for more information
We are suggesting two actions:
1. If you live in St Louis County, write to your County Council member and ask him/her to support a resolution or ordinance making St Louis County a Sweatfree Community. If you do live in the City, thank your alderman/woman for passing the Sweatshop Free Procurement Resolution. Perhaps you would like to take leadership seeking resolution in your city/county… contact IFCLA at ifcla@ifcla.net
2. This petition is circulating on change.org: Please sign my petition calling on Walmart and the largest retailers that buy Bangladeshi apparel to commit to a real fire safety program that is legally binding, transparent and empowers workers to fight for our own safety.
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Keep pressure on Chipotle to sign the Fair Food Agreement
On one of the hottest days of the summer IFCLA joined young activists outside Chipotle in the Loop. Please read the email below and join me in taking action in support of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a group of farmworkers who’ve successfully convinced major corporations like Burger King and Subway to ensure tomato pickers are treated well and paid fairly for their work.
Ask Your Senators to Cosponsor the 21st Century Trade Agreements Act Today
Demand a New Trade Model
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is veering us off a cliff. The TPP threatens to flood our shores with unsafe food and products, offshore jobs, and jack up medicine prices. Help steer our trade policy back on course and demand a new trade model. Tell your senators to cosponsor the 21st Century Trade Agreements Act today.
<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=aGoALsfD%2BGpY5hcDvg17UtoWlnrg%2B6fQ>
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FAIR TRADE: Plowsharing Crafts Sale, Festival of Nations, Lou Fest
It’s time for our Summer Sale! We have gathered some great handicrafts together for this annual event. Savings from 25% to over 50% can be found on select items. This is a wonderful time to find the perfect gift! Also, mark your calendars for our upcoming fair trade events t
his month at Festival of Nations and LouFest. See dates below.
25% or more off select merchandise at both store locations
Mon. July 30 – Sat. August 11th
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A Dialogue About Fair Trade in your Faith Community
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WHAT: |
A Dialogue About Fair Trade in your Faith Community
Equal Exchange and Plowsharing Crafts invite you to join churches, synagogues, and faith communities from throughout the St. Louis area to learn about the many ways in which Fair Trade can build community locally and globally. Representatives from Equal Exchange and Plowsharing Crafts will share information about both organizations, and St. Louis-based Fair Trade advocates will offer ideas for how to get your community connected. Share your own Fair Trade story, or come to be inspired! All are welcome. Coffee, tea, and light refreshments will be served. |
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WHEN: |
Thursday, July 5, 6:00pm |
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WHERE: |
Plowsharing Crafts, University City
6271 Delmar (University City Loop), St. Louis, MO |
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WHO: |
Equal Exchange partners with over 10,000 faith communities around the country that serve or sell fairly traded coffee, tea, chocolate, and other foods.
Plowsharing Crafts has been practicing Fair Trade since 1985, with two locations in U. City and Kirkwood. A project of the St. Louis Mennonite Fellowship. Please RSVP to dmattes@equalexchange.coop |
St Louis Board of Aldermen passes Comprehensive Sweatshop Free Procurement Resolution
WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE:
On Friday, June 29, the Board of Aldermen passed a resolution which builds on standards set forth in (Buy American) Ordinance 62017 for purchasing goods and commodities for the City. The Comprehensive Sweatshop Free Program will require that vendors who are awarded the annual contract for the City of St. Louis’ uniforms report where and under what workplace conditions and labor practices the uniforms are being produced.
The Board acted en banc on the resolution presented by Honorable Craig Schmid, Alderman 20th Ward, Honorable Stephen J. Conway, Alderman 8th Ward, and Honorable Marlene E. Davis, Alderwoman 19th Ward. They worked closely with the Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America, a long-standing St. Louis organization committed to economic and social justice issues.
“St Louis has followed the lead of University City who became a sweatfree community in October of 2010. We now issue a challenge to St Louis County, St Charles, the municipalities of St Louis County and beyond,“ said Marilyn Lorenz of IFCLA, “to assure sweatfree principles are followed in their procurement policies. This vote is about justice for workers.”
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Raise the Bar Hershey Campaign: World Day Against Child Labor
What do you remember about summers from when you were a child, maybe 8 or 10 or 12 years old?
I remember the end of the school year and looking forward to a summer filled with swimming in the lake, building forts, and reading lots of good books. Unfortunately, for some children, around the world and also inside the US, neither school nor summer vacations are part of their reality. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that globally around six million children are forced to work in dangerous jobs they cannot leave for little or no pay.
Today, June 12, we join with children’s rights advocates around the world to recognize World Day Against Child Labor, a global effort to bring greater awareness to this issue. First launched in 2002, the World Day Against Child Labor raises awareness about children deprived of childhood by harsh working conditions, and puts pressure on governments to ratify conventions that define the worst forms of child labor and minimum working age limits.
Call Hershey at 800-468-1714 this week to urge the ending of child labor in its supply chain. Then drop us a note to let us know you took action!
https://docs.google.com/a/ifcla.net/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDVqRDVEdzFqZ2NYbVNQZHN1WkNzRWc6MQ