NATIONAL FAIR TRADE CONFERENCE

SUMMARY OF SMALL STEP COMMITMENTS FROM CONFERENCE

AUTHOR: Erin Bird

First Steps/ Premiers pas

1. Start composting/ better food waste process at home (in my condo building).
2. I will never be able to buy chocolate again without thinking of the real cost.
3. I will never take chocolate for granted again.
4. Read the label.
5. Explore getting fairtrade t-shirts at local marathons.
6. Volunteer more with Fair Trade Calgary.
7. Buy only fairtrade sugar from now on.
8. Start the process to make Oakville Ontario a Fair Trade Town!
9. Share my conference notes/ insights with my Fair Trade Town committee.
10. Designate my campus!
11. Collaborate and schedule a meeting between City of Calgary / Calgary Economic Development and Olds Institute.
12. Work towards becoming a Fairtrade Workplace (the Community Farm Store).
13. Wants: a small step towards helping at least one other workplace get designated.
14. Take more transit.
15. Heading dialogues with everyone I encounter and remind everyone of their limitless potential and humanity.
16. Write to my MP, MLA, Councilor, etc.
17. Tell everyone about the SDGs.
18. Turning the point of life challenges into medicines that create value in society worldwide.
19. Nudge my Fair Trade faith group towards Fair Trade month activities.
20. Continue Fair Trade initiatives on campus and continue volunteering.
21. Promote the broader concept of flourishing, including sustainability and fair trade.
22. Talk to my kids’ class about fair trade.
23. Write to my elected officials for more leg re: Fair Trade.
24. Be brave as I share what I’ve learned with my Alberta – disbelieving friends.
25. Visit a fair trade coop farm! 
26. How do we interest young people in hard yet rewarding work?  To work with your hands, in the earth.
27. Taking public transit instead of driving.
28. Take all my future dates out to fairtrade restaurants.
29. Relief. Rehabilitation. Development.  Why are people poor?  How can we change it? Is it really what they want? Is it culturally appropriate? Definition of poverty, money vs self-worth.
30. Encourage my favourite Canadian brands to choose Fairtrade cotton.
31. Share wins and collaboration.
32. Bring more sustainable programs to UTM (more gardens, butterflies, compost on campus).
33. Drive only on trips out of town.
34. Buy fairtrade bananas for life.
35. Read WFTO “Creating a New Economy” report.
36. Connect with a local teacher who can help promote the school program.
37. The cheapest price is not always the best buy.
38. Become a supplier for fairtrade gold in Canada.
39. Become super rich and donate $Billions to Fairtrade.

Great Heights/ Grands sommets!