Blue People Fair Trade Becomes Exclusive Wholesale Distributor

by Blue People Fair Trade on 10 April 2012

We are delighted to announce that a new and exciting adventure for Blue people Fair Trade, Ltd. We will no longer be selling on eBay/World of Good, but are now the exclusive US distributors for London based, tagua jewelry designer Claudia Suarez and her company, Artisan Life. Here is a little bit about the company:

Artisan Life was established in 2004 with the purpose of
promoting Colombian artisans and their craft by
commercialising unique handcrafted jewellery and fashion
accessories. All of our products are sourced on a Fair
Trade basis using natural and sustainable materials.
Our mission is to provide Colombian artisans with
opportunities to expand beyond their local markets while
striving for the sustained development of the environment
and the progress of artisan communities. Our efforts focus
on improving the artisans’ quality of life by fostering
professional development, while promoting artisan crafts
as a profitable income generation alternative. In Colombia,
handcrafts continue to provide an important source of
income, especially for women who have limited options
for productive employment. Many of our suppliers have
established employment programmes exclusively for
women who are also the main providers of their households.

Artisan Life is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization

In the next weeks and months we will be changing our website to reflect our new status. We will also be selling off all of our merchandise on auction from eBay/World of Good. If you are a wholesaler and are interested in carrying this incredible jewelry, please contact me at lisa@bluepeoplefairtrade.com.

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Has Fair Trade Been Hijacked in the US?

by Blue People Fair Trade on 2 April 2012

I just read an article that was very articulate about the fair trade movement and how Transfair/FairTrade USA have changed the whole essence of the fair trade movement when it comes to fair trade commodities in this country. When ever you have a small cooperative of farmers and a large conglomerate, somehow the conglomerate always wins…and the little guy gets what he always got…which is screwed. Read the article “The Theft of Fair Trade: A Producers Perspective” and see what you think. You can access it here

This article explains how the new rules affect the small farmers so we can all understand it. While you’re there, click “I Stand with Small Farmers-Take Action” and see what you can do.

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Apple First Fair Trade Technology Company???

January 16, 2012

I am always a little wary when it comes to big corporations “embracing” fair trade because it usually sticks of “fairwashing”; however, if it’s true that Apple is committed to being the first fair trade technology company, then this will set the bar higher for other technology companies and their labor practices. And, since Apple [...]

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Fair Trade Resource Network’s New 2012 Calender is Here!

January 10, 2012

Happy 2012! Thanks to all those who helped make 2011 a good year for Blue People Fair Trade! There are new things coming and we’ll be sharing those things with you soon. There is a new Fair Trade calendar available from the Fair Trade Resource Network at a 50% discount(that’s only $4.95 plus shipping). For [...]

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Shop Fair Trade This Holiday Season

December 8, 2011

This is one of the reasons that it is so important to BUY FAIR TRADE this Holiday Season and all of 2012. Please BUY FAIR TRADE…because it matters.

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Fair Trade USA Splits from Fairtrade International

November 8, 2011

I’m sure most of you have heard that Fair Trade USA, the certifying body for fair trade commodities in the USA, has split from the Bonn-based Fairtrade International, the body that regulates international fair trade commodities. Many people, including myself, believe that this move has diluted the fair trade brand and only confuses folks, who [...]

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Is Fair Trade Still “Fair”?

October 19, 2011

Remember when buying fair trade meant something revolutionary? These days, purchasing fair trade products is about as subversive as wearing a Rage Against the Machine t-shirt. Heck, you’ll even be able to add “one-of-a-kind handicrafts made by artisans in developing countries” to your online shopping cart on WalMart’s website, according to Huffington Post. Coffee was [...]

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Demand Hershey Not Use Child Laborers and Go Fair Trade!!

September 15, 2011

The Hershey Co. has been given an “F” by several non-profit groups for allegedly failing to remove child labor from its chocolate production. A year ago, fair trade organizations Green America, Global Exchange and the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) challenged Hershey, claiming the company used forced, child, and trafficked labor in its chocolate products. [...]

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Why Buy Fair Trade?

September 8, 2011

When you go out to buy coffee, bananas, tea or gifts for your friends or family, do you ever think about the human being that grew and harvested that coffee (It wasn’t Juan Valdez) or the person who made that beautiful pair of earrings? Do you think about their living conditions? If their children are [...]

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Celebrating the African Women of Fair Trade

July 24, 2011

So many special women help make Fair Trade successful here in the United States and around the world. These women farmers and workers are leading their families and communities out of poverty by selling their goods on Fair Trade terms. They are running profitable Fair Trade cooperatives, creating community programs and sending new generations of [...]

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