2006 Hooked Conference
From Hooked - Students for Trade Justice
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The Inaugural HOOKED: Students for Fair Trade national conference "Connections" was held at the University of Melbourne, in Parkville. The conference brought together an estimated 200 students from around Australia to raise awareness of the challenges faced by developing country farmers and workers in the global trading community through a number of keynote speakers, workshop sessions and events that focused on issues of inequity in the world coffee, tea and cocoa markets and the difference between "free" trade and "fair" trade. The event drew industry players, developing country farmers, academics and students into a dialogue about these critical issues, and empowered attendees with the knowledge that ethical consumer choices can make a positive impact on a global scale.
Connections consisted of a wide variety of activities including a diverse range of workshops, keynote addresses including two Papua New Guinean Fairtrade Coffee Farmers from the Highlands Organic Agriculture Cooperative (HOAC); the Great Fair Trade debate with presentations from national experts and hosted by a surprise celebrity chairperson; state specific networking opportunities, dramatic presentations, Funk Out for Fair Trade #2 party and much more!
To add or view pictures from the conference, visit the Hooked Gallery.
[edit] Keynotes
[edit] Brett Inder: Fair Trade in the Past, Present and Future
For full notes from this keynote address see 2006 Conference Keynote 1
Brett Inder's keynote covered fair trade in the past, present and future. He began by explaining the problems involved with countries relying on one commodity, and the impact of colonialism in instituting cash crop farming in many countries. He then covered the contemporary history of fair trade, beginning with informal networks of friends connecting with co-operatives then moving on to the official accreditation system we now have under FLO. "Trade Not Aid" was a catch-cry of early movements, but needs to be nuanced with the realisation that both trade and aid are important for development.
Interesting Fact:
- Sri Lanka recieved US$519 million of aid in 2004
- An extra US$1/kg of tea would have created US$300 million of income
He then elaborated on possible futures for fair trade. Including a provocative idea of government regulation as the next step in fair trade. He also encouraged us to think beyond the fairtrade labelling system, to continue challenging and expanding it.
Brett also answered many questions about fair trade, addressing issues such as exploiting the system, economic incentives and problems with price.
See also
[edit] Stories from the Field
Address by the Papua New Guinean farmers
[edit] The Great Fair Trade Debate
[edit] Student Experiences Abroad
[edit] Workshops
[edit] Education
These workshops provided students with a foundation of knowledge necessary to prepare for effective action and organising. They educated participants about both the history of Fair Trade and Fair Trade movements as well as current trends and initiatives.
[edit] ED1: Better Learning Through Tasting
[edit] ED2: Economics 101
[edit] ED3: Global Trade and Global Justice
[edit] ED4: Fair Trade Basic Principles
[edit] ED5: Fairtrade Certified Product Profiles
[edit] ED6: IFAT in a nutshell
[edit] Activation
This set of workshops allowed students to build on the knowledge from the first workshop set and begin formulating ideas for action on their own campuses and communities. Activation workshops provided participants with the skills and resources necessary to expand demand for Fair Trade and raise awareness about the global justice movement.
[edit] AC1: Convincing the Unconvinced
[edit] AC2: Fair Trade in the Workplace
[edit] AC3: Fair Trade Awards for Universities
[edit] AC4: Campaigning Tools
[edit] AC5: Making the Business Case for Fair Trade
[edit] Empowerment
The empowerment workshops were an opportunity for students to personalise the Fair Trade movement and explore what aspects of the movement they are touched by. These workshops situated Fair Trade in the context of the global justice movement and emphasise the international impact of their organising.
[edit] EM1: Working with Food Service Providers
[edit] EM2: Fair Trade and the Environment
[edit] EM3: Multiple Ways to be Fair
[edit] EM4: Partnering with Indigenous People Groups
[edit] EM5: Current Fair Trade Issues
[edit] EM6: Stories from the Field
[edit] Effective Campaigning
The aim of these workshops was to broaden individuals' campaigning skills base by focusing on specific topics. Whether groups are just beginning, or have been active for a number of years, there are skills for all to learn in this stream, ranging from the strategic and visionary to the practical and creative.
[edit] CA1: Setting up a Fair Trade Campaign
[edit] CA2: Building Momentum
We discussed important characteristics of a campaigning group that is helpful in building (and maintaining) momentum. The most important points were that groups need a balance between inward and outward focused activities.
[edit] CA3: Media Skills - Making Them Listen
[edit] CA4: Theatre of the Oppressed
[edit] CA5: Grant Writing
[edit] CA6: Strategy building
[edit] Beyond Tea and Coffee
The aim of these workshops is to encourage people to think broadly about trade justice and explore alternative avenues to put ethical purchasing into practice. Fair Trade presents a challenge that is more than just choosing a type of tea or coffee, but can encourage a lifestyle response to trade injustice that re-orients our lives to minimalise the harmful impact we have upon others and the world around us.
[edit] BY1: Fairwear
[edit] BY2: Combating Big Pharmaceutical Companies
[edit] BY3: The Meat Industry
[edit] BY4: Careers in Fair Trade
[edit] BY5: Resource wars
[edit] BY6: Corporate watch
[edit] BY7: Careers in Fair Trade
[edit] National Strategy Planning
The aim of these workshops is to begin to plan what will form the backbone of Hooked's strategy for the rest of the year, as decided upon by state leaders. The information and tactics learned over the weekend should inform the planning process, and the opportunity of having students committed to trade justice together in the one place would be incomplete without such a s session.
[edit] NA1: Garments Campaign
[edit] NA2: Soccer World Cup Campaign
[edit] NA3: Food Service Providers
National Campaign Discussion Summary Notes: Fair Trade and Food Service Providers
Broad issues raised concerning Fair Trade philosophy and Food Services
· Are the products used by the provider available in Fair Trade certification form?
· If so is the product used fair trade certified?
· If not, are there other avenues for the provider to support fair trade philosophy? Eg. Supporting local producers and producers with sound environmental practices, organic farming etc.
· What kind of products should a national campaign on fair trade focus? · Coffee is an obvious one because it is truly an international commodity, drank almost universally, and targeting a strong café culture is a great way to not only support the movement from an economic perspective but also create mass awareness within the community. Whilst the movement should not limit itself to coffee it might be a could focus for a more consolidated national campaign.
General Issues in Promoting Transition to Fair Trade Products Issues of Awareness- Emphasis on a holistic approach
Must target both customer/consumer groups as well as the food service providers- tackle the issues of transition to fair trade products from many directions.
How to create Demand The food service provider will need to perceive a demand for the fair trade product. The following is a list of some possible campaigning techniques:
Asking Campaign
Note- this may create an impression of demand rather than demand itself so might not be sufficient alone
The following technique was used successfully on a participant’s New Zealand University Campus.
Day one: group approaches café owner with an information kit about Fair Trade coffee and introduces the owner to the concept. They then pass on contact details for a future more indepth discussion on the issue. Days two and three and four: several students (approx 20) who are a part of the movement make inquiries at the café about the availability of fair trade coffee (with subtlety) and express their interest in its availability. Day Five: The student group returns with the fair trade proposal kit and the owner is this time interested and takes up the issue. Today the café serves fair trade coffee!
Using Media As much as possible publicly acknowledge a food suppliers transition to fair trade products. Aside from work of mouth, media can be the most effective way to do this. Writing an article for a student magazine or local newspaper about the fair trade issue and expressly mentioning the names of cafes/shops who support this cause is a great way to achieve both greater awareness on fair trade issues as well as promoting fair trade business issues in a practical manner. The importance of using images cannot be underestimated- and remember people in high places often love having their photos taken so using a public personality can be a great way to draw attention to fair trade issues.
Problems with these techniques: The owner will soon realise if the demand for that coffee isn’t genuine. Therefore it is important that the movement continues to support cafes who make the transition- by making it easy for them to promote their fair trade product (see promotional supplies), and encouraging people to order fair trade coffee.
Emphasis on the Integrity of the Product rather than Charity It is important that fair trade products are viewed as quality products in their own right rather than a kind of channel for charity. When marketing a fair trade product to the food supplier you need to emphasise that the product is the best in quality as well as the best available ethically speaking.
Adopt a Café Programme
Adopt a café was an idea put forward as the basis of a national campaign.
The Adopt a Café Programme draws on resources already available on the Hooked web sight and would include:
· An information kit for cafes who are interested in making the transition to fair trade coffee. This would include supplier information, a petition like indication of numbers of students/possible clientele who would order fair trade coffee in preference, success stories from cafes who have already made the transition.
· A system of recognition for cafes that offer fair trade coffee: Certificates, recognition on website, possible media
· A system to support cafes who have made the transition: Online forum available to café owners who would like to find out how other cafes have found the transition and to swap general information. Supplying the option of posters and flyers at the café to promote their fair trade choice. Supplying the option of fair-trade coffee badges and the purchase of fair-trade black t-shirts for staff members.
Other National Campaign Ideas We discussed in less detail the idea of targeting one big food service supplier- eg. a catering company- to make the transition. If we all targeted lobbying forces on such a large company on a national level we may see results that would be more difficult to achieve on an individual group basis. We also discussed targeting one of the major roasting companies such as Vittoria in such a campaign. Found we needed more information about what would be most effective in this respect. Certainly once we have a list of cafes supplying fair trade coffee we have some great evidence to use to demonstrate to big suppliers that the demand is there in terms of both smaller suppliers (cafes etc.) as well as the final product consumer.
