Fair Trade Supporters Conference 2010
Fair Trade Supporter Conference: Building a people's movement for change.
New Zealand’s first ever Fair Trade Supporter Conference took place in Wellington on 9th October and was a resounding success. Around 70 supporters from across the country shared their enthusiasm for fair trade in an inspiring series of workshops, keynote speeches and discussions.
If you were at the event and want a recap, or if you missed the Supporter Conference we’ve included below some audio and video of the keynote speeches, panel introductions and some vox-pop comment on the event. Enjoy!
The conference took place on the results day for the mayoral elections. Candidates for the Wellington Mayoralty, Kerry Prendergast and Celia wade-Brown both spoke and promised that who-ever emerged as Mayor, the southern hemisphere’s first Fair Trade capital city would ensure that Fair Trade would remain a priority.
A full programme was offred to delegates beginning with keynote speakers covering local, national and international perspectives; two workshop sessions facilitated by various experts; an interactive coffee lesson delivered by Rene Macauley, Head Barista at People's Coffee, a 100% Fairtrade Business, and ending with a discussion on fair trade and sustainability with an expert panel.
The three workshops on offer were:
Impact of Fairtrade for producers: beyond a fair price.
Developing Young Advocates.
Social Justice and Theology: why fair trade should be part of our every day actions.
Highlights of the day included Will Valverde Padilla's keynote speech and the caffeine fueled coffee lesson by Rene. There were lots of happy faces at the end of the day. Here’s a snapshot of comments from a few of the delegates.
The event was kick started by Steve Knapp, Executive Director, FTAANZ. NB. Sound only with still images.
On one of her last days as Mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergast officially opened the conference in her Fair Trade City. NB. Sound only with still images.
Will Valverde Padilla from the CoopeAgri coffee and sugar co-operative in Costa Rica was a "star attraction" of the conference. NB. Sound only with still images.
Mayor-elect Celia Wade-Brown was the 4th keynote speaker at the Fair Trade Supporter Conference. NB. Sound only with still images.
Steve Dixon opened the panel discussion. Steve is Chair of the Central Board of the Sustainable Business Network, he also leads the sustainability practice at the consulting company Maven. In this role he helps businesses achieve a balance of economic success and environmental and social sustainability.
Brian Easton is easily New Zealand’s best known economist. He’s an independent scholar who researches, writes, works as a consultant and teaches in economic, social statistics, public policy and New Zealand Studies. He’s the author of the book, “Globalisation and the Wealth of Nations” which makes the subject of economics a good read for New Zealanders. He is of course famous for his pieces in the NZ Listener over the past 30 years.
Steve Knapp is the Executive Director of The Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand and of Fairtrade Labelling Australia and New Zealand.
Will Padilla is from the coffee and sugar producing co-operative CoopeAgri in Costa Rica. Will is in charge of Fairtrade Operations and has first-hand contact with the farmers through projects such as: Producer support, Nursery and crop enhancement, housing projects, forest and river conservation projects, health funds, education funds and supermarkets.
The UK Fair Trade Supporter Conference was held in London on the same day as New Zealand’s. This was the musical message of support from NZ during lunch.
