There are many ways to take action for Fair Trade — from taking a minute or two to sign a key petition to organizing in your town or place of worship to bring Fair Trade to your community.

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Get Involved in World Fair Trade Day!

World Fair Trade Day, annually the 2nd Saturday in May, is an international celebration and promotion of Fair Trade. Businesses, nonprofit organizations, churches, student groups, civic associations, stores and activists host events – including Fair Trade food tastings, talks, music concerts, fashion shows and much more – to promote Fair Trade and campaign for trade justice together with farmers & artisans.

Many communities are celebrating World Fair Trade Day a few days before or after the 2nd Saturday in May. WFTD is the largest Fair Trade event in N. America, with over 50,000 people having participated in 2011.

World Fair Trade Day 2011

Raise the Bar!, Hershey

Raise the Bar, Hershey! campaign is aiming for 10,000 people to send a Valentine to the CEO of Hershey, and to join in the National Week of Action screening of “The Dark Side of Chocolate” and other actions. More at Raise the Bar, Hershey!

www.RaiseTheBarHershey.org

Call on Congress to Support Fair Farm Policies in the US

The United States Farm Bill was originally designed as a security system for American farmers when the market collapsed during the Great Depression. Today, however, the Farm Bill disproportionately distributes government payments to large-scale farmers, while the majority of farmers receive very little or nothing at all. The legislation also encourages the overproduction of certain crops, notably cotton and rice, which is devastating for small farmers around the world.

• Find out the status of the U.S. Farm Bill
  

Host a Fair Trade Event with Friends & Coworkers

Have fun organizing a Fair Trade event, such as food & drink tastings, craft shows, film showings, music jams, soccer games and fundraisers. Use the following resources to plan, publicize and produce your Fair Trade celebration:

• Guide to planning many kinds of Fair Trade events
• Free printed materials and Fair Trade products to promote or strengthen your event
  
• Recommended films and readings on Fair Trade

Bring Fair Trade to Your Town… or City… or Village

This nationwide initiative connects grassroots Fair Trade activists across the country. Through the Fair Trade Towns program, Fair Traders working locally to promote Fair Trade have the opportunity to share their experiences and tools with one another. The Fair Trade Towns initiative also offers guidance and resources for communities seeking to declare themselves to fulfill the Fair Trade Town criteria. Check out www.fairtradetownsusa.org for more information.

Bring Fair Trade to Your School

• Bring Fair Trade to your School – Take a pop quiz about ways you can make Fair Trade a reality in your school.
• Check out various educational tools.