Sunday, 6 June, 2004 - Upper Barrakka Gardens, 10.00am - 10.00pm

In italiano 

Fair Trade Reaches Thousands through WorldFest 2004

Third World cultures at Barrakka mark World Fair Trade Day

Peace Activists and Ethnic Dance Party at WorldFest 2004

 Lilia do Amaral Azevedo - Ġwann Xerri OP

 WorldFest 2004 in a Nutshell

  Upper Barrakka Gardens - Restoration of Upper Barrakka Gardens

Events around the World - World Fair Trade Day 2005

Kolazzjon Ġust (7 ta' Mejju, 2004) - Fair Trade Breakfast (7 May, 2004)

Fair Trade Reaches Thousands through WorldFest 2004

Hundreds of people visited WorldFest 2004 at the beautiful Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta throughout the day on Sunday 6 June to support fair trade and tens of thousands heard and read about the event in Malta's major newspapers and TV stations. WorldFest 2004 was a resounding success.

The report below by Ariadne Massa was published in The Times (Monday, June 7, 2004) Other articles appeared in The Sunday Times (6 June), The Malta Independent on Sunday (6 June), Malta Today (30 May and 6 June), Il-Ġensillum (5 June), di-ve.com, and maltastar.com.

Prime time features appeared as news items on Television Malta (Malta's national station) and Super One Television (the second most popular TV station).

WorldFest 2004 was also promoted on some of Malta's most popular radio stations, like RTK.

Adrian Grima and Karsten Xuereb

8 June 2004

7 June, 2004

Third World cultures at Barrakka mark

World Fair Trade Day

Ariadne Massa

The newly restored Upper Barrakka in Valletta was a hive of activity yesterday as people thronged to the garden, which was injected with a fusion of African, Asian and Latin American cultures to mark World Fair Trade Day.

This is the third consecutive year that WorldFest is being held by the Koperattiva Kummerc Gust to promote the concept of fair trade in Malta.

With fair trade, growers in Third World countries are offered the chance to bypass middlemen, who offer the lowest price possible.

In this way growers and producers get a better price, enabling them to improve their business and provide their children with a better education.

A number of stalls were set up selling cocoa from Bolivia, sugar from the Philippines, other foodstuffs, handicrafts, clothes, costume jewellery, CDs of world music, stationery and a host of other fair trade ethnic products from Africa, Asia and Latin and Central America.

There was also fresh organic produce on sale, with the participation of Genista Foundation, Koperattiva Franco Si, Gaia Foundation and Nature Trust.

Cooperative education officer Vince Caruana explained that one stall was also helping African asylum seekers, who were being kept in detention centres in Malta, by selling bags and purses which they had knitted themselves.

Asked if the idea of fair trade had picked up in Malta, Mr Caruana said the perception was slowly changing and people were starting to set aside their misconceptions on buying products traded in a fair way.

"In the beginning people associated our stalls with a bazaar where they could strike a bargain. However, the idea is to offer the producer of, say, coffee in Bolivia a fair price and not the cheaper market price.

"The price fair trade offers guarantees that the producer will be able to pay for health services and children's education," he explained.

All the foodstuffs have a 10 per cent social premium, which would be invested in the community, whether to provide water services or schooling.

The one-day event included two public talks by this year's special guests: peace and justice activists Lilia do Amaral Azevedo from Brazil and the Dominican Fr Gwann Xerri.

In the evening, singer and songwriter Walter Micallef (in picture) gave a live performance, which was followed by a two-hour ethnic dance party featuring sounds from Latin America and Africa.

This year's theme of WorldFest was 'Small Change, Big Difference', a theme that was yesterday celebrated by thousands of Fair Trade organisations in more than 60 countries around the world.

WorldFest 2004 was jointly organised by L-Arka, a fair trade shop in Valletta, in collaboration with the Med2000 project financed by the EU and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Peace Activists and Ethnic Dance Party at WorldFest 2004

Adrian Grima

3 June 2004

Kolazzjon Ġust 2004

Inizjattiva tal-Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust flimkien ma’ għadd ta’ skejjel f’Malta

Fl-Iskola Sekondarja ta' Ħaż-Żebbuġ

 (Ħajr lis-Sur Stephen Cachia)

Nhar il-Ġimgħa, 7 ta' Mejju, 2004, lejlet il-Jum Dinji tal-Kummerċ Ġust, sitt skejjel Maltin ħadu sehem attiv fl-inizjattiva tal-Kolazzjon Ġust 2004. Dawn kienu s-Sekondarji ta’ Ħaż-Żebbuġ u Ħal Qormi, il-Kulleġġ ta’ St. Edwards, il-Liċej ta' Sta Lucija u ż-Żejtun, u L-Iskola Sekondarja Ogħla Giovanni Curmi tan-Naxxar. B’kollox ħadu sehem madwar 300 student u studenta u 30 għalliem u għalliema.

"Fil-kummerċ ġust, il-ħaddiema fil-pajjiżi l-fqar jieħdu ħlas ġust ta’ xogħolhom. Biex dan il-ħlas ikun “ġust” irid jipprovdi biżżejjed flus biex il-ħaddiema u l-familji tagħhom ikunu jistgħu jtejbu l-kwalità tal-ħajja tagħhom u ta’ wliedhom billi, ngħidu aħna, jgħixu f’ambjent mhux imniġġes, ikollhom aċċess għal kura medika tajba, u jibagħtu t-tfal tagħhom l-iskola."

(Vince Caruana, Uffiċjal Edukattiv, Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust)

Waħda mill-iktar risposti effettivi għall-faqar u l-inġustizzja soċjali hija l-kummerċ ġust. Dan it-tip ta’ kummerċ ilu jeżisti tnejn u tletin sena u llum hawn mat-3000 ħanut ta’ kummerċ ġust mad-dinja kollha. F’Malta nsibu L-Arka ta’ 306, Triq San Pawl, il-Belt, ħanut immexxi minn koperattiva ta’ voluntiera li ma jiħdux sold mill-qligħ li jagħmel il-ħanut għax il-flus jerġgħu jinvestuhom f’inizjattivi ta’ kummerċ li ma jħallix il-qligħ jiġu qabel il-bnedmin u l-ambjent.

Il-kolazzjon ġust kien fih prodotti ġusti bħal muesli, ġammijiet, bars taċ-ċereali u juices, flimkien ma' ħalib, ilma u ħobż frisk minn produtturi lokali.

L-istudenti ħallsu Lm1 biex tkopri parti mill-ispiża tal-ħlas ġust. Għaliex? Il-Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust organizzat din l-attività biex tkompli bix-xogħol taghħa ta’ edukazzjoni dwar dinja sostenibbli u kummerċ alternattiv mat-tfal u ż-żgħażagħ Maltin, u tħajjarhom iduqu l-prodotti ġenwini magħmula fil-pajjiżi tat-Tielet Dinja.

L-għan hu li bil-mod aktar tfal flimkien mal-ġenituri tagħhom ikunu konxji minn din ir-realta' dinjija, u x’jistgħu jagħmlu dwarha.

Fl-Iskola Sekondarja ta' Ħaż-Żebbuġ

Il-Menù Ġust

 Orange Juice

100% meraq tal-larinġ magħmul mil-larinġ ta’ Valencia. Dan il-meraq fih ftit zokkor minn José Marti ġewwa Kuba, organizzazzjoni magħmula minn 280 persuna, l-aktar nisa u żgħażagħ. Il-prezz ġust li jitħallas minn sħab il-koperattiva Maltija fl-Italja, CTM-Altromercato, jgħin lil dawn il-familji jkopru l-ispejjeż tagħhom fejn jidħlu d-djar, it-twaħħil ta’ sistemi ta’ l-elettriku, is-sigurtà soċjali u attivitajiet kulturali.

Ġamm mill-Kenja

Mango, bi 62% frott, zokkor naturali tal-kannamiela u meraq tal-lumi

Papaya, bi 60% frott, 3% passion fruit, zokkor naturali tal- kannamiela u meraq tal-lumi.

Dan il-ġamm jissajjar fuq nar ta’ veru (mingħajr l-użu ta’ kimika) f’borom tradizzjonali li jobdu r-regoli l-aktar stretti ta’ l-iġjene. Il-flus li jaqilgħu mill-prezz ġust jiffinanzja proġetti importanti ta’ tisqija u ilma nadif fiż-żona tal-Meru, fil-Kenja.

Sesame bar mill-Ghana

Drinking Chocolate mill-Costa Rica

Muesli Exotic with Quinoa mill-Brażil

Gallettini bl-Għasel u Zokkor Naturali tal-Kannamiela mill-Kenja

Vince Caruana u Karsten Xuereb

Mejju 2004

Fair Trade Breakfast

May 7, 2004

Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust (KKĠ) celebrated World Fair Trade Day 2004, which fell on May 8, in two parts. The first was event was a Fair Trade Breakfast organised in six Maltese educational institutions (mainly secondary schools) on the eve of World Fair Trade Day. The second is the third edition of WorldFest, which is a celebration of Fair Trade, Social Economy principles and networking in the NGO field, to be held on Sunday 6 June.

Ħaż-Żebbuġ Secondary School

(Thanks to Mr. Stephen Cachia)

Why a breakfast?

The inspiration to hold a breakfast based on fair trade products came from similar initiatives that have been taking place in mainland Europe over the past years. Direct research with about 15 schools and a number of educators between January and March 2004 led KKĠ to believe such an event could take place successfully even in Malta. The school setting was chosen since it is ideal to introduce young Maltese people, who are generally avid consumers of food and drink products, to a more ethical and sustainable way of leading one’s life starting with the most basic, simple and essential things in one’s lifestyle.

Six schools

By the end of March, six schools were ready to participate and help KKĠ in organising an experience which would be educational while fun at the same time. The schools chosen had different social, economic, gender, age and educational structures. They were the Żejtun and Sta. Luċija Junior Lyceums, the Boys Secondary Schools in Ħal Qormi and Ħaż-Żebbuġ, St. Edwards College in Cottonera (in picture), the Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School in Naxxar.

300 Participants

In all, around 300 students took part in the breakfast, and around 30 teachers were involved in the preparation and educational process surrounding the event. The educational process was held in collaboration and with resources prepared by KKĠ, and started three weeks before the actual event. Its aim was to create a context within which the students could place and gain a fuller understanding and appreciation of the breakfast itself.

This aspect of the Fair Trade Breakfast also allowed KKĠ to identify new teachers in schools and work again with others who are regular collaborators, and thus strengthen the network of local contacts KKĠ has in the educational field. This event consolidated the empowerment process with teachers, who went on to express ownership of the project and encourage its success through personal initiatives.

Comments and feedback from Heads of Schools:

Two Heads of Schools have sent their comments about the event.

St. Edwards College, Cottonera

(Thanks to Mr. Charlot Cassar)

The first is by Mr. Charlot Cassar, who is Head of the Middle School at St Edwards College, and an active member of KKĠ:

“…students were very enthusiastic at the idea of having breakfast at school, which is something very unusual in the local context. This event made it easier to explain potentially complex realities like trade, food production and exploitation, and the practical difference fair trade can make...and how we can all aid developing nations.”

The second comment is by Mr. Stephen Cachia, Assistant Head at the Żebbuġ Secondary School for Boys. Mr Cachia is also very active in the Green Party in Malta.

“The activity was very successful, partly because students could do something different, and something which proved to be to their liking. In spite of an initial resistance by some of the students (probably because of its being so new), all of them warmed up to the event, and this especially after they were told and got to know the social context of the breakfast. In fact, students went on to encourage other students to participate and contribute in their own small way to a better world…happily, the staff itself was also effected by this general enthusiasm, and helped make the event a success.”

Vince Caruana and Karsten Xuereb

May 2004

"In Malta, celebrations to mark World Fair Trade Day (WFTD) will be held on 6 June, at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta. Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust – a local non profit social cooperative - is the local coordinator of WFTD and will mark this day with a festival in the capital city of Malta. Those of us celebrating WFTD know that Fair Trade is an innovative way of doing trade that puts people first and ensures that their work is properly recognised and rewarded. We want to see an end to the greed and exploitation that lead to impoverished lives and a spoilt environment. Through this day Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust wants to share with the general public its innovative way of putting human values, dignity, dialogue and respect at the heart of its work."

Vince Caruana

Coordinator, WFTD

Events around the

WORLD

IFAT UPDATE 7: 19 April 2004

Some of the global World Fair Trade Day events taking place include:

• Bali, Indonesia - planting of 1,000 blalu trees

• Bali, Indonesia - environmentally friendly handicraft design competition

• Chicago, USA - series of events including visits from Fair Trade coffee farmers

• Florida, USA - retail rallies

• Haworth, UK - Fair Trade Tea on the lawn at the Bronte Parsonage Museum

• London, UK - Summer Breeze Fair Trade fashion show

• Japan - Fair Trade exhibitions, fashion shows and seminar programmes in Kobe, Yokohama City, Okinawa and Tokyo

• Kathmandu, Nepal -  health camp for Fair Trade producers

• Kathmandu, Nepal -  producer interaction programme and the making of a giant vest and hat

• Keighly, UK - Fair Trade fashion show

• Mombasa, Kenya - Fair Trade Walk through Mombasa

• North Carolina, USA - supermarket teach-ins

• Ohio, USA - international dinner with food from around the world

• Switzerland - street events in cities across the country

• Washington State, USA - fashion show, outdoor theatre, juggling and
  music

• Padova, Italy - Fair Trade conference

For more information on these and other events, please visit
www.wftday.org.

WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY 2005

IFAT UPDATE 7: 19 April 2004

The working group set up in February 2004 to discuss future dates for World Fair Trade Day 2005 onwards has concluded.  The proposal taken to the committee recommended that the date be kept the same; i.e. the second Saturday in May, and was approved at the IFAT ExeCom meeting in Verona.  Many thanks to all those who participated.

Lilia do Amaral Azevedo

Lilia do Amaral Azevedo was born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1929. In 1950 she obtained her degree in Greek and Latin at the Catholic University in São Paulo, during which time she participated in the JUC: Catholic University Students movement. Married in 1952, she has 3 daughters and a son and 8 grandchildren.

From 1956 to 1966 she was a member of “Equipes de Nossa Senhora” a Catholic family movement of French origin.

She is a professional translator – now retired - of French, English and Spanish, having worked at a government enterprise from 79 to 87.

In 1975 she entered the Catholic Action – Renovação Cristã/MIAMSI – Movement of which she was the diocesan coordinator from 76 to 1980, a member of the coordinating team for Latin America from 80 to 84 and of the international team from 84 to 88. Today she is the national vice-coordinator.

In 1981 Lilia began to translate texts of Liberation Theology, having organized together with fr.John Xerri “St.Dominic’s Translation Group”, which later became “St.Dominic’s Solidarity Group”. She worked as a volunteer translator, during over 4 years, in a Pastoral Center linked to the Dominicans which gave support to trade unionists.

In 1983 Lilia went to Lima, Peru, for a meeting of the Latin American team and attended the summer course given by Gustavo Gutierrez. The meeting with South African Mike Deeb led to solidarity with the people who struggled against apartheid. For 10 years: 83-93 the group worked in link with South Africa, hosting over 40 persons who came over to Brazil to get to know the work of Basic Christian Communities and Popular Movements, writing articles, translating and interpreting.

Lilia translated to Portuguese many texts by Dominican theologian Albert Nolan, specially “Jesus before Christianity” and “Spirituality of the Service to the Poor”. She also translated to Portuguese the writings of Steve Biko, great South African martyr and one of the founders of the Black Consciousness Movement.

Since 1986 she has been active in the Justice and Peace movement of the Dominican Family, having been one of the founders of the J&P Commission of the Dominican Family in Brazil. This has made her tavel to many countries in Latin America, taking part in meetings of the Domincan Family. In 1992 she attended the Elective General Chapter of the Dominican Order in Mexico as a lay woman.

In January 2003 Lilia was instrumental in bringing to Brazil Iraqi Dominican sister Sherine: she was a key speaker in the World Social Forum about Iraq.

In September 2003 the Solidarity Group and Dominican Justice and Peace brought to Brazil and Argentina Dominican sister Kathy Long, to share her experience as a pacifist: she had recently been released from 3 months imprisonment in the USA because of her stand against war.

Lilia is one of the persons in charge of the Brazilian edition of the Latin American/World Agenda, organizing each year a major event to present it.

Since 1993 she is part of a team who writes for a monthly bulletin for Christians “Rede” about the international scene.

She has given talks, written many texts and published articles about the countries with which the Solidarity Group has worked: South Africa, Haiti, East Timor, Chiapas (Mexico), Vieques (Puerto Rrico), Iraq, Palestine. Also texts on spirituality and theology for Renovação Cristã/MIAMSI. Together with fr. John Xerri, she wrote “Cartas da África do Sul”(Letters from South Africa) about her experience in this country in 1984. Also with John Xerri she wrote a text: “Todos os Direitos para Todos” (All the rights for all the persons) as part of a book in honor of fr.Carlos Josaphat op, well known Brazilian Domincan theologian.

Lilia do Amaral Azevedo lives in São Paulo, Brazil.

25/05/2005

One of her translations is available here: http://news.op.org/justice/465.html

Fr. John Xerri OP

Frei João Xerri was born in Sliema, Malta, in 1947. He entered the Dominican Order, having professed on 26 September, 1965, and being ordained on 14 March, 1971.

In 1974, aged 27, John went to Brazil, having lived first in the state of Paraná, where Maltese Dominicans held a parish. In 1977 his superiors sent him to Rio, for a Masters degree in the Catholic University. During his stay in Rio he received two major influences, from Liberation Theology and the contact with the poor, through a regular solidarity presence in a favela behind the convent.

In 1980 he moved to São Paulo, having been elected prior of the Perdizes convent and later received the responsibility for the parish.

In July 1980 he accepted an invitation to become the chaplain of the Catholic Action – Renovação Cristã/ MIAMSI – Movement: he is today the national chaplain of this movement.

In 1983 he attended a summer course in Liberation Theology at the Catholic University in Lima, given by Gustavo Gutierrez. There he met South African Mike Deeb, who introduced him to the anti-apartheid movement. Together with Ms.Lilia Azevedo, he started “St.Dominic’s Solidarity Group” who worked in solidarity with South Africans during over 10 years. This helped them become aware of the strong racial discrimination existent in Brazil. In 1984, he visited South Africa and as a result wrote, with Lilia Azevedo, the book “Cartas de África do Sul” (Letters fron South Africa).

Since 1980 he has always maintained contacts in São Paulo, even when working as a Dominican friar in various other cities in Paraná.

In 1986, thanks in part to his activities related to South Africa, he was appointed Justice and Peace Promoter for the Dominican Order in Latin America and the Caribbean. During the next 6 years he travelled extensively in the continent and islands, strengthening his support, compassion and commitment to the poor, particularly in Central America where there was a brutal repression by the military against the people. His contacts in Haiti led him to also support the struggle of the people to bring back president Aristide.

In 1989 he was one of the founders of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Dominican Family in Brazil.

Since 1992, the Solidarity Group has been in charge of the Brazilian edition of the Latin American Agenda, published by Bishop Pedro Casaldáliga and fr. José Maria Vigil.

Since 1993 the Group began a solidarity work with the people of East Timor, which led fr. John to visit this country in 1999.

In 2001 John was appointed Socius of the Master of the Order for Latin America and the Caribbean and in 2002, Co-Promoter of Justice and Peace for the Dominican Order.

He is now living in Rome, from where he travels extensively, in both his capacities. Besides practically all Latin American and Caribbean countries, he has recently visited Palestine, in April 2003 – because of the terrible conditions of the Palestinian people, a Palestinian Solidarity Project was organized.

One his current projects is solidarity to the Iraqi people: on Ash Wednesday 2002 fr.John asked for the Pope’s support against the embargo on Iraq, which was causing the death of thousands, specially children.

He has also given support to four Dominican sisters imprisoned in the USA because of their stand against war; one of these, Sr.Kathy Long, was released in June 2003 and with the Solidarity Group and Dominican Justice and Peace in Brazil and Argentina, John arranged for her to visit these countries, as a witness that many Americans stand strongly in favour of peace, and are willing to suffer because of it.

He has given talks, written many texts and published articles, for instance, “Todos os Direitos para Todos” (All the rigths for all the persons) as part of a book “Utopia Urgente” in honor of fr.Carlos Josaphat op, well known Brazilian Dominican theologian.

Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta (Malta)

by Lida Voskresenskaya (Moscow, Russia)

See also WorldFest 2003 and WorldFest 2002

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