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Exciting Latin Jazz Quintet at WorldFest 2005 |
Sunday, 15 May, 2005 - Upper Barrakka Gardens, 10am - 10pm
Renzo Spiteri - World Fair Trade Day around the world
Upper Barrakka Gardens - Restoration of Upper Barrakka Gardens
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This year's edition of the full-day fair trade festival WorldFest was another success. Patrick Galea has described it as "such a great initiative and an enjoyable experience too." It was held on Sunday, 15 May, at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta between 10am and 10pm. |
Latin Jazz
Quintet
Free concert starts at 8.00pm
This
year's edition of the full-day fair trade festival WorldFest will be
held on Sunday, 15 May, at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta
between 10am and 10pm.
This annual event to mark World Fair Trade Day is organized by the volunteers of the the Maltese fair trade cooperative that run the world shop L-Arka in Valletta.
The highlight of the festival will be a free live concert
by Renzo Spiteri’s Latin Jazz Quintet that starts at 8.00pm.
Percussionist Renzo Spiteri (see below), who has made a name for himself
and for his country both in Malta and abroad, will be accompanied by
Lino Cauchi (piano), Roger Azzopardi (trumpet), Mario "Cocker" Aquilina
(bass), and Joe Micallef (drums).
At WorldFest 2005 there will be a number of Fair Trade
stalls with a whole new range of foodstuffs, handicrafts, costume
jewelry, cds of world music, and a host of other fair traded ethnic
products from different communites in Africa, Asia and Latin and Central
America. (In picture, a
hand made and hand painted
jewel box
by Hebron Glass and Ceramics in
Palestine.) There will also be fresh organic produce for sale provided by
Gaia Foundation.
Fair traded food products supplied by the world shop L-Arka will be
available for free tasting at 11.00am and at 5.00pm. In the morning,
children will have the opportunity to make costume jewelry like rings
and bracelets with pearls. Djembes will be available throughout the day
for ad hoc djembe circles with the participation, amongst others, of
African musicians.
KKĠ
and other fair trade organizations around the world believe that fair
trade, with its emphasis on justice in trade and the empowerment of
disadvantaged communities, has an important role to play in the
eradication of poverty in the poorest countries of the world. At
present, it is actively involved in the national
STOPOVERTY!
campaign which is part of the Global Call to Action
against Poverty (GCAP).
Together with other Maltese organizations, KKĠ is committed towards
taking concrete actions to promote the
eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; to achieve
universal primary education; to establish gender equality and the
empowerment of women; to reduce child mortality, improving maternal
health; to combat HIV /AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring
environmental sustainability; and to develop a global partnership for
development.
WorldFest 2005 is endorsed by the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), of which Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust has been an active member since 1999. IFAT, the global authority on Fair Trade, brings together 256 organizations from 60 countries around the world. This year's theme is Fair Trade is Peace. It calls us all to build peace through development and equitable trade. “As consumers, we have the power to alleviate poverty and protect the environment - through Fair Trade. The movement is rapidly growing globally - why not use your power to promote Fair Trade? Together we can build a more peaceful, equitable, hunger-free world.”
World Fair Trade Day is a celebration of Fair Trade
internationally, with events organised worldwide. IFAT member
organisations based in 60 countries, along with Fair Trade shops and
networks, host events with campaigning and lobbying - all with the aim
of promoting fairer trade with marginalized and small scale producers in
the majority world. Fair Trade products, from coffee and tea, through
clothes, jewelry, and beautiful handicrafts will be in the spotlight on
this day, and throughout the month of May.
As
in the past two years, the Maltese fair trade cooperative has chosen the
magnificent Upper Barrakka Gardens to host this important celebration of
fair trade, sustainability and cultural diversity. This year’s edition,
with the rhythms of Renzo Spiteri’s Latin Jazz Quintet, promises to be a
celebration in the truest sense of the word.
WorldFest 2005 is being organized by the world shop L-Arka run by Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust and the Third World Group with help from the Youth Support Programme. More information is available on the website of Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust at www.l-arka.org.
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Poster designed by Martin Schillig
Palestinian Pottery at WorldFest 2005
Hanging Plate
WorldFest
2005 in Valletta today (10am - 10pm). This fair traded, hand made
and hand painted hanging plate produced by Hebron Glass and Ceramics in
Palestine, is one of hundreds of new fair traded ethnic products from
Asia, Latin America and Africa at the Upper Barrakka Gardens as part of
WorldFest celebrating World Fair Trade Day. The full-day festival, with
everything from food, drinks and all sorts of crafts, to djembe
circles and cds of world music, ends with a free live concert by Renzo
Spiteri's Latin Jazz Quintet that starts at 8pm.
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Pottery making is an ancient industry in Palestine
Pottery making is an ancient industry in Palestine. The traditional shapes and designs used in contemporary pottery are similar to those found on artifacts unearthed at old archaeological sites. Traditional pottery, like that produced by PACE, which includes cooking pots, jugs, mugs and plates, is manufactured by men and women from historic villages like al-Jib (Gibeon), Beitin (Bethel) and Senjel. This pottery is produced, as in ancient times, without the use of modern wheels or ovens. It is made by hand and fired in open, charcoal-fueled kilns.
Palestinian ceramics are produced at traditional family owned factories in Hebron and some other cities. They include a wide range of colorful hand painted plates, vases, hanging ornaments, tiles, cups, jars and framed mirrors. They are known for the intricate detail of their flower and arabesque patterns. In most ceramic factories, you can have your name painted on articles while you wait.
The city of Hebron is also known worldwide for its famous glass blowers and designers. Glass factories, where hand-blown glass products are made, have been a feature of the city since the Middle Ages. Here one may observe, from beginning to end, the fascinating process of glass-blowing. This traditional craft has been adapted for factory production methods. The royal blue glass of Hebron is perhaps the most recognizable in the Middle East, but glass blowers also create items in many other beautiful colors. |
Oven Dish
WorldFest
2005 in Valletta today (10am - 10pm). Hundreds of new fair traded
products from Africa, Asia, and Latin America will be available at the
Upper Barrakka Gardens all day today in this year's edition of L-Arka's
fair trade festival that is celebrating World Fair Trade Day 2005. The
ten different stalls focus on the three continents; food and drinks;
musical instruments and cds of world music; costume jewelry, incense and
stationery; crafts by refugees; organic food by Gaia Foundation; a
bargain table; and Palestine. This fair traded, hand made and hand
painted oven dish was produced by Hebron Glass and Ceramics in
Palestine.
Chalice and Candle Holders
WorldFest
2005 in Valletta today (10am - 10pm) - The Upper Barrakka Gardens
overlooking the Grand Harbour in Valletta will be "hosting the world"
today with new fair traded products from Africa, Asia, and Latin America
in this year's edition of L-Arka's fair trade festival that is
celebrating World Fair Trade Day 2005. These hand made and hand painted
products by Hebron Glass and Ceramics in Palestine, a
chalice
and candle holders, are just two of the hundreds of fair traded products
spread out in ten different stalls that focus on the three continents;
Palestine; food and drinks; musical instruments and cds of world music;
costume jewelry, incense and stationery; crafts by refugees; and a
bargain table. There will also be a stand by Gaia Foundation.
The full-day festival, with
everything from food, drinks and all sorts of crafts, to djembe circles
and cds of world music, ends with a free live concert by Renzo Spiteri's
Latin Jazz Quintet that starts at 8pm. www.l-arka.org
Multi-percussionist Renzo
Spiteri has played in the most diverse of musical situations - from jazz
to classical, fusion and folk music. His frequent performances in Malta,
and participation in festivals and concerts across Europe have given
Renzo Spiteri the opportunity to expose his own original works for
percussion and also to perform and share the stage with other
international artistes such as Mousse Ndiaye (West Africa), Mercan Dede
(Turkey), DJ Arkin Allen (Canada), Jose Barense Diaz (Brazil), The
Edinburgh String Quartet and composers Michael Alcorn, Iain McCurdy (N.
Ireland) and Pedro Rebello (Portugal).
Renzo Spiteri also works very closely with Maltese contemporary dance
group Contact Dance Company, writing music and performing live on stage
with the company in Malta and across Europe.
He continues to lead his own Latin Jazz Quintet, and performs solo
concerts, his latest being the acclaimed “This is My Language” which
will also be the title of Spiteri’s solo CD to be launched later on in
2005.
In the latter part of 2004, Renzo Spiteri and his music have been
featured on BBC radio stations, and as featured music in art exhibitions
in Florence (Italy) and Tokyo (Japan).
www.renzospiteri.com
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IFAT, the International Fair Trade Association, is a membership organization, founded in 1989, representing all Fair Traders in the supply chain: from producer associations to Fair Trade shops. At present it has over 180 members in 55 different countries. Two thirds of these are producer associations and exporters in the South. IFAT exists to improve the livelihoods and well being of disadvantaged producers in developing countries by linking the organizations that practice Fair Trade.
IFAT is working in partnership with other organizations internationally that are working to change the unfair rules of international trade. For further information contact the IFAT Secretariat, info@ifat.org.uk, www.ifat.org |
"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
Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust
See also: WorldFest 2004 - WorldFest 2003 - WorldFest 2002
