Moving On...

by Zarah Patriana · 2009-04-01 17:39:00 UTC
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Friends.

After about six months of working on the Change.org Fair Trade community and having it up and running, it is time to take a little break. For the past several months, this community has been a place for Fair Traders new and old to gather and learn about Fair Trade, to find out the latest news in the movement, to start discussions and debates surrounding the topic and to find out ways to make a difference. We've seen major victories, challenges, growth and some setbacks and we all did it together as a Change.org community and I am happy that you let me be part of it. Going back to the terrible nautical puns of my first entry, I've never seen myself as the captain of the ship guiding you through the Fair Trade seas, but rather it was a collective effort that every one of you made possible and for that I thank you all for the support. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, words, skepticism, questions, knowledge and especially your stories.

While the Change.org Fair Trade community is taking a break, motion around the Fair Trade movement continues. In the face of an economic downturn and the failures of neo-liberal and free trade policies becoming more apparent, Fair Trade and fairer trade policies are needed more than ever. Although President Obama has yet to make major decisions on key trade policies, we've seen his Administration give hints of reform by declaring the need for fairer trade policies. Bigger companies are starting to bring more Fair Trade into their models and the community continues to debate and shape the discussion around this involvement. Fair Trade towns continue to pop up around the world and Fair Trade sales are also continuing to rise in countries like the UK despite financial hardships. People are using the power of Fair Trade to bring some light into the darkness of conflict and people are also using Fair Trade principles to tackle climate change and the global food crisis. Fair Traders are mobilizing and having their voices heard and pushing for more talks of trade policy reform from the G20 summit to the steps of their own government. Producers and artisans are starting to build a bigger voice and fighting for a bigger stake in the game. Fair Traders are always moving and shaking and really can't be stopped.

As for me, I'm nowhere near stopping. My work with the Fair Trade movement continues through Global Exchange and through my work with different players in the community to continue to bring the movement together and strengthen our ties. So, I'll be around. I'll still be writing here, updating there and working everywhere. Just look for me. Again, thank you all for your continued support and I look forward to running into you again around the Fair Trade community.

[ No, this is not an April Fool's joke. :) ]

Zarah Patriana
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