We LOVE Chocolate…

We LOVE Chocolate…

And we know you do, too! Especially if it’s Fairly Traded and ethically sourced! This Sunday 9/4 is World Chocolate Day and of course we couldn’t help ourselves… so check out what we’ve got cookin’ to celebrate this momentous day! Send Alice May your recipe that incorporates Fair Trade sugar, cocoa and/or chocolate (feel free to use the chocolate and cocoa from the store, we’ll pay for it!) Submit 2-3 sentences about your favorite artisan story with your recipe Make 1 batch & deliver to store by Noon on Sunday Customers will sample each recipe throughout the day and vote for their favorite Winner gets a $30 gift card to Villages of Austin! We know you’ve got some yummy stuff you’ve been dyin’ to share… so get to baking!

Cards of Hope

Ten Thousand Villages of Austin is honored to support the women of Alay Kapwa Cooperative in Cebu City, Philippines, through the sales of their handmade baskets and cards.

The proceeds from the card sales go to support the Cooperative’s scholarship program. The sale of 50 cards can send one child to school for a year. 200 cards can send a child to college!

Please, stop by our store and purchase one – or 20 – of these beautiful cards and become a contributor to this amazing community!

Fashion You Can Feel Good About

Thanks to Thea Wood for mentioning Ten Thousand Villages of Austin in her Austin Style Blog!

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Ten Thousand Villages

1317 S. Congress Avenue, 

This boutique is as eco-friendly and trade conscious as it gets.  The prices are VERY reasonable (especially given their prime locale) and the cashier can give you a detailed background on each item’s origin and materials.  I also want to plug the Austin Fair Trade Film Festival tomorrow (Saturday) at the South Alamo Drafthouse. Just think, you can contribute to world peace by purchasing a chic accessory and catching a movie!!  Here are some of their gems:

$54 Indonesian woven handbag

$34 Tagua Nut Necklace & Earrings

$20 Mutuba tree bark hat

Total: $ 108

Austin Fair Trade Film Festival Recommended by Green America!

100,000 Expected to Participate in World Fair Trade Day Events Across North America

Hundreds of sessions to educate the public on the benefits of fair trade and provide samples of products from around the globe

Submitted by: Green America

Categories: Fair Trade & Supply Chain, Events

Posted: May 04, 2011 – 01:30 PM EST

WASHINGTON, D.C., May. 04 /CSRwire/ – A record 100,000 people across the US and Canada are expected to participate in hundreds of events over the next two weeks to mark World Fair Trade Day, which is May 14, 2011. Cities, towns, churches, groups and individuals are planning events to highlight social, economic, and environmental benefits to buying Fair Trade. The events include Fair Trade festivals, Fair Trade coffee breaks, webinars and Fair Trade artisan tours among others.

For information about World Fair Trade Day events in your area or to find out more information about the benefits of buying Fair Trade, go to http://www.fairtraderesource.org/wftd/.

Many Americans are unaware how many day-to-day items are produced in abusive labor conditions which include sweatshops and child labor. These items include clothing, furniture, and foods such as coffee, chocolate, and sugar. The Fair Trade system helps producers and suppliers earn a living wage and take steps to protect the environment. It also serves to empower individuals and communities, support women’s and children’s rights, promote dignity and respect, and connect developing nations with developed nations and markets.

World Fair Trade Day national campaign coordinator, and Executive Director, Fair Trade Resource Network Jeff Goldman, said: “the meaningful activities comprising this largest Fair Trade event in North America allow adults and kids to learn about empowering marginalized people while celebrating justice and sustainability with hundreds of thousands worldwide.“

Examples of World Fair Trade Day events around the U.S. include:

• Texas. Austin Fair Trade Film Festival, May 12-14 at various locations. Events include a short film competition, a Fair Trade wine and chocolate pairing event, and the Fair Trade film festival and global market.
• Illinois. Chicago World Fair Trade Day celebration, May 6, 2011 at Daly Plaza. Companies will be selling Fair Trade gifts, coffee, chocolate, and more and there will be programs and world music played throughout the day. Additionally there will be a Fair Trade pavilion at the Chicago Green Festival on May 14-15 at McCormick Place in Lakeside, IL where non-profits and Fair Trade vendors will be on hand.
• New York State. Several upstate events are planned, including a World Fair Trade Day celebration in Albany on May 13th at the Ten Thousand Villages store, and a Fair Trade/Coffee Break Celebration in Rochester on May 14th at One World Goods.
• Oregon. A variety of events in Portland to include an informational Fair Trade 101 Panel Discussion at Kells Irish Pub on May 9th, and the St. Andrew/Catholic Relief Services World Fair Trade Day celebration on May 15th featuring music, food, crafts, and informational talks.
• Florida. A Fair Trade wine tasting in Orlando on May 15, at the Lake Eola Farmers Market. This event will also feature food, live music, and local craft vendors.

Major sponsors of World Fair Trade Day include nonprofit and faith-based organizations, such as Green America, Catholic Relief Services, Fair Trade Towns and Fair Trade USA, as well as retail companies, such as Ben and Jerry’s, Fair Trade Apparel, Green Mountain Coffee, Lucuma Designs, Wholesome Sweeteners, and Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. Regular sponsors include Fair for Life Social & Fairtrade Certified, Fair World Project, Global Exchange, Indigenous Designs, Maggie’s Organics, Theo Chocolate and WorldofGood.com by eBay.

ABOUT FAIR TRADE RESOURCE NETWORK

Founded in 1999, the Fair Trade Resource Network (FTRN) seeks to build a more just and sustainable world by gathering, developing, and disseminating educational resources about Fair Trade. FTRN is the only non-profit organization in the world focused exclusively on Fair Trade education, helping people to better understand the impact of their buying decisions.

For more information, please contact:

Jeff Goldman Executive Director – FTRN

Phone: (917) 464-5558

Leslie Anderson

Phone: (703) 276-3256

For more from this organization:

Green America

Austin Fair Trade Film Festival News!

2nd Annual Fair Trade Film Festival Gets a Makeover!

Thanks to Alan Bird Graphic Design, the AFTFF ’11 has a sweet new look!

Check out our beautiful new flyer for the 2011 Film Festival!

Film Fest T-Shirts Arrive Just In Time!

 It’s always good to “talk the talk,” but it’s even better to “walk the walk”!

This year, the Film Fest t-shirts are ethically sourced and FAIRLY TRADED

by Maquiladora Dignidad y Justicia presented by North Country!

We know you want to be a trendsetter at the Film Fest on Saturday, so come and buy yours at the store ASAP!

Fair Trade Film Festival 2011

“TTV Volunteers Show Support, But Still Need More!”

A HUGE thanks to everyone who has already donated and contacted Alice May about volunteering at the Film Fest!

We still need at least 22 more volunteers and have $5,700 to go for donations.

With your help, we can get there!  If you would like to donate, check out our donation packages!)

“Film Fest Makes Friends With Social Media!”

Are you on Facebook? Check out the event invitation page and be sure to invite all of your friends.

Word of mouth will be a huge key to the success of this event!

For those of you on Twitter, the event has it’s own account!

Follow @FT_FilmFest for minute-to-minute updates on what’s going on with the event.

Gifts From The Heart

At Ten Thousand Villages of Austin you can find artfully crafted jewelry sure to please your loved one this Valentine’s Day and by giving fair trade you’re giving so much more.  A gift from Ten Thousand Villages is more than just a gift to the person receiving the item-it’s also a gift of vital, fair income to the artisan who crafted the product and the families they support. The Valentine’s Day gifts that you purchase help to improve the lives of thousands of artisans in 38 countries around the world. Not looking for jewelry???  Browse our selection of handmade candles, handbags, soaps and other great products that make perfect gifts for Valentine’s Day.

Fairly traded gifts for all your Valentines