Named after Juno, the ancient Roman goddess and protector of women, the month of June has long held the title of the most popular month for weddings. But according to the Wedding Planning website, June is no longer the most popular month for weddings. In recent years has been surpassed by the months of July and August as the month popular months to say I DO. With so many I DOs taking place at this time of the year, maybe the Fair Trade Wedding Guide in it’s own little way serves two purposes?

Last year the Fair Trade Federation’s (FTF) annual conference was merged for the first time with the Fair Trade Futures conference. 2011 now sees the yearly FTF meeting back in traditional garb. Months before discussion of budgets, unions, or protests surfaced to cause overheated controversy on the nightly news, the FTF conference committee settled on Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This year’s conference theme is Building UP Fair Trade and is scheduled for May 6-8th!

Through Matt Johnson’s office window a storm brews each day beginning around 11 am. Until a few days again, workers on both sides of Matt’s window pane expected to have the same rights. The irony is that now those outside the SERRV offices are in danger of losing the rights that SERRV (and other Fair Traders) demand as a tool in the fight against world poverty.

While President Obama was not specifically referring to Fair Trade last night in his State of the Union Address, his measurement of progress is at the heart of what Fair Trade businesses seek to achieve both at home and abroad. The economy is growing again but that recovery can not only be measured by the profits corporations make. Progress must also be measured by the quality of life new jobs bring to people.
If you share these values, and are currently looking for a job, here are few sites you might want to check out.

Are you stuck for gift ideas? Don’t know what to give that awkward uncle or a difficult teen for Christmas? Need a great Hanukkah gift for under $20? The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) wants to help you find that special Fair Trade gift for every member of the family.

It is probably safe to say, all mothers want the best for their children, whether you are a mother in Burkino Faso or United States. The sad reality is that mothers in West Africa, where child trafficking is highest, have little means to change their circumstances themselves, and are therefore reliant on mothers in the US (and other Western countries) to speak up for them! Learn how buying Fair Trade Chocolate can help mothers achieve this goal!

If you’re like me, buried in a mission-driven world, rarely watch television, or listen to a radio station other than NPR, you may not be aware that Fair Trade has been slowly creeping into the world of pop culture. Or is it the other way around?

With 28 towns represented, 20+ vendors, representatives from many of the major Fair Trade organizations, and the author of the book “Fair Trade: Beginners Guide”, participating in the Ohio Fair Trade Expo, you will not want to miss this event!

With only 6% of consumers able to name a FT organization unaided, the FTF is doing their part to help change that.  And with the holiday season right around the corner, the Shop Fair, Give Fair materials will help spread the FT message.

FTF launches site to inspire and educate others about the 9 fair trade principles. Sponsored by Catholic Relief Services, the site highlights one FTF member for each principle.