Fair Trade Awareness Week in Norman!

Norman Fair Trade presents

Fair Trade Awareness Week

May 4- May 10, 2009

Schedule of Events

Saturday, May 2
Fair Trade Chocolate/Coffee Tasting at Native Roots Market, 3:00-6:00 p.m.

Join Norman Fair Trade at Native Roots Market (132 W Main St) for an afternoon of free Fair Trade chocolate and coffee samples, an introduction to Voices of Oklahoma Community Radio, and the musical stylings of local favorite, Mike Hosty.

Tuesday, May 5
Fair Trade Picnic and Frisbee at Lions Park, 6:00-8:00 pm

Bring your own meal and come on out to Lions Park (450 S Flood) to enjoy a picnic with Fair Trade friends. We'll cap off our evening with a fun game of Fair Trade frisbee! Fair Trade Certified frisbees will be provided.

Wednesday, May 6

Documentary Screening at Norman Public Library (Meeting Room A/B), 6:00-8:30 pm

At the Norman Public Library in Meeting Room A/B, Norman Fair Trade will be hosting a documentary screening of The Fair Trade, which features the story of Anti-Body, a company devoted to all natural, Fair Trade body care products. It tells the story of founders Tamara Johnston-McMahon, Steven and Shelby Moser, who embarked on a mission to create a consumer product that would benefit both the customer and the individuals from developing countries who produce their ingredients.

Thursday, May 7
Forum for Democratic Action, Fair Trade Dinner at Pink Elephant Cafe, 6:30 pm

Norman Fair Trade will be the featured group at May 7th's Forum for Democratic Action at the Pink Elephant Cafe ( 301 E Main St). Members of Norman Fair Trade will be discussing their initiative to make Norman a Fair Trade Town. The public is invited to attend. Dinner service starts at 6:30 pm, and the speaker begins at 7:00 pm. On May 7, we will have a special Fair Trade dinner consisting of both Fair Trade and local products. Dinner is $10, which includes a garden salad, main course, dessert, and tea or coffee.

Friday, May 8
Master Drummer Barbara "Wahru" Cleveland at Sandalwood and Sage, approximately 7:00-10:00 pm

Join us at Sandalwood and Sage (322 E Main St) for a magical performance by master drummer Barbara "Wahru" Cleveland. Wahru has been a member of the Columbus, Ohio based drum, song, and dance group, Sistah Ngoma, and was the 2003 National Women’s Music Festival’s “Drum Mother.” Later in the evening, you are invited to participate in building a drum chorus with Wahru. Bring any drums you have, and we will have a few extras for those who need them.

Saturday, May 9
World Fair Trade Day, product discounts in Norman!

· Pink Elephant Cafe - 50 cents off coffee all day

· The Earth - Promotion to be determined

· Cafe Plaid - Large coffee for the price of small

· Michelangelo's (formerly Winan's) - 10% discount on Fair Trade products all day

· Voices of Oklahoma at the Norman Farmers' Market - Free Fair Trade coffee and chocolate samples

Sunday, May 10
Open Drum Circle with Jehruba at Sandalwood and Sage, 3:00 pm

Bang a drum against poverty with Norman Fair Trade as we join Jehruba for an open drum circle at Sandalwood and Sage (322 E Main St). Bring any drums you have, and we will have a few extras for those who need them.

Norman City Council Proclamation for Fair Trade Awareness Week

On Tuesday, April 28, the Mayor will read a proclamation for Fair Trade Awareness Week in Norman. Ajit will receive it on behalf of Norman Fair Trade and say a few words. People are encouraged to attend the meeting to show their support for the Fair Trade campaign in Norman. Details are listed below:

Location:
City Council Chambers
201 W Gray
Norman, OK 73069
United States

When:
Tuesday, 4/28/2009 6:30 PM until approximately 7:00 PM

Groovefest - Sunday, April 26

Norman Fair Trade and Norman Sustainability Network will have a joint booth at this spring’s Groovefest in Andrews Park in Norman. Groovefest takes place on Sunday, April 26 from approximately 2:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Groovefest is Norman’s one and only Human Rights Music Festival. Established in 1986 by the OU chapter of Amnesty International, Groovefest has since been under the guardianship of the Norman Groovefest organization. This year, OU Amnesty International will host the festival once again. Each spring and fall, the community comes together to raise awareness about human rights, listen to some talented musicians, and have a great time!

The lineup for Spring 2009's Groovefest is as follows:

• Autumn Shade
• Harlequins Bohème
• Jonbear Fourtet
• Algebra
• John Calvin
• Zebre
• The Whiskey Trio
• Montu

Human Rights: Here and Now was chosen as the theme for the Spring 2009 Groovefest because OU Amnesty International feels it accurately communicates a central idea about human rights work. This work didn’t end with the civil rights movement, and it doesn’t just take place in third world countries. Human rights action takes place right here in Oklahoma, and it affects average Oklahomans. With this spring’s Groovefest, OU Amnesty International hopes to highlight the great work that many local organizations are doing to promote human rights here and now. In addition, OU Amnesty International hopes to further the goals of the Groovefest organization by educating the community about human rights worldwide. For more information, please visit the website at www.groovefest.org.

If you can assist with the Norman Fair Trade/Norman Sustainability Network booth, please contact Stephanie at sabates1@gmail.com.

Kids for Kindness Earth Day Festival - Sunday, April 19

Norman Fair Trade will have a joint booth with Norman Sustainability Network at the 10th Anniversary of the Little River Zoo’s Kids for Kindness Earth Day Festival on Sunday, April 19, at Reaves Park in Norman. In celebration of Earth Day, the Festival focuses on teaching children the humane treatment of animals, our planet and each other. The Little River Zoo, in partnership with the City of Norman, coordinates this free annual festival with assistance from more than 40 local organizations. The festival starts at noon and will continue up to 6 p.m.

This award-winning children’s festival provides musical and dance entertainment and a variety of fun children’s activities and attractions. Booth activities include art projects; a petting zoo; a moon bounce; teachings on recycling, clean air and water; creating birdfeeders; tree planting; a special ladybug release, and more. Children visit each booth and after completion they graduate and become Official Kids for Kindness for Planet Earth. They are presented with a Graduation Certificate and a cup of live ladybugs, donated by OSU Dept. of Entomology, to take home to release in their yards.

Norman Fair Trade and Norman Sustainability Network will be teaching children about basic concepts of fairness and about the process of making chocolate. We have a display board with a world map highlighting Fair Trade cocoa-growing countries. The display also features the step-by-step process of cocoa beans to chocolate bars, complete with photos.

Amnesty International Conference / Fair Trade Workshop

Where:
Sarkey's Energy Center, OU Campus
100 E Boyd Street
Norman, OK

When:
Saturday, April 4
9am - 4pm

Amnesty International's 2009 Statewide Conference will feature keynote speaker Rosa Clemente, a community organizer, journalist, Hip-Hop activist, VP candidate for the Green Party in 2008, and Immigrants' Rights campaign manager for Amnesty International USA.

Attendees can also participate in an organizing workshop by Norman Fair Trade's Ajit Bhand, along with other workshops on International Law, Violence Against Women, and Urgent Action Letter Writing.

For more information, visit http://ouamnesty.blogspot.com/ or e-mail okamnestyinternational@gmail.com.
Schedule:

9:00am - 10:00am Registration and Breakfast refreshments
10:00am - 10:30am Opening Remarks
10:45am - 11:30am Workshop Block 1
11:45am - 12:45pm Break for Lunch
1:00pm - 2:15pm Keynote Address - Rosa Clemente
2:30pm - 3:15pm Workshop Block 2
3:30pm - 4:00pm Closing Remarks
4:15pm - 5:00pm Make Handprint Mural for Stop Violence Against Women

Registration and Fee Necessary. Follow contact information email for registration.