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Hi New Internationalist Supporter,
Fair Trade Fortnight - the annual celebration of the life-changing impact that fair trade has for producers - is nearly over. But to make sure it ends on a high we have something special for you for a few days. Please do read on.
| ACTION: Fair Trade Fortnight |
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Half-price post and pack
till the end of this weekend
Paul - the fair trade specialist for our Co-op - visited India recently and saw for himself the impact that fair trade can have in transforming lives. You can read his reports from Chennai and Kolkata in our blog.
It made me think that if each of us just doubled the proportion of our weekly shopping that is sourced from fair trade producers, the impact would be enormous. Our accreditation body - the World Fair Trade Organization - reports that "Fair Trade today is a truly global movement. Over a million small-scale producers and workers are organized in as many as 3,000 grassroots organizations and their umbrella structures in over 50 countries in the South." Doubling that would be huge.
So to round off Fair Trade Fortnight we're offering half-price post and pack to make it easier for you to sample some of our fair trade lines. I'll be turning off the half-price post and pack deal when I get to work on Monday. Need I say more about not delaying? (Conditions are: 1. Online orders only 2. For delivery by regular post within Australia only.)
If you haven't yet done much to celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight, here's an extra opportunity. Thanks.
I just wish the Government would sponsor fair trade as much as it sponsors mining. A recent report from the Australia Institute showed that despite earning record profits, the mining industry receives billions in government subsidies and concessions each year. Strange.
Read more online now.
| THEORY: Psychology of activism |
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Sustainability
The surprising science behind successful advocacy
In my blog How do you nurture a social activist I discussed some new approaches being researched internationally by a coalition of social and environmental activists called Common Cause. Now our friend Sharon Ede at Cruxcatalyst has produced a very readable and comprehensive summary of the theory behind successful motivational techniques for social change. It's worth a look no matter whether you're involved with an advocacy group or whether you'd simply like to make a greater impact in your local community. For a great example of high-impact activism, don't miss Danny Chiver's story Why I told BP to disclose its interplanetary spaceship.
Read more online now.
| ACTION: Mental Health |
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Stigmawatch
Taking action to reduce stigma in the media
Our latest magazine has made an important contribution to debunking some common myths about mental health and suicide. But it's an ongoing process and we can all help improve community attitudes by joining SANE's Stigmawatch program. Members send reports to Stigmawatch - both positive and negative - of stories they've seen in the media. If a media report is found to be inappropriate, StigmaWatch takes it up with the media or person and requests that the offending item is amended or removed. Discussions are held with individual writers and speakers, encouraging them to improve. The project has had some success, such as with a prominent politician who expressed remorse and apologised for the stigmatising comments, saying he would think twice in the future.
SPARX - a self-help computer program designed in NZ for young people dealing with depression - has recently had useful results reported in the British Medical Journal. SPARX developers are currently making final preparations for release of the simulation game later this year.
Read more online now.
| BACKGROUND: Also worth knowing... |
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HRAFF - the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival
HRAFF is happening now in Melbourne, and is coming to a mainland city near you in late May and June. One of the highlights will be The Island President which won the People's Choice Award for Best Documentary at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. It features the former Maldives President, Mohamed Nasheed, and his campaign for the world to recognise that the Maldives - a small nation of almost 2000 islands south-west of Sri Lanka - is facing extinction as it battles the impact of climate change. For full program details visit the HRAFF website.
| OPPORTUNITIES: Jobs with meaning |
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Campaign and Social Media Manager
The Climate Institute - Sydney
The Asset Owners Disclosure Project (AODP) is an Australian not-for-profit organization, created from a Climate Institute initiative. The AODP is an independent assessor of how the world's largest investors - such as pension and superannuation funds, insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds - manage climate change related risks and opportunities. The AODP will be launched soon, along with the parallel launch of its new social media platform called PARETO.
Volunteer placements
Youth Challenge Australia (YCA) - Overseas and within Indigenous Australia
YCA is an Australian-based, not-for-profit, secular organisation. YCA actively engages youth to volunteer overseas and in Australia on community-identified development projects. Since 1992, the programs have offered 18 - 30 year-olds the opportunity to assist the growth of sustainable and positive community development around the world.
| OPPORTUNITIES: Training |
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Master of International Development
La Trobe University - Melbourne
Choose to study the Master of International Development at La Trobe University and you're choosing a career with the potential to make a difference. Learning from industry professionals and academics, you'll gain valuable real life experience exploring such global challenges as poverty, environmental degradation, social injustice and inequality.
RI Academy
Responsible Investment Association Australasia - online
The RI Academy is a structured learning pathway for financial services, corporate and other professionals needing to understand how environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are impacting investment decision making, company and shareholder value and ongoing access to investment and capital markets. It was established in late 2008 by RIAA to address the significant and growing skills gap in the responsible investment sector.
Cheers,
Brian Loffler
for the New Internationalist Co-operative
If you need to update your contact details, please email Helen, our Co-op team member who looks after our supporters.
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IN THIS E-NEWSLETTER:
Fair Trade Fortnight
Half-price post and pack
Psychology of activism
Sustainability
Mental Health
Stigmawatch
25% off
Hemp iPad cover
BACKGROUND:
HRAFF - the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival
OPPORTUNITIES:
Jobs with meaning
Campaign and Social Media Manager
Volunteer placements
Training
Master of International Development
RI Academy
FAIR TRADE PRODUCT PICK OF THE WEEK:
Ethiopian Mismar Shawl
Large, luxurious hand-made shawl with contrasting neutral tones. Fair Trade.
TOP FIVE PRODUCTS IN THE ETHICAL NI SHOP:
AT NEWSAGENTS :
Can you help a friend get started with the New Internationalist magazine? Pick up a copy and pass it on. Here's where you can find your nearest newsagent stockist.
ON YOUR SMARTPHONE :
Prefer digital? You can subscribe to the New Internationalist paperless edition and read it on your computer, smartphone or tablet.
FROM THE NI BLOG:
Slowing climate change – slowly
Was it last year? The year before? Guess when this international meeting was held.
Improving the effectiveness of Australia's foreign aid
We have a bizarre situation where the programs that are evaluated according to government criteria are failing to deliver to the people of Afghanistan, while small NGO-to-NGO partnerships experience unintended discrimination.
Asking BP to disclose its interplanetary spaceship
There was no escape for BP directors as Danny Chivers and others pulled off an audacious direct action at the oil company's AGM. The UK Tar Sands Network will be doing it all again for the Shell AGM on 22 May, which is happening simultaneously in London and the Hague.
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