Network of European Worldshops (NEWS!)

The goals of NEWS! are to:

• Link Worldshops and their National Associations throughout Europe.
• Initiate, co-ordinate and promote Europe-wide campaigns on Fair Trade and trade justice.
• Co-operate with other organisations in the field of Fair Trade such as IFAT, EFTA and FLO but also other associations which are working on development issues.

A new campaign, Fair Trade Creates the Right Climate, was initiated the tenth of May to coincide with World Fair Trade Day. The campaign image is to the right. It's a two-year program to bring attention to both Fair Trade and climate change. NEWS! is concerned with climate change because it both impacts on producers and is helped by Fair Trade practices. They point out that Fair Trade has an effect on climate both indirectly and directly*:

• Fair Trade is fighting poverty by selling producers and small farmers products abroad. Many people in the South have to live with and in an “ecological poverty trap”. Fair Trade has helped millions to escape from poverty.
  
  
• Fair Trade is committed to paying a living wage and to work in long-term partnerships. This enables the producing partners to (re-)invest in environmentally friendly production to minimize their impact. In turn, these initiatives promote environmental awareness locally and internationally.
  
  
• Fair Trade advises and trains farmers how to minimize the impact of their production. Fair Trade also supports producer groups to put social, educational or health projects into action.
  
  
• Furthermore, Fair Trade supports producers to develop a local market for their products, to build a sustainable economic system and regional development including strengthening Fair Trade networks and retailing initiatives in the developing world.
  
  
• To reduce the producers’ and the products' “carbon footprint”, Fair Trade favours the sustainable use of natural, renewable or recycled resources and production methods that are not capital and fuel intensive.
  
  
• Regarding handicrafts, Fair Trade favours hand made arts and craft and small scale production. Regarding farming, Fair Trade supports organic agriculture.
  
  
• Last but not least, Fair Trade products are transported mainly by ship.

*This information is taken directly from the NEWS! website.

To learn more about NEWS!, go to their website.