Market day

I've had a full, busy day, involved with another Fair Trade market.  At a different church (Methodist) this time, but most of the same vendors from last time. 

The event went well.  Not the huge crowds and big spenders that we attracted in the run-up to Christmas, but still a good turnout, and we ended with the general plan of doing it all again next spring.

One of the best parts of these events for me is getting to talk to people, and watching as people make connections with each other.  Over here, a shopper listens with interest as a vendor explains the origins of a necklace - the Indian village it came from, the artisan's story.  Over there, a local teacher discusses with a Guatemalan fair trader designs for a unique product range to sell at her school.  A couple of longstanding FT advocates sip coffee and strategise on how to keep on growing the movement.  A woman from Kenya explains to a volunteer from Taiwan about the soapstone carvings she's selling, decorated with scenes from African daily life, and they chat about their respective home countries.

Much of what appeals to me about fair trade is the connections that it makes between people: between producers, vendors, purchasers and advocates.  All these different people are brought together, to become part of a friendly revolution.  It's a movement I feel very happy to be involved with.