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Winter 2006 Fair Trade Speaker Tour Photos
Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, CO -- Portland, OR -- Seattle, WA --
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
In February 2006, ENGAGE partnered with United Students for Fair Trade (USFT) to sponsor two Fair Trade rice farmers to travel to the USFT Annual Convergence in Denver, Colorado. After a very exciting and energizing conference in Denver (where the farmers saw snow for the first time!) as well as visits to Boulder and Colorado Springs, Colorado, ENGAGE traveled with the farmers to the Pacific Northwest, hosting speaking events at universities, community centers, and cafés. At these events, farmers spoke about the threat free trade agreements (FTAs) pose to the livelihood of farmers, and the need to create economic alternatives like Fair Trade. In Portland, Oregon, the farmers also had the opportunity to meet directly with buyers and distributors to make the case for making Fair Trade products available in local grocery and specialty stores.
Enjoy a selection of photos from the tour, below!
Presong Seesa-Ard invites the crowd to partake in a traditional Thai string-tying ceremony
Fair trade farmer Bunsong Matkhao celebrates with students at the USFT conference in Denver
Bunsong Matkhao and American student partake in bai-see-kwan string tying ceremony
Thai farmers and US students coming together during bai-see-kwan string tying ceremony
Tour participants (from left to right) Bunsong Matkhao, Chris Westcott, Kyra Busch, and
Presong Seesa-Ard in the snow in Colorado
