The 8th International Fair Trade Towns Conference in Kumamoto: Official Site

Message from Tatsuya Watanabe, Organizer, Fair Trade Town Japan(FTTJ)

 

It is our utmost pleasure and honor to host the first ever International Fair Trade Towns (FTT) Conference in Asia.  Japan, Korea and other Asian countries  in the region maybe latecomers in the Movement, but like cherry blossoms in spring our buds are sprouting and spreading all around us.  It is therefore a good time to have the Conference in Asia, which should serve to uplift the movement to the next level.

The overarching theme for the Conference in Kumamoto is “Building Fair and Local Socio-Economies in the South and the North.”  The FTT Movement has spread to 24 countries in the world including three developing countries.  In its course of development, the Movement has shed light on switching local commerce to a fair one by promoting consumption of local produce among other things. 

One of the FTT standards set in Japan specifically focuses on “contribution to revitalization of local socio-economies.”  If promotion of Fair Trade could make local socio-economies in both the South and the North fair and robust, how great would it be? 

Please join us for the Conference to discuss the ways Fair Trade can bring about to a society, both in the South and theNorth the South and the North, where everyone can live life to the full with dignity.