Trade Aid and cool Fair Trade stuff!

To continue our search for great places to buy Fair Trade products we visited the Trade Aid Shop, at 133 George St, to see what we could find. I have fond memories of Trade Aid. As a child it was like a dim Aladdin’s cave, full of small and shiny and exotic things that smelled like places with huge moons and acacia trees, places with tigers and elephants and giant butterflies. Best of all, everything in the shop is, of course, Fair Trade.. so buying here will help people and their communities right across the globe . The shop in Dunedin is still full of bright-coloured and shiny things – jewellery, Russian Dolls, toys and candles, baskets and bags – but it also has Fairtrade food products.

This is what we found: Chilli, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Black Pepper, Ginger and Cloves and to go with your spicy meal, there are yummy-flavoured poppadoms. There is Palestinian extra-virgin olive oil, cous cous, dates, raisins and nuts alongside all kinds of coffee, sugar, tea, cocoa and chocolate in dark, peppermint and mocha. Mouthwatering stuff, and if you want to wander among the exotic foods and exotic gifts they can whip you up a delicious flat white to sip on while you browse.

Read more about Trade Aid here

Trade Aid Gala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good fun, good vibes coming from Trade Aid on Saturday, celebrating Fair Trade fortnight. It was a hub of colourful activity- talented musicians jamming and creating a vibrant atmosphere alluring dancers. Free hot chocolates and coffees were gratefully recieved on the crisp saturday afternoon. Kids joined in on bead making and face painting.  Alex and I volunteered our services face painting.  If you haven’t had your face painted- get it done- It is a whole lot of fun.

I missed the bike ride ‘on the flat’ on Sunday but Im looking forward to the movies this weekend at the academy cinema(see our event page, or click on the tags). There is a good line up of thought provoking films.

a good night out

It was quality entertainment last night at the Academy Cinema. Greeted with yummy Fair trade chocolate and warming hot chocolates and coffees on arrival. All this and 2 films- for only $5. Bargain.

The Film ‘Cheat Neutral’ was entertaining and very clever, showing clever humour as effective tool to bring about change. Quirky, fun and lighthearted. For those of you who missed it can see it next Saturday @8pm (16th May).

‘What about me?’ A sequel to ‘1 giant leap’.  A thought provoking film, using music to convey the complexities of human nature.  The music is from 50 different countries from KD Lang, to Chinese rappers, Gabonese Pygmies and Tuvan Throat singers.  I gained lots from watching it- it was empowering and encouraging humans to celebrate ourselves and our wild spirits, while being aware of marketing powers and pressures.

Credit to Trade Aid & Forest and Bird, for organising these events

4.5/5 for me. what did you think?
“a genuinely groundbreaking audio-visual project of global dimensions” – Daily Telegraph

kicking off -the FT fortnight fest has began

There were only good vibes at Sammy’s last night for a great night to celebrate the opening of the Fair Trade Fortnight. SEA (Students for Environmental Action), did a fantastic job organising the event. The stalls were informative- DCC (Dunedin City Council) had plenty of good quality brochures about composing and worm farms and helpful fridge magnets. Trade Aid were popular with free chocolate samples, Green party, volunteer Dunedin, and other organic stalls.

I volunteered, helping Tahu McKenzie ( iconic dunedinite) paint faces.  Those who were gutsy enough, as it was my first time face painting & I recommend it as a fun time.

Unfortunately I had to leave early just as the music was kicking into gear.  My highlights were- free seed bombs, free chocolate, tasty organic bread and pesto and delicious organic beer samples.  The atmosphere was good feel, music was lively and upbeat, it was warming up to be a good memorable night out.