Message from Susy

This time of the year is very exciting because it is brainstorming season for us. Ideas are born, creativity runs wild, we reach lightbulb moments. After all, this is the time we start planning for our biggest festival, Fair@Square in December.
However, it is good to reflect on what has been achieved and what impact we have had. When I think of this, I realise that over the years, we have worked and partnered up with so many wonderful individuals and organisations and we are extremely proud to have been a part of their journey. Therefore, in this edition, I wanted to share some stories of some of our partners to see what they are up to now. Enjoy the rest of the newsletter

Moral Fairground works with a whole heap of partners and we thought it would be nice to see what some of them are up to now.

Lorraine grinding Aratja outside The Purple House

Western Desert

WESTERN DESERT WINNER OF THE 2013 ETHICAL ENTERPRISE AWARD
Western Desert Dialysis has had a busy year! In the same week as we won the Ethical Enterprises Award we also won a National Disability Award in Canberra! We have had a year bursting with bush trips, workshops and school visits. As the weather cools we are on the road, talking to senior Warlpiri and Pintupi women about maintaining and growing cultural knowledge around bush medicine plants and their therapeutic uses. Our online shop is up and running from a link on our website. Our Purple truck is in Kiwirrkurra, WA…while we set up dialysis permanently out there, with NO government funding. Watch out for more great news stories from Western Desert dialysis and the Purple House as we push on looking after each other, working on new products and having lots of fun along the way. To find out more go to Western Desert
and find ‘the purple truck’ on facebook.

We are all about Family (Walytja) , Country (Ngurra) , Dreaming (Tjukurrpa) and Kuunyi (Compassion) and welcome friends and help from anywhere and anyone!
Sarah Brown (CEO)

Training at Mulberries

IN 2011 WE WORKED WITH MULBERRIES AND RMIT SCHOOL OF TEXTILE FOR A PROJECT CALLED THE "SCARF PROJECT"
Since 2011, Mulberries is currently expanding their Organic Silk production into a new region of Laos called Tha Thom. Tha Thom used to be controlled under the Special Zone region and closed off to the public, however due to new road has been built and easy access to the area, it is now open to many visitors.

Mulberries planned to support over 600 families in Organic silk production and growing organic crops in the next 5 years. The new project called “Tha Thom Organic Livelihoods Project” began in early to 2013, the project seeks to provide stable livelihoods by assisting newly re-settled families to begin generating income from growing organic crops in a sustainable way: mulberry leaf (for tea and silk), soy bean, rice, and corn. It also aims to help organize farmers into a marketing co-op that will link with commercial markets and build on long traditions of mulberry and silk production.

Mulberry is currently building a small training centre at Tha Thom, this centre will be used to train farmers in planting mulberry trees, raising silkworms, silk reeling & spinning, natural dyes, weaving and growing organic crops.
Boby Vosinthavong (Manager Mulberries)

Jennifer Evans and baby Hudson

JENNIFER EVANS, WINNER OF MKR 2012 JOINT THE MORAL FAIRGROUND TEAM AS AN AMBASSADOR IN 2013

I'm really excited as our curry pates and jam are just about to get loaded on the ship for Australia yeah!!

I have been incredibly busy since MKR finished, I have got two boys Harlow who is 22 months old and Hudson who is 6 months old. With two very young boys and trying to develop products leaves me with very little spare time.

We are currently residing in Bangkok in Thailand and we are working closely with our fair trade growers developing some new and exciting products that are organic and fair trade.

Fair trade and sustainability is a big part of our business future and we are passionate about achieving the highest level of quality products for our customers. Sustainable farming practices ensure that our products are friendly to the environment.
To find out more about the product range visit the website at Jen's Kitchen
Jennifer Evans (Director Jen's Kitchen and Moral Fairground Ambassador)

SEVEN WOMEN WAS OUR CHARITY PARTNER FOR THE FAIR TRADE MOTHERS' DAY HIGH TEA IN 2013

This year the Seven Women team has expanded into rural and remote Nepal and set up a branch of Seven Women in Nuwacot District.
We are conducting literacy programs which is enabling marginalised women to learn basic numeracy and literacy skills; become aware of human traffickers that frequent their village areas to convince families their daughters will earn more money in India; provide skills training
and work with the women and village members to create income generating activities.
By replicating our programs, in some of the poorest and remote villagers, the vulnerability and exploitation that is experienced will be minimised. Here is how you can support, visit our website at Seven Women
Stephanie Woolard (Founder Seven Women)

Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th of December 2014

Fair@Square is a national, free public event held in the cultural heart of Melbourne, Federation Square. The festival celebrates ethical, sustainable, morally responsible behaviour; designed to nourish mind, body and soul. The festival promotes ethical consumption and purchases in time for Christmas.

Fair@Square has demonstrated ability to reach large crowds and diverse audiences and offers a fantastic opportunity for ethically minded businesses and organisations to promote your initiatives to audiences that are looking for more socially responsible options as well as audiences that are discovering socially and environmental sustainability.

Secure your place early to ensure you don’t miss out on an opportunity to connect with thousands of visitors. Visit MORAL FAIRGROUND to secure your spot immediately.

Fairly Educated Conference

Every year for the last 3 years, university staff and students from across Australia and New Zealand have converged in a different city to learn more about fair trade, its impacts, how they can further promote on campus, and the challenges of maintaining fair trade campaigns on campuses. These conferences also are an opportunity for local fair businesses to show support to initiatives that essentially keep them in businesses too. Ethical consumers learn their habits from somewhere - and universities are a breeding ground for new habits and critical thinking of the status quo!

Further details:
WHERE: University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus. Brisbane!
WHEN: July 18-20th
COST: $50 only
THEME: 'Educate - Advocate' The conference will be full of a large series of interactive workshops, panels, and social activities geared to increasing your knowledge and understanding of fair trade and tertiary institutions, running effective campaigns on campus by translating that knowledge into action. We have some very exciting speakers including the CEO of Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand Molly Harriss Olson and CEO Chris Hartley from FTA! We are also hoping this year we will have participants from some Asian countries.
For more information visit on how you can get involved Fairly Educated

ALTERECO TRUFFLES - New product in the market place

We had a taste of these at the Fair Trade Mothers' Day High Tea and they are heaven, sweet and silky, very luxurious. We love this product not from taste to packaging, even the foil wraps are compostable.
Visit Altereco for stockist