Fair trade

We are an association of 54 Munich-based initiatives, groups, organizations and about a dozen private individuals who are active in the area of development policy. The objective of our association is to bring the important concerns of the countries of the South, which are the developing countries, to the North in order to initiate changes on both sides in favor of a common future. Therefore, as a North-South Forum, we do lobbying at a regional level and beyond.

We are particularly active in educational and public relations work. We organize seminars, information events, symposia, plays, exhibitions, campaigns etc. and we compile didactic accompanying and background material. We also collaborate with other initiatives, social groups, and institutions in order to emphasize our common interests. Moreover, it is important to us to provide a platform to people of the South to ensure and expand the intercultural dialogue.

Apart from their work in their respective (independent) groups, many of our members are also active in the open work groups of the North South Forum; e.g. in the One World Education work group (global learning and issues of the North-South work in schools, children and youth institutions; development of materials). This work group played a leading role in the foundation of the regional work group entitled 'School and One World' as well as the Global Learning Forum in which our work group and the North-South Forum actively participate.

The BEI was established in 1994 as an umbrella association for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to set the stage for more coordinated and co-operative development projects. The BEI's main objective is to create a network and provide assistance for the development projects of its 65 associated member organizations. These organizations focus on different aspects of development policy-related work and have different political approaches to achieve solidarity in our "One World." Their main objectives include:

• to promote education on development policy, public relations and intercultural communication in Schleswig-Holstein
• to support the Human Rights Movement and the Emancipation Movement in developing countries
• to co-operate in development projects with partner organizations in developing countries - to promote Fair Trade
• to support the Agenda 21 goals
• to provide information about the countries of origin of immigrants and refugees, reasons for migration and refugee flows, and racism
• to promote environment and climate protection

The BEI aims to establish a network for these different One World projects, which are carried out by full time and voluntary workers. The association wants to provide support and training for the involved partners, and aims to represent their and its own development policy concerns in terms of political and administrative issues. The BEI's work is based on the concept of Sustainable Development, which combines ecological, economic and social issues. This concept makes changes necessary both in the North and in the South. In this context ecological issues are as important as the development concepts, because they are mutually dependent.

In different projects and events the BEI functions as a facilitator of co-operation among its associated member organizations, other local development networks or initiatives, and organizations concerned with different aspects of development policy-related work. In Germany the BEI is co-operating on a federal level with the Platform of the German One World Regional Networks (agl) and the Association of German Development NGOs (VENRO).

The non-profit association "Bund für Bildung" translates socially relevant issues into educational projects. The focus is on issues of inclusion, participation and democracy.

Arche noVa is an aid organisation that sets up humanitarian aid projects (Syrien, Irak, Libanon, Ukraine), development cooperation projects (Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippinen, Uganda, Äthiopien, Somalia, Mali, Kenia) as well as development education in the form of school projects on topics such as ‘water’, ‘world trade and globalisation’, ‘(international) conflicts’ and ‘humanitarian aid’.

Gepa: A Story of Success in Fair Trade

"Jute instead of plastic." This is the slogan that made the Gepa well known. In May of 1975, the two big ecclesiastical denominations in Germany founded the "society for the promotion of partnerships with the Third World" (gepa) in Wuppertal, Germany. Since then the gepa has developed into the largest fair trade organization in Europe with a turnover of more than 36 million Euros for the financial year 2003/2004. The gepa is also a member of an international fair trade network that is committed to the observance of binding principles like fair prices, long-term trade relations, consulting on developing products and organic farming. In this manner the gepa improves the living conditions of people in the South in accordance with the Agenda 21 program established by the UN economic, social and ecological sustainability.

More than 100,000 volunteers work in Third World shops and action groups. In addition, a large number of consumers has been acknowledging the high quality work of the gepa's trade partners by buying Fair Trade products. The gepa transfers about 15 Million US dollars annually for food products such as coffee, tea, and chocolate, or crafted products such as footballs, baskets or stainless steel kitchen tools for the approximately 150 farm cooperatives and socially committed private corporations in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

In addition to Third World shops and action groups, gepa products are also available in many supermarkets, natural food shops, company canteens and education centers throughout Germany. You can order coffee, tea, chocolate or organically grown wine directly at www.gepa.de.

Fairly Trade Hellas is an NGO not oriented to profit which was founded in June, 2004 with the aim to promote the Fairtrade movement and ethical consumption in Greece. In this direction going Fairly Trade Hellas opened on the 16th of March, 2006 as the first Fairtrade store not oriented to profit in Greece in cooperation with the Italian NGO CTM ALTROMERCATO (a study group in which Fairly Trade Hellas is a member of). Fairly Trade Hellas promotes with the help of five employees and many voluntary educational operations, sensitization campaigns of alternative and fair economy and supports responsible consuming.