With Vote, Chicago Would Move Closer to Becoming a Fair Trade Town

Update: The Chicago Fair Trade resolution has passed the Chicago City Council vote.

The Chicago City Council votes today on the Chicago Fair Trade resolution, an important first step in the effort to promote fair trade products in Chicago and fair work conditions across the globe.

If approved, Chicago would meet the first of five requirements to become a Fair Trade Town and a leader in North America as the largest Fair Trade town in the U.S.

A Fair Trade Town is any community in which people and organizations use their everyday choices to increase sales of fair trade products and help promote positive change for farmers and workers in developing countries. Since 2000, over 600 communities in three continents have worked to promote the ideals of Fairtrade Towns.

In addition to passing a city-wide resolution, the five requirements needed for a city or town to be designated a fair trade town by the Fair Trade Towns USA include:

• Forming a steering committee
• Outreach to area retailers
• Engaging the community
• Gain Media Attention
• Pass a Fair Trade Resolution

-photo credit: net efekt, flickr