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IFAT becomes WFTO
During the IFAT annual general assembly held in Sri Lanka in October 2008, the decision was made by a 91% majority to change the organization's name to World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO). The following article appears on the WFTO's newly revamped website in February and the organization will be in a period of transition over the next several months.
Current logo...to be changed
9 February 2009
"On a day when the New York Times predicted ongoing financial turbulence, 'serious dislocations will plague the economy even if the coordinated bailouts announced this week succeed in restoring confidence to credit markets', an optimistic World Fair Trade Organization held its first global board meeting.
Board members took their new seats with an air of quiet confidence - though their eyes gave away their excitement. Nature seemed to be with them. After 8 days of thunder, lightening and Indian Ocean rains, calm settled over Marawila, Sri Lanka, where the Global AGM was held and the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) metamorphosed into the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
The agenda was clear, to agree a framework and implement the strategies and tools for change. Change that will impact poverty, climate change and the financial crisis. These are issues that producers the world over are all too familiar with, and the rest of us are finding it tough to get to grips with.
Their strategy is simple and bold. To take 60 years of worldwide Fair Trade experience and reengineer it to meet the extraordinary needs of people, communities, organisations, businesses and the planet, right here, right now. The WFTO has some new tools.
The Sustainable Fair Trade Management System is an organisational certification programme that can transform a business into an FT100 organisation.
The FT100 is the index of monitored WFTO member organisations, 100% committed to Fair Trade. Each WFTO member is monitored against the 10 Principles of Fair Trade. This ensures Fair Trade is practiced across all its business activity. The FT100 aims to evolve into a powerful engine for bringing transparency, traceability and social and environmental impact into public scrutiny.
The Charter of Generic Fair Trade Principles, a document drawn up in collaboration with the Fairtrade Labelling Organization (FLO) International, will provide the minimum global standards for anyone claiming Fair Trade status. This brings clarity to the meaning of Fair Trade and exposes those who exploit the name without respecting the values.
And the WFTO has World Fair Trade Day, that falls on the 9th May 2009 and is set to become a powerful media open to anyone who shares the values of Fair Trade, sound environmental practice and a sustainable economy. World Fair Trade Day is being talked about as BIG BANG!! and will provide the launch date for a new and sustainable agenda worldwide. Watch this space.
The WFTO’s 'Agenda for Change' kicked-off in Belgium, May 2007, when artisans, farmers, growers, cooperatives, networks, businesses and brands with a 100% commitment to Fair Trade, called on its elected representatives to implement the strategic review and global restructuring.
"We were asked by our membership to identify who we are, what we stand for and what we won't stand for. The Board decided that we should call ourselves the World Fair Trade Organization, and put our identity to good purpose in the regions, in the countries, in World Fair Trade Day and in everything we do. What I want to say to you is; if you agree that we should change our name to the World Fair Trade Organization, if you say 'yes', we have a good deal more work to do. If we truly believe that Fair Trade is both sustainable and effective, then it is the solution to the financial crisis." Paul Myers, President.
In an open vote, Fair Trade agents from Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Pacific regions, collectively decided that the time for talking was over and the time for a new drive to impact poverty, climate change and the financial crisis was due. The vote, counted three times, was recorded 91% in favor. A big day for the planet, indeed.
If you agree it's time for change, that sustainability, accountability and transparency are critical to the way the world goes about it's business, maybe it's time you voted WFTO too. "
