Reasons to be cheerful – one, two, three….

one…
best ever World Fair Trade Day was spent at People Tree’s event in Tokyo. 800 people joined Fair Trade seminars presented by People Tree partners from India and the Philippines, media people and opinion leaders.
I presented on Fair Trade and the environment and how organic agriculture and hand production through Fair Trade can reduce CO2, global warming and climate change.

Shailesh of Agrocel presents his organisation’s work

Safia talks about the relationship between Fair Trade and the environment

Safia and Yoshiko at Saf’s book launch

Sanae shows her little girl how to make a Fair Trade bracelet in the hemp workshop

Maekita, author of “Eco-Shift” and speaker at the World Fair Trade Day wears People Tree.

Safia talks about the Vogue collection with designers

Marie Claire leads the way in introducing eco-lifestyle

Fair Trade bananas!!!!!
With Shailesh Patel from Agrocel and Frony Lapitan from Saffy Handicrafts we were able to verify this and share the big impact Fair Trade makes. For example at Agrocel each acre under organic agriculture saves 2 tonnes of CO2 as it is sequestered (held) in the soil – and hand weaving products saves one ton of C02 per year. What is clear is that Fair Trade can bring about environmental justice as well as social justice. Yay!
two…
the best People Tree Fair Trade fashion show ever…
Thanks to all the hard work of our producers, People Tree design and tech teams and some internationally renowned designers: Bora Aksu, Thakoon, Richard Nicholl. Pieces for the Summer and Autumn Collections were shown. I’m only going to show you the Summer Collection here though…. you’ll have to wait for the Autumn collection!!
A video of the People Tree Fair Trade fashion show will be up next weekend
People tree’s Fair Trade Fashion Show

Bora Aksu designed 3 pieces for People Tree in handwoven silk and cotton, using natural dyes and hand embroidery. WOW!

Accessorised with Bombolulu handmade necklace and earrings.

Bora Aksu for People Tree Summer 2008 collection

Thakoon for People Tree Summer 2008 collection, a fluid piece in Fair Trade organic cotton

Thakoon for People Tree Summer 2008 collection

Fair Trade handwoven People Tree collection from Nepal

‘People Before Profit’ by People Tree

Crochet cardi and organic fabrics from People Tree UK.

People Tree International collection

Handwoven screen print dress from People Tree International collection

Matthew Langille for People Tree

Organic and handwoven People Tree International collection

People Tree Zimbabwe screen print, People Tree Japan
three…
Launched my autobiography…
And nearly 100 people queued to have me sign it. That is the biggest compliment ever!
Cherie Blair has a lot more smut in her autobiography like why she doesn’t carry around condoms at Balmoral when going to stay with the Royal familly, (apparently housekeeping unpack your stuff and carefully find a place for everything – particularly humiliating when they come across your condoms!!) so she travelled without and found herself pregnant a month later…., nothing quite that gynecological in mine. Sorry! (My book is not available in English yet so please learn Japanese!) If you want to help me publish it in English, give me a ring!
World Fair Trade day was celebrated all over the world.

At KTS they knited hats!

And at the KTS school they drew World fair Trade Day pictures

At Pushpanjali they planted trees, highlighting this years theme Fair Trade and Ecology and raising awareness about environmental issues.