University of Wisconsin Oshkosh faculty, staff, and students will help to raise awareness and increase sales of Fair Trade products on campus Dec. 3 and 4.
On Dec. 3, David Barnhill, English professor and director of environmental studies, will introduce the short film, “The Fair Trade Story,” which serves as an introduction to how the Fair Trade concept works and how it benefits growers and artisans in developing countries.
“The University is committed to social and environmental responsibility,” Barnhill said. “Fair trade is an excellent cause in that it supports both.”
The movie will be introduced as part of ‘What is Fair Trade? And why did the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh become the first Fair Trade University in the country?’, which will start at 6:30 p.m. in Reeve Union 307.
Bob Chase, the CEO of Madison’s SERRV International – a nonprofit organization with a history of support for war refugees and poverty-stricken communities – also will be present to discuss his work with Fair Trade. He will be accompanied by artisans from Nepal who work with SERRV.
University Books & More and the Corner Convenience store will put these values into practice Dec. 4 with a Fair Trade Festival, the single largest sale – both in quantity and variety – of Fair Trade goods in campus history. Informational tables will be set up, and students will be available to answer questions and discuss Fair Trade options. The sale will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
“The sale will be a great opportunity to sample different Fair Trade goods on campus,” Barnhill said. “We think of it as ‘holiday shopping that does a world of good.’”
John Knox, co-president of the Student Environmental Action Coalition, will take part in the events on campus. He has worked with SEAC and Fair Trade programs since before last year’s Fair Trade Festival.
“I really like Fair Trade programs because they’re a way to expose consumers to the practices in Free Trade markets,” Knox said. “Sometimes we don’t buy with a conscience. Fair Trade puts a face on people that make the products we buy.”
These events are sponsored by the Campus Sustainability Council, the Environmental Studies Program and the Student Environmental Action Coalition. For more information, contact David Barnhill at barnhill@uwosh.edu or (920) 424-0644.