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July 2016 Newsletter Video Blog - Fair Trade Lebanon & Fair Trade Travels

July 2016 Newsletter Video Blog - Fair Trade Lebanon & Fair Trade Travels

From Dubai to Baskinta

 

The International Fair Trade Towns Conference 2016, Baskinta, Lebanon - Building Bridges through Fair Trade

July 2016 Video Blog Summary

Saturday July 2nd 2016 - Day One

Program

10th International Fair Trade Towns Conference, Baskinta, Lebanon Program ''Building Bridges Through Fairtrade;;

 

The Bekaa Valley, Lebanon - The International Fair Trade Towns Conference 2016, Baskinta, Lebanon

Since it's inception March 2006 the Fair Trade Lebanon Association has grown to nine villages.

1. Baskinta

2. Menjez

3. Abra

4. Ain Ebel

5. Baysariyeh

6. Fourzol

7. Saidoun

8. Mhaidthe

9. Kfar Tebnit

Menjez was declared Lebanon's the first fair trade village by its mayor 9th May 2013.

Ann, Jeremy, Henk, Sophie and others at the IFTTC 2016 Baskinta Lebanon

 International fairtrade delegates Ann, Melissa, Sophi, Katarina, Jeremy and Henk arrive for the conference.

 

Denu and Kathryn

 Nicholas, Denu and Kathryn

 

Day One - IFFC 2016 Baskinta Lebanon (the delegates)

Anjali, Johann and Sophie

 

Day one of the conference began with the national anthem of Lebanon.

 

 

 

Bruce Crowther MBE - Fair Trade Towns Ambassador at Baskinta Lebanon 2016

 Bruce Crowther MBE talking about Garstang and his fairtrade journey

 

Wafa from Najma Al Subah talking at the IFTTC 2016 Baskinta Lebanon

Wafa from the Najma Al Subah Cooperative talking about her experiences

 

Minister of State for Administrative reform, the President of Fair Trade Lebanon and the Mayor of Baskinta spoke of Jo Cox MP and her selfless work for refugees and for a tolerant and compassionate world.

It was great to see Wafa from the Najma Al Subah Cooperative again and watch her official video.

Video to be added.

During the afternoon delegates separated into their chosen workshops. My presentation was titled ''Building Bridges with the Youth in Dubai the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.'' 

 

Bruce, Matt, Anna and fairtrade co-ordinators from Japan along with many from Movement Sociale watched my impromptu fair trade puppet show.

 

Fair Trade Puppet Show with Sabeena Ahmed at the IFTTC 2016 Baskinta Lebanon

 

Fair Trade Puppet Show with Sabeena Ahmed - International Fair Trade Conference 2016, Lebanon, Baskinta

 

Fair Trade Puppet Show with Sabeena Ahmed, Yara and Hala at the International Fair trade towns conference 2016, Baskinta Lebanon

I am very grateful to my two friends Yara and Hala who enjoyed working with Fairis the Frog, Chalak the Monkey, Chu Maya and Ram Kali.

 

Yara, Hala and members of Movement Sociale at the IFTTC 2016 Baskinta Lebanon

Many thanks to William Goldstein Fair Trade Coordinator Fair Trade Towns America for taking photographs of the puppet show.

 

Movement Social and Fairtrade coordinators at the IFTTC 2016 Baskinta Lebanon

 

Sabeena Ahmed, Bruce Crowther MBE, Anna and Matt at the IFTTC 2016 Baskinta Lebanon

Sunday July 3rd 2016 - Day Two

Program

International Fair Trade Towns Conference, Baskinta, Lebanon - PROGRAM

 

Mount Sannine Hotel, Mount Sannine Lebanon

 Many of the international fairtrade coordinators stayed at the tranquil Mount Sannine Hotel,

Mount Sannine

 

Mount Sannine Hotel Front View - Mount Sannine Lebanon

 

Fairtrade international coordinators boarding the bus to Baskinta

 Day two began with an introduction to the town hall by national poet Abdul Ganib's son, then presentations from the international fairtrade towns coordinators.

 

 

 We then separated into groups for our workshop sessions.

I chose to attend Fair Trade Towns in the South: Challenges and Issues.

 

 

After the session all the delegates had lunch and we were then entertained by traditional Lebanese dancers.

 

 

I felt very honoured and privileged to join the international fairtrade coordinators meeting and participate in the discussion about the future of the International Fair Trade Towns Movement.

 

International Fair Trade Towns Coordinators Closed Meeting, Baskinta, Lebanon, 2016

 International Fair Trade Towns Coordinators Closed Meeting, Baskinta, Lebanon, 2016

 

We ended the conference by eating dinner together and saying our farewells till next year.

 

IFTTConf 2016 - fairtrade coordinators in Fourzol and Heidthe

 

The next international fair trade conference will be hosted by the lovely Florence and her team in Saarbrucken, Germany.

 

 

Flowers at Mount Sanine Hotel, Mount Sannine Lebanon

Thank you for reading.

Best regards to all the international fairtrade coordinators I met during this visit. I hope to learn and implement their successful fairtrade campaigns and initiatives in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.

Sabeena

 Wafa from the Najma Al Subah Cooperative, Lebanon and Sabeena Ahmed of The Little Fair Trade Shop (UK & UAE)

Further links and reading

The International Fair Trade Towns website

Fair Trade Lebanon YouTube Channel

Fair Trade Lebanon Website

10th International Fair Trade Towns Conference Program

Google Drive Photos and Presentations

Greg Valerio MBE - Jeweller and Activist

Fair Trade Initiative Saarbrücken

AnaHata Dubai Community Service Blog





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