NEWS! is an umbrella organisation, representing over 2.000 World Shops (Fair Trade Shops) in 13 European countries. It was established in 1994 to promote fair trade, initiate European wide campaigns and develop a common political lobby towards European political institutions.

NEWS! organises a bi-ennial conference for world shops, and was the initiator of World Shops Day held annually in May, when members joined together to campaign on specific fair trade issues.

World Fair Trade Day is celebrated every second Saturday of May, and is endorsed by the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), the global association of Fair Trade Organisations. This year the theme is 'Fair Trade for our World'. The campaign focuses around the important link between fair trade and the environment.

World Fair Trade Day calls on all of us to celebrate Fair Trade Organisations, buy more Fair Trade goods through Fair Trade stores, Fair Trade catalogues and campaign groups and encourage conventional companies to sell more Fair Trade products.

 

For more information on this year's World Fair Trade Day, click here to visit the campaign's website.

For more information on NEWS, click here to visit their website.