Fair Trade Vancouver Blog

By Kealy Doyle

Cyclists! Would-be cyclists! Ex-cyclists!

Your troubles are over. No more slogging up those hills or arriving to work a sweaty mess. The electric bike is here and boy is it shiny. Better still, you can get your hands on a brand new one this weekend at EPIC!

E-bikes offer the discerning cyclist the best of both worlds: old-fashioned pedal-pumping action but some motorized help when you need it. Steep hills, busy traffic, marathon commutes: e-bikes have the power and the manoeuvrability to keep you pedalling no matter what the road throws at you.

By Will Richter

Fair Trade groups challenge Canada to reach 150,000 Fair Trade Steps in 2012.

Fair Trade groups across Canada are calling on Canadians to think differently about what they buy this year—and then act together to change the status quo. May 1 marks the official launch of the national “Take A Step” campaign, which aims to register 150,000 individual Fair Trade “steps” in Canada over the coming year.

Coinciding with the annual Fair Trade Fortnight—a national celebration of Fair Trade that will see events taking place across the country May 1-15—the Canadian “Take A Step” campaign joins an international movement that has seen over 550,000 “steps” registered in the U.K. alone.

OJAS Ayurveda & Yoga will be participating in Fair Trade Vancouver’s Fair Trade Pavilion at this year’s EPIC 2012 Sustainability Living Expo: May 11-13. Join over 300 companies and organizations at the Vancouver Convention Centre to learn about what’s new in ethical and sustainable living. This year, we’ll also be asking you to think about what Fair Trade Steps you can take for 2012!

Vicky Strom shares a bit about her relationship with Ayurvedic massage and soaps from India:

I was in love, in love with a certain form of massage, Ayurvedic massage. This led me to Kerala India where I studied this fantastic healing art. While I was there I found these beautiful Ayurvedic soaps, packaged in a bio-degradable palm leaf, all natural, made with healing herbs and essential oils. But, the best part was who made them. These soaps are made by deserted, divorced, separated, single uneducated women. Giving them an opportunity to support their families, and be a contributing part of society, a role that had been taken away.

Fable Naturals will be participating in Fair Trade Vancouver’s Fair Trade Pavilion at this year’s EPIC 2012 Sustainability Living Expo: May 11-13. Join over 300 companies and organizations at the Vancouver Convention Centre to learn about what’s new in ethical and sustainable living. This year, we’ll also be asking you to think about what Fair Trade Steps you can take for 2012!

The following is a brief interview with Gwen Richards at Fable Naturals.

What can you tell me about Fable Naturals?

We started Fable Naturals with the idea of providing a line of simple, ethical skin care products. We make everything here in Vancouver using as many Fair Trade certified and organic ingredients as possible. What we are trying to create is summed up with “skin care with a conscience”; it emphasizes our goal of growing as a sustainable company that truly cares about people over profit. 

How are natural cosmetic products different from other cosmetic products?

The term “natural” has different meanings to different people. For us it means using the least processed ingredients and cutting out chemicals such as parabens and SLS. Understanding what is in the skin care products you use should be important to consumers. While not everyone has the time to do extensive research, we need to be aware of what we're putting in and on our bodies. The David Suzuki Foundation has a great campaign on their website called 'Dirty Dozen' to get consumers thinking about what's in their beauty products.