COTTON CONVERSATIONS - A Journey to India with FTV's Sasha Caldera

What do jeans, t-shirts, socks, towels, and bed-sheets have in common? COTTON!

Sasha Caldera of Fair Trade Vancouver, has just returned from a trip to India, the world’s second-largest producer of cotton. To kick off the New Year, you’re invited to join Sasha and the FTV Team  for an evening of conversation about the cotton industry, its issues, and the challenges for Fair Trade.

While in India, Sasha participated in a cotton focus group on behalf of the Center for Environment Education (CEE), one of India’s top NGOs. From this experience, Sasha learned about some of the issues confronting the cotton industry – including competition with subsidized production in developed countries, and the impact of Monsanto (a multinational agricultural biotechnology company and leading producer of genetically engineered seed) -- as well as the challenges for Fair Trade. Sasha will also speak briefly about the salt-pan workers whom he met during his trip, and illustrate the circumstances surrounding salt.

This is also an opportunity to socialize, get to the know the Team and learn more about what Fair Trade Vancouver will be up to in 2012 – including ways to get involved.

Where: Yagger’s Sports Bar, in the Back Room, 433 West Pender (near Richards St.).

When:  Thursday, January 26th

What:   Come for part or all of the evening!

            5:30-7:00pm – Socializing!  Join us for a bite to eat and drinks.

            7:00-8:00pm – The Cotton Conversations/Presentation led by Sasha Caldera

            More socializing til 9:30

PREVIEW: Check out Sasha’s articles for the Vancouver Observer at http://www.vancouverobserver.com/contributors/sasha-caldera

See original: COTTON CONVERSATIONS - A Journey to India with FTV's Sasha Caldera